World | India
Prayers, peace rallies help city keep its spirit
While police are busy tracking down those behind Tuesday's serial bombing, the people have succeeded in maintaining peace.
- By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 July 14, 2006
Mumbai: While police are busy tracking down those behind Tuesday's serial bombing, the people have succeeded in maintaining peace.
Peace marches and prayers are being held at various places in the city.
Areas like Bhindi Bazaar, Haji Ali, Mahim, Mumbra, Dadar and Bandra that are normally the first to witness communal tension have remained clam.
City residents told Gulf News they could not be "brain washed and fooled" any more by antisocial elements.
"We are Indians first the rest comes later. I am defiantly angry about what happened on Tuesday, but I am equally proud that good sense has finally prevailed on our people and they have not resorted to any violence," said Tayeeb Ali a taxi driver, who was witness to the violence that erupted in Mumbai after the 1993 bomb blasts.
"I am surprised and at the same time glad that people have refrained from any violence," he said.
Similar views were echoed by Manohar Pandse, a second year college student, who said that city residents have now become wiser than before. "The people have understood that fighting on religion, caste, colour or creed to going to bring them more harm." Pandse was also one of the participants in the peace march that was taken out at Juhu on Thursday.
"We had people from all walks of life taking part in the peace march. It was a beautiful experience," he added.
Mumbai's middle class was back on track the very next day of the bombings, unfazed by the tragedy.
"This does not mean that we are without any emotions or that we have taken terror as part of life," said Ganesh Waghmare, a vegetable vendor from Bandra.
A small group of people from different religions, who were saying prayers in a first class train compartment, said they wanted to send a message to the bombers that the spirit of Mumbai and its people still stands tall against all odds.
"Instead of targeting each other why not target the bombers," said Hafiz Ali, a Bhindi Bazar resident. "Have you been to the Haji Ali mosque? People from all faiths go there to offer prayers," he added.
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