So what changed?
Four of the prime accused in the Mumbai Bomb blast case have been sentenced. Some others have been acquitted. Mr Shah who’s lost his eyesight in the stock exchange blast finally sees a faint glimmer of hope. Or does he?
It took 13 years to book these culprits. Several bombs have gone off in the interim, people have learnt to live with the fact that bombs, human and otherwise might travel with them in public transport and elsewhere. Apathy and resignation have overcome fear and terror.
Would faster justice have served as deterrent to future perpetrators, one can only speculate. But what one of the sentenced shouted in court on hearing the verdict is telling “Aaap hum logon ko terrorist bana kar hi chodoge” There are various ways that one can read that statement. Hum logon, stands for the community and not just the individual. There also is fatalism there, as if there’s no choice but to turn terrorist. It is also the frustration of a man who almost had come to believe that if he hadn’t been convicted in 13 years, he’d probably never be.
So what changes in our lives? Nothing at all.
There is still a bomb ticking in my mind
It took 13 years to book these culprits. Several bombs have gone off in the interim, people have learnt to live with the fact that bombs, human and otherwise might travel with them in public transport and elsewhere. Apathy and resignation have overcome fear and terror.
Would faster justice have served as deterrent to future perpetrators, one can only speculate. But what one of the sentenced shouted in court on hearing the verdict is telling “Aaap hum logon ko terrorist bana kar hi chodoge” There are various ways that one can read that statement. Hum logon, stands for the community and not just the individual. There also is fatalism there, as if there’s no choice but to turn terrorist. It is also the frustration of a man who almost had come to believe that if he hadn’t been convicted in 13 years, he’d probably never be.
So what changes in our lives? Nothing at all.
There is still a bomb ticking in my mind
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