To India With Love

I chanced upon this book on Amazon a couple of days back. A year after 26/11, 'To India with love.. From New York to Mumbai' is an attempt to pay tribute, raise awareness and funds for the victims of the attacks on November 2008. With a cover so captivating, I love the way the pages have been put together almost like a scrapbook- photos and snippets, stories and experiences.
What's more interesting are the contributors - famous personalities from all over the world, from all walks of life. Some of them being Wes Anderson, Adrien Brody, Francesco Clemente, Anthony Edwards, Jeanine Lobell, Natalie Portman, Yves Carcelle, Jean Touitou, Owen Wilson, Laura Wilson, Cynthia Rowley, James Ivory, Matthew Williamson, Rachel Roy, Tory Burch, Padma Lakshmi, Shobhaa De, Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani.

It's kitsch, it's colorful, vibrant and light hearted, yet making a difference in it's own little way. Profit from the sales of the book will go to support families affected by the attacks.

Quoting one of the co- authors of the book, Mortimer Singer- "I feel that there is a certain organized chaos to the book. It is a scrap book which it full of energy and surprises, not unlike Mumbai. I think that was the idea, for it to be transportational"

'Combat terror through art', has become the public's new found weapon in the city as well. The ongoing and hugely successful 'Mumbai Wall Project' saw Mumbaikars express themselves in color to paint the one-km wall in Chandanwadi in Marine Lines, on the 26th, spreading the message of anti terror, and paying tribute to the city's heroes.