Snehreal’s Weblog

I am reading Black Friday. It’s a book that talks about the ’93 blasts and the riots that preceded it. Mumbai has since not reached inflammable levels. The formation of the mohalla committees has served its purpose and both communities have eventually realized that it is in no one’s interest to kill. I am just sorry that this realisation has come at such a high price.

My friend, some days ago, was telling me that she didn’t understand why such a hue and cry is made about the ‘Spirit of Mumbai’. She is from Chennai and it escaped her understanding why only Mumbai is credited for its ability to move on. Every city does the same thing, she explained to me.

My response to it is that no other city in the country has any many scars from terror attacks as Mumbai. Terrorists have taken away each and every safety blanket that exists. They have targeted buses, trains, cabs, buildings, and offices, leaving nothing to the imagination. The only thing left untouched is they city’s character, resilience and ability to move on.

Another thing I explained was that no Mumbaikar boasts of the Mumbai Spirit. How can we? It makes us look like machines that have no emotions. That we don’t care about what happens around us. It’s just that life is tough here and even without these tragic events each day is a struggle for survival for most Mumbaikars. So when any untoward incident occurs, they help and then retreat into their own worlds to get on with their lives.

Also, we don’t like news channels harping about Mumbai’s spirit. They don’t know what they are talking about most of the times, sitting in their cozy offices in Delhi and should just let sensationalism be.

While on the topic, is it necessary to ask doctors and government officials the number of casualties as the first question? It is really insensitive and serves no purpose apart from creating more panic than necessary.