Source: Indiatoday
The dastardly act of killing young children at an Army run school, Peshawar, the death count for which continues to rise; a teacher being burnt alive, is appalling. What scars and frustrates me more is that the best of news channels, coveted anchors, eminent speakers, sharing their point of view as I write this are busy analyzing the gaps, finding the genesis of the problem, indulging in armchair discussions and playing blame game. Apart from condemning this cowardly act in many different ways, paying their heartfelt condolences there is little being done. A moment of crisis calls for action and not deliberation. Why are we living in the past? Recalling guidance we gave. It’s akin to telling a child I always told you, you were in bad company and now you face the music. Why would we even care to respond to some outlier remarks holding India responsible when Taliban has taken accountability? For all the terrorism we have faced, for all the lives we have lost, to all the families who have witnessed tragedy would they want us to allow this to affect more lives. Would they wish humanity dead, especially since they were at the receiving end of it. Do we need an explanation on why we need to come together? Is it about religion, a country, boundaries, politics or about knowing that pain is no different anywhere for anyone. Empathy not apathy is what we need to lend ourselves too. I am perhaps a hopeless optimist or maybe oversimplifying the situation but I see this as a reason where India Pakistan rise to the situation, together. Complicating things have not brought us too far either. There is water under the bridge but is this the appropriate time for it to flood our judgment and sensibilities? I never saw partition, my dad did. Am half the patriot my dad is – he served Indian Army for 35 years, when I see his eyes well up at such gruesome acts of terrorism, am moved. Moved to unite, to help, to act. How can I ? How can we ?
Coverage:
BBC | NDTV | India Today | YouTube | Times Now | Twitter: PeshawarAttack , PakSchoolSeige
Curio-Cities by Dilpreeta Vasudeva 