Danger! - On The Ground

Let us start with the world’s perception of India, now listed as “one of the 20 most dangerous places to visit.”

This danger is palpable every time we go out on the streets. Over 1,00,000 people die on Indian roads every year. That is about 275 per day. The Mumbai mayhem took 195 lives, far less.

The lesson: Our threats are all “on the ground.”

Thus, there can be no solutions from our “The State On High.”

And what is our The State On High contemplating? You guessed it: A new federal agency, more hubs for the NSG… . This means a big budget for some bureaucrats to spend. It is extremely doubtful whether we will ever be safe all over India because of this new agency in Dilli Door Ast. As I said: Our threats are all “on the ground” – like traffic. Think of Manipur, think of Srinagar. Think!

I therefore find the Times of India’s editorial of today disturbing, as it points the finger directly at at “Pakistan” – like Indira Gandhi’s famous “foreign hand.” Do not forget that the editor of this paper recently called for a “Marshall Plan for Pakistan.” The editor does not see our The State as a failure. He sees “Pakistan” as the “source” of our problems. Like pot calling the kettle black. His leader article is titled “Save Pakistan To Save Us All.” I think we would be better off trying to save ourselves.

From Kashmir, the story that touched my heart says that the people are voting with just one wish: No War.

So say “No” to war between India and Pakistan.

And say “No” to the ToI too.

Bloody nonsense.

The lesson repeated: All our threats are “on the ground.” We must help ourselves and fix things on the ground. Beginning with the traffic – our daily threat.

The ToI is talking “on high” – how the US, the UK et. al. are going to co-ordinate with “New Delhi” (some tired baboos) to fight terror. This is the secure pie in the sky. We would be better off looking at the ground – which is dangerous.

So I was pleasantly surprised to read that a group of high-tech entrepreneurs in Bangalore (or is it Bengaluru?) suggested to the chief minister, in jest, that all should be allowed to own machine guns. But why in jest?

Here is Ratan Tata saying he had information on an attack being planned on the Taj. Could he have not installed machine guns in strategic locations? All he had was guards with batons and dogs – and they died. The dog too.

Note that a car is also a dangerous weapon: it can kill. But we are all happy when superfast cars like the Audi R8 get sold in India. Ditto for guns. They can kill. They also keep you safe. If people are not killing each other with knives, they will not shoot at humanity in random, just for fun – which is what these terrorists are doing.

There is also a “gun culture” – a kind of code of honour, like dueling, not shooting in the back, and so on. Just as there is etiquette while driving.

So how can we all be safe?

Antidote says:

1. Say No To War.
2. Say No To A New Federal Agency – to be run by another “budget maximizer.”
3. Fix the streets – on the ground.
4. Get A Gun, Dude.