Salute Captain Smit Machchhar: Averted Catastrophe, Uncomfortable Truths

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Jai Bajrang Bali! By heroically averting a 9/11-style terror attack, Gujarat-rooted Captain Smit Machchhar has rightfully earned global acclaim. His self-less act saved 174 lives. 

Facing imminent death at 30,000 feet, Captain Machchhar revealed that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa granted him the singular focus and fortitude needed to unlock the reinforced cockpit door—even as co-pilot Hammam Al-Hammani continued his violent assault. Through unflinching duty and faith, Chiranjeevi Bajrang Bali found another modern chapter of valor.

The world took notice. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visiting him personally in the hospital, global leaders recognized courage under fire.

Alarmingly yet predictably, Indian opposition leaders have not come out with any response other than a customary statement from Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, the President of Indian National Congress. 

The incident has caused ripple effects across the world. It is being tagged as a lone wolf attack. But then, the system and individuals who radicalized Hammani during his stay in Syria are equally responsible. To think that he is not the only one who got radicalized and Syria is not the only place where this happens is even more disturbing. 

A few decades ago, the narrative was that uneducated, mis-led youth were vulnerable to radicalization and hence the society has to provide education. job opportunities to prevent it. Now, with doctors, engineers, pilots, IT professionals and other such educated, well settled individuals getting radicalized, the old argument falls flat. 

Indoctrination happens at a young age. Preventing this and a sustained global effort to tackle terror-funding is the immediate action item. Lest the rest of us would have to check the identity of individuals who ride the cab to the one flying an aircraft to the doctor next door, to the teacher who teaches in main-stream schools. While countries like Saudi Arabia are actively engaged in deradicalization, the community in other countries including India remain deeply stagnant in a pool created centuries ago. 

Humanity and the very existence of human era is being threatened by a dominant system. Living in denial is suicidal for all, including those who are part of the system. 

They say suicide is forbidden unless it is... such attacks! A joke indeed if you reflect on it.

A tragic, dangerous joke. Laugh or cry?


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