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{mosimage}This year has been one more bad year for Mumbai. Even before the monsoons stopped lashing, the 'gory' terrorist activities had claimed about 180 lives and injuring more than 600 people. It was a sheer act of cowardice from the part of terrorists to plant bombs in the first class compartments of trains. No terrorist outfit had claimed claimed responsibility for this and no intentions behind these blasts had been given out. But if it was to create a disharmony between the community, if the intention was to shock the financial nerve of India and slacken down the spirits, then the brains behind this are mistaken. A letter from Mumbaiker, the citizen of Mumbai, proudly claim themselves, is a testimony of the rock strong attitude of Mumbai... This is a letter that touched me to the core..
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 elsewhere, not here.

{mosimage}We are not Hindus and Muslims or Christians or Gujaratis or Marathis or Punjabis or 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 occasions when you struck (including the 7 crackers 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 targeted)

Fathom this: Within{mosimage} 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospitals, 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, and the crowds were back. The city has simply dusted itself off and moved on - perhaps with greater vigour. We are Mumbaikers and we live united in times like this. 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)
11/07/2006