On the night of 26 November 2008, at around 10 pm, terrorists attacked Mumbai. They used guns, grenades, and bombs and went on a rampage killing people at CST station, Leopolds Cafe, the Taj Palace Hotel, and the Trident Oberoi. They also took over Nariman House — an important Jewish building.
Hostages were held for 48 hours. Many of them were killed. At the moment the death toll is nearly 200 people, including 22 foreigners. The attacks were predominantly aimed at foreigners — particularly British, Americans, and Jews who were taken hostage. Apparently the terrorists arrived from overseas by hijacked boat, and could be part of an Islamic militant group.
My husband and I happened to be watching the news when the attack happened. My sister-in-law, her husband, and her husband’s mother were here. I’d just prepared the equivalent of a three course meal — daal, bhaji, curry, and rice — to prove upon request to the mother that yes, an educated while girl can in fact cook.
At first, the news reports were saying that a gang related shooting had taken place out the front of Leopold’s Cafe. It didn’t sound very serious. It was only later that the truth emerged. Mumbai was under siege.
From the peaceful safety of my apartment on the other side of the city, it was hard to believe that such horrible events were occurring. However, media reports and messages of concern from my friends and colleagues confirmed it. That’s when it really started sinking in, and feeling a lot more close to home and personal.
The places that have been attacked are all so familiar to me. I’ve walked through the Taj Hotel with my family, met friends there, and admired its grandeur. My husband’s first job as a DJ was at Leopold’s Cafe upstairs, in the early 1990s when music was still played on cassette tapes in India. Now, Leopold’s has been turned into a blood bath. Many floors of the historic Taj Hotel have been destroyed by fire, along with paintings and artifacts. Not to mention the loss of so many lives.
I actually cried this morning while reading the newspaper. The wife and children of the Taj Hotel’s General Manager were trapped inside the hotel and killed. How can one recover from something like that? There have been so many other lost lives — employees, innocent guests and diners, and of course the brave troops who worked to free the hostages and eliminate the terrorists.
Sure, there have been terrorist attacks in India before while I’ve been here. This one feels so much more real though. I’ve never been exposed to such a thing so closely before. Normally I’ve been sheltered by being in another city, or country.
The calmness that I’ve felt about the terror attacks in India up until now is strange. It’s as if I’d accepted that this sort of thing happens here. If a terror attack happened in Australia, I’m sure there would be mass panic. It would be such an unexpected and unprecedented event. In India, there’s always some tragedy or happening. You become numb to it after a while. Life goes on as usual. It can’t not go on. There are so many people in India, all with things that they need to do and money they need to earn.
The events over the last few days haven’t simply been brushed off though. People are going about their business but there’s a definite air of gloom. Many flights have been cancelled because seats are empty. People just don’t want to fly. Bars and clubs are remaining closed because people don’t want to socialise. The whole situation has been so terribly tragic. I wonder what this world is coming to, and where it’s all going to end?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
We saw it all on TV and it was very very scary. I think its high time the Indian govt. woke up and did something. I simply do not understand why the govt. is still quiet about it. We have the proof that Pak did it and we are still quiet. I don’t know what that means. If it can happen in Mumbai, it can happen in Delhi too. It can happen anywhere anytime. It is scary. But what’s more scary is that India is still quiet.
I do not understand how many people more would have to be mercilessly killed in India before the govt. wakes up and takes some strict action against Pak.
Firstly, I think you express yourself very beautifully. I tried to go through most of your experiences which you have penned in this website.
I can very well understand and appreciate your shock and trauma of Mumbai 26/11 and its aftermath. It was an event which probably changed India’s outlook towards terrorism. At a personal level, I was traumatised and saddened by the death/ grievous injuries to policemen who were known to me personally, and who battled the terrorists on that fateful night of November. India may not be as safe as it was, say two decades ago, but certainly it is much better than most Indian metros.
All the best and do keep writing.
Hi Kumar, thanks for reading my blog and enjoying my writing.
That is so saddening that you personally knew people who were killed and injured in the terrorist attack. The damage and impact certainly stretched far and wide. It’s really upsetting that so many brave and innocent people were killed. Hopefully they are all resting in peace, but the shock of what happened will never really be forgotten. It’s changed so many lives. 
Hi Sharell. Yes one senior police officer who was killed was a client of mine. Another senior officer who fought the terrorists at the hospital and survived is a very dear friend. This attack changed Indian perspective of jihadi terrorism. It was a rude wake-up call for India and Indians in general, though observers and experts in this area have been warning about the possibility of such an attack.
Regards