I have been trying to sort out my thoughts after the Mumbai terrorist attacks of 11/26 [26/11 for those in India - as in 26 hours a day, 11 days a week]. However, every time I tried to write something down, I felt like each thought was enmeshed within a former set of thoughts that I couldn't unravel it from. Soon, I found that all the things I wanted to say couldn't fit into a single post.
Amit tagged me to participate in a group brainstorming effort, with emphasis on concrete steps that can be taken in the short term for quantifiable benefit. But my thought train was already on the intercity track after two days of turmoil inside, and I couldn't veer it to the local stops. Besides, it looks like a newly resurgent India is already actively engaged in this very discussion. People showed up in Mumbai at 5 pm for a candlelight vigil scheduled for 6 pm. When Indians arrive earlier than the scheduled time, you can assume they really mean business. I missed the boat on this Indian resurgence. I am used to an India where people skip work to watch a cricket match because they know no one can take away their secure government jobs. I left the country before it transformed itself. So I'm going to sit this one out and let these smart, can-do group of my fellow Indians who are in the thick of things figure it out for themselves.
What I'm going to do instead is take a different route that stays true to where I am today and what path I have taken to get here. I will write at length on the path I've taken first, but I'll get to the suggestions too. The suggestions I have in mind would probably sound too theoretical, optimistic, or even naive. I'll try to justify my optimism.
(to be continued...)
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