In addition to my post below...
(Click on the highlighted words to read the linked articles)
- I think that the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is as much an icon as the Taj hotel...
- Does anyone out there know what's happening to the victims of the CST tragedy? I hope the Government is doing something for their families. (Note: This was what i initially meant. I'm not belittling any of the tragedies, every family which lost one of its own is grieving, its true that a live hostage drama needed to be covered... )
- @ 40 people were killed in VT..., I read this sad story here. There were also the poor taxi drivers who lost their lives.
- Death ultimately is a great leveller... :(
- I'm upset that parents could not mourn their dead son in peace, without political parties attempting damage control::
- I'm disappointed by the attitude of the media when covering the live drama...
- I'm scared that this tragedy will soon be reduced to just another significant date - 26/11...as comparable to 9/11....
- It was reported that the family of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare has declined the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's offer of monetary help of @ Rs. 1 crore. The lives lost were truly priceless...I hope that the money reaches a few needy bereaved families.
- I'm amazed that people have directed their energies into creating a controversy out of a filmmaker visiting the site. I'm sure there are more important things to worry about right now than someone's lack of sensitivity...but Ziah has a valid point when she told me "It is hyped to show how casual, politicians take this event...if damage survey is turned into a morbid terror tourism package, i have NO words to say"
- I hope those brave, definitely underpaid, brave commandos get the applause, adulation and compensation they deserve. I like what this post had to say about it, esp the last line... If sports persons can be rewarded by the government for their achievements, i believe that these brave heroes who have committed their lives to our country deserve some kind of appreciation. They were the ones battling it out there, without a break. It is thanks to them the crisis was controlled.... The problems lie elsewhere, for clues look towards the seats of power...
Of course, most of what i know is due to the same media. Hopefully Mumbai is not taking it lying down. I'm glad to read that the citizens have taken positive steps forward. Even the biggest of pictures is eventually made of tiny squares. Every little action counts. Go do your bit, however little. It really does matter. If you don't know what to do by your own, recognize the catalysts of change and follow them.
Is this the calm before the next storm? If so, let the storm be one of change!
Update::
For those who want to do something, but don't know what, here's a few steps taken by others...
http://www.mumbaihelps.blogspot.com/ by kiran
http://stopterrorism.in/ and http://mammamiameamamma.blogspot.com/2008/11/lets-do-something.html from Parul's blog
16 comments:
Hi Suma,
Mei bhi pareshaan hu..samajh hi nhi aa rha hai ki karoo to kya karoo.Kya hum yani aam aadmi kuch nahi kar sakta ?
Mei sirf Bharat ka naagrik hone ki hasiyat se nahi balki sampoorn vishva ke ek aam aadmi (common man) ki haisiyat se yeh poochna chahta hu ki hum bina apni government ko gali diye khud kuch kar sakte hai AATANKVAAD ko rokne ke liye ?
Mei akela kuch kar sakta hu ?
Agar aap ki samajh mei kuch aaye to zaroor bataiyega.. Vikaas.
Regarding CST, I have a feeling that it did not get the coverage mainly because it did not have any live action..Thats where media irks me, have a feeling they have more concern for getting there quicker, and being the first one to cover, rather then really look at the plight of the people.
yeah - itz the media which focused the news on TAJ since the live action was happening there...
hope all this wont be reduce to just another number, as you rightly said...
the links helped a lot to read more abt the happenings. Let us hope there will be a storm of good change.
Media always makes it a circus. We cant avoid that Suma...it just happens.
But like u remembered all the other places n victims as much as the Taj hotel, I remember them too. Thats all that matters.
Media can go to hell.
Keshi.
we have talking about it so much. M also said that there is a MUCH bigger hue nad cry in blogosphere as well because most of us have been and could have been at a Taj or Oberoi more than the CST!
just the otha day i tol him 48 people dead at CST and we havent even heard about it! except that first shooting happened there...
and perhaps nothing will happen even if the elite get affected till some politician dies. a big one too...
i was appalled at Modi's gumption to come there and offer money and TRY and mke this a Hindu-Muslim issue rather than a terrorist attack.
i hope Suma, sanity prevails. Like M said in his mail to one of his ex-French teachher and I am sorry to quote a long comment!
"One example is how the city and the nation maintained restraint after these attacks, despite the Hindu-Muslim angle that every politician tried hard to milk. 20 years ago it would have erupted in instant communal riots; the generation today is a lot more aware of the futility. The next gen may be even more sane"
thats our biggest resposibility, Suma.
Meanwhile, i am not much of a leader, but would make a great follower for someone worthy...
cheers!
abha
rambler:: a tragedy is the same everywhere..I can't help but think of the image of all that luggage and bodies strewn about...people going about their regular routine,when Wham!
xh:: :(
rm:: when you hear about the selflessness of the hotel staff and all those guradian angels, most of whom must have been young ones, i feel there is hope...definitely...
keshi:: so be it, keshi :)...but it looks like the people have takean as much shit as they can..they feel ready to fight...
abha:: that is a sensible comment and worth repeating...I just hope some good comes out of this all...
yeah..when i was watching videos of this in you tube..times channel reporters were repeatedly telling that they were the first one to show the video..
u read that ministers statement abt his father today??..
nothing that i say on this matter is going to actually count. i can't, at this point of time, go back. and be a part of it. neither do i know what i can do.
but yes, watching bbay burn made me want to pack my bags and go back.
and i know there are ppl who're trying to do something abt it this time. i can oly support them in their attempts. and i will.
all the while.. i cannot stop wondering... "when next?" and "where next?"
Thabks much for all those links Suma..Many of 'em were eye-openers..Things which are ignored easily.
Yes..i guest VT was not covered by tghe media in India'coz there was no LIVE action.n abroad i guess it wasnt covered..'coz they didn't expect any americans or Brits to be there! So sad this is :(
Suma
You are absolutely right. Why was Taj/Oberoi given a preferance over CST! I feel our media is as much a culprit as our politicians. I also read somewhere that for claiming the dead bodies of the victims of CST took their kins around 9 hours while those of the rich slot were given in 1 hour. Why this discrimination and class divide even when dead! I guess we need to change our attitudes first!
Those links you gave were wonderful. Let me try to do somethingas well
brocas:: i read that :( ...i do wish they will let the family grieve in peace...
raysh:: that's an uncertain future we all have to face...i sincerely hope the people will show how powerful they are by raising their voice collectively....
@pavi:: its not because of foreigners...it is about needless deaths...be it rich or poor...its perhaps because the CST was an earlier incident while the hostage drama was ongoing and had to be tackled...i wondered about the victims..i couldn't really find much about what was being done there...
@WIAN...you would know better living as you are in mumbai..what i know is what i read...i keep thinking that things must be back to normal in the CST, cos life goes on...but the people must be so afraid every morning when they leave home :(
I liked that last line too.... you know someone forwarded me a mail saying
Olympic shooter Bindra was paid 3 crore, while another shooter was paid 5 lakhs for saving the life of his countrymen.
I don't want to take away from Bindra's achievement at all, but I do feel sad that we can't do more for our saviours.:-(
I guess we can lash at media - but I think they are only providing what people are seeking - that is the sensational news. This whole thing is so horrific - we all believe something should be done to stop it, but wish I knew what should be done.
Suma.. when I watched the horror of these attacks this past week, I wanted to go back to India and be a part of making it a better place.. I am sure many are thinking along those lines.. As for CST.. the news I get here on television is all about the 5 Americans that lost their lives.. Like Deepak Chopra said on CNN - There were hundreds who lost their lives each life as precious as these Americans (aside: if not more.. some of the people who lost their lives in CST were sole bread winners for their family)
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