Saluting the spirit of Mumbai

We rarely value things which are just besides us and we search for the solutions for the unanswered questions in our lives by making Assumptions, valuing our pre conceived notions and following our sixth sense, but the answer collides with us and we never find it. The reason is not closing our eyes to see the realistic picture but closing our eyes towards the emotions, aftermaths and causes associated with such realities. Mumbai is a perfect example of one such reality. We accept our ignorance towards it but fail to make an attempt to eradicate it.
This town has been the epicenter of the terrorism since the last one decade. Since we all have a short lived memory lets have a quick overview of all that Mumbai has faced since the last one decade.
· More than 250 people were killed and 700 injured in a series of 13 bomb blast in 1993
· On March 13, 2003, a bomb attack on a commuter train killed 11 innocent people
· The floods in Mumbai killed at least 1000 people in 2005
· In 2008 a series of ten coordinated terrorist attack across Mumbai claiming 173 people and leading to 308 injuries.

You can read through all these figures and simply think that this is part of life. However, a death in one family affects on an average at least 6 more lives and these aftermaths have a never ending negative impact on the lives of thousands of Individuals and its also doesn’t give them the time to rehabilitate and recover because the next calamity is just around the corner. But Mumbai always comes back and will always come back.

This town has the tenacity to come back after facing all these atrocities which has become a daily routine for them. The spirit of Mumbai against terrorism is evident from the fact that, 25 days after terror was struck at Trident and Taj Hotels, it was reopened again, signifying its solidarity and resolve. Many Mumbaikars including celebrities, professionals, and guests, employees gathered there to remember those who lost their lives and honor those, who had taken up a fight against all odds.
It was an emotionally choking moment for everyone present there. According to Celebrity Author Shoba De “There was a thunderous applause during the whole event – the applause did not stop the last employee took his /her bow.
At the end of the event Maa Tujhe Salaam was played and almost everyone had a smile on their cheeks with tears in their eyes. And we know the smile was to warn all the anti social people, since Mumbai has the spirit and the vigor to combat the terrorist, and the tears signified the pain and trauma which is a part of every Mumbaikar and will motivate every Mumbaikar to fight against terrorism.
This is not a fairy tale story, I have just collected and collated factual information and I am guilty at this moment that I didn’t do anything for the victims, their families etc.

However writing this article, has certainly helped me to realize that we need to come out of our ignorance and learn from Mumbai. It inspires us to comeback irrespective of our circumstances and situations and stands tall for our rights because we all have the “right to live happily”. Mumbai in true sense has been able to achieve team work and proved that team essentially means “Together we can achieve more”. I truly salute the spirit of Mumbai.