26/11 - The Bloody Wednesday

Date: 26Novermber2008

Place: Mumbai.

It was a sincere initiative by a group of awakened souls who volunteered to come forward and build a platform for “The Common Man” to voice out their experience of 29/11. It was a committed movement for the “The Common Man” who has no option but to go through the same trauma every moment.

We have seen this in Mumbai. There were people from all walks of life, all religion from all over mumbai. There were people from all over India and world. We have been seeing it across India. It is the same "The Bloody Wednesday" everywhere.

We have been asking and answering the same question “Where Were We” again and again, only to be invalidated and become “Victims of our own Amnesic Nature”. However this was a step forward.

I don’t know whether to empathise or sympathise. We all know it was sad. It was a loss for everyone. What happened that evening was absolutely terrible and unforgettable. People screamed… petrified and distraught, looking for near and dear ones. Some were trapped while some were held as hostages. The raging fire at The Taj Hotel only added to the misery. Many were killed and many more were injured. The chain of events that unfurled one after the other has left us all in a complete state of shock. Many still trying to cope up with the situation.

It was a calm Wednesday and I had to attend a tourism workshop at the Trident hotel from 11 – 6. I was at the Taj the evening before. I had to pass through the door frame metal detectors and was asked to keep my cell phone, wallet, cigarette case and lighter in the given tray. We are all used to these routine and mandatory security checks at most public places.

Everyone and everything seemed to be normal till I reached home and was about to switch on the television. Initially it seemed like a cracker burst by the little boy next door. What me and my son saw was different. There was a huge crowd on the road and all I could see was a Taxi ripped off on SV Road, Ville Parle. There was smoke. I rushed home and switched on the TV and it was smoke all over.

There were 10 terrible boys. They had taken India under siege. There were bullets and smoke all over. There were just brave firemen and policemen helping out people risking their lives. There were excited media grabbing for their “Scoop” and it went on for more than 60 hrs without a commercial Break.

The media could not capture any elected representative, nor could they find any representation from those who make “Much Ado About – Amchi Mumbai”. We did find some representation walking in for a site inspection with someone from film industry. (No Security Again?)

It was a real agony watching a different side of story being unfolding on television. News reports continually focused on each and every move of the terrorist attacks at Taj and all the other areas of Mumbai. While brave officers lost their lives, television journalists held microphones before distraught people to know their reactions. Every minute, channels gave ‘live coverage’ about Mumbai’s 26/11 terror attacks.

Did media realise "Social and National Security could be at stake. It was a live telecast. Did it help disseminating information and hamper security operations? For them “It was one of its kinds” and we can’t blame them. There was no regulatory Act. I am sure we all were as impressed as Sagarika Ghose of CNN debating about Media Coverage of Mumbai terror. "The point is media has come. It is an unpresidential situation which Indian television had never seen "60 hrs nonstop without a commercial break. It is Mind Boggling “- Ashutosh - Managing Editor IBN7.

We all appreciate Barkha Dutt on her onsite coverage of Kargil War in 1999 and the way she covered the Tsunami Disaster. The situation here was different. It was a rescue operation being reported live. The eagerness as ‘Breaking News’ flashed across with other news channels. Brave journalists rushed with their cameramen to capture live footage, which brings one to our mind… can we really call this a brave attempt?

The channels were accessible to all, including the controllers of this ghastly terror attack. Giving minute-by-minute coverage about ground realities and important activities by the security services is surely not a wise move and can never be justified.

Mr. Desh Kapoor has a different prospective about Barkha Dutt and NDTV, in his blog, on the way they covered Mumbai Terror Attack. (The comments were a bit harsh, perhaps, but that was how people felt.)

Media can be a powerful tool to help people in a time like this. However we have seen Journalism turning pale and we all are witness to downplaying legitimate news in favor of eye-catching headlines to sell more to get more TRP. We have seen media agencies and journalists featuring exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, sensationalism often debated as unprofessional practices. Whether it is Social or National Security the media seems to overreact at some stage to almost every crisis they report. We are sure media is aware and does follow or at least refers to the guidelines set by NBA (The News Broadcasters Association).

It reminds once reading once “Whoever controls the media controls the mind”. Hitler also described the Press as a "machine for mass instruction," ideally, a "kind of school for adults." In such a scenario it becomes very important for all of us to find out "Who owns/ controls Media in India".

The two most important questions which we all have in our minds are perhaps:
1. Is it the absolute truth what we read and see every day?

2. Do we see only what media wants us to see?

After one year do we know what happened exactly? I am sure most of us have seen on the internet or forwarded emails. We have seen the documentary “Terror in Mumbai” Produced & Directed by Dan Reed revealing the untold story of 26/11 in the words of victims and gunmen.

(Courtesy: Daniel Reed )

Approx. 50 minutes video

Today after one year, the most important thing still remains in all our minds. Are we going to be asking same questions again and again - “Where Are We”? Are we again going to console ourselves to be “Victims of our own Amnesic Nature”?

Are we going to let media hyperventilate on every crisis they report?

We are looking for actions and solutions for human emotions. They value more than any media figures and statistics.

Sincerely.