Uncommon Sense?

In the aftermath of the terror attacks at IISc Bangalore everyone from our own politicians to civic administrators to technology brand ambassadors to the all pervasive media is talking about the ominous threat looming at our famed institutions and some of the economic hubs of our nation. While it is with a glaring anguish that one looks at the way the ugly menace is spreading its tentacles to the relatively peaceful southern part of this country, few can disagree that we can take this as any comforting factor and it is only a matter of time for the terror outfits to strike where it hurts the most.

The day after the terror attack at IISc Bangalore, there were numerous news articles about how the security arrangements at various other institutions and potential vulnerable sites have been beefed up. The Hindu even carried out a news article in its front page with a picture of a security man guarding the Tidel Park – the citadel of the IT folks in Chennai. Few of us who work at the Tidel Park and who had to go through the so called 'increased security' the next few days, could not but laugh at the sight of a solitary guard standing in front of the mammoth concrete structure with a heavy wooden rifle and I think it can fire at the most 6 bullets before a refill! Can you figure out what I am talking about? A single archaic rifle and couple of cops sleeping in a police patrol vehicle parked outside the premises, to protect the tons of concrete and the hundreds of technologists housed in that structure! Vow, that is very comforting to feel safe under the 'increased security'. Did someone say the miscreants used a AK47 or a AK56? Where do we think the poor security guard posted under 'increased security' stand, god forbid a similar strike happening at the Tidel Park? Does anyone still remember the scenes the television channels beamed across our nation when few fidayeen strikes happened at our Parliament house in broad daylight? All our poor security guards fighting with those manual antediluvian guns hiding behind the trees and pillars and still fighting against people who happen to possess the most modern weaponry. Similar scenes in the fidayeen strikes that happened in the picturesque Aksharadam temple couple of years back.

A recent episode in CNBC's Uncovered showed how anyone can freely walk around the campuses of IIT Mumbai and how a locker full of keys was left ajar for anyone to play some pranks. Though it is argued that working under the perceived security threats might hamper the freedom of thought and is against the fundamentals of scientific pursuit, getting elevated to the status of Oxford-Harvard would also mean accepting things on their face-value and not defying the plain simple logic of taking preventive measures. If not converting these institutions into an armed fortress, at least let us not make the existing security or the 'tightened' version of it a mockery of sorts.

Who do we blame for this ineptness? By the way, how much of our hard earned tax-payers money and the GDP goes towards procuring loads of arms to protect our country? With how much pride do we talk about the success of the various missiles that get built in-house or the most modern aircrafts where the government gets to spend billions of dollars? All towards protecting, either a non-existant or a not-yet-struck threat. While no one can question the wisdom to have the most modern armed forces to protect the nation, what about the real threat that lies in our backyard or rather that knocked at our door – yesterday? What would it take to dress-up our humble security men who stand to protect us day and night, with the gadgets they need the most? All we get to see security men with modern weapons is when they run behind our netas or their cavalry!

The other day I was watching on TV when our politicians observed the anniversary of the terror attacks at the parliament and throwing away the regular promises to the kin of the deceased. Majority of which never materialized – that is a different story. If at all any promise or one single deed that can make a big difference to the men guarding these institutions is to provide them with the best equipments to do their job – to fight fire with fire. After all they are putting their life in line first to save ours.

It sounds too common sense – or is it just me who doesn't get it!