Was asked to go for a shoot in the evening and suddenly as we were about to reach the place got a call from office. Was immediately asked to divert the camera unit to Ghatkopar.A Blast! A bomb blast! As our vehicle started moving towards Ghatkopar more and more people started confirming us that its nothing but a bomb blast. We reached first,broke the news,first with the visuals as a senior colleague of mine also reached the place at the right time to handle the situation perfectly.For me,it was the first time that I was in the middle of such a scene.
At the end of the day, my senior made me realise its again a great day for our channel....we were first with everything.I was still trying to adjust myself to the whole situation as he kept on doing phone interviews and LIVE chats.The irnoy of our life. Ghatkopar was just the beginning for me....many more in the span of few months and years...Mulund,Jogeshwari,Vile Parle,Mumbai Central,Ghatkopar again,Gateway of India, Jhaveri Bazaar....sometimes at the blast site, sometimes hospitals, sometimes follow ups as a city reporter.
Slowly I also became like everyone else. A bit emotionless. A better professional. No time to think and feel anything when you are in the middle of such a news. Its just breaking news and nothing else. That time you just view everything as visuals,the first visuals,first bites,first visuals to be put on air at any cost.Emotionless professional.May be thats why sometimes the mob attacks the cameras as also happened this time with many colleagues of mine.No one is right and no one is wrong.But later on when you see the same visuals on air as a viewer you go totally speechless. Totally blank. Senseless.
Before coming to Mumbai,I always used to think Bombay is simply 3B's-Bombs,business and bollywood.....my perception about the city built up through films/serials.....blasts,gangwars,heavy rains and the city where life moves faster than anything else.
Now,its almost four years since 2002....I have moved on to CNN IBN. Now am part of the features team. And as 7/11 happened I was in office this time. We tried to become the backbone of the news team handling the desk and coordinating everything possible. But one thing remains the same....the blast. Bomb blast!
This time I was watching the news more as a viewer.... across all over,all possible channels,phone lines jammed, everyone panicking,desperately trying to find if everyone else was fine too. Like many others I could not get in touch with my family members. I knew what they must be going through. They know, like many others....I do travel everyday on western line....by local trains..... between Andheri and Lower Parel....by first class pass.Luckily I was in office.But many were not.
As we left office by 1:00am, Mahim station was almost looking like Police headquaters,outside Lilavati Hospital people were still going through the notice board to figure out the names of their near and dear ones. Chaiwalas moving on cycles as they do every night. Some coffee shops still open. People still on the roads. Some bright hoardings. 7 bomb blasts but signs of normalcy still there.
12th july is a new day. As I switched on the tv early morning to catch the latest updates saw a kid going to his school saying raat gayee baat gayee. My roommate who shifted to Mumbai a year back and is still a very much Delhiite at heart finally said I Love Mumbai,I Love this city yaar as he was getting ready to go to office as usual. He wanted to go to hospital to donate blood. I told him the situation is differnt now. Hospitals are requesting people not to come as they have enough blood. Its creating chaos.
But does a city deserves all this....monsoon mayhem, sunday riots, bhiwandi incidents,tuesday blasts......only because it can bear everything.
Bombay was changed to Mumbai.Only the name....was that a joke? For what good, for what bad. I havent figured out yet. But its still BOMBay. Isn't it ? Why ?
And for all of us who will still board those local trains every morning, Majrooh Sultanpuri's words will always ring...aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahan zara hatke zara bachke ye hai bambai meri jaan.
first published:July 12, 2006, 21:23 ISTlast updated:July 12, 2006, 21:23 IST
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It was 2nd december 2002...second day of my first job with a hindi news channel. 1st december was sunday and almost no work. Was only supposed to collect my appointnment letter that day.So,officially the first working day of my journalism career.
Was asked to go for a shoot in the evening and suddenly as we were about to reach the place got a call from office. Was immediately asked to divert the camera unit to Ghatkopar.A Blast! A bomb blast! As our vehicle started moving towards Ghatkopar more and more people started confirming us that its nothing but a bomb blast. We reached first,broke the news,first with the visuals as a senior colleague of mine also reached the place at the right time to handle the situation perfectly.For me,it was the first time that I was in the middle of such a scene.
At the end of the day, my senior made me realise its again a great day for our channel....we were first with everything.I was still trying to adjust myself to the whole situation as he kept on doing phone interviews and LIVE chats.The irnoy of our life. Ghatkopar was just the beginning for me....many more in the span of few months and years...Mulund,Jogeshwari,Vile Parle,Mumbai Central,Ghatkopar again,Gateway of India, Jhaveri Bazaar....sometimes at the blast site, sometimes hospitals, sometimes follow ups as a city reporter.
Slowly I also became like everyone else. A bit emotionless. A better professional. No time to think and feel anything when you are in the middle of such a news. Its just breaking news and nothing else. That time you just view everything as visuals,the first visuals,first bites,first visuals to be put on air at any cost.Emotionless professional.May be thats why sometimes the mob attacks the cameras as also happened this time with many colleagues of mine.No one is right and no one is wrong.But later on when you see the same visuals on air as a viewer you go totally speechless. Totally blank. Senseless.
Before coming to Mumbai,I always used to think Bombay is simply 3B's-Bombs,business and bollywood.....my perception about the city built up through films/serials.....blasts,gangwars,heavy rains and the city where life moves faster than anything else.
Now,its almost four years since 2002....I have moved on to CNN IBN. Now am part of the features team. And as 7/11 happened I was in office this time. We tried to become the backbone of the news team handling the desk and coordinating everything possible. But one thing remains the same....the blast. Bomb blast!
This time I was watching the news more as a viewer.... across all over,all possible channels,phone lines jammed, everyone panicking,desperately trying to find if everyone else was fine too. Like many others I could not get in touch with my family members. I knew what they must be going through. They know, like many others....I do travel everyday on western line....by local trains..... between Andheri and Lower Parel....by first class pass.Luckily I was in office.But many were not.
As we left office by 1:00am, Mahim station was almost looking like Police headquaters,outside Lilavati Hospital people were still going through the notice board to figure out the names of their near and dear ones. Chaiwalas moving on cycles as they do every night. Some coffee shops still open. People still on the roads. Some bright hoardings. 7 bomb blasts but signs of normalcy still there.
12th july is a new day. As I switched on the tv early morning to catch the latest updates saw a kid going to his school saying raat gayee baat gayee. My roommate who shifted to Mumbai a year back and is still a very much Delhiite at heart finally said I Love Mumbai,I Love this city yaar as he was getting ready to go to office as usual. He wanted to go to hospital to donate blood. I told him the situation is differnt now. Hospitals are requesting people not to come as they have enough blood. Its creating chaos.
But does a city deserves all this....monsoon mayhem, sunday riots, bhiwandi incidents,tuesday blasts......only because it can bear everything.
Bombay was changed to Mumbai.Only the name....was that a joke? For what good, for what bad. I havent figured out yet. But its still BOMBay. Isn't it ? Why ?
And for all of us who will still board those local trains every morning, Majrooh Sultanpuri's words will always ring...aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahan zara hatke zara bachke ye hai bambai meri jaan.
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