Mumbai terror over. IS IT?

A little over a year and I am again writing about a shaken Mumbai. The world was glued to its television set as, to quote the myriad news channels, “terrorists held the city to ransom”.

For the past 60 hours everyone I know within the city and out has been watching the news incessantly, switching channels to find one that gives more or different information. Even now as I write this, the tv is on showing horrific details of the different operations held to free the hostages and capture the terrorists.

The assault is over and the city is jubilant. It should be. The forces are being applauded. As they should. The city’s spirit is being applauded again. It should… should it?

There are a lot of questions being asked. Should India take action? Should the government tackle Pakistan? ….

But to my mind the most important question was asked by my nephew. Confused by the news replacing all serials, movies and more importantly his cartoons, he asked his mother what’s happening.
On being told that terrorists have taken over Mumbai, he asked,
“wo kya hota hai?”
“Wo Logon ko maarte hai.”
“kyu?”

Pretty deep for a six year old huh? My family for one did not know the answer. I have been racking my brains to find one, but have none either.

I hate these people who kill without mercy. The hatred intensifies when I read stories of the people who lost their lives in this massacre. People who are not mere news reports, but real people with real lives that were cut short without reason. Like the favourite school teacher, or the young boy about to get married next month. Or the brave soldiers who died during operations. All killed by things we call terrorists.

I call them things because humanity does not seem to be a part of their system. Remorseless, they are ready to die and kill. But why? Indoctrination? By whom and again why? For religion? For politics? For power?

Who wins? How do they win? Do we win by killing the terrorists?

The tv shows celebratory scenes. Ecstatic people out on the streets celebrating the death of all the terrorists, relieved that it’s all over. But is it? Will it really ever be completely over?

I don’t think so. Not until all the why’s, how’s and kyu’s have been answered. Anybody got one?