I have been following the attack since they happened last night. The places attacked are fairly close to home, they are places i go in and around with fair regularity. I walk on Marine Drive 4-5 times a week and was on the stretch last night but back home by 10.
A friends father is still in the Trident and has been untraceable as well as the the folks in the Nariman Bhavan vicinity are friends and family, a friends girlfriend is part of the jewish group being held hostage(though she is not a hostage) So this is close to home in more ways than one.
The senselessness of the attack is only topped by the ease with which all this was perpetrated, anyone can walk into the city and go anywhere and do anything, there is no protection of any kind. I have been around the city this morning and people are out and about and it is good to know that they weren't cowed, if we can keep this up it means that the terrorists don't win.
I am sure there is a sense of local elements being involved as well, foreign terrorists cannot co-ordinate an attack like this without being present for long or having local help. Beyond this, it is hard to say how long and how many more terrorists are present in the city and what the next few days will bring.
The center of the city and the symbols of its success and heritage have been attacked and i can hope that they bounce back soon. After this matter is resolved we will see the politicians of all kinds trying to take advantage and things will get more disgusting.
The attack comes after an extremely positive and friendly message from Pakistan PM Asif Ali Zardari, listening to him made me feel that there is still a chance of things being on the mend and the future being better if we can work on it.
It was obviously not to be, the road to peace will be a long and difficult one but we are going to have to walk on it for the sake of the future generations. This is not the kind of world we can bequeath to them.
I am going to be in line to get back into the Taj & The Oberoi when they reopen. I hope others can also do the same.
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12 comments:
I hope all your friends made it back. Stay safe
hey,
thanks. still waiting to hear about a friends dad who was at the Trident. anxious.
Gaurav,
Hope you and all your near and dear are okay. I'm a regular visitor of your blog and I always wanted to visit those hotels.
Hope you are safe.
Sam
Sam,
thanks for you wishes. my friends dad was at the trident and we havent heard back from him as is another business associate of my family's
its hit very close to home and i am anxious for my friends.
thanks !!!
Gaurav,
Your friend's father is in our prayer.
Sam
Thanks Sam !!! i hope the man upstairs heeds them.
I will keep checking on your blog. Please update if you have any news.
Sam
Hope your friend's father is well.
It seems we have still haven't learnt to be vigilant inspite of recent terrorist attacks. No, the people of Mumbai aren't cowed, but they don't feel safe either. Don't know when this hostage stand-off will end.
Hi,
Still no word, people have been released but i have no idea if he is one of them. Information is slow in coming due to security reasons. Oberoi & Taj staff have apparently been brilliantly professional and fearless. We really do know how to be a hospitable and supportve nation.
if only we can become a little bit more proffesional in matters of security.
Anyway, thats besides the point. Thanks for all your wishes. Ill def update once i know more.
cheers all.
hey,
my friends dad did not make it. they got him on the staircase of the Hilton. My familys business associate was funnily meeting him and we didnt even know it. how is that for co-incidence.
i am angry, upset and afraid of seeing my friends when they come in tomorrow. i will have no comfort for their grief.
most of all i am exhausted.
thanks for your wishes.
Gaurav,
I have been a silent reader of your blog from time to time. I hope that your friends and their parents and who ever are there are safe.
Samir
Samir,
No such luck! i was at the funeral yesterday.
I am going mourn but soon i will continue to go out, movies, restaurants everything.
These f******s think they can bomb us and win. They got another thing coming.
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