Bombings

Hello everyone

I just wanted to post that I am safe and healthy here. Last night, two bombs went off in the temple of Hanumaun (the monkey temple, indians call it), and two bombs went off in the railway station, and two were disarmed in Godolia, which is the downtown shopping district here. What to say about something like this...Although the bombs hit the religious center of the community that I am living in, all the Indians are being really laid-back about it. the monkey temple is the temple that my host family goes to regularly, and where the wedding was. Although they were disturbed by it, by the time I went to bed, their reactions were "koibatne. It is a part of the life." All the indian people around us are being very protective of us, in a sweet kind of way--although our program leaders assured us it was safe to be out, my mythology guruji, who is an old, old, man almost insisted on escorting me back to the program house when I visited him this morning. It makes me sad and angry, though--these people do not diserve this violence in their lives. Although this is the first time this has happened here, their reactions are those of people who have lived through much violence and are hardened to it--throughout india, there is daily violence between hindus and muslims, and this is something of an extension of it.

THere was some fear of communal violence, or retaliation, but the city is calm and peaceful today. Many shops are closed, but some are open even though the goverment said that they should not be. The political talk is reconciliatory.

I think that my program leaders have been handling it well--they are concerned but not hysterical. Unless something bad happens, we will stay here in Banares until we planned to leave on April 3rd or whatever.
peace
jed