Coming back to my original objective of writing this blog, I recently turned 30 (on Nov 26), and though now, I wouldn’t like remembering my birthday too much, I just want to share a few things that I felt that evening. It was a weekday and though I had no plans of going out and celebrating the special day, my friends came home the night before to bring in my birthday, the night went by and the next day at office things were normal. On 26, I reached home and watched a repeat of Ugly Betty, just when I finished watching the show, I got to know that I had to tune into a news channel. I just sat down numb… that evening, I could have easily been in one of these restaurants dining just like all those people (exactly a year ago on Nov 26, I was at Tiffin at Oberoi) I love Japanese food and I had full plans of going to Wasabi…what better time than my birthday! But as I came home late that evening, decided against it. I stayed home and didn’t budge from front of the TV. Next day we all know offices, schools, colleges were shut…but the encounters continued, causing heavy damages to the property. It was heartbreaking: the news about the ATS chief, Taj GM’s family, NSG commando…which flashed on screen. Hearing that, I broke down and kept imagining what the families must be going through.
The next day people seemed to be getting ready to go to work while the attacks at Trident, Taj and Nariman continued. I tried hard to keep my mind at work but was very restless and kept checking the news on TV (I work at an office where television sets are installed at a few places on the main floor). As the day continued, we were asked to leave office by noon but as I stood up and looked across the floor, I noticed something. Some people in my office seemed to be totally engrossed in their work, they seemed to be unaffected by what was happening and it didn’t look like it made a huge difference if it became a national security issue. I guess I should give them the benefit of doubt and point out that maybe they were affected but chose to drown themselves in something that would keep their mind off things…but honestly am yet to fully and truly accept this notion. Just for me to understand this better..let me know if the above thing about drowning yourself in work/life sounds correct to keep things off your mind? or do some people, because of their very strong character and less sensitivity do not get affected by a situation like this (they reckon this is a sad and an unfortunate event which is happeing in some part of a city but as long as their family/friends are not involved, it's not too much of a worry?) Driving back with two of my colleagues via the Tulsi P road, we saw roads were pretty empty...but vegetable vendors in quite a number sold vegetables and that little stretch of the road seemed busy. As I reached bandra, the area looked like it was oblivious to the whole situation..people stopped at small eateries on the road and snacked..some were out shopping..some returning early from work like me..running to cross the road and get into their buses/autos/taxis...some at coffee shops and cafes, while some others were out doing some grocery shopping. I know that’s how life continues but it felt odd…it really did, as just an hour’s drive from where I was, people were fighting for their lives, there were explosions, a raging gun-battle leading to casualties and a whole lot of media personnel covering live footage!
I don’t know if I can call myself a ‘Mumbaikar’, but I’m sure there are a few people who would agree with me when I say that I am scared to be caught up in this busy city life that will make me forget things. We seem to have a short memory and soon - when the news stops covering this on TV and there are no more columns discussing this in your daily newspaper, will we think about all that still remains to be done?! I am worried that there will be a lull again in our system and our government will not feel pressured to take this up seriously. Just like I heard one of the renowned TV hosts address this issue yesterday, I feel anxious to know how all this will unfold. The aftermath is really important and though my life and yours will continue the way it is supposed to, as long as we can remember those people who lost their precious ones in this occurrence, we’ll stay connected…connected to the bigger purpose in life!
I am not sure how I can ever express what I feel in my heart for all those people who have been devastated by this, but I do want to say that I can really imagine how you all are feeling. You are in my prayers!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Things are over...Not Yet!
Things seem to be in control in the sense that though encounters at the Taj Mahal hotel are over; the final combing operations are still on to sanitize each floor and room. My heart beats fast as I look at the news again, when the little pieces of information keep flashing - about the missing people who are probably dead. The causalities are going to be high, shattering the hopes of all those families and friends who have been anxiously waiting to hear some good news.
In all this you hear the news about the terrorist who is detained and being interrogated by our intelligence. He reveals that the objective was to destroy the iconic hotel into rubble and create a situation like the way the terrorists did at JWT in Pakistan and 9/11 in the U.S. The fishing vessel, Kuber that the terrorists used to come to Bombay is found and you see pictures of the Mumbai police officials holding the satellite phones found in the boat in their hands…sorry I am no trained army soldier and I definitely do not have a forensic science degree but I do know that any evidence found should be handled with care and you need to wear gloves so you don’t lose finger prints on those satellite phones!!!
Across the nation, in between the news, you see popular channels and print media report and dramatize the whole incident – showing visuals of this tragic incident and a few channels playing crappy background music displaying stupid titles such as - Mumbai’s 9/11! Though I personally agree that the reporters have done a fantastic job, I get irritated seeing some of them aggrandize their voice and tone to give that effect. We can relate to what is happening so please stop over-doing things. It’s a very sad episode and let’s not sensationalize things guys – we are disrespecting all those heroes and innocent people who have lost their lives! Leave all those people who have been recued alone, don’t hound them to give you bytes by asking them atrocious questions..don’t you know already how it must feel and what they are going through?? Some senior reporters though accept openly that they can understand how poignant this must be for people, they continue getting them to comment and share their experiences..its appalling!
The political side of this, I can so relate to someone refusing the compensation for losing a life while fighting for your country. You cannot define a monetary value to such an occurrence, yes such compensation might help a few families who have lost their sole wage earner but isn’t the event way beyond a compensation?!! Instead of offering money and making false promises, can we please bring a change? Let’s go down to the micro level of this and dig deep into what happened. Let’s stop all our bi-lateral agreements with our neighboring countries that are harboring this evil. We know that the whole country as such is not supportive of this and maybe even the new government wants to help but let them admit that even they do not have control over this, so India and other countries of the world can mutually fight this ‘war of terrorism’ that started almost 7 years ago. I saw the Mumbai chief minister sometime back at a press meet, felt pathetic seeing him being incapable of answering a few questions, being prompted by his associate to give the right answers. Some of them I’m sure will know which movies are releasing next Friday and when the next Filmfare awards are being held! Sad!
In all this you hear the news about the terrorist who is detained and being interrogated by our intelligence. He reveals that the objective was to destroy the iconic hotel into rubble and create a situation like the way the terrorists did at JWT in Pakistan and 9/11 in the U.S. The fishing vessel, Kuber that the terrorists used to come to Bombay is found and you see pictures of the Mumbai police officials holding the satellite phones found in the boat in their hands…sorry I am no trained army soldier and I definitely do not have a forensic science degree but I do know that any evidence found should be handled with care and you need to wear gloves so you don’t lose finger prints on those satellite phones!!!
Across the nation, in between the news, you see popular channels and print media report and dramatize the whole incident – showing visuals of this tragic incident and a few channels playing crappy background music displaying stupid titles such as - Mumbai’s 9/11! Though I personally agree that the reporters have done a fantastic job, I get irritated seeing some of them aggrandize their voice and tone to give that effect. We can relate to what is happening so please stop over-doing things. It’s a very sad episode and let’s not sensationalize things guys – we are disrespecting all those heroes and innocent people who have lost their lives! Leave all those people who have been recued alone, don’t hound them to give you bytes by asking them atrocious questions..don’t you know already how it must feel and what they are going through?? Some senior reporters though accept openly that they can understand how poignant this must be for people, they continue getting them to comment and share their experiences..its appalling!
The political side of this, I can so relate to someone refusing the compensation for losing a life while fighting for your country. You cannot define a monetary value to such an occurrence, yes such compensation might help a few families who have lost their sole wage earner but isn’t the event way beyond a compensation?!! Instead of offering money and making false promises, can we please bring a change? Let’s go down to the micro level of this and dig deep into what happened. Let’s stop all our bi-lateral agreements with our neighboring countries that are harboring this evil. We know that the whole country as such is not supportive of this and maybe even the new government wants to help but let them admit that even they do not have control over this, so India and other countries of the world can mutually fight this ‘war of terrorism’ that started almost 7 years ago. I saw the Mumbai chief minister sometime back at a press meet, felt pathetic seeing him being incapable of answering a few questions, being prompted by his associate to give the right answers. Some of them I’m sure will know which movies are releasing next Friday and when the next Filmfare awards are being held! Sad!
Mumbai Terrorist Attacks...Last 50 Hours
Hi all,
Some keyword search might have landed you to my blog and if you have decided to read this little piece of news, let me tell you that before today I never thought I’ll start a blog of my own. Last few days in Bombay have made me realize a few things about life in general..here it goes…
The last 50 hours have been extremely traumatizing. Watching the news has never been so difficult since the 1993 Babri Masjid incident and the 9/11 attack. As gun-firing, explosions, grenade launchers continue to be, you wonder whether this crisis will ever get over. Just when you here the news on a popular TV channel that Nariman House operations are over and you see thousands of people cheering in praise of the commandos, in the background you here a loud speaker announcing that the encounter continues at the Nariman House.
As numbers, figures and statements keep changing, any piece of news leaves you with serious doubts. But what can one do?! You still want to be glued to the television set and let’s accept there is no escaping it. Personally there is nothing else I want to do but to just keep watching every second of what’s happening out there. The city is crippled and the country feels a set back. There are talks about Al-Qaeda and/or Deccan Mujahideen being a part of this; I don’t know who organized this and it really does not matter at this point of time, all I know is that this was a national security slip, the assault was a very well planned attack and that there was a difference in the way this particular attack took place (as against the 9/11 by Al-Qaeda). These perpetrators were not people who wanted to attack one time, one place and reach an end; there were not suicide bombers who took lives by killing themselves in one go. These terrorists had a full-mind of terrorizing people, the nation and even the world. They made this possible by taking hostages and giving our army, NSG, Marcos, police officials, anti-terrorist personnel a tough time - for hours and hours together! They came via the sea by hijacking a ship (while questions in my mind continue how this is possible? I am somewhere not amazed and will stop dwelling over this. It’s incredible to see a handful of people hold the city at ransom. What goes in the minds of these people, some of them are as young as 21 years of age! We all know they are brain-washed but have we ever wondered how one can reach this level?! What it takes to be in a frame of mind where you have no fear, no guilt, no conscience, no morals, but one and only objective – to kill mercilessly! Just before I finish writing this bit, I can’t help reaching out to the little 2 year old who has just lost his parents, the Rabbi and his wife at the Nariman House. I am praying there is some close family he has who can take care of him and he is not taken away by social services.
Some keyword search might have landed you to my blog and if you have decided to read this little piece of news, let me tell you that before today I never thought I’ll start a blog of my own. Last few days in Bombay have made me realize a few things about life in general..here it goes…
The last 50 hours have been extremely traumatizing. Watching the news has never been so difficult since the 1993 Babri Masjid incident and the 9/11 attack. As gun-firing, explosions, grenade launchers continue to be, you wonder whether this crisis will ever get over. Just when you here the news on a popular TV channel that Nariman House operations are over and you see thousands of people cheering in praise of the commandos, in the background you here a loud speaker announcing that the encounter continues at the Nariman House.
As numbers, figures and statements keep changing, any piece of news leaves you with serious doubts. But what can one do?! You still want to be glued to the television set and let’s accept there is no escaping it. Personally there is nothing else I want to do but to just keep watching every second of what’s happening out there. The city is crippled and the country feels a set back. There are talks about Al-Qaeda and/or Deccan Mujahideen being a part of this; I don’t know who organized this and it really does not matter at this point of time, all I know is that this was a national security slip, the assault was a very well planned attack and that there was a difference in the way this particular attack took place (as against the 9/11 by Al-Qaeda). These perpetrators were not people who wanted to attack one time, one place and reach an end; there were not suicide bombers who took lives by killing themselves in one go. These terrorists had a full-mind of terrorizing people, the nation and even the world. They made this possible by taking hostages and giving our army, NSG, Marcos, police officials, anti-terrorist personnel a tough time - for hours and hours together! They came via the sea by hijacking a ship (while questions in my mind continue how this is possible? I am somewhere not amazed and will stop dwelling over this. It’s incredible to see a handful of people hold the city at ransom. What goes in the minds of these people, some of them are as young as 21 years of age! We all know they are brain-washed but have we ever wondered how one can reach this level?! What it takes to be in a frame of mind where you have no fear, no guilt, no conscience, no morals, but one and only objective – to kill mercilessly! Just before I finish writing this bit, I can’t help reaching out to the little 2 year old who has just lost his parents, the Rabbi and his wife at the Nariman House. I am praying there is some close family he has who can take care of him and he is not taken away by social services.
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