The politics of terrorism

Global terrorism assumes the headlines of every daily sporadically. Asserting its existence through the unscrupulous attack on the WTC, it has manifested itself round the globe. Though the ‘global’ tag to terrorism itself is debatable, for they aim only at American allies and the anti-Islam communities in general, India nevertheless has its share of threat to tackle.
But unlike anywhere else, the reaction to terrorism in India has been really disappointing. While the entire world expressed its solidarity with the US during the 9/11 attacks, the same kind of attacks on Indian soil give rise to myriad and mixed, if not contradicting emotions. Thanks to our so called infallible democracy and the factional politics. Segmenting the society to aggrandize votes and breaching India’s secular ideology has been the modus operandi of Indian political parties.
The attack on Ayodhya is an apposite example to elucidate this revelation. The Indian political structure is so precarious perched on the religious prejudice, that even the slightest provocation of any form would foment a nation wide distraught among the people. The rapacious politicians fritter not a second to instigate a nation wide decry. Haplessly, the strident decry would not condemn the terrorists, but would be guised and guided at rankling the existing government.
The entire nation falls into a state of anarchy and chaos all too soon. For days after such attacks the government appears meek and at the mercy of the fickle minded coalition. Headlines everywhere, urgent meetings get convened and the denouement; yesterday’s friends who have become today’s foes slaughter the government for its apathy and remiss. All the while they are the part of the government, but never took responsibility. Support from outside is what they call it as. The media finds this as lucrative fallout; the epicures find this a hot topic for discussion at their favorite restaurants and tea stalls; slew of political parties witness the exodus of renowned apostates, ironically mutually among parties, which give an onlooker a feel of exchange program supporting synergy; the rabid followers of political parties rise to new heights by being on hunger strikes between their regular meals, stall traffic on roads and in extreme cases resort to self immolation for reasons unknown to themselves; canards insinuating at a renewed aerial attacks on BSE begets the plummeting of stock prices to record low; the regular static obese police pieces get positioned at cramped markets to add to the crowd; the slew of omnipotent gods are guarded by mortals against attacks by mortals; the eminent educational institutions pick this topic for group discussions and essay writing competitions; the topic remains a hot until a new hook up between Bollywood stars come to light or till Sachin injures his elbow, which ever happens first. Meanwhile paramilitary force and the forensic scientists examine the crime scene only to reinstate the already established facts; then a group of unemployed debauched youth would assume a terrifying name for themselves and claim to have caused the attack and get caught only to find that they eventually get complete a life term in prison even before the case reaches its third hearing; the CBI, after a span of four five year plans would promulgate a report fraught with authentic information on the nexus of eminent politicians with the accused. But sadly the prime accused and the politician would die a natural death by the time the first copy of the charge sheet gets printed. It is only during the first year anniversary that the topic would come up and live for a day. By that time the Bollywood would come up with a movie portraying a poignant love story, where in a couple of NRIs (the hero and heroine) get separated by the blast. The next time one would get reminded about such a national crisis is after 50 years in the “this day that year” column in a newspaper.
What else do the terrorists want? We provide them with such internal support. One small RDX blast will resonate in parliament, stock market, Siachin glacier, railway stations, bus terminals, cinema theatres, RSS meet; VHP beat and at each and every street where the opposition holds a rally. Any blast anywhere in India, even if a household gas cylinder burst the initial suspicions have the potential to rattle the high seats at New Delhi. Why don’t we people think? Why do the majority get manipulated by the maneuvering few at the top? Why are we too hasty in blaming each other? Why don’t we empathize with the dead? Why don’t we condemn such deed? Why don’t we let our cry sound in unison in order to achieve some common good? Why are we oblivious of our duty to express solidarity as a state as a whole? When will such a situation change at all? What is that each individual is supposed to do, thus changing the system as a whole? Probably thinking is the means and thinking is the solution.