I have found this e-mail the most useful of all the lot that has been floating around. I vow to do the below as much as possible in the coming months and years. This and your experiences and stories will form part of the discussion as we together learn and grow spiritually from this terrible tragedy.
______________________________________
I only wish to ask a few things of everyone that reads this... things that have become clear to me over the last few days. I shall list them down point by point.
The following is my action plan for the rest of my life... what I will take away from this experience.
1) Do not preach violence and war without first understanding its true nature. I spent 2 nights hearing the guns and grenades
going off from outside the hotel and imagined my father in there. What I felt at that moment I would not wish on any family in the world. We must not let our passions take control of us and become the very same demons that held our city hostage. Our response must be measured educated and precise. Please do not ask for anything more from you leaders.
2) Corruption is the cancer of our society and has now shown how it can cripple us. Politicians are too busy making money to carry out their work. This again starts with you and me. From today I promise never to bribe another government servant. I will go to every businessman I know and ask him to do the same. Please let us collectively rid our nation of this poison.
3) Train yourself mentally and physically to protect yourself and your family. Learn a martial art or basic self-defense. If everyone in these hotels knew how to react to violence maybe we may have overcome this situation sooner. If you do not with to learn to fight learn basic first aid and lifesaving techniques. We are heading to a situation of war soon and these skills will serve us well in the future.
4) Be involved with an NGO/govt org/ prayer group. Connect with your society and help to uplift it with money and time. We now have to be concerned with what goes on outside the doors of our apartments and bungalows. Educate a poor child and he will be an asset in the future not an easy recruit for terrorists and criminals. Reach across communal borders and get to know other religions. It is only after we start this dialogue on the basic level will we be able to be undivided when the terrorists try to divide us.
5) Love and cherish your family and friends... even the ones who you think are weird and different. The sheer number of people who supported our family through this crisis has been amazing... people who I haven't spoken to for years have reached out with love support and prayers. It's only after incidents like these that you realize how petty your day-to-day problems are. The terrorists didn't check whether the people they shot were Hindu, Muslim, rich, poor, ugly, well dressed etc etc.... They just shot.... we should not diffrentiate between people when we share our love and support. If you can make a sad person smile for me you are a hero.
6) Fear nothing except fear itself.... your destiny is written.... if the bullet had been one centimeter off my father would have
been dead.... never be scared.... be bold and be brave and when the time comes you will meet your maker with dignity.
7) Stand up for what's right... support those who do
8) Smile, dance, sing enjoy the beautiful world that god has given us. Plant a tree and give back to nature. Life is fleeting and if you don't enjoy it what's the point.
9) Confront your guilt and stand up to your fears. Apologize to those you have wronged and forgive yourself for the wrongs you have committed.
A few messages I wish to convey -
To the terrorists and people who committed this cowardly act I want to thank you for exposing our weakness so now we may become strong, for hurting our pride so that we may be humble, for scaring us to that we can be brave, for angering us so that we can unite. You have served as an alarm clock for a sleeping giant and I hope that one day I can meet you face to face and show you how wicked and weak you hearts are.
To the people of Pakistan... I know that you have been victims of terror too and I pray to God that you have the strength and
clarity to face the demons that exist in your country. Money and power means nothing without the love of your friends and family and it is now time to stand up and fight for what's decent and right. Its time to stop letting the jihadis and self-serving govt officials fool you. Take control of your country - never forget that we were once one proud nation and the same breed of
men split us apart. We are with you in body heart and spirit.
To fellow Indians.... never forget where you came from ... we have inspired the world before and the time has come again... never again is a casualty or death acceptable... be it a poor man in a train or a rich man in a five star hotel... We must protect our children and our motherland with blood, sweat and tears.
To my friends and family ... you are the most important part of my life and without you there is no meaning. I hope you are safe and happy wherever you may be and hopefully we will be together soon.
-- By Romil Parikh
