Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Home to the Gateway of India. Literally and figuratively speaking. It almost replicates the “I love New York” cliche that we’ve heard again and again on TV, in the movies and where ever else.

To many, this seems like an act of madness executed in butcher-like fashion. I wept seeing the pain caused. It was too hard to not react to such as event as this. Fathers, Wives, Children. These are people of our nation. No quarter allowed. And we sat and watched helplessly...

An absolute outrage. Inexcusable. And I’m not ranting... although this is not a time for an emotional approach... this is not 9/11... it is a time for healing these wounds inflicted within our country.

To put it mildly, I was livid. As I watched the events unfold on CNN, I realized the horror that the people in “aamchi mumbai” must have been put through. Ten attacks hitting virtually every cross-section of society... from the foreigners to the people who have to work really hard to get by another day.

And then I realized... this is not madness. No, it’s not insanity either. This operation had clear-cut objectives and were carried out ruthlessly by these mercenaries of destruction to turn our beloved city of Mumbai into a ghost town. It was a methodical, well planned and financed attack. I agree with Reva Bhalla, a geo-political analyst from Texas. There was outside help.

If we have to make an educated guess as to what the objectives were... no prizes for guessing though... but my point of view is that if we do know what their intentions were... it is the first step towards rebuilding the city.

Here are the objectives of the mission:
1. Continued instability in the Indian subcontinent.
2. Hindu-Muslim animosity.
3. An all-out attack on our ‘financial’ capital creating as much damage as possible.
4. Psychological warfare on Indians and foreigners alike [for the long haul] by killing as many as possible at sensitive points.

How can I substantiate my claims? Here we go...

Firstly, if we look at political events that have occurred over the previous week, India and Pakistan are making a rather shaky attempt, in my opinion, to behave as friendly neighbors.

Secondly, the absolute and immediate ease by which evidence was found in the dinghies found as people involved in an operation like this is very suspicious as these people are far too professional to leave any traces behind. I would consider this a decoy. But only after leaving no stone unturned will we ever establish the ‘truth’.

These two points will lead to the revisiting of enraged emotions conducive to meet objectives one and two.

No ‘mean’ feat... huh? [Pun intended]

If we look at the areas that came under attack... the Taj, Oberoi, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway terminus, two hospitals, the Muncipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Metro Cinema and the State Bank of India.

Clearly, government, religious and financial points in the city. To get the ball rolling on Objectives 3 and 4. With such nonchalant ease too.

It’s pretty obvious that the Taj and the Oberoi has, is and will continue to be home to the largest business corporation deals that have changed the financial destiny of this country. And they will continue to do so.

Leopold Cafe... the frequent and favorite haunt of foreign tourists.

Nariman House... their way of hitting out at the Israelis who have taken fantastic measures to keep terrorists at bay with minimum casualties. By the way, I’m waiting for a response from this country...

Transit areas such as the Railway station in order to immobilize and hence, increase chaos in the city... making it harder for the ‘authorities’ to keep the situation under control.

And so on and so forth...

Objective 3 was met with swiftness and precision as well.

If I was a part of the ‘government’, objective 4 is the one to watch out for. This has long term effects. For the Indian economy, for democracy and for a deep psychological need for survival and security. This will affect all our future decisions.

The effect of meeting objectives one through three, will ensure the meeting of the fourth objective. And this is one that we must counter. Counter very strongly. By making a conscious effort to get back to normalcy... and that begins by accepting the grim reality of the events occurred, albeit a bitter pill to swallow... and taking ACTION so that these events never occur again. However controversial they may be.

India stands with you, dear Mumbaikars. [Tears well up in my eyes as I write this] No, the world stands with you. These are not just words. Remember that. Be strong. Be vigilant. In all areas of your lives. Most of all, be brave... it’s easy to say this... but it’s only in the face of adversity that people show courage that legends are made of. You owe this to yourselves! God knows you have been through enough. Stand up and demand a change! Or make it happen yourselves.

In all of this, I would like to commend the NSG in rising up to challenge of ‘urban warfare’ and coming out on top. Period. Secondly, for capturing ‘live’ evidence. I’m not sure if this feat was achieved in any previous encounter with terror.

And I would like to close using the words of Rakesh Sharma, who when asked by Indira Gandhi how India looked from outer space replied: “Saare Jahan se Accha.”

Jai Hind.

[An Indian]