Let’s profit from the Mumbai attacks. Perhaps this is what in many minds now. It may sound rude, but it is true. A tragedy is never a tragedy unless it happens to you. You can always turn it into a profitable venture.

Exploitation of tragedies is the best way to gain your selfish wants, while you seem selfless, and are also hailed.

The so called Sena of Mumbai was not heard of during the Mumbai attacks. Now, they have found a space to make their presence felt and harp themselves as patriots. They are doing what they do best- throw stones and disrupt life.

Qasab’s trial has given them the chance. They were on were streets protesting advocate Ashok Sarogi’s offer to fight Qasab’s case. Sarogi, famous as Abu Salem’s lawyer too got his fifteen minutes of fame after which he refused to take up the case. If he was in deed bothered that the proceedings would be delayed if Qasab did not find a lawyer, he had to stick to his stand.

How can we forget all the Modis and Achyutanandans who auctioned our martyrs? The politicians competing to announce compensation amount higher than the other to show how magnanimous they were, was nothing but insulting the heroes.

If we think that only the bigwigs try to make hay of tragedies, we are wrong. Some common men are also no better.

I received a call by a nobody wishing to be somebody, by using the Mumbai attacks. “I read that the police personnel died because they were wearing bullet proof jackets that were rejected.” Till here I could understand him. Then he gone of to say something that he had got a brilliant idea, about which I ought to write in the paper.

His idea was that people should donate money and buy bullet proof jackets and give it to the government. He expected me to write what an incarnation of Einstein he was to have come up with the idea.

When I questioned him if he knew how purchases in the government were made, he had no clue. Fine, many of us do not know about it. But this man went on pressing his case. So much so, that he changed the course of his plan altogether. He then said that newspapers should increase their price by one rupee for a day and give the extra one rupees earned towards buying bullet proof jackets. Noble enough thought. But the idea was patented by him and he was to be credited. He was to be interviewed and written about.

Then, I suggested he take up the cause and ask people to join him. Nah, this responsibility he did not want to take up. He refused to even make a beginning, but wanted to become popular by using the tragedy.