Mumbai Blasts – Can the Common Man be at Fault?

The blasts in Mumbai have devastated the city once again. The morale of Mumbaikars is at rock bottom while they see no signs of hope or change. Streets where the music of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ echoed are now immersed in blood and fear. The sights are too gruesome for our appetite and the cries too agonizing for our ears. Though we try hard to convince ourselves that this is just a bad dream and rationalize our helplessness, this time we just aren’t succeeding. The city is still, lifeless, even the heavens above are in tears.

Photo by Yogendra

Still all we do is wait for the politicians speech and look out for what they have to say. For some reason that I cannot comprehend, we expect different results this time. Maybe this time the humanitarian nature of our politicians will overcome their greed for money, or our fight for human rights will come to an end. But unfortunately our hopes were short lived. Once again we were agitated by their response and future security plans, once again we felt vulnerable, yet what surprises me the most is that many of us do nothing about it.

They say India’s youth has a bright future; brilliant minds enter the workforce bringing in innovation and change as they excel across the globe. Let me ask the youth something: How many of you voted in the last elections? If you did vote, did you vote for a party you respected that shared values and objectives similar to yours? Would you be willing to go for coffee and have a conversation with any of its members? Think about it, either we don’t care enough about our country in which case we have absolutely no right to complain when events like the Mumbai blasts occur, or we've consciously picked members to govern our life and security that we wouldn't even want to have coffee with. Who is really at fault? It’s difficult to take the blame on ourselves but it’s true, we may have caused our own distress. The youth of India likes to boast as to how much they care about their country and how they would give up their lives for it. Have they ever considered living for their country instead?

Brilliant men can rationalize just about anything, what’s our excuse this time? If there is no political party that you truly respect, then create your own! You could call me ignorant but I don’t understand what is stopping us to create a party with bright and honest individuals and have them run in the next elections? Yes the political world can get dirty, but aren’t the streets of Mumbai much more gruesome right now? Are we all just scared? Is the brilliant youth of India not brilliant enough to govern its own country? Why do we keep pushing our responsibilities onto others and hope for someone else to be the saviour?  

Don’t get me wrong, I’m guilty of the same myself but I also realize that change is absolutely essential this time. We all have a part to play, how ever small it may be. Stop taking or giving bribes for your everyday conveniences and stand up for fellow humans when you see injustice. Take ownership to creating positive change yet ensuring that innocent lives are not put on stake. Wars and terror attacks have always been political conspiracies that common men become the victims to, aren’t we just being naive by asking for security from the culprits?

We can either spend our lives complaining about the political situation and living in fear or make a commitment to creating change ourselves. At the end of the day, we are the only ones to blame. It is our ignorance, our lack of desire to take responsibility and failure to stand up for justice that has led things to where they are. If we let evil brew in our home, one day it will enslave us!

Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

Heart breaking, frightful and nerve wrecking barely describe how I felt when I heard about the disaster. Not only is the video coverage disturbing, sometimes it even feels unreal. Really? I’ve seen the world crash in movies but in my heart I know that as soon as I leave the theater it will all disappear like it never happened. But this is real; there are no men in black that will save the planet or scientists who will put things back in place. The thing that frights me the most is to accept the fact that this time we have no solution.

From the feeling of disbelief and fear, to picking up pieces of what’s left while frantically looking for your loved ones, what Japan is currently going through is something we cannot even try to imagine. We may get the shivers when we read about it or even lose our appetite but that doesn’t even cover the tip of the iceberg on how it feels to be entrapped and left with no hope.

Photo Credit Pundit Press

I’m not here to dramatize the disaster, or make you sympathize with it, these are humane feelings that have to just come to you; they cannot be created or forced. What I am hoping to do is create awareness that though we feel deeply about such occurrences and empathize with people affected by it, doing so is not good enough. I have no doubts that your feelings and concerns are genuine and true in nature but your empathy is making no difference. It has helped no soul, fed no kid, aided no one in need, it has not even given a ray of hope to anyone as they are unaware that you cared.

Make a difference, how ever small it may be. Realize that you could be the man in black for someone hurt or the superwomen to someone who has lost it all. Every action counts and it’s the little steps that make all the difference. Skip a Starbucks latte and donate to trustworthy organizations, volunteer your time to collect funds or physically help with disaster relief and if you are tight on time and money: remember them in your prayers, it’s much more important than you can imagine.

Think about it, disasters happen and untill we are not directly affected by it, we empathize for a while and then simply go on with our daily lives like we would when we return from a theater. Don’t make your response to a great movie and a horrific disaster the same!

I’ve listed below a few good ways you can donate online. If you have any other ideas or suggestions please leave them in the comments.

Doctors Without Borders – They are already in the process of sending medical personnel’s and aid.

Global Living – Another great organization that is already on its way to provide help and support to victims and families.

Google’s Crisis Response Team – They generally have the most accurate and up to date information. From finding people to donating themselves and identifying best ways to help, they update as information is available.

Crisis Common – A great Wiki initiative to making a difference.

The Humanitarian Coalition - A Canada based organization that has teamed up with various organizations in Japan to assist in the relief efforts.