Now What?

Update: Was money the motive for one of the attackers?

I write this knowing that some people may regard this as being too soon. The country is still mourning; the scenes of the bloodied railway station and of Sandra Samuel carrying 2 year old Moshe are still on constant replay – both on TV and in our own minds; funeral rites have not been completed. But I write this because I don’t want this to happen again.

A lot of blame has been thrown around – probably rightfully so – regarding who is to blame for the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Yes, people messed up. And yes, it is important for us to understand what went wrong so it does not happen again. But, let’s face it, pointing fingers doesn’t accomplish much. We need to shift from being on the defense to being on the offense.

So I suggest we start by asking ourselves the age-old question: what fuels people to commit acts of terrorism? Are some cultures more prone to commit terrorism? Well, although it does not seem like it, terrorism is not characteristic to specific groups. In recent history, terrorism has been committed by Islamic groups, Tamil Tigers, separatists in Northern Ireland and in the Basque region between Spain and France.. What about economic conditions? I was surprised to find studies which have shown that people who commit suicide are actually relatively better educated and economically well-off compared to their peers. Which leads me to what I propose is the constant - a belief that an injustice has been committed.

The terrorists’ message is that they do not like the way something is and the only (read: effective) way to change the status quo is to engage in violent activities, which will scare governments into giving into terrorist demands. And this is where India – and any country fighting terrorism – can begin to take back control. Send the message loud and clear that there are other ways to be heard. Reach out to religious and education leaders, promote inter-faith or inter-community dialogue. And these interactions should not be symbolic. Follow through on proposed actions that result from these talks.

Granted, this strategy of integration is not a complete fix. It is already clear that India needs to take a good luck at how it handles security. Also, governments’ powers are limited to their area, so we are at the mercy of other countries, to a certain extent. Furthermore, as long as the Osama bin Ladens exist (and they will always exist), there will always be people who are ready to exploit people's vulnerabilities, who are going to reach out to people who are already upset and are searching for a scapegoat and channel that negative energy into terrorism and the like. We cannot put ourselves in the position where they can point to us as a scapegoat, as the enemy. And this is where dialogue and education comes in. It is ridiculous to think that all demands will be satisfied. But is it ridiculous to think that a society makes the effort to be all-inclusive? Is it ridiculous to believe that everyone should expect that they will need to make compromises and to adapt once in a while?

I am certain that there will be people who are offended by what I have written. Terrorism is wrong. It’s horrific. But how are we going to stop it if we do not take the time to understand why it is happening in the first place? If anything, we need to remember all the lives that have been lost. The innocence that has been snatched from us. India’s foundation has been shaken. It’s time to rebuild. Let’s make the foundation stronger.

Mumbai Under Attack

Update: IBN is also reporting that there has been a seige at the Nariman House, where a Jewish Organization is housed.

While filing a story today at WHYY, I looked up at the TV and saw the Breaking News - "Mumbai Under Attack." Although the details are still coming in, there were machine-gun and grenade attacks at the iconic Taj Hotel, the Leopold Cafe - a popular tourist destination, the luxe Oberoi Hotel, the central Victoria Terminus station and a hospital for women & children. Death toll is said to be around 75 with the number of wounded around 240. Stories like this are devestating because of the loss of life and terrifying because of what the potential implications are.

How are Mumbaikars going to respond? Already the Shiv Sena had already been stirring things up in Mumbai and this incident will very likely get more people on their side. They'll use anything to poison people's minds. Mumbai needs to be prepared for Hindu-Muslim riots. I'm scared. Pakistani President Asif Zardari recently said that India should not feel threatened by Pakistan. What is India's relationship with Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world going to look like after this? And you can't forget upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The "what ifs" are always the most upsetting. What if this could have been stopped? After the 2006 bombings on the local trains in Mumbai and after the bombings in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Assam (the list goes on...), there should have been more security. But when I was in Mumbai, people were not required to go through security when entering train stations (and this is true in other major train stations too). When I was at the Gateway to India (right in front of the Taj Hotel, which is in flames as we speak) or staying with a friend at the Oberoi, there was no security. Same with the general Colaba area, which is teeming with people - tourists, street vendors, rich and poor.

I recently saw Slum Dog Millionaire. In that film, Mumbai was like its own character, it took a life of its own. To see what is happening there right now is indescribably painful. You hate to hear about things like this happening anywhere, but it is so different when you have a relationship with a place.

I hope that this is settled really soon and I hope there are no serious consequences.

Slum Dog Millionaire

Last night, I saw Danny Boyle's Slum Dog Millionaire. The movie has been getting a lot of good reviews, and I definitely understand why.

The premise is that Jamal, a boy from the slums, is one question from winning Rs. 20,000,000 (approximately $400,000 dollars in today's world of $1 is worth Rs. 50) on a "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" type show. The film tracks events in Jamal's life that have brought him to where he is now. Jamal's difficult life is sometimes hard to digest, but his goodness gave me reason to hope. It's a great feel-good (verging on sappy) story.

The great thing about the film was how engaging it was. Right from a chase scene that occurs five minutes into the film, I was on the edge of my seat. The film was very beautifully filmed. I loved the fast-paced transitions between the past and present. As usual, Irfan Khan was good, and Dev Patel was well cast as the lead character, Jamal. But I really thought it was the kids in the movie who stole the show.

The film is not flawless. There are holes in the story line and the light feel of the film sometimes felt contrived. But the film just carries you and it is really hard to find fault with anything about it.

So yeah, go see it.

Is it just me, or is this really obvious?

Today, while going through the news in my usual compulsive manner, I came across a story about a West Virginia town that recently received a poor bill of health. The mayor's excuse: he would rather focus on the economy. Now here's something I would like to look into, a topic I would like to pursue - how does a healthy community affect its economy? Government would have to spend less on healthcare. People would have to spend less on their health, and would (ideally) have more savings. Businesses would benefit. Why aren't there more attempts to "stimulate" an economy by promoting healthy lifestyles? Obviously, I haven't invested too much time into researching this topic, but it just seems like common sense.

Race in the post-election US

On Tuesday, I attended Mentor Awareness Day - hosted by Senator Arlen Spector and Mayor Michael Nutter. There were a few hundred kids and the press conference was in a gymnasium. Background noise + a lot of echo means recording quality was not great.

Mayor Nutter is a celebrity! The kids, even after a morning of sports clinics, were more than willing to wait in a line that snaked around the gym to get Mayor Nutter to autograph their t-shirt. As Senator Spector observed, the kids were much more enthusiastic about cheering for Mayor Nutter than President-Elect Obama.

Which brings me to an uncomfortable observation. You'll understand why it's so uncomfortable in a second. The day was dedicated to encouraging Philadelphians to commit time as mentors to students. I'll search and post some hard data, but Senator Spector said that mentorship programs help keep kids off the street and more focused - obviously having a positive affect on kids' lives. Senator Spector and Mayor Nutter alluded to the President-Elect multiple times, obviously because of his race (most of the kids in the room were African American). They said now the world knows that race is no longer an issue, the election proved that anyone can become anything. They asked who in the room wanted to become President of the United States. As expected, every child raised their hand.

How did I choose to interpret what Nutter and Spector were saying? We can no longer make any excuses. Race is no longer what prevents one from being successful. But this is why I feel uneasy: People like Condoleeza Rice, Toni Morrison, Colin Powell, Michael Nutter (for consistency, I'm focusing on African Americans) have proven over and over again that one can be successful, in spite of race. Have their stories meant nothing?

I also think that people may be celebrating America's new age of race relations a little too soon - The election filled a public sector position and forced Americans as a group to make a statement about race in the US. What about the private sector?

Also, what implications will this have on Affirmative Action laws. Will people be able to play the minority card? (personally, I don't think they should - for the same reason I don't believe in India's quota system). As usual, no answers from me. But I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Veterans' Day

So today was Veteran's Day. As usual, on my drive back from Philadelphia, I saw the homeless veteran who waits at the stop sign right before the 95 South ramp. Since day one of my making the trip home from WHYY, I have noticed the luggage and bedding stored underneath 95 - that underpass is someone's home.

I remember how miserable I used to be in Bagar - night temperatures hit freezing levels and we did not have heating. But I was inside - I didn't have to deal with wind, or the constant rumble of traffic over my roof. Does anyone who lives underneath a busy highway ever get proper rest? Does the constant rumble eventually feel like a lullabye-esque whirrr?

I REALLY wanted to give the homeless veteran some money today, as it was Veterans' Day. I didn't. My rationalization was that the city doesn't want me to - the PSA on the bus shelter on Arch Street tells me so. But I felt helpless and EXTREMELY useless as I got onto that ramp.

Happy Veterans' Day

Follow up to my previous post

In response to recent criticism regarding her selection, Sonal released the following statement"

"As an Indian-American who has lived in this country since the age of four, serving on the Obama-Biden transition team is a unique privilege for me. A presidential transition is always a time of excitement and, in some cases, of rumors and unfounded gossip. I'd like to set to rest a few baseless and silly reports that have been circulating on the Internet. First, my personal politics have nothing in common with the views espoused by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or any such organization. I've never been involved in Indian politics, and never intend to do so. Second, I've always condemned any politics of division, of ethnic or religious hatred, of violence and intimidation as a political tool. Some factually inaccurate internet rumors have attempted to link me to Hindu Nationalist groups through a variety of tenuous connections: Relief work I'm proud to have helped coordinate following the Gujarati earthquake of 2001, or cultural and religious affiliations of some of my family members, or apolitical humanitarian work I've been privileged to do as a founder of the NGO Indicorps and as the Director of Global Development for Google.org. Finally, I do not subscribe to the views of such Hindu nationalist groups, and never have. Ridiculous tactics of guilt by association have been decisively repudiated by the American people. I am delighted with what the victory on November 4 says about my country, and about our place in the world. I look forward to serving our President-elect in this time of transition."

Congratulations Sonal Shah!

On Friday, I found out that one of the people I hold in highest regard - Sonal Shah - had been selected for President Elect Obama's transition team. While my personal interactions with Sonal have been limited, she co-founded Indicorps, an organization that has changed my life.

I was very saddened to discover that attempts continue to de-value Sonal's commitment to community. Going through the blogs, I saw claims of Sonal's links to right-wing organizations like RSS and VHP.

I am at a loss of explanation; I do not understand the motivation. All I do know is that Indicorps is case and point of what Sonal stands for. As an Indicorps fellow, I saw firsthand an organization committed to encouraging dialogue; to investing in young people who want to be changemakers; to having a postive impact on any community with which we interacted; to promoting the message of our common humanity - not to promoting any message of hate or division.

One reason I was so confident about President Elect Obama - I knew he would surround himself with good people. So please, join me as I congratulate Sonal for this amazing opportunity and let her know that she has our support!

Please visit former Indicorps Fellow Rish Sanghvi's blog for more details of accusations and what Rish has to say in her defense.

My love affair with the fall continues

I looked out the window today and saw a blanket of leaves at least three layers deep on the space where Dits and I used to play badminton. I decided to stop watching 3rd Rock and enjoy the weather and be productive at the same time. Twenty minutes later, the grass peeked out.

Thanksgiving is coming. I've been meaning to make gingerbread...it'll happen soon enough.

My new obsession? Textured tights - especially the heavy ones that will keep me warm aaaaalllll winter long. I no longer have to curb my love for dresses! It makes me a much happier person.

Finally - Every day, I read about people not being able to pay mortgages and the crisis that car companies and retails face. I phonebanked and canvassed for president-elect (the italics signify the giddiness and the chills I feel every time I say that) OBAMA. He, rightfully, called out to all Americans to do their part. Post-election I've found myself without that "sense of purpose" that we talked so much about. I think I am going to start volunteering at a shelter. Do what I can.

Election Reactions

So, unless you've been living under a rock, you must know that Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States. I was at WHYY all night, so I was listening to commentary and monitoring CNN very closely. As soon as PA went blue, I was able to breathe again.

I spent some time at the local polling place and at the office of State Senate candidate, John Linder. It was so surreal to see people with walkers coming in to submit their vote and to hear about the lines that snaked around the block. There is no doubt that it is a historic day for our country, but there were also some sobering results:

In California, for example, Propisition 8 (which bans same-sex marriage), passed. Proponents of same-sex marriage will not let this issue die easily, but why did it pass? And in Florida, Amendment 1 was a measure that would repeal an old law banning Asian immigrants from owning property there. The ban cannot be applied because of federal equal protection laws, but in Florida, with 78% of precincts reporting, 52% had voted to preserve the clause! Can you imagine??

So people throughout the US are rejoicing. Obama's election symbolizes the role of race in our culture. But results from California and Florida show how far we have to go before all men are truly treated as equals.