Mumbai Attacks Affect Students, Faculty
Sarah MacDonald
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: News
Anger swelled up inside Devang Joshi as he witnessed several terrorist attacks unfold in India's most populated city, Mumbai, last Wednesday.
"What really made me mad was the fact that it was so easy for the terrorists to do what they did," the 19-year-old pre-engineering major said. "I mean the attacks were unprecedented."
The attacks lasted three days, killing 172 people and wounding 239. Targeted locations included the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident hotels and a Jewish cultural center, according to the BBC New's Web site.
"I suppose I knew something like this could happen but never at this magnitude," Joshi said.
Hemant Patwardhan, assistant marketing professor, said he was shocked by the magnitude of the attacks.
"It was like evil finally arrived in Mumbai," Patwardhan said. "Someone on CNN said it's like Mumbai's 9-11. This was a pre-planned and sophisticated attack."
The gunmen, an organized group of 10 terrorists, are believed to be connected to Pakistan. Since 1943 there have been three wars between India and Pakistan, with two of those wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Before last week, the most recent attack on Mumbai was on a train station in July 2006, according to an article on MSNBC's Web site.
Patwardhan said he and his wife, Padmini, associate mass communication professor, have traveled to India "hundreds of times" and are both very familiar with the city of Mumbai.
"I have family and friends from that region," Padmini Patwardhan said. "I have visited every one of the places that has been bombed and [the attacks] have affected me very personally."
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the second most populated city in the world, and a popular destination for those seeking their fortune in business, according to an article on the BBC's Web site. In fact, many business deals are made at the Taj Mahal hotel each year.
"Mumbai has always been a great place," Hemant said. "You can actually feel the excitement in Mumbai. That's the spirit of the city that will never die."
Devin Lacerte contributed to this article.
"What really made me mad was the fact that it was so easy for the terrorists to do what they did," the 19-year-old pre-engineering major said. "I mean the attacks were unprecedented."
The attacks lasted three days, killing 172 people and wounding 239. Targeted locations included the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident hotels and a Jewish cultural center, according to the BBC New's Web site.
"I suppose I knew something like this could happen but never at this magnitude," Joshi said.
Hemant Patwardhan, assistant marketing professor, said he was shocked by the magnitude of the attacks.
"It was like evil finally arrived in Mumbai," Patwardhan said. "Someone on CNN said it's like Mumbai's 9-11. This was a pre-planned and sophisticated attack."
The gunmen, an organized group of 10 terrorists, are believed to be connected to Pakistan. Since 1943 there have been three wars between India and Pakistan, with two of those wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Before last week, the most recent attack on Mumbai was on a train station in July 2006, according to an article on MSNBC's Web site.
Patwardhan said he and his wife, Padmini, associate mass communication professor, have traveled to India "hundreds of times" and are both very familiar with the city of Mumbai.
"I have family and friends from that region," Padmini Patwardhan said. "I have visited every one of the places that has been bombed and [the attacks] have affected me very personally."
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the second most populated city in the world, and a popular destination for those seeking their fortune in business, according to an article on the BBC's Web site. In fact, many business deals are made at the Taj Mahal hotel each year.
"Mumbai has always been a great place," Hemant said. "You can actually feel the excitement in Mumbai. That's the spirit of the city that will never die."
Devin Lacerte contributed to this article.
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Mac
posted 12/05/08 @ 6:20 PM EST
This talented young writer has nailed the emotional toll that was inflicted by a few cowards last week, in a short and simple article. I hope Sarah continues to share her views. (Continued…)
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