Filling the Big Empty by Rahul Bose

I came across this piece by my friend Rahul and wanted to share it with you all:

Standing at Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare’s funeral, I was struck by the people who had gathered to pay homage to one of the most upright, secular and committed officers of the Mumbai police. Politicians, college students, leaders of the Muslim community, activists, and other members of the police. And then the questions. Why does it take such an immense tragedy to unite us? Why does this sentiment snuff out seconds after the occasion? What is it in our DNA that allows leaders to walk into our rooms, rape us, leave and come back again when the need arises?

This is the greatest psychological blow that the city has received. People say the country, but I disagree. The fall of the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat riots have left deeper wounds. But as far as Bombay is concerned, 60 hours of television have brought the beginning, middle and end of this tragedy into our living rooms. We have seen guns, shoot-outs, murders, fires, commandos, traumatised survivors and destruction of every kind. And so have our children. My belief still remains that the practical effect of the attacks will be less than the effect that the 1993 and 2006 bombings had on the common Bombayite. Then it was a direct connection to fear: “Should I go back to work in Zaveri Bazaar? “Should I send my children on the trains tomorrow?” Now those fears are more general — anything can happen in this city, be careful. The psyche of Bombay will take a generation to recover.

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