The Triangle

Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Melissa Cell

Media Credit: Melissa Cell

The Variety of Indian Culture Expressions held a candlelight vigil in the Korman quad for the Mumbai attacks Dec. 2.

"I hope this vigil brings to light the momentous atrocity that took place in our nation's financial capital to students and teachers alike. We come to honor all those who lost their lives, whether it be innocent people or people who fought in order to stop the attack," Ankur Dadhania, president of VOICE and a third-year finance and economics major, said.

Many people came to show their support for India as the Indian national anthem was sung, and Dadhania gave a small speech to commemorate those who died.

"It'll help unite the Indian people at Drexel and the surrounding communities. It'll help everyone unite," freshman Ashish Joseph, a business major and member of VOICE, said about the tragedy.

"All different kinds of people will be affected by this attack," Carol John, a junior international areas studies major and a cultural coordinator of VOICE, said.

"Any kind of tragedy is going to hit people in a different degree and your heart just goes out to them," Jess Finkowski, a senior chemical engineering major, said.

Everyone was asked to wear white, white being the traditional Indian color for mourning and peace, as a sign of respect.

"You have people that come, and it is amazing how much they care. They have such compassion," Finkowski said.

According to Dadhania, there are many Drexel students of Indian heritage, including both American-born students and international students.

"With such a large South-Asian population on campus, we are all equally affected by this tragedy, some greater than others," Dadhania said.

Some still have family in India, including in Mumbai.

"When I first heard about it, I really freaked out. I contacted my parents and they told me what happened and what happened with my dad. Then I contacted all my friends to make sure they were okay," Tausif Ahmed, a freshman chemical engineering major, said.

Ahmed's father had attended a meeting at the Oberoi-Trident Hotel, one of the targets of the militants, and had left only five minutes before the attack.

On Nov. 26, gunmen began a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India, lasting for three days.

Gunmen targeted six locations throughout the city, including a Jewish center and two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel.

"It's painful to see how a country with such a beautiful culture can be defaced out of nowhere," freshman business major Shreya Adiraju, said.

"I was horrified and deeply disturbed. I was glad I was so far away. Chances are that I would be in one of those places if I were still in India," Ahmed said.

Targeting foreign nationalists, the militants wreaked havoc in the business capital of India, killing over 180 people.

"There were countless different people in the places that were attacked," John said.

Indian commandos held stand-offs at the attack sites with the militants for three days until Nov. 29.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, this event has been described as Indiaís 9/11.

"It kind of makes you speechless. Terrorism is not just against America; it affects all creeds and races," John said.

India says the attackers have links to Pakistan, while Pakistan has denied any role in the attacks.

"The world needs to realize that there are still terrorists, and they are all around us. The men who attacked Mumbai were described as mere college students. There is no certain look for a terrorist. Even though the U.S. is still in Iraq, this does not mean that attacks on everyday human beings will stop. We need to be aware that this can happen anywhere," Dadhania said.

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