Mumbai
WARNING: This is going to be a long post.
Each tragedy leads people to think (presumably) and pen down their thoughts. And courtsey www each one can reach out to millions with that digital content. Here are two letters/mails forwarded to me in last 36 hours. Difference striking and one leading us to think where we stand on this spectrum.
LETTER #1
Subject : A letter from Mumbai
Dear Terrorist,
Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried to disturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians by planting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring death and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmony but everytime you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass our life in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If you wanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failed miserably in your ulterior motives. Better look elsewhere, not here.
We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and Bengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, govt. employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, if you like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On the last few occasions when you struck (including the 7 deadly blasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), we went to work next day in full strength. This time we cleared everything within a few hours and were back to normal - the vendors placing their next order, businessmen finalizing the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the next train. (Yes the same train you targeted)
Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospitals, where most of the injured were admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification that blood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The next day, attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buses were packed to the brim, the crowds were back. The city has simply dusted itself off and moved one - perhaps with greater vigor.
We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do not dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai is very strong and can not be harmed.
Please forward this to others. U never know, by chance it may come to hands of a terrorist in Afghanistan , Pakistan or Iraq and he can then read this message which is specially meant for him!!!
With Love,
>From the people of Mumbai ( Bombay )
AUTHOR - UNKNOWN
LETTER #2
Yes, the Mumbaikars have a heart to help. To give shelter. To take the injured to the hospital. Appreciated. They have done it at all times. But thats all the Mumbaikars do. They empathise and feel compassionate. Thats it. Then they go on with life as if nothing happened. All is "cool".
I feel sad for all those who r staying in Mumbai or who have relatives in Mumbai. As a teen, I always read about Mumbai as the the city of hope, the city of dreams and all. I have lived in Mumbai for 21 years. Since my teen years, I have read such stories every year. Be it the water logging issue. Or the blasts. Or the organised crimes. Or the encounters. All these stories reported by the newspapers every year. Then solutions are sought every year. And the same are repeated year after year.
They say Mumbai police were successful in curbing such attacks in the past. But what excuse can you give for this. They knew that terrorists were upto something. There was not one bomb blasts, but seven that happened consecutively. So in effect there are minimum seven terrorists moving freely in Mumbai right now.
The govt managed clearing the bodies yesterday. What will happen in the next ten days is so predictable.
The dead are dead. Ppl will pray for the severly injured. There will be reports on how Mumbaikars helped each other.
The opposition party will create a ruckus, when there are much more constructive things they can do
Big names in politics will rush to the blast sites and the hospitals as if they can bring back the dead to life.
Mumbai Police will blame the railway police and the govt and vice-versa.
RR Patil says It happened in advanced country like America so why not India ! What an excuse. Some other govt will get elected next time and they will give the same excuse.
It will rain again and Mumbai will stop functioning.
After about a week all newspapers will carry articles on first and second page on disaster management. When in reality, the govt fails to manage during every crisis.
TOI will support the ruling party, Express will oppose the ruling party.
Then there will be another breaking news and press will forget abt this.
Then after two months the police will catch some handful of ppl and prosecute them. Either they will commit suicide in jail or, they will be released due to lack of evidence or the court case will go on and on for ever.
Ppl like me will crib and crib but will not be able to do anything.
What hopes can you have for the city. We can only pray for those whose kins have not reached home yet or are in the hospital. They say people in Mumbai are helpful. People might be great and all but whats the use. Seven of these are the terrorists. Few are those who might have helped these terrorists (not necessarily the minor caste). Who can one trust then?
- Vipula
Author: Vipula
I am sure a lot of people are talking and thinking on lines similar to both these letters and so does a blog by Govindraj Ethiraj. I am not a mumbaikar but trust me all of us are as vulnerable to these blind acts of terror as a mumbaikar and I find myself angry - angry because of inaction on my part, because of helplessness...... I am definitely with Vipula on this one..........
How about you??
Each tragedy leads people to think (presumably) and pen down their thoughts. And courtsey www each one can reach out to millions with that digital content. Here are two letters/mails forwarded to me in last 36 hours. Difference striking and one leading us to think where we stand on this spectrum.
LETTER #1
Subject : A letter from Mumbai
Dear Terrorist,
Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried to disturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians by planting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring death and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmony but everytime you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass our life in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If you wanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failed miserably in your ulterior motives. Better look elsewhere, not here.
We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and Bengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, govt. employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, if you like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On the last few occasions when you struck (including the 7 deadly blasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), we went to work next day in full strength. This time we cleared everything within a few hours and were back to normal - the vendors placing their next order, businessmen finalizing the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the next train. (Yes the same train you targeted)
Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospitals, where most of the injured were admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification that blood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The next day, attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buses were packed to the brim, the crowds were back. The city has simply dusted itself off and moved one - perhaps with greater vigor.
We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do not dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai is very strong and can not be harmed.
Please forward this to others. U never know, by chance it may come to hands of a terrorist in Afghanistan , Pakistan or Iraq and he can then read this message which is specially meant for him!!!
With Love,
>From the people of Mumbai ( Bombay )
AUTHOR - UNKNOWN
LETTER #2
Yes, the Mumbaikars have a heart to help. To give shelter. To take the injured to the hospital. Appreciated. They have done it at all times. But thats all the Mumbaikars do. They empathise and feel compassionate. Thats it. Then they go on with life as if nothing happened. All is "cool".
I feel sad for all those who r staying in Mumbai or who have relatives in Mumbai. As a teen, I always read about Mumbai as the the city of hope, the city of dreams and all. I have lived in Mumbai for 21 years. Since my teen years, I have read such stories every year. Be it the water logging issue. Or the blasts. Or the organised crimes. Or the encounters. All these stories reported by the newspapers every year. Then solutions are sought every year. And the same are repeated year after year.
They say Mumbai police were successful in curbing such attacks in the past. But what excuse can you give for this. They knew that terrorists were upto something. There was not one bomb blasts, but seven that happened consecutively. So in effect there are minimum seven terrorists moving freely in Mumbai right now.
The govt managed clearing the bodies yesterday. What will happen in the next ten days is so predictable.
The dead are dead. Ppl will pray for the severly injured. There will be reports on how Mumbaikars helped each other.
The opposition party will create a ruckus, when there are much more constructive things they can do
Big names in politics will rush to the blast sites and the hospitals as if they can bring back the dead to life.
Mumbai Police will blame the railway police and the govt and vice-versa.
RR Patil says It happened in advanced country like America so why not India ! What an excuse. Some other govt will get elected next time and they will give the same excuse.
It will rain again and Mumbai will stop functioning.
After about a week all newspapers will carry articles on first and second page on disaster management. When in reality, the govt fails to manage during every crisis.
TOI will support the ruling party, Express will oppose the ruling party.
Then there will be another breaking news and press will forget abt this.
Then after two months the police will catch some handful of ppl and prosecute them. Either they will commit suicide in jail or, they will be released due to lack of evidence or the court case will go on and on for ever.
Ppl like me will crib and crib but will not be able to do anything.
What hopes can you have for the city. We can only pray for those whose kins have not reached home yet or are in the hospital. They say people in Mumbai are helpful. People might be great and all but whats the use. Seven of these are the terrorists. Few are those who might have helped these terrorists (not necessarily the minor caste). Who can one trust then?
- Vipula
Author: Vipula
I am sure a lot of people are talking and thinking on lines similar to both these letters and so does a blog by Govindraj Ethiraj. I am not a mumbaikar but trust me all of us are as vulnerable to these blind acts of terror as a mumbaikar and I find myself angry - angry because of inaction on my part, because of helplessness...... I am definitely with Vipula on this one..........
How about you??
4 comments:
Thnx for putting both views. I really want to know what ppl think. How can just accept this and go on. I read some comments on Times website. Ppl r discussing religion!!! The terrorists intention is to create communal tension. How can we let them succeed. The real culprit is our govt. and the police. So why blame some other religion??
Vipula
Absolutely!! Me too!! Enuf has been said about the resilience of the typical Mumbaikar!! Are they not angry? How can they continue as if nothing has happened? Can't they see the vacuum that has been created?
As Vipula says everybody will have their time in the sun and put in their 2 cents worth. They'll complain, fight and exploit the situation. In 2 weeks the blasts will be history and I will worry about where my next Rupee is coming from. Resilience is just an excuse for inaction.....how long are they going to bear it and grin?? If they are thinking of achieving martyrdom by proving that life goes on after the blast, that their appetite for tragedy remains unabated….. they could not be more wrong. Tell the terrorist that they have succeeded.....tell them also that they will succeed no more..get angry..act....resist and only then can they win.
Vipula:
I cannot agree with you more. To bring religion into this is diverting from the issue at hand. Ragardless of religion this is and should be an anger against nameless, faceless origin of terror.
Xist in Chaos:
Yes I agree. This is a classic justification of inaction. And as we have discussed, the fact that Mumbaikars helped - is amazing + the fact that Mumbaikars got back to feet - is what the situation and survival is forcing them to do. Putting this together and drawing conclusions about indomitable spirit of the city is like adding apples to oranges.
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