Spare The Thief, Catch The Chief
Published in Sunday DNA, Bangalore as: Valued: Dead or Alive dtd 14/12/2008
In the feature film Syriana - illustrating the machinations of U.S. based energy corporations and the U.S. government to secure control over the world’s remaining fossil fuel reserves – Wasim a Pakistani oilfield-worker in the middle-east assures his son “Someday we’ll get a real house and get your mother here”.
Wasim is soon one of hundreds laid off. Thereafter, his son is ripe for recruitment for Jihad and by the end of the film, he is ramming an explosive laden speed boat into an oil tanker. This Pakistani boy is treated anonymously, as one among millions, prey to larger forces. We never get inside what drives boys of his culture and class to make this decision.
26/11 has provided the invaluable opportunity to address the shortcomings of reel-life characterization, with insights into the real Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman Kasab. The baby-faced gunman was captured at Mumbai's CST station, where he and an accomplice killed 58 people in a barrage of bullets and grenades.
His is the story is of deprivation and rootless drifting that turned the third of five children of a ‘pani-puri chaat wala’ from Faridkot, an uneducated labourer struggling for survival into a petty criminal and then into a terrorist.
Faridkot, in Punjab province is an economically stagnant area where most people have little education and live in poverty that has been long known for producing Jihadis. Graffiti is found on sides of buildings which say, in Urdu, "Go for jihad! Go for jihad! - Markaz Dawat ul-Irshad."
Influenced by films on India’s “atrocities” in Kashmir and by impassioned speeches of preachers, including Lashkar chief, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Ajmal started believing it might be worth sacrificing his life for the glory of Islam. He then started envisioning jihad as the purpose of his life and a means to gain respectability in his society.
Ajmal told investigators that Lashkar commander Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi promised that his family would be financially rewarded for his sacrifice. “Spread terror and your family will be looked after,” but he now fears that his family members will be killed because he was ordered not to be taken alive.
Violence has always had the power to transform the mundane “nobody” into a heroic warrior. The former Guantanamo detainee and Al-Qaida training camp recruit, Mourad Benchellali, a young Frenchman from Lyon was lured to Afghanistan by, as he puts it, "a misguided and mistimed sense of adventure".
The same narrative replicates itself ad infinitum with Hezbollah's 42,000 Mahdi Scouts aged between 8 and 16, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Shri Rama Sena or the Maoist Child Liberation Army ensconced in the forests of Giridih. Now that adolescent terrorism has arrived at the Gateway of India we are finally paying attention!
Ajmal Kasabs are everywhere. They are most likely to be teenagers without access to stable family ties seeking support and belonging through tribal allegiances. With no recourse to adult role models, violent role models fill the void - and popular culture delivers glorified violence in abundance.
An abnormally large number of 15-29 year olds are supersaturating the job market and coming up empty. While they are capable of fuelling growth, revitalising economies and social structures under the right conditions, the violence in the Middle East, parts of Asia, Europe and Africa is largely due to tensions and resentments within societies that have a large youth demographic, - creating the perfect storm. The presentation and mobilisation of violence is an attractive solution to disempowered youth.
Do we seek retribution by the expeditious prosecution and delivery of death sentence for petty thief turned terrorist Ajmal Ali Kasab or, do we exploit him as a travelling ambassador propagating anti-terrorism?
Through his death we would have removed a symptom, created a martyr and rewarded him with heaven and give cause for a hundred more youngsters to avenge him in the name of Jihad. Furthermore, we would dubiously inspire another hundred to ‘save India’ against Islamic terror.
In the land of Mahatma Gandhi let us spare Ajmal Kasab; deny him martyrdom, prosecute him with community service for life, indoctrinate him in the ways of democratic dissent and exploit him as a poster boy exposing the folly of terror.
Instead, let us ‘bomb’ Faridkot with books and jobs, annihilate its poverty, exterminate the poisonous puppeteer chiefs of terror that manipulate young minds, so that all children realise a peaceful tomorrow.
In the feature film Syriana - illustrating the machinations of U.S. based energy corporations and the U.S. government to secure control over the world’s remaining fossil fuel reserves – Wasim a Pakistani oilfield-worker in the middle-east assures his son “Someday we’ll get a real house and get your mother here”.
Wasim is soon one of hundreds laid off. Thereafter, his son is ripe for recruitment for Jihad and by the end of the film, he is ramming an explosive laden speed boat into an oil tanker. This Pakistani boy is treated anonymously, as one among millions, prey to larger forces. We never get inside what drives boys of his culture and class to make this decision.
26/11 has provided the invaluable opportunity to address the shortcomings of reel-life characterization, with insights into the real Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman Kasab. The baby-faced gunman was captured at Mumbai's CST station, where he and an accomplice killed 58 people in a barrage of bullets and grenades.
His is the story is of deprivation and rootless drifting that turned the third of five children of a ‘pani-puri chaat wala’ from Faridkot, an uneducated labourer struggling for survival into a petty criminal and then into a terrorist.
Faridkot, in Punjab province is an economically stagnant area where most people have little education and live in poverty that has been long known for producing Jihadis. Graffiti is found on sides of buildings which say, in Urdu, "Go for jihad! Go for jihad! - Markaz Dawat ul-Irshad."
Influenced by films on India’s “atrocities” in Kashmir and by impassioned speeches of preachers, including Lashkar chief, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Ajmal started believing it might be worth sacrificing his life for the glory of Islam. He then started envisioning jihad as the purpose of his life and a means to gain respectability in his society.
Ajmal told investigators that Lashkar commander Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi promised that his family would be financially rewarded for his sacrifice. “Spread terror and your family will be looked after,” but he now fears that his family members will be killed because he was ordered not to be taken alive.
Violence has always had the power to transform the mundane “nobody” into a heroic warrior. The former Guantanamo detainee and Al-Qaida training camp recruit, Mourad Benchellali, a young Frenchman from Lyon was lured to Afghanistan by, as he puts it, "a misguided and mistimed sense of adventure".
The same narrative replicates itself ad infinitum with Hezbollah's 42,000 Mahdi Scouts aged between 8 and 16, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Shri Rama Sena or the Maoist Child Liberation Army ensconced in the forests of Giridih. Now that adolescent terrorism has arrived at the Gateway of India we are finally paying attention!
Ajmal Kasabs are everywhere. They are most likely to be teenagers without access to stable family ties seeking support and belonging through tribal allegiances. With no recourse to adult role models, violent role models fill the void - and popular culture delivers glorified violence in abundance.
An abnormally large number of 15-29 year olds are supersaturating the job market and coming up empty. While they are capable of fuelling growth, revitalising economies and social structures under the right conditions, the violence in the Middle East, parts of Asia, Europe and Africa is largely due to tensions and resentments within societies that have a large youth demographic, - creating the perfect storm. The presentation and mobilisation of violence is an attractive solution to disempowered youth.
Do we seek retribution by the expeditious prosecution and delivery of death sentence for petty thief turned terrorist Ajmal Ali Kasab or, do we exploit him as a travelling ambassador propagating anti-terrorism?
Through his death we would have removed a symptom, created a martyr and rewarded him with heaven and give cause for a hundred more youngsters to avenge him in the name of Jihad. Furthermore, we would dubiously inspire another hundred to ‘save India’ against Islamic terror.
In the land of Mahatma Gandhi let us spare Ajmal Kasab; deny him martyrdom, prosecute him with community service for life, indoctrinate him in the ways of democratic dissent and exploit him as a poster boy exposing the folly of terror.
Instead, let us ‘bomb’ Faridkot with books and jobs, annihilate its poverty, exterminate the poisonous puppeteer chiefs of terror that manipulate young minds, so that all children realise a peaceful tomorrow.
Comments
An Indian and majority of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis migrate to towns and cities .And are living in hells called slums with minimal food no sanitation and no love.
They have had minimal education. So the new Sahibs’ like me of these continents who have taken over from British sahibs employ them .
1. A Bangladeshi comes in morning and takes away garbage from home.
2. A Bihari comes to clean car and water the plants
3. 1-2 Maids Bangladeshi or Indians are for household chorus
4. In office there are UP or Bihari Peons to serve water and tea or get cigarettes
5. On tea stall there are 3-4 Bhiaris employed
6. Car park has few more
7. The colony and office have some more Bihari employed as security guards.
8. And not to forget our clothes are also ironed by these Biharis
Therefore a at least a Dozen such people who have not found employment or fields have gone dry or the do not have food in villages live as servants of the great sahibs like me of the present times . Global melt down global fiscal problems global warming does not affect them.Dollar at 35 or 55 petrol at 147 $ per barrel or 40 $ a barrel does not effect them .
They are hidden yet in front of us. I am glad these people have been discussed in these articles .or else if they fall sick or they have a death in family or they die in a accident or they have a marriage in family they are a sources of pain as the above work simply stops .
The Indian youth comes to cities and struggles . He keeps struggling and lives this life as if he is doomed to live it. Some of these youth learn the art of living . No No No the Shri Shri Ravi Shanker art of living but art of living of unwanted “setting” and “jugad” to make extra bucks . Others a small minority graduate to crime.
It is slightly different in Pakistan and Bangladesh . They have a post graduate course also . The Majids get hold of them and they get purpose in life . They are new jihadis fidayeen with purpose and name in society . Until the 8 guys were killed in India and one arrested these jihadis were really big heros in Homes of Pakistani rural folks and kids hold them in high esteem .
In India criminals and those fighting for religion or killing for religion are considered as out caste and have no support . In India Temples are also not engaged in recruiting youths to kill and save religion . and Political parties involved in name of religion also do not find popular support .
So the difference is in what masjid make them do and what Pakistanis and Bangladeshis believe in . Unless we see it we cannot change it in them and lift them .And teach them that religion is personal and not a weapon.
I would hang the arrested terrorist and then cremate him . I will never forget he killed 4 top cops in cold blood and guddiya yadavs daddy is in ICU and she is waiting to hear his voice . I would cremate his body so that when Allaha comes on Kayamat’s day his body is not found. When terrorist bodies are destroyed and burnt then they will be scared as they will not get all benefits from Allaha in heaven which majid guarantee them and they will be discouraged and scared to die like this in a land where there bodies will be cremated and not buried to be taken out on Kyamat day.
With the recent behaviour of lawyers refusing to represent Kasab, drafting of terror laws and Shiv Sena upto its usual antics... it becomes difficult to hope that better sense will prevail.
Do you think that educating these youngsters from Faridkot, and not punishing the deeds of someone like Kasab would be the beginning of a new world!
I think not! I believe it should be an eye for an eye. I like Mahatma Gandhi's idea of Non-violence, but I am not sure if it still holds good in today's world.
I also believe if we continue to sit and wait till these people can find their conscience, they'll have slaughtered half our country.
We would not be in this position in the first place if we would have retaliated in a proper manner when the train blasts in Mumbai and the serial blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore, Delhi etc happened.
Barkha Dhar
http://dharbarkha.blogspot.com
Barkha Dhar
http://dharbarkha.blogspot.com