The last week has seen the relative calm that the world saw after 9-11 get shattered. Terrorism has reared its ugly head bringing death and destruction to innocents.

So long as the terrorism is in far away Kashmir or the North East (where is that) - or even in Iraq, it is an event happening outside our individual universe or sphere or attention. But, when it happens in a Mumbai, or a New York or a London, or indeed a Bali or an Ayodhya - the fragility of our sense of security becomes even more apparent.

London was a place that i lived in for almost a decade. Ii loved that city and its people are amongst the nicest that you can ever meet. There is a sense of multi culturalism in that city that you don’t find elsewhere in the rest of Europe. People are different, yet they belong. I hope that the terrorist attack does not destroy this spirit. But, very likely it will. The Mumbai Blasts followed by the Mumbai riots - saw severe rents in the fabric of Mumbai society. After a decade all seems to be ok on the surface but the fault lines are there.

Ayodhya is much the same. A decade after the destruction of Babri Masjid - and the subsequent riots that it caused, we have a gang of terrorists who try to attack the temple site. Had they succeeded, there may have been a backlash. Afterall, the extreme right in India is looking for a cause to bring its minions together. And, this may very well have ended up being the lightening rod that attracted different strands of madness together.

In both cases, it is alleged to be the work of “islamic” terrorists - the reason why the term islamic is in quotes is because if the person was truly islamic, s/he couldn’t be a terrorist.

I am not sure about citizens of Mumbai, or London or New York or anyplace where we value freedom, kowtowing to terror. Most people I know were back at work, the day after the last bombing in Mumbai (2003).

However, the actions of the terrorists is going to put their co-religionists and other ethnic minorities in danger. Because, across the world right wing religious/nationalist movements have reared their head. A form of rightwing nationalism that merges religious fervour and national pride. A dangerous combination on any day. And far more potent in the time of deep insecurity amongst citizens. These kind of attacks are going to be siezed by these right wing movements to curtail liberty of immigrants. And it becomes a viscious cycle.

In a away, I agree with Teesta Setelvad who says in sabrang:

Communalism Combat, SAHMAT and the National Campaign in Support of Democracy condemn the attack on the Ramjanmabhoomi complex by unidentified persons this morning and appeal to all to maintain peace and calm. This incident reveals a serious lapse in security. Those who have perpetrated this crime need to be investigated and punished. However all persons in authority, political leaders and leaders of all organisations need to be held responsible to the Indian Constitution and Indian law so that an atmosphere of hatred and venom is not spread by those interested in whipping up communal sentiments all over the country.

Such an incident poses a challenge to the secular fabric of the country. Transparency needs to be followed in investigation. The media needs also to respond responsibly to information when labels like ‘terrorist’ and ‘jehadi terrorist’ are used intentionally by some organisations. Above all, this should not become an occasion for venom and hatred against minorities clouding our public sphere once again.

i have been reading the response to this quote in blogdom. The trouble with taking quotes out of context, in this kind of a situation, is extremely dangerous. My first reaction when i read the truncated quotes in other Indian blogs was, Teeeta Setelvad needs one tight slap. But, then i went to the sabrang site - and really speaking she has said nothing that is wrong.

There needs to be time to heal fractures in society. That is assuming we don’t want terrorism to win. Because if we succumb to terrorism, by allowing visible minorities to be attacked in response to the terrorists’ activity, then the terrorists have won.

also read Haroon Moghul excellent response - Thomas Friedman is either a bigot or an idiot - to the incredibly blinkered Thomas Friedman article - Muslim Problem, Muslim Solution.

Tags: World