Mumbai

The other day, I was discussing the Bombay attacks with somebody I am related to and who I will refer to as Mr D. Mr D grew up in 1950's India and worked his whole life in a public sector company(a company owned by the Indian government).

There's a line in one of the greatest "Bollywood" classics, written by the scions of a couple of the greatest South Asian literary families--sons of Urdu poets, to be precise--and delivered by a minor but unforgettable character, "Surma Bhopali" that goes "Yahaan hamaaree kya zaroorath hai; yahaan tho waisay hee aap kay naam ka warrant nikla huwa hai." [Who needs me? There's already a warrant out for your arrest.]

And that's the thought that's being going through my head as South Asia spirals downwards, some folks caution against jumping to conclusions, and others rally for peace. And I include the arguments over "Islamists did it. No, wait! Let's not jump to conclusions; it could be home grown!..." in that

Mumbai attack is a horrendous act and once again done in the name of Islam by few cowards.

I have more respect for Dalrymple than just about any other Western journalist who writes about South Asia. He's done an excellent write-up in the UK Guardian on the link between the Mumbai attacks of a few days ago and the situation in Kashmir over the last few decades.