Life for the last two days has been like being on a shore and waves hitting me upfront. There is nothing special about the situation, as I can save myself by a calm withdrawal. But there lies the irony; what make the situation edgy is that I am not allowed to move out of the series of events that have been taking place of late and being continuously fed with… almost none have been able to evade the high tide this time. Yes, the situation I am talking of is of the shores of our up financial capital. It has really been hit hard by a tide of emotions, anxiety, loss and desperation. We are all waiting patiently to know the next – latest - breaking eyebrow-raising event to unfold. A case of ‘No Event’ will actually shrink our face. And that is the sad part of this reality.
Yet, I have tried my level best to keep away from pondering too much into the issues. But how long can one do so? I am being drawn inadvertently by what is being discussed by peer groups, friends and colleagues. What the international community has to say about it, how they are reading these terrorizing attacks as, its implication on the India’s economic agenda, so on and so forth. Further, the national leaders have rallied to display their “being together” in time of national crisis but I feel, this is more of a political one. No surprise that headlines like “When politics takes a backseat, foes join hands” takes a lead (courtesy HT). Add to that news that 24x7 channels are beaming…. and if we are at our work places, a click of the mouse can direct us to podcasts for live updates about the scenario. Escaping LIVE coverage is a crime, and we are not committing so, isn’t it!
Journalists were not spared in the e-mail accounts. Corporate communications of The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Taj are giving updates on the events whereas industry associations like CII and ASSOCHAM expressing their condemnation on the situation. Chat status of many shows desperation where one reads – “News channels have gone blank. Phones too, are going down”. That’s from my colleague Chetan in Mumbai, who is at the Express Towers, right across the Trident Oberoi at Nariman Point. Another one state: “is wondering what next??”
Neeti (my colleague in Mumbai, Nariman Point) has written her status with precision considering her proximity to one of the ground zeros, as the situations are unfolding slowly. Her view --- “ya can hear the controlled explosions”.
On the other hand, a PR professional trying to figure this entire event as he writes – “Terrorist Attack or Political Attack...???” Adding further he suggest, “Just kill those terrorists...”
I just cannot escape the escapade. So now I have started to looking at different facets this attacks is brining about to fore. When, yesterday, all day long I was accruing news never came across anything on the MNS. I was surprised. No longer it was Maharashtra! We are talking India under siege. Amazingly, my colleague in Delhi shared an sms he received, which summed my emotions completely --- “Where is Raj Thackeray and his ‘brave’ Sena? Tell him that 200 NSG commandos from Delhi (No Marathi manoos! All South & North Indians!) have been sent to Mumbai to fight terroists so that he can sleep peacefully. Please forward to (it to those) cowards.”
What essentially the message evoked is a passion that many do care about Mumbai as India’s integral entity. It is not different from India’s security then why he cribs about only the state in a fashion he does. The consensus is there to see. Everyone wants him to understand that beating rickshaw / taxi walas or workers with no “Marathi Identity”, is nothing more than a coward act. I feel like tracing the genesis of the sms. He needs to see how strong emotions this attack has brought out irrespective of the fact many are not happy the way Mumbai has lost its uniqueness in 2007 onwards.
Looking at the political front, L K Advani’s arrival in Mumbai along with Jaswant Singh (if I am correct) is a needless act. Politicians demand more security and put needless pressure on the forces when they need to pay attention in every nook and corner of the city on red alert. These sympathy (mourning) tours are irritating. While congress might be bad in being soft on tackling the terror issues, BJP is ruining its chances by sms-ing provocative messages to many people in Delhi to win assembly election (to be held tomorrow) votes. Also, in view of elections, promotions should stop completely 24 hours before the election begins. What’s in a RULE… might just be BJP’s claim to fame. It is really a grime situation.
While I go through all things, there is also a ray of hope, as I failed to remain isolated with no information about Mumbai attacks. “Twenty-nine-year-old blogger Harish Iyer started his post -- Terror in Bombay -- soon after the attacks started. He published his mobile phone number and email address. In the 20 or so hours since midnight in Mumbai, November 27, he's received around sixty phone calls and 100 emails from people desperate to find loved ones,” CNN reported.
Now people away from Mumbai, in case they can’t go through their family members, are contacting him on phone and e-mail to know about the safety of their dear ones. There are instances where he is facilitating the update, by setting base with Taj or Oberoi customer emergency cell, about the whereabouts of many trapped inside the hotel.
He has no personal agenda. Even if there is one, for sure that is not a political one. Also by his name I can figure out he belongs to Tamil Nadu. It is quite possible that he might be a Mumbaikar having lived his life throughout in Mumbai. After all, I don’t know him personally.
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