At the very outset, I'd like to make it very clear that I'm a hardcore Mumbaikar, having seen my city pass through every season, every emotion and every sequence of events. I'm a Mumbaikar who was left stunned when the 11th July 2006 train blasts took place, one who cried watching his city burn on 26th November 2008 (the crying later turned to anger and detest towards Pakistan) and one who narrowly escaped the 13th July 2011 blasts.
The title of my post might read otherwise but there's a reason behind it.
Today morning, I woke up around 9 am and checked my cell phone. One of my friends Pritesh had dropped a message on Whatsapp early in the morning which read 'Kasab hanged'.
I switched on my television and as usual, every news channel was running the same news. It's a big day for India because according to the custodians of law, justice was finally granted to the families of all those who lost their loved ones and all Mumbaikars who've since then lived with a constant hatred towards Pakistan. It took a while for the news to sink in and once it sunk, I started thinking otherwise.
Seen in isolation - Kasab was a 25 year old, living away from his parents since the past 4 years. His father had sold him off to Abdul ur Rahman Lakhvi in the lieu that the money he'll earn will end their family's financial woes. Probably, he didn't realize that time what a grave mistake he was committing. Today, as I read the news of Kasab being hanged, all I could think (even though momentary) was that a 25 year old was hanged. He wasn't even given a chance to meet his mom or siblings, not to mention the father who had sold him off.
After looking at the incident briefly from the other point of view, I returned to normalcy. There's a very famous proverb in India - Jaisi karni waisi bharni. Kasab separated a lot of people from their loved ones. Kasab's death, away from his family, was just a payback from our side. I noticed my eyes getting moist thinking what I wanted since 4 years had finally happened. The anger that I had felt exactly 4 years back finally died down today because the reason for that anger was hanged today. Justice has finally been done. As a Mumbaikar, I don't exactly feel proud but at least, I'm not as angry.
The title of my post might read otherwise but there's a reason behind it.
Today morning, I woke up around 9 am and checked my cell phone. One of my friends Pritesh had dropped a message on Whatsapp early in the morning which read 'Kasab hanged'.
I switched on my television and as usual, every news channel was running the same news. It's a big day for India because according to the custodians of law, justice was finally granted to the families of all those who lost their loved ones and all Mumbaikars who've since then lived with a constant hatred towards Pakistan. It took a while for the news to sink in and once it sunk, I started thinking otherwise.
Seen in isolation - Kasab was a 25 year old, living away from his parents since the past 4 years. His father had sold him off to Abdul ur Rahman Lakhvi in the lieu that the money he'll earn will end their family's financial woes. Probably, he didn't realize that time what a grave mistake he was committing. Today, as I read the news of Kasab being hanged, all I could think (even though momentary) was that a 25 year old was hanged. He wasn't even given a chance to meet his mom or siblings, not to mention the father who had sold him off.
After looking at the incident briefly from the other point of view, I returned to normalcy. There's a very famous proverb in India - Jaisi karni waisi bharni. Kasab separated a lot of people from their loved ones. Kasab's death, away from his family, was just a payback from our side. I noticed my eyes getting moist thinking what I wanted since 4 years had finally happened. The anger that I had felt exactly 4 years back finally died down today because the reason for that anger was hanged today. Justice has finally been done. As a Mumbaikar, I don't exactly feel proud but at least, I'm not as angry.
