Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Andrew Sullivan posted this email from someone in Mumbai on his blog:
Not-so-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 every time 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 over 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 hospital, 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.
Yeah, that about nails it. I hope all the readers from Mumbai and their loved ones are safe.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

yeah true , we live like brothers and all that stuff .... each time we hear the salute to the " spirit of Mumbai " , I wonder if it's the spirit or is it sheer complacence that's set in amongst us - complacence towards the system and absolute confidence that things may never change or improve . It's this "spirit of Mumbai" which lets grave blunders sink without a trace. Because we can take it , we are pushed beyond limits and still don't complain . Mumbai teaches you to valu time and money , wish it would teach you to value life as well in this sea of people .And we are single handedly responsible you , me and all of us who love this city. We don't ask
any questions so we get no answers but heavier burdens keep piling on . Does the broadest shoulder have to bear the heaviest of burdens ????????????????

Anonymous said...

Iy's true that the spirit of Mumbai is still intact, but what about the lives that are lost? what about the families where the mother, father or son of the house never returned home? Has someone asked them about their spirit? It's easy to witness the terror and move on , it's much more difficult to suffer from the terror and move on...Mumbai needs a system which is safe so that no terrorist can ever try to hurt the spirit of Mumbai. It's time that tax-payers ask for better security in Mumbai. Don't just celebrate the way you handled things, use this time to change a few things, that will be the true defeat for those mindless terrorists..