Mumbai attack shook India once again. In the past it has often been the have nots who are at the receiving end of the scourge of terrorism. Whether it’s the blast in Delhi’s Mehrauli on Sept ’08 or the nine explosions in Bangalore on June ’08 or the eight blasts in Jaipur that left 65 dead in May upper middle class are the least affected ones. However, this time terrorists levelled the rich and the poor. Whether because the battle was taken right into the lives of the rich and powerful or because of the high number of casualties or because it was an attack on India’s symbol of pride and prosperity the assault has elicited mass anger primarily directed towards Pakistan.
Public’s memory is short, they say. Time and time again terrorists have taken so many lives. Media reports say, “President condemns; PM announces compensation; Brave citizens move on with their normal lives”. It’s not quite sure whether it’s to make bread and butter they move out or whether to tell the terrorists that guns and bombs cannot win. There was a time when only people from J&K and North East would experience terrorism. And many times for these people it’s difficult to identify who terrorise less : the Indian army or the secessionists. But now situation is different. Nobody is immune from the effect of terrorism. Bombs can explode anywhere anytime. And if our memory is short (as usual!) it may cost much.
Whether it’s in Kashmir or the Naxalite hit areas or Nagaland or Manipur or Tripura militancy/terrorism does not begin with religion. The problem is political-economic -social grievances that trigger the problem. The problem then interplay with religion. Religion provides incentive to fight for social and political justice. Religion confers blessings upon those who fight for the rights of the people. Religion promises eternal life to those who die fighting the enemy of truth.
1. What practical step(s) can Christians in Delhi do to resolve the naxalite menace?
2. What practical step(s) can Christians in Delhi do to resolve the secessionist tension in the
North East?
3. What practical step(s) can Christians in Delhi to do resolve the conflict in Kashmir?
You can discuss for whichever point is close to your heart.
Public’s memory is short, they say. Time and time again terrorists have taken so many lives. Media reports say, “President condemns; PM announces compensation; Brave citizens move on with their normal lives”. It’s not quite sure whether it’s to make bread and butter they move out or whether to tell the terrorists that guns and bombs cannot win. There was a time when only people from J&K and North East would experience terrorism. And many times for these people it’s difficult to identify who terrorise less : the Indian army or the secessionists. But now situation is different. Nobody is immune from the effect of terrorism. Bombs can explode anywhere anytime. And if our memory is short (as usual!) it may cost much.
Whether it’s in Kashmir or the Naxalite hit areas or Nagaland or Manipur or Tripura militancy/terrorism does not begin with religion. The problem is political-economic -social grievances that trigger the problem. The problem then interplay with religion. Religion provides incentive to fight for social and political justice. Religion confers blessings upon those who fight for the rights of the people. Religion promises eternal life to those who die fighting the enemy of truth.
1. What practical step(s) can Christians in Delhi do to resolve the naxalite menace?
2. What practical step(s) can Christians in Delhi do to resolve the secessionist tension in the
North East?
3. What practical step(s) can Christians in Delhi to do resolve the conflict in Kashmir?
You can discuss for whichever point is close to your heart.
Comments
Some weeks back I was in Kashmir and Anantnag. I met dozens of students. I did not meet anyone who's traveled even to Jammu,let alone other states. For most people from Manipur and Tripura till recently travelling to Delhi is as difficult as a Delhiite travelling to New York. It it a surprise that Kashmiris or Nagas or Manipuris or native Tripuris think that they are not Indian?
North East people flocking to Delhi in term of thousands has been a very recent phenomenon. As Arun Shourie commented sometime back (can't remember the source), even during Nehru's tenure it continued the policy of keeping NE as 'no man's land'. That I believe is the sin of Indian Government. That I believe is the reason why the people there think they are not Indian.
I don't know if people are not writing here because she felt so helpless or because the issue is least important. I think this issue should be more important than cross-cultural marriage because here people die. More than 2 lakhs Nagas have been killed in this bloody fighting for some decades. There will not be even a single Naga family who has not lost a family member or a relative or a friend in this fighting.I wonder if that's the scene even in Kashmir. With this many people been killed I think it would be highly irresponsible if we as followers of Christ are least bothered. Kashmiris, Manipuris, and Nagas have things to sort out within themselves. But the Indian Govt also has much to do.
I think if as Indian Christian we shall not take interest it's better that we tell the Govt to leave them alone. Let them secede from India and form a separate nation. Why do we zabardasti keep them when our Govt is least bothered about their welfare, and they also want to leave.
Yes, the effect of Terrorism Terror is not felt that muych with length and breath in Delhi compared to Kashmir and North East but the magnitudes and its shakes are widely and equivalently distributed . As a faithful and deligent citizen, One should take the initiative and bold steps , to increase the awareness. And please lets not always try to bring "religion'.
I've a feeling many of us go through that same kind of "learned helplessness" after many years of frustration, and maybe our own or others' tries at escape.
The solution would be to be aware that this goes on with us. We need to fight not just the problems we have, in this case, the HUGE one of terrorism, but also the frustration that comes along with them. The feeling that there's no point in our saying anything, there's not much we can do, kuchh nahin hone wala, that sort of thing.
Probably a lot of terrorism itself is a reaction to that kind of helplessness - after years of trying to change something, a frustrated rat may just get mad and bite anything and everything that comes in its way, in its attempt to get out of its maze.
So solutions to terrorism must start with HOPE - and we, as Christians have a source of hope which is never-ending....:-)