Summer Program

Dear Students,

Revive: Mumbai was created after the November 26^th, 2008 attacks in South Mumbai to address issues concerning terrorism by promoting co-existence and communal harmony. We believe a global face of terrorism requires a united response. As citizens of a university that reflects the ideals of social justice, we wish to mobilize a group of students that can delve further into the underlying dynamics of conflict and intolerance.

Revive: Mumbai believes that conflict has many interplaying causes including lack of social and economic empowerment. Education and communal dialogue are means of facilitating this empowerment. To achieve this, we have collaborated with the Experimental Theatre Foundation (ETF) and the Parivartan school. The Experimental Theatre Foundation in its founder’s words views “art not for art’s sake but one that caters to human needs and provides itself as a platform for expression”. Parivartan school strives to informally educate underprivileged children in Wadala slum in Mumbai. We have envisioned a project that harnesses the power of street theatre in deepening social understanding amongst the children of Parivartan.

We are looking for students interested in exploring the dynamics of co-existence and conflict within the Indian social context. The group of Brandeis students selected for this program will work with the children of Parivartan and their families to identify and explore these relevant social issues through workshops supported by the ETF. The Brandeis students will also meet with experts in the field of social science to substantiate this fieldwork. This will culminate in a street play created by the Brandeis students and ETF . The play will be performed by these families for the local slum community.

In Fall 2009, the students will be required to make a presentation based on their experience to the Brandeis community. Additionally, there is an option of writing research paper in Fall 2009 with the help of a Brandeis faculty mentor.

The internship experience will expose the Brandeis students to the complex realities of marginalization in India. As the only pre-requisite is an interest in exploring conflict and co-existence, undergraduate students of any academic background are encouraged to apply. The attached document contains a detailed outline of the internship program.

For more information please contact Richa Sahay at rsahay@brandeis.edu and Tathagatha Sengupta at tsg@brandeis.edu.

Thank you,

Richa and Tathagatha

Revive: Mumbai

Moshe’s aunt, her husband chosen to carry on Mumbai work

In a heartening development, Moshe’s aunt and uncle have been chosen to carry forward Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg’s legacy.

Reconstruction update

Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg is in Mumbai to raise funds for the reconstruction efforts. It seems the project will cost 10 crore rupees ($2 million).

Update: More from Rabbi Holtzberg.

Donate

Anyone wishing to contribute to the scholarship may make checks payable to “Brandeis University” and include notation, either on the check or accompanying their donation, stating that the gift is to be credited to the Holtzberg Scholarship.

Checks can be sent to:

Brandeis University
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
P.O. Box 549110
Mail Stop 126
Waltham, MA 02454-9110

Gifts may also be made online at https://alumni.brandeis.edu/makingyourgift/.  When you get to the GIFTS tab, you should write HOLTZBERG SCHOLARSHIP on the line that reads “enter the name of another University fund”.

Event Update

Fundraiser on the 21st of February at 10.30pm at OM.

Details available here. Click on Philanthropy.

Revive Mumbai in The Boston Globe

Julie Masis covers Revive Mumbai.

Revive Mumbai in India New England

Brandeis’ Revive Mumbai is covered in the largest local newspaper catering to the Indian subcontinent, India New England, here.

Leopold Strikes Back

Is this defiance?

BrandeisNOW

Revive Mumbai on BrandeisNOW.

Arundhati Roy in The Guardian

Arundhati Roy’s eloquent piece in The Guardian explains why the attacks in Mumbai are not India’s 9/11, and why the reaction to those attacks requires a far more nuanced and complex response. It’s quite long, but definitely worth your time.

Dine for Mumbai, New York

Dear Friends

After the success of 3 Dine for Mumbai initiatives at the Brandies and NYU campus, Revive Mumbai will now be hosting a ‘Dine For Mumbai’ event in New York City’s famous Yuva, Indian Frontier Grill.

All day on Tuesday December 16, 2008, Yuva restaurant will donate 15% of everyone’s bill that attends on behalf of Dine for Mumbai to Revive Mumbai’s efforts. All the diner needs to do, is mention that he is attending on behalf of ‘Dine for Mumbai’, and Yuva management will handle the accounting. I urge you to inform friends and family in the New York vicinity to participate in this event.

Donation boxes will be located in the restaurant for direct contributions. For more information regarding donations or volunteering, please contact Yash Daga at ymdaga@gmail.com

Thank You

An Open Letter

Dear Readers and Friends of the Brandeis India Initiative,

As an Indian, a resident of south Mumbai and a member of the Brandeis community, the Mumbai attacks have affected me on many levels. While personal losses are immense, the attack on the Chabad House and its occupants has left me devastated. After having spent 4 years at Brandeis, I fail to reconcile the fact that members of a community committed to peace and righteousness are often targeted for being messengers of goodness. The dastardly murder of Rabbi Gavriel Hortzberg and his wife Rivika evoked the Brandeisian in me who seeks justice – in its purest form.

I firmly believe that their martyrdom should be commemorated in ways that exemplify our commitment to uproot terrorism with Gandhian principles, especially limitless compassion. I hereby propose that Brandeis University work with its members and well-wishers to establish a Rabbi Gavriel and Rivika Hortzberg Scholarship for economically challenged south Asians who wish to pursue their higher education at Brandeis. This scheme will supplement Brandeis’ India Initiative and will be looked up to as a significant reconstruction effort. Symbolically, it will cement Brandeis’ reputation as a beacon of social justice.

I am certain that his venture will have far reaching implications and will be a fitting response to those who consistently exploit illiteracy and ignorance. The Revive Mumbai team will work closely with the university administration to realize this proposal. Brandeis’ twin founding principles of truth and justice and its commitment to activism can be channeled in an effective manner via this initiative.

All relevant offices have been notified of my eagerness to structure this and are committed to working together to materialize the proposed scheme. I urge you to donate generously towards this cause.

Details of the proposed scholarship can be found here. For further inquiries, please get in touch with Bryan McAllister-Grande (bgrande@brandeis.edu).

Naman Pugalia
Class of 2009

India is Us

“The attacks in Mumbai were committed because India is everything the terrorists hate: democratic, multi-religious, and pro-American.”

Hindus Rally for Muslim Charity

” ‘How can an organisation be terrorist if it’s been providing food and water to us despite knowing that we’re not Muslims?’ “

Change the Paradigm

Through a convergence of terrorists’ savvy with the structural changes in the mediasphere, an enormously disproportionate impact can be brought to bear by applying what really amounts to minute pressure to geopolitical faultlines.

An article that quite clearly outlines the need for measured, well-thought-out responses to these kinds of tragedies. Ten men with guns were able to almost totally destabilize a peace process years in the making in three days.

We live now in terribly polarized times where ten men can bring two nations to the point where fears of nuclear attacks are very real. Is it possible to “de-polarize”, to create the kind of future Judah Grunstein is talking about?

Highlighting the purity, innocence, and beauty that still exists in this world…

Lets not give up hope in the human race.

Why I care?

I have never been to Mumbai. Or India, for that matter. The furthest I have ever ventured onto the Asian continent was living with a Turkish family for two weeks in the eastern half of Istanbul. Growing up in a town of 6,000 people, the closest I ever came to South-East Asian culture before attending Brandeis was the Indian restaurant in a neighboring town.

So why should I care about the events in Mumbai?

I have found that the reasons to care and the reasons to act come from the concentric circles of my identity. In reading the accounts of the brutality that unfolded only a week and a half ago and in talking with my friends here at Brandeis, I felt a call to action reverberate deep within myself. Because of these many branches of my identity, I must act. I am propelled to help rebuild Mumbai and honor those who have lost their lives by acting proactively to end the intolerance and ignorance, poverty and destitution that led to these violent attacks being perpetrated.

Branch 1 – A friend

I have watched, over the past few weeks, the sadness and anguish in the eyes of my Indian friends here at Brandeis. I have been moved a great deal as my friends experienced this tragedy, unfolding in their home country thousands of miles away, on the television screens. I cannot imagine the shock, the home-sickness, the frantic phone calls and the hours of worry. I ache for my friends who have been touched by these events and, on this, the most personal level, I must work tirelessly, in working to prevent future acts of violence, to ensure that this angst is not repeated.

Branch 2 – A college-age student

The men who attacked Mumbai were in their early twenties. They were my age. Instead of arguing economic principles in a classroom or measuring atomic weight in a chemistry laboratory or practicing for the University cricket team, these young men picked up weapons and tortured and killed hundreds of people. Instead of finding a job to support their family, these young men sold their lives and their morality in order for their family to be financially compensated. There was no joy in the eyes of these young men, no hope for the future, no compassion for their fellow human beings. Regardless of religion, ethnicity or country of origin, it is unfathomable that young men and women could become so hopeless and so hateful that they would turn to these acts of violence. As a man in my young twenties who has been privileged with a good education and hope for the future, it is my duty to make sure that others have these opportunities as well.

Violence should never, ever be an acceptable or economically viable option and young adults should never be reduced to these sorts of actions.

Branch 3 – A Brandesian

One of the four pillars of our university is a dedication to social justice. We were founded as a university meant to end discriminatory practices in admission decisions and, to this day, we have prided ourselves on working towards a more egalitarian, compassionate and sustainable world. Brandeis also takes pride in being a pluralistic university. One of the remarkable, if I can use such a word, and tragic aspects of the Mumbai attacks is the sheer diversity of those affected by the tragedy. Mumbai, as a cosmopolitan city and a thriving business hub of Southeast Asia, plays host to an incredible amount of diversity – religious, ethnic, racial and socio-economic. Here at Brandeis, it is not only that we must follow our pillar in promoting social justice in India and throughout the region, but our campus’ dedication to diversity mirrors the rich interweaving of cultures in Mumbai.

We can, and must, follow our principles to repair the hole torn in the diverse tapestry of Mumbai.

Branch 4 – A Jew

One of the communities stricken by these attacks is the Jewish community in India. The Chabad House, a religious haven for all those in need in Mumbai, was destroyed. Six members of the small community there were killed. As a Jew, this event touched me deeply, and yet it is actually the lives of these people from which we can learn from and act accordingly. It took bravery and sacrifice to move from a Jewish-majority suburb in New York across the world to establish a house of worship in India. As the Torah teaches every Jew, however, one of the most important acts that one can take in life is Tikkun Olam – Heal the world. It is imperative to follow the example of this young family in the Chabad House – in order to grow stronger and build a better world out of the ashes of these attacks.

It will take bravery and sacrifice – it always does to change the world – but as a Jew, it is one of the commanded duties and one of the most important tenants of the faith.

Branch 5 – An American

The global position of the United States has unfortunately slipped over the past decade. Increasingly, the policy of the populace and its elected officials is one of isolationism, or if not, short sighted self-interest. Coming off of a historical election, it is high-time that America changes this image and starts contributing meaningfully to solving the mounting global crises. With our resources and our reach, we still have the ability to reach out and help. Yet, this is not only a call to action for the government. Each of us, each American, acts as a sort of ambassador to the rest of the world and it is up to us to reverse the trends of the past. Standing up for the people of Mumbai, for the poor and vulnerable in India, Pakistan and elsewhere, must be a priority for those Americans privileged with opportunity to do so.

It is for these complex reasons that I care about the events in Mumbai and why I am working to help in any way that I can. I cannot stand idly by simply because I am removed geographically from the area. On top of the affects of global events reverberating even in my small town, the conjoining of the concentric circles of my identity propel me to act now to help my fellow man.

I am, after all, part of humanity, a global citizen, and since I can do a great deal to help prevent this sort of violence and solve the underlying causes for such horrendous acts, I cannot, in good conscious, pass up this calling.

-Jamie van Wagtendonk

Calling All Pakistanis

New York Times Op-Ed:

Calling All Pakistanis

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Published: December 2, 2008

Dine For Mumbai – Food for thought, and action – New York, NY

Together with student bodies across NYU, Revive Mumbai will be hosting a 2 day ‘Dine for Mumbai’ event across two locations on the NYU Campus.

On Tuesday December 9, Sangam (McDougal & Bleeker) will be offering a percentage of its day long revenues to Revive Mumbai for its initiatives in India.

On Wednesday December 10, Indian Bread Company (also McDougal & Bleeker)will be offering a percentage of its day long revenues to Revive Mumbai.

Please show up at these restaurants on their respective days, show your NYU ID, and a % of your bill will be donated to the revival cause.

We hope that the NYU and New York community will show up large numbers on Tuesday at Sangam and Wednesday at Indian Bread Company and participate in the revival effort.

We know its crunch time with finals week, but at the end of the day, all we are really asking for is a half hour for lunch.

Together with its ground partner Yuva Pratishthan, Revive Mumbai will be coordinating a series of development and rebuilding projects to help rehabilitate those that were affected by these attacks and to make Mumbai less susceptible to such acts in the future.

Donation boxes will be placed at both these restaurants over the course of next week if you would like to contribute directly to the cause.

For more information, or to get involved, please contact me at ymdaga@gmail.com.

Jews in India

Here, Jews in India explain the impact of the attack on the presence of the community in India. Beautiful anecdotes of coexistence but worrying signs of fear.

49-O

Here is the content of an email I received:

Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section “49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone!

Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called “49-O”.

Why should you go and say “I VOTE NOBODY”… because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received
“49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be canceled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system… it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public…..

Please spread this news to as many as you know…Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India… show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting… so don’t miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this info on…

Please forward this mail to as many as possible, so that we, the people of India , can really use.

It is worth discussing the cost and the benefit of using this provision. While the economic cost of a re-election might be significant, the benefit of a better candidate pool might have important positive effects in the long run. Do keep in mind that you need to show up at a voting booth in order to use this provision thereby incurring a voting cost. In an ideal world, you would only do this if you could safely assume that a significant proportion of voters would do the same. Therefore, it seems like an ideal strategy to avoid choosing the “lesser evil”, as voters in India have done for decades. However, it is unlikely that the political establishments will be able to attract better candidates as the incentives of being a politician are minimal.
What say?

Tabla for Mumbai

Because music can heal.

The Cost of Silence

Finally, the rich and powerful speak up. Approximately 200 lives lost before the conscience of a constituency with one of the lowest voter turnouts in India was hurt.
Hope the social awareness is not transitory.

Bollywood says "Enough is Enough"

Where Bollywood stands.

Mosques send out anti-terror messages

A positive news flow.

Peace or War

While we are trying to promote equality, fairness & peace, there are those who are promoting war.

Militants Get Stronger, States Get Weaker

Militants Get Stronger, States Get Weaker
Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar in the Economic Times

The Terrorist In Our Hearts

To say the least, last week was painful. Two hotels, minutes away from my house, were captured by gunmen. My favorite restaurant was set on fire, two hotels I frequent were taken over by terrorists and scores of people I knew were helplessly trapped in the claws of two dozen madmen, while my city and its people watched haplessly.

My immediate family and friends circle were fortunate enough to survive the crisis, but last week, I lost 183 of my brothers and sisters. I lost civilian friends whose lives were unfairly snatched away, and commandos and policemen that cared enough about my country to bravely throw theirs away.

But this revival effort isn’t just about me, my family or my friends, or hundreds of men, women and children attacked by the incident in my city and country. Because what brings us all here together is something outside of our nationality, race, culture or religion. It is a force that binds us all together despite our differences – ‘our humanity’. Yes we are here today to pray for those that ought to have been among us today, but we are also here to pray for every man, woman and child that wants to live in a world full of empathy, love and compassion, not one of bitterness and hatred. We are here for everyone that despises mindless hatred, for everyone that cares about the well being of fellow human beings, and everyone that aspires for solidarity y in our hearts and minds, across all the communal divides we have created for ourselves.

Moreover, this revival effort isn’t just about thought, it is also about action. For though our prayers and hope are far reaching, it is our actions that speak the loudest. So what should we do, you may ask? Maybe you are miles away from the site of the attack, maybe you have a paper due tomorrow and maybe you are too tied up with work. And even if you want to, what money can you give to help those that died dining in the most expensive restaurant in India, what help can you send in rebuilding a 5-star hotel? Well maybe you cant stabilize a family, or rebuild a hotel – but that does not mean you can’t make a difference. As Gandhi once said, “as human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world, as in being able to remake ourselves”.

Our ability then, is to smile through the face of adversity. Our action then is to love those that want us to hate them. Our strength, is in our ability to live our lives normally, not in hiding in fear of the next gun shot. They can’t hurt us, unless we let them. So let’s stand up to them, not just on behalf of Mumbai, or Indians, but on behalf of the world. Lets stand up, with the indomitable spirit that defines our humanity. The spirit to love, to hope, to prevail.

Otherhood Of Man

An article penned by Rajdeep Sardesai about terrorist attacks in India and the way the Indian political system is playing with it.

Community Gathering at Brandeis University

A community gathering was held today at Brandeis University, to express solidarity with those who have been directly or indirectly affected by the tragedy. The Brandeis Chaplaincy addressed a gathering of about a hundred students, faculty and staff, who had braved the cold to come out and express their support and to take an oath of spreading the word of unconditional love and kindness at this difficult hour, where the easiest way to react is to blame others.

Naman Pugalia (Class of 2009) and Sidak Pannu (Class of 2012), talked about personal losses and the role of the common man, both the victim and the non-victim, should be playing in the wake of this tragedy, in order to ameliorate the deep wounds.

The discussion revolved around the reconstruction efforts for the Chabad House, and also about starting a scholarship in the memory of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka Holtzberg, with the aim of sponsoring promising students from economically challenged background to pursue education abroad.

Update: What the local media said about the gathering – (1,2)

P.S.: We’ve been misquoted twice. And of course, the attacks took place a week ago and not over the weekend, as the second article claims.

Dine For Mumbai

“Dine for Mumbai”

Location: Shapiro Campus Center Atrium
Time: 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Price: $ 10 for buffet

Revive Mumbai Project members* along with the South Asian Students Association would like to invite you to “Dine for Mumbai” – a fundraiser dinner – today, December 4th 2008, at the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium. We will be providing catered vegetarian (Kosher) Indian buffet for only $10. All proceeds ($5 per plate) will go directly to the families of the victims of Mumbai Terrorist Attacks. Throughout the dinner, we will also show a slideshow presentation to give you an inside view of the situation in Mumbai and shed some light on how we can unite to make a difference.

We invite all of you to join us for this good cause! To stay updated and/or to voice your opinion, we encourage you to visit our blog:
http://www.revivemumbai.blogspot.com/

Maximum City Pushed Too Far?

Author Suketu Mehta pens his feelings about the latest terror attacks on the city of Mumbai.

WSJ’s account. In chronological order.

Activities Planned at Brandeis and NYU

Revive Mumbai members along with the South Asian Students Association (SASA) of Brandeis and students from NYU are planning an Indian dinner at their respective campuses. The dinner at Brandeis will be held on the 4^th of December, 2008. The proceeds will go towards the Revive Mumbai Fund which will be used towards financing the aforementioned activities.

We are also working on a t-shirt sale.

Brandeis Community Gathering

The Interfaith Chaplaincy invites the Brandeis community to gather together on Wednesday, December 3, at 2PM at the plaza in front of the Goldfarb Library (at Brandeis University, Waltham MA) in support of all the victims of the tragedy in India. Rabbi Peretz Chein of our local Chabad will be with us as well as the chaplains. Students from our South Asian community will also join us along with the a cappella group, Manginah, who will lead us in song.
Revive Mumbai members Naman Pugalia (Class of 2009) and Sidak Pannu (Class of 2012) will be speaking at the event.

About Us

Welcome to Revive Mumbai. This forum, set up by students of Brandeis University, is an attempt to streamline various efforts that are aimed at resurrecting the city of Mumbai. A global face of terrorism requires a truly global and united response and we at Revive Mumbai welcome citizens from across the world to contribute towards our efforts in the manner you deem fit. We are committed to:

•Promoting social harmony via our efforts
•Supporting the families of those adversely affected by the attack
•Establishing a counseling helpline
•Working towards establishing a Rabbi Gavriel & Rivika Holtzberg Scholarship for young, underprivileged scholars from south Asia
•Assisting in the reconstruction of the affected monuments, specifically the Chabad house

While Brandeis students are leading this initiative, it is by no means limited to our campus. We are hoping to mobilize a global taskforce that begins its fight against the root causes of terrorism in Mumbai. Without your support and feedback we cannot march forward.

We are an independent student body with no affiliation to any religious or political organization.