Against fear
I have never felt unsafe in an Indian city, including Mumbai, despite its traumatic past. It may have something to do with our democracy – as citizens, we feel despite such unrest, that we have a semblance of control over the systems that govern and protect us. But as I watched the live feed on Mumbai’s carnage on television, I considered how fragile this sense of control and security can be. And once citizens lose this collective faith that they have some power and that they are secure, the demand for change is resounding.
The consequences of this were immediately clear – political calculations were fast-changing in the glare of the television cameras and in the hours of the standoff. Several states are up for elections, and most of the ads I witnessed as I recently travelled about the country centred on inflation or spiralling costs – one opposition ad was a cartoon that showed the state government playing the flute while the ‘snake of inflation’ rose and danced. I guess that after this week, these ads have lost a bit of their sting. The focus has turned dramatically to security.
What does that mean for us? In the past seventy-two hours, we witnessed an event that has transformed the psyche of a nation. Since the bomb blasts that ripped through our cities and towns three months ago, there have been familiar remarks of how stoic our urban citizens are – echoes of comments Mumbaikars received after the train explosions in July 2006 and the bomb blasts in 1993.
Again, as the day waned and the situation began to stabilise, there were comments on our ability to move past disaster, and how people would simply pick up the pieces and go on with their lives. But this time around, these statements have a hollow feel – we have been struck so many times that one must eventually wonder if what we see in the aftermath is stoicism or helplessness.
Unfortunately though, the actions governments take during times of fear are often not ideal ones. Indian politicians have since the blasts in July, mostly debated bringing back draconian laws resembling the repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. The BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu noted that ‘an extraordinary situation needs an extraordinary law,’ an opinion that the UPA government has come around to holding themselves. This recent attack will likely speed the passage of such a law.
We’ve seen the impact such laws can have in the US and Britain, following the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq war. Massive powers of detention and interrogation that such laws allow cast the net too far and wide – what you end up with is a disproportionate amount of false positives and captured innocents, which muddies the efforts against terrorism. The record of POTA and TADA in India has been dismal – they have been used to target particular communities, and as tools for revenge. The violations of human rights that result are unacceptable. These laws become all the more dangerous when we consider the terrorists who led the recent bombings. These were not easily identifiable men. They looked like us— like any of the millions of young men in our cities, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, yuppie-like down to their hair-cuts and their glasses. And such laws make democracies less so, and by hurting innocent civilians, serve as powerful recruiting tools for terrorists.
There is no question that we face dangerous times, and our governments are going to react in ways that will demonstrate to the public, concrete action and strict enforcement. Our impulses will be to strike back with force, and with hard, draconian measures. But our weaknesses unfortunately, lie not in the lack of a terrorism law, but within the core of our institutions – our police forces, the effectiveness of our intelligence agencies, the surveillance work we carry out. Since the 1970s, all these once reputable institutions have become deeply politicised, to the point that they have not been allowed to work without interference. Today, the frozen systems of our judiciary ensure that nearly half a million people are languishing in our jails without trials. Our cities are weak and ineffectual, unable to deal with any crisis. Unfortunately, given our talent for workarounds, these are issues that governments will shy away from. But without facing these challenges boldly, the prevention of terror attacks will be elusive, and we will continue to be vulnerable.
Calm – that emotion that seems so distant and unnecessary in such moments of crisis, will be critical to get us through this difficult time. The danger of thoughtless retaliation comes not just from our governments, but also from our citizens. Our country has large numbers of minority religious communities, and there will be enough demagogues eager to whip up anger against convenient targets. We can choose at this critical moment to let divides like religion dominate and frighten us, sidelining our real concerns, or we can adopt the reforms and policy ideas we need to win the battle against militants. Terrorism is fundamentally about igniting terror – about overwhelming us with fear. We have to resist this fear rather than be subjugated by it.
Tags: against fear, government response, human rights, mumbai terror attacks, politics, POTA, TADA, terrorism, terrorism law
November 29th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Nandan,
Thanks for your blogs and thoughts.
My Belief: This is not the failure of political leaders (who are no less than terrorists now-a-days if what had happened and happening now in Mumbai by some regional leaders is of any indication to anyone) or intelligence or various departments or media. No, not at all.
This is the failure of us: we Indians, we as a nation. Only in a rogue nation this kind of blast can happen and it is due to rogue people who get the fruit of democracy such as freedom of speech, pay for a day’s labor; but do not even think for 5 minutes for the country - forget doing anything.
- How come so many terrorists got into the building in the first place, no one saw anything. It will take good amount of time to do that.
- How come they came, organized, planned the entire attack and no one came to know anything about it. If some news are to be believed, it will take at least a month to plan such attack.
- How come when the bones were scattered, the fleshes torn apart people were watching the fun and no one was coming forward to help. Check the scenes: same were scenes when the blasts happened in Delhi and Bangalore. Here, we Indians score very high. Apathy for another fellow Indian, apathy for fellow society and apathy for the nation as a whole.
The other day when I was coming on a bus (of a reputed IT company in Bangalore) the driver was at its acerbic best. One employee tried to get off the bus (as I had seen it was not his mistake) and driver started talking in Hindi (which he could not and was actually abusing already). The employee could not talk Hindi and he was telling it was not his mother tongue. But lo: a couple of localities and “nearest friendly neighbors from other states” already started to misbehave with that employee: reason he is an outsider! They were supporting the driver! Now what happens when the same driver does the raxx/murder of the same localites (Bangalore has seen it already and no longer safe)?
But, the point is not that. The point is we are too divided based on language, region, religion etc. Only a group of good citizens make a good country. Not the vice versa. We are aliens in our own country; we hate our own brothers and sisters based on language/region/religion.
So no amount of intelligence or money or strategy can stop blasts if we do not change ourselves! It is we who produce junk leaders with junk policies. We have become too insensitive. The inherent belief and mindset that “me first and then my family: nation and society will take of itself, no need to think about it” has to change a bit: just a bit of change in mindset and that combined with various measures will make a nation like India. No other country has this kind of diversity coupled with poverty - which makes it an explosive combination for terror. Leaders, celebrities, players, artists, industrialists should inculcate this sense across India.
November 30th, 2008 at 3:49 am
We in the UK have been glued to the TV for the past 72 hours watching the Mumbai hostage drama unfold. Horrendous scenes of mindless violence, but brought to us by what I regard as the best and most objective Television channel in India - NDTV (sorry to keep going on about NDTV, but I do like their style of reporting).
I was immensely touched by all the stories of heroism, self sacrifice and the heartache of all those who lost loved ones. But what came shining through all this was the decency of ordinary people in Mumbai. They made sensible and rational comments despite all the trauma they had suffered. There was no jingoism or demands for retaliatory action against the neighbouring state from which the terrorists seem to have come from. Their utter disdain for politicians, especially those who tried to score political points in this hour of crisis was obvious. All this is very well, but when the dust settles - will the opinions of these sensible people carry any weight among the ordinary electorate, most of whom are easily manipulated by crafty politicians?
If change is to come from this incident, there needs to be a groundswell of action from level headed folk - the likes of which we saw on TV recently.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Given the early reports that the attackers appeared Asian, well-armed and well-trained, that they appeared to know the layout of the hotel and to have headquarters within it, it would seem that this attack was planned and carried out by very high-level authorities. I say authorities because it is unlikely that anyone from a cave in Pakistan could achieve this level of military-style commando attack. These young men were suicide mission agents. The survivors said they had smiles on their faces as they sprayed bullets. Were they drugged? High on amphetamines to sustain a three day spree?
After the unraveling of the lies around 9 11, one has to wonder who really sent these “terrorists”?
And why? Who wants India under martial law? Who does it benefit? Answer those questions and you’ll find the trail to the people who designed and funded these attacks.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Nanden, All,
I understand your concerns, calmness. Thoughts and action are what needed.
1) Analyse. Who, what, how and why
2) Gaps: There are many. Socio-politico-economic!
3) Action - Defense: Unified defense theory, training, preparation. (Strategic and Tactical).
4) Action - Offense: Surgical strike into terrorist camps.
5) Perceived grievances seem to take hold. There are many poor in India. They are not perpetrating terror. Yes. There are poor muslims; does not mean that they or others claiming their name can perpetrate terror!
December 1st, 2008 at 1:55 am
Nandan,
I have been disturbed by the attack on Mumbai….Since last 4 days I have been thinking” where are we heading to”…On one side Capitalists like you, who have given a better future to Indian middle class, heve been weaving dreams for us and we have been participating in it and dreaming for a better India, by working hard. But one the other hand, our politicians have been igonoring all our hardwork and have been eating up on all our taxes for their own whims and fancies…It kills me to see that a citizen like you and me who pay heavy taxes to this government have zilch security and ploiticains like Vilas Rao Desh Mukh, who did not even pay is electricity bill (case registered by Maharashtra Electricty Board) have all security for themsleves and have the courage to ignore the information given by Intelligence Bearau…
As a common Indian, we can unite and fight…But as powerful Indians, coprporates should also unite to fight…People Like Ratan Tata and you should unite and pressurize governments to take action….India is not shining because BJP government did something..It is shining because of Economic Policies in 1991 and people like you, who had a vision..I hope visionaries like you will not let this hope die because of this useless government and will use “Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed” to make sure that India Inc. progresses as usual,,,,which will not happen till the time you and your employees are safe.
December 1st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Security in Mumbai Taken Down Before Attack, Despite Specific Warnings | LaRouche Political Action Committee - November 30, 2008 (LPAC
Attempted Coverup of British Role India Nails British Dope, Inc. British Authorship Of Mumbai Terror Spilling Out LaRouche: British Intelligence Is Behind Mumbai Massacre.
There can be more going on behind the scenes than what meets the eye. The more well informed we become the more realistic and unified our responses can be.
There are both responsible and irresponsible politicians. While we shun and shame the irresponsible politicians we should also appreciate and thank the responsible politicians for what they do to keep things in order.
There is a hidden order in Indian society which runs very deep when compared to many nations of the world, and there are many politicians who are supportive in maintaining that order.
We should all as soon as possible shun Lazy and Superficial Thinking and start thinking more deeply like what you are doing.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Hi Nanda
I was searching for your book “Imagining India” in google
I came across a book with the same name by Ronald B Inden
I have not read any of the books but am surprised ..
Imagining India
By Ronald B. Inden
Published by C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2000
ISBN 1850655200, 9781850655206
298 pages
December 7th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Nandan
We being defensive and trying to improve internal security institutions will not bring any paradigm shift in situation. It can not substitute political defeat of terrorist actions.
Terrorists do not have military capacity to fight nation states, unless they are backed by another nation state. We need to weaken the centers of terrorism; immediately start well designed war against terrorism on ground, through diplomacy and later in media . It may not be even called war in conventional sense and should look proactive than reactive.
Indian Army is definitely competent on ground and quite successful against terrorists since two decades now. But our politicians are not competent to manage national /international media as well as diplomacy for such an action; they lack political will for changing equations in International lobbies.
We have to get everyone’s endorsement on the fact that “Pakistan is fast becoming center of terrorism after Afghanistan’s debacle”, now this is against US interest of concentrating on Bin Laden and Afghanistan. US will have to support our actions; otherwise their any intentions in South Asia will star to lack credibility. Recent Obama statement is first evidence that we can get US support on Merit of situation, we need to push it further. Even Pakistan Government’s readiness to support us should come as follow up to our action, not just in talking to each other. We might trust Pak Govt. intentions, but not their competency. We have to do it ourselves first.
The rise in Internal Security and Nuke Tensions through such an action is risk worth taking. US was at a distance from Al Qaeda, we are close to terror than anyone else. We should also give a leadership of such action to Muslims in Indian Army. Simultaneously socio-economic relations with Pakistan should be improved by taking popular risks like liberalizing visa policies for who we really think are common citizens.
We need to be focused!
Me ‘Imagining Strategic India’, going practically ahead after much celebrated ‘strategic’ indo- u.s. nuke deal.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Nandan - I am not sure if this post will appear in the blog as it can be conveniently be interpreted as communal- which sincerely is not my case or agenda.
Today there is a deep turmoil in Islamic world and also in the hearts of many peace loving Muslims. The peace loving Muslims are confused as Islam which provides a framework to lead a honest life is also used by terrorist to kill innocent people. The fact of the matter is that a terrorist group will go to any lengths to create mayhem. The free world is looking at a threat which it has not seen after the fall of communism. Today if the strategy of the free world is to strengthen only its internal security then it will not work in long run. If I cannot kill your citizens in your country I will kill them somewhere else is the mantra of terrorist.
One has to take the war to the enemy. If a coordinated action is not taken by the world by taking on the terrorist in their dens then
we are going to see more mayhem.
Having said all this I fully agree that cities are the growth engines of our country and they need to be empowered to have a efficient administration.
Vishal
December 29th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Great thoughts, Mr. Nilekani. It’s very encouraging for a corporate face like yourself to speak up regarding such a situation.
We are facing tough times. We need to stay united. Now, more than ever.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Not the tough laws but constant vigil by the citizenry and the government authorities can stop terrorism. And this is easier said than done, because the citizens are not law-abiding themselves and believe in the philosophy of “everything goes” (chalata hai) and the authorities are incompetent or corrupt or, most likely, both. So, unless something drastic is not done to the way people think in this country, we will have a repeat of “Mumbai’ over and over again - that’s the unfortunate truth.