Ek Lau

The gory bomb blasts in Mumbai last evening is a grim reminder of our vulnerability and the intractable nature of the problem of terrorism. The hostile neighbourhood, coupled with internal security deficiencies and larger blue prints of international terrorism victimise India time and again. The challenge has been staring in our collective national face since long but little we have been able to do so far to make ourselves safe. Terrorism is a household word in the cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Terrorism is not an alien concept relevant only to the people of troubled areas of Kashmir and North East. Terrorism has come to take roots right in our backyards: The markets which we throng and the places of worship we visit. The railway stations and suburban trains. The offices and shops, where we need to go everyday to feed our families and make both ends meet. The restaurants and hospitals. The list goes on. Lives continue to be snuffed out brutally. No body is called to account. Conspiracy theories are afloat and statements about what could not be done and what will be done are dished out. Soundbytes swirl around and experts make impassioned case on airwaves for not tolerating such acts of terror anymore. And Mumbai, with its special kind of vulnerability to such attacks, keeps humming the tune...Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Boozi Mere Maula....