November 2008 Archives

Attack on Mumbai: Where you can find more

Anant Goenka
| November 26, 2008 1:04 PM TrackBacks (0) Comments (0)
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, has been hit by a series of shootouts and attacks late Wednesday night. 

The attacks have occurred at extremely affluent and historically safe areas of South Mumbai and inside two luxury hotels: The Taj Mahal hotel opposite the The Gateway of India and The Oberoi Hotel (named The Trident hotel) at Nariman Point, an up-market business area. Both hotels are prominent landmark hotels in Mumbai and all over India. 

There is an ongoing hostage situation with both Indian and foreign nationals at the hotels. 

 Here are some reliable sources you can get updated information about the situation in Mumbai. 


Analysis of the Blasts

Citizen Journalism, New Media and the Bombay Attacks: 

Whose to Blame?

Significance of the Attack

The attacks come after a series of bomb blasts in India's capital New Delhi on September 18, 2008 and a deadly attack in Pakistan at the J.W. Marriot Hotel on September 21, 2008.

Both Oberoi and Taj are the most secure and safe hotels and preferred destinations for foreign premium tourists in India. 
The Oberoi Hotel
Officially called The Trident and until a few years ago, The Hilton, The Oberoi Hotel is one of Mumbai's tallest buildings and a defining structure to Mumbai's skyline. It sits at the end of Marine Drive, what is also called The Queen's Necklace. 
mumbai skyline2.jpg

In 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Mumbai and stayed at the Oberoi. 


The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel also has tremendous historical significance. It is one of India's most iconoic hotels that has been open since December 16,1903. The hotel was started by patriot, Jamsedji Tata before Indian independence, as a sign of revolt against the British disallowing Indians in luxury hotels in India.

Reports of shootings first came from Leopold Cafe - a popular beer bar since 1871 and favorite among foreign tourists. It features in Lonely Planet's book on Mumbai. This video shows the number of foreigners at the bar:

Being a Business Student in this Economy

Anant Goenka
| November 13, 2008 8:36 PM TrackBacks (0) Comments (1)
As the American economy declines, Business students are finding it increasingly difficult to get a job. Anant Goenka reports...


Many Expectations and lots to Change

Anant Goenka
| November 12, 2008 12:42 AM TrackBacks (0) Comments (0)

IMG_0879.JPG

Husband takes a photograph of his wife in front of a mural of Obama on Figueroa street in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo: Anant Goenka


Whatever the polls may say, people are politically correct in public but when they are alone in their booth they are not going to vote for a black president. I put my money on McCain knowing that there were new voters, young voters and even Republicans voting for Obama. But I couldn't believe a black Democrat could win in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada in the same election. I am glad I was wrong and the best candidate won. It really illustrates just how much the previous white, Republican president screwed up.

Obama needs to thank Bush for being such a terrible president and for the state of economy. And maybe, (yet to be determined), thank McCain for Sarah Palin. The trouble the country is in is probably the reason Obama won this election and he may be better suited to solve it. But America must remember that Obama is not Superman.

Although this is my first close experience of an American election, I find an unusually large number of people have tremendous expectations from him. Speaking of equal opportunities for all races is not restricted to job placements but also an opportunity to make mistakes. And Obama probably will. There isn't a single correct way of solving the economic crisis the world is facing and people need to understand that he is not a god-sent savior who can solve all the world's concerns. Every one seems to have developed their own individualized hopes of change after his election. 

Africans say they are expecting a shift in American foreign policy towards their entire continent. Indians are ecstatic - more ecstatic than they have been after any Indian election. Even Pakistanis are happy! The theory that "Democrats are friends of India and Republicans of Pakistan" was challenged. An excerpt from an editorial in The Nation (on Nov 4 before the results):

"He (Obama) inspires the hope that once in the saddle, he would have a different view not only of Pakistan's call for respecting its sovereignty but also the war on terror as a whole"

He has so many supporters that any strong decision he makes will break someone's heart and if he tries to please everyone, how much will he really be able to change? 

Covering Prop 8 on Election Day

Anant Goenka
| November 9, 2008 3:13 AM TrackBacks (0) Comments (0)

Hours before the polls closed Tuesday, campaigners for Proposition 8 were informed that many Latino voters supporting traditional families were misreading the ballot and accidentally voting against the proposition.

"The way they worded it - it's a double negative and so voters get confused," said Tim Butler, zip-code manager for the Yes on 8 campaign. Equality for All volunteer Mahesh Mehta did not think the wording affected polls.  However, in one instance an opponent for the proposition accidentally urged voters to vote "yes" at a public rally in San Francisco.

This issue was brought up in July as well. The title proposed for Proposition 8 was "Limit on Marriage." What voters saw on the ballot on Tuesday was, "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry," which a few voters found confusing.  

Latinos and African Americans were a big vote bank for the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. Newell and two other volunteers stood outside polling stations in the Westside of Los Angeles and tried to clarify the language of the proposition with as many Latino voters they could find.

Proposition 8 passed on Wednesday, despite the wording on the ballot and the increased funding received by the No on 8 campaign in the last few weeks.  This immediately cast a spell of doubt on the status given to around 18,000 same-sex couples that married in the past 4 months.

"Its clear that California is narrow-minded and heartless, I wouldn't be surprised even if these marriages become unconstitutional, but these couples are married in their hearts and no government can take that away," said Mehta. Melvin Brown, a student for the ban agreed. "We do not expect the status given to families in the past 4 months to be revoked. That's not we voted for," he said.

Speaking on the presidential candidates Newell said, "I thought I misunderstood when I heard Joe Biden in the vice presidential debate when he defined marriage. It doesn't really matter which candidate wins, both the vice presidential and presidential candidates support traditional marriages."  Many voters who were against Proposition 8 disagreed with Newell and believed that Obama and Biden supported same-sex marriage. Mehta too, was surprised by Biden's comments and said, "Obama will remain the favorite."

Presidential elect Barack Obama has publicly opposed both same-sex marriage and the ban on gay marriage.

Proposition 8 is believed to be the most funded proposition on the ballot all over the nation this year, over $74 million was raised by both sides. There have also been an unprecedented number of volunteers in both camps. "Until 2 weeks ago, we were pretty much neck-to-neck in funding, but the job got a lot more challenging for us volunteers in the past few weeks," said Newell.  Many volunteers left their jobs to campaign. Freelance visual effects designer Russell Lloyd, has been working on the Yes on 8 campaign for a month.  "As much as I enjoyed myself, I could really do with getting back to work," he said as he drove his car towards his third polling station of the evening.

After Californians elected for Proposition 8, some chapels are expecting same-sex couples to have rushed weddings before the law comes to effect. The opponents have already filed two legal challenges and Mehta said, "more may be expected."


I followed a team of supporters of Proposition 8 on this historic election day.

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