ANTI-TERRORISM DAY
The world has been battling terrorism in its myriad forms since times immemorial. It is commonly believed that the term first found mention in 1793 with the onset of the French Revolution. Although there is no common accepted definition of the term, there is general agreement that it is an international phenomena, which does not respect borders, is mostly carried out by non-State actors, who may be assisted or supported by certain States, in pursuance of political and/ or religious aims or beliefs. The contours of terrorism have evolved over the years, especially due to technology and sustained instability, which are major components of the crucible that fosters this phenomenon. If terrorism is viewed as an idea stemming from a belief, then the main battle is to address the idea, which needs to be pursued in parallel to ongoing kinetic efforts. However, even an apparently correct balance between soft- and hard-power in the attempt to find a solution, frequently gets offset by the changing nature of international relations and other such dynamics.
India has been the target of different forms of terrorism since her Independence in 1947, and the battle, despite ongoing and valiant attempt to balance soft power and hard power approaches, has taken a toll on its populace both, uniformed and civilian. India, while dealing with the changing nature of terrorism, has seen the earlier pattern of ingress across her land borders shifting to now include her maritime borders as well, and the pattern of attacks on ‘soft’ civilian targets shifting to also include ‘hard’ military targets.
The 1990s can be identified as a watershed-decade, when terrorism increased sharply. The terrorist attack, in 2001, on the Indian Parliament, is still seen as an assault on the very essence of India as a nation. The maritime domain witnessed the ingress of terrorism with the 1993 Mumbai blasts. The terrorist attack of November 2008 is etched in India’s history as ‘26/11’. These acts of terrorism serve as stark reminders of the porosity of maritime borders. The 2008 attacks catapulted the maritime environment onto the national stage and added the element of ‘maritime terrorism’ as a recognised threat to India’s security.
Terrorism does not distinguish between its victims on any basis, be it age, nationality, religion, or language. The aim of the planners and the perpetrators alike is to spread terror. Indian victims have ranged from a former prime minister to innocent children. In India, 21 May, which is the death anniversary of India’s former Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, is observed as Anti-Terrorism Day. On this day the National Maritime Foundation salutes all Indians and pays its sincere tribute to the bravehearts who have sacrificed their lives for the nation in combatting terrorism; those who have been victims of the senseless violence; and, the indefatigable men and women who watch our borders on 24×7 basis, ensuring a blanket of security and safety within which their countrymen and countrywomen can peacefully sleep.
