Raging Questions

As the Mumbai siege came to an end and we sigh a breath of relief at the long and vicious ordeal, many questions run through my mind. Just jotting them down here - and if you have any you would like to add, feel free to join. If you think you have an answer - please chime in.

I understand I should be constructive and try to offer solutions. Let's raise all the relevant, valid questions - and don't be ashamed of doing so. From the questions, and our attempt to answer them, will come the thinking necessary for providing constructive suggestions. (These are not sorted in any particular order or priority)

1) Why did Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and others - who are higher up in the ranks - go into the 'battle field' at the first news of terrorist attacks? Shouldn't they have assessed the situation before blindly jumping in?

2) With their experience and 'leadership' abilities, shouldn't they be directing their forces through the operations with proper plans than taking a single step approach of "Let's all go in and take the enemy on"?

3) Aren't their services better utilized at times like these, through their strategic thinking than their mere presence in the field?

4) How could HK get hit with bullets in his chest, when he is wearing a supposedly bullet proof vest? Are our security forces equipped with such sub-standard, 'Made-in-China' type body armour?

5) Doesn't HK know what the capacity of his own body armour is? Isn't he supposedly the battle-hardened veteran?

6) How can the media show live feed of the man in charge of the anti terror wing in Mumbai - beaming his where abouts, what he is doing (putting on his helmet, talking on cell phone walking around in public etc.)? Doesn't the media have any responsibility to shield him and other strategically important personalities, who are prime targets for the militants and rogue elements?

7) Doesn't Mumbai, attacked many times by and remains a target of underworld and terrorists, have SWAT teams or special forces locally who should have responded immediately? Why did Mumbai have to wait for the NSG to come from Delhi - 10 hours later?

8) Militants/hijackers using hostages as shields is an age old, well known tactic. How can the NSG commandos and the security forces use it as a reason for their slow response that lasted days? Especially when the number of terrorists involved was at no time believed to be more than a dozen? What kind of message is it sending the rogue elements? That a major city could be taken siege by a handful for longer, if only they planned better?

9) Manmohan, Sonia, Advani, Narendra Modi and scores of other 'personalities' visited the 'battle field' while the operation is still very much on. Couldn't they have waited and focused their energies more on bringing a swifter end to the ordeal? The argument that they visited to instill confidence and raise morale in the security forces is BS at best. No sane Indian is looking to the politicians for confidence and a morale boost.

10) Couldn't the security forces have used some kind of controlled, tear gas or water ballast or something that would incapacitate the militants for a short period of time and swiftly moved in to over take them? Granted, even the hostages will be incapacitated for that period - but it must be better than having them killed by the militants, I think.

11) Will the country be vigilant here after to better repulse another militant attack or better yet prevent them?

12) Blaming Pakistan for such incidents is easy. But why did we allow it to happen on our land, so deep in crowded places? Aren't there any checks along the way that could have stopped the terrorists from reaching their chosen destination?

13) Is this attack the result of a systemic problem that needs to be addressed from the grassroots, social level? Or will constituting another institution that only adds to the bureaucratic confusion be chosen as the solution?

14) As my friend Vasantha asked on her facebook site: What can each one of us do, in our capacity, to kill [combat] terrorism?

I request each of you, who stopped by and took time to read this, to take another minute or two - and share your thoughts. Who knows where the next bright idea/suggestion for a better tomorrow comes from?!

Looking forward to a better tomorrow -

Swasti !!

Operation Over

Atlast, after 60 hours of tense and deadly moments, and continuous battle between the terrorists and the Indian commandos - the last terrorist holed up in the Taj Mahal Hotel has been gunned down and the Director General of NSG announced that the operation of taking control of the Taj is over. Now they will be scanning every inch of the hotel and sanitizing it before transferring the control to the local police.

Today a couple of the martyrs - Hemant Karkare (ATS chief) and Major Unnikrishnan from Bangalore are being cremated. I am sure we will read about their bravery and of others in the coming hours and days.

Hats off to you both and others who gave their lives so other innocent folks can live on! It's a great loss to India.

Jai Jawan!! Jai Hind!!!

Frontpages and Ads

While following all these drastic developments in Mumbai, I couldn't help but have a smile looking at the ads served on the front page of Andhrajyothi website - next to the Mumbai raging photos. Look at the following images I captured. Take it easy and share your own - if you can.

1) Are you thinking of getting married?
2) Plan your vacation better

3) Then this ad - asking if you want to send money to India, with a funny typo (pampichchadam) in telugu.

Thank you

I am always thankful to my firends, family, colleagues and acquaintances - who help me all along my life - in various capacities. But most of all, on this unfortunate day, when Mumbai is under siege, I would like to thank the security forces battling bravely and laying down their lives for saving others'. They are offering the ultimate sacrifice and my heartfelt thanks to them and their families - for going through this suffering, so we don't have to suffer.

May the departed souls rest in peace - and may The Almighty shower his blessings on those left behind.

This past weekend, one of my friends passed away in sleep. She is just in her mid thirties - and left behind her husband and three little girls - including twins who are hardly 1 1/2 years old. I am very shocked to hear the news. We pray for the family and their well being.

Life seems so fleeting at times like these. And all the scriptures talk about it. But still, we try to fool ourselves into thinking we still have a long way to go. And make plans for 5 years from now, 10 years from now and after retirement. Of course, if we don't do that, and don't hope for the best - we can't live on. One thought crosses my mind often, though - if this were my last moment, am I prepared? Will my family be safe and have a secure future? And every time the answer is the same: I should be more watchful in what I do and say. Because, there may not be another opportunity for me to make amends before I leave for good.

And I am always thankful for The One for all that's given to me. I pray for good things for one and all.

Swasti !!

Media Control

Watching the media coverage, I can't help but wonder if some guidelines should be developed for the media outlets, atleast for times like these?

The reporters on the ground want to say 1000+ words in one breath; they rush themselves in doing so; use grandiose words without realizing what they are talking about and the reality on the ground; nor do they show any reverance, sometimes, to the sensitivities involved. How else would you explain a reporter saying - "Let's look at the 'drama' unfolding before our eyes here at the Nariman House"?

And another gushes out - 'this is along the lines of the 9/11 attacks' - again a fascination to be identified alongside the US. Why do you want to draw the parallels so soon? so early? while the disaster is still unfolding? Media is always looking for sensationalizing any and each incident/event. Is it necessary? Are the media outlets above the norms of public decency?

Some of the reporters on the field don't want to yield the floor back to the studio - and keep repeating themselves with the same information again and again, changing the order of their statements. This of course is not as much an issue as the other points I mention here in this post.

Then comes the most atrocious behaviour from the reporters. The anchor in the studio asks the field reporter the following questions:

• How many commandos, do you think, have been assembled there?
• Which floor have the commandos reached? Is there any news or can you see from your position on the ground?
• Is it not dangerous for the commandos and their operations - if the terrorists inside know how many are coming at them? And which floor the commandos have reached so far?

• How many terrorists do they think are there all together? How many are participating in the Mumbai attacks and how many dispersed into the crowds and went to other places?
• What are they trying to gain by speculating these numbers? Shouldn't this be left to the Intelligence agencies to deal with? If the masterminds behind these attacks know that the intelligence agencies know about the exact number or the whereabouts of the remaining terrorists, won't they change their plans and make it that much more difficult for the Indian authorities to prevent further attacks? What are the media outlets trying to achieve by getting their "sources" to reveal such valuable intelligence information?

• Our sources tell us that the terrorists have rented a flat as well, to reside in the area and continue their attacks at other places, and they are here for a long haul.
• Will the terrorists stay back in their 'flat' now? They would have checked out and gone somewhere else.

It's not just in India. Even in the USA. I remember - back in 2006(?) - in California's Los Angeles airport a plane lost one of its landing gears (the front tire burst, I believe) after take off and couldn't land normally. So, it has to nose dive and come to a forceful halt after hitting the ground with a thud. When it does that, the pilots didn't want the fuel in the plane's storage tank to catch fire - so they kept the flight hovering around the city for several rounds to waste the fuel. And the cable channels are all fixated on this unfolding event - and sensationalizing it as it to show a plane landing and about to go in flames. Great credit to the pilots for handling the situation with great skill and landing the plane safely. But the couple of hours spent in the air is the fodder that the cable channels look for - to make it a media event, and raise their viewership. It's almost as if the channels were disappointed at the anti-climax. That's how sick the media outlets have become, sometimes.

Now look at the questions asked of the political leaders. The reporters ask provocative questions knowing very well what kind of responses they would get - and then try to sensationalize the responses. Case in point - some reporters asked Advani in Mumbai - "Advani ji, do you think this is an intelligence failure?". Advani could have just chosen not to answer it saying the situation is still developing and we have to see what the concerned officials say. But he chose to answer it in the affirmative. Even the Union home minister Shivraj Patil has agreed to intelligence failure. But CNN-IBN (not sure of the other channels, as I don't have access to them) channel announcers pounce on Advani for making such provocative and political statements on the day the security forces are still battling to save the hostages and capture the terrorists. What can one say of this reporting? Where has accountability gone?

I sincerely feel that the media role in similar and other incidents should be analyzed thoroughly and some guidelines should be developed. I am not a proponent of curbs on the media and free speech - but at the same time the media outlets need to know what to say and how to report various incidents. I would take a somber report on an incident of this magnitude and nature, any time, than the sensationalism we currently see. It's not helping the viewers, not soothing the friends and family of the victims; and more than any thing else, not at all aiding the security forces doing their job.

Take for example the case of the commandos and the number present at the incident. Shouldn't it be kept a secret as to how many commandos, what types of forces are at any given site - to act against the terrorists? If the media pries into each and every such detail and publishes/announces it - the masterminds behind the attacks (or future attacks) will also be reading/watching the news and take necessary counter actions. In fact, this has been a long standing peeve of the intelligence and security organizations world over - that the media should cut down on sensationalizing what they report - during the incident and leave the analysis for later. Details like this are not going to help the common man or even the friends and relatives of the victims even one bit. The media is doing more harm than good with their conduct.

Oh well - we will be slicing and dicing this incident and the reporting for many days, weeks and months to come; or atleast until the next media 'sensation'. May common sense prevail and God save humanity.

Swasti !!

Black Wednesday

As we are eagerly awaiting the Thanksgiving holiday and the shopping deals that follow on Black Friday, news about the deadly blasts in Mumbai shocked us at home. Usha, coming back from the Nursing Home where she works on Wednesdays treating the elderly for their dental problems, heard it first on NPR's WAMC station. I then read the headlines in NYTimes.com. Truth be told, on a regular day, I keep checking the news sites once every 2 or 3 hours during the day - to catch up on what's happening. 'Obamania' for the past couple of years made it a regular item on my daily schedule. However, as Mahalakshmi was sent home from day care yesterday due to suspected rota virus, she's staying home, along with Chandra whose school is closed for the day. So, I didn't get a chance to check the news sites today. When Usha came home late in the afternoon, she mentioned this news.

At first I thought it's one of those terrorist bombings that have become a regular fixture in Indian metros these days - killing a dozen or so and wounding several dozens. Don't get me wrong - I am not callous to such news. I feel the pain for any and all such ghastly events. But it's only after reading the article in Indian news papers (Andhrajyothi and Rediff especially) that I realized the enormity of this dastardly act. Our Thanksgiving holiday is shot in spirit.

Excuse me for my useless rant here. I am so sick and tired of hearing the leaders in power reiterating time and again after such incidents: "We will not tolerate such cowardly acts of terrorism. We will do all in our power to root out the terrorists. We will not allow such incidents again... blah...blah...blah ... ". Haven't we all heard this empty rhetoric before? If they can't tolerate, what have they been doing? What steps are they taking to make India (or the world) a safer place? and to rid the world of terrorism? I am not naive/innocent to believe that terrorism can be rooted out. But the govts. should/can do more, I believe, with sincerity and integrity - to prevent such ghastly incidents.

Oh God! When will we see sincere politicians, with strategic vision for long-term growth of India than petty thinking for their own electoral and financial gains?

As I write this, I am reminded of a recent Hindi movie - which I read about. Wednesday - a movie with terrorism as the storyline, acted by Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah. It received rave reviews and I plan on watching it sometime soon. I didn't expect such deadly incident happening on a Wednesday. Not sure if the terrorists got inspired by that movie, for all the wrong reasons.

I hope the local, state and central govts. in India wake up at least now; take immediate steps to prevent such incidents from taking place in more places; and constitute a task force to recommend long term remedial measures. And implement them without fear, favor or 'vote banks' in mind. I hope our political leaders don't let this kind of indifference lead to a failed state which could necessitate the army to take over the reins of power in the country (as is often the case with our neighbours). If that's the only way to revive public safety - then God! Save us all from peril!!

Our hearts go out to the lost souls and their families. 9/11 is still fresh in our minds. The victims will be in our prayers. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace! May the injured recover soon and get back to normal health.

Swasti !!

Economy, Rescue and Recovery

As the Fed announced the $800 billion plan today, to finance consumer loans and to push down mortgage rates - I was left wondering why it took so long for the govt. to think of rescuing the people. It's been a month, almost, since the $700 billion plan was announced to rescue the financial institutions - after they began to fail/fall like a pack of dominoes.

It only reinforced my unscientific, personal belief that govts. all over only react immediately whenever the giants fall. The average consumer has been bleeding for more than a year now. Mortgage payments are being defaulted; houses are being foreclosed. Didn't the govt. foresee this? Had they taken steps earlier, the rescue could have been limited to a few hundred billion $$$ rather than running the bill into trillions as is happening now. We could have even saved a few bank failures and job losses in the process.

If an individual is not fiscally responsible and fails to make timely payments - s/he is made accountable and made to face the consequences (both financial and legal). However, when it comes to institutions, if they fail - the people running them are let go without any penalty. Often times, they are treated with a severance package as well. And if the debacle is very bad and the insttn. is very big, it is shored up with a rescue package. As we are witnessing now.

Therein lies the fundamental problem with the way peoples and economies are managed/governed, I feel. Be it capitalistic or socialistic - a democratic society will have to take care of the people, first and foremost. When the focus shifts to institutions rather than the people - such society is bound to fail sooner or later. People, after all, are the backbone of any society.

I am glad good sense prevailed on the Fed and Treasury folks at least now and they plan on helping the comman man who's hurt badly. But, again without any scientific evidence, my gut tells me that this economy will not start looking north again until the summer of 2010 - and that's 18 months away, at least. We haven't seen the worst yet.

Wishing and praying for good times -

Swasti !!

Be Nice - Don't judge

This morning, while dropping Chandra (my first son) at school, I gave him the usual 'Safety Briefing' and added 'Be Nice' at the end - fresh from the weekend experiences when he joined Datta and almost turned the house upside down. To that, he immediately shot back - 'I am always nice'. I found myself struck by it. Or may be he felt the unspoken undertones of how I said it - as if to suggest he was not nice and better pull your act together!

After all, he is just four-and-a-half years, and a good kid. Often times I wonder if we robbed him of his childhood by having his brother when he was still one-and-a-half. And then having his sister a couple of years there after. Because, he is already playing big brother when he himself is so little. It did give him a sense of authority and pride. But at the same time, I think, he also at times feels there are smaller kids than him at home, who look up to him.

Of course, that doesn't stop him from being as naughty as he can be sometimes. And coupled with Datta, that's what he had over the weekend. That was sure to raise my blood pressure and question if I should rethink of doing some things differently. For example -

1) I am always skeptical of having the kids sleep in their own beds when they are still too little. For one thing, I feel it makes them feel insecure - although the western culture argues the exact opposite.
2) The next point I ponder over is whether or not we made the right decision to put him in a public school for Pre-K, even though there's a Pre-K available in the Day-Care he has been going to for over 3 years now - and which helped nurture his developing abilities.
3) Are we doing enough as good parents - should I spend more time over the weekend and take them to Indian cultural classes conducted at the local temple where they teach the religious hymns, tell moral stories and talk about good manners etc?
4) May be I should get into the habit of reading/telling stories that I was told when I was a kid (and generations before me, in India) - to inculcate good manners in them
5) these and many more such thoughts flash through my mind whenever I see something 'not to my liking' in them.

And then the other part of me rationalizes with me saying he is a little kid - and he is just being a little kid. No point over analyzing things that kids naturally do. It's all part of their growing up process. I guess it's a situation all parents go and grow through, at times questioning their own parenting skills and reassuring that they are just being themselves and there's nothing to be concerned about, after all. Or is it just me, thinking wishfully that I am part of a bigger group of like parents?

So anyway - getting back to the plot of this post - when Chandra gave me that response 'I am nice' - I resolved (for n'th time) in my mind - not to be judgemental. That's one thing I keep working on - and this incident reinforced me to be more vigilant about what I say and how I say it. Because kids take it from their parents easily and as a gold standard. I did not mean he was not nice earlier, but probably the way I said it gave it up. And if his little mind was able to pick it up, I think I really messed it up. By being careful myself, I can help him grow into a person better than me. I have been trying myself for years to become a ' better me' - and I tell ya'... I am still working on it :)

Swasti!

First or Second?

Henry Ford once said:

'Before anything else, getting started [ready] is the secret of
success'.

And I believe in it. Not that I follow it all the time - but that doesn't stop me from believing it. So, when it came to blogging, I thought it would apply as well. After a long time - some of which was spent thinking about starting a blog - I finally took the first step towards creating my own blog here yesterday.

Before I went to bed last night, I was thinking of what to write next. Until I started the blog, I had several thoughts in my mind - on what to write about, how to organize it, how I can make it useful for myself - and for others, who take the time to stop by and read, as well. Then, when I hit the bed - my mind drew a blank. Have no clue what I am going to write about next. I could never clear my mind of random thoughts - so I can concentrate on something. But when I really needed some thoughts to write about - nothing was coming to my mind.

Then the above said quote came to my mind...and I was thinking - 'well...I got started. Wrote my first few lines. It should be a roll from here - but why can't I go on?' Is it just me? Or do other bloggers go through this? Is it the first post that's difficult? or is it the second, the third and then the fourth as well that are difficult to log? The first one came easily - as I am allowed some leeway for being a novice. But what should I cover in the next one - without looking stupid (well - others needn't know that :)) So thinking, I dozed off at some point, don't know when.

This morning - after going through the routine of helping to get the kids ready for the day - I logged in and checked my blog. What was I thinking and looking for? A bunch of comments from random visitors? A few blog followers? Or an opening for my next post? Well - one of those; and all of those. Then it occurred to me - how about just writing it out? Of course, I know I can't pull this off all the time - but at least my second post is covered. After all, the quote above does have some value, doesn't it? :)

You will know how it goes for the next post, without me being explicit about it. Until then -

Swasti !!

Om

Om Namah! Sivayah!
Siddham Namah!
a aa e ee vu voo . . . .

Thus starts a typical, orthodox Andhra Hindu kid's entry into the literary world!! With the father or a grandfather or another respected elder in the family or friends orchestrating the tiny fingers of the little kid sitting in the lap to write the above mentioned, age old, first written words and letters of life! Strange as it might sound - those words come first and then come the alphabet. Well - ok! The intent is not to teach the kid those words first. It's just a traditional start.

Thus starts my foray into the blogosphere! As they say and as the title above shouts out - I will share my notes, thoughts and views - from time to time. If nothing else, this would serve as a good journal of myself henceforth - for myself. With little Chandra, Datta and Mahalakshmi at home - I am sure I will have something to share from their words of wizardom as well.

Swasti!

Note: Swasti (Sanskrit) - a compound of Su (well), and Asti (it is); meaning It is well. A salutation meaning, may it be well with thee!