In a fine reflection of the never-say-die spirit of Mumbai, the Trident and Taj hotels reopened their doors to public on Sunday barely twenty five days after being targeted by terrorists in the worst ever militant strike in urban India. City residents turned up to witness the event and pay homage to those killed in the ghastly attack.
"We wanted to just express our solidarity and support," said one resident of Mumbai present at the reopening.
"The fear won't go away so soon but it feels good that the hotels have reopened so soon," said another resident.
The scene at the Taj Mahal hotel were equally emotional. Guests and well-wishers gathered as the Tower wing opened for the first time in three weeks.
"It's a very fitting and a moving image for all of us to remember," said author Shobhaa De present at the reopening of the Taj.
"If I was free and I wasn't shooting I would be here at the Trident with my sister and my niece. I'm not making a huge statement by coming here, the statement has been made by the hotel," said actor Rahul Bose.
For the staff of both hotels, preparing for the re-launch was a Herculean task, and one wrought with grit as it required them to banish memories of the terrible carnage and overcome the obvious paranoia to re-enter the Hotels.
And no one represents their grit and determination like Taj General Manager Karambir Kang. He lost his family in the siege, but that did not deter him from taking part in rescue efforts. And now he is back at work.
"My family are a part of the hotel now. They are there. That was my real strength. I need to be involved and will be in restoring it better than what it was," said Kang.
"The opening of this hotel will send a message that we will come back, the city of Mumbai will come back. The opening of old wing of hotel Taj will send the message that we can be hurt, but we can't be knocked down," said Taj hotels chairman, Ratan Tata.
(IBN inputs)
"We wanted to just express our solidarity and support," said one resident of Mumbai present at the reopening.
"The fear won't go away so soon but it feels good that the hotels have reopened so soon," said another resident.
The scene at the Taj Mahal hotel were equally emotional. Guests and well-wishers gathered as the Tower wing opened for the first time in three weeks.
"It's a very fitting and a moving image for all of us to remember," said author Shobhaa De present at the reopening of the Taj.
"If I was free and I wasn't shooting I would be here at the Trident with my sister and my niece. I'm not making a huge statement by coming here, the statement has been made by the hotel," said actor Rahul Bose.
For the staff of both hotels, preparing for the re-launch was a Herculean task, and one wrought with grit as it required them to banish memories of the terrible carnage and overcome the obvious paranoia to re-enter the Hotels.
And no one represents their grit and determination like Taj General Manager Karambir Kang. He lost his family in the siege, but that did not deter him from taking part in rescue efforts. And now he is back at work.
"My family are a part of the hotel now. They are there. That was my real strength. I need to be involved and will be in restoring it better than what it was," said Kang.
"The opening of this hotel will send a message that we will come back, the city of Mumbai will come back. The opening of old wing of hotel Taj will send the message that we can be hurt, but we can't be knocked down," said Taj hotels chairman, Ratan Tata.
(IBN inputs)
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