India recently observed the First Anniversary of the 26/11 carnage. This day has been unofficially and rightfully marked as the ‘Black day’ in the Indian calendar.
The mayhem unleashed by the foreign terrorists left around 166 people dead and around 244 injured. Many of the dead included children and women. I cannot even begin to fathom the grief that must’ve struck the families of those who lost their lives in this horrific event.
I shall not describe in detail what happened in those three days last year. Most of us know about the events that unfolded, courtesy of the in-depth reports by the media, who were also shot at by the terrorists.
All I want to say is that there have been very less global events that have moved me as much as this one did. The heroics of the NSG commandos like Major Unnikrishnan or Gajendra Singh and other members of the Mumbai police like Hemant Karkare (who was the chief of the Mumbai Anti-terrorist squad), Vijay Salakar and Ashok Kamte, all of who -fearlessly laid down their lives to save others, the hotel staff at The Taj Mahal hotel and the Oberoi towers had their own stories of bravery as they showed why India is considered as one of the top countries when it comes to hospitality, by taking full-responsibility of the guests at their hotels and ensuring their safety even if it meant losing their own lives, all are both moving and courageous at the same time.
There are a number of other people whose brave stories might not have even reached the ears of the public or got the kind of media attention that the others got. I salute each and every one of them.
As people from all walks of life, across the country, united to pay homage to the victims, I too observed a 2 minute silence at my home. As I watched on the television, the various kinds of events being held across the country and when each news-channel had it’s own version of a story of bravery by someone or the other, I just couldn’t help but shed a tear in the memory of those killed. The kind of unity shown in these peaceful candle-light processions which saw individuals from all social-levels of the society ranging from actors, social-activists, industrialists to the common man like IT professionals, waiters of the two hotels involved in the event, wives and children of anyone who directly or indirectly got affected by the 26-11 terrorist strike—is truly a tribute in its own way that shows why India is called a land of harmony where a person from any religion can live peacefully.
Like the millions of people across the country, I too am furious and tempestuous at the people who planned out such an outrageous act of terror and who enjoyed the consternation of the public. But, the sole terrorist caught alive – Kasab continues to live in the jail...still alive and still breathing. I just hope that for once, justice in our country is swift and fair.
May all the souls of those who passed away one year ago on one those three ill-fated days , rest in peace.
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