I think we took it for granted and even in a lazy place like Bangalore, crime is waking up and well it will take another period to time where humanity will learn to coexist with terrorism.
After a while it feels like I have journeyed back a circle from where I left Shillong.
Shillong was heaven till 1990 after which we saw the beginning of terrorism of the local kind. Believe, me it does not have to be AK 47 and all that. A decent gatherinf of mob and some spreading of terror is enough to let the citizens shaken.
We started having curfews after 6:00 and no one was allowed to go out in the evening.
Some days were black days where we were not allowed to turn the lights on and were forced to live in candle power or no power. If by chance the miscreants saw a peep of light, we would have showers of stones which would effectively destroy our windows.
Classmates became enemies and accosted their non localites friends and had street fights in the roads where the goal would be to hurt the boy and rape the girl. Carrying a knife and getting stabbed was common.
Then came the cheapest form of bombs which would involve only a bottle and petrol and a good aim and BANG you have a blast. As I said terrorism does not have to be sophisticated.
Brothers of different ethinicity who had food at the same table laughed at the same jokes now killed each other. There was only the vision of trouble making and a misplaced ownership of lands.
Nepalis were targeted where we saw from our veranda, in shock and terror how the women came out with their khukris ready to kill anyone who would come by their area.
So the miscreants lay in wait for the Nepalis, Bengalis and other non localites to jump on them when they stepped into neutral ground and killed them mercilessly.
Durga Puja time, a time of festivities became a time of tragedies, where petrol bombs would be thrown in cabs to kill innocent people.
Education was difficult with constant interruptions in the school to have is get out of school and go home. We had a bunch of boys come in and order us out in the middle of a period.
Tenants were tortured. Women were raped. Men were butchered. All for what.. Some misplaced notion of political ownership. In a land which was pristine clear with nature and peace loving simple homely people.
Extortions and daylight murders were common. While walking back home, it was not unusual to see a group of people carrying a bloodstained corpse. The next day’s newspaper would talk more gory details about it. It was an offshoot of the chaos that came to visit us.
Houses were burnt deliberately and there was no insurance for that..
Shillong is a small town and everyone literally knew everyone. And if someone was hit, we would inevitably know the people and the family who went through the tragedy and rally in support however we could.
The result of all was that most of us fled the beloved town to settle in different places in India and well the rest.. had to stay still they could come out. And well now though the terror has died down the trust and the feeling of belonging.. never can be regained.. no matter how much we try..
More than a decade later… : it seems that history is proud to repeat itself.. in a larger form and for what.. ??
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