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…an American asks, as we are huddled over a muffled CNN-IBN live feed, playing on HG’s laptop, ensconced in the regulated calm in our offices in Sunnyvale, California – far away from the madness on the streets of Mumbai. The reporting is as chaotic as reality over there… with rumours becoming headlines and then “corrected” with fresh rumours. No one know’s what is going on. All we know is that Mumbai is under attack. Luxury Hotels are being targeted. There is rampant gunfire and blood on the streets and images of women prematurely mourning the dead. The number of dead itself is being updated every 10 minutes…started with 3 and now I see the number 90 on the screen.
Why?
One of our Indian colleagues here, whose sister lives in Mumbai, answers, “No one knows why. In fact these terrorists themselves don’t know why.” Prior to 9/11 Americans wouldn’t have understood this. Now they understand this only too well…
Why?
HG and I are feeling helpless, both of us being away from our hometown. From aamchi Mumbai. Our people are ok. We just checked. Dee is tweeting away with live updates. My head spins as I see the insanity unfolding in front of us – hapless policemen being directed by hapless ministers and their hapless emergency committees. HG asks, “Why the hell do they have to have meetings now? Why can’t they have standard plans they can execute?”
Too many Why’s.
There are hostages now. Dee sends a message at 3 AM India time – “They’ve wrecked our home Abhi. Annihilated it.” Wrecked is what those high profile hostages in the five star hotels, would be feeling right now. Atleast the ones who are still alive. The injured are 900 weak now. The insanity continues as the Deccan Mujahideen claims responsibility for these attacks. What? These guys have frachisees now? Why are they growing unfettered and unchecked?
Why?
This is terrorism back to the basics. No huge bomb blasts – just scores of terrorists loose on the streets with dual cartridge AK-47s and grenades. This is Urban Guerilla warfare. This is the kind of terrorism that will get under the skin of everyone in Mumbai. As Dee puts it – this is like Somalia. Top cops are dead. Was this too a part of the plan? The famous dome of the Taj Mahal Hotel is burning. All flights coming into Mumbai have been cancelled or diverted. Will be able to get back in time? I want to be there…with my family.
How long will we, as a nation, stand this? Again and again they strike at our heart. They hurt us, kill our brothers and sisters. And we blame Pakistan, close the borders and sever diplomatic relations. I can’t believe I am saying this – but I am suddenly realizing why US reacted the way it did after 9/11. At one point, concillatory policies have to be replaced with aggression. This is war. I hope we realize that soon…and fight. Or else – even after the embers die down tonight – it won’t be long before they strike again.
Edited: The first photos from the mayhem are coming in from Vinu…you can see them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinu/page1/
Rekha said:
I checked your blog because I knew you would have written about what happened. Also because I know how much you and Dee love Mumbai. It’s heartbreaking to see one’s home being torn apart.
The guilt of being so far away is eating me up. It does not seem right that other people on the streets wish you “happy thanksgiving”. I want to turn and ask them if they heard. If they know that while they are blissfully making plans for their turkey dinners, my country is bleeding.
Hugs to all you Mumbaikars, be brave. The spirit of Mumbai will prevail.
Vidooshak said:
I like the new theme. I like the new post. I was woken up at 5AM. Same thoughts. And yes, even the kids blasting away as if in a live-action video game have no idea why. They are still fighting, they have more bullets and better guns than the commandos. Soon many or all will die, martyrs in their own mind. Then we will pick up some goons from Dharavi and torture them, maybe go on a firing spree in a muslim locality. What next?
In today’s tit-for-tat times, whether it is company loyalty or marital bliss, the other-cheek philosophy sounds lame, timid, even ludicrous. But when I look into Cubby’s eyes and imagine the world we leave behind for him, I would much rather offer the other cheek than show them @#$% how macho I am.
This is not about Mumbai anymore. Dee put it rightly– Somalia is no more just a GK question.
Kavana said:
True. Never wanted to turn the other cheek, never wanted to take the eye; it seems like we have no idea what we want to fight or how. Is causing destruction a part of some game or just insanity? Will anger always have its way?
Suraj Bhardwaj said:
Why are they called ‘fundamentalists’, when it’s them who have their fundas all wrong?
Why do we Indians shrug our shoulders and say,’This too shall pass’?
Why does one REPEAT one army officer gone wrong makes me feel ashamed of my heritage?
Why are they doing this to us?
Why doesn’t Raj Thakeray and his goons now stand up for Bombay (I never got around to call it Mumbai)?
Why? Why? Why?
Aunty G said:
:-((
Hanu said:
Hope your family and friends are safe….pl whack HG and get a forcible reply to my sms as well….
grimescene said:
Rekha… guess, we should all say thanks that our loved ones are safe. Yes…that sounds selfish. But that’s the way the world works…
Jam… no other cheek. We will soon run out of cheeks.
Kavan… anger is momentary… discontent is the permanent reservoir which feeds that anger. How can we get rid of the discontent?
Suraj… keep the whys coming… though soon we need to delve into the hows too…
Aunty G… 😦
Hanu…all safe…HG is immune to whacks by now… 😉