The terrorist attack on Mumbai's landmark Taj Mahal Palace and Tower on November 26, 2008 is one of those horrifying and haunting incidents that has ingrained itself into the Indian psyche.
The continuous television coverage, visuals of billowing smoke and sounds of gunshots, the tragedy of those of who lost their lives — these are not easily forgotten. For most, these are an outsider's take on the gruesome act of violence.
Ankur Chawla's book, 14 Hours: An Insider's Account of the 26/11 Taj Attack, is exactly as the title suggests — a survivor's account of the mayhem that changed the face of terror in India. The author was an operations management trainee at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Colaba in 2008. 14 Hours is a portrayal of the horror that was the Taj attack and the dedication of the hotel staff, who put service before self, trying their best to help their
guests.
A self-proclaimed hater of South Indian food, Chawla was initially chosen to become a member of the inaugural team at a new Taj property in Trivandrum. As he "…just didn't want to go down south", and "…as one of those who prefer to die of hunger rather than digest a dosa with sambhar", the author thought of putting in his papers. Instead, a call came for a new opening — Mumbai, and a relieved Chawla jumped at the opportunity.
And it was in Mumbai that Chawla witnessed the terrifying sight of a man being shot. He writes, "…I could not believe I was not hallucinating. Working in a hotel prepares you for many things, but not this." It was the first indication of things gone wrong.
The narrative shifts back and forth, juxtaposing between the hotel staff's attempts to keep their guests calm, while trying to keep themselves composed. The author has expertly depicted the victims' fear of being caught by the terrorists, with the shadow of death looming large. Moreover, with terrorists so close at hand, Chawla tries to help his colleagues restore some semblance of normalcy. Even if it meant a little white lie to reassure them that things were not as bad as they imagined them to be.
Throughout the narrative, the author starts thinking about his parents, and with the lurking danger, starts remembering odd details of his life that only fear of the unknown can bring forth.
According to Chawla, though calls from friends and other contacts was welcome in some ways at the time, it posed the threat of terrorists hearing the whispered exchanges. In the form of these conversations and fast-paced descriptions does Chawla present the feelings of his co-workers — their fear of being caught in a nightmarish situation, and their attempts to deal with it. Resilience helps them play a game of carrom to forget the impending danger; practicality and presence of mind help them evacuate the guests.
Eventually, Chawla makes his way out of the hotel safe. The dream-state, in which he finds himself then, is pretty convincingly presented. Attention to the nuances of writing and improved proofreading would have helped. However, 14 Hours does not claim to be a literary work, nor is it a memoir of an accomplished writer. Chawla tells it as it is — the ordeals of survival against fear and violence.
The continuous television coverage, visuals of billowing smoke and sounds of gunshots, the tragedy of those of who lost their lives — these are not easily forgotten. For most, these are an outsider's take on the gruesome act of violence.
Ankur Chawla's book, 14 Hours: An Insider's Account of the 26/11 Taj Attack, is exactly as the title suggests — a survivor's account of the mayhem that changed the face of terror in India. The author was an operations management trainee at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Colaba in 2008. 14 Hours is a portrayal of the horror that was the Taj attack and the dedication of the hotel staff, who put service before self, trying their best to help their
guests.
A self-proclaimed hater of South Indian food, Chawla was initially chosen to become a member of the inaugural team at a new Taj property in Trivandrum. As he "…just didn't want to go down south", and "…as one of those who prefer to die of hunger rather than digest a dosa with sambhar", the author thought of putting in his papers. Instead, a call came for a new opening — Mumbai, and a relieved Chawla jumped at the opportunity.
And it was in Mumbai that Chawla witnessed the terrifying sight of a man being shot. He writes, "…I could not believe I was not hallucinating. Working in a hotel prepares you for many things, but not this." It was the first indication of things gone wrong.
The narrative shifts back and forth, juxtaposing between the hotel staff's attempts to keep their guests calm, while trying to keep themselves composed. The author has expertly depicted the victims' fear of being caught by the terrorists, with the shadow of death looming large. Moreover, with terrorists so close at hand, Chawla tries to help his colleagues restore some semblance of normalcy. Even if it meant a little white lie to reassure them that things were not as bad as they imagined them to be.
Throughout the narrative, the author starts thinking about his parents, and with the lurking danger, starts remembering odd details of his life that only fear of the unknown can bring forth.
According to Chawla, though calls from friends and other contacts was welcome in some ways at the time, it posed the threat of terrorists hearing the whispered exchanges. In the form of these conversations and fast-paced descriptions does Chawla present the feelings of his co-workers — their fear of being caught in a nightmarish situation, and their attempts to deal with it. Resilience helps them play a game of carrom to forget the impending danger; practicality and presence of mind help them evacuate the guests.
Eventually, Chawla makes his way out of the hotel safe. The dream-state, in which he finds himself then, is pretty convincingly presented. Attention to the nuances of writing and improved proofreading would have helped. However, 14 Hours does not claim to be a literary work, nor is it a memoir of an accomplished writer. Chawla tells it as it is — the ordeals of survival against fear and violence.