In my earlier article titled Mumbai Mayhem: Harbinger of Change, I emphasized on the need to keep faith in our democracy which seemed somewhat shaken by the Mumbai carnage. I am glad that recent events have vindicated my stand.

In the recently held assembly elections in six states viz. Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Mizoram and Jammu & Kashmir, people have come out to vote in large numbers. In fact, there has been record voter turnout in areas like Delhi and Rajasthan where polling took place after the Mumbai outrage.

Even in strife-torn J & K people have come out to vote in fairly large numbers ignoring the call for poll boycott by the separatists and the looming specter of violence. This is the best response the people of India have sent to the terrorists and their masters. For these merchants of death want to destroy our democracy, unity and economic progress.

Another heartening aspect have been the unity among the politicians
reflected in the debate in parliament and the subsequent resolution passed condemning the terror outrage and taking the vow to do everything possible to counter the scourge. This is the kind of unity this country expects from its politicians when faced with national tragedies like the one witnessed by Mumbai.

All these positive developments have taken place because people of India called for change in one voice. It is only in a democracy that the voice of people is heard. Any other system is impervious to public criticism. In a democratic society politicians can be made accountable through the media, courts, public demonstrations etc. and last but not the least through the ballot.

One needs to remember the results of the assembly elections shows that citizens of this country will not tolerate politicization of national threats like terrorism. The coming together of divergent political interests is a result of public pressure, not an act of gratuitous charity. The political class knows if they don’t deliver now, their political future will be ruined.

One final thought. There is a perception among us that incidents like Mumbai seriously dents India’s image abroad. This is a typical third world mindset. It is a colonial legacy. Somehow even after 61 years of independent existence and so much progress on economic, social, political, intellectual fronts we still seem to suffer from inferiority complex. This has to change. A country low on self-esteem can never become a global leader.

Terror attacks is taking place all over the world. We have seen similar atrocities in New York, London, Madrid, Bali, Beslan, Istanbul and many other places. Terrorism is a hydra-headed monster that threatens our civilized existence. The terror attack in Mumbai is no different.

This is accentuated by the fact that many foreigners rescued from the cauldron have pledged to come again to India. The foreign media has portrayed this tragedy as an international one, not a India specific one. More so because number of foreigners were victims of this dastardly act.

This is similar to New York, London and other instances where people of various nationalities including Indians were targeted. The kind of international solidarity regarding the Mumbai incident can also be gauged from the international pressure that has been exerted over Pakistan to close down its terror network. Therefore to say that India’s image has been tarnished by Mumbai carnage is to live in a state of perpetual self-depreciation.