My thoughts on tackling terrorism in India

After the horrible Mumbai attacks on 26/11/2008, televisions and newspapers were full of rage of people expressing their emotions in different ways. Predominant number has expressed their displeasure at the political establishment.

But is it the political establishment alone to be blamed? How about blaming myself for once? I (when I refer to myself as “I”, I am referring to people) do feel very much a part of this nation in my heart but not in my head. What I mean is this: I feel like I am being a part of this nation for being born here and nothing else. I have no tangible investments that I had made into India to feel or to claim a stake in it.

India as a nation had built elaborate ways and means for people to invest to have a stake but I squandered it blatantly. Many are not eligible to pay personal income tax but everyone is required to pay sales tax, as everyone had to engage in trade in some kind or the other. The seller for the product being purchased collects sales tax from a buyer and pays to the government. I know if I can avoid paying the sales tax, I can get the product for a lesser amount but I forget to notice that I had sacrificed my nation’s precious resource in this selfish act.

I rarely see a trader giving me a receipt voluntarily for the product that I purchase. In the western countries, people develop active interest in their country’s affairs because they have invested heavily through taxes. They believe that their transportation (buses and trains etc) and public parks etc belong to them because they have paid for it. I don’t feel like that in India and in fact I willfully engage in destroying public property.

When I hadn’t cared for this country for so long, do I have the right to hold someone else responsible when an outsider attacks India? Unless and until I become an active participant of India’s affairs (especially sales tax), terrorists will continue to exploit my selfish desires at the cost of my nation to destroy it.

Now, when I ask for my next sales receipt, I will feel proud because I am investing in my beloved country.