Bleeding Mumbai..........

26Nov2008, was just another day in the lives of mumbaikars that was coming to an end, people were enjoying meals at the famous Leopold cafe, when youngmens in their early 20s dressed in versace and spoke fluent english entered the cafe and with them terror walked into the lives of mumbaikars on the quite evening. What followed the next 3days was not less then a nightmare not only in the lives of those living in mumbai but for those visiting mumbai. The youths looked like any other college going student carrying bagpacks, only the books were replaced by AK -47, hand grenades and bullets. It is a day which will remain in our hearts forever.

I am sitting miles away from my country. I don't have a television or a newspaper subscription at my house. I barely get time to sit on the internet. I am busy with my daily household chores. The phone rings, my husband informs me about the attack on mumbai. I immediately call my brother in mumbai and relieved to know that he is safe.

I live in Japan. Japan is one of the safest country in the world(not by statstic, but by my own experience). Today sitting here, I recall my first encounter with fear. Back home in Delhi, India- Yes, India is my country. It was 11July2006,6p.m, I was coming back from work when i recieved a call from a friend that there were a series of blast in mumbai. Recently my parents had gone to visit my brother in mumbai- my mind went blank and i could not think for a few seconds. My brother works at Nariman Point and takes the same route to travel back home everyday. The moment i got back to my senses, I tried calling him and but the phone would not connect. I tried and tried and re-tried but the efforts were not answered. I tried calling my parents but the phone line was constantly busy. And inside my heart the feeling was much much worse then fear. I could not concentrate, All through this I was constantly praying and calling my friends and asking them to try calling my brother and give me the news which i wanted to desperately hear "He is safe".

I switched on the T.V for the updates, I was hoping that my brother would have missed the train or was still at work. Around 10p.m, I finally was able to get in touch with a friend in Pune who later informed my brother had safely reached home and was with my parents.

Referred as "Mahanagri", Mumbai- the financial capital of India and also the biggest city of India. Having spent few years in mumbai, I can say mumbai is all about money. From panwalas to top notch executives here everyone is busy making money. In bollywood flicks you would have often seen the hero going to mumbai in search of a fortune and making it big. Loads of money, rich and expensive lifestyle is a major attraction. Since entertainment media has a vast coverage thus making mumbai an easy target.

I realize the pains of all those whose loved ones were trapped inside the hotels and they could do nothing but to hope against hopes and pray for their safe return. I never knew those who died. I don't know those who are left behind and they don't know me but i am with them in their grief .I'm praying for them to give them the strenghth to face what was thrown at them just like that on an ordinary day. Yes, it was Wednesday, 26Nov2008 just an ordinary day- people were returning to their homes or were already at their homes. Some were relaxing, attending parties or marriages, some were having dinner with their families at the expensive hotels(The Taj and The Oberois) in mumbai. Some of the guest at the hotel were visiting and some were here on work from various parts of the world.

In Mumbai, known for its volume of foreign tourists, at Leopold cafe - 9:15p.m people were having dinner when few stylish young men entered the cafe and opened gunfire killing many innocent people and leaving many injured. The floor was covered with blood, shoes and belongings of those who lay lifeless or ran inorder to save themselves. The window panes were broken and the glass pieces mixed in blood were scattered on the floor .

Leopold cafe was the first target of the Islamic attacks. Next in line were the two economic landmark Hotels- The Taj and The Oberois. "The Taj", being worst hit was the hub of the terrorist attack. Pronounced as the worst attacks in the history of India, soon the news of the attack spread like fire and all channels were covering this one BIG news. People from all over the world flocked together to pray for those they knew and those whom they will never know. The attack lasted 60 hours with a loss of 200 lives and leaving 327 injured. Amidst all this we lost many of our brave and dedicated soldiers. To name a few were ATC chief Hemant Karkare, DIG Ashok Kamte, Inspector Vijal Salaskar. Also those who perished in the attacks were journalist Sabina Sehgal Saikia, (American) Rabbi and his wife and many more. Kudos to our commondos who saved many lives putting at stake their own life, In doing so one of the brave commondo who lost his life was 31year old Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. These were our heroes, but as i know mumbaikars whenever a tragedy has struck they have ran in full speed - to help.

On 30November, Leoplold Cafe re-opened. The Taj, The Oberois and Nariman House are still recupturating from the attacks. Though Mumbai will always bear the scar, but the spirit with which Mumbai has faced the attacks is remarkable. After few hours of the attack life in Mumbai returned to normalcy and soon will catch up pace. The message is loud and clear, for few hours the momentum of life can be brought to halt but it cannot be stopped.

Many of my japanese friends have expressed their desire to visit India. I wish to invite them but how can I ? And what should I say? I don't have the answer. I wish for a country that is terror free, where people can walk freely. While I conclude this article , I remember few lines from what Rabindranath Tagore said:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action,Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake".

This article is dedicated to the memory of our brave soldiers who lost their lives in Mumbai Attacks.