Gate B8 report, Mumbai CSIA airport, Sunday, November 30, 2008

12:30am

On the way to the airport my friends finally explained the difference to me. I asked them why these bombings and shootings were any different from the others, specially the terrible bombings in 93. Since I got here Sunday last week, I have been constantly hearing that these recent attacks change everything, that these attacks are the worse ones yet and when I reached Mumbai (and could watch television) that “this is the 9/11 of India.” Well the differences are simple, they said: with the previous bombings, they were attacking at random and this time key officials were targeted. That this time the attacks were audacious and well planned. The other point was that before, the terrorist would plant a bomb and go back home, but this time they were suicidal (although I do believe these 20 year olds were led to believe they were going to return home). The final and most important reason they said was that now they felt this could happen at any time and anywhere. In the past they thought that by avoiding trains and certain neighborhoods that they were safe. Now the gunmen walked to a touristy hang out place (Leo polds) and started shooting. This changes everything they said.

We also talked about the “spirit of Bombai.” I must say I was really upset when one of my best friends is deciding to take a train to work the day after grenades where being dropped at a nearby station. After much discussion, I think we concluded that one, the “spirit of Mombai” needs to change to where at a minimum, a government official gives the official word whether is safe or not to travel by train for example. I couldn’t help but think of the “orange, purple, baby pink alerts in the US after 9/11. What are we suppose to do about such an intangible danger? According to my friend, they had no idea whether it was ok to go to work and their bosses where telling them they had to show up. Well, half way to work on Thursday, Nov. 27th my friend and her colleague saw cars driving on the opposite way of the highway, people running, and a major feeling of panic on the streets. She seeks shelter at her colleague’s house and sees all television stations cut off for about 2 hours and cell phone lines jammed.

1:00 am

We reached the airport’s main drive to the departures section and ironically on the back of this taxi cab we see an add for Leopolds.


We soon realize there is a major exodus from Bombai. My friend’s cousin was really kind and offered to walk with me to the gate since there was no chance we could reach it before 3am. We walked through a massive crowd and at the last minute he asked me to wait at the door so he could get me some chocolates for the ride. I really wanted to go in, but decided to wait for him to come back after all I have never passed on chocolate. I did feel my nerves starting to stress out thou. Finally he came back and I was on my way to the insanity of trying to get through security. All in all it wasn’t so bad. I soon realized the major exodus was from the Muslim community living in India.