The 1993 bomb blasts in Bombay, the 1992 communal riots, the 6th December 1992 attack on the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. One man L K Advani. One another man Tiger Memon.
Demolition of Babri Masjid happened and Hindus allover India, especially Mumbai were massacred. The Thackerys who are known for not taking things striding down, started their attacks on Muslims. Few knew what was in store. Innocent lives from both communities, businesses worth crores lost and thousands of lives misplaced. All for some stupid fundamentalism.
I’m currently reading this book called BLACK FRIDAY by Hussien Zaidi and I’ve found this book to be totally unputdownable. Pages after pages of why Babri Masjid demolition happened, why innocent people were killed, how people were seething in anger, how revenge was planned, how it was funded, how the targets were chosen, how people were recruited, how training happened, how it was executed and how the investigations were conducted is all that this book is about. Who was Dawood? Tiger? You wanna know, read this book. Its about what happens when intense anger is channelized in all the wrong directions. Its mind numbing to realize that a smuggler can actually gather enough people to bomb a city that’s so close to him.The book mentions that Dawood was badly stressed after his favourite city was so badly bombed. Ironic considering the claim in the book that it was he who gave a go ahead to Tiger!
Rakesh Maria. Now this man, DCP Traffic erstwhile, was the one who provided a major break through in the investigations. Single minded dedication is what this cop is all about! What was found out after the investigations, was even more shocking. The planning of the bomb blasts had started nearly 2-3 months in advance with most of the people who planted the bombs were first timers who hadn’t even held a gun in hand!. This was planned, entirely by one Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razak Memon (Tiger Memon. the book even goes on to explain how Memon got the name Tiger! Freaking details!!!!).
There are more names that come to my mind, but if I start, I’m afraid I might end up doing a very bad review of a brilliant book.
I don’t wish to write too much about my thoughts here. Lets just say that this book is so precision personified that it can leave you rattled. I really dont wanna mention the gut wrenching details of how an arm was severed or how bodies were charred beyond recognition that this book goes on to interpret. Dizzying.
To all the Police Personnel, khabris, Zanjeer (a golden Labrador that sniffed out all the explosives), I salute thee! To the people who lost their lives, my heart goes out to them and their families. To the spirit of Mumbai – HATS OFF! I rest my case.
PS: Out of all the books that I’ve read, this one made me cry. Yes I did.
Eruptions in my deranged head 
I watched the film Black Friday…it was well shot and it is a sad thing that the case is still going on after nearly 17 years after the incident took place…
Very true…. This is an amazing book….. worth reading again and again….
Black Friday movie was equally commendable. Seriously, this shit was very well planned !!…unfortunate!.. 😦
Hey had seen the movie and liked it…didnt know it was based on a book. Will read it 🙂
Hi Sid!
Book and movie. Both are based on what happened in Mumbai. Cant bear to think about it! But one of those rare cases where in the movie is as good as the book. Else, it just turns out to be one sad excuse of being a movie! I’m not a fan of movies that are made based on books. Like The Da Vinci Code. What was that????!!
PS: Welcome to my page.