Yesterday while travelling for a meeting, a friend during a mobile conversation reminded me that its been 7 years to the World Trade Centre disaster.
While I have been thinking of it and was reminded by the news channels this call resulted in the 'can never forget' visuals of that days and the days that followed flashing by. While its a good 7 years now and they say people forget with times, this was one big disaster in my life which I may not be able to forget. The disaster and the whole curiosity in me to know more made me watch the complete documentary on National Geographic ( or was it Discovery? I forget?) And the typical American fashion of glorifying everything resulted in 3 movies (that am aware of) Fahrenheit, United 93 & World Trade Centre.
I clearly remember, 11th Sep 2001....it was yet another hectic day in my life at Lowe Lintas, Bangalore. I had gone home for a quick bath (after 2-3 days of non stop work) after briefing the studio. It was roughly 6 pm in the evening that I left for the studio from home. Must have reached the studio by 6.45 odd...As I was getting into the studio I realised everyone there was glued onto the TV set. Upset that my work was getting delayed I screamed at the guys there. The studio manager, surprised, reacted, " World Trade Centre only is not there...what work are you talking?" Taken aback I turned my attention to what was being telecast on CNN. For a minute I thought I was watching a war movie but quickly realised everything was for real. And by the time it occurred to me I could see another aircraft hitting the second tower and hardly a few minutes later both the towers came crashing down and with it I thought America's might.
It happened during Pearl Harbour and again on 9 / 11! While US was too busy watching what the world was upto, then Japan and now terrorists planned and gave a telling blow to the US in their own backyard! While this was all unfolding, calls started flying, in a dazed state. Called any and everybody who I knew had somebody in the US. I remember when I called my colleague, he was driving and on coming to know of the disaster his car came to sudden screeching halt!
I still discounted it as a one off attack till I saw the whole report of the entire plot. They had hit the Pentagon with the third aircraft and the fourth apparently on its way to White House was shot down!!! Amazing. Thanks to the media over the next few weeks & months got to know about the entire plot, the people and the motive behind it etc etc. For the months immediately after the event the news was still on top of the world agenda. Investigations, reports, press meets and of course stories of individuals & families who lost their loved ones. Watching the documentary and the movies that followed...incidentally watched 'World Trade Centre' - the movie last evening gave an idea of the scale of disaster.
In between all this whats been announced almost immediately after the disaster is the construction of 'Freedom Tower'. While the disaster still brings tears in my eyes, the United States even now seems to have not let go of its arrogance!!!
By the way the day also marked a decade of Google's existence!
1 comment:
Loads of people died ! But what died along with them were the souls of a million others.
That was a landmark day that changed the world. i was in Thrissur. I rememmber that day. Clearly !
Post a Comment