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MORE than a month after Mumbai 26/11, the jehadi terrorist attack that claimed close to 200 lives, left many more injured and held the city and the country hostage for nearly sixty hours, it is not at all clear, both as a people and a state, whether we are drawing the right lessons from the tragedy. Not letting matters lapse to ‘business as usual’ is proper. But, in continually equating Mumbai 26/11 to New York 9/11 and ratcheting up the pressure for decisive action (enough is enough), is it that we are falling prey to a blood lust, pushing uneasy and fragile neighbours closer to a confrontation?

It is undeniable that even in a country long inured to disasters and worryingly familiar with acts of terrorist violence by elements both home grown and from across the border, the latest depredation in Mumbai does mark a significant departure. In the past what we saw and experienced was the aftermath of terror. This time around, thanks to round the clock coverage by multiple TV channels, we were witness to an unfolding tragedy, both the activities of the terrorists as also the response of the different agencies mandated to secure the nation and its citizens. The heroism and courage of the security personnel; the help and solidarity extended by ordinary citizens; the fear, pain and helplessness of those caught in the midst; the insensitivity of some members of our officialdom and political class – all amplified by a breathless and instantly editorializing electronic media.

And it left all of us both insecure and hopelessly confused. Full of bewilderment and rage that this could happen, could be allowed to happen. And so we want action, and now. Against the perpetrators and those who aid and abet them. The politicians for letting the systems decay and become slothful, for failing to gather intelligence and, worse, for not acting in time. For the poor state of our preparedness, antiquated and inadequate equipment, the lack of training – really, for not having systems in place.

The anger is justified, as are the demands for accountability. So too is the desire to no longer remain passive citizens. But, even as we keep up the pressure to hold accountable the powers that be, are we not, perhaps, fuelling a culture of instant retributory justice in our search for easy, identifiable villains – the politicians, bureaucracy, Pakistan, jehadi groups, and the list can be extended.

What is really needed at this stage is reassurance, a return to some calm and reasoned discourse, a careful weighing of options rather than a rush to action. It is equally worth remembering the positives of this tragedy. For once, barring the few rabid voices, there was no targeting of India’s Muslim community, no knee-jerk equation of Islam and terrorism, even by political forces normally quick to take advantage of any incident to further polarize an already strained and tenuous inter-community relationship, helped greatly by the outpouring of grief, solidarity with the nation and rejection of jehadi tactics by Mumbai citizens. And despite Mumbai happening in the midst of elections to six state legislatures, efforts at politicizing terror drew little purchase. Elections not only took place peacefully, the voter turnout was higher than usual, including in the sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir.

What we do not need is the populist rubbishing of politicians, political parties and political institutions, or more sharply, of politics – the constant counterposing of the security ‘bravehearts’ with the venal and self-serving politicians; the infantile demand for withholding taxes and non-cooperation; the call to introduce tougher security measures and anti-terrorist legislation while curbing civil liberties and fundamental rights. Worse, is the inability to locate the ‘real’ threat of terrorism in its context, helping elevate it to the central problem of our times. Little do we realize that in so seeking to remould ourselves and society, in sacrificing the open, vibrant and inclusive character of our public spaces, we only concede defeat and come to be governed by a politics of fear.

Equally disastrous would be a capitulation to the demand for military action, howsoever defined, against Pakistan, pushing its feeble civilian administration further into the embrace of the military and jehadi elements. One would have thought that the experience of the George Bush administration strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq would have by now made clear that a pursuit of war is a blunt and inappropriate strategy for combating terror.

Fortunately, our much reviled political class has so far acted with restraint and circumspection, preferring the political and diplomatic route over the military. Hopefully, the new year will see the victory of reason and sanity over a politics of rage and fear. How events unfold in the coming months may well decide the fate of the country and region.

Harsh Sethi