99.99% of Your Traces Are (Probably) Trash (SRECon NA 2024).pdf
DNA : November 24, 2009
1. Mumbai,
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
www.dnaindia.com
epaper.dnaindia.com 7
People need to act People are voicing their opinions I see people The memory of the 26/11 attack
and not just make and definitely want change. If this being more alert, still shocks me. So many lives
frivolous government does not live up to but the fear were wasted for the whims of
statements. In a the expectations, the people will psychosis is also few fanatics. I pray everyday to
democratic country, make their strong. No one God to give
the common man's displeasure can forget that peace to all
voice must be known. We can day. We now those who lost
heard by the government, but make a difference. know being united and raising a their loved ones.
isn’t Kasab still just sitting in jail? —Suniel Shetty, voice can make a difference. —Sukhwinder
—Amrita Rao, actress actor —Madhur Bhandarkar, filmmaker Singh, singer
AS MUMBAI GETS READY TO ‘CELEBRATE’ THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE 26/11 TERROR ATTACK, THE CITIZENS’
VERBATIM MOVEMENT THAT HAD SWEPT ACROSS THE CITY IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND ANY MORE
Where has all the anger gone?
26/11 seems to ‘Patil’s return
The attacks were on a section
of society which was earlier
have become a is a slap in the
removed from the direct
impact of such a heinous
crime. It has awakened and
high-pitched face for the city’
sensitised all of us to the
efforts required to have a
secure environment. I am
PR exercise
Poornima Swaminathan
Shobhaa De
I can say this emphati-
cally that ‘yes’ Mumbai
happy to cooperate with does care. We cannot
security protocols, no matter No one can feel the pulse of the public better afford to not care — the
how time consuming. than a neta. Any political pundit will vouch for future of our city is at
it. The citizens’ revulsion in the aftermath of stake. Our safety is at
—Dia Mirza, actress 26/11 terror attack towards the powers-that-be stake. It is not about
— the political class in particular — seemed to candlelight marches
I am sure the fear is have reached such a crescendo that you could
have bet your shirt that a revolution of sorts was
and holding hands —
and let’s not mock
still there, but I in the offing. But then, you would have lost that
shirt. For, public memory is short, and the politi-
those who sought com-
fort in doing that. But
don't think we cians know when it is best to lie low. The peo- studies of cities which
ple need no nudging to forget and forgive, and have been attacked
have learnt the forgiven netas are back with a swagger. have shown that the We’ve been
momentum lasts for 27 distracted by
any lesson. On November 30 last year, tens of thousands
had marched to the Gateway to take part in a days, no more. Once
I don't know candlelight vigil. Some of the posters they car- the adrenaline levels non-issues,
ried read: ‘Missing! Aapan Yanna Pahilat Ka? come down, people go such as a
if our mem- (Have you seen this person?)’. Beside the text back to familiar pat-
was a photo of Raj Thackeray There were oth-
. terns of living. But statue in the
ories are still as ers that read, “We would prefer a dog to visit that does not mean
sea, or MLAs
our house rather than a politician”. they have stopped car-
disturbing. But that was then, and ing. The healing who refuse to
—Queenie Dhody, socialite this is now. It is Novem- process has just about
ber again, and the anger begun for take the oath
subsided long ago. It is Mumbai.The anger is in Marathi
time to “celebrate” the very much there, just
Now people first anniversary of the under the surface.
are more terror attack. Just like we
celebrate Republic Day or
Mumbaikars need to be more proactive, but sur-
vival in this city is pretty tough. Let nobody
sensitive. Independence Day . take the Mumbaikars legitimate anger for
Of course, security is granted, though. For if it spills over, there will
They are still the buzzword. The be hell to pay .
PR industry has gone The government has slapped us in the face
more alert into overdrive to make by bringing RR Patil back. But beyond that lies
and ready to act. We the most of it, sending
out SMS invitations to
the horrible truth that we, the people of this
city have not been taken into confidence. We
want to make Mumbai seminars on security and
emails on tie-ups (invari-
remain in the dark as to what exactly happened
during 26/11. And we remain in the dark as to
a better city. ably with Israeli agen- what exactly has been done to better secure our
cies). Security companies Security city. It is time to demand answers to specific
—Josy Paul, chairman and have jumped into the fray , questions. What we are witnessing is a neat pass-
national creative director, BBDO announcing new ven- companies ing the buck strategy Mumbaikars remain sit-
.
tures and launching new ting ducks. Mumbai is still a soft target. So....
products. Private securi-
are going In the aftermath of
what has changed one year down the line??
26/11, the public wrath
ty companies are going door-to- Several citizen groups were formed right af-
It may seem that door-to-door, telling hous-
was manifested
ter the terror attacks. Some of them are still vo-
ing societies how to make door, telling
through thousands of
everybody has letters to DNA.
cal and active. I refuse to accept we have col-
security foolproof. societies Mumbaikars also
lectively given up — there’s far too much at
moved on, but Almost everything, stake. Unfortunately, instead of keeping up a
from movies to hospitals how to
gathered at the
relentless campaign demanding accountabili-
people will to rallies, come with the make
Gateway of India to
participate in a
ty and answers from those netas who failed us
“terror anniversary” during 26/11, we have been distracted by non-
always flavour. For example, the security
candlelight vigil
issues, such as a statue in the sea, or slapping
remember cast and crew of Begum
Sahiba, a controversial foolproof VIPIN PAWAR. DNA
MLAs who refuse to take the oath in Marathi.
the play on homosexuals, paid
wounds that were
given to them.
homage to the martyrs and heroes of the terror
attack. The mandatory lighting of lamps and the
two-minute silence made the package perfect.
The Indian Coast Guard joined the bandwagon,
Online communities: Blaze, sputter & out cold
organising a bike rally to strike camaraderie Namita Handa to keep the cause alive. Rise Iyer says frequent events are
—Pradeep Sarkar, filmmaker with fisherfolk living along the state’s coast. Can- Up Mumbai, Rise Up India is EFFECTIVE NETWORKING needed to attract members.
cer patients took part in a walk held on the week- When terrorists struck the one such Facebook group. “You need interesting and in-
Just 25% of the groups are active on
As long as end in memory of the heroes of 26/11.
Topsgrup, a leading security company which
city on November 26, 2008,
they shook a nation out of its
Started by Kaizad Bhamgara,
it has 8,000 members. “The
Facebook. Some of these are:
novative methods to keep
people hooked to your blog or
the system joined hands with Securegate, an Israeli com- somnolence. The siege ended idea was to make a group that Rise up Mumbai! Rise up India! community,” explains Iyer.
pany said the lack of security was exposed dur-
, an agonising three days lat- would get things organised in Mumbai Terror Attack: I Condemn It Post-26/11, he initiated the
is not ing the terror attack, and the authorities have er, and Mumbai needed an a better way Bhamgara says.
,” India Ahead: Post-Mumbai Terror Attacks Hugs For Peace campaign in
started taking remedial measures since. “We outlet — for its anguish, for The group organised a can- which 50 participants went
flushed of want to channelise our resources through the its need to fix blame and ac- dle march in which thou- around the city hugging
government,” said Ramesh Iyer, managing di- countability — and found it in sands walked from Church- 95,873 members and hosts reg- slowly fades away and so does strangers. “Any online activ-
criminals rector, Topsgrup India. The services they are on the internet. gate to the Gateway They also
. ular discussions. “I will con- the community he says.
,” ity needs to have some rele-
and self-centred offering include security solutions consultan-
cy and advice, security audits (risk assess-
Communities and groups
sprang up on social network-
tied up with city colleges and
conducted first aid and self-
vert the group into an NGO,”
Kanodia says.
Tweeter Netra Parikh up-
dated information second-by-
vance to the present scenario
as well as a high level of peo-
politicians, we cannot ment), and security training to various entities ing websites, all with the defence workshops. Bangalore student Apurv second during 26/11 and ple participation,” Iyer states.
of the government. same agenda — to fight ter- Another Facebook group, Prakash started the NSG (Na- helped raise Rs33.47 lakh for Iyer is planning to organise
stand together and Another private security agency BCL Secure
, rorism, demand accountabil- In Memory Of All Those Who tional Security Guard) com- victims’ families. “I felt so a street event on November
Premises, has entered a joint venture with Is- ity and bring about change.
, Died In The 26th-27th Novem- munity but was disheartened good contributing to society I
, 26, in which he will ask peo-
fight terror effectively. raeli security agency Escape Rescue System to While some online com- ber Mumbai Massacre, was by the limited response. “It’s want to do more, but lack re- ple questions like: “Where
provide an advanced rescue system for high- munities died a natural initiated by 14-year-old Shub- just the initial anger or en- sources,” Parikh says. were you on the night of No-
—Jitish Kallat, artist rise buildings. death, others have managed ham Kanodia. The group has thusiasm; as months pass, it New-media activist Harish vember 26?”
Just the other day, a media All the noise in Mumbai was We are living in constant
office was attacked. SRP because it happened at our terror. Our politicians have
jawans called to protect us doorstep. Had it happened in major stakes in nearly every
don't have a place to stay. So some far-flung corner, no one realty firm. Also if anything is
what are we talking about? would have bothered. One said against them, they come
There is a constant feeling of year on, I feel the picture and destroy our office or
helplessness and insecurity. hasn't changed much. It's home. I don't know who is a
We haven't been able to bring frustrating. Last time I went bigger threat, the people who
MF Husain back. There is an to a city hotel, I was appalled come from outside or those
Not just Mumbai, nobody intellectual terrorism, It is absurd that we at their security measures. A section of the city does who are in the city? I haven't
cares. We have become so wherein an artist remember this day as some They wanted to let me care but also there are many seen a dramatic
hard hearted that a tragedy cannot deal with kind of anniversary. We are through without even who are apathetic. The change in our
just acts as a catalyst for us certain subjects. just generating material to checking what I had in my section which was sensitised security. The only
to feel guilty of not doing When such read. But people who matter bag. So quickly we by the attacks reacted very difference is that
anything. Beyond that, life problems haven't have been turning a blind eye have fallen back to strongly and till now responds now security has
goes on. Why 26/11, do been solved how to it. People went for where we were. very differently about it. been
people remember war can we say candlelight vigils. I went too. Look at the US However, the ones that are tightened
heroes? Mumbai forgets enough has We are just talking about since 9/11. indifferent to it are the ones at five-
faster, but it is just been done to Karkare or Salaskar and the that have been insulated from star
—Lillette Dubey,
representative of the make same issues we do after the common man. This is the hotels.
actress
sentiments throughout the Mumbai every attack. What is the small group of people who —Narendra
country. Soon after the safe? point of remembering the day rule the nation and remain Kumar
tragedy we were up there in if we are not doing anything unaffected by the event. Ahmed,
arms, but what are we doing —Anju Dodiya, about it? —Mahesh Bhatt, fashion
now? —Shekhar Suman, actor artist —Shaan, singer filmmaker designer