Nariman house, a tragedy.

MOSHE - NEW HARRY POTTER?

Nariman House, also known as Chabad House to the Jewish community, was among the buildings attacked by terrorists in Mumbai on the night of November 26, sometime between 9.30 – 9.45pm. Unlike the other iconic buildings that came under attack, Nariman House was relatively unknown to the rest of the world, apart from the Jewish community. Chabad Houses are homes away from homes for Jews travelling abroad or within the US., and also places to celebrate Hanukkah, Passover or weekly Shabbat dinners.This house was run by a young couple, Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, 29, and his 28-year-old wife, Rivka.

Chabad Houses can be found in many countries and Nariman House was just one such house, a simple six-storey building in a humble neighborhood of Mumbai, which came under attack. This is the first instance of Jews being attacked on Indian soil – the attack came from foreign nationals on Indian soil from members of LeT – a terrorist group based in Pakistan.

The two terrorists, from a group of ten who touched the shores of Mumbai in inflatable boats, walked to Nariman House. It was a ten minute walk from the point where they arrived. Moving quickly once they got there, they threw a bomb at the petrol station close by, and entered the Nariman House. The Rabbi and his wife were strangled and five others shot. The six hostages, all Israelis, were killed very early into the attack on the night of November 26. The seventh life lost was that of an NSG commando. The young couple’s toddler son Moshe, was soon to celebrate his second birthday on Saturday. His life was saved by his Christian nanny Sandra Samuel, who had worked at the centre for years. Sandra was hiding in the floor below, when she heard Moshe crying. She ran upstairs, found him crying beside his parent’s bodies, picked him up and ran out of the centre. This was Thursday morning, hours after the terrorists first entered Nariman House. Sandra remains unavailable for any comment. But having talked to others who live in the house, they say that. 26/11 was one horrid day in their lives that they could never forget. The Holtzbergs moved to Mumbai in 2003, to open and run the Nariman House in the city. Neighbors describe them as a warm and a friendly couple. Their home in this Colaba neighborhood became a popular destination among Jewish tourists.

The couple’s older son is gravely ill with a congenital disease, in an Israeli hospital, and Moshe, the two-year-old is now parentless. He turned two on Saturday, November 29, 2008. The images of an inconsolable Moshe, will be etched in ones mind. He is now in Israel with his nanny Sandra, and his grandparents.

On the occasion of the second anniversary of what transpired during 26/11 and the two days after it, a mob had gathered outside this house to commemorate the lives of the innocent. Till date the burning candle for the dead brings tears in the eye of anyone who cares enough to look. Moshe’s life is this burning hope, that one day he would try and find justice.

A fallen Nation.

Tunisia was in a state of turmoil when the prime minister Zine El Abiidine Ben Ali fled due to public protest after a rein of about 23yrs. The protest was carried out due to major distress amongst the citizens! The protest led to citizens shouting slogans on the streets carrying placards and throwing dummy bombs. Lawyers were in the forefront of this mass revolution. Amidst gun battles and bombs one could hear cries of pain,sorrow and loss. The Tunis military attempt to root out armed civilians were all in vain creating even more chaos on the streets! The military was said to be attempting to corner about 3,000 to 6000 Ben Ali’s well armed Presidential Guards still running free. Local offices,buildings,hotels have all been locked up and a no-holds barred battle had been declared on the militia.

In India a similar revolution had brought about its independence almost 60yrs back. Public protest, disagreement etc had put the country to a major war for the love of land and rein. A revolution like this is inevitable in the future and a public protest can overthrow a tyrannical government, of this Tunisia is an iconic example.

A plea by our armed officers?

A policeman’s service is that of nobility and pride. But it involves rigorous hours of work and labor on each of them. Working graveyard shifts and having no time for their families are just some of the short comings of such a demanding job.

Recently it has been seen that more and more policemen are getting irked with their jobs. It has been reported that even after their shifts are over they have been called back to duty by their senior officials. Just as they are ready to call it a day, more work is piled on to them even when the city is undisturbed from any major crimes. A policeman who wishes to remain anonymous, discloses that he is so overburdened by work that he hasn’t seen his children for about a week and over because the only time he has returned home is for lunch when his children are attending school. “I m fed up of this workload, sometimes I wish I could quit the job, but I have a family to look after”, he quotes.

There have been incessant complains and many have threatened to quit their jobs as well. Coincidently there is a lack of interest in joining our said Indian Army as well. The reasons being lack of good facilities. The quality of food provided to our men is totally outrageous. The clothes provided are flimsy and the banks that they have to live in are almost dilapidated and rundown. There is utmost denial, when it comes to joining the army, in the young generation. Furthermore the denial also prevails in families who have relatives in the Army.

A man is more often than not defined by his profession . Has It come to a point where he is ashamed of his own line of work? How will they ever get motivated to do work if there is general lack of interest in their work or for that matter in the superiors conduct towards them?