The tragedy of Bombay
is condemned by all Pakistanis and loss of life is equally
mourned in Pakistan.
I, recall 2006, when I was
invited by USTDA at Bombay to present paper on the South East
Asian Regional Port Developments, a two day seminar at posh
Renaissance Hotel near the lake. Enjoying Indian delicacies
and music and affection of Indian friends from my fraternity
is alive in my memory. I also recall being invited for lunch
at Taj Hotel Club by Mr. J.C. Anand Chairman of IRS,
along-with Chairman of JNPT, SCI and others. I and my wife
both were greeted warmly. Equally I recall my trip to Delhi in
December 2006 to sign the Shipping Protocol where too we
enjoyed the courtesy not only by Govt. but person to person
basis as well.
I use to meet Indian Beaureucrates at
IMO / ILO etc where we were together on lunch, agreeing on
agenda or at times, there was difference of opinion on various
matters being discussed. During discussion in lighter vein a
senior beaureucrate of India remarked that if there is some
family feud even, we blame ISI, so in Pakistan we blame CIA,
Mossad and RAW. It is the typical sub-continental mind set,
not to accept or own the responsibility , a genetic disorder.
When I was interviewed by various T.V. Channels on sad Bombay
killings, I emphasized that the act is condemnable, but
responsible people on either side of the divide may exercise
caution in making aggressive statements. We may only respond
and should not react at all.
Indian Navy, Coast Guard
and Security forces need a escape goat and the easiest is to
blame, rather than looking into their institutional lapses.
Security lapses have taken place in USA, U..K. and Pakistan
but we must own and take to task people who were responsible
for guarding the sea frontiers, instead of blaming. The matter
must be investigated thread bare before you hold neighbors
responsible, but even then, why the forces failed to safe
guard is a big searching question?
The Indian media
created hype by blaming two Pakistani cargo ships, but none of
the two exists with Registrar of Shipping, as Pakistan does
not have a single ship of Private Sector and our Public Sector
only owns 14 ships and none of the PNSC Ship was named by
Indian media.
The Indian navy destroyer recently
having shelled a Thai Fishing Trawler is widely condemned for
the loss of life on mistaken identity as pirates, and not
complying to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1816 (2008) The
correct procedure is followed by U.S. Navy, that a boarding
party is sent to ascertain if the ship is involved in any
other business than commercial shipping. Thailand has
protested by sending a note verballe to Indian Govt. through
diplomatic channels, but did not request to summon Indian
Naval Chief to Bangkok, the unprecedented demand, which was
agreed too in haste to pacify. The controversy of pronouncing
wrongly sovereign has now been resolved..
It is too
early to draw conclusions as we all know that Mr. Bal Thackery
son is against Behari cab drivers and all northern as he
believe that Maharashtra is for Maharashtrans only. The Bombay
as Karachi as I know has lot disparity between have and have
nots, so these could be many more home grown linkages to this
sad episode, remains to be investigated to arrive at definite
conclusion.
Every religion has harboured extremism be
it Hindu, Christian or Muslim. The recent incident of Indian
Army Officers involved in communal war is an eye opener.
Extremist claim that “Faith is what I die for, and dogma is
what I kill for” Intolerance and persecution with it, has
distorted human nature into false and artificial shapes. Some
try to palliate or even excuse the crimes committed in
religious belief. I quote that “ Most of Man’s misfortunes are
occasioned by man” Pliny the elder", said.
In
circumstances of betrayal or tragedy. the instinct to lay
blame is overwhelmingly strong, because whether or not doing
so is appropriate, it is almost the only relief for painful
emotions. Sometimes the target of blame is obvious, sometimes
not, but loss and grief must have their scapegoats.
Wherever particular blame, if any, is to be laid for
the tragedies occasioned by wars and massacres, there is
certainly a general blame. It lies on human kind for its
propensity to make war and preparations for war, allowing such
vast social resources to go into the production and operation
of machineries of death - guns, bombs, landmines,
hand-grenades, tanks, airplanes, sophisticated military
engineering, millions of men, even more millions of tones of
explosive steel, all round the world, specially dedicated to
the task of killing other humans and smashing the physical
fabric of civilization. If there were no war, no conflict, no
jealousy between peoples, there would be no guns and bombs.
That is where the blame lies: on us, because we all supinely
accept – thinking that we are being sensibly realistic – that
armies and weapons are inevitable. It lies on us because we
accept, even if tacitly, that violence and its instruments are
necessary features of the world. The acceptability of
preparations to kill other people is the source of all the
tragedies, great and small, that come from our arming the
whole world with instruments of death, by which thousands
therefore duly die, all round the world, every year.
Whereas blame is justified in this universal sense, it
is by contrast inappropriate in an important aspect of the
particular, namely, in the breakdown of personal
relationships, where it likewise tends to be endemic. One way
of recovering from these smaller tragedies is, in fact, to
learn how to stop blaming. There is a futile symmetry in
domestic blame: a man blames his wife for having an affair and
leaving him, while she in turn blames him for what the lawyers
call “constructive desertion”, perhaps (and usually) by
failing to answer her need for intimacy and thereby driving
her away. When we cease laying blame we either take
responsibility for our own contributions, or become free to
recognize that blame is irrelevant: for such thinks happen as
part of the whirligig of life, and laying blame is a waste of
energy which could be better directed at repairing damage or
starting afresh. .
TAILPIECE:-
I, request all
saner elements in India and Pakistan to avoid blame game and
electronic media must remain cautious in its reporting of
events. Indian Media has matured and was complimented in
un-earthing Gujrat / Orissa massacre by employing highly
educated investigating intellectuals and pin pointing a
serving army colonel. It saddened me, when I saw notables like
Kuldip Nayer arguing on agreeing and retracting, it is due to
poor governance at our end which is being exploited. It also
remains mystery who killed instantly the notable Police
Officer who was investigating. Only investigative reports be
made public. It is the responsibility of the T.V. channels, on
the both sides of the divide to promote harmony and look for
conflict resolution and give sufficient time to investigators
to arrive at conclusion. The peak of tolerance is most readily
achieved by those who are not burdened with convictions
(Alexander Chase) what underlines tolerance is the recognition
that there is plenty of room is the world for alternatives to
co-exist as peaceful neighbors for the betterment of our poor
masses.
Executive Committee Meeting of
Master Mariner Society of
Pakistan will be held at 17.30
Hrs. at Room No 18, Old Ralli
Brothers Building, Talpur Road,
Karachi.
Annual
Dinner
2010:
Master Mariners society of
Pakistan is holding it's Annual
Dinner 2011
TO HONOUROUR SENIOR
Members in recognition of their valuable
services to Pakistan Merchant Navy and to
promote professional competence to Maritime
Fraternity.
