inderSTADTBala Gopalan's noWHere in the *CITY

My city has been raped, and I want affirmative action:

I am angered, worried and feel helpless. I am not ashamed (and definitely not this time) of expressing my feelings and I feel a real tribute to all the people who died (and to the spirit of mumbai) would be to get the powers that govern us to take “affirmative action” to wipe out terror.

We need:

- Action to make Mumbai a better place (not just a clean, green Mumbai, but a safe Mumbai too) – certain basic rules and awareness (like for garbage diposal) at a citizen level and his rights to a dignified living (and dying).
- Action to strengthen and defend our home (Mumbai being the bigger one) and our lives – strengthening and modernizing the police, commandos and intelligence forces.
- Action to protect the Mumbai spirit – strengthening our communities by having an all inclusive plan to involve every Mumbaikar in this crusade, without excluding any, and prepare our people “to be prepared” anytime.

I would like to enclose a poem from Prasoon Joshi that summrises our feelings now:

Is baar nahin

December 01, 2008

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi sent this poem that he wrote after the Mumbai terror attacks. Says the ad guru and film lyricist, “I believe it should reach as many people as possible because it is our collective pain and voice”.

Is baar nahin
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

(This time when that little girl comes to me with her bruises, I will not blow gently at her wound, nor distract her, I will let her pain grow.
Not this time.)

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

(This time when I see pain on faces
I will not sing the song that eases pain
I will let the pain seep in, deep?.
Not this time.)

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

(This time I won’t apply any balm
Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes
and turn your head
While I gingerly apply medicine
I will let everyone see the open, naked wounds?
Not this time.)

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

(This time when I see difficulty, uneasiness
I will not run to solve the problems
I will let them become complicated?
Not this time.)

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

(This time I won’t pick up my tools as a matter of duty
I will not make a new beginning
Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job
I will not let life easily return to normalcy
I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths
I will not let the blood on the walls dry out
Nor will I let its colour fade away
This time I won’t let it become so helpless
That you can’t tell blood from paan-spit
Not this time.)

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se
Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

(This time the wounds need to be watched
Carefully
For a long time
Some decisions are needed
And then some brave moves to be made
We have to begin somewhere?
This time this is what I have resolved)

… Prasoon Joshi