Peace Stand Dec 14th MG road, Bangalore

The road to awakening is long and arduous.

Three weeks ago it seemed the entire country was out marching and protesting with candles and placards. Now a lot of the urgency has died down - or so it seems. our famed propensity to bounce back turns around and bites us till we dust our backs and get on with our lives.

But there are some who are determined to keep the flames of sacrifice. These people have understood that the long and arduous road we are on need markers for remembrance, to jog people's memory and jostle them out of complacence.

below is one such account of a peace stand on MG Road Bangalore on December 14th. This should serve as a reminder of lives lost and promises not kept.

__________________________________________________________________

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an NSG commando Elite and others gave up their lives in the fight against terrorism on our land and its people. While the entire nation, stood in mute spectacle it seemed, nince terrorists took the nation as hostage.

Today, almost two weeks later, we decided to not be the common man who has gone in a slumber, or someone who has an escape route/reason to run away from accepting that he is also responsible for the turmoil the nation is going through.

Awake, Arise and let's take to the streets - let’s do our bit in helping out the administration and helping them build a secure INDIA. We condemn the attacks and we condemn the incompetence of the government in securing the nation alongwith ours.

We started off with paying homage to the martyrs of 26/11.

This was going to be a Peace Stand. We were going to stand on MG Road, holding placards to express our discontent.

We also had on display a card for Major Unnikrishnan's family. We put it out for passers- by to sign and the response was overwhelming. More than 500 signatures were collected - All wanted to pass on a message to the martyr family, who died to make sure we lived in peace..

Be the CHANGE, to see the CHANGE is what we believe in..

____________________________________________________________________

One peace stand, another march, a third placard signing - seemingly ineffectual actions today. But I think they serve a larger purpose in reminding people of the power of WE.

My hope is this awakening will lead to a new polity - where we will not forget the brave and the martyred - nor our responsibility to them.