Mind over Matter

Should I thank this girl to make me come back to blogging? On second thoughts, no. My ego won't allow me to boost someone else's :).


Today's 26 November. 2 years ago, Mumbai was hit by the hatred of a few people. And 14 years ago, my cousin had gotten married. They live a very happy life now, my cousin and her family. All, except one, of the attackers, aren't even alive. The only one alive is on death row.

Why he would have done it was easy to figure out. Most probably, something bad happened to him, and then, someone did a little brainwashing and voila! There was a terrorist ready to chop a few innocent heads off.

What bothers me more is everyone else, who want this man dead. Why would they want it? It's not that they personally will benefit from this guy's death. It's not even that they would lose something very important to them if this guy remains alive.

Yes, he is dangerous to be left out in the open. But that doesn't mean he should be killed.

What would have Batman done? He who has taken a vow not to kill anyone. What would have Mahatma Gandhi done? He who believed 'an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind'. What would have I done? I who don't have a belief as strong as these guys.

Maybe I would have made sure that he adopts a child and sponsors his living. That would have made him realise how easy it is to kill and how difficult it is to live.

Maybe I would have forced him to stay alone and away from everyone else, like Robinson Crusoe. That would make sure he can't kill anyone, and is still made to work for keeping himself alive.

Maybe I would have narrated to him stories of the victim's families and friends... told him about the grief, the loss, and the practical tragedy his actions resulted in. That would have brought about a broader understanding of the world.

It doesn't matter what I would have done.
'coz I am not the one doing anything.
I am not the one asked to kill innocent people.
And not the one asked to kill guilty people.

I am just a bystander, who will observe this, and move on, once the tamasha is over. My life is good!

The event won't matter to me 14 years later. And I am pretty sure the marriage still matters to my cousin and everyone else.... including me.