Saturday, Sep 13 five bombs went off in quick succession in Delhi – India’s quintessential capital. It was a coordinated mayhem and immediately left a wake of destruction. The blasts shattered the vibrancy of a city – known for its panache. The famous hustle halted briefly as people bled on her many avenues. Terrorists who carried out the attack had chosen the venues chillingly well: Upscale markets, peak-hour metro station, lawns at the weekend India gate. The intent was clear and deadly: Maximum damage to a completely innocent bunch of people, who have nothing to do with either hate-politics or whatever shit ideology these stupid guys harbor.
This is anarchy. Terror has come to haunt us in a city – which is not only the political and administrative capital of India but also a city chock-a-block with history and heritage. I thought it won’t happen here. Not in Delhi. I thought the city was always in a state of high surveillance. One could have been forgiven to believe that Delhi was a boisterous and chirpy town and nothing dreary will ever pass by it. Alas we were to be proven wrong. Some dirt-bags had other sinister plans. They attempted to blow up the city – along with the pluristic values, the joy, the commotion that we take so forgranted in everyday life. Need I add, they failed miserably.
I have been living in this metropolis and the city seems to have grown on me. It is huge and haphazard – and humid these days -- but it allows you a freedom that is so beautiful. It emancipates you and liberates you from wherever you come from. Like all great cities of the world it opens its heart to you and makes you its very own. Its airs still carry the scent of a million dead poets. Delhi is the very idea of diversity and survival. The indomitable spirit of the city is, simply put, overwhelming.
I was happy to read that Delhi Metro resumed services soon after the blasts happened and people came back to the markets that were bombed the previous evening. Complete strangers ferried the wounded to hospitals. A concert was called off and the audience rushed to donate blood. The resilience was touching, so was the spirit of the city of Djinns.
I hope the cruelty that was inflicted on this city is defeated by its people.
I want the poetry back in her airs. And pronto
Sameer
