THE WHITE KNIGHTS OF GATEWAY

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THE WHITE KNIGHTS OF GATEWAY

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uploaded by Arna Ruchi Bose

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  uploaded by Arna Ruchi Bose | add comment

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  uploaded by Arna Ruchi Bose | add comment

The night of the 3rd of December will be imprinted in my memory forever…probably just as strongly if not more as the 26th of November2008. The incidents that occurred both these days were interlinked, yet as different as fire and water! While the hateful proceedings of 26/11garnered anger & resentment towards the people who allowed & jeopardized our city’s security, the acts witnessed on the 3rd invoked an emotion far greater …HOPE.

The days following 26/11 were emotionally charged & saw the common man was being proactive under the abysmally grim circumstances. The chasms created by neglect, indifference & corruption in our country’s security system were raw & exposed like an open wound. Regular meets at various strategic locations across the city led by concerned citizens, NGOs, existing Organizations & newly created ones dedicated to the 26/11 massacre. People from all walks of life were a part of this revolution…One Mumbai! Industrialists, Socialites, Students, the Film fraternity, the classes & masses all pledged their solidarity towards Mumbai. As an act of Faith& to initiate Change, it was unanimously decided by the various organizations that the people of Mumbai would congregate at the Gateway of India to protest the deplorable state of affairs. Like every citizen, I was angry and had a million questions that needed answering. We as a nation demanded simply …Access, Action & Accountability.

The drive to the gateway was long & lonely…friends & acquaintances that’d intended & promised to come along for the “greater cause” were either delayed or cancelled at the last minute citing work. The four & a half hours that it took to reach the Gateway was well spent in introspection! It got me thinking, how many times do we react to situations at hand & want to do the right thing but once the reaction time is delayed the “necessary” trumps right! As I managed to reach Marine Drive braving neck to neck traffic{which was oddly reassuring!},frantic calls from friends & family started coming in advising me to turn back due to the much delayed discovery of the remaining 8kgs of RDX at CST!!! Whilst reassuring well wishers, the thought of turning back crossed my mind for a second before that voice in my head reminded me that this was not going to be another one of those things that we start on the “right” note but never quite see through! As I looked out the window, I saw a hoarding screaming, “Enough is Enough”! Ironic. I realized it was time to change…

In an effort to minimize the sense of isolation, I rolled down my window and truly allowed myself to be part of the movement. The anger, demand for change & general sense of revolt in the air was faintly reminiscent of the pre-independence movements. (So I thought!) The haunting lyrics of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s song kept creeping into my thoughts… “ekla cholo re" which loosely translated meant,"even if no one answers <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />ur call or walks beside you… you must walk on, alone"! The fervor & spirit was infectious and I felt like an intrinsic cog in this mammoth faulty machine called India.

As I approached the Gateway, I realized that thousands and thousands of people had come to pay homage & stand united for a cause. It didn’t matter if you were young or old, rich or poor, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians ,Jews, Indian or foreign nationals .What caught my immediate attention was that the average age of the Peace Protestors was 25-30…our nations most powerful weapon, the Youth had come out in full force and were demanding change. The predominant emotion that seemed to course through the multitude was undeniably ANGER, which seemed somewhat misdirected. The streets brimming with impressionable young minds shouting hateful anti-Pakistan slogans was not the change we were hoping for. This was the tried & tested defense mechanism our politicos used to deflect responsibility or accountability in the wake of acts of terrorism. The sheer number of people that had taken the time to be there was nothing short of inspiring. As I walked alone through crowds of unknown faces trying to locate my friends, I felt a true sense of belonging. The atmosphere was electric, charged with anger, hope, resentment, faith & the will to change…

Goosebumps & shivers ran down the spine each time we sang the national anthem or screamed “Vande Mataram!” Our voices were hoarse & tired but our spirits inextinguishable. In the midst of chaos & clarity, rage & reform, emerged the White Knights…like an army of peace! Proudly donning their skullcaps, lead by maulvis with kids on their shoulders and incandescent in white …they charged through the crowd amidst  loud clapping, hooting & cheering with banners & placards reading, “Pakistan…Be Declared”! Just the thought of that vision in white is enough to give me Goosebumps even now. The message was loud & clear…terrorism has no religion but ignorance! Even when the White Knights had passed us by chanting slogans of “Hindustan Zindabaad!” what stayed with us was the beacon of Hope. We were all there, not ashamed of our diversity but proud & united through it…to tell the world in a manner of non violence that is inherently Indian, that we are not afraid and WILL become the CHANGE.

We succeeded in what we’d set out to do as a nation…bring about a change. As we treaded home, our heads held high with pride, our hearts filled with hope & our minds fuelled with ideas of change. A sense of victory prevailed…Ding Dong…Communalism is dead!