Guest writer

---After a year of procrastinating, my friend Puma has finally put his thoughts on paper. The post below is his take/reaction/thoughts on my previous post (THAT time of year)---

You know I agree with what SATYA says about this whole 26/11 (twenty Six Eleven) NAME Calling and how its become some sort of a sordid reminder of what happened...I should know cuz I once forgot my wive's b`day. The doc who treated me said the scars run much deeper now.

Humans as a species don’t like to remember the unfortunate things in life. I for one have a very happy life cuz I have a very bad memory. Enemies are now my best friends and ex lovers are well still ex (they just won’t pick up my calls, don’t know what’s up with that)

Though I feel that at the end of the day it’ll just be a date and nothing else... this country has wayyy too many people in here to worry bout. It’s that "GUY IN FRONT OF ME RATHER THAN I" kinda thinking.

I saw that entire blood bath on TV too but like Satya I didn’t mix it with pakodas and tea. I remember ordering Chinese from a guy on a hand cart, completely fucked my stomach, had the worst diarrhea ever and that’s another reason I won’t forget that fateful day. But leaving my bullshit aside I think it takes a lot to willingly enter a building full of people who’re ready to die as against YOU who wants to LIVE.

If it takes people to see it on live TV, EVEN BETTER. People are immune to reading about death/rape/carnage/molestation in BLACK AND WHITE every morning with their eggs and toast. This is going to sound a lot worse than I mean BUT THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE TELEACST LIVE ALWAYS. Show a rapist being chewed by rabids and I guarantee you’ll see a drop in the act, telecast a murderer swinging from the gallows and you’ll just have to be “SERIAL KILLER CRAZY” to pick up a knife.

We are a DEMOCRACY and a country willing to fight to save a life no matter how many more we add to it every sec. We should make these atrocities even more visible EVEN if it takes you spilling your dinner out from the wrong end. We’ll continue to fight or write about them and people will take a bullet for you and me CUZ THIS ISNT FKIN SOMALIA YET OR PAKISTAN (which is one and the same)

I know I can’t take a bullet for someone but I did get into lots of fights for lots of people and got the shit kicked outta me too. In no way am I comparing myself to any of the heroes that day or the people who got killed were similar to me taking a beating... its just that in the twisted reasoning of terrorism and killings this date like so many of our personal misfortunes will get embedded far deeper than the shallow scars of bullet marks and shattered glass.

THAT time of year

It is THAT time of the year again. Yea, THAT time. We do not experience it often, but India has 2 days a year where our patriotism reaches the zenith, we constantly say “fuck Pakistan ya” and Jayanti Natrajan yells louder than Pavarotti in concert. The days in question are of course 26th January and 15th August. These being public holidays also help.

But this year we have a new and improved day to get emotional, sensitive and patriotic. Its called 26/11. It’s this day last year when 10 young men from the lost world of Atlantis breached our water tight security and slaughtered more than 170 people in our country’s financial capital. The reason generations will cherish 26/11 more than the other 2 days is for the simple reason that we saw it live on TV with chai, pakodas and the Rakhi Sawant of news- Barkha Dutt as accompaniments. Also, the scale of operation was huge and most importantly the people killed were rich and important. Candle manufacturings were having a ball with all the power cuts but with candle light vigils to mark this day…oh what a fun. We were all shocked at the way things unfolded and are still waiting for the movie to release so we can “truly” understand what happened. I personally hope 26/11 becomes what the 4th of July weekend is to the USA—i.e the first weekend of July is a 3-day weekend.

So what has changed 1 year down the line?
1) Maharashtra has re-elected the same government ruling at the time of 26/11
2) The people of India have re-elected the same government at the national level ruling at the time of 26/11
3) MNS the “outsider” hater disappeared while outsiders were killing innocent people in Mumbai but won 13 seats in the next elections
4) Kasab is safe, has put on weight and has been treated for all his ailments by Mumbai based doctors at the cost of Rs. 31 Crores (TOI)
5) Clusterfucked Pakistan still can’t make up their mind and come out of the closet
6) India still feels that if you ignore your problems long enough they will go away.

To all those who perished and to those who were left behind after 26/11- sorry about what happened. Like they say….Karma is a bitch. That’s the best I can offer. No one will help you. Help yourself.

Last post on 26/11

Mumbai burning - let the games begin

The blame game has begun. Ruling v/s opposition.
Blaming Pakistan is the biggest joke. Why are we blaming Pakistan? Let me explain.

Pakistan is doing what it IS supposed to do. Its called foreign policy. Its their job and in their best interest to destabilize India and they are good at what they do. So why the hell are we blaming someone for doing their job? I remember the exchange between Robert Deniro and Al Pacino in "Heat" where Diniro(bad guy) says " I ain't never going back, I do what I do best, you (Al Pacino) do what you do best- try and stop guys like me". Al Pacino (good guy) says "if I do see you around the corner I wont hesitate to put you down". That kind of sums it up for me. They do what they do best and we need to do our best to stop them. If the Pakistani cricket team beats us in a match do we go and dig up their practice pitches and disrupt their strategy meetings? NO. We practice more and make better strategies to win the game.

The PM announced that there will be more NSG hubs in India. Isn't the NSG wing a reactive unit? Wont they come after the terrorists have taken over? I had written in my earlier post of the difference between Intelligence (Proactive) and Security (Reactive). We are placing more importance on a reactive model than a proactive one. On the flip side if the reports are to be believed there was enough warning about the attacks and the govt. did not move their asses.

I wonder where the MNS was/is during all this time. The 3 stooges i.e ex-Union Home Minister, Maharashtra CM and Deputy CM are all---Marathi Manoos. Maharashtra for Maharastrians at this cost? No thank you. The irony is that the majority of security personals killed were also Maharashtrians. How does MNS pitch this for their advantage is the biggest question.

Forthcoming attractions:

1)Ex-Union Home Minister - Will star in the Hindi version of Terminator where he plays the "Dumbo-nator" who is imperious to feelings, expressions and logic. He is responsible for thousands of deaths but has no remorse or explanation.

2)Maharashtra CM - Will star in RVG's adaptation of "Jewel in the Crown" , renamed "Golis in the Taj" with his 24 carat lump of talent-dung son.

3)Maharashtra Deputy CM - Will be replacing SRK in the remake of DDLJ renamed "Bandookwale Mumbai Ley Jaayenge". His favorite dialog will of course be "bade bade seharo me, aise choti choti baate hoti hi rehti hai". heeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy