26/11 Anniversary

I just realized that not only I’m blogging after real long time, but I am blogging on very important date i.e. 26/11 ...anniversary of Mumbai attacks. Anniversary? Is it something to celebrate that we are calling it anniversary? Last time I blogged was on 15th August and today 26th November. Both the dates are important to our nation. 15th August changed our nation while 26 November changed Mumbai.

As a Mumbaikar this date is really important for me. Last year , i was at home surfing internet when I heard blasts at my place at around 10pm.

Its true when people say you wouldn’t realize the gravity of particular event or incident, unless you've been there to experience it. I dint experience it , because I was watching news live in the safety of my home. I was supposed to go to nariman point on 26 November at night with a friend, but cancelled the plan last minute.

But today, I was at Vt station at the same time 9.15pm ... while coming back from work. Same time at this very same place where I was standing terrorist began firing at people who where waiting at station to catch train back home. What if i was working last year? I would have been there. But today life was usual at station, people waiting for their trains to come so that they could reach their homes. Good that there was nothing to remind them about what happened there last year , expect for few volunteers wearing black t-shirts asking people to donate blood to show solidarity. I just dont get this. And I’m happy, that nothing has changed as far we Mumbaikars are concerned. That’s what they call the "Spirit" of Mumbai.

To hell with our "Spirit". The government took us for granted before 26/11 and even now they are. We don’t want to prove our spirits by letting them strike us again and again. What has changed ? You can see bunkers at the VT station. Jawans with bullet proof jackets. Commandos. Armored vehicles. More CCTV’s. But what i don’t understand is how all this going to help prevent the attacks? All this measure taken will be used when we are attacked. What have they put in place to prevent these terrorists from attacking again? Those jawans, armored vehicles, bunkers, CCTV's are they going to prevent the attacks?? The answer is simply NO!!

I travel to VT daily. They have this metal detectors placed at every door, so as to detect person carrying arms. But its not mandatory to pass through metal detectors. There enough space on both the sides of metal detector for people to pass. And everyone just avoids the metal detectors. And the policemen sitting next to these detectors don’t care a damn if people don’t walk through this detectors. People no longer care to check to check if there is any suspicious luggage kept in their compartment. No cares. Or no one has time to care.

So I am asking what preventive measure do the government has put in place for us? Those commandos with they are high tech machineries will be of use only when we are attacked and more lives are lost.

Seriously nothing has changed. 1 year after the 26/11, Mumbai and its "Spirit" still remains the same, to be taken for granted.