THE SPIRIT OF MUMBAI

The recent tragic happenings in Mumbai have left a gaping hole in the heart of India’s financial capital, as well as in the soul of every self respecting INDIAN. The failure of the Police, the Intelligence, and the government in providing information, let alone security, about these activities is in itself a mirror on the wall that shows “who is the dirtiest of them all”. The huge impact and the magnitude of the blasts leave a lot of questions to be asked to the authorities. Something of this magnitude must not have cropped up overnight. It must have taken months of meticulous planning, and of ultra secure communications among the suspected hands to achieve their aim. It is a real shame that the watchdogs in the government and the so called INTELLIGENCE failed to even sniff a whiff of the same. And now, after 200 fatalities and 400 injuries, and a billion scarred souls, the authorities have the guts to come out in the open and say “THE RESPONSIBLE WILL NOT BE SPARED”!! What a shame!!

However, the crux of my writing this is neither to highlight the shortcomings of the authorities, nor to draw a bleak picture of the value of life in my country. My sole purpose is to showcase the divine sense of camaraderie, Good Samaritan spirit, and the deep rooted sense of responsibility that lies in each and every INDIAN. The ultimate courage and defiance shown by the public of MUMBAI is an eye opener to all the harbingers of doom, who say that INDIA, with all its poverty, illiteracy, corruption and similar tie-downs can not march on the road to the pinnacle of development. My country is ever on the road, marching ahead with the same pace as others, if not faster…its driving force…ITS PEOPLE AND THEIR VALUES.

The illustrative bytes on national television of the common men in Mumbai coming out in full support of their aggrieved brethren, bring in a sense of satisfaction and solemn affirmation of the virtues that our country stands on. The pictures tell me that all is not lost and that we, the people of India have it in us to rise up from the ashes as the eternal phoenix. Every time somebody tries to stamp us down, we rise with doubled spirits, and a desire to overcome all that keeps us bound. The scenes of poor Mumbaikars roaming the roads with all that they have for food to distribute among the stranded, the sight of an old Muslim gentleman moving from one hospital to another distributing cups of tea to the relatives of the aggrieved, the tales of students throwing open the doors of their hostels and dorms to the people who couldn’t go home due to the traffic rush in the blast aftermath…all but make me conjure up the image of what UTOPIA would be like. We may not have the money, we may not have the resources, we may not have the leaders, but we have what it takes to be a true human being…respect for ones country and countrymen!!

Every dark cloud has its silver lining, and for me, the golden lining in this dastardly and cowardly act by the terrorists is the emergence of the true spirit of Mumbai. The never say die attitude of the common man, the courage to travel in local trains even after seven blasts the day before, tears in the eyes of complete strangers when they talk about a deceased or injured, the help that flows in as soon as it is required irrespective race, religion caste or creed…all of this inspires one and all to stand up in unison and declare in one voice our solemn affirmation of undying spirit of MUMBAI. Let the powers that be hear the voice and let the evil lords take note that we INDIANS are not going to take it down lying. We can hit back, and when we do…WE HIT HARD. Lets all stand together in this hour of need , along with the people of Mumbai, and tell in one voice MEE MUMBAIKAR(I am a Mumbaikar!!).