MUMBAI: Journalism students too are doing their bit for the victims of the 26/11 attacks. Students from the Journalism Mentor programme have compiled a book that focuses on all those officers who laid down their lives while defending the city.

Balasaheb Chandrashekhar Bhonsale, assistant police sub-inspector with Maharashtra Police, was out on the roads of Mumbai with super cops Vijay Salaskar and Hemant Karkare on the night of 26th November 2008. Their car was ambushed by the terrorists. Balasaheb Chandrashekhar Bhonsale is survived by his wife and two sons .Though, the state government has  allotted his family a petrol pump in Panvel,the land it is built on has been leased to them for only 7 yrs. But for his son Deepak Bhonsle, what's worse is that his father's efforts have not been recognized.

 Deepak Bhonsale said, "My father and 5-6 others were in the same car, but the 3 got Ashok Chakra and the rest didn’t. All we expect is this, we get appreciated for what we have done but when it doesn’t happen it truly hurts a lot. “

18 policemen died trying to defend the city of Mumbai, but after one year, for most of these 18 martyrs have just become part of statistics, nameless faceless numbers, that no one remembers. But some students from the Journalism Mentor program decided to give a face, a personality, and a story to these 18 brave men. These students have put together 26/11 as a book that documents the lives of those 18 police officers and aspires to help their families realise their unfulfilled dreams.

 Sonalee Parmar said, "We wanted to focus more on the unfinished dreams of the people… that is what would help get funds .We were all hoping that through this book certain corporates will jump in and try to collect some funds or pool in some money to help these families because they have been compensated for but needs don’t end they have widows and kids who have, lost their father.. So extra money can always help.”

Priced at Rs 500, and available in three versions, English, Hindi and Marathi, the book will  be available at all the Crossword and Landmark outlets in the city. For these journalism students...it has been a great learning experience. Interacting with the bereaved families and reconstructing the stories of their heroes...has been an immensely satisfying exercise.