City sends up a prayer for Kargil martyrs

MUMBAI, JUNE 7: There was no cricket match to contend with. But they would have come anyway. And for a city where material returns are me...

MUMBAI, JUNE 7: There was no cricket match to contend with. But they would have come anyway. And for a city where material returns are medals, the mood that suffused the prayer meeting at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan BVB auditorium this evening was heartening indeed.

About a thousand Mumbaikars participated in the all-faith prayer meeting to salute the memory of India8217;s heroes martyred in Kargil over the last few, but long weeks. The feeling of gratitude and homage was palpable in the silent listeners too. No personal invites, only an advertisement in the newspapers. But that was more than enough. The simple wish to acknowledge what the jawans have done for their people and empathy for the families they have left behind.

Apart from the occasional chatter and the hasty exit of a few after the speeches, for the greater part of the audience, it was a sombre tribute.

A few short prayers, gut-wrenching patriotic songs, some brief words and a minute8217;s silence. That was all. Dr Usha Mehta, vice-chairperson ofthe BVB said: 8220;Yeh bolne ka samay nahi hai. Shraddhanjali dene ka samay hai. This is not a time for words, but for homage8221;

In a single day, over Rs 25 lakh has been collected for the families of the Kargil martyrs. Though corporate giants are among the largest contributors, the munificence has flowed from all quarters. Said Murli Deora, BVB co-chairperson, 8220;People have come to us and said I can offer two thousand, two hundred or twenty rupees8217;. What they are giving is not just the money. It is the moral, psychological support that they are giving that is important.8221;

Of the contributions, Rs 2 lakh has already been despatched the family of Kishore Sahu, whose family, it was heard, was unable to attend the cremation for want of means.

The response is overwhelming, say officials of the BVB. And they are hopeful that they will secure enough funds to even adopt families of the martyrs where the family is in need. 8220;And we shall be able to do so in days, not even weeks, the way things aregoing,8221; says Deora.