E-Paper
Students freeze at CST to pay homage
A little after 5pm on Monday, the scene outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was the same as usual with commuters moving in and out, oblivious to what was about to happen. But in the middle of the quick-moving crowd were 100 students from Hinduja College, who suddenly turned into living statues.
A little after 5pm on Monday, the scene outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was the same as usual with commuters moving in and out, oblivious to what was about to happen. But in the middle of the quick-moving crowd were 100 students from Hinduja College, who suddenly turned into living statues.
The youngsters had organised a freeze mob to pay homage to the victims of the November 26, 2008, terror attacks.
“The martyrs stopped terror and saved us; let us stop for a few minutes out of respect for them,” said Aryal Shyamal, a third-year Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) student, after the mob unfroze. “This is to create awaken the people and remind them not to forget those who saved us on that night.”
The students also staged a street play, enacting a step-by-step portrayal of the night —from the time two terrorists started to fire at people at CST to Ajmal Kasab’s capture.
“What was the fault of the people who died?” asked one of the performers. Others carried posters and banners espousing unity and caution, as a curious crowd gathered to watch the performance in action.
Appropriately enough, the freeze mob and street play took place near the memorial built for two martyrs of the 1857 uprising who lost their lives in the face of British canon fire.
Students lit 166 candles at the same spot, one for every person who died in the 26/11 attacks.
The freeze mob was one of the activities in the build up to the college’s BMS festival Nexus, which will come around in January.
“We were planning a flash mob, but then we did some research and got an idea of a freeze mob. We thought let’s do something unique and do something that will help people remember those who lost their lives in the attacks,” said Yashesh Shah, another BMS student.
