So I went for this peace rally today at Marine Drive in memory of all those who lost their lives on 26/11. It’s heartening to see so many people come together irrespective of whether they know each other or not, to raise their voice for a common cause. It makes one believe that united we can make a difference-united we can bring about a change. Like Obama said, YES WE CAN!
So anyway we congregrated opposite the Trident(where I almost broke down), lit our candles and proceeded towards the Taj, which was our destination. The walk was extremely moving as we sang Hum Honge Kamyaab, Vande Mataram etc. As we reached our destination we maintained a minute long silence, sang the National Anthem and left our candles at a designated spot. All of this was truly heart warming but the problem began when a few cameras filming us started taking interviews with a few people. By this time quite a few people had gathered around. People spoke about how our politicians really need to step up their game and how the common man wants his security, etc. All of a sudden a group of people started shouting anti-Pakistan slogans (for what I hoped was only to gain screen time). Sadly I was wrong. One by one everyone joined in and soon enough 80% of the people gathered there were chanting ‘Pakistan Murdabad!’. What began as a peaceful rally in memory of the innocents who lost their lives, soon turned into a crusade against Pakistan! It was demoralizing, disheartening, dispirting to hear what those people thought! What was even worse was when my friends and I said that it’s wrong for people to say that, a few of them actually turned around and told us we’re mad!! (And one of them was a kid barely over 4!!!) I mean seriously, if you’re having a peace rally to protest against terrorism isn’t it counter productive to talk about bombing Pakistan??? Sure all the leads that we have point towards LeT and have connections to Pakistan, but aren’t there innocent people like us there too? Do people honestly believe all Pakistanis, all Muslims are terrorists? Don’t we have Hindu terror groups as well like the VHP, the RSS, the Bajrang Dal? Aren’t the MNS goondas also as bad as any other terror outfit?? The thought that struck me then and weighs me down now is the daunting task everyone has ahead of them to erase the hatred that people like you and me carry around in our hearts because if left unchecked it could most definitely turn into a violent force that nothing will be able to counter…
And honestly I wouldn’t believe everything that was fed to me by the media because the media is not God. They have been known to be wrong on many accounts. Our Government too will point the first finger of fault at Pakistan so as to save face. They don’t want to look like incompetent fools who can’t do their jobs so they do what is most convenient and most believable to the common man – blame Pakistan!
I think what we need now is for the two countries to get together and fight terrorism unitedly. Only then can we be assured of a peaceul tomorrow. If not then the blame game between us and them will continue forever and not bring any productive results. The terror attacks will continue to take place and people will continue to die. It’ll be a never ending vicious cycle that will eventually snuff out all the good in the world.
Remember YES WE CAN!
Bhavika says 