How 26/11 changed us
-Photo by Helen.
“I still recall the unfortunate day. The entire country was revving up for a cricket series between England and India. Nobody could have prepared for how drastically their lives were about to change, forever,”said Aarika Sinha who hails from Mumbai and was visiting her grandparents in India during November of 2008.
The catastrophe which was aptly described as the 9/11 of India by Pakistan’s former minister of foreign affairs, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, altered the lives of many Indians. Many believe that the synchronised audacious attacks — that paralysed the financial hub of India — changed the lifestyles and behavior of many if not all.
“I lost one of my dearest friends in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was waiting for the train at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). The attackers fired a bullet that tore through his neck. If you ask me whether the execution of Kasab has healed all the wounds then I would certainly say no. More than a hundred Indians lost their lives without any reason whatsoever because of fundamentalists who believe that our mere existence is against the principles of their religious and national ideology. They killed indiscriminately without any mercy or empathy towards the inevitable misery faced by the families and friends left behind,” a Mumbaikar recounted his memories of the attacks on condition of anonymity.
The tragic incidents that unfolded on 26/11 claimed the lives of husbands, wives, children and parents. Socially and politically it affected the already tense relationship between many Indians and Pakistanis who were left to bear the repercussions and carry the resentments of the atrocious attacks.
“I have always been an optimist and believe in peaceful coexistence. Since I live in the United States I get the opportunity to meet people from different religious backgrounds, cultures and traditions. I have many friends who are originally from Pakistan, especially Karachi, and a part of me shattered when it was established that many attackers were from Pakistan. A part of me became cynical. I started questioning whether the friendliness of the Pakistanis I know is genuine or are they hiding behind this façade of camaraderie with Indians just because we live outside India and Pakistan. The incident actually estranged my relation with Pakistanis although none of what happened was their fault. In retrospect, if I had to admit whether I blame Pakistanis for the deadly attacks I would have to say no but I do blame the security regime and the state for their involvement and failure to protect innocent Indian lives,” Sinha added.
Although, I know for a fact that a major chunk of Pakistanis do not intend any harm to Indians, I was still appalled to find that Pakistanis were behind the attacks — an attack which paralysed Mumbai for 60 hours. I truly felt ashamed, knowing that a group of my fellow countrymen were responsible for an act of such massive destruction with complete disregard to precious human lives. Never had I felt such emotions of disgust and embarrassment. Primarily because some of the militants hailed from Pakistan, however, I must assure you that they did not represent the sentiments of true Pakistanis who bear no ill-will against Indians, Americans or innocent citizens of any other country.
Although every killing is equally deplorable and heart wrenching, the brutal murder of the Jewish couple that owned the Chabad or Nariman House, was especially painful. The infant son of the couple, two years of age, survived the ordeal but was left an orphan. I will never be able to forget the picture of his tear smeared face on the day of his parents’ funeral — screaming “Ima, Ima” meaning “Mama, Mama” in Hebrew — as long as I live.
Ajmal Kasab — the only surviving attacker — was executed in India last week. For many, his execution brought closure, whereas for some his “speedy” trial and rejection for clemency raised questions about the Indian judiciary.
On the other side of the spectrum, organisations which indoctrinate young minds took his execution as a reason for launching attacks in retaliation. Lashkar-e-Taiba — a banned militant outfit alleged for perpetrating the dastardly attacks — recently issued a statement claiming that Kasab will be remembered as a hero and “will inspire more attacks”. At the same time Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was shocked at his execution and “vowed to avenge his death” by targeting Indians.
It is a fact that militant factions recruit and brainwash impressionable minds and then use them as pawns to kill innocent people. Most people are shown golden dreams of being granted a palatial mansion in heaven for persecuting Indians, Jews, Christians, Muslim minorities and other non-Muslims. What remains unfathomable is how can manslaughter of innocent men, women and children help anyone to achieve a heights of piety? God created life to be appreciated. Most of us know that such fundamentalist groups only serve one God called “money and power” and I truly feel sorry for the youth that falls for their devious traps as they hail from poor backgrounds and do not have enough awareness.
Today marks the 4th anniversary of the deadly Mumbai attacks and although nothing I say or do would be able to placate the survivors or compensate the loss of innocent blood, I would still like to take this as an opportunity to apologise to the relatives and families of all the Indians, Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Israelis and other victims who lost their lives in this tragic act of terrorism.
I hope that nothing of the sort ever happens again and pray that we all learn to value human lives. I yearn to see a day in which religions are taken as a basis for embracing unity, humanity and treasuring life. Our only chance of survival as a human race lies in living and letting live.
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
One question always lingers in my head. If Pakistani Security apparatus were really serious about cross border terrorism should not they have crack down on them? Guess people in Uniform either have no interest or are stopped from doing there work for greater strategic depth. Wonder if this depth will put Pakistan in the deep trenches of religious exterimism and put other countries on receiving end.
Not sure if there is any way for Pakistan to make U Turn from going to extrimism. Same things for Indians too. It has become a catch 22 situation. Where extrimism in one country feeds equally extrimist response from another country which again feeds into extrimisn in first country.
Secondly not sure why there where questions on speedy juistice? It took 4 years to hang someone who clearly comitted this deeds as per available and acceptable proofs. If hanging someone is a right thing to do or not is a different issue. Maximum prescribed punishment as per IPC was sentenced and executed. Nothing was done outside the permissible law.
No one in india asks why Kasab sounded like an indian rather tahn an URDU speaking Pakistani and why his mercy letter to Indian PM was in Hindi.
Kasab is a “anguta chaap” . His mercy petition was written by the lawyer, appointed by the Govt. of India to represent him.
maybe we in India also read that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif confirmed that Kasab is a Pakistani, and also later confirmed by National Security Advisor of Pakistan Mahmud Ali Durrani. The fact that Kasab is a Pakistani was accepted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Pakistan. Even Kasab’s father, a Pakistani citizen confirmed that Kasab was his son. Now if Kasab sent his letter in Hindi, maybe we in India kept him alive for too long… sorry for that. We made sure that he will no longer send the letters to our President.
No one said Kasab wrote the mercy plea with his own hands. Can he even write a letter?
@Faiza Mirza:
You are right .Fundamentalists believe that our mere existence is against the principles of their religious and national ideology.Fortunately or unfortunately you don’t have enough capable intellectuals in your society to stand up against it and unfortunately our liberals close their eyes despite tons of instance through out the world.These fundamentalist think they are superior and rights to kill others , but the fact is completely different and they lag in all the fields.
But what about the atrocities the Indian Army is committing for the last 65 or so years in Kashmir. What about the fact that it was Mr. Nehru who brought the Kashmir issue to the UN but did he himself or any Indian government bothered to honor their words.
And what about the internal problem of Pakistan in 1970 when people of ”Mukti Bahni” were trained and sent to East Pakistan / Bangladesh to kill thousands of West Pakistani civilians who were in the other part of Pakistan.
And after all that when at last the ”Shimla” agreement came into force, the Indians did not stop but in 1984 opened a new front on Siachin.
The international community is on your side as India is a large country / market. So what do you expect that when one can find no justice in a peaceful manner.
Justification for 26/11 and the killing? Stop the jehadi fight, roll back LeT, JeM and others and the army will have no need to be in Kashmir.
Should I get started about Bangladesh, Balochistan, atrocities committed by the Pashtuns when invading Kashmir in 1947, 26/11 itself, support for Khalistan and a laundry list of other terrorist attacks that originate in Pakistan and use them to justify a batch of crazy Indians doing the same thing to Pakistan in the future?
Thats the point. Both India and Pakistan have done so much atrocites than 26/11 or other 11 since 1947. Sad but true.
So you also wanted India to execute 70k captured paki soldiers ?
Thank you sir that was excellent
. Love Pakistan forever.
Yes,love pakistan,and hate all others forever.Thank you,sir.
Keep loving Pakistan and hide all its problems under Kashmiri Rugs till it becomes so bad that its existence is at stake.
Well, I can just sympathize that you do not know the difference between a war (civil-war ?) or deaths due to terrorism. Your comment is a reflection to the extremist thought prevailing in your society. You are loosing precious human lives and your image is getting dented daily and still you support terrorism. Only a mentally sick person can justify 26/11.
If you want to take a revenge, come on a level playing field and fight on the border, but you know that it needs lot of guts to do that, which you extremely lack and the easiest way is to walk-in quietly and then kill unarmed innocent man/woman and children.
Believe it or not, but curses never go unanswered. All of us pay to ours sins, sooner or later! If one doubts, visit Pakistan and have look, you will start believing in it !!
Agree. But you cannot blame the whole Pakistan for only 2-3% of sick minded people who are not just killing indians only but more of muslims. And Faiza shouldnt be apologizing on behalf of those sickos
Pakistan has not moved a finger against the LeT bosses (or allowed India access to them or even their voiceprints – which is why India did not allow access to the 26/11 witnesses.)
This foot dragging is done by Pakistani politicians, the judiciary that lets them go, the police force that will not stack up evidence to keep them locked up, by the establishment – ALL in the name of the “aawaam” that they are claiming to protect.
The author is part of the “aawaam” and she can see through the charade. Hence the apology.
And before you say Samjhauta Express, you should know that India has shut down the low life’s who did that.
I don’t think a society can produce terror at such a scale if only 2-3% of it’s members are sick minded. If that was really so, then the other 97% would have been able to keep them in control. Look at India. We have our share of Hindu Taliban. But they are not numerous enough to hold India to ransom. Case in point is the arrest of two college girls for writing a comment on facebook which was uncomplimentary to Bal Thackrey and Shiv Sena. The arrest was made under pressure from Shiv Sena group. Within a week three senior policemen (including the SP) and the judge who accepted the case rather than throwing it out immediately have been suspended and the case has been closed. If a similar thing had happened in Pakistan, the girls would either have been rotting in prison or lynched by a mob of momins.
So Mukti bahini cross border terrorism was a fair war in your view. how do you argue with people who have one rule for themselves and another for….Tehy are learning from US and Israel, do as we say not as we do.
I think we need to break all ties with the indians until they say sorry for bangladesh which was a thousand times greater tragedy than 26/11.
After 65 years of atricities by Indian Army in Kashmir, hardly any Muslims migrated to Pakistan. But ALL Kashmiri Hindus have been ethnically cleansed by poor, oppressed, peace loving Kashmiri Muslims. These Kashmiri Hindus have become refugees in Jammu and Delhi, in their country.
Why only 65 years .. lets talk about .. gaznavi, ghauri, babar, aurangjeb all those muslim and peace loving butcher of peaceful Islam loving followers? Can yo Justify 26/11 now? This will never end .. what a shame on educated pakistanis.. Talk to malala and humid mir.. they may explain to you. In 65 years if you have not understood then now is the time… Kashmir is India .. no matter how many 26/11 happens.. and more it happens .. Indian resolve will be more stronger…
@Faiza Mirza: Your views are commendable.And tnx Dawn for running this article.
You have seen that even after so much negativity there’s a big chunk of humans leaving across the border.
Faiza, wonderful way to express the truthfulness of Pakistanis’ feelings…A writer like you can definately bring change in society..However I sincerely hope that such articles need to get in publish in local languages so that it should touch more and more hearts rather than of the people who only understand English and having priveldge to be being on net……!!!
u r a typical paki. doubting indian judicial system. it was a priority case and rarest of the rare.
Nobly said, Madam. I couldn’t agree with you more. I hope more and more Pakistanis begin to think like you.
There is much in the history of the subcontinent that is personally disgusting to me, e.g., the partition and its accompyanying riots on both sides. Those who were killed or uprooted then were also innocent people who suffered for no fault of theirs. At the same time, the partition, far from solving any problem, has created many more.
Even so, no one in his senses shall think of reversing past events. We can only think in terms of what we do next. Here the best guide is your line: “Our only chance of survival as a human race lies in living and letting live.”
India and Pakistan can hurt each other a great deal. They do not need to do that. Together they could do a lot for the good of the people of the subcontinent.
V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 26 Nov 2012, 1835 IST
Partition was a really great thing for Hindus.Without partition,26/11s would had happened on daily basis all over India.
26/11 should not be forgotten , just like Holocaust, , SO that we do not repeat any part of subcontinent .Also like Germany respect the fact Pakistan should also express symbolic respect on this day . than Indian people will believe that Pakistan is also serious ELSE CROCODILE TEARS
Bangladesh should not be forgotten….
Ask to any Bangladeshi.. they will have better answer.. And watch out many more bangladesh will be created… Balochistan.. Pakhtunistan… Northistan.. Westithstan.. Finally karachistan… Your Islamabad will remain pakistan.. Good luck to you and like minded pakistanis.. May allah wish your wishes
Keep remembering about Bagladesh and dont let it to be forgotten.Blame India for your misery and soon Pakistan will be forgotten only to be found in history.
Ayesha Siddiqa wrote that when she asked university students in Lahore, Karachi & Islamabad what they thought about handing over Hafiz Saeed & other conspirators of Mumbai attack to India to improve relations; the students response was that they want improved relations with India, but didn’t want the conspirators to be handed over
They will be next generation of leaders & administrators in Pakistan and look at their attitude..It doesn’t augur well for a change in Pakistan’s attitude towards its neighbours
Indian attitude can only come from arrogance as if they think Pakistan is their colony or something…
Pakistanis have leaned this(above) language after being at the receiving end of the terror. I appreciate it though.
Fauzia through you writing you have shown the humane side of common Pakistanis, which are a majority..
I hope this article, like the others you write, touches the hearts of any extreme right wing individuals who have been blinded by hate from both countries. It addresses the right points, and ends in a poignant manner relating to a sense of humanity that we must all possess in order to move forward.
Through thousands of years of history, we were one people, one race and just 60 years of separation has unfortunately brought about so much animosity that we have events like 26/11. To combat that, we continue to need writers like yourself who propagate peace, and dispel the myths that have been reasons for hate. Organised religion has been made as a political tool by many, and only when each of us understands that faith in God is only a very individual matter, we can minimise the number of incidences like 26/11.
It is sad that 25 years old wasted his life for hate that was infested in his brain. The question is, how we can stop this madness. Who is behind it? It has to be analyzed subjectively and objectively. Truth will not be revealed for many years to come…..
Faiza, my dear, if you wish to settle in India, you are most welcome. You can also bring some of your fellow journalists in Dawn. But for most Pakistanis, we do not want them even to visit India. We do not like Pakistanis, end of story.
By the way, not wishing well for “most pakistanis” is not good. You should try to introspect why you hate someone without any reasons.
Passing a blanket statement like ”We do not like Pakistanis” is very pathetic and immature. The only way to move past Indo-Pak relations that are essentially just a stalemate before another conflict, and overcome suspicion and hate, is to open your mind and your heart. I could say I dislike Indians – but that would get me nowhere. Grow up. Most Pakistanis bode you well, even if our establishment does not.
I sincerely hope you break out of this narrow minded hatred. It takes a lot – but I’m sure you’re capable of it.
Agree with you. Fazia’s article is beautiful and let us leave it at that.
Nopes, please do not compare your establishment with ours ! And believe me, we do not like “Pakistanis” at all, call it generalizing or anything. Do not visit us ! Please !!!! No Cricketing ties ! no Aman ki aasha!
then why are you trolling on Pakistani websites. stay home and cry for bal thackrey
do you really think we pakistanis care about your hatred comments in a pakistani newspapers with all thumbs up and stuff? NO and stop playing double standards for YOUR god’s sake. You can keep Faiza, we really dont want her in our land
Hate is a dangerous emotion. When you hate some one, you become a little bit like him. So beware.
And your web-name is “Human”? Very sad. Let me assure you, Faiza doesn’t speak for the majority of us. A lot of us despise you tremendously.
Please take her we need people who love this country not hate it.
Finally you admit your own hatred and the reason for this media blitz against Pakistan. 26/11 has given you a good license to kill and vent your own hatred harboured for years.
there are many unanswered questions about 26/11 which indians are nto willing to ask fearing the outcome.
wwwoooooowwwwwwwwwww well written!!!!!!!
Your apology is a reflection of the humane in you, Faiza. You will never know exactly how 26/11 changed us. I, who had until then, not catered in any manner to any anti-Muslim thought, began to wonder. Today I have studied the life of Mohammed and know now that the attack on Mumbai is in keeping with his teachings, actions and preachings. This makes my very existence anti-Islam, by Islam’s definition. It was 26/11 which made me look deeper into the reasons for the continuation of violence in Islam.
Religion teaches us to love and understand one another. The life of Mohammad does have a lot of inspirational teachings – please keep those actions and preachings into focus rather than the wars, blood-letting and violence common to all mono-theistic religions. If one completely denies the positive points of a faith, that is the end-point of all understanding.
First of all let me make my stance clear on this mindless killing of innocent lives or human lives in general.
And coming to the above point that nobody can understand the traumatic and painful experience that the Mumbaikars have gone through because of 26/11. I solemnly pray for the departed souls.
But my question to my native indians is where is this sympathy when it comes to killing innocent people , children and infants in Srinagar, Kashmir?
Where are all these people who chant about the killings of people in Mumbai when it comes to discuss the same about people killed in Kashmir?
Just for the record, more than 200 people got killed in the summer of 2010 in kashmir with the between the age group of 7 and 25.
We have been having these 26/11 for the last 20 years and i have never seen any Indian highlighting this or have seen any Kashmiri anti Hindu because of it.
Why these double standards?
As goes the old saying “JO TAN LAGEY SO TAN JAANAY”
First of all let me make my stance clear on this mindless killing of innocent lives or human lives in general. It needs and should be condemned at the highest level.
And coming to the above point that nobody can understand the traumatic and painful experience that the Mumbaikars have gone through because of 26/11. I solemnly pray for the departed souls.
But my question to my native indians is where is this sympathy when it comes to killing innocent people , children and infants in Srinagar, Kashmir?
Where are all these people who chant about the killings of people in Mumbai when it comes to discuss the same about people killed in Kashmir?
Just for the record, more than 200 people got killed in the summer of 2010 in kashmir with the between the age group of 7 and 25.
We have been having these 26/11 for the last 20 years and i have never seen any Indian highlighting this or have seen any Kashmiri anti Hindu because of it.
Why these double standards?
As goes the old saying “JO TAN LAGEY SO TAN JAANAY”
Mr Taj
Where did you get this information of Kashmiri getting killed.Please forward we a believable source. And please keep in mind that kashmir is our internal issue you don’t have to do anything in this matter.
Mr Shantanu,
It is unfortunate that you keep on playing the internal issue harp… It is a matter of human lives that we are talking about.
For you record i don’t need any outer source of information as I myself am a Kashmiri who survived there during that period.
Again I am discussing here about the political conflict. It is unfortunate that 90 % of Indians don’t actually know about the realities of Kashmir but still consider themselves an authority over it.
and just the tip of the ice berg for your information visit wiki page given below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Kashmir_unrest
Again even this wiki page does not do justice to what we have gone through.
Please don’t think that i am against India or Indian people. I condemn all killings be it Mumbai, Orissa, Gujarat or Kashmir.
It is time for us , the new generation for not to be blinded by the hatred bred into our by politions but see the reality…
Satyamay Vijaytay–ONLY TRUTH SHALL PRIVAIL…
You are welcome to migrate to Pakistan or Kashmir held by Pakistan. When Kashmiri Pandits, the original inhabitants of Jammu and Kashmir are ethnic-cleansed by muslims (who are converts) and paid mujahideens, do you suggest Indian armed forces should wait and watch than defend the nation? How about rehabilitating the Kashmiri pandits in their native homeland. How naive of you to think Kashmiri Hindus and Kashmiri Buddhists would want an independent Kashmir or Kashmir joining Pakistan? In sanskrit texts and slokas dating back to over 4000 years, ‘Sri Nagar’ is mentioned by the same name – and why do you think it got that name? Again, no one will stop you from migrating to POK or Pakistan – remember to take you family along. So you want Kashmir to become another Afghanistan is it? For Kashmir’s own sake, India will not let that happen.
Mr Taj – i think you better rest your case here.. I am myself a kasmiri and its no point harping on the kashmir issue to justify 26/11.. you conveniently forgot all the people who have migrated from kashmir and are only thinking in terms of your own existence there… all perspective need to be analyzed and taken into consideration…. your theory on this is naive and doesn’t hold water… unless the cross border ‘help’ stops, there is no way indian army would be reducing its presence from there.. they have every right to defend every inch of the motherland… there could be collateral damages in this process which needs to be prevented on all account…
there is a difference between terrorism and defending what you consider your own… if you comparing the two then i would say your understanding on this is full of biased thinking… we know we lost many souls however we are the one who are responsible for a better future… i would say, lets protest against the cross border terrorism, the jihadi camps and we should see our kashmir transforming into a heaven which it always was.
Well said.. Mr. Taj..Only a true kashmiri can know this..
As said by Mr. Taj.. It is political dispute between India and Pakistan for which they need to sit and sort it out. And let kashmiris decide what they want instead of suppressing them and calming that Kashmir is a part of India or Pakistan without taking view of natives “Pandits+Muslims” in to consideration..Kashmiri pandits are integral part of Kashmir and will always remain but because of this dirty political games played by Pakistan and India has left kashmir bleed..Bleeding Paradise..
If you pakistanis DO NOT know. India is for Hindus and only hindus as Pakistan is for ONLY muslims.. Bangladesh for only Muslims… So why we have muslims in india? Why not take them .. India is taking many hindus from pakistan and ready to give them place… why not a single mulism leaves India???
“And please keep in mind that kashmir is our internal issue you don’t have to do anything in this matter.”
No. it is not…
Really so you do not know of any kashmiris killed by your own army, says a lot about indian media and its utter bias and brainwashing of indian public.
Thumbs up! To Faiza and to DAWN.
DAWN is doing a very good service for the people of India…
Dawn is doing great service to truth and humanity! As well as Pakistan…
Thumbs up! To Faiza and DAWN.
The apology is accepted with all humility. But there is really no reason for the well meaning Pakistani to apologise. The best Pakistani response would be to create public opinion in favour of liberal thought and discourage parochial attitudes which emanate from sectarian teachings in madarsas.
One cannot blame the common Pakistani for what happened.The problem lies in a certain group of “morons” where their Islamic thought is embedded in their minds and all else does not matter.Unfortunately those who teach them or lead them to enact horror in the name of their Islam still walk free.Therein lies the weakness of your administration.The doings of a small group is giving Pakistani’s a bad name.
I thank you for your positive statement.
Unfortunately for us, though, it is not anymore a ‘small group’ that is responsible for all the troubles.
Who cares what you think. Once you stop being narrow mided and self centred in all your views then maybe we could talk…
What makes you think that I would ever want to talk with you.
I agree. 99% Pakistanis are bringing a bad name to the remaining 1%
This one episode brought back relations back to brink.
This happened even after commitments from highest person in Pakistan.
Indian public at large still feels betrayed and opinion has formed that, Pakistan says one thing and does things exactly opposite.
the feeling is the same on this side since 1971
Do you mean ‘we’ massacred the poor Bengalis in 1971 because we were betrayed by the Indian.
Not sure what you are getting at???
God bless you Faiza
whatever you have written is what any human being who has a basic degree of humanity will feel and write…sadly this itself has become rare in a country hypnotized by religious supremacy and hatred…those who died will take rebirth and come back but those who live in hate are breathing but are dead inside…even here the victims who are dead are better off…
The appologies looks like taqiya, the art of being like the enemy to deceive him. Nice try…….
So you know the word (taqiya).
Thank you,