Massive Mobilization Required

A massive, unprecedented attack in the heart of India’s metropolis requires a massive, unprecedented mobilization of military, public safety, intelligence and civic organizations. Although raw emotions, anger and fear are a natural reaction, it has to swiftly turn in to well thought-out action.

There are five initiatives that the Government of India and the larger Indian people need to start deliberating on immediately, eventually leading up to firm action.

1. Enhance India-Israel partnership: Israel learnt to deal with terrorism over 30 years ago. Israel’s capabilities in surveillance, human intelligence and methods to deal with prisoners, albeit not perfect, are significantly more evolved than any nation. Anyone who has traveled to Israel and experienced relative calm in a tense environment appreciates Israel’s formidable internal defense. India and Israel share many values and have succeeded in partnering over the last decade. Now, the partnership needs to be elevated. The India-Israel alliance needs to be built on pragmatic goals that would result in greater securities for the peoples of the two nations. It would also have the added advantage of generating increased economic activity for both nations.

2. Leverage technology, India’s strength: Nationwide broadband wireless spectrum for public safety needs to be allocated. Similar initiatives are being attempted by the Federal Communications Commission in the US. Steps taken by the UK and other European countries to allocate dedicated nationwide spectrum for public safety have succeeded. Video surveillance piped back on broadband to command centers can help first responders react to live situations on the ground. Today’s [legacy] video technology serves evidentiary purposes and is good only “after the fact.” A wireless broadband deployment would have the ability to be available real time. This deployment should be handled by Indian technology companies who could ally with international firms that specialize in this domain. A generous allocation of public funds towards technology from command centers to the situation is required. For a large and populous nation such as India, security will always be a challenge—wireless broadband piping voice, video and data would go a long way in providing eyes and ears to security agencies.

3. Form grassroots, non-governmental watch groups and associations: India’s strength of communal harmony across religions and ethnic groups cannot be compromised. Ashutosh Varshney, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan has conducted research on how local associational groups can serve to bridge societal divides—real or perceived. At times of crisis, these groups come together to hold our social compact together. In addition, these groups could also serve as a natural defense to elements in society that have destructive intentions. Private sector companies should fund the creation of local associations and groups. A strong civic society is imperative to preserve our heritage and values—especially for a nation under attack.

4. “Incredible India” campaign to publicize India’s soft power globally: Dr. Joseph Nye, a Harvard professor, has written extensively about the virtues of soft power. The ability of a nation to engage its culture and values to create a better understanding towards it can serve as a powerful tool. India’s liberal, tolerant, pluralistic, entrepreneurial, family-orientated, law-abiding, Bollywood loving, cricket-crazy and non-violent values need to be shared with the rest of the world. As important hard power—military and GDP is, soft power provides a sustainable diplomatic leverage that can be invaluable at times of peace and necessary at times of trouble. In the long term, India will be successful in warding off terror from its coasts by partnering multilaterally and for that soft power—a greater understanding of India and towards India would be critical. A well administered program to unleash India’s soft power via a public-private partnership would be the way to go about it.

5. Put the diaspora to work: The already active Indian diaspora needs to do more. Each local Congressman in the US, Member of Parliament in the UK and similar representatives across nations we have emigrated to need to understand that we expect them to take a sympathetic and supportive stance to counter India’s security challenges. As little as $1 contribution to your local representative coupled with a letter of support and context could be a step towards achieving a mobilization in “people’s houses” the world over. This is yet another example of India moving from being aghast from the 26/11 events towards definitive action. Indian immigrants should not underestimate their foreign status and should engage in mobilizing for the benefit of our people back in India.

Indians like to say that this is their century. The war-like attack on India was India’s Pearl Harbor. It should mobilize India and Indians the world over. The images of the Great Taj burning and of security and civilian casualties should be etched on our minds—a virtual screen saver that would invoke a call to action.

Providence and Indian’s actions have determined that the sun on the new India is on the rise and it is upon us to ward off the dark clouds that descend. To that end, India needs to start a build-out of security the world has never seen before, while preserving values dear to this nation that has a long heritage.

(First published in December 23, 2008 print issue of India Abroad)