What to do & How to do …..?
21 September 2016
When I am on ships …. it’s alife of constantly being in the state of
full operational readiness and operating and emergency preparedness – whether
awake or in sleep literally …. having people around who are all professionally
trained in skills and disciplines …. a life of such professionally competent
readiness day and night for 39.5 years of witnessing operating ships as well maintaining
ship security; surviving storms and winters ….
and then when I come home, I am in the house of a Mariner’s wife who has
run it with the same – rather even better
professionalism of ‘operating skills
and readiness for almost all kinds of emergencies..’ knowing very well that
they come without ringing any bells …. be it flooding-rains or earthquakes or
someone’s terminal health in the neighbourhood or any other house hold
situation or even a pet in distress … she is prepared …almost as a a pro …..
and then there is the human civil society at large in this city at least …. so
different ! … so different in lives of earning-sake skills and longings for
consumptions !! almost with full dependecies on the emergency response services
provided by the local bodies and states for their safety and security …. On one
hand there are examples like ‘Sully’ so well portrayed by Tom Hanks in the
movie - who handles his powerless plane
as well as the civilian passengers extra-ordinarily without a loss by water-landing
on the Hudson, then also faces the skeptic NTSB investigators …. but with one awesome
clarity and ability …. that of knowing ‘..what to do and how to do ..?’ ….
that awareness and ability both leading to a cruicial Decision Making in a mere
203 seconds !!
…. and today in Mumbai when the first news came …
that of the terrorsists on the loose reported by school kids to their teachers
and then to the authorities … everyone had the news coming either by their
social media, or by the noise of the howering helicopters or by watching the
TVs or upon seeing the road blocks …. clearly confused individuals everywhere
…. night falls without tracing the fugitives …. People seem to retire in a relieved
mood though the authorities keep reminding that ‘the fugitive terrorists are
still on the loose’ and that the highest alert still remains in force…
What did most people do? Did they grasp the
implications ..? Did they remember how it looked on the TV when the Belgian
forces were combing districts of Brussles to nab the fugitives? …? As against
here in Mumbai …?? What was it that the public at large could have done..? how
was the Boston bombers’ chase end .. do you remember? How were few more chases
otherwise … all telecast … what was done then ..was any thought given how to
act if that happens in Mumbai..?
Had the people practiced to grasp what the
situations meant..? while the people remain busy listening and forwading and
sharing heated debates about how the state should react to the latest act of
terror … while here they are right in the face of the fugitives … a clear
dangerous situation when the fugitives seen and may be more could surface
anytime anywhere and this changed situation needing well practiced minds that
can understand …
….. what it meant & what to expect …
how to help the authorities in their search ..
What has changed in the circumstances ..?
what it means for household level security..?
what does it mean about children going to schools &
colleges…?
What emergencies to expect … how best to react if there is
sighting..? own security and that of those around …
& above all how
to do..?
NOPE !! the people are NOT THAT READY as seen today !!
No
wonder ….just 2-3 days ago in broad day
lightin Delhi a stalker aquaintance of a straight forward girl knocks her down
and stabs over and over again till she dies while crying out for help ….. neither she knows what to do and how to do
in case of such an assault on the busy road (in spite of several months of
earlier troubles and complaints … the passer by public don’t know what
& how either …… or is it that they
Don’t Want to Know and Don’t Want to do anything but only sit and expect all to happen on
a readymade platter by authorities while they remain busy giving endless
opinions on the social media and in chats about what others should do …. only
to the advantage of the unlawful perpetrators !! that in turn bringing the biggest weakness which can not be
made up by loud slogans or good intensions but only by constantly knowing - individually
as well as groups - What to do and
How to do in any anticipated or unforeseen situations … so that the terrorists,
who seek to build on the weaknesses of the society & the state, run out of
options and back off …
Can
We ..? Can We as the law abiding straight forward civilian lot despite of being from any
state keep this as an expectation thereby subtly counter the terrorism; imbibe
this part as a responsibility to know and constantly update the knowledge in
theory and practice of ..What to do ? and How to do? In situations created by
the terrorists and never get caught as the unprepared ….
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