There is something about ‘timming’ that determines the 'impact' of any development. I remember watching BR Chopra’s Mahabharta on Door Darshan- in the late 80’s. The first line of every episode used to state- “Samay keval satya hai, Satya keval samay hai”. At that point it hardly made any sense but today it makes a world of a difference… for I know what it means.
It means it is the ‘time’ that decides our ‘truth’ or more eleborately it is the ‘time’ that decides the ‘relevance of the truth or its impact.’
The reason this came to my mind is because when a friend of mine called me the other morning and yelled at me that Osama was dead I was not as relieved or thrilled as I should have been.
The ‘truth’ in this case was big news but there was something about its ‘timming’ that had taken its relevance away!
It was ten years too late. The damage had been done. Although there is no taking away from the credibility of the soldiers and commanders who achieved the feet its global impact cannot be overplayed.
Osama was today more a senior citizen respected for his vision two decades ago by his brethren. His having been dead is more like a champion sportsman retiring after having lost his form and fitness. He will be missed but not grieved to the point of rendering any terrorist group immobile.
He had served his purpose. He had set the ball rolling and over years the ball has only grown bigger and faster as it spreads in every possible direction and intensity. Terror ten years back was a syndrome we were aware of but today it is a tangible fear that we can smell and feel.
It is thus important to get the timing right and make sure we eliminate the Osama of today who has already played smart by not becoming a poster boy. He has been there somewhere(In Pakistan!!) calling the shots and taking terrorism to another level while the world continued to stay focused on Bin laden.
In order to celebrate… we need to finish him…and do it NOW! For “Justice delayed is…Justice denied.”
