Battle of Pratapgarh - A Management Case Study

Many historians and writers have tried capturing the correct history on Battle of Pratapgarh and few succeeded in sequencing the event of meeting between Afzal Khan and Shivaji Bhosale at the footsteps of Pratapgarh. History or the story forms one of the most inspiring and daring tales on Shivaji and his times. It is still performed as popular ballard (povada) all across rural and urban parts of Maharashtra and constant subject of inspiration, films, plays and school text books. Without inviting any debate on its correctiveness and completeness I wish to draw few positives and learning lessons from this sensational event. I seek no desire to be accurate in portraying Shivaji as hero and neither I intend to beat the drum for his greatness.

* History : Here is brief details for those who have little knowledge about this event. Shivaji’s movement for creating home-rule independent state ‘Swarajya’ had became the most critical issue at Adilshah’s Bijapur court. Shivaji had captured few strategically importants hills and forts and also recently looted Kalyan town. Afzal Khan led sizable army into the Western Ghats region to crush Shivaji. his men and their dreams. He stationed his troops at Wai in modern district of Satara. From May to November 1659 Afzal engaged his army in attacking open plains to find Shivaji and also enticing him for coming open in battle but Shivaji retreated to Pratapgarh with large part of his garrison. Khan employed best of his men but with over-confidence and constantly worked on capturing Shivaji but saw no success. On the other hand, Shivaji was limited by the size of his army and resources. He didn’t budge to any of Khan’s tactics or pressure and stayed most of the time behind fortified walls of Pratapgarh. Seeing his operation extended, Afzal Khan broke the muzzle and opened negotiations talks and agreed to meet Shivaji at the footsteps of Pratapgarh. Khan desired to get Shivaji close at meeting and either capture or kill him by false play. On the contrary, this was a place in dense forest strategically favorable for Shivaji and his men. =

The meeting was setup under a truce that two would meet under an enclosure virtually alone. Consuls from both sides discussed and negotiated on certain terms. Afzal had track record of breaching the truce and committing false play and so was Shivaji had planned. The actual battle never took place until final hours of Nov 10th, 1659 between noon to evening. As the two men entered the tent, the 7′ tall Khan embraced Shivaji, tightly holding Shivaji’s neck under his arms, he struck him with a dagger in the back. The dagger was deflected by Shivaji’s armour and Shivaji responded by inthrusting his dagger and using tigger-claws opening and tearing Khan’s bowels. Afzhal Khan who was strong and sturdy but injured by this time, struck his sword on Shivaji’s head almost killing him. Khan rushed outside shouting for help, and thereupon his bodyguard Sayyad Banda moved inside the tent but before he could strike on Shivaji, Jiva Mahal Shivaji’s personal bodyguard who had positioned himself in the tent before Sayyed, cut his hand with a Dandpatta (Patta- a medieval weapon) and before the surprised Sayyed could know whoms who, Jiva’ second blow was fatal to Banda. Afzal Khan managed to hold his gushing entrails and hurtled, faint and bleeding, outside the tent and threw himself into his palanquin. The bearers hastily lifted their charge and began moving rapidly away down the slope. Sambhaji Kavji Kondhalkar, Shivaji’s lieutenant gave chase and beheaded Afzal Khan. Thus, Shivaji nullified first serious threat to his ambition of creating autonomous state from the pockets of Bijapur kingdom. Some historians, scholars claims for a conspiracy on Shivaji’s part but it was a shear military and diplomatic tactics employment for nearly six months that shifted the final result in Shivaji’s favor. Its a mix of bright leadership and dare-devil diplomacy that you will find it thirlling, interesting and thought stimulating.
Afzal Khan’s CV at the time of battle :
Afzhal Khan was the most prominent general at Adhilshahi court. He was famous for his astoshing physical strength and shrewed military commander. Presumely he was 50+ aged, he was riding high on peak of his career at Bijapur court. He was known for warfare skills as well for negotiation tactics; have had won many battles on the face of Karnataka and Maharashtra. A faithful follower of Islam, he also had good relations with many Maratha local landlords sardars. From Shivaji’s link he had killed his elder brother Sambhaji Bhosale and paraded Shahaji Bhosale (Shivaji’s father) once in the streets of Bijapur. Now this same man was supplied 10-15,000 cavalry, 10,000 infrantry, 1500 musketeers, 100 elephants and 1000+ camels. His artillery was supported by 100 long range heavy cannons. He was given full command with a single goal of delivering Shivaji dead or alive to Bijapur court. All important Maratha Sardars serving at Bijapur were asked to join the force making it one of the most dreaded army to walk . Big plus, Afzal Khan was already Subehdar of Wai (near Satara) and well known to local area and infrastructure. From these facts, his resume looks strong and Adilshah wouldnt have asked anyone than Afzal Khan to suppress the rebellion of Shivaji and his men.

Shivaji Bhosale’s CV at the time of battle:
By 1659, Shivaji was 31 years old have had captured or repaired few forts and had established his authority around Pune region with a capital built at Rajgarh (30 miles from Pune). His dream of establishing ‘Swarajya’ was at very infant state. Recently, he had attacked and looted Kalyan (near Mumbai), one of few rich habitat towns of Bijapur kingdom. He was son of Shahaji Bhosale who was high ranked noble at Bijapur court. His province was initially limited to small pockets of plains around Pune that he inherited from his father. However, he and his men started expanding at the cost of Bijapur province. Shivaji was a rebel against political oppression, religious intolerance, social injustice, and cultural supression, rampant under the Muslim monarcies of Deccan. He hadn’t fought any major battle on open ground, mostly he captured or plundered wealth on guerilla warfare while winning the help and trust from Maratha men. His CV shows no experience on large battle and mostly depended on handful of dedicated band of an individuals ready to live and die for his dream. Shivaji was the face of their strength and fortitude and to have seem him charge in the battle, was the favorite boast of his troops. His military strength was around 7000 cavalry and 3000 infantry and Battle of Pratapgarh was Shivaji and mens’ first major life threatening battle.

Projected Presumtion:
Shivaji was no match for Afzal Khan’s CV. Odds for Shivaji were almost nothing. So how did Shivaji manage to inflict defeat on strongest commander of Bijapuri forces? The article doesn’t focus on rebuilding historic pieces of this event but to draw corporate management and leadership lessons from the available sources.

1. Mission Possible The moment news from Bijapur reached Rajgarh, Shivaji and his men were caught offguard and alarmed by this tense situation of facing full force of Adilshahi army. Shivaji commenced a meeting with his commanders at Rajgarh to discuss and address the issue. Everyone realised the threat was a deadly and there was no secret to understand that facing Afzhal was suicidal and catostrophic. Afzal Khan left Bijapur with a promise to put end of Maratha rebellion. Against few suggestions, Shivaji decided not to throw himself or his army in the open battle. Shivaji was also aware of the fact that before Khans strikes invasion, his army will face torrid monsoons and that would guarnatee Shivaji substantial time for the preparation. Shivaji decided to wait and watch as events progresses and possibly gain time to accumulate resources by delaying the face to face battle.

Wisdom: (Project Integration Management)

• Shivaji opened a mission critical (project charter) to deal directly with the threat of Afzal Khan.
• The events opens up to the fact that he was clear in defining preliminary scope statement to battle by guarilla modus operandi going by his strength.
• Facing powerful Bijapur army on open plains was his no choice and hence out of scope subject.
• Shivaji appears to understand the boundary conditions, constraints and limitations against Khan’s super-powered army.

2. Prepare and Plan Shivaji issued order to fortify and strengthen Rajgarh and nearby important forts with soldiers, food and arms supply. He organized most of his contigent close to Rajgarh. Intelligence units operated right at the time Adishahi forces left plains of Bijapur. Some of his spys even got enslisted into Bijapur force as Khan recruited army on his march to Deccan trying to defect Marathas from Shivaji. Afzal succeeded winning few Sardars on his side either on the edge of his sword or promises. Shivaji appointed veteran Sambhaji Jedhe to negotiate the support from few maratha chiefs (jahagirdars) and stopping them from aligning to Afzal’s camp. The last thing Shivaji expected was to face Afzal Khan on open battle. He issued orders across the jahgir not to take any confrontation with Khan and even join his army if that saves them from persecution and destruction. Having spent time on plains of Wai, Afzal Khan knew how difficult it was to move and control big army on the rugged terrains of Sahyadri. However, he was simply in hurry to complete the mission critical. On the way Afzal attacked Hindu temples like Tuljapur and Pandharpur plundering and ransacking sanctity of Hindu’s divine gods. After Pandharpur, Khan changed his route and moved turned towards Satara. This move surprised and alerted Shivaji and recognizing Afzal’s vast experience as Subehdar of Wai, Shivaji devised a plan to destroy the Khan and his forces. He selected strategic location that he recently built in Koyna valley surrounded by ‘Javali’ deep valley dense jungle. One of his team mostly senior brigade was set-up to counsel Rajgarh administration and he took young brigade with him to Pratapgarh. On the daily basis his informants kept feeding him intelligence on every move on Bijapur’s camp. Same time, Shivaji sent greetings with lavish gifts to Aurangzeb who was pre-occupied in securing Mughal crown at Delhi. While he was busy at Pratapgarh in devising the plan, a personal tragedy stuck his as he lost his beloved wife due to her pro-longed illness.

Wisdom: (Scope management)

• While Afzal Khan was busy planning on dreamy simple objective, Shivaji meticulosly invested his time and resources in analyzing Afzal’s moves. He had collective intelligence unit working round the clock in and around of Afzal’s army capturing details on every possible move. These details proved significant source of information for his actitvity definition and planning and proved upper hand to Khan’s traditional model of military tactics.
• Shivaji’s initial actions and reactions indicates clear-cut scope planning and definition. He came up with a strategy of using dense forest, Pratapgarh’s location and rugged terrain against any direct attack from Adilshahi forces.
• His planning was 180 degree opposite to Khan’s traditional one. His plan was based on live details supplied by his secret services. By no means Afzal Khan was a bonehead but a experienced commander. However, his tactics and preparations shows overconfidence, lack of analysis and relying on old fashion archieved data. Many times applying environmental factors and past processes on completely new constrasting service or product proves fatal to the project and its timelines.
• Whereas, Shivaji was busy in planning scope and creating rough layout of the plan. Khan never realized or understood on what Shivaji and his men were working on.
• His quick realization of negative stakeholder in Aurangzeb is a bright example of understanding the boundaries and vision of the scope.
• Khan’s old stratgy of enticing Shivaji into open battle field by attacking and humiliating Hindu deities at Pandharpur and Tuljapur didn’t work.

3. Fort PratapgarhAs monsoons faded within few months Adilshahi army stationed at Wai and Afzal Khan’s army attacked plains around Pune, Saswad, Shirwal and some parts of Konkan. His execution was based on simple plan to engage Shivaji on open ground but his armies met no fight or any opposition and didn’t find Shivaji. Khan got puzzled with this outcome and as time progressed his frustration turned into desperation. Also, he realized it was no good allowing Shivaji more time to prepare for the battle and push the outcome. Meantime, while Khan was moving towards Wai, Shivaji decided to shift to Pratapgarh. It was Sept 5th 1659, Shivaji met a personal tragedy of losing his beloved wife who was ill for sometime at Rajgarh. He was deeply sad for losing a wife and mother of his very young son. However, as next events unfolds, his move to Pratapgarh proved the most vital and counter-attacking but Khan failed to analyze by calling it defensive on the contrary it was the most daring and attacking move from Shivaji. Also, few months before when Khan was on his way to Wai, Shivaji had to heavily bribe one of the Adilshahi commanders to rescue his brother-in-law Bajaji Nimbarkar who was captured at Phaltan and Afzal Khan ordered for his execution. Shivaji was causing no trouble, no battle and no action against any of Khan’s plans. Shivaji’s band had villagers from Javali region as his spies, labours etc. He acquired new arms supply that he raided recently from Kalyan and worked on fortyfying Pratapgarh’s walls and enriching his infantry strength.

Wisdom: (Develop Project Management Plan)

• Shivaji’s preperation is nothing short of good project planning. As against to Khan’s plan, Shivaji’s plan was based on progressive expansion of the project charter and his preliminary scope statement. His appetite for capturing details shows his ability and capacity in executing an exemplary leadership role.
• Employing right resources, tools and in-house assets at right time proves most productivem efficient in the course of project implementation. Opting for Pratapgarh was a building stone in defending against Afzal Khan and also using it as defensive wall against Khan’s large army.
• Pratapgarh was very close to monitor the events in Khan’s camp at Wai. The fort was built by Shivaji just 3 years before the battle. His men who engineered and constructed the fortification were in close nit in Shivaji’s force. Having their skills proved valuable as expert’s opinion to define and control activity sequence and estimation.
• Pratapgarh had its strength on its double line of fortification that wasn’t easy for anyone to attack. Fort construction was on a flat-topped high round rock at the head of densely forested Koyna basin (modern Satara district). Due to hostile topography, Bhorpya (old name) hill and its surrounding valley was little know in Afzhal’s camp. Using small army against the fort was suicidal as against large army with heavey artillery was difficult to maneur and control from the dense forest and rugged terrain.
• Shivaji’s shifting to Pratapgarh agitated Afzal Khan but before he realize the shift of a balance of power in Shivaji’s favor, it was too late. Shivaji’s knowledge of the terrain, his reliance of realistic data elements proved decisive strategy in the later times of battle. On the contrary, Afzal Khan rushing and racing for the results proved tragical in the end for himself and his sultanate army. His assumptions were shalow, his project plan was lousy and dreamy and there was hardly any decomposition of his scope statement. He just lived and died with a simple project plan of capturing Shivaji dead or alive.
• Shivaji had clear-cut cost control management plan. Initially he spent on capturing details and acquiring arms supply. As time came, he rushed for bribing and thus saving his brother-in-law. He saved not just his close reletive but prevented having to witness his close relative’s executive and most slashing his men’s spport and moral.

4. Bloody white flag of amnestyWith no actions, no results from Pratapgarh, Afzal Khan and his lethargic army got frustrated. Finally, Afzal Khan broke the silence and sent his consul Krishnaji Bhaskar, a hindu brahmin by caste. He desperately wanted Shivaji to meet him climbing down the fort and also have his consul climb the fort and able to vaguely inspect, comment on the fortification of Pratapgarh. His shift to this alternative plan paid a big buck. Shivaji hesitantly but finally agreed on meeting him. Hungry for results, Khan and his commanders celebrated for the outcome. Soon Khan’s counsul Krishnaji Bhaskar was admitted inside the Pratapgarh and his underlying inspective plan didnt fail to notice strong and deep fortification as if Shivaji prepared for the major battle. Every portion of the fort was heavily armed with men and artillery. Shivaji greeted him with all royal treatment and respect and lavishingly showered pricely gifts and articles on this Adilshahi counsul. Khan’s letter was mix of truce invitation and also sort of threatening. However, Shivaji brought it to Khan’s consul’s attention about his father Shahaji Bhosale and his position at Bijapur while opting for truce. On one hand, Krishnaji Bhaskar was concerned on Shivaji’s fortification but other hand he was impressed by Shivaji’s hospitality and personality.
On his reply, Shivaji sent his consul in Pantaji Gopinath, the intelligent and cunning skilled negotiator. Pa’nt Gopinath was assigned one and only one task of negotiating Khan on his demands and alluring Khan leaving Wai for Pratapgarh. Shivaji realized Khan’s race to results and acted quickly in setting his plan in action. All leaders assembled and brainstormed at Pratapgarh while Pa’nt Gopinath negotiated Khan and his consul. Beside Shivaji meeting in person, Pa’nt Gopinath offered huge offer to Khan for Shivaji’s life, his safety and saving him from Adilshah’s anger. Pa’nt brought Khan’s attention to Shivaji’s concern on his treatment at Bijapur court once Shivaji joins Khan’s forces. Khan already got details from his consul on Shivaji’s luxirous bounty. Khan saw this opportunity of profiting himself in addition to Adilshah’s reward on Shivaji’s head. In his letter, Shivaji acted small, humble, obedient and begged for mercy amplifying Afzal’s confidence and carelessness. Over his stay for few days, Pant Gopinath didn’t leave any stone unturned and succeeded convincing Khan and his group that Shivaji indeed in need of truce. Khan smiled and acted to forgive Shivaji’s mistakes and finally offhandenly agreed on meeting Shivaji outside Wai. He moved one step further towards his guillotine by agreeing to meet at the foothill of Pratapgarh. It was discussed that Shivaji would setup a open place in agreement to the truce and soon the date of meeting will be finalized. Khan’s resume was already red-marked specially on his meeting and its outcomes. Kasturi Ranag from Shire was killed in meeting, Khan Muhammad one of Adilshahi Sardar met the same fate and Shivaji couldn’t forget his elder brother Sambhaji Bhosale was killed by Khan in the recent past. Pa’nt Gopinath delivered big diplomatic punch of the times.

Wisdom (Change Control Management plan)

• Afzal Khan and his army were blinded by dreamy project plan. Under his traditional lousy plan, he entirely missed critical risk fracture-lines. Lack of understanding on Pratapgarh’s landscape made his risk management plan nothing but mere hollow checklisted document.
• When Khan saw his initial plan to bring Shivaji on open field failed, he quickly turned and invited Shivaji for the truce shows his reckless desperation for completion. Saving the face of failure, he had no attitude or altitude to analyse alternative plan’s impact or scope. Rather he painted and tainted his project plan with fatal strokes.
• On the contrary, Shivaji’s expanded and accomodative new gathered inputs. He had nothing to rush for its completion as he worked on pushing the schedule ahead saving cost and winning time. Fortifying Pratapgarh and its surrounding area proves his vision for big blacket cover for multiple strategies.
  Khan’s quick alternative plan had no control management plan on scope-creeping neither there was any decomposition of his work. Again, he traditionally devised a shallow and hollow statement for bringing Shivaji for meeting.
• In this short period of negotiation with Pa’nt Gopinath, Khan and his plan saw many new change request in the form of greed, money, respect, etc. Initially he tried getting Shivaji to Wai but when he saw something working to his advantage, he quickly scrambled in agreement to meet near Pratapgarh. There was no change control process put in place to investigate new change impact to the project. His greed of seeing working results in actions blinded his eyes to notice sharp blade of his guillotine.
• Khan failed to realize that leaving Wai for Javali’s thick jungle would limit his human and artillery resources. He cannot carry whole army bandwagon to footsteps of Pratapgarh. Afterall, it proved for him the same army size redundant and dispensable as Shivaji was coming un-hurt in open arms. No impact analysis, ignoring and avoiding all thats necessary to accommodate surprising change requests to the plan.
• On the other hand, same change request was a strategy on Shivaji project plan. In fact, some part of his project plan was setp in wait of this decisive moment. When Khan accepted the truce, Shivaji orcenstrated the daring sequence of activities in the most controlled operated model. All his forces were informed about this check-mate movement and soon the work-breakdown structure started the chain of tasks and responsibilities.

5. Neck of the Woods( incomplete… to be continued)

Equation of Hope and Horror

My colleague at work called me to check my reaction on the recent news he came across on internet. I was shocked and felt being paralyzed. The news brought me guilt and sadness all over my face. My colleague knew something dart serious has happened. I told him that its first time I came across something that bold and scary. Because this time the horror was delivered in different packet. The way horror came to Mumbai-shore was beyond my common man’s imagination. My mind rushed to the novel ” The Last Templar” by Raymond Khoury where the writer depicted a scene of few armed men dressed as “Medieval Knights” storming and spraying bullets in Central Park, New York mercilessly killing the innocents. I couldn’t believe something similar has actually been allowed to happen. It pushed me to the medieval age where the horror was used as the strategy to suppress anu uprisings. Long time, I have been reading and trying to find answer to this plague situation and I was convinced everytime that there is nothing but needs a hard hitting response. However, as a common man I thought shamelessly me being lucky for not being involved directly in this horror.How many times I must have travelled to CST (formerly VT)? How many times I must have visited my aunt at Navynagar? How many times I must have gone to US embassy? How many times I must have visited Mumbai? Should I thank God that it didnt happen when I was right at these hot-spots? Should I feel gratified and satisfied that no one from my close ones got hit? Remember those sharp dialogues Naseer in the role of common man punches out at Commissioner in “A Wednesday” movie. His actions justifying his hard-hitting, nerve cracking response to terrorism and we all must have agreed to his point whole-heartedly. But then soon ” The End” credits brings us down to earth and we keep saying hey..it’s just a “movie” but good one. I feel sad, I feel upset at myself for my inability, my unfit-ness to contribute anything to fix this AIDS that will go under the spine of every individual born at Indian soil.

The great places we all feel proud is left at someone’s mercy and violence. Dan Brown writes in his famous novel “Angels and Demons” (2009 movie release).. After every “Horror” there comes a “Hope”. Historically, it has been proved that “Horror” was used at regular intervals but what made people afloat is “The Hope”. After Mumbai’s turmoil, do we all feel confident to acquire the equally buoyant force that will sail us smooth in future? Would someone be able to assure us that it will be prevented from happening next time? Do we see any “Hope” in our system? At the face-front violence, if we look at our political system and do we expect to see if there is a light at the end of tunnel. Again, history proves that whenever the authorities failed to deliver “hope”, people took the law in thier hands and triggered the resolution. Revolution itself gives hope and admittenly it rides on the hope. Look at all over world, this “revolution” has changed our lives, it has conter-acted against the horrifying oppressive acts. Around mid 17th century, someone bundled a common man on the “Deccan” plateau against the tyrrany and rendered a huge “hope” that lasted more than 200 years. The question arises is what triggers the revolution? On the name of democratic, feel-good, law and God fearing social values we must have forget to imbibe generation with a lesson of taking things in hand, fighting against the injustice. In the name of peaceful behavior, we ourself have bowed the seeds of creepled and gutless personal values. In short, in the name of human values, we have suppressed our “animal” instincts to challenge the oppression.Everyone know what got triggered after 9/11 attack on US soil. Atleast two nations were forced to re-write their history and political map. I wouldn’t say it was a “justified” decision where thousands of innocents suffered. But the question hits my hopeless mind is how long would we witness our political leaders using the situtation than reacting strongly with an apt resolution. One of my colleauge came to my desk furiously complaining about Maharashtra CM and his inability to guard coastal line. He was right but that’s just not a full stop. We end up in asking question each others, blaming our same system that we are part of. Aren’t we questioning ourselves? If there is some basic problem to our political agenda, arent we responsible. If we can’t answer our own questions, what does it reflects on our infertile and sterile mental frame. Probably, seeing this sterile behaviour of masses, thanks to Early-Maharashtrians in texting the forth grade book with “Shivaji” like blazing history. One of the Western writers James Laine wrote some stupid research book, one of our group ran-sacked the whole library at Pune and demonstrated the strength and anger. Where is the group and where is anger now? I am sure there will be need-less, eye catching nation wide demonstrations.

Lets focus on some world polictics. In this satellite technology, how difficult is it to track these training camps in Pakistan? Why do we have to put the blame just in media text without causing any action? How long would our system makes us read and watch the things without any gutsy accountability? How difficult is to teach once-all lesson to Pakistan and the non-state elements looking at India’s armed force strength? What stops our airforce fighter-plance from destroying the training camps like US raided Afghanistan? What stops American and other Western ally to come forward and assist in cleansing these sites? What made Americans to strike on Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11? Who gave them rights to attack these countries? Who authorised Russia to attack Georgia? Under whose orders did Israelis attack Syrians? I would stand in ovation for these decisions as it certainly gave “Hope” to their fellow citizens. There was a national pride in those decisions and for the generations to come. How does state of Israel survives and live with pride right in the middle of those who deny its existence? What make them such a strong fort? Where is such “Hope” on our Indian soil? Who will give it us? Its just simple to ask Pakistan and other allies..Are you with us? Does anyone remember, how World War II horror was answered by Western Allied forces? How Japan was brought to knees by destroying Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Isnt it disgraceful for Indian media to even report Pakistan denying the role and saying there are no training camps? Reading George Crile’s “Charlie Wilson War” you would witness how multi-billion packets were turned into ammunition distribution factory set up in Pakistan? Do we know the agreements Americans forged working with Gen. Zia and making his entire military force under the US payroll? How can we turn the table now that US atleast recognise politically if not strategically being on our side? I am not painting US a bad cruke here. US is doing what works for their own country’s security program.
The question is what are my country’s security program? What are its objective and goals and impediments? Should we just cheer that Obama Govt now is close friendly to India? Should we just keep lauding ourselves that the terrorism is accepted as global phenomeon? What do I have as a “pride” of my nation? Lets work beyond the rusted talks of our once golden culture and traditions. Did British servants’ system made us to forget the past where the same “superior” race begged in front of our country rulers for petty trade allowance? Did we forget the past where our future was crushed by the same ammunition trades from Portugese, French and British traders? How long we will be at the mercy of others? How long and strong do we fortify our houses to protect from getting attacked? What about delivering offensive counteact on these invaders? Isnt offense is best defense? Our country has lost the base thoery of any nation. Our education create just English speaking workers and servants. Our political system is broken and just plastered in the name of democracy. Our media is hungry for everything, our leaders are hungry for situation. We all in unified groups looking like some hunger and thirst inflicted big population.

Did I lost the entire “hope”? Do I feel being protected by my own country’s system? Do I make any effort to this indigenious protection program? Salute to Armed and Police forces that there is seen some “hope”. Couple of my friends are ranking offcers in Indian Army and Police. Infact, I personally know IPS officer DCP Sadanand Date who battled near CST and nearly escaped death. We all are aware about the super-powers of any IPS and IAS officer and know their dare-devils responsibility chart. Just turn around 15 years back and we remember KPS Gill who digged a huge hole in the deep pocket of this country’s terrorrism. KPS Gill is known for his success in rooting out militancy from the state of Punjab. Widely praised as a one-man army and widely feared by criminals across the country, Mr Gill was dubbed “Super Cop” after his success in Punjab. Take a note of “widely feared by criminals”. Also, there is wide-spread sentiment amongst us to believe that these criminals comes from outside. Yes, they do but they cannot orchestrate this ghorry violence without any local logistic support. Instead of putting fear into these criminals we are constanly been asked by our leaders to stay calm inside the houses. Why are we forced to live such a downtroden lifestyle? Why are we not being challenged? What stops us from employing Newtown’s Third Law of Natural forces?
Look at what President Bush message after 9/11. Not that I am his fan or his decisions but there is something very clear in his message is hope for his fellow citizens. “Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.” Now at the same glue light, refer our PM’s speech and I am depressed to see nothing than some smoothies at ice-candy bar. “I assure the country that we will attend in an urgent and serious manner to police reform so that the law and order authorities can work unitedly, effectively and in a determined manner to tackle such threats to national integrity.” I needless to say how dull PM’s face looked at television. Does that make US President true leader and Indian PM weak leader? May be not, but I would questions Govt inability to speak the daring truth. As if PM is giving us message to a family to fortyfying the house, stop sending kids to play outside, bring discipline in the house instead of storming out and challenging the enemy. US challenged the enemy and spread the message that we will hunt you down on the face of earth. Even though I had no reason to be proud of US President and his actions, something deep my mind rejoicing the moment of this hopeful message. When I heard my PM’s message like a text book English, I felt devasted, I felt doubly defeated in my mind for losing any hope in my leader. How long would I have to live with this guilt? How would we define new leadership? Who is my leader? PM or state CM or someone who protects me?When Vajpayee extended his hand, we were handed Kargil? People have forgotton those signficant events. People will also forget this Mumbai Massacre soon. If our leaders shows hopeless-ness, what is the choice of a layman citizen? I am not refering those who can afford to stay away from the problem but those who are really hope-less. When the God fearing citizens had lost hope under the Place of God, one priest tries to mastermind the horror and then orchestrate to bring hope in order to set a proof that “there exists God; synonym for HOPE”. Shouldnt I glorify the priest’s attempt for saving the mentality of the God feering people? Who will provide us the “Hope”?

How long would our legislative system spend the resources and fail to expediate the investigation and put these blood thirsty throats at gallows? How can the legislative system create same fear in the minds of demons who wants to spread the fear? Shouldnt we hang them and those insiders in public? Shouldn’t we change the law for holding the gun against the innocent? Why is our educational system so creepled under the outdated bookish materials? I am questioning and blaming to that era which enabled Islamic and British forces to take the control of this Hindu nation. Should we all join some Hindu outfit? What’s wrong in doing something that will educate generations about self protection and self reliance? Why wouldnt these outfits mentor the youngster to join IPS or IAS services? Why wouldnt these outfits become main stream of Indian politics and work towards cleansing the system? How would we also make Madrasas and Mosques to join the same stream? We must thump more deadly response to these actions? We would have to stop insiders from helping non-state evil elements. There is no meaning to scare someone who is willing to die. So how would we respond to the deadly missionaries? We can threaten the insiders, we can put the same fear infront of those who willingly provided logistics and support to these social evils. Govt had to provide executive powers to Indian Police and Armed forces. Govt has to emply threatening laws to stop inside treachers joining these evils. There should be thousands of “Super-Cops” roming on our streets with all high-tech support system.

Other shameful act I was forced to watch is those media channel trying to sell the stories, pictures and videos. I remember one channel repeatedly saying these pictures are exclusive channel owned and you will not find anywhere. Other channel was reading news like the narrator has rehearsed some violent movie dialogues. What are we doing here? Who allowed these hungry lense-hulligans near the sites of operations where NSG commandos was fighting.Who are we selling these marketting picture products and what cost? As a common man, we dont want know each and every details of those operations. Let the authorities act and command the operations with less casualties and killing the terrorists. Why are we hungry for broastcasting the details in such filthy product marketting manner? I believe Mumbai operations from terrorist succeeded in creating havoc and fear. In fact this same media facilitated the same. Soon Netas and Leaders started printing their pictures by the side of martyers as the act of honor. Where is this society heading to? What are we hand-picking celebrity martyers and try to capture sympathy market? The most horrifying image is that its happening at Mumbai, the financial capital of India; the place where education is par and at high standards. What do I expect from the pick-pockets of Bihar villages or Chandrapur where education is still buz-word? How do we justified we being educated? How many questions should I ask where I dont have definitive answer? Every question I try to search for an answer brings shame to my hope-less mind. Or should I just concentrate on my personal success and see my family, kids are amply protected and guarded. What should I do? If I want to do, am I ready for the sacrifices? Would I able to create forces of nature to go against these evil acts? Who will join me and who will desert me? I am lost on where to start. How can I come out of this hopeless shame and who will help me? I have no clue and so do you.

Its beyond anyone’s ability to put these people at halt from destroying our lives, but all I am looking for is “HOPE”