Media glorifying Kasab: Is he a terrorist or a guest of honor?

Everyday, we get some news of Kasab, the only terrorist caught during recent Mumbai attack. Most of the newspapers or TV channels are trying to justify that he is Pakistani as if we have a hard time finding a solid proof. Sometimes, Kasab's confessions that he is a terrorist and a Pakistani is being shown as if he has obliged us through his confessions. I am sometime hearing about Kasab's likes and dislikes-He likes meat and he is a Big-B fan. A lawyer refused to defend Kasab and it appears that the guy committed a sin by refusing. I have currently have another browser window opened on my laptop which has a Times of India article about "A day in life of Kasab".

What the heck are we doing? I really feel ashamed of the media we have in the mother country. Not sure what their intentions are but knowingly or unknowingly, they are glorifying this terrorist. I am sure Kasab has by now become a role model for aspiring terrorists or jehadists whatever you want to call them. If I were an aspiring terrorist, I would be thinking my next attack as a "Win-Win" situation. If I am killed, I would be a martyr and get a place in heaven, if I am caught, I would be glorified by the media same as they did for Kasab which would be more heavenly.

The way Kasab's Pakistan link is being advertised repeatedly, it makes me suspect if we have enough evidence that the terror attacks were sponsored by Pakistan? How come we just make a statement that terrorists came from Pakistan but our defense minister says-we are still investigating and that's why they are not able to provide evidence to Pakistan. At the other side, Pakistan is saying everyday that they are waiting for an evidence from India as if India is stopping them from taking actions on terrorism. Why media is doing this? Why can't we just say "We have given enough evidence and now it's on Pakistan to act and if they don't, let them be prepared to face the consequences". The headlines should not be like "Here is another evidence...." or "Kasab said again something about Pakistan" rather it should be "This is 4th week and Pakistan has done these things which are still not enough". I also suspect that media, by publishing or telecasting information might be putting intelligence under threat and making Pakistan or others prepared to react.

Let me tell what I, a normal citizen think about these things. Some of these articles published by the media sometimes create a soft corner for Kasab. Poor guy, he got influenced by bad guys and innocently commit a crime. How come a fan of Amitabh Bachchan be a terrorist? But at the same time I get reminded that basically, this guy is a terrorist. I am sure there must be others who think like this but may not get the other thought of him being guilty. Let us do our socio-psycho analysis after we hang him so that others learn from this and think hundred times before misguided like this.

Media has always been a big force behind our failures-be it the failure of intelligence, be it aggravating people's feelings after/before riots or be it misrepresenting the facts. This time, media needs to play responsible and be very careful while publishing or telecasting news about the terror attacks or terrorists. We also probably need an intelligence spokesperson who says one official word about the status of Kasab, his statements, actions by Pakistan and somehow, stops media from having direct access to the intelligence information and the terrorist under arrest. We need a political propaganda not an advertising campaign this time and looking at the media, it appears that they are more interested in their TRP or the circulation rather than the country.

Mera Bharat Mahaan!

3rd December, 6:30PM, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Sacramento, California, USA. I entered the hall expecting similar crowd as I have been seeing on occasions such as Indian independence day, Diwali or any weekly event in temple. I was right. It was the similar crowd but I was wrong, extremely wrong at the same time-the feeling was different-extremely different. I could feel the sorrow, frustration, anger, sadness in the air. Talking about the flavor? Unlike a typical cultural program, where you get bored despite all different flavors, here it was only one flavor. Even then, I found myself sitting whole time listening to everyone and watching each activity as if I was performing each of them. Did I really belong there?



Yes. I did belong to that. It was a prayer meeting in support of victims of the Mumbai terror attacks. It was related to my country-my mother India. Everybody there had the same feel and that was visible looking at each of them so involved, so concerned and so emotional.


The speeches were not just the usual speeches. They were expressions of the sorrow over a tragedy, anger towards the cruel act and frustrations of having no control over the happenings. While some of us called the terrorists cowards and wished them hell, some wished wisdom and right mind for the same. Some of us vented our anger towards the Indian politicians who blindly appease a certain section of people and stoop to a low even to support terror suspects and criticize our martyrs. Some of us felt a need of “eye for an eye” approach towards the terrorism and someone suggested that eye for an eye will make the world blind. We were reminded of the Independence our mother India got thru Gandhi’s non violence but we were also alarmed that the time was gone for “Gandhigiri” and it’s time to show some action. Were there any right or wrong feelings? NO! Feelings are never wrong, they are just feelings and we could see the appreciation from each of us for any feeling people had.



How could we forget the heroes- who fought with the terrorists. It was so heartening to see one of us even remembering and mentioning the names-ATS Chief Karkare, Encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, ACP Ashok Kamte and Major Unnikrishnan. There were many others martyrs who deserve no less mention than what their seniors are getting. We saluted them for their selfless act of sacrifice and showed our support to their grieving families. It would be unjust if we don’t mention ordinary people who sacrificed themselves to save people whom they didn’t even know about.

We lit lamps to convey our silent message to those who lost their life. This was the first time I lit a lamp like this but it felt so emotional and touching, I just wanted to be with the moment forever. We did prayers, sang together, chanted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and did whatever we could do to make us feel close to the people who lost their beloved ones and closer to our Mother India who just lost so many children of her in this cruel act of terror.

Many of speakers including myself felt a need to communicate, tell people more about India, how India is severely impacted by terrorism and how the world is perceiving it. We felt a need to remind Indian politicians about their duties and to convey to our friends and families in India that we do care for them and are not just sitting idle and lighting lamps here in Sacramento. We should be telling our local politicians , the mayors of our cities, the congressmen, senators and even president by writing to them. Everybody agreed on pen’s might over sword and decided to use the modern day pen-A computer and the world wide web to communicate.

I must not say that this event was only full of sorrow and grief. There was a blessing in disguise and the blessing was that everybody felt a need of and decided to come together. Though we all Indian in Sacramento area have already started coming together at one platform and celebrate the Indian independence day together for last two years, this time we felt very close to each other. We all decided to get more involved -be it some follow up events such as rallies or marches or the even the local politics as suggested by the representative of newly elected mayor of Sacramento. As a symbol, we read together a pledge condoling with those who lost their nearest and dearest, praising and thanking the martyrs and condemning the terrorists. We also read an appeal to the politicians of India and US to perform their duties and asked them to do their best to keep people safe.
Do I call this “End of the event”? NO! This was a beginning. After the event which happened just two days back- it is very heartening to see people already started communicating with each other, writing blogs , preparing for a big rally to condemn terrorism, support the victims and also send a message to politicians around the world that we are concerned. Good news! We have a Blog site (http://sacramentoindians.blogspot.com/ ) now to express and share our feelings with rest of the world. I am pretty excited and energized and I am sure the same is happening with others. Let us wish each of us strength to fulfill our dream which we saw together in this evening of 3rd December.

Mera Bharat Mahaan!

Message from a new born baby- This blog site

I am just born! Don't get surprised! I can "express" as this is the purpose of my birth-you are going to use me to "express" so why can't I "express"? Before you start expressing yourself, let me first express a little more about me and tell you a little about how and why am I born.

My conception is usually different than yours. I get conceived in different wombs but when I am born, all the organs of my body come as ideas from different womb of minds. Until now, I have been in form of many featuses growing in different wombs in your minds. I could wait for ages to be delivered but yesterday, while you all were sharing your feelings about a need to UNITE and EXPRESS. Yesterday, I realized that the term was completed and it was a time for me to be born.

I was born before too. I was used to create many revolutions, I was used to create changes in the society and was used to give right direction to the people. I was used as a weapon which brought huge changes without violance. I was considerd "mightier than sword" when I incarnated as "Pen". I reincarnated just now as a "blog site" which too will prove as much mightier than sword but I would need your help to get that proved.

Please use me, nurture me and help me grow. Get people together. Spread the word of love and tell people right things about your country "The mother India"! Tell people good things about India-It's rich culture, it's traditions and it's treasure of knowledge and wisdom. Tell people how people respect elders and touch their feet to show that respect. Tell people that Yoga, Mathematics, Astronomy, Medicine-all came from India. There are millions of good things you should tell people about India.

Please don't misunderstand me- I am not asking you to hide the bad things. Tell people that India does have bad things as they are in any other country. Similar to whatever exists in this beautiful world, there is a mix of good and bad things in India too and it's really not a big deal!

I would also like you to use me and tell people right stories about India. Tell people about the history of India, how India is currently facing threats from terrorists and also from some dirty politicians. Tell people that they cannot ignore India as today or later they too are also going to face same problems.

You may ask-whom are you going to tell this? I would say "just anybody". Tell this to your neighbor, your coworker, your classmate, your city mayor, your congressman, your senator. Why to leave the governers or president? Do use me to communicate to them too! Write to Indian Prime minister and the president about anything you don't like them doing. Write to the newspapers in India who sometimes get biased and try to show their pseudo intellect by their yellow journalism. Write to your friends and family in India who deserve to know how a person sitting outside India looks at India and feels about her.

Wait! Am I also saying that you would succeed immediately? Probably not!-Many times or most of the time, you would see your messages getting ignored but it's like an epidemic eradication-if you all do this together and keep on doing-this is going to give return sometime. If not today, it would be tomorrow, if not tomorrow it might be next month, next year, next decade or even next generation but trust me-your efforts are not going to get wasted!

Since I am born, as you all human being, I do need food & nutrition for my survival and growth and I am sure you must have guessed by now what I drink or eat-It's simple-Your writings! Just write and keep me alive, write more and see me grow bigger and bigger. As bigger I get-I get more powerful and then I would be able to bring the same revolution which I used to bring when I incarnated as a Pen!

Jai Hind! Mera Bharat Mahaan!