People from all walks of life came together to join the NDTV's Hands Together for India campaign in cities across the country and observed a two-minute silence for the lives lost to terrorism in the Mumbai attacks.

India stood together and united, sending out a strong message that we will not be cowed down by the kind of barbaric violence that terrorism stands for.

Across the country, Indians formed a human chain, showing solidarity towards the people who died in those attacks and strengthening India by standing hand in hand, next to each other. (In pics: How India observed the 26/11 anniversary)

The response to NDTV's campaign showed people not just in Mumbai but across the country stand united against terrorism.

There were people from all walks of life - politicians, actors, industrialists and even little children.

For once, the overriding sense of Indianness spoke out.

"Let people know no one can divide us. We are Indians first and Indians last," said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

"They cannot bend us. They cannot break us. They cannot divide us. That is what India's spirit is all about. We will succeed, we will always succeed and terrorists will always be defeated," said Farooq Abdullah, the Minister for Renewable Energy.

In Mumbai just outside the Trident hotel where 32 people were killed last year, people gathered in large numbers. For some it wasn't just a day of remembrance.

"It's just that how do we want to remember 26/11 till the last," said actor Vivek Oberoi.

In Chennai too, people came together to remember the martyrs of 26/11 and to say they are together with the rest of India in the fight against terror.

"The supreme sacrifice made by batchmate and friend Ashok Kamte will be remembered till the end, said a policeman.

In Bangalore, the hometown of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, one of the NSG commandos martyred in 26/11, the gathering was spontaneous.

People came out in huge numbers in Hyderabad too, a city that's no stanger to terror attacks.

The same sentiments echoed in Kashmir that has seen a lot of terrorism and violence.

"Nobody can understand it better than the people of Kashmir," said one of the persons who had gathered there.

A year has passed since the deadly terror strike that shook the country. So has anything changed since then in our preparedness?

"Policing can no more be what it was. It's a day of police reformation, a revival, and a correction. A new beginning has been made," said Kiran Bedi.

"Every individual needs to come forward to fight terrorism, said former Indian Captain Kapil Dev.

And so, India stood united to send out a strong message to the agents of terror, that their designs just won't succeed.