Marchers remember Mumbai victims at prayer vigil

Although they were in Carbondale when terrorists took the Indian city of Mumbai by storm in November, some students had personal reasons to keep themselves informed of what was going on nearly 6,000 miles away.

Anil Mehta was raised in Mumbai.

Sasi Sundaresan still has friends there.

One of Rajnish Puri’s family friends was killed in the assault.

They are not alone. Roughly 70 people gathered Friday at the Friendship Plaza and Town Square Pavilion to remember the more than 170 people killed in the attack and pray for an end to violence.

Mehta, a graduate student in electrical engineering, coordinated the event, which started with a march from the plaza to the pavilion. Wind prevented an oil lamp from staying lit throughout the march, but Mehta said it did not matter because the light inside the hearts of each person at the vigil could not be snuffed.

Sundareson, a graduate student from Chennai, India, studying electrical engineering, said he came to the vigil because he was angry that the attacks occurred and he could not do anything to stop them.

“This is one form of letting out our anger that will never subside,” Sundareson said.

Sundareson said if one terrorist could change because of Friday’s vigil march, then it was worth braving the cold temperatures.

Ten terrorists from Pakistan opened fire at different locations in Mumbai, known as the financial capital of India, on Nov. 26. The siege ended three days later when police took control of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames that had blazed through the building, according to The New York Times.

Mehta said it is important for people to remember that Indians were not the only victims from the attack. He said Americans, Britons and Japanese tourists were among those killed in the hotel.

At the pavilion, Mehta called on speakers to express their feelings, share accounts from those in Mumbai during the attack and give advice on how to grieve nearly three months later.

Krishna Marukurti, president of the campus Indian Students Association, said students continue to grieve, but hopes the vigil and future events for the Indian community will help.

“We share the grief of those who have lost their loved ones in this brutal attack,” Marukurti said to the crowd.

Following speeches from Dean of Students Peter Gitau and Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole, the crowd lit candles and sang songs such as “We Shall Overcome,” and the national anthems of the United States and India.

Sundareson said he has spoken to his friends in Mumbai and has been told most of the city has reopened with increased security.

Barton Lorimor can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 263 or barton.lorimor@siude.com.