26/11 - MODEL EMPLOYER - TAJ AND A GENTLEMAN CALLED RATAN TATA

Dear (s)

See this magnificient edifice which was in picture but there is more news than thought of..

There are various reports on 26/11 – terrorism at Mumbai but this is slightly different. Two hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and the Oberoi Trident, were amongst the four locations targeted. Six explosions were reported at the Taj hotel and one at the Oberoi Trident. During the attacks, both hotels were surrounded by Rapid Action Force personnel and Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and National Security Guards (NSG) commandos.

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Touted as landmark hotel of India, Taj has 582 rooms including 49 suites which are all centrally air conditioned. There are rooms are divided into different wings according to the facilities provided. There are also mini bar, television with satellite coverage Guest have the option to choose a room that has a view of city interiors, the pool or the Gateway of India and Arabian sea. The heritage wing rooms are designed in such away that no two rooms are similar. The Suites,are decorated with antiques and paintings from the bygone era that takes the guest back to those royal days. It is widely believed that Tata decided to build the luxurious hotel after he was refused entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time, Parke's Apollo Hotel, as it was restricted to 'whites only'. However, this story has been challenged by some commentators that suggest that Jamsedji Tata was unlikely to have been concerned with 'revenge' against his British adversaries. This Hotel was under attack...........

There are suggestions that the attackers were receiving television broadcasts and were gaining information. By 29th all were flushed out. It was here that Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of NSG lost his life attempting evacuate Commando Sunil Yadav who was hit in the leg by a bullet during the rescue operations at Taj.

The Indian Hotels Company and its group collectively known as Taj were incorporated by the founder Jamshedji Tata. It is century old. At Mumbai, Ratan Tata lit a candle paying tribute to the 31 slain guests and employees. Rataan Naval Tata (28/12/1937) is the present chairman of Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate founded by Jamsedji Tata and consolidated and expanded by later generations of his family. He was born to Soonoo and Naval Hormusji Tata. Ratan is the great grandson of Tata group founder Jamsetji Tata.

All this sound common. Hotel, a luxurious one at that, targeted by terrorists, was the centre of all media coverage – candles being lit – what is great about this ? Does this deserve a news item at all ?

The authenticity of the news going around may not be guaranteed but most likely to be true, if one believes the virtues of TATA.

With regards - S Sampathkumar.