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Fear Factor
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
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Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
It is this creation of Thakur Rabindranath Tagore that comes to my mind, when I hear the reactions of my fellow countrymen to the terror attacks on the nation. Chain e-mails advising caution, the advice of family and friends and well-wishers to not go out 'too much' or to crowded places, to the point where travel itineraries are being changed, all follow as a consequence.
I cannot put into words how I feel, when I hear such reactions. The purpose of the terrorist’s attacks is not so much to kill (considering that they kill less than a thousand countrymen a year), but to ‘terrorize’. And this, they seem to be carrying out to perfection. Although the serial blasts in B’lore killed just two people, it scared enough number of them to warrant an increase of security at the IT-BT companies, even at the hands of CISF. This was followed by e-mails from security officers to the employees of their respective companies, asking them to follow a strict regimen, without which they will not be allowed inside. Ironical, since most employees are shareholders of the company. The best case precipitate of this is that the people end up being treated without respect, worst case: they are seen as suspects.
It is this fear psychosis that Alan Greenspan talks about, that the Americans experienced in the backdrop of the September 2001 attacks. Such fear, mostly unfounded, gives the terrorists their sense of victory. It is for this precise reason that I salute Mumbai, where the locals are just as crowded and the markets bustling, on the morning after. Bangalore may not be known to have such a spirit, but the malls on the day after were the usual, with people looking for best bargains. Yours truly was one of them, not particularly because I wanted to buy anything, but to prove that we are not scared.
I would be happiest if all my countrymen show spirit and mettle, to fight terror, where it matters most: in the mind.
I cannot put into words how I feel, when I hear such reactions. The purpose of the terrorist’s attacks is not so much to kill (considering that they kill less than a thousand countrymen a year), but to ‘terrorize’. And this, they seem to be carrying out to perfection. Although the serial blasts in B’lore killed just two people, it scared enough number of them to warrant an increase of security at the IT-BT companies, even at the hands of CISF. This was followed by e-mails from security officers to the employees of their respective companies, asking them to follow a strict regimen, without which they will not be allowed inside. Ironical, since most employees are shareholders of the company. The best case precipitate of this is that the people end up being treated without respect, worst case: they are seen as suspects.
It is this fear psychosis that Alan Greenspan talks about, that the Americans experienced in the backdrop of the September 2001 attacks. Such fear, mostly unfounded, gives the terrorists their sense of victory. It is for this precise reason that I salute Mumbai, where the locals are just as crowded and the markets bustling, on the morning after. Bangalore may not be known to have such a spirit, but the malls on the day after were the usual, with people looking for best bargains. Yours truly was one of them, not particularly because I wanted to buy anything, but to prove that we are not scared.
I would be happiest if all my countrymen show spirit and mettle, to fight terror, where it matters most: in the mind.
PS : I fully condemn terrorist attacks, and they represent the worst possible face of humanity. My condolences with the bereaved, and sympathies with the injured.
2 comments:
Hey stepping up security doesn't mean we are scared. If anything, it enables us to go fearless. No attempt at 'terrorization' should be allowed to penetrate into our lives, and we, as citizens, should co-operate in all ways to help to this effect. Dignity is relative. Showing courage goes hand in hand with better awareness and caution.
Sorry for the very delayed response to your comment.
If it is not being scared, then what explain the fact that security is stepped up a day after the blasts, remains that way for about 3 weeks, till the public forgets the ghastly incident, and then its back to business as usual.
And may i sincerely ask you do you really feel safer knowing the level of security that exists : In one of the malls, your bags are only checked if you enter through the main door, not if you park your vehicle in the basement and then take the stairs/elevator. Does it make you safer?
A completely unrelated event comes to my mind : We had conducted a spoof of a security drill in our previous company, which involved frisking and checking bags. No body raised serious questions : How could we frisk, what are the constitutional rights etc. Agreed that spoof was for fun, I realize but in hindsight, people in India are not complaining when their dignity of 'minding their own business' is taken away from them.
PS : I can send you the link to that video, where everyone obediently obliged the security officers.
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