A tribute.

A year has passed by since the dreadful event took place in mumbai. I dont know if i should express my sorrow for the victims of 26/ 11 or honour the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives for mumbai city. i am one of those who can least gauge the intensity of the whole tragedy. The memories of that night are still fresh in my mind when it began for me with a 'breaking news' on star news channel which flashed that, "firing was taking place between two groups at colaba". Initially, we didnt express much concern as we thought it to be local hooligans involved in some kind of gang-wars. i changed the channel. i went back to the news channel a couple of times but the same news was being flashed. Finally, we switched off the television and went to sleep. Until next morning none in my family had the slightest idea of what was going around.
Next morning my father learnt bout the terrorist attack when he saw the news on the television early in the morning at 5 am. My mother wakes up at 6 and leaves fro work at 7am. Apparently, she wasn't willing to stay home as she is a nurse and realised that she had to reach the hospital. My father instructed me and my brother to stay at home. He himself left for work as usual at 9 am. Also, my brother left for bandra at around 11am. The incident took place in southern mumbai and the western line was somehow incapable of realising the situation. Many people went to their offices. The next morning, while the NSG were at full throttle at the taj and nariman point, life on the western line seemed pretty normal.
Many news flashes have been hitting since across the television displaying different aspects or the tragedy. The hard work of the security forces yielded some fruit in form of 'kasab'. This again began a news flash for a couple of days. The most recent headlines have been involvement of David Headley and Rana in the terrorist attacks. Trials on kasab are still in process, discussions with pakistan are still in process and various other political activities are in process. But the question remains, what has changed in mumbai in one year?
As a common man, i cannot list many changes i have seen. The most amusing move by the government was that of declaring election day as a holiday. More surprising was the fact that it did not create a desired difference in the voting from the mumbai suburbs. I do not wish to complain but the fact remains that even after 26/11/2008, mumbai is as vulnerable as it was a year back. The lone survived terrorist, even after committing such a hieneous crime, can assure himself of his safety. However, i doubt a considerable amount of mumbaikars could witness some permanent measures for public safety. May be permanent is an ideal term, but at least i have the right to expect some implications in the security of the city. Many may hate me for this statement but people of mumbai are more at fault than the government. At the end of the day, all that we do is comment on the actions of the government, light candles at the gateway to express our sorrows, send patriotic sms's to our friends, create communities on orkut and facebook, highlight the sorrows of those suffered and many more unproductive activities. In all these activities that we are proudly participating, where have we made the difference? where have we assured ourselves and our society of their security? When i say this, some would comment that security is the responsibility of the police and army and we are not here to fight terrorist. Sorry, but i dont have much to say to people who think in this manner. As it is said , easier said than done, such people will always remain spectators in freedom struggle. In the end, i am equally useless, because i know i havent contributed anything for my country nor my city in this last 1 year. Please ask yourselves, what have you done in this past year that could make a difference.