The rail bombings in Mumbai, India on July 11 is another shocking tragedy; another alarming display of inhumanity and callous disregard for human life, and especially for the innocent caught in the middle of political and ideological conflicts and territorial struggles in the Indian subcontinent and around the world. The events and magnitude of this tragedy are still unfolding: with nearly 200 dead and over seven hundred injured in seven or eight bomb-blasts on a heavily-traveled commuter line at the evening rush hour.

I have traveled on this commuter line in 1972, and I cannot imagine the panic, confusion, shock and anguish of eyewitnesses, relatives of the dead, and the injured in the aftermath of this despicable act. Our hearts and prayers go to the families of the victims, the people of this emerging Asian giant, and to its present national leadership which in recent years have been on a courageous path of peaceful cooperation with all its neighbors besides creating opportunities for prosperity for India's one billion people.

Along with poverty, hunger, disease, especially HIV/AIDS, and regional conflicts, terrorism is another dark chapter of our times. Just when the world could be forever more enlightened about freedoms and rights, individual and collective achievements, and cooperative, interdependent and immeasurably prosperous, it continues to drift towards a state where indiscriminate violence has become dangerously rampant and common place tool by the terrorists to express political dissent; ethnic, cultural, and religious hatred; and mindless terror in the name of religion to pursue misguided concepts and ideology of freedoms, liberty, and righteousness for their "just" cause. The outrageous and sensational acts like bombing commuter trains and buses, skyscrapers, religious shrines, tourist resorts, and community infrastructure attract immediate world attention.

Such tragic events are always followed by quick condemnation and solidarity from friendly quarters, but nations have yet to formulate an effective strategy to combat this global menace that is devastating countless lives and jeopardizing the future of peace and prosperity of the world that we all share as one human family. We are baffled by this senseless and increasingly dangerous and daring escalation and the frequency with which this violence is occurring around the world.

We hope that world leadership will come together in spirit, work closely with teachers and scholars, religious leaders, mentors and parents, and organizations and institutions to instill universal values that faith and cultures have always promoted; create a room and an environment that involve those who are on the fringe and offer an alternative to their lives and mindless pursuits; and more importantly prevent new generations from joining into their ranks due to disillusionment and frustration with the hopelessness that surrounds their lives and permanently eclipses their future. We must close the open wounds that terrorist have been exploiting.

Tough counter measures, with no room to reconcile and resolve the crisis by addressing the underlying causes, will only help escalate and continue this spiral of unabated nightmare as witnessed by Mumbai on July 11, in London last year, in Spain two years ago, in the USA 5 years ago, in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Beslan (Russia) to Bali (Indonesia), and on many continents over the last three decades. The causes of conflict and outrage may differ but the outcome is the same: suffering and slaughter of the innocents, who were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

While those with great minds, immense power, and greater understanding of the issues and problems that surround such violent struggles are working hard to find a solution, each of us, in our own way, have a responsibility to strengthen the vital human need for peace and at our level build bridges of friendship by creating mutual trust and respect for our diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Peace is an important state for human survival, achievement, and excellence and it will not prevail unless all humanity invests into it with its heart, effort, and gifts. We can also offer the universal hope of the Sikh prayer to one another: "In Your Name, by Your Grace, may there be peace among all nations, cultures, and people everywhere."

Then work towards this idea as the songs and faith commandments stress: "Let it begin with me." I pray that some day these isolated "islands of prayer and peace" will be interconnected with our universal and sustained commitment to such an ideal and thread all humanity in a spirit of brotherhood and peaceful accommodation.

Recognizing the gravity of the moment, I offer our solidarity in spirit and prayers to India and to those who have suffered unbearable losses and are facing uncertainties about their loved ones. I also hope that the world will come together to find a way to end such nightmares occurring elsewhere. Now, that is a goal that concerns our survival and is worthy of our pursuit, prayers, and tireless striving.


Copyright ©2006 K.P. Singh. About the author