A Building burns, testifying what is lost and what might be gained!
“The Taj” , Mumbai, we add an article before a noun to make it exclusive but here it is lot more than being just exclusive simply because it was or rather is a building that epitomizes royalty. I have grown up hearing stories on “The Taj” that here a cup of tea costs more than Rs 100 or Rooms are so clean that you are not sure whether you should lay your feet. It’s a hotel where all the rich and famous stay whenever they come to Mumbai.
I vividly remember the day when I visited the gateway of India; I saw this mammoth structure that made me feel very small and insignificant. I could see various small windows which had a person standing there and looking at the sea through binoculars and honestly I wished to see it from inside and have just one cup of tea if nothing else. But then it could not be fulfilled, hence I had to satisfy myself with a boat ride which was Good.
Just a couple of days back, not even in my wildest dream I thought that while I was sleeping this very building was burning in fire. I came to know about this in the morning and was shocked to see the view. Honestly it was like a sleek Hollywood movie, only the location, actors, Villains were real. One could saw reporters running from here and there catching hold of anyone who could spare a moment and describe it.
This is perhaps the first time when I saw live reports constantly in every channel. No matter what Mr. R R Patil says this is the worst attack till date and until something changes dramatically these kinds of things will continue happening. As it is not only the terrorist, it is the system which is causing this to happen.
As we know Corruption and Terrorism are two words with completely different meaning yet there is a thin line that joining them. Terrorism is so not possible without corruption. Even the religion is not as important as corruption is. What I understand when a bullet is shot it does not see who is at the either end. It just kills or simply goes on killing without any emotional or religious attachments.
Which is why I fail to understand that if I take an interview in any firm be it an Indian or a foreign MNC, I would never be entertained if I don’t match the skills that are required for the post. Politics is perhaps the only field where this doesn’t matter especially at state level.
This is just a small issue, but it doesn’t matter to these ministers who are often caught napping in these situations, Religion, caste, language and now region is a part and will always be a significant part of their road map for a seat. Thanks to the media which is doing an amazing work of creating awareness inspite of the fact that they dramatize events they are at least speaking boldly about things that are recklessly ignored by the politicians. They are making people aware and giving them opportunity to express themselves about what they feel. That is why people today turn up to media whenever they want to say something.
If media was not there then people who have resigned would never have done that, you don’t have to be Einstein to realize this. It’s high time that we as think ourselves as an Indian first than go by the vote bank politicians. I belong to Bihar which was at the receiving end of this regional politics and I completely understand the concern they have for the job which is being taken away from them but throwing them out is not the solution. People from Bihar and UP would never take what these terrorist have taken away. The reason why they migrate is because we feel things that are missing here is available in a big city like Mumbai same way a “Marathi manoos” dreams of going to newyork or Singapore or Malaysia. We are no different.
This might have happened in Mumbai but no matter which part of the country we belonged we all shared the pain and earnestly pray that this doesn’t happen again. Barkha dutt in her channel rightly said “Today we all are mumbaikars”!
As the time passes by we will be able to say with pride yet always in a somber mood as the scars will never ever go away…
“Arre Hazoor, WAAH TAJ kahiye”!
By,
Tulika Jyoti Vardhan
