Column

Finally, we have woken up. It took the killing of almost 200 people at one go to shake us out of our slumber. Finally, we have discovered our role as citizens, and are intent on making our politicians accountable, in voicing our outrage, in making our protest known through the ballot box. The sleepy, self-indulgent middle class is raring for change.

Actually, it was not the numbers. It took the deaths of friends and family to make the snug, urban middle class sit up and take an interest in the body politic. The devastation playing out on live television in favoured restaurants and familiar hotels brought terror home. The killing of the rich and powerful in five star settings shattered the image of terrorism as something that happened to the less privileged — in Kashmir, or in buses and trains, in mosques, in crowded marketplaces.

Others were already shaken up. Those who travel in local trains or buses,who elbow their way through the sweaty crowds of a teeming market, those who have been attacked for years by all kinds of terrorists, but still travel by bus and train and shop in the markets. The class that makes the world nod approvingly, praising our resilience.

Sometimes we respond through the ballot box. But the more privileged usually don’t have the time to vote. Standing in line with the unwashed masses is a complete waste of time for people whose time is precious; they should really have a home delivery service for ballots. Besides, governments don’t matter, there will always be someone who has influence with the powers that be, someone every rich and famous citizen knows who can get their work done.

A poem by German leader Martin Niemoeller, has been echoing in my head since the Mumbai attacks.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a communist;/ Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist;/ Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist;/ Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew;/ Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.

The scene changes when terrorism embraces the elite. Thankfully, the latest attack in Mumbai sparked off citizen activism on a level never seen before. Spearheaded by the urban upper middle class, this goes beyond a candlelight vigil or making sympathetic noises. Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against lighting candles to protest. We have done it for decades at the Wagah border. It hasn’t helped, as you can see. We need to go beyond the symbolism — a candle on your windowsill or an army of candles at India Gate or the Gateway of India may be touching, but for changes in governance we need more long-term involvement. Unfortunately, if you are even slightly proactive you are quickly labelled a jholawalla, and if you manage to actually organise things and root for change you are slotted as an activist, who by definition is a bit of a fanatic, may be linked to unsavoury characters and must never be taken seriously.

So it is fantastic to see the coming together of citizens of Mumbai, and other Indian metros, to find ways of constructively using their anger, of debating issues together that may lead to new roadmaps for a better India. I hope this time we use the tools of democracy that we — with the privilege of education and access — can use best to make our country safer not just for us, but for everybody.

The writer is editor, The Little Magazine.
Email: sen@littlemag.com