Open Letter to Terrorists in Mumbai … From A Bombay Girl

Here are two moving and heart-warming write-ups I came across during the past two days following Mumbai (India) killer explosions.

These ‘letters’ deserve our attention for the simple reason that they are so different from the cries emerging thousands of miles away wanting ‘vendetta’, ‘eye for an eye’, etc, from people (including bloggers) who claim they are the most ’sane and civilized’ persons.

The link to the first ‘letter’ was sent by Joe Gandelman. That was an email from a young American woman, Caitlin, caught in the chaos in Mumbai (earlier known as Bombay) immediately after the blasts in the trains.

The second is an ‘open letter’ to terrorists sent by a friend who lives in both Mumbai and Delhi. She, Namrata Bansal, works as a Senior Executive with India’s leading business company. Here is the letter:

“OPEN LETTER TO TERRORISTS”

“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 Love,

“From the people of Mumbai (Bombay)”

Interesting, that these two letters should come from two young women, one American and the other Indian (both probably in their Twenties) living or visiting Mumbai when the mighty explosions shook the cosmopolitan and financial hub of India.