On November 26th 2009 this year it became quite evident that Mumbai has not forgotten the enormous tragedy of 26/11. Across the city there were peace marches, white candles burning in silent testament to the grief of friends and family left behind, concerts for peace & change and the reopening of Nariman (Chabad) House, Mumbai where much of the disaster took place.
People from a variety of faiths gathered on the streets outside where the old walls were masked in white and a stage was erected close to the building. The building itself was lit up beautifully and 180 candles (to mark the number of victims) were seen lit at its base in memory of the ones we lost. The service included Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan, the Ambassador of Israel Mark Sofer and Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhugbal voicing their sentiments about the tragic events that occurred in that very location exactly one year ago. Amongst other attendees were Dr. Subha Raul, Mayor of Mumbai and friends and family of the victims.
The day also witnessed the launch of a book titled “26/11: Woh 59 Ghante” by Jitendra Dixit (a senior editor of STAR News & Mumbai bureau chief) was released by Commissioner of Mumbai Police D. Sivanandhan, Crime Branch Chief Rakesh Maria & Smitha Salaskar (widow of encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar) at Wilson College, Mumbai. Principal Dr. V. J. Sirwaiya hosted the function & executive editor of Dopahar Ka Saamana newspaper Prem Shukla was guest of honour.
In his book, Jitendra Dixit has documented his 59-hours experience of the terrorist attack on Mumbai by ten Pakistani terrorists. He went to all the three major locations while covering the attack along with his team members. This book is not based on any documents, chargesheet or confessional statements but on the writers’ own experiences, feelings & thoughts while covering Mumbai terror attacks last year. Incidentally, the Marathi version of book released by Spl Public Prosecutor Ujjwal “Operation Black Tornadao: Ek Jeevghena Pravas” has turned out to be a best seller. Blog: jitendradiary.blogspot.com
Why Wilson?
That’s where (just outside) the lone Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured alive. Police officer Tukaram Ombale had lost his life and several other police officers were injured in the gun-battle.
Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandan releases Book on ‘26/11: Woh 59 Ghante‘
Mumbai, November 2009: The book titled “26/11: Woh 59 Ghante” by author Jitendra Dixit, a senior editor of STAR News & Mumbai bureau chief, was released by Commissioner of Mumbai Police D. Sivanandhan, Crime Branch Chief Rakesh Maria & Smitha Salaskar (widow of encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar) at Wilson College. Principal Dr. V. J. Sirwaiya hosted the function & executive editor of Dopahar Ka Saamana newspaper Prem Shukla was guest of honour.
The reason behind releasing the book at Wilson college was that just outside the college, the lone Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured alive. Police officer Tukaram Ombale had lost his life and several other police officers were injured in the gun-battle.
Jitendra Dixit, who is senior editor of Star News & Mumbai bureau chief, has noted his 59-hours experience of the terrort attack on Mumbai by ten Pakistani terrorists. He went to all the three major locations while covering the attack along with his team members. This book is not based on any documents, chargesheet or confessional statements… but on the writers’ own experiences, feelings & thoughts while covering Mumbai terror attacks last year.
Speaking at the function, Mr Sivanandan appreciated the book written by Mr Dixit and said as a journalist he had accepted ‘Mistakes’ of electronic media during the coverage of last year’s terrorist attack.
Mr Dixit said that after the terror attack, the print media had made criticism on the coverage by the electronic media. ”Yes, we made some mistakes, but, we have done several good things during the coverage. The book also attempts to answer negative criticism by print media & governmental agencies for the manner of live coverage & also highlights positive contributions by news channels coverage,” he remarked.
Executive editor of ‘Dopar ka Saamna’ Prem Shukla said Mr Dixit has done a tremendous job by writing a book on 26/11, people at large will come to know what exactly had happened and how terrorists came in.
The book could be a useful guide for journalism students also who might have to cover such attacks in future.
The Marathi version of book released by Spl Public Prosecutor Ujjwal “Operation Black Tornadao: Ek Jeevghena Pravas” has turned out to be a best seller.
For more information:
Jitendra Dixit, Off: 91-22-66630102, Fax:91-22-66633030,
Blog: jitendradiary.blogspot.com
Office Email: jitendradixit@starnews.co.in Net Connect: Profiles on Facebook & Orkut.