Two and a half decades ago, nine-eleven
was the approximate time I dragged my lazy self off the hard cotton mattresses
that we slept on. Long after the sun had risen from its distant mountain beds.
Long after the glassy dewdrops had dried on their green velvet blades. And long
after the call of the ‘azaan’ had evaporated into the misty morning
light. Twenty-five years later, nine-eleven still remains the
approximate time my teenaged children yawn their way out of their soft
resilient ornate beds. Apart from that, nine-eleven never held any other
significance in our average day-to day life. Until September the 11th
2001!
On this fateful day, the whole world
was suddenly awakened to the medieval call of a single human being. A
soft-spoken saint, who had meaningfully gathered the threads of insanity, bent
upon weaving a better world with it. One, who proclaimed that he believed in
Allah and who called upon his brethren worldwide to join hands in destroying
the other half of the world that did not. The entire world watched in
fascination at the amazing air stunt of a couple of crazed maniacs who
performed their kamikaze acts of bravado. Within seconds, two majestic fingers
that sprouted out of the proud American palm and that which daily tickled the
sun, caressed the moon and flirted with the skies were brought down to earth.
And then was born Ground Zero- a child that upon its birth cried out to the
entire planet, teaching humankind words which many tongues were still
unfamiliar with. Like Laden and Jehad and Islam and Hate!
The western media were the first to
wake up and cash in on this new-fangled dawn. It was justified. It was their
side of the world that had been aimed at. Yet it was the eastern populace that
was eventually raped. The western world aired the news and their views
defiantly. Yet it was the eastern masses that were ultimately subjugated. Any
brown face that sported a beard and a turban became a magnet that attracted bullets.
Any countenance that bore distinct Asian features became a target for public
harassment. Any voice that spoke of the veracity of a certain faith was
ridiculed. And with the beginning of this new era began the odium for the
entire population of a particular community. The seed had already been sown.
Osama Bin Laden just gave it the permission to grow. And grow it did with
alarming alacrity. Where harmony once bred, discord started to prevail. Where
love once nurtured, hatred started to triumph. And where trust once branched
out, misgivings started to weed in.
Who was responsible and why? The first
of course was one who considered himself a Super man. He, who not only wallowed
in the pride of having humbled a Super country, but also had the audacity to
preach to the believers and the non-believers that Islam in reality meant
nothing but Peace. And with the serene look of a saint and the quiet uproar of
a lion he had started the holy war. But unfortunately by the time it was
finished his purpose had been defeated. He thought he had succeeded in
conquering the hearts of a group of people but he had in fact conquered Islam.
For “Peace” had finally been conquered! Can’t blame the poor fellow actually,
considering the fact that apart from having a traumatized childhood, his
disturbed mind also happened to have a distorted vision of a faith that is so
unique and beautiful.
The second individual however,
was not liable in the direct destruction of structures or convictions. He only
succeeded in fanning the fire furthermore by airing out a pompous proclamation-
that the world was now divided. Either they were with him or they were not. It
did not matter that for the past few years other countries had continuously
been grazed with acts of terrorism. It did not matter that unreasonable
revolutionary demands had incessantly been made in other parts of the globe. It
did not matter that millions of women and children had witnessed brutality in
its worst form. But it did matter when the blast was felt in their superior
homeland. For then he felt it was imperative that everyone not only took notice
but also join in the spiritual and political game of tug-of-war.
When God sent down mankind it was with a uniform body. Every being has a
heart that beats, a mouth that eats, eyes that weep and a wound that bleeds.
When God sent down religion it was with a definite purpose. To instill terror
in a brutal human heart, not to brutally terrorize humanity. To be used as a weapon to discipline oneself,
not to be manipulated with elsewhere. Of what use is religion when its very
core challenges reason and stinks of convenience? Of what use is religion if
the only basis applied to in life is for a pliable excuse? Of what use is
religion if it degrades humanity, forcing it to be used as a political sanction
in society? If this were the form of religion that Osama or any other extremist
preaches, I’d rather be labeled a knowledgeable atheist than an ignorant
follower. And if power and violence were the beliefs that today’s man relies
upon, I’d rather go to sleep every night not wanting to open my eyes the next
day. Not at nine-eleven. Not ever!