Why we will see action now?

When America's 9/11 happened, I was in an Indian classroom. I found my fellow classmates (future scientists) unperturbed by the WTC attack. The point is they would probably be unaffected even if WTC happened in India. Not to mention my genetics professor who continued with the experiment as if nothing had happened. I sighed, resigned to the insensitive, apolitical youth in India's urban centres.

Years later, I am in an American classroom when India's 9/11 happened last week. I sighed again. Not surprised this time. After all it is in an emerging / poor country far away from American shores, how would anyone care?

But the apathy in both situations was very sad. The general level of self-obsession and insensitivity is disheartening. I mean how many people are struck by deaths everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan?

It is the worst time to away from my home, to be swept away by the mass hysteria of the tragedy, to be overwhelmed with grief, guilt and fear, to be a part of a revolution, to be a part of an ever-growing cynicism.....I am missing the Obama moment in India. I was at a loss, thousands of miles away, unable to share my shock, anger and angst with anyone.

But I am convinced we will see some action now - because its not just people at VT who got killed, which the media chose to ignore (who talks about the common man anyway), but because foreign nationals and rich people got killed, we will see action. After all, the government cannot get away when rich people are killed. It just amazes me - the kind of statements we saw from Corporate India - "greater engagements with seats of power, to effectuate change", said one CEO. Of course. Not a Maoist blast in a far away bottling plant (god knows who got killed), mind you, but CEOs ducking for cover at Nariman Point! (Not to belittle the loss of lives - a life is precious - rich or poor.) The government cannot ignore that. Paisa kahan se milega? So CEOs lining up outside North Bloc for the annual lobbying will acquire a new meaning now. It will be lobbying of a different kind.

My despondency aside, a friend of mine has traveled to Leopold Cafe from Hyderabad, to experience the energy first hand. He said, the atmosphere was electrifying. God speed to the people of Bombay.

Something else, amuses me. Whats with all this hate speech against our dear politicians? What has changed suddenly? They are the same. ("....only 200 dead") If people are indeed angry with them, let them not vote for the Right People in saffron then. We cannot swing to the other extreme again. No way. Thats exactly what the U.S. did - people want action, they vote for the more militant.

Praying that public outcry is not short-lived. Let them fight not just for terror attacks, but rail accidents, bad hospitals, clogged sewage, bad roads, usurped forest land and what have you. Why tolerate anything at all? Stop paying taxes!