Author: Georgina Maddox & Sulakshana Gupta
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 14, 2006
URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=192710&creation_date=2006-07-14
Introduction: ... with memorials at stations,
virtual vigils and airwaves playing Vande Mataram
So what if it was the evening rush. At Santacruz,
commuters now find time to stop briefly at the Shradhanjali Mandap at the
entrance. ''Condolences from Mumbaiikars to the city's blast victims,'' it
reads as the Tricolour flutters behind a collage of newspaper clippings chronicling
Terrible Tuesday.
It's time for Mumbai to stand close. And so,
a number of similar memorials have come up in tribute at various stations.
There is also a little book for people to write messages in memory of their
loved ones.
''Actually, we have been here since 7 am and
many have stopped by to pay floral tributes,'' says Sunita Sharma, one of
the vibhag pramukhs of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navanirman Sena,
which took the initiative at Santacruz.
In Borivali, there's a priest sitting on a
blue bedspread, chanting mantras. A placard listing the names of the dead
is kept beside him. Here, people can offer floral tributes or even pick up
a black ribbon to wear on their arm or wrist.
Those inclined towards cyberspace can light
a candle online and be part of several virtual vigils. Also, many Internet
support groups have come up since Wednesday, offering news updates and helplines.
They also offer space for bloggers like mumbaihelp.blogspot.com,
which was created during last year's floods, and was mobilised within minutes
of Tuesday's blasts. Everything from pictures of those missing to locations
of shelters for the injured and calls for protest marches were there.
A parallel forum which came up simultaneously
is Writers Against Terrorism and since July 11, opinions have been pouring
in, talking about Mumbai's resilience and even circulating crucial information
like which hospitals need blood.
''When we heard about the blasts, I tried
getting in touch with friends but the phonelines were jammed,'' says Danish
Husain, a Delhi-based theatre actor who started the forum.
And as always, the air waves are busy keeping
citizens informed. And in a rare show of solidarity, all FM radio stations
played Vande Mataram at 7 am on Thursday as a tribute to the blast victims
and the city's undying spirit.
