Or some blogger saying he was falling into some manhole/morass and someone pulled him back from the verge.

This seems to suggest that in most other places even if they noticed that you were about to fall they couldn’t care less or worse still they might shove you into the hole themselves – which you know is asinine.

Thank you for your tone at the end of this post. I had the typical wannabe-concerned attitude when I first read all the stories (and even sent off a frivolous tip to SM), but when I spoke to my dad about the situation, my attitude was pretty much rebuked. He kept reminding me how resilient the spirit is in India and B’bay, and though it is a great tragedy, it could likely be much worse elsewhere. He went on to say how he had seen some crazy times in India in the days before ubiquitous media, during which people just survived, helped each other out, and brushed their shoulders off. Basically some points similar to what you said in the post and comments. I’ve been reminded now that concern is not synonymous with understanding.

First there are torrential rains in Maharashtra(now spreading to Gujarat)(800 dead), then there is a fire on ONGC’s off-shore rig(10 dead) and then a bomb blast on a train in UP(10 dead).

Just another day in India?!

To elaborate on something “tilo” [#14] said, it is human decency and things anyone would do without a second thought.

What is very different about Bombay, from other cities, is the tenacity and resilience of the city. Very few cities have it.

92% of Bombay had reported to work on March 13, 1993, a day after the bomb blasts.

Subways started running 12 hours after the 9/11 blasts in NYC.

That’s the “fighting spirit” of the people who live in these cities, which makes them different.

London was closed the day after 7/7. I am not discounting the fact that the bomb blasts there were not as tragic, or scary; but having been in both bombay in 1993 and NYC in 2001, i think i speak with some perspective on the topic.

Thats what really is impressive about Bombay.

My poor servant Neeta came to my door crying saying the hut in which she was a paying guest has crumbled. All she could save was some of her clothes. She asked me permission to wash them since they were full of gutter water. So she washed them and has hung them to dry. She had not slept all night. I gave her some food and told her to sleep on the diwan in the living room and I covered her with a sheet. She was very thankful.

No one else she said would have shown her so much consideration. I told her to come back and sleep tonight if she couldn’t find a place in her slum area. She was really very appreciative.

Not to pick on any blogger’s mom but from Comment 1′s link – I am not what to think about this account.

Is this another account of how great the Mumbaikar’s are? To me it seems like just common human decency, things anyone would do without a second thought.

Maybe again it is the words ‘permission’ etc. which rankled and yes I don’t think the woman had anywhere to go , so you can come back if you want is rather superflous…..