The Mumbai Spirit

I am writing after a very long time today and I will not write about work as I usually do. I have always been using this blog as a place to vent my frustration and anger at work but now I realize that these issues are miniscule in comparison to the lot of other things happening around us all.
The 'latest' attacks on Mumbai seem to have shattered the famous "Mumbai Spirit" and I am glad it did. This "Chalta hai. Ho gaya" attitude of Mumbai needed to end and I think it just did. There has been a clear difference in the way Mumbaikars have responded to these latest attacks and its a revelation. I would like to let the media take the credit of bringing an end to this sickening attitude. However, I think that this was imbibed into the Mumbaikars by the media a long time back. Anyways, I am glad the media has made up for it now. Better late than never.
These attacks have raised a lot of questions. Questions were raised earlier too but answers were not demanded. This time, the Mumbaikars are demanding answers from the people they have chosen to run the country. And, I am not surprised, our chosen leaders have no good answers to give. I see anger in the eyes of every citizen of the country. There is a lot of angst among the people of the country.
I can still remember Barkha Dutt interview this young survivor from Taj and its going to remain in my mind for a long time to come. This young man was rescued from the Taj on Friday and he had already given an interview to NDTV describing his traumatic experience. On Saturday morning, when the military operations at the 3 locations were called successful, Narendra Modi announced some compensation to those killed in the blasts. Later that evening, Barkha Dutt was interviewing a group of people who had gathered at the Taj with candles to show their grief. This young survivor was in the group. Barkha Dutt spoke to this person and this is what he had to say;
"I was sitting at home and watching the coverage on TV and when I heard Narendra Modi offer compensation, I was furious and I had to come talk to you. What rights does Narendra Modi have to be on the streets offering compensation? Narendra Modi should not have come to the Taj. He should not be here."
I was touched. The young man could hardly talk. He was shaking but he made such a bold statement. The politicians got out of their shells after the state was declared safe and started offering compensations. Who needs the compensations? We need an assurance. We need confidence. Assurance of safety. Confidence of stepping out of the house every morning and being back home safe after a hard day's work.
We need to applaud the media for their coverage of these terror attacks. The media, this time around, has been ruthless and fearless in putting front the truth. The media has been tremendously honest in making public the bitter truths of the politicians. Now that the media has started this, I hope they continue doing so. I would love the media to rip apart these politicians with the questions that a common man has.
I was just talking to a friend and we were thinking of immediately getting our voter's card done so that we can be ready and prepared for the next elections. What flashed my mind next should not have been a surprise to me "Whom do I vote for?". Such is the respect that I have for our politicians now. Whatever the party, Congress, BJP, NCP, Shiv Sena, MNS, I am not sure if I want to vote for any of them. For me, all politicians are the same; irresponsible.
I hope this mindsetof mine changes. I hope someone stands up tall among the crowd of politicians to take on the responsibility. But for now, enough is enough.