A Walk, Not War, Against Terrorism

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Citizens on a candle-light march on Pune's JM Road

30th November, 2008; Jangli Maharaj Road and Shambhaji Park:

Over one thousand students and citizens from Pune, mostly dressed in white and armed with candles, marched through the City’s streets this evening in an effort to evoke unity and solidarity amongst the people of our terror-inflicted nation. The congregation came together primarily due to the efforts of several students in Pune who thought of and executed to perfection this remarkable gesture with the aid of the internet and cellular messages. Many people even joined the proceedings somewhere along the way and continued to walk on to Shambhaji Park where the gathering observed a minute’s silence and sang the national anthem.

There could have been no better response from the people of Pune – sending out a clear message to terrorist groups and governments everywhere that we are united and fearless in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.

People observe a moment's silence at Shambhaji Park

Fear is the ultimate weapon of terrorists, not the AK-56. It is with fear and hatred that the terrorists tear and divide our society. It is with fear that they slit Mumbai’s underbelly open last week. They have intruded our minds in ways so perverse that no amount of security will make any of us feel secure.

This war on terror cannot be won with bullets, guns and NSG Commandos. If we have to succeed against terror, it will have to be with peace, unity and valour. We will have to look the terrorists in the eye and tell them that we’re not scared anymore. We have to flush out this new sense of paranoia that has invaded our society. We need to start picking up the pieces and preparing ourselves not by installing more x-ray machines, but by injecting resilience in our people’s minds.

“Mr. Terrorist: I’m still alive, what more can you do?

Mr. Politician: I’m alive despite you.

I AM AN INDIAN.”

- On a placard, written by a survivor (quote from Roy’s essay).

Resilience, courage and peace are the cornerstone of our society. These values and actions have held our society together for years. And it is these ideals that were propagated through this noble and high-minded gesture of Pune’s citizens tonight.

Text and Photos by KSN.

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Filed under Mumbai, People's Movements, Pune's Citizens, Terrorism

Tags: Jangli Maharaj Road, JM Road, Mumabi Terror, Mumbai, Mumbai Terror Attacks, national anthem, NSG Commandos, Peaceful Protest, Pune Student Chronicle, Pune students, Pune's Citizens, Shambhaji Park, Walk Against Terrorism