To the Terrorists...

You call yourselves ‘Jihadi’s. You say you are waging the ‘Holy War’.
Can I ask you, how is it a ‘War’, when you raise your gun at an Unarmed, Defenseless person?
Since when did spilling innocent blood become considered ‘Holy’?
No religion on this earth preaches such cruelty or condones such atrocities.
You have NO RELIGION.

The mother, whose usual routine was to get up at 5 in the morning, and make the day’s meals for her family before heading off to work. All she wanted to do was get home to a few minutes or rest, maybe even a cup of tea. You made sure she would never get home.
Think, what if she had been your Mother?

The toddler, who could not even pronounce religion, let alone understand what it means. His life was shattered by your grenade.
Think, what if he had been your Child?

The man whose only crime was to stop at the stall to pick up some fruits for his kids. Your merciless shooting took care of that.
Think, what if he had been your Father?

She was enjoying a meal at the Tiffin restaurant. She had heard so much about this place, and had finally gotten a chance to come here. That was her last meal. She was a prey to your fanaticism.
Think, what is she had been your Sister?

The boy had recently joined the Taj as a trainee cook. He was working hard to realize his dream career. You killed his dream when you killed him.
Think, what if he had been your Son?

The family was waiting at CST, to board a train back home. All of them fell to your bullets.
Think, what if they had been your Family?

She had come to experience India’s beauty. She could n’t wait to get back to her own country to talk about her trip to her family and friends. Show them all her million pictures. Her life was snuffed by the hotel’s fire which you started.
Think, what if she had been your Friend.

For You, they were all just nameless ‘targets’.
For Us, they were our loved ones, our family, our friends, our fellow countrymen, our guests.
Each of them had a Story. Each of them had a Life.

If you think, we are going to fear you and stay at home, you are Mistaken.
If you think, we will let your actions define our lives, you are Wrong.
Our hearts are broken, but our spirits are stronger, because we are UNITED in our grief, and we will fight you.

And we will REFUSE to let you win.

26th November Mumbai Terror

27th Nov '08. 10:33 pm in Bombay. 24 hours after the first attack on Bombay started. And it's not over yet, Mumbai is still burning.

As I watch the live news, the Breaking news keep coming in. Sounds of gunfire at the Trident. The commandos entering Nariman house. Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte sacrificed in the line of duties, not to mention the several other police officers who were killed. The images are unreal, live scenes of people being shot at, the noise, the smoke, the chaos.

Too many emotions............Anger? Sadness? Fear? Disappointment? Apathy? Patriotism? Hate?

So many questions...
Why? Who? What was the intelligence doing when this was being planned? How is it that they had no clue to an attack of such proportions? Why is the common man targeted? How do the politicians always get away? Are they going to wake up now? What can I, as an Indian do to help? Will my country ever be the safe again?
Will our country ever be able to rise above the dirty politics and strive to actually do something about safety, security? Can WE really think about Indians as fellow countrymen, as opposed to only furthering our own personal or political agendas and thinking of ourselves?
Why do I ask this question today? Because I as an Indian, am also responsible. Responsible for being apathetic to what is happening as long as it does not affect me, or anyone close to me. Responsible for not bothering to vote for a better government. Responsible because all I seem to do is discuss when something happens and then carry on with my life as usual. Responsible because I don't know how to help.

But I want to take time to remember and thank the Heroes.
Those who lost their lives in the line of fire.
Those who are storming into the hotels, knowing that every breath might be their last, knowing that their bullet proof vests are probably not enough for the types weapons that these terrorists have.
Those firemen, police, other security personnel who are saving the trapped people.
Those who are putting out the fires.
Those who have helping carry out the bodies, the injured even when the bullets are whizzing past their heads.
Those who are creating distractions on one side, so that hostages on the other side can leave.
Those who are working tirelessly to save the lives of those being brought into the hospitals every minute.
Those who have been up for the past 24 hours standing on the boundaries, so that terrorists can't get out.
Those that will continue to go into the hotels with the sniffer dogs after the terrorists have been removed to make sure there are no bombs, no more attackers left, clearing the debris, in the smoky hazardous conditions .
Those that are donating blood so that one more life can be spared.
Those who are helping out how ever they can, just because someone is in need, without expecting any kind of remuneration.
Those who will wake up tomorrow to rebuild Mumbai.
Those who will walk back into their jobs at the attacked locations, knowing the tragedy that happened there.
The families who lost their loved ones but still will need to carry on with their lives, with this terrible burden of loss.
The injured, the survivors who are scarred for life.
Many more will emerge from this tragedy.

Thank you for your bravery. You will not be forgotten.