The Reign of Terror

India’s commercial capital and one of the most cosmopolitan metros was under siege by a handful of young terrorists for more than three days from Nov 26. Eve’s Times gives you an account of what went wrong in this city and the hours of horror that gripped the city even as the shell-shocked world watched with impotent fury and helplessness as the gory events unfolded in front of our eyes. A city inhabiting 12 million stayed paralyzed for an entire day with all business establishments and offices closed and the streets deserted. Mumbai has been under the hostage of terrorists several times in the recent past with bitter memories of the terrorist bombings in 2003 and 2006 and even last year still lingering in our minds. Yet, the grand old city of Mumbai was unprepared to tackle the most heinous terrorist attacks at two luxury hotels , the main railway terminus, a café, two hospitals and a housing complex inhabited by the Jews .Among the police , 15 were killed and 25 injured. It was estimated that around 20-25 terrorists were involved. Mumbai also lost three most efficient and senior police officers and a young Major in the NSG to this carnage. Swarming with a host of personnel from the ‘Black Cat’ Commandos, Indian army and paramilitary groups including the Rapid Action Force and the National Security Guards, the Mumbai Police, The ATF and the navy. etc, the city woke up to reality and swiftly got into action after an initial delay, evacuating hostages and guests trapped in the hotels and starting a warfare with the terrorists. As we go to print today, the casualty is 155 dead and 327 injured and the war against the terrorists is almost over. The NSG are wrapping up their operations at the Taj and just wound up their activities at Nariman House. Here are a few impressions from people across the world on the recent incidents that shook Mumbai.

Ashok Nambissan, Executive Vice President and General Legal Counsel, SET India Private Ltd., Mumbai.

The overriding query in the mind of the Mumbaikars is - how was it possible for a small group of terrorists to enter Mumbai with such impunity, that too into South Mumbai, which is the strategic location of offices such as the headquarters of the state’s administration, The Reserve Bank of India, The Bombay Stock Exchange, consulates, museums etc.’ and shoot at will. Many leading Indian and multinational companies are headquartered here. A few of the city’s prestigious schools and colleges are located here and it also houses a significant proportion of prime upmarket residential neighborhoods. The head quarters of the Coast Guard and the Naval dockyard are in south Mumbai near Budhwar Park where the terrorists got off from their boats. If South Mumbai can be easily attacked, you wonder how safe you are. The Chhatrapati Shivaji terminal has scores of policemen and is heavily guarded by the Railway Protection Force. Two terrorists just walked in and shot at the hundreds of innocent people who had come to board the train or to receive their friends and relatives. We are talking about emerging as the next super power, but we are not even in a position to defend our citizens properly.

Mumbai has a long coastline and can be attacked at any point by terrorists. Mumbai is the commercial capital of the country. A huge chunk of the taxes come from Mumbai. Despite the fact that Mumbai has been a high target for terrorists and has witnessed terrorist’s attacks in the recent past, there was no preparedness on the part of the government to tackle yet another terrorist strike. They have also not learned their lessons from the past.

The gory incidents revealed several shocking issues that plague our police forces and security personnel. They were in no position to fight the terrorists who were well prepared and well-trained. In fact, the terrorists seemed to know the topography of the hotels and Nariman House very well giving rise to the suspicion that they were able to lay their hands on the layout of these locations or had come here earlier for reconnaissance. The entire attack seems to have been well planned and prepared. The incidents showcased the appalling nature of infrastructure used to protect the citizens of Mumbai. The enforcers of law and order do not have modern infrastructure for effective crisis management. The policemen were not even equipped to fight the terrorists who were stocked up with ultramodern warfare equipment and ammunition.

The impression going around the Mumbaikars’ circle is that the bullet-proof vests used during the operations were ancient and cumbersome to handle. The bullet proof vests have not been replaced in a long time with modern ones so much so that, made of metal, they are heavy and uncomfortable. I believe many policemen did not want to use the vests as they were smelly. The modern vests are made of fiber and are light whereas the old ones have metals. No wonder that the ATS chief is said to have removed his vest thinking the terrorists were no longer present and got shot at. The bullet proof vests are supposed to be comfortable enough to be worn for long hours.

We have lost fifteen policemen in the process and three top, experienced police officers. Another glaring impression that we got was that despite the deployment of a multiplicity of security personnel from different organizations such as the RAF, Mumbai Police, the army, ATF, the navy and NSG there did not seem to be centralized control to move the operations effectively. Action was late in coming, especially in Nariman House where the commandos landed only after 24 hours had lapsed. They could have got the helicopters and the commandos much earlier. In fact, while the politicians were touring around the city in jeeps heavily guarded by the Black Cats and commandos, one got the impression that the citizens were guarded by policemen who were equipped with lathis or at best, small pistols.

In fact, According to Mumbai Mirror the bodies of those shot in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal were not even taken away for a long time. Even the bodies of policemen who where were killed were lying for a long time before the police jeep came and took them away. It was also reported that a foreigner escaped from the fire escape in Oberoi, came out and did not see any policemen or security personnel. He rushed to get an auto and left for the airport!

It is not as if we do not have the experience and expertise in tackling terrorists. We have been fighting terrorists in Kashmir for several years. Our forces have handled people holed up in houses in Kashmir. It just that we have not been in a state of preparedness and our intelligence machinery has failed.

The spirit of the Mumbaikars is well-known. They will get back to work soon. The BSE, NSE and schools and colleges opened the very next day of the attack. Taxis, autos and buses started plying too The Taj and Trident have been proud landmarks for the Mumbaikars. The government machinery has failed miserably giving rise to a fear psychosis among people. It is sad that many innocent people were injured or lost their lives. . Life will be back to normal soon but the Mumbaikars will never forget this incident.

Nischinta, Executive Editor, Eve’s Times who has joined an MNC in Mumbai Recently

It is a very tragic occurrence and my heart goes out to all those who lost their lives or were injured and their families. I have recently moved to Mumbai and even as I was savoring the new ambience, new friends and workplace and getting the feeling of being a Mumbaikar, I have been in for a rude shock. The recent incidents unveil a few lessons for us all to learn and do something about. I remember reading that this incident was already planned nearing Deewali time, around 26 October and exactly one month afterwards, on 26 November, the terrorists have executed their plans. The incidents have been timed to be closer to other important events that have been scheduled such as the festive season, the cricket match, elections etc.

Mumbai is known for its cosmopolitan culture and camaraderie. It is the centre for several important business events and tourism throughout the year. Mumbai has always been a high target for antisocial elements and terrorists. I am afraid if we are not able to keep our city safe, then it will deter potential foreign investors and tourists from coming to Mumbai. It will be a great economic loss for all of us. The terrorist attack was a well master-minded and planned attack and the terrorists seemed to have been trained well. The incident reveals the failure of our intelligence machinery and state of preparedness to face such a threat to our security.

An upshot of such occurrences is that it also reveals the human side of people and makes them resilient. At such times we tend to strike up new friendships and communication channels and get to know who really care for us and who don’t.

Another thing that comes to my mind is that we can learn from this tragic event and try to upgrade our infrastructure which is far from optimum, to protect a metro like Mumbai. We can create fresh employment opportunities for the youth, training them well to expand our anti terrorism squads. Being prepared for any eventuality or situation is one of the essential ingredients of advancement. And it is our duty to protect a beautiful and important place like Mumbai and its fine citizens.

Shruti Hassan, Actor and Musician

I feel really awful. I have lived in Mumbai and it is a place close to my heart. The shocking terrorist attacks that unraveled before our eyes have left me numb with agony. It is not about a particular city or a place. But feeling unsafe in our country of birth is really scary. I have been glued to the television and watching the incidents with great worry. The places targeted by the terrorists are those which I have visited with my family during my stay in Mumbai. I have stayed in these hotels and eaten in the café that was attacked.

I feel very sad for the people who fought for us and laid down their lives and those who have been affected by the gory incidents. I am sure if these people had been trained and well equipped they would have done better for our country.

I am a tax payer like all others and the least a tax-payer can expect from his or her country is protection. It is the duty of the state to ensure the security of its citizens. It is not about taking action in the last minute but taking measures to ensure that our security is not threatened on an everlasting basis. What is the point in using our intelligence when it is too late?

Kava Krishna, Student of Harvard University from the US

The Indians are very upset. They have stared an email campaign within Harvard itself andpeople are meeting to discuss the political and social situation there. People are worried because India is home and a symbol of safety to most and this incident has shattered everything. My roommate is from Mumbai and she was very much worried. She spent the entire night of the first day of attack, talking to friends, trying to reach everyone she knew. It is very frustrating, especially when you are half way across the globe. I am personally worried about what kind of implication this will have with regard to India’s status as a host country, aside from the obvious safety aspects. There will definitely be a hit in the kind of human potential which is exchanged between India and the rest of the world

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A PARLIAMENT OF OUR DREAMS

We are entering the sixty second year of independence in an ambience where there has been phenomenal economic growth. Despite the recent inflation and the rise in fuel prices which have indeed dampened our spirits, the optimism of a bright future is still very much perceptible amongst most of us. We are endowed with a wealth of valuable, young human resources that has the potential to realize our dream of Vision 2020. India can be an emerging super power if we are not fettered by certain ills that continue to assail us. It is time now for all citizens to put on our thinking hats to find solutions to combat the tribulations and work on our strengths. If we should realize our ambition of emerging a strong global nation, we cannot afford to be mute witnesses to the ugly scenes in the Parliament that shook the nation as well as our confidence in our leaders.

Eve’s Times put forward a thought-provoking question to a couple of experienced and thinking persons in Chennai, each a representative of his/her generation, with different thoughts that emerged to be two sides of a coin.

Let each one of us take a pledge on this auspicious day that we will do all we can to ensure that we belong to a country which is not only rich in culture and values but is also modern in its thinking and is action-oriented. We will all play our bit in making our country a haven where there are no disparities of any kind and the citizens feel proud to belong to their mother land.

The Moot Question

A young parliament of thinking, action-oriented individuals with a broad vision and love for our country and country men – Is it a dream or a possibility?

Karti Chidambaram, Member, All India Congress Committee

We live in a free country. People are free to choose whoever they want to as their leaders. If people decide they will only vote for young people and only for those with certain qualifications, they are free to do so. But voters don’t do this. On the other hand, they somehow always blame political parties and politicians for not being educated, not being sophisticated and not being young enough. People must understand that the ultimate power is within them. We live in a democracy. Democracy is not a one-way street. I have said this many times; wherever I have spoken or written. It is a symbiotic process. The more you put in a democracy, the more democracy will work for you. So if you want more young people go out and vote for young people. Let this become a people’s movement.

We always expect things to happen from top down. Why can’t things happen from bottom up? These kinds of revolutions can happen bottom up. If people collectively believe we need young, educated people in politics, they must of course vote for only young, educated people. At any time if an older candidate is contesting against a younger candidate, irrespective of the party or of ideology, if people consciously vote for younger people, the entire complexion of our politics will change.

This question should never be posed to a politician; it must be posed most of the times to the voters. I think voters are abdicating their responsibility as much as politicians or people in power are abusing their responsibilities. There is abuse of responsibility on one side and there is abdication of responsibility on the other side. I think both needs to be corrected. You can’t just blame people who are abusing the system all the time while you are not blaming people who are abdicating their responsibilities.

Also, I am not too sure that only a parliament of younger people is what is needed. We need a parliament where there are a fair number of younger people. I would not want a parliament which is devoid of experience. I think there is great value in political experience, in experience in life and in political situations. I would not like to see an under-30 parliament. I would like to see a parliament which brings in all the complexities and diversities of India at all points of time.

Ms. Usha Subramaniam, Writer, Corporate Film Maker and Media Person

We need a Parliament in which whoever is elected should be committed to the cause of our nation and our people and not to themselves or their people alone. We need people who are involved in social work in a committed way. We also need intellect. We need thinking people who can identify the maladies that assail our nation and suggest remedies. We need thinkers as well as doers.

Parliamentarians should put their country and people first rather than themselves or even their own party. There should be total commitment towards developing a non-corrupt nation. We have innumerable schemes that could have benefited the people of our country. Unfortunately most of them have been lost to the malady of corruption. A classic example is the Sarva Shiksha Abhigyan which is a beautiful sheme that will light the lives of so many people.

Firstly parties should have their own principles. Then they should identify committed and action-oriented people who are against corruption. If you ask the two Dravidian parties what their economic and social principles are, they will not be able to answer, because they do not seem to have any.

What we need is principles for the party and a common goal. During the nationalist movement we had a single goal and all our endeavours were focused on achieving it. That led to unity among the people too. Similarly we must have a common goal and a target such as alleviation of poverty and uniform education for all and we must work towards achieving these goals.

Moreover, in the Parliament, irrespective of the party, every representative must abide by these common goals and principles.

For the people, we mush have a mechanism to identify committed and people-oriented leaders and parties. The party that collects the most crowds in political rallies is chosen by the people. Nobody realizes that in their effort to gather large crowds, these parties are breeding laziness and unemployment among able-bodied youth. Countless young men are groomed to be political chamchas, which is a great loss of human resources.

The practice of collecting crowds and conducting mass rallies must be eradicated and in fact, made an offence. The only outcome of such political rallies apart from wasting productive human resources is entertainment and nothing else.

People must stand up for themselves and have the courage to identify people who work for the under privileged and not elect those who promote their nieces and nephews and paramours’ sons and daughters.

The media can and should play a major role in identifying and highlighting such worthy people who can turn around the country and lead it towards progress and happiness. Instead, the media is projecting film stars who end up being elected on the basis of how many films they have acted. Much can be done if people come forward to choose responsible leaders.

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Life in a Metro

There is never a dull moment in a youth’s life today, especially for one who lives in a metro. The lives of metro youths are largely centre around coffee pubs which are the most happening spots in the cities. How much does the coffee pub culture influence the character of the modern youth? What happens in coffee pubs? Are great innovations and inventions being made or the youths are just chilling out? Are coffee pubs places for networking or just letting one’s hair down? What is the typical psyche of our young men and women who frequent these hotspots? Are coffee pubs places of visits for families and senior citizens too? Eve’s Times takes a peek into the kaleidoscopic world of coffee pubs. We are indeed enamoured by the razzmatazz that envelopes the world of the sizzling brown beverage. A lot happens over a humble cup of coffee!

Situated mostly in prime locations of the metros, coffee pubs have increasingly attracted youngsters in recent times making them their most favorite hangouts. This is reason enough for a discerning person to get down to the brass tacks of the emerging culture that seems to dominate the lifestyle of our youths.

The underlying ethos of this culture seems to be that life is after all a potpourri of colours, emotions and experiences. It boils down to coping with the varying shades of life and a good cuppa aids in this struggle to vanquish constraining circumstances or revel in jollity, whatever be the situation.

Coffee has varied tastes much similar to life. Coffee can be sweet or bitter, black or white, hot or cold giving your taste buds the real treat you covet. This variety in coffee unites a diverse group of youngsters and endears them to coffee pubs which are great places of activity. No wonder then that the largest number of visitors to any coffee pub turns out to be youngsters. Coffee pubs are destination for youngsters who want to relax or have some fun. To know more about what’s happening in the pubs, let’s log in!

After a tiring day under the scorching sun none would really love a mug of coffee but still the coffee pubs are crowded! Now why is this happening? Many youngsters who were asked this question quipped that much can happen over a cup of coffee. After a quick analysis of coffee pubs through the city based on brief conversations with sparkling youths a lot of information about the youth psyche could be garnered. This entailed a tour around the city’s most prominent coffee pubs such as Mocha, Café Coffee Day and Barista which are renowned places haunted by teenagers and collegers.

College is not the only place where you hear several new words that you probably haven’t heard before and if you really want to know where they’ve been formed, it’s right here at the Mocha, the cradle of young hearts!

Mocha has definitely seen a lot of coffees and conversations. From the much loved Arabian room to the auto rickshaw seats, this place has observed young Chennaites mustering over mocha brews. It’s a place that unwinds your taste buds with coffee and non-coffee beverages, each one more sinful than the other. It lets you drench in its fruit-flavored aromas of Egyptian sheeshas. So, plug your hands onto a steaming cup of coffee or indulge into a colossal chocolate smeared brownie!

A lot can happen over a cup of coffee and lots more at the coffee table at Café Coffee Day, commonly known as CCD. This outlet boasts of “redefining the café experience.” They provide their guests with the choice of playing their favorite music tracks on the digital audio juke boxes installed at the café.

CCD’s book corners accentuate the age old combination of “coffee and books”, where one can browse through best sellers or evergreen classics. With its delectable brews and other beverages along with some delightful quick bites, it certainly can keep the crowd streaming in.

It’s raining coffee all the way to keep youngsters locked in all the time maintains Barista. Being always passionate about what they do, to the point of being almost fanatical in providing their guests the finest experience in coffee, Barista is constantly innovating to keep youngsters within their confines!

The menu brings you exotic organic herbal tea and fruit infusions, complimented by crisp salads, scrumptious savories and lip smacking desserts. It is all the time teeming with crowds of the young and not-so –young! With mushy couches, an in-house library, great music and a menu like that, what else can one ask for?!

More than anything else a coffee is much more affordable than anything you’d expect. It is therefore something that breaks all financial barriers which come to play in a hotel ambience. Coffee is the best friend favored by all classes. It is a common drink and does not require any special excuses to mingle with a new crop of guests in a get-together. It has become much a part of life itself. Nobody has a different opinion about a cup of coffee, do they? Moreover a coffee is a refreshing drink that keeps your mind cheerful always.

With so much competition among coffee pubs as to who’s the best, there’s a wide range of entertainment waiting for youngsters. As we’ve seen, coffee pubs have been designed for their comfort though it is not specifically age restricted. Enjoying a sizzling cup of coffee while reading a book provides a serene setting for the senior citizens. For families and adults, recounting friendly moments is fun. Lovers find coffee pubs ideal spots for their clandestine rendezvous that can further their involvement with little intrusion. Coffee pubs are also places of recreation and relaxation. Nothing is more important than a get-together with friends.

So much for fun and there’s still more to it! Coffee pubs have become places for sharing and learning too. Many coffee-lovers consider these pubs as tranquil settings to work quietly on their laptops. As for the metro youths, there’s fun, SMS chatting, joking sessions and more, all at a coffee table! Do you really want anything more to judge whether a coffee pub is the best place to just hang out?

Words by Sweety Therese, Stella Maris College

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THE WORLD AT YOUR DOORSTEP

Time now is ripe to flap your wings and fly off to globally renowned institutions for enhancing your knowledge and making it big in your life! The gateway to global universities is open as never before. Acquiring a coveted degree in a top-line global university is no longer a distant dream if you have the desire and are equipped with good academic performance. Finance is not a constraint anymore for youngsters who have a good academic record and are prepared to study hard, take up jobs abroad and pay back their education loans. The recent announcement by the Finance Minister that public sector banks should clear education loans within a period of 15 days to one month and that they should also institute an online system to clear such loans is a shot in the arm for youngsters who desire to achieve global success.

International Education Fairs that are organized very often are testimony to the fact that a growing population of students is seriously considering going abroad to acquire higher education.

“In the 70s there were restrictions on foreign exchange and the level of courses. Studying abroad was considered an expensive proposition and was chosen mostly by the elite and a few exceptionally brilliant students. Today the overseas education market is growing exponentially,” says Dr. C.B. Paul Chellakumar, President, Association of Accredited Advisors on Overseas Education and Group Chairman, Campus Abroad, “During the late 80s and early 1990s private universities from Australia came to India to promote their courses. However the response was lukewarm. After two years, there was a turnaround in the situation when the US tightened visa regulations and the Australian education market picked up. Since then there has been an increasing number of international universities that come to India and encourage our students to join their universities. The favourable government policies for promoting overseas education have given a fillip to the market.”

According to him, around 50% of the students who take up overseas education go to the US. Twenty five percent go to UK and Australia and the rest go to countries like Canada, Europe, and New Zealand etc. Another reason behind the explosion of overseas education is the massive attitudinal change in the parents of today’s youngsters. Among most middle class families, our culture encouraged parents to educate the children, ensure that they got decent jobs, got married and settled down in life. Their primary goal was to buy a property which they could leave behind for their children. Today, parents consider education as the greatest wealth they can give their children and do not hesitate to send their children to foreign countries to acquire quality education.

Kavita Bhat, Branch In-charge of Edwise Overseas Education Consultants, Chennai Branch says, “Today more students opt for IT, engineering and biotechnology programmes, particularly from the south. Management courses continue to be popular too.” She says that students go overseas more for postgraduate than undergraduate courses. Singapore is fast emerging as a preferred destination as it is economical in comparison to western countries, nearer home and offers world-standard quality and infrastructure.

Says Dr. Chellakumar, “Today, subjects like fashion, arts, design and professional courses like hospitality, tourism, pilot training, maritime, law, dentistry and physiotherapy are also opted by many students. New courses are being constantly added by various Universities in tune with the changing scenarios and demands.”

Both the consultants opine that the chief source of funding today is the bank loan. Scholarships and bursaries are offered by some universities, but they are not sufficient to cover the entire academic and living expenses of the students. Most top-ranking universities do not offer scholarships to international students. According to Kavita, scholarships are usually merit based and come to less than twenty five percent of the tuition fees. Based on the first year performance of the students, some universities do continue scholarship for the remaining years.

Students who want to go overseas for education should remember one thing. The tuition fees they pay are four times more than that paid by the local students, thus enriching the pockets of these universities that have begun aggressive marketing to snare interested youngsters into their dragnet. Kavita says this is so because the local students have to pay education tax to the government whereas international students don’t have to pay education tax. Whatever the reason, if you are planning to avail of education loan, remember that the $ is hovering around Rs. 40/- and pound sterling at around Rs. 80/- . Hence for those belonging to the middle class, it is important to ensure that they can pay back the hefty EMIs per month. For this they may have to stay back and earn in the foreign currency of the country of study at least for a few years.

What are the chances of students getting employment after acquiring a degree from an overseas university? “There are no guaranteed placements by the foreign universities. There is heavy competition for jobs. But most countries have recognized the need for our students to stay back and are offering them special visas to stay and work for one or two years. Most students who perform well do get placed in good jobs,” says Kavita Bhat.

“90% of the students get jobs. Those who acquire degrees in specialized subjects get jobs faster. Only professionals, especially medical, seem to have problems in getting a job. There are many who prefer to come back to our country after a few years, even on a lesser salary,” says Dr. Chellakumar. Students equipped with international degrees also have good chances of landing a plum job in top MNCs and mega corporates in our country.

“Students must remember that their future depends not on their qualification alone but also on their Alma-mater’s ranking in the academic world. Hence it is very important to choose the institutions they plan to join abroad. If you want to play the boss, get the best. If you only want international exposure, any university or course will be fine,” says Dr. Chellakumar.

It is also important to do your homework well. Do not depend on friends or parents or anybody else to go through the details of the universities available in the internet. You must take personal interest and make a choice based on your interest, your financial ambience and details such as the university’s ranking, course and facilities offered etc.

Overseas universities offer quality education and facilities, different teaching methodologies and international exposure to students, paving way for global placement opportunities. It also helps in global networking, which is very important today, if one desires to rise in the echelons of the career ladder.

Kavita’s counsel to students desirous of going abroad is to be cautious. “ Do not just join any university blindly. See if they offer the right course and you get value for money. Match your requirements with what the country offers. Also be confident of yourself.

While selecting a university, there are various factors that you should take into consideration like curriculum, rankings and ratings, location, campus, facilities, fees etc.
Attending interview sessions with the representatives from the universities will help you garner more information about the university, your eligibility for the programme or get an offer on the spot.”

“ To avoid disappointments , go to appropriate, authentic and acclaimed consultants to help you with the choice of a university,” says Dr. Chellakumar, “ Students can approach AAAOE s for any help or counsel .”