Pallavi,

Thank god you are safe.

My commiserations to the people involved in this awful time.

Peace

Love Simon xx xx

"And unless the government declares a holiday for condemning the act, you bet life will go on!"

What kind of government is that? People need a day off to think, to discuss and to condemn the bombings!

Is that how things in India work? Why not get to work. Take care of the sufferings of the innocent victims first. Then spend no time in finding the terrorists, listen to their cause. And bring justice fast and quick with a strong message to terrorists across the world. Get on with your security work to stop future terrorist acts, and be ready to eliminate uncivilised fundamentalists, be they of a faith or of an organisation.

Terrorists think they are more important than everyone else - that their problems are more important. How self-deluded.

Simon - unlike the west, India is assulted every five minutes by some deluded nationalist or fundamentalist.

If the government gave days off the entire year would be a holiday.

One cannot negotiate with people who believe in antiquated racist concepts - and desire to make everyone think and live as they do.

Pallavi,

I am glad you and your family are safe. I can not begin to comprehend the effect of such bombings on the lives of the affected people. My wishes and hope go out to them.

ARM

dear Pallavi

it's brilliantly heartening to read about how big the human spirit can be. it's unfortunate that it takes a crisis to make it obvious, but at least that spirit is alive and well.

love, heather

Isn't it interesting that we reach out to one another more when there is chaos...we connect...does it really take chaos to open our eyes only for them close back up so quickly?
Why is it when in the midst of chaos there is no separation? Maybe we need chaos...

Pallavi, I am glad to see you are alright. Your description of the goings on in the streets of Mumbai transported me back to India. People helping people in times of disaster, is so nice to see. Wouldn't it be great if we did it all the time??

Pallavi, I am so, so sad. God bless.

...joining in prayer.

Pallavi: Am glad to hear you and Navin are fine--a big "Ditto" to the thoughts going out to the people of Bombay. Much Love to you all, Dave

So, now our Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi will send their condolences, the Chief Minister will announce some compensation, Police Chief will say that culprits will not be spared and TV channels and all the newspapers will flash the news all day and then the frequency will decrease. We all will remember this for few days, may be few months and then everything will be back to normal. Nothing will happen. We are nothing but cowards. We can't even punish who do this. Can Mr Prime Minister please tell us how many more Indians need to die before an action will be taken and security of the country as whole will be considered?

Hi,
I think when events like this happen,it is a wakeup call to everyone.But we have grown so insensitive that it just causes a ripple for a while and we go back to our old ways just like what happened during sept 11.

If we as humanbeing dont respond to these challenges adequately,we will engulf ourselves in more and more of such events.

Dear Pallavi,
I am - like each one reaching to you - so happy to know you and your husband are o.k. I do not want any harm to come to you ever.

It is a Truth you write - of Life - and its continuation. dearest Pallavi, you are blessed with an understanding - that seems - yes ... strange, when hopelessness would seem more natural to express, to these events.

A gift of infinite worth - is to value life and know it shall continue on. No matter what. Nor to any change in form.

Still,
I feel sadness,
when I know others die to bombs, and a war wages and killings go on in many parts of the earth.

I celebrate life and friendships and the moments when we join in Oneness.

I love you,
~ Kate

That is pretty intense....I think our bodies go into "automatic" when this happens...I still have the duct tape and water from warnings after 9-11.

I still don't know why I bought it...but it seemed the right thing to do at the time..

Time is a good healter Pallavi and hope Bombey will continue to heal.

Love, Joanie

Immunity is an interesting word. It does seem that we have gotten so used to all this happening once in a while that we tend ro forget after sometime. I hope that complacency does not set in and the powers that be address both the long term and short term solutions to the problem.

Worth reading, worth commenting, worth giving an awakening call:

"We are nothing but cowards. We can't even punish who do this. Can Mr Prime Minister please tell us how many more Indians need to die before an action will be taken and security of the country as whole will be considered?" ~Suri

And,

"If we as humanbeing dont respond to these challenges adequately,we will engulf ourselves in more and more of such events." ~prabhaker

Rest of the comments come mostly from cowards, praying for peace people, goodwill spreading people, gurus with centuries' old mind-sets, gurus living in their ivory towers. People in power in India seem to have no balls. Perhaps too much Gandhian philosophy has made them pusillanimous.

Perhaps members of the Indian parliament and the chief ministers need to have training at Knesset
to learn how to run the country and how to retaliate the enemy.

India, wake up. Your enemies are among you. Spend your resources on intelligence gathering and security. Or be prepared for another terrorist attacks like these from the uncivilised people who do not value human life.

Yeah Suri and Prabhakar....same story will be repeated after a few days for sure!! That's the sequence which you talked abt. There's a limit to everything. It's on and on and on. Where's the Stern action taken? Our brothers! Yeah...we all are brothers. Openly they will keep screwing you, and brothers story continues for ever.

I can write it on the wall, just wait for a few days. You'll hear a similar story, but you'll also hear the similar story from the authorities.
SURE!! How does it feel to know that this will get repeated soon??

Take care..Sachin

Dear Friends,
As I said, it's back to business as usual in Mumbai today. Bombay bounces back. When inexperienced people would have thought that the stock mkts would crash on the day following the blasts.....lo and behold....the markets open in the green. The bell-weather infotech company in India, Infosys, came out with a stellar set of quarterly numbers and upped their annual profit guidance by a good 10 percentage points. At the end of the day, the markets are concerned about the earnings performance of the corporates and most Indian companies are expected to post good growth figures. The strength of the Indian markets will be demonstrated to the world today and in the coming days, and the foreign investors will return to India with their moneybags in a big way soon. A few terror attacks on this country cannot derail it from the path of rapid economic growth.

Now coming to the point of dealing with the terrorists. I second views that India should deal with terrorists firmly and decisively. They should and will be punished.

Cheers!
Navin

Event – Bomb blasting
PM, Home Minister, Chief Minister’s reaction – We strongly condemn the cowardly act! (What does this mean anyway? ..Terrorists could be smiling smugly at such hollow, clichéd statements!)
Opposition reaction – It is a complete failure of law & order! (Hello! .. What did you do when you were in power??)
Media – Hats off to the spirit of Mumbaikars! (.. The media-vultures are only too happy showing the gory details of incident again & again on channels!)
Victims – Hundreds of law-abiding citizens. For no fault of theirs, they are targeted!

Hasn’t this become so stereotype over the decade?

Why aren’t we hitting the nail on the head?

Enough of peace, change of heart & all that friendship trains stuff!

Why can’t our police/RAW target those traitor ‘organizations & individuals’ & finish them off in fake encounters and close this issue for ever??? ...Else, they will keep us bleeding/lynching forever!

dear pallavi,
i totally agree with you we live in the best city ever, no matter what we people move on and thats the way to be...mumbai is true inspiration...

The occurence of the yesterday events in bombay is very unfortunate. Yet again the terror elements have shown that they can take our government for a ride and go on splitting blood and guts of innocents.

When will people of this country wake and recognize this dark shadow of terrorism which has been looming on us since decades.

Now if a terrorist who accepts on national television that he has committed more than 50 murders is not convicted and hanged, what do we expect.

People have to raise a voice and say that this is unacceptable. We cannot go out in the morning with the fear of not being able to return to our loved ones at night.

If we see the graph of terrorist activities in our country since last two decades it shows a phenomenal growth better than the best of fortune companies. THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THIS GROWTH END.....OR IS THERE AN END AT ALL.

How long will we have to face these unfortunate events.

How many more bombs are going to end countless young dreams, aspirations, love and goodness in a flash.

Does our populace, government, administration comprehend what the word DETERRENCE means. How do you prevent and deterr people/groups from doing these acts of mass murder??

But alas like last time nothing will happen. The blood of indians dries fast and does not even leave a mark on the psyche of their country folks.

may peace and tranquility somehow find a way against all the odds.

Amit

Kate, ur lovely. Thanks for the care and concern, all. I am also glad with some of the outspoken remarks that hint complacency.... just coz a city bounces back quickly, doesn't mean everything's ok.

dear Navin

it's good to see that the spirit of Mumbai's financial center, which helps drive the economic viability of all of India, is strong and healthy. this is good news for India.

dear Pallavi

you are so right, as you say: "just coz a city bounces back quickly, doesn't mean everything's ok."

love, heather

I have been to this site a few times before - is it not supposed to be a gathering of thinking Indians? After another vicious incident like this, all I hear is that this will not affect bombay, that our spirit will not change. What the hell? When are things going to finally effect us???

What is the thinking Indians reaction to this? What is our plan to confront this? When are we going to organize and eradicate this menace? This is not simply the job of the government - this is a war of ideaology and as much in the domain of a blog like this as on the front lines? And where are these frontlines? We keep pointing at Pakistan? Much of the teaching in the Madarsas there is done by Imam's trained in India, the formulation of the Taliban ideology and its continued preaching goes on right here in our country, there are Muslim Universities that train the minds of the people behind such attacks. These people do not engage in dialogue and hide behind "minority" status. Nonsense!

Let us call them out, let us read what they are saying, let us invite them to dialogue in the great Indian tradition. Islam has always been violent and brutal, if it cannot will itself to change from within, let us help it from without....

Puru and others who resonate to that Perspec..I've
seen a lot of that in the last decade or so.

We strongly condemn this cowardly act!! That's their fav line. I've never really seen anyone approving of that act. Cliche! Routine rhetoric.
Shaanti banaye rakhe, afvahe na fehlaeh. We will soon investigate and find out who is responsible. Have faith in us...we will do our best! Vilas Rao Deshmukh, I've not seen a better Diplomat than him. "Aap shanti banaye rakhe...even though we all know in another few days there will be one more, nothing to worry...we're all resilient, even if it happens again after few days...we will rise back" Why can't they Open their eyes?? And see where is the root and focus their energies there, instead of all the Rhetoric. There have been lot of voices from the public though this time, that say "Cut the Rhetoric and deal with terrorism with an Iron fist".

Opposition..what better chance than this for them to attack the present govt? Rt or Wrong. Their primary duty is to Oppose."Tu meri le mai teri lethau" Politics of Democracy.

Media Vultures...Vultures, cudn't have used a better word for the media. They live on that. I find it amazing sometimes, when they do it with no feelings.

Well, we all Live in Hope though!

Truly..Sachin

India Responds to Bombay Bombings

“We strongly condemn this cowardly act.”
All rhetoric, cliché, cliché, cliché.
All words no actions.
All cowards as enemies.

“Shaanti banaye rakhe, afvahe na fehlaeh.”

"Keep peace.
Spread no rumors."
All rhetoric, cliché, cliché, cliché.
Empty words as their empty minds.
Vacous hearts, vacous minds. No actions.

“We’ll soon investigate,
Find out the responsible.
Bring them to justice.
Have faith in us.
Will do our best.”

Do you have faith in yourself
You pusillanimous shit defense minister?
Where is your iron fist?
Where is your mind of steel?
The best you can do is fart.
But no actions.

You sissy, you unmanly man
Wear your khadi kurta, your lungi,
Your foolish smile, your Gandhi topi

And go bare feet to the Jamuna ghats,
Stand before the samadhi of Ghandi
And pray: “Hey Ram, peace, peace.”
Leave your post in disgrace.

Let some strong man with
Stern determination and will
Find and kill the terrorists
And bring lasting peace.

Note: Based on Sachin's comment, post # 25.

I don't even know who terrorist are. Really.

Dear Pallavi,
I'm so glad to hear that you are fine, along with your family and all our friends here at Intent. I have you all in my prayers.

Thanks for your beautiful thoughts on Bombay, a city I have always loved.
Love,
Donatella

Dear Dave,
Sorry I missed your name while thanking all those who expressed their concern. Thank you.

Cheers!
Navin

Matey Ravi...I never really said such a thing. Personally, Killing for me is not rt!

Yes, I believe in dealing with an Iron fist with these attackers. How? is not an easy question to answer. I meant basically in the Politics..the decisions. Ideally speaking, it is not under my philosophy to kill a human being. Strange as it may seem from my anger at such incidents and passion at other times, but yes I'm more of Gandhian philosophy. ME! Ok? Becoz my personal path is different. I agree though that this Gandhian philosophy doesn't work in the barbaric world we live in, the price we have paid for India/Pak...stern actions have to be taken...the way they are taken in US(another story how Bush got messed up).

What I see is lot of dilly dallying in the political arena, and to save their vote banks...they do all this. Utterly disgusting is What they do to have their vote banks! But that's what most of the politics is abt...how to stay in power...how to screw the other party and stay in power. People?? What people ru talking abt in politics? This is the dark side I'm showing.

My Impression, here at IB is totally messed up. Sometimes it doesn't feel good to know, when you're not understood by those with whom you've talked so affectionately..but that's the world of net...and I know people just to love see what they want to, believe what others say abt you, but not see how it is. Well...it's over now.

Life is very Beautiful!!! It just amazes me how humans/countries screw up themselves to find in a hole. Instead of experiencing peace love and joy....they get into conflicts, fights, killing and what not. I do belong to the "Peace&Love" Fraternity, but I'm stuck here for some reason, not too long. But yes....I can see so clearly what is happening around the world. Sad, sick but true!

Humein Ijazath dho bhaya abhi...Love..Sachin

Hi Karl,

Yes I am well aware that in the east there have been a lot of senseless destruction of innocent lives and senseless tragedy over the years seeing as you have brought that up....

No you are quite right in saying that negotiating with terrorists or anyone who commits acts like this is not a good idea....I think it sends out a very dangerous message to would be killers if a nation begins negotiations with terrorists because of violence.

I do agree with some points Deepak has made in the past about how terrorism needs to be understood more, or more so what are the root causes for this kind of action by terrorists.....

it is very easy to lable people deluded or evil or insaine for commiting these acts and they are unforgivable acts..but it is obvious to me that ostricising certain types of people only in the long term will create more terrorism, more violence and more hatred.

I don't claim to know the answer that could put an near stop or resolution to this kind of mentality or behaviour.

Deepak said once in one of his talks he says "Beliefs Die Hard, They Out live the Believer"

Beliefs of hatred and terroists die hard and lets not forget that this chain of thought, this idea of hatred and destruction to get what they want is still a minority on any global scale, the over all majority of the worlds people do not want this kind of hatred in their lives. In that case what is the answer, what makes people more compassionate and love their neighbors and all of existence?

I belive that spiritual education would go a long way to making people consider their belief system and consider their core essence, spiritual education is not religious education, the education of spirit is not fixed to any culture or form it is about educating humanity of their true inner self, the divine self that is omnipresent throughout the universe and self evident in every possible thing you can comprehend.

This kind of education and thought may possibly Supplant the egoistical line of thought, the selfish and hatred line of thought that we see here in Bombay and could Ultimatly give birth to a new Humanity, a new generation/era of human evolution.

The world..as old as it is...and our History as short as it is has shown us that anything is possible, if anything is possible then what I have said above can be possible and may be possible.

remember the majority of this planet and I mean the vast Majority want to live in peace and harmony and love.

we are talking about a tiny small amount of people on a global scale..not even enough to fill a town who premote and benefit from hatred and killing like this.

That is a very positive thought and it is true.

www.drdeepchop.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

let the music begin on that link then refresh the page for the best effect from my movie.

Love Simon xx xx

Dear Pallavi,
I am sorry I stayed away from all the posts (including this 1) abt the unfortunate event. The reports & reviews are so depressing... I know I was running away from reality, but I think I needed a break from all the negativity.

I am sorry if I sound like a headcase but really Pallavi, I dont mean to be that!
u know I hail from Goa & mumbai is my 'neighbor' there. I have much attachment to the city like all of u, but...

Pallavi, a sincere request... could u pls post something creative for us? I think a small treat of fine words would do all of us some good, after this rocking incident . Please Pallavi, would u oblige?
Thanks in anticipation.

Peace be with u & all the mumbaikars! :)

Dana Shields..
Whole of India dosent know who did it..and where they are.
IT is very much possible...Our own people have done it.JUS LIKE jEWS IN 9/11.
There is no Respect for life these days.

Dear Terrorist,

Even if you are not reading this we don't care.

Time and again you tried to disturb us and disrupt our life -- killing innocent civilians by planting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring death and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmony. But every time you were unsuccessful.

Do you know how difficult life in Mumbai is? Do you know what it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If you wanted to shock us, then we are sorry to say that you failed miserably. Better look elsewhere.

We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and Bengalis. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, government employees or private employees.

We are Mumbaikars, or Bombay-ites, if you like. We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this.

On the last few occasions when you struck -- including the many deadly blasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring many more in 1993 -- we went to work the next day in full strength.

This time, we were back to normal within a few hours -- the vendors taking their next order, businessmen finalising the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the next train. Yes, the same train you targeted.

Fathom this: Within three hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospitals where most of the injured were admitted. The next day, schools and offices functioned. The city has simply moved on, perhaps with greater vigour.

We are Mumbaikars and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do not dare to threaten us with your crackers.

The spirit of Mumbai is too strong for you to handle.

Please forward this to others. Your fellow terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iraq can also learn some important lessons from this.

Unflinchingly yours,
The people of Mumbai

(Letter written by Nazir Usman)
-------
fowarded in an email.

Clarification, I am not one.

This guy's got the right idea:

http://www.freewillastrology.com/

I think someone should create a "money vest" that indescriminantly explodes cash all over the place!

I feel sad. A part of me is mourning. I am not from BOmbay. I have been to BOmbay once as a little kid and remember going to Mud Island. Amazing experience. But I am an Indian and it hurt me to see my people hurt like that. I can tell you being in America, I saw what little coverage any channel gave to this news from what they call "third world" country. Nobody cares except for Indians all over the world. We worry, we pray and we feel sad. I feel helpless to not do anything or offer anything. I dont know what to do...i dont know how writing here is helping those souls who have lost their life...those who are alive for the outside world but dead inside because their loved one died. This is so interesting. In my last visit to Chandigarh, I bought Black Friday book. I am reading that right now and the time line of the bombings that happened are so close to how things happened at the train station. Reading that book I get sad and feel choked up just like how i felt last year when i was reading Tamas. What makes another person kill another? How can you do this? Do you not have a fuckin brain to do such a shitty act? You scum sucking pigs.

I feel sad. A part of me is mourning. I am not from BOmbay. I have been to BOmbay once as a little kid and remember going to Mud Island. Amazing experience. But I am an Indian and it hurt me to see my people hurt like that. I can tell you being in America, I saw what little coverage any channel gave to this news from what they call "third world" country. Nobody cares except for Indians all over the world. We worry, we pray and we feel sad. I feel helpless to not do anything or offer anything. I dont know what to do...i dont know how writing here is helping those souls who have lost their life...those who are alive for the outside world but dead inside because their loved one died. This is so interesting. In my last visit to Chandigarh, I bought Black Friday book. I am reading that right now and the time line of the bombings that happened are so close to how things happened at the train station. Reading that book I get sad and feel choked up just like how i felt last year when i was reading Tamas. What makes one person kill another? How can you do this? Do you not have a fuckin brain to do such a shitty act? You scum sucking pigs. How do i explain this to my 3 year old daughter? How???????

It would make a sound like sssssssssssssffffffffffftppppppppophhhhhmmmm.

And unmarked money everywhere, covering a 100 foot radius, three inches deep.

20 US dollar bills. Genuine, hard-worked-for.

However, my question is this: would they still haul the perpetrator off to Guantanamo or something?

Read This Letter To The Terrorists, someone has written!!

""Dear Terrorist,

Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried
to disturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians by planting
bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring death and
destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmony but
everytime you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass
our life in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If
you wanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failed
miserably in your ulterior motives. Better look elsewere, not here.

We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and
Bengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, govt.
employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, if you
like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On the last
few occassions when you struck (including the 7 deadly blasts in a single
day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), we went to work next
day in full strength. This time we cleared everything within a few hours
and were back to normal - the vendors placing their next order,
businessmen finalizing the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the
next train. (Yes the same train you targetted)

Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating
volunteers were seen outside various hospital, where most of the injured
were admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification
that blood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The
next day, attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buses
were packed to the brim, the crowds were back. The city has simply dusted itself off and moved one
- perhaps with greater vigour.

We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do
not dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai is very
strong and can not be harmed.

Please forward this to others. U never know, by chance it may come to
hands of a terrorist in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iraq and he can then read
this message which is specially meant for him!!!

With L.O.V.E.
From the people of Mumbai (Bombay)""

Huffington Post has been breached by Pat Robertson.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-lynn/violence-in-india-the-l_b_25006.html?p=4#comments

Deborah Lynn starts a blog.. even before the bodies have not been removed at the Bombay Bombing...with this masterpiece

" Violence in India: The Link Between "The Untouchables" And Islamic Fundamental Violence (80 comments ) "

I did some research (google).

the organizaion she is promating "Recently, I've been introduced to and educated by an organization called the Dalit Freedom Network, an organization that works for the rights of the "Untouchable Caste" in India. "

Is actually a Pat Robertson supported group from Colorado.

http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bios/Joseph_DSouza042205.aspx

This is unbeleivable.

Is Huffington Post behind this?

Huffington Post has been breached by Pat Robertson.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-lynn/violence-in-india-the-l_b_25006.html?p=4#comments

Deborah Lynn starts a blog.. even before the bodies have not been removed at the Bombay Bombing...with this masterpiece

" Violence in India: The Link Between "The Untouchables" And Islamic Fundamental Violence (80 comments ) "

I did some research (google).

the organizaion she is promating "Recently, I've been introduced to and educated by an organization called the Dalit Freedom Network, an organization that works for the rights of the "Untouchable Caste" in India. "

Is actually a Pat Robertson supported group from Colorado.

http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bios/Joseph_DSouza042205.aspx

This is unbeleivable.

Is Huffington Post behind this?

dear all mumbaikars,
like u all me also a mumbaikar and the hardship we all faced in our reecent life first due to Floods like situation, may call it either an administration failure due to corrupt practices and then those bomb blasts, may call it terrorist, creation of wrongdoings of some of us only but for which all humankinds over the wordare sufferings .When and where this going to stop!

Dear Pallavi,
I have kept you and your family in my thoughts, and I send my love,
~ Kate

This is about Bombay/Mumbai:

People from this city should take a moment to go to this page:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/mumbaipetition.cms

This is an open letter to the Prime Minister from the Times of India:

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Mumbai is tired, impatient and very angry. It doesn't want the praise. It wants its dues. For too long have we received only empty accolades. Now it's payback time.

We want:

More autonomy on how this city is run. India's dream destination cannot remain an administrative nightmare. We want leaders interested in the city, not in party bosses and vote banks.

More money, for the state and from the state. India's cash cow cannot just be milked dry. We want a fair percentage of what Mumbai contributes to be put back into city improvements.

More accountability and transparency. We refuse to let inefficiency and corruption steal our taxes. We want civic officials who level our roads not line their pockets.

More civilized living. India's business capital cannot be subjected to such tattered public services. We want to live like human beings, not rats.

More safety and security. We cannot be drowned out one day, blasted out the other. We want a strong, compassionate, accountable police force to protect our kids, our elderly parents and us.

It's been too little for too long. We want to get as good as we give. And we want it now.

Yours Sincerely