There’s no easy way.....

I am not quite sure how to recount these events. After spending some amazing time with my new found friends, I received a call from Sudhir ji (my boss) explaining to me that 5 bombs had gone off in public market areas all over Delhi. It was approximately 6:40 pm at this point. Apparently, across Delhi, a series of organized bomb blast went off in the most populated market areas (from CP- the tourist hub to Karol Bagh). An Indian militant extremist group took responsibility for the bombings and I am glad it’s not a cross border issue for once. At that point, we had just finished off a bit of shopping and we were making our way home. Of course, I was in shock. I had been in Thailand when the military coup took place (and it was peaceful) but, I did not know what to expect in Delhi. Since earlier this year, there have been bomb blasts across India from Bangalore to Jaipur, with the sole purpose of in sighting fear in the minds of the public.


Well, again I can’t help but feel so blessed to have made some amazing friends who dropped me off to my designated point when clearly it could have been a very much a situation of panic. There was very little news coming out of the media outlets at this point. The news was reporting at this point that 4 people had been killed and close to 80 people injured. It was a real sense of eeriness travelling through Delhi. You could see that security had clearly been heightened and the city was completely deserted. Now, there were additional reports that more bombs (unexploded) had been found around India Gate and close to the parliament building.


Again, this is my own personal opinion but my gut instinct kept telling me that regardless of which extremist group did this, there is something to be said about human spirit. In the face of adversity, people don’t walk away. They continue with life and try to live their lives to the fullest and make the best of any given situation. This is what I have learned in the last 2 weeks living in Delhi. No matter which strand of society you come from or which region of India or the world you might be, the fact is, this civilization is more than 3000 years old. A couple bomb blasts wont incite fear and I am so proud and glad it hasn’t because the only way to give a voice to any form of extremism is fear.

This city has taught me that it chooses not to live in fear. Yes, an immense tragedy has occurred here and everyone here is in a state of shock. My prayers are with the families of those who have been injured or lost their loved ones. Even with the toll of 90 people wounded with these blasts, life goes on. A wise friend just emailed me telling me that “You will meet people from all walks of life here in Delhi. They all face disaster in different forms on a daily basis; the chaos is part of the daily routine itself”.


I can’t help but agree with these sentiments. I think the people of this city have a lot of soul and that not a force to be reckoned with.