I was pained to see the Mumbai terror attack unfold before me on television. Perhaps even more pained was I to see another kind of terror attack unfold shortly afterwards.

I guess the following article did not take me completely by surprise. (http://hindi.webdunia.com/news/news/regional/0812/15/1081215143_1.htm) After being out of news for a while and out of the scene when the nation's pride was to be defended, that group of dastardly lunatics that calls itself shiv sena went into overdrive when opportunity arose to do what they do best - i.e. attacking lone defenceless civilians in their home.

This bunch of hooligans stormed into the home of a lawyer who'd proposed representing Ajmal Ameer Eeman, the lone terrorist arrested after the attack. The lawyer of course had only voiced what's enshrined in the Indian constitution - namely every accused, howsoever heinous the nature of the crime, has the right to be represented in court by a lawyer. The judgement on the culpability or not of an accused can only be taken by a court of law. Trial by public sentiment is perhaps the most unfair and least reliable means of judging a crime.

How long will it take before members of this great community realise that they have the completely wrong mouthpiece for their extrordinary achievements? Messrs Thackray as poster boys for Maratha pride?
And their contribution to the society at large I supppose will honing to perfection the art of making incendiary speeches and pandering to narrow parochial and regional agendas.
What truly upholds the pride of the Marathi community is its rich heritage, its culture, its theatre, its exuberant literature and above all, the extreme tenacity, respect for women and exceptional enterprise that have ensured that Indian citizens everywhere look up to Mumbai as the place where dreams do come true. That image of course is on the brink of being shattered by Raj Thackray's truly moronic acts of vandalising the home and hearth of poor North Indian residents of Mumbai. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Raj_Thackeray_in_judicial_custody_till_Nov_4/articleshow/3621395.cms

Mumbai and Maharashtra shine brightly on the Indian Kaleidoscope but are by no means separate from the heartland. That cohesion and not confrontation make a truly great city was demonstrated amply in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks when people irrespective of their religion, region or place of birth came together, to stand in solidarity with the Mumbaikars.