November 2009 will be the first anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and SAJA will be tracking U.S.-based efforts to mark the anniversary. Here's the first item we have come across.
Actually, it's two efforts in one. The first part is a website and nonprofit called WGYB, Mumbai: We Got Your Back:
The terrorist attacks on Mumbai in late November 2008 inspired Mortimer Singer, Waris Ahluwalia, and Tina Bhojwani to create an organization (WGYB!) that will highlight the wonders and beauty of communities like India that have been negatively affectedby traumatic events.
The second part is a book, "To India With Love: New York to Mumbai" by Waris Ahluwalia, Tina Bhojwani, & Mortimer Singer (Assouline Publishing, Nov. 2009).
Ask people who have been there, and they’ll all tell you India is like no other place in the world, a land that stirs every one of the five senses and stays in your heart forever. It is this India that brought together three friends, Waris Ahluwalia, Mortimer Singer and Tina Bhojwani to raise funds, spirits, and awareness for the victims of the attacks in Mumbai in November, 2008.
The editors set out to create a scrapbook–collecting personal photos, stories, and memories from people who, like themselves, love India. The contributors include 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. This book declares to Mumbai and the whole country that we are all thinking of them and support them: hence To India, with Love: New York to Mumbai. Profits from the sales of the book will go to support families affected by the attacks. This book can truly make a difference, by opening eyes to the wonders of India and by once again letting the pen—or a camera—dominate the sword.
About the Authors:
Born in India and raised in New York, Waris Ahluwalia creates jewels for the House of Waris and hopes to share with the world the impact India has on his heart and soul.Tina Bhojwani is a New York-based fashion executive specializing in international business development. She is currently the senior vice president for Theory LLC.
Mortimer Singer is senior vice president of Marvin Traub Associates, wherehe has focused on, among other projects, advising Indian retailers on bringing Western brands to India.
More information at the links above. Press contact for the book: kelly[at]assouline.com; press contact for the nonprofit: msinger[at]marvintraub.com.
