26/11 will be remembered for a long long time, some call it India’s 9/11. A day when India lost one of its brightest and most courageous officer Hemant Karkare, shot by 3 bullets which pierced his chest, ending his life instantly. Amitabh Bachchan talks about the blasts, terror in mumbai, media and Hemant Karkare.
“The entire day has been spent in front of the TV and watching in anguish and in anger the proceedings on the streets of Mumbai. I have been riveted to Times Now and to the incredible anchoring of Arnab. He has been at it non stop for almost 24 hrs; reporting, discussing, interviewing, taking opinion, tirelessly.
My pain has been the sight and plight of my innocent and vulnerable and completely insecure countrymen, facing the wrath of this terror attack. And my anger has been at the ineptitude of the authorities that have been ordained to look after us. I have simply loved and endorsed the sentiments expressed by one of those that came on for comments on the Arnab reportage, Suhel Seth. They were strong, precise and most apt. And of course I have had the greatest pride in those from the forces that have and continue to fight for our freedom. Brilliant officers and police personnel have laid down their lives for us. I can only but salute them and respect their sincerity in the call of duty.
I have been at the receiving end of a million calls and an equal number of sms’s the whole day to come live on TV or on the print media to express my views on the current situation and am being lured by words such as ’we need you to speak to express solidarity and for the people to maintain their calm’.
This is disgusting !! I will NOT do that. TELL ME AND ORDER ME INSTEAD THAT WE REQUIRE FOR EVERY INDIAN TO GET UP AND WALK INTO THE FACILITIES WHERE THE ACTION IS ON AND I WILL BE THE FIRST TO WALK. But, please do not ask me to come and make sloppy statements that will do nothing more than create viewer interest in said particular channel ! I respect what the media is doing in serving the nation with its continuous information bulletins and I admire the brave and diligent manner in which they have devoted themselves to the cause. But what they expect me do I find against my ethics and want to be excused from it.
And for God’s sake, let us stop reiterating that cliched ”Sprit of Mumbai” retort. Yes Mumbai is strong and resilient and shall not be cowed down by any such occurrence. But let us not conveniently use it as our cover sheet, pull it over our heads and go off to sleep. Because that is what has been happening every time. Incidents of grave disaster have continued to be camouflaged with ‘oh, this is Mumbai, we have a great spirit, we will spring back’. Fine, we will, of course. But who is assuring us that the disaster will not !!
As an Indian, I need to live in my own land, on my own soil with dignity and without fear. And I need an assurance on that.
I am ashamed to say this and not afraid to share this now with the rest of the cyber world, that last night, as the events of the terror attack unfolded in front of me I did something for the first time and one that I had hoped never ever to be in a situation to do.
Before retiring for the night, I pulled out my licensed .32 revolver, loaded it and put it under my pillow. For a very disturbed sleep.”
Levae your comments below
hmmm [sigh] ?!
In the present times its difficult for all of us to keep our cool head and logic intact. One gets angry and then the next moment realises the dangerous overtones in anger. Is asking for secure world in present times an unrealistic and impossible demand. How do i stand in front of 40 dreamers in my class and tell them that nothing will ever happen in this country of ours and we will never learn . Is somebody listening ? can someone give us answers and tell us what to do? This helplessness will kill whatever little spirit we r left with.
Living in the US, being a US citizen, my heart is and will always be Hindustani. Mr. Bachchan, my compliments on your decision to decline requests for a ‘special apprearance’ in this time. Your sense of dignity and decorum is to be commended when others would take this opportunity to put in their paltry two cents for publicity’s sake. My heart goes out to those families of the people who lost their loved ones; especially to those who were just there doing their jobs that day, providing what they could for their families. God Bless them and their families in this time of grief and loss.