The BEYOND CARLTON Memorial 2022 – Music, Fire Safety and Life-saving perspective
A musical tribute highlighting the theme Bangalore for Bangaloreans marked the 12th BEYOND CARLTON Memorial event held on 26 February 2022, at the Bangalore International Centre. A soul-stirring performance by Vasundhara Das and the group brought harmony and meaning to the theme Bangalore for Bangaloreans. The performance was a fulsome tribute in support of BEYOND CARLTON – started by Bangalorean – Uday Vijayan – with the aim to create lasting change for citizen fire safety. His 12-year journey, thus far, has demonstrated relentless efforts to enlighten both citizens and government on the need for stronger fire safety awareness, and practice. The evening was dedicated to – Akhil Uday, Benzie Kumar, Fayaz Pasha, Madan Purohit, Rajesh Subramanian, Siddhartha Padam, Sunil Iyer, Surabhi Joshi, and R. Savitha, all of whom did not survive the Carlton Towers fire on 23 Feb 2010. The Memorial called a minute’s silence in memory of these precious lives while renewing the organization’s commitment to the mission that no life is lost due to a fire.
The Memorial event tabled important conversations around fire safety as an important aspect of the school’s safety infrastructure, and the need for additional Burns Wards, challenges and changing scenarios. Speaking on these aspects were Kevin Pope, Principal Frank Anthony Public School, Bengaluru and Sumit Khanna, Executive Council Member, BEYOND CARLTON. Also, Dr. Vijay Joseph – Professor, Plastic Surgery Department, Specialist at the Burns Ward, St. John’s Hospital, Bengaluru – spoke with Cheryl Rebello, CEO, BEYOND CARLTON.
Another poignant part of the evening was BEYOND CARLTON’s recognition of five firemen, identified by the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services, for exemplary service rendered in fire accidents. The mementoes were handed over by Uday Vijayan, Managing Trustee and President, BEYOND CARLTON.
Key advances in activities of BEYOND CARLTON were presented. A significant impact was the declaration by Karnataka State Fire & Emergency Services to dedicate 23rd February every year as Fire Awareness and Prevention Day in memory of the lives lost at the Carlton Towers fire. On the 23rd of February 2022, the Karnataka Fire & Emergency Services offered a minute’s silence as a tribute to lives lost at Carlton Towers. State-wide, a series of programs were held – mock drills, and fire safety awareness sessions across schools, offices, and public spaces. It clearly demonstrated a remarkable collective exercise in bringing forth the scale of change – gradually emerging, and collective expertise certainly converging.
Impact
23rd February marked in full fervor across the State as Fire Awareness and Prevention Day. Impact of successful advocacy by BEYOND CARLTON to grow awareness amongst citizens on preventive aspects of fire safety, as well as response.
