PREFACE:i wasn’t thr when people where burning candles for Jessica Lal… wasn’t thr when they did it for the train blasts… wasn’t thr for any such occasion. Not tht I regret it, but I wud have liked to be thr. Cuz the thing is that such gatherings or movements or whatever it is that u wud like to call them, are more than just a bunch of people wasting wax… it is a statement that we r together in support for Jessica or we remember the ones who lost their lives or we r united against terror and such.
For doing this, we don’t HAVE TO burn candles. The point is, we get together to do something. We could do the cha-cha-cha for all it matters but then, it wudn’t suit the occasion wud it? So burning candles seems like a nice, decent, symbolic thing to do. Holding a debate is another thing but a ‘large group of Indians’ and ‘an organised debate’ doesn’t really go hand-in-hand (see the parliament for reference).
All this being said, on 03 December, 2008 when thr was a wild fire of sms and online facebook requests happening to gather at Gateway of India… I really didn’t wanna just go thr and burn candles. After the biggest attack on the country, when we have been spat on the face by the fucking terrorists who were roaming our roads running their AK-47s wild… I didn’t just wanna go and just burn candles. But I was dragged there by Sudha (thanks)… and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be.
For doing this, we don’t HAVE TO burn candles. The point is, we get together to do something. We could do the cha-cha-cha for all it matters but then, it wudn’t suit the occasion wud it? So burning candles seems like a nice, decent, symbolic thing to do. Holding a debate is another thing but a ‘large group of Indians’ and ‘an organised debate’ doesn’t really go hand-in-hand (see the parliament for reference).
All this being said, on 03 December, 2008 when thr was a wild fire of sms and online facebook requests happening to gather at Gateway of India… I really didn’t wanna just go thr and burn candles. After the biggest attack on the country, when we have been spat on the face by the fucking terrorists who were roaming our roads running their AK-47s wild… I didn’t just wanna go and just burn candles. But I was dragged there by Sudha (thanks)… and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be.
INCIDENT:
I reached a little late and some people had started leaving. Some. By some I mean 100-200. Yes. That is some people. Outside Churchgate station, upon asking “is thr traffic to reach Gateway?”, the taxi driver laughed at me and drove away! I walked from station to Gateway (round 3 kms) and the roads were looking as if they are footpaths! It may be difficult to imagine so I’ll give a number- it was said thr are around 2 lakh people in that area that night!! Protesting, marching, carrying banners, shouting slogans!! Everyone was prepared! Everyone!
Age, caste, religion, gender… nothing mattered but Nationality!!
As I closed in towards Gateway, the intensity of the slogans kept increasing!!
It started with:
भारत माता की जय!!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!!
to
वंदे मातरम!!
Vande Mataram!!
to
गल्ली गल्ली में शोर है, पाकिस्तान चोर है!!
Galli Galli Mein Shor Hai, Pakistan Chor Hai!!
to the ultimate…
मुंबई में आया भूत, पकिस्तान की माँ की छु *!!
Mumbai Mein Aaya Bhoot, Pakistaan Ki Maa Ki Ch*t!!
Thr were others like:
India Love You Love You… Pakistan Fuck You Fuck You!!
and a very interesting one that ended in “Pakistan G*ndu!!”
there were also some against politicians that I cant remember.
Everyone was shaking hands with, congratulating and even hugging the Police and the Commandos who were present there.
People were also out with all sorts of amazing banners. All you guys who were out there, reply with all the banners that u remember!! I cant recollect all of em.
Anytime someone came out with a new slogan, people cheered them to no bounds. By the end of the night, Police were themselves shouting slogans (the sober slogans) on the loudspeaker!!
People were also out with all sorts of amazing banners. All you guys who were out there, reply with all the banners that u remember!! I cant recollect all of em.
Anytime someone came out with a new slogan, people cheered them to no bounds. By the end of the night, Police were themselves shouting slogans (the sober slogans) on the loudspeaker!!
The last banner that came in was a Muslim group of people that ran in between the crowd with the banner that read:
Declare Pakistan A Terrorist State!!
It was just amazing to see the unity there. If you missed it, you have missed the chance of a lifetime!! You may never get to see such unity amongst fellow Indians, at one place!!
Later we went to Leopold. We waited 20 min to get a seat. Even there--at Leopold--the slogans continued. In fact, we even stood up to stand the National Anthem!! The foreigners were dazzled as to what the fuck happened to these guys but they stood up and joined us none the less!!
Later we went to Leopold. We waited 20 min to get a seat. Even there--at Leopold--the slogans continued. In fact, we even stood up to stand the National Anthem!! The foreigners were dazzled as to what the fuck happened to these guys but they stood up and joined us none the less!!
CONCLUSION:
By the end of it, a few things have been understood:
People didn’t know what the hell they were doing there but they came.
Some praised India, some abused Pakistan, some abused the fucking politicians. But the point is, that they came and stood together in the time of adversity… even when there were SO MANY threats that there is going to be another blast there and a bomb was actually found on CST station!!
People didn’t know what the hell they were doing there but they came.
Some praised India, some abused Pakistan, some abused the fucking politicians. But the point is, that they came and stood together in the time of adversity… even when there were SO MANY threats that there is going to be another blast there and a bomb was actually found on CST station!!
We stood together that day because we wanted better… for us for our soldiers, for our police, for every Indian!!
How?
No one knew.
I still don’t.
But yes, I want better, we want better and we are willing to work for it… together!!
This is what we saw that day and realised:
We just need good leaders. Cliché, I know… but this is the fact of the hour!!
The day we have good leaders, this Nation is unstoppable.
So who is it gonna be?
I will, in time. When I know better. When im more able. But this country can’t wait.
So, again I ask… who is it gonna be?
You?
p.s. If you were there… please add your account of the situation.
How?
No one knew.
I still don’t.
But yes, I want better, we want better and we are willing to work for it… together!!
This is what we saw that day and realised:
We just need good leaders. Cliché, I know… but this is the fact of the hour!!
The day we have good leaders, this Nation is unstoppable.
So who is it gonna be?
I will, in time. When I know better. When im more able. But this country can’t wait.
So, again I ask… who is it gonna be?
You?
p.s. If you were there… please add your account of the situation.
