Annie Paul has an interesting e-conversation.
N. ..It is high time India stops sending missions to the moon and starts focusing on national security.4 hours ago
Annie writes a thoughtful post.
I too sent ‘are you okay’ messages. Scrolling down my phone list and scanning names, I was reminded of the time I had sent out similar messages, when the last blast had happened in Delhi. And before that, when I was in Delhi myself, and the blasts had happened in Bombay, I had sent out such messages. And before that, there had been blasts in Delhi and I had gotten such messages. I had had a cruel thought once – thank god I don’t have close friends in Kashmir or Guwahati. A pointless, frustrated thought. Friends, cities, fear. There’s no containing them. They go everywhere, and you take a little bit of them with you everywhere too.
Dilip has some observations.
“[T]he most tragic thing is that for the first time ever they are targeting big-time foreigners and five star hotels. … There have been a lot of bomb blasts in India and they normally target marketplaces and the poorer society.”
Chloe Papazahariakis from Australia, about to be married to an Indian in Bombay, quoted in MidDay, November 27 2008.
I don’t know, Chloe, but it was pretty tragic before too.
Zigzackly at Mumbai Help posts information on the list of people rescued.
Leave a message if you’re trying to get through to pals in the city.
Preferably leave a cellphone number for both yourself and your friends / family, and we’ll try and SMS them.
Tip:
Suggest you avoid calling. Lines are bound to be screwed. SMS direct instead.
My number is +919820147433 if you need a message relayed.
Adil Nazam at Pakistaniat writes in solidarity with the people of Mumbai. [Link thanks to Global Voices]
Linked by madhat. Join Blogbharti facebook group.And so, in prayer and in solidarity, I stand today with Mumbaikars everywhere. In shock at what has happened. In fear of what might happen yet. In anger at those who would be so calculated in their inhuman massacre. In sympathy with those whose pain so hurts my own heart but whose tears I cannot touch, whose wounds I cannot heal, and whose grief I cannot relieve.
The solidarity I feel with Mumbaikars is deep and personal.
I was very, very disappointed by the reaction of the Indian leaders when this whole thing began. One of the first things the Prime Minister did was start pointing fingers. That was totally not the thing he should have worried about – who was to blame – what he needed to do was make sure everyone knew what HAD TO BE DONE. Pointing fingers OUTSIDE may be convenient and perhaps a viceral response, but leaders are not elected for viceral responses; Leaders are elected to take charge. From what I saw, there was no one taking charge, other than trying to place the blame. First things first – look at what is wrong INSIDE and remedy that and then start looking outside. There is a saying which seems very appropriate – one can be hyper aware of the mustard seeds under someone else’s feet while ignoring the rotting pumpkin under their one feet.
It is time for introspection. An attack of this magnitude does not happen without some complicity and responsibility within. Stop blaming others; start examining yourself.