Flip-Flop
It is time for the media to make up its mind. It cannot label Bangalore and Hyderabad as the breeding grounds for hi-tech terrorists and in the same breath declare the whole of South India because of its engineering industries, a soft target for terrorists! Engineers down south and elsewhere in India are neither terrorists nor victims. The media would do well to stop labelling terrorists as "engineer terrorist" and using phrases like "engineer an attack" in their articles and programes. Most of the Indians chose to become engineers and dont like to be portrayed as either terrorists or victims. The media, especially the Indian ones, would do well to remember that a profession cannot be branded as terrorist prone in the same way a religion, community, race or country cannot be branded. Members of the media need to become more
responsible.

Fear is not the Answer
It is true that the recent kidnapping of children or family members of executives of technological companies for ransom have risen nationwide in the past few years. This is a disturbing trend. Separatist, naxalite and terrorist outfits to fund their own activities could use the money obtained through this way. However, this does not mean one has to panic and go into hiding or pressurize the Indian government to indulge in pre-emptive strikes against suspected individuals, organisations and countries. This is what the US did, and look at the mess they are in. Calm needs to prevail in the engineering sectors, especially the hi-tech ones. Fear is not the answer. Defence is the best form of offence. Recently, the Tamil Nadu government declared the area around the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant as a no-fly zone as it feared aerial attacks from LTTE terrorists. Similar measures can be taken where there is a concentration of tech industries. Security has to be increased but not to the level that it leads to the violation of civil liberties of the Indian citizen or pose health hazards to engineers. Senior executives need to put in place security measures, which ensure safety of their families.

Studying engineering or becoming an engineer doesnt make one prone to terrorism. It is an idiotic argument to make just because some terrorists also happen to be engineers. Media needs to be more responsible in reporting instead of creating a dangerous mindset that might target a particular profession. Engineers need to be more alert and ensure that their career is not ruined by suspicion and fear. Instead, techies need to concentrate on their jobs and attain greater heights. This is the only way to defeat terrorists, especially the Al-Qaeda whose aim is to economically bankrupt the country by creating fear and chaos. Techies need to show them and the world, we are not afraid and we will not let the terrorists succeed in creating discord among Indians.

Deepa Kandaswamy
The author is the founder-moderator of the IndianWISE e-group
maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in
The views expressed here are personal
Deepa Kandaswamy.
First Indian Serial Rights, CyberMedia 2007. 
Any quotes from this article must link to this article and credit both author Deepa Kandaswamy and Dataquest.
This article may not be distributed in any manner without written consent from the author.

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