Bombay's outrage: Are only politicians responsible?

It been 10 days since the terrible terror attack at Bombay. Probably this is the first time all people of the city, right from pavement dwellers near CST to south B'bay elite are affected and are very angry. People are hero worshipping NSG cammandos and politicians are getting brickbats. Bombay and India seems to be waking up from long stupor and asking right questions but unfortunately its only too late in the day.

We all learn in school lessons that India is a secular country. But not all people of India and specially educated class of India practice secularism and are tolerant about other religions. After more than 60 years of independence and bloody partition people of other religion are held in doubt and hatred. There are very few inter-religion and inter-caste marriages. Majority of Indians are superstitious about religion, caste, creed and even gender! Added to these are class prejudices. So people who are poor, of low caste, belonging minority religion and majority of women across all religions have remained neglected inspite of great progress of the nation.

I believe, we people of India, are equally responsible for the state we are in. We have allowed politicians to manipulate our sentiments. We have allowed politicians and bureaucrats to be corrupt by looking other way. We have bribed police forces to bail us out of troubles. We have allowed fanatic groups to tear down mosques to build temples or vice versa or kill people in the name of religion. We have neglected our children and youth. It is the educated class with unbridled ambition of personal growth and hunger for assets which is equally responsible for the state we are in.

Unless each individual changes his/her mindset and attitude things are not going to change. We get what we truly deserve at the end of the day. We must improve ourselves to prove that we deserve better than this.