After every night, comes morning. After sorrow, happiness arrives and this goes on. Life is full of ups and downs, incidents and emotions, actions and their reactions. It is a never ending cycle and we try adapting to it. Some incidents, however, leave a long lasting impact on the human mind and their effects linger long.

I have two of such incidents which left a deep impact on my life, let me share both of them. One when I lost my father on 12^th March 1993 and second when not only Mumbai but whole India was under terrorists attack on 26^th November 2008

Obviously the first incident is too personal and inconsolable but the second one was also not less gruesome. 26^th November – the day when Mumbai was attacked by terrorists which left more than 100 people killed and many hundreds injured. Like me, there are millions who have the memories of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack fresh in their eyes, heart, mind and even soul. I was not physically present in Mumbai that time but those more than 50 hours were the most restless and pinching ever.

Today is 26^th November 2010, the same date when 10 beasts with a human carved faces dared to enter and disturb the high spirit of Mumbai and India. They did their best to send shivers of disbelief to 1 billion Indians, they might also feel they succeeded in their inhuman mission but before leaving this world to depart for HELL they did one good thing which they never wanted to.

They awakened millions of sleeping souls and that feeling of patriotism which was limited to those freedom struggle inspired movies. They gave a lifetime opportunity to some of our brothers to show their true love for the nation and its people and become Great Martyred Heroes.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte, Gajendra Singh and all those brave hearts of NSG, Mumbai Anti Terrorist Squad, Mumbai Police, Hotel Taj’s employees, who have sacrificed their lives while saving the lives of others will be remembered by generations and generations with great honour and pride.

This one incident turned upside-down the life of each and every Indian for months. Mass protests in every part of the country against terrorism, against administration and security loop holes began and also ended with time. But then life goes on and we are back with our everyday-war-for-bread lifestyle.

Now 2 years have passed and I am thinking of Where am I? What did I do? And What can I do for the soil I am obliged towards?

These words of praise, this appreciation – is not what they want, is not what the country wants. And most importantly thee are shallow until will walk our talk, until will make their sacrifice worth, until will stand up and accept our responsibilities.

Blaming others is what we can do best. Because we detach ourselves from the government authorities, their role is not our look out. But our responsibility is ….? No answer, indeed no one has suitable answer for this. May be because we never care to even give it a thought.

Why do we need incidents like 26/11 to remember that we need to wake up? Why being late is always a part of our pride? Why caste and religion is the first form of identity and then being an Indian? I have many closets of questions which I certainly don’t want to open up before you because I am also a culprit and equally responsible.

26/11 took many sons from their mothers, many children from their fathers, many husbands from their wives. Let’s pray today remembering one of the worst days in Indian history that it should not repeat again ever, let’s try to change our thoughts into action.

Let’s give our tribute to all who died on 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack not merely by silence or words of praise but by a genuine promise to ourselves that for least we will abide by our duties and responsibilities and speak up freely against those who don’t!