Clan can make it count!

I watched in shock and horror, as the events unfolded in Mumbai. I felt ashamed and angry that my country was brought to its knees and no one seemed to know anyway to prevent it or even put an end to it. Like every angry concerned and paranoid citizen I wanted action, and I wanted to make it count.
But even more scary was the half baked analysis and irresponsible way media was broadcasting it all. They were helping the terrorists by spreading panic far and wide, and in a way never before imaginable.
As politicians scrambled to the scene doling out money to 'kith and kin', trying to draw political mileage, dividing India again, it looked like ‘déjà vu’ of many other incidents that scarred India thus far. But, to my pleasant surprise, there were a ‘few good people’ who also wanted to put an end to it, and I'm speculating from now as to what must have transpired since the attacks...! Of course the story has the civil service (the clan) tilt to it… read on…
The attacks must have got everyone, and I mean everyone (including the civil service) caught on the wrong foot... its evident that the civil service which was the backbone of our country's growth in the early part of the post-independence era, got involved in the unthinkable sin possible for the profession, getting influenced by 'politicians'. I don't know for whatever the reason, maybe money, maybe the lack of motivation, but the clan went to sleep and hide behind the politicians. Maybe they realized that the very politicians who were stealing their glory were now becoming the fall guys for the lack of growth and no one was complaining since the people of India have a undeniable tendency to just vote for the same crook over and over again! so, things were going as a system, people were paying taxes, politicians hiked their own salaries 400% and more, created entities to funnel money out of system left right and center.
Despite all these, yet the clan always felt that they could control the chaos, so far,....
Then 26/11 happened, and ‘the clan’ was angry..... Worse they were embarrassed. they also knew that the devil that they created - this new breed of politicians, were good for nothing in this hour of crisis.... so it started straight from the top. The top advisor to PM proposed some measures to make things work, and it involved no discussions with media, no interviews and importantly not taking credit for what ever is the outcome that transpires... politicians’ nightmare!
See the series of events after the attack - PM makes a significant post change, that of the home minister.... with some conditions though for the possible successor (1) the new minister is to be more of a 'yes' man, (2) the person is to be a 'long term' candidate, i.e. possible political mileage in the long term, maybe a possible PM for the future?? it feels and looks like the work of the civil service !
The first person that PM trusts and confides for such a role, is a fellow economist… coz he knows first hand that without an inside track and loads of political mileage, its almost impossible for a 'knowledgeable man' to be anywhere in the contention of a leader of the country. Especially, in a divided country like India, if there's anything that they are united against, its in putting a geek (statesman as they call it) as head of the country...
Second fact, the days after politicians were doing what they do best, appearing in tv interviews and Paki bashing, there seems to be a void… almost as if there's a directive from PM to the members asking them to 'refrain' from discussing the plan of action publicly.
Initially the usual rhetoric were made in public and Paki govt. rubbing their hands in glee to a possible repeat of 2002 (they must be thinking Wow! these guys are so predictable!!!), the only sounds that continued to come from our Govt, were the repeating of the same points through media and some rebels who are too senior to 'shut up'. The silence and the lack of additional Paki bashing were signs that some things are happening, at last!
Next step, put pressure through the US to make Paki act... it’s been said that the way to Islamabad is through Washington (quote from a daily)… immediately the tone of Pak changes to a tone of reasonableness (show us evidence that it came from here, and all that). Of course what everyone realizes is that US doesn't have the vested interest that it had in '02, except maybe some guilt for the mess that they have created in this part of the world. At that time they had won election because of the 'war on terror'... this time around they lost an election because of the damned war, so they're not going to be doing much else for these guys.
Also, now for the US its destination India, with all the potential nuclear deals money to be made, biz deals et al......
I take a small break here.. while I've been filling up the blanks till now with theories and opinions of my own... there's one ally who is not in the thick of things.... Russia. We are forgetting our big brother who helped us grow and walk in this region. Atleast they were the first to help us stabilize and we seem to be ignoring them, now that they seem to be more of a toothless snake, with the continent disbanded into a faction of warring countries. Only time will tell how this will revise our status with them.
Way forward, we made a couple of parliamentary speeches which were on the lines of the UN speech made recently... the usual yada yada. Act helpless or rather constrained, stay diplomatic, at the same time arm-twist behind the scenes to get our way done, at least get things moving in the direction which we want. I only hope we continue to push without putting a face to the entire action. Only way to strike this kind of enemy is to play thier own game, their rules, but in their own turf. Attack from different sides, with varied objectives (seemingly at the outside at least), and achieve what we cannot achieve through the saber-rattling rhetoric that politicians are famous for. this can be possible if India's united - fat chance of that happening... maybe the clan can make it happen.. i hope so.