The Quick March Home

Why did Mumbai’s citizen-led and celebrity-endorsed activism fade out so soon after 26/11, asks RISHI MAJUMDER

MUMBAI IS living in an apartment without knowing our neighbours. It is paying the maintenance of a building society whose meetings we don’t attend. It is having friends you meet only on the local train.

After 26/11, the one word that we used more than before was ‘group’. It was a novelty most celebrities endorsed. And we love what our celebrities endorse. We became members of societies whose meetings we’d attend, even if we couldn’t pay their maintenance. Those of us who knew about governance spoke. Others listened curiously. Celebrities interacted with commoners. And non-Maharashtrians in Mumbai, or Bombay, became a non-issue. Everyone marched, everyone lit candles.

Then we got the Chief Minister and Home Ministers (at state and centre) sacked. There was jubilation. Only we didn’t know what to do next. So we took the train home and paid the building society’s maintenance. Our celebrities drove home too. Some told their PR agencies to take that well-deserved holiday. The MNS got back to work.

Half the celebrities we spoke to shied away from answering questions. What did they actually ‘do’ after 26/11? Where did the root issues of our country’s worst terror attack lie? Why were the same people who demonstrated against terrorists from Pakistan refusing to make a statement against regionalist terrorist organisations in their backyard? These were questions that made them say things like, “Call me later”. Then, “Call me a little later”. And finally, “You’re too late. Can’t talk now.” But we finally spoke to four ‘celebrities’ who really tried, and continue to do so. And asked them why they and so many others still failed.

VISHAL DADLANI

‘They have to understand they don’t have the power to stop the citizens of this country’

The Bollywood music director and founder member of rock group Pentagram filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court after 26/11, seeking to prevent the media from broadcasting classified Army information as it had during 26/11. He got 23,000 signatures to support the petition. His next petition is against the building of a giant Shivaji statue in the middle of the ocean. He calls his initiative Small Change.

Why do you think so many post- 26/11 citizens’ groups have died down? Did you have a group as well?
No. I didn’t start any group or movement with Small Change. I am one guy, who said, “I will do this. Would you guys like to support me by signing up here?” I don’t want to start an office or have an organisation. I will personally take this thing to its end. And whoever wants to lend their weight to it with a signature, I will keep updating you as to what I’m doing to take this forward. Many groups told me, “Come and speak here. Come and join this.” I asked all of them: “What is your objective? And what is your timeline?” If you don’t have a concrete objective, you can’t achieve anything. Three lakh – or 30 thousand, whatever it was – people came to the Gateway Of India. They stood there, they lit their candles, they littered the place and they walked away. At best, they might have achieved the removal of the Chief Minister, which was utterly pointless.

Then what you’re saying is that the citizens’ fervour was misguided...
I would just say it wasn’t channelled correctly.

It wasn’t going anywhere...
But you know Bombay has this history of day-long fervour. Or week-long fervour.

And the post 26/11 groups which disappeared?
It’s simple human psychology. If there are seven hundred people in a group, and one person in that group feels that ‘If I don’t fulfil this task, somebody else will do it,’ then human nature is such that 700 out of 700 will feel that. What we need is ‘individual activism’.

You’ve spoken about the Shivaji statue in the sea being wasteful expenditure by the state. But what about it being an icon that promotes parochialism?
Now, you’re interpreting it as parochialism, whereas they’re interpreting as whatever the ‘state’ equivalent of nationalism is. It’s a question of interpretation. What is clear is that 350 crores of the state’s money is being thrown away on what is essentially a showpiece. And on the other side, we have farmers dying. In the face of that, with Mr [Ashok] Chavan, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra constantly saying, “We will make sure that this statue will happen”, let me constantly say, “I will make sure that this statue does not happen.”

PIYUSH PANDEY

‘Even in a family tragedy people cry for 13 days, then ease off’

Ad-man and member of the Ashok Chavan-led 66 member committee set up post 26/11 to assess the state’s security situation and make recommendations to enhance security measures.

How would you recommend the state upgrade it’s security apparatus to prevent another 26/11?
26/11 was such a surprise attack that you couldn’t possibly have planned for it. But once you’ve been socked you try and take a whole lot of precautions. Hotels and offices have installed their own security. The Coast Guard is particularly significant and I think they must be doing something. There needs to be basic awareness. But you can’t make things foolproof overnight.

Citizen activism which sprouted post 26/11 dissappeared just as suddenly...
Such activism is an immediate response. But one can’t find solutions overnight. It is human nature to move on. Even when there is a tragedy in the family people cry for 13 days, and then ease off. But people running the city are doing their bit.

Did the sacking of the chief minister and the home ministers serve any purpose?
It makes politicians aware that public reactions can get you out of your position.

Did the attacks change your world view?
I don’t think I needed to change. But it’s made me conscious that I should do my bit.

Do you think the attacks are linked in any way to the Gujarat or Mumbai riots, or army atrocities in Kashmir?
Muslims have every right available to a citizen of this country. Certain incidents may provoke Muslims, but these can’t be generalised upon.

RAHUL BOSE

‘Under the guise of being busy, successoriented, we are cowards’

Actor, activist and founder of the Group Of Groups, a collection of 51 NGOs and citizen’s coalitions that evolved a common minimum programme for Mumbai, which remains unimplemented.

What long and short term changes are necessary to prevent another 26/11?
Bombay hasn’t been governed with the passion, commitment and zeal we should be governed with. We haven’t been led with an eye to the future. We need leadership in the long term. We need a Chief Minister, who we believe should be in control, to be in control. We need community participation at the mohalla level, to increase our sense of being a piece of the whole. In the short term, policemen are treated badly, and in turn treat badly. We need to break this vicious circle.

Why have citizens who demonstrated against 26/11 shied away from demonstrating against local terrorism, like that unleashed by the MNS? Fear?
Absolutely accurate summation. Fear. A refined form of cowardice. Under the guise of being busy and successoriented, we are cowards.

Do symbolic gestures like lighting candles and wearing black bands make people feel like they’ve done their bit, preventing them from doing any more?
Lighting candles and wearing black bands have never been my way. But who’re you and I to say what’s worthy and what isn’t? Would we prefer people who wear saffron bands and raise Kalashnikovs? To denigrate people who do this and feel lofty is dangerous in itself. But yes, it could have led people to be more complacent.

ANURAG KASHYAP

‘When I want to say something about the MNS, people ask me to shut up’

The acclaimed scriptwriter and director made the highly-regarded film Black Friday, about the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He is one of those who took part in marches, lit candles at the Gateway of India and was part of a post 26/11 group, which later fizzled out.

Do you think the attacks are linked to the post- Godhra or Bombay riots, or army atrocities in Kashmir?
No. They are purely terrorist acts, unlike the 1993 Bombay blasts.

Why did the citizens’ fervour fizzle out so soon?
It’s always been the nature of people to react too soon, respond too soon and forget too soon.

What changes would prevent another 26/11?
The politicians should fulfil the promises they made post 26/11 to win the upcoming elections. The police should get off their language-based politics and work at improving themselves. And the Coast Guard should be strengthened.

What do you think of the MNS workers who are unleashing terrorism of a local variety? Why don’t our concerned citizens speak out against them?
I equate the MNS with the Taliban. It’s just that the former exist as a political party. I don’t know why they are allowed to do what they want to do. Yet, when I want to react and make a statement, people ask me to shut up. The MNS terrorises in the name of Maharashtra, just as Islamic terrorists terrorise in the name of Islam.

How did you react to 26/11?
I went on a march and lit candles at the Gateway. We started a group, but barring a few people, it’s hardly functional now. As a filmmaker, I could make films on the subject. But frankly, there’s been an overkill. People are numbed by the issue, as they are by many issues. And when someone does react, anarchy occurs. This is best demonstrated by the boy who came all the way from Patna, gun in hand, to shoot Raj Thackeray and got killed in a local bus shootout.

WRITER’S EMAIL
rishi@tehelka.com