While the scars of last years deluge of 26/7 had not yet worn out of an average Bombayites memory, the heavy downpour of 30th May 2006 sent Bombay reeling in for cover.
Bombay fought out the troubles and once again reeled back to normalcy when rain gods decided to lash this bay city with another round which lasted a week from 3rd to 7th of July 06. The spirit of Bombay was not lost as people dragged themselves to work amid lashing rains.
Then came 11th July 06, when the local Hindutva party Shiv Sena, headed by Udhav Thakkray held the city to ransom when some miscreant desecrated the statute of his mother at Shivaji Park. The militant facet of the party propped its savage face and created mayhem as they burned buses and broke down shop windows. The city once again reeled under fear, especially the major minority population, which becomes the most targeted of the lot in any which way. The city lost crores of rupees on that faithful Sunday.
While the people still discussed the ‘Mayhem Sunday’ when on Tuesday, 11th July 06, seven RDX/Gelletine explosives rocked Bombay as terror surfaced again.
But all through this, the most noted things is the ‘never say die’ spirit of Bombay. Amid all the madness, moments after the blast…the city and its inhabitants showed and showcased the spirit that can only be seen in Bombay. Hundreds rushed during those rush hours to the aid of the victims with whatever they had. They reached the hundreds of patients to hospitals and clinics much before the authorized ambulances would even reach the spot.
While the life-line of Bombay, the railways (seven bombs exploded in seven trains) went kaput, millions were affected as they could not reach home. While most decided to walk those 20 odd miles home, there were more Samaritans out in the street helping them achieve their task by providing them with food and water on the way.
Whether it is 26/7 or 11/7, Bombay has shown that it can never die. People irrespective of their cast, community, religious belief or even race have come together to help each other. This is why I love Bombay and I believe everybody will love Bombay.
It is the time for the politicians to forget about inciting the people of Bombay and let them be… for univocally they have said it a number of times… not in words but their mere action that they care for each other, their city, their country and humanity at large.
Bombay fought out the troubles and once again reeled back to normalcy when rain gods decided to lash this bay city with another round which lasted a week from 3rd to 7th of July 06. The spirit of Bombay was not lost as people dragged themselves to work amid lashing rains.
Then came 11th July 06, when the local Hindutva party Shiv Sena, headed by Udhav Thakkray held the city to ransom when some miscreant desecrated the statute of his mother at Shivaji Park. The militant facet of the party propped its savage face and created mayhem as they burned buses and broke down shop windows. The city once again reeled under fear, especially the major minority population, which becomes the most targeted of the lot in any which way. The city lost crores of rupees on that faithful Sunday.
While the people still discussed the ‘Mayhem Sunday’ when on Tuesday, 11th July 06, seven RDX/Gelletine explosives rocked Bombay as terror surfaced again.
But all through this, the most noted things is the ‘never say die’ spirit of Bombay. Amid all the madness, moments after the blast…the city and its inhabitants showed and showcased the spirit that can only be seen in Bombay. Hundreds rushed during those rush hours to the aid of the victims with whatever they had. They reached the hundreds of patients to hospitals and clinics much before the authorized ambulances would even reach the spot.
While the life-line of Bombay, the railways (seven bombs exploded in seven trains) went kaput, millions were affected as they could not reach home. While most decided to walk those 20 odd miles home, there were more Samaritans out in the street helping them achieve their task by providing them with food and water on the way.
Whether it is 26/7 or 11/7, Bombay has shown that it can never die. People irrespective of their cast, community, religious belief or even race have come together to help each other. This is why I love Bombay and I believe everybody will love Bombay.
It is the time for the politicians to forget about inciting the people of Bombay and let them be… for univocally they have said it a number of times… not in words but their mere action that they care for each other, their city, their country and humanity at large.
Long live Bombay…long live the SPIRIT OF BOMBAY.
