As my eyes turned, I noticed a bike headed towards the same building - the only difference was that the young pigeon had made it in split seconds and the bike was laboring, half-way! It struck me, from the height of the 15^th storey, that the pigeon and the men looked, proportionately, the same size!

"The Mughals ruled India for over 330 years", announced the documentary host, in Discovery channel, "until the British took over!" Hearing this, I returned to sit opposite the idiot box to listen to this rather snobbish proclamation!

It does seem, in hindsight, that India has been either Mughal India or British India for the last 500 years! The chronicles of the British do refer to the "Hindoos" but the Indian, over the last 500 years, has been a branded man - either Mughal or British! Throw your mind back and you are definitely struck with the realization that, "Hey! India, the epitome of culture, the land of vedas and Hindus, epics and civilization seems to have existed only in the earliest years of history and has since been the most constantly changing cultural entity in the world!"

The influence of Islam on India has been tremendous; every other documentary on India says that but, take a look at their influence over their successors - the British. The Mughals have left breathtaking landmarks of their power, money and art in India. Their influence over the British can be seen in the way that the British, too, built and left behind architectural landscapes and imposing buildings! Look at the conscious planning and architecture that they have come up with, in almost all the colonies that they have set up! Islamic, European confluences are very evident in India and these footprints have definitely shaped a different India but have these influences eroded the natural tendency of a civilization to react naturally?

Seemingly yes.

Take a look at modern India of great IT jobs and a relatively young, earning class.

Because of the frequent migrations of people to work across the country, almost all regions have become a conglomerate of culture, language and behavior to the extent that there is no gelling together of common understanding in social interactions! There is no identity of a place, now, that natural binding element that brings together people in times of crisis. On the other hand, it does not seem as if having an independent identity of one's own is such an advantage. All Islamic countries have a single identity but they seem to be at a disadvantage!

The general prejudice, in the world today, is that if a country is Islamic, it is bound to have some links with terrorism! Has the urge to invade and conquer been handed down history to today?

Most of the invaders of early India have come from Persia and the far East and what was it about India that drew them? 

The bees know the smell of sweetness in the air and can easily find a hive;  animals can smell their prey from a great distance; the eagle can spot a prey from way above in air; but how did those plunderers, from distant lands, smell the wealth and prosperity in India? And, to cross hundreds of miles, over deserts and harsh mountains, not knowing what was in store for them across the horizon, must have been real, tenacious work! And, determined, adventurous people, who succeed at any cost cannot be bad people but plunder, they did. So, have the invasions and conquests by the many Muslim Kings been driven by greed? Is it that same greed that, even today, drives clashes across the borders and causes newer terrorist organizations to crop up?

That terrorist organizations breed in an ugly atmosphere charged with religious proclamations and communal beliefs is an acknowledged fact; what is not as clear is, why do these religions influence individuals to aggression? No Hindu king or era has made invasions across its own boundary. It may be argued that Hindus are, by nature, docile but, some of the most aggressive kings have been from the earlier India (when the Mughals or Muslims had not yet entered), Asoka the Great, for instance.

The difference that is evident can be surmised as that of Hindu epics and scriptures hold pride, bravery, truth, sympathy and meditation as noteworthy qualities in a man thus, bringing up the Indian in a positive manner! Indian history, too, is full of only these positive qualities. Yes, Asoka was an aggressive and ruthless king but, he does do penance upon realization! What more heroic and inspiring story can there be for a kid growing up, than to be recited stories of great and powerful kings, who despite their power, are humble and good?

Compare the same with that of poor, uneducated and unemployed Muslim youth, who have no source of good inspiration, affection or bringing up! They are easy candidates for terrorist organizations to manipulate. Yes, there are millions of Hindus, who are poor, homeless and unemployed but terrorism is an alien alternative for Hindus whereas, it is an easy and accessible alternative for the Muslim youth.

Constant hammering of ideologies of "so-called Islam" in their minds and psychological mind washing gradually result in creating powerful, suicidal killers!

The recent incident of an encounter with terrorists in Jamia Nagar (a Muslim dominated locality in South Delhi), had the victims described as educated computer professionals with certifications! It becomes a double whammy here! On one hand, the poor, who find daily livelihood and easy money from terrorist organizations and on the other, there are the educated youth, who despite their education are joining terrorist organizations. But, it can easily be argued that the poor youth is educated and trained by these organizations as there are different portfolios of work in a modern terrorist organization! Discontent in the social and political environment is what pushes such youth into being influenced by negative forces.

Terrorism is real, in India today, with a capital city having people, who are beginning to think twice before going to a crowded mall or shopping center! Till recently, terrorism was something that Indians read about and saw on television but, today, it is right in front of our eyes - on the streets and back lanes! It is necessary that India organizes its approach to destroy terrorism from the grassroots of its origin - religion!

The vast expanse of disparate religions and culture does make things difficult but, the real difficulty is posed by the lack of political will. Come elections, minorities are shown excessive favor only to be soon forgotten, resulting in gradual building up of betrayal and alienation; on the other side, the majority community is nurtured by the other political entities and the result?

A chaos of unmanageable communities, jealous of each other and growingly suspicious of their counterparts' intentions.

This is another factor that makes things more difficult for solution providers and Intelligence agencies!

Add to all these problems are reactive decisions that make matters more uncontrollable.

For instance, in most parking lots in Delhi it is common practice for parking attendants to take car keys because of lack of sufficient parking space. To avoid blocking another car, the attendants take the keys to move around your vehicle and in many cases, in their hurry, leave the car keys inside the car with the doors open as happened with me in a busy parking lot in Connaught Place! Open car, congested place, heavily populated and unguarded - what better scenario for a terrorist to place a bomb inside your car and blow up the whole place!

A common political will to destroy terrorism from our land is required without any hidden political agenda. This is probably the most impossible likelihood, in India, and the vital factor that is encouraging terrorism! It is high time that political parties attain the necessary status of trustable entities in India and not be an elections-oriented, seat-seeking conglomerate of manipulative people.

The jingle announced the end of my association with the idiot box.

The sun had eased out and the wind settled.

I went to the window and saw the pigeons were quieter, given to flying from window sill to another sill of the same floor or the same building. One had its neck tucked inside its body and seemed unperturbed by any activity around it; another was busy driving out other jumping pigeons from its territory! Territorial wars are not just restricted to humans, it exists in animals and birds, too!

But the difference between the territorial wars happening in the human and the animal world is - in the animal world, the matter ceases as soon as the trespasser moves back; in the human world, it continues, fueled by ego and power!

The young pigeons were not visible, possibly tired from their endeavor of learning the art of flying! The goal of the young pigeon is limited to only flying and so it is kept busy through its youth in perfecting it. The goal of the human youth is not as well-defined - those who have money, family and friends have defined goals, those who do not, have their goals defined for them and this is the youth that needs nurturing and guidance.

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Ravichandran Jv is working as a Group Manager with JK Technosoft Ltd, Noida, India. He is a certified internal ISO auditor and a Microsoft Certified Professional among other certifications. Other description of his professional career would include software developer and trainer on Information Technologies. His hobbies and interests include sports, theater, video photography and music. More details available at: http://www.geocities.com/jvravichandran . His Email id: jvravichandran@yahoo.com