Death So Unlikely

29th December, 2005. 9.30 AM. An uneasy calm lies at IIT, Delhi. The whirr of engines of OB vans of various news channels breaks the silence. For people at IIT it hasn't sunk in yet.

Beacuse it is a death so unlikely. You go to attend a seminar and die because of a terrorist attack. What are the chances of that? This is probably the first of its kind attack in India (excluding J&K).

By now, I hope you realize I am talking about the attack at IISc Bangalore. As I write this, it hasn't yet been ascertained who is behind the attacks. One thing which is trickling in is the news that there was a 'lapse' by security agencies. I would not blame them in totally here beacuse the target was unexpected. Though there was probably information that vital installations were on a hit list but somehow you never expect something like this to happen.

Leaving apart the why and the how, the reactions by political parties (they have got something new to talk about), lets talk about how it will affect the psyche of the people.

Some people have vested interests have decided to divide this country. I am ashamed to say that they have been fairly successful. Successful in terms of creating mistrust among two communities and spreading some amount of hatred for each other. Incidents like this will amplify that.

It will also create some amount of fear. Someone says “We are not safe while shopping or attending seminars”. This is the fear which some people are trying to instill in our minds. We can’t allow them to be successful.

This does not mean that we indulge in verbal (or otherwise) bashing people/common man belonging to the ‘other’ community. Lashing out at them is no solution. It means that we understand that this is a part of a bigger plan to destroy this country as interests of many lie here. It also means that we need to get provoked at the people who are really responsible for it. Can we as educated, literate people, rise above it?

Originally posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 11:57 AM