The Siege: 68 Hours Inside the Taj Hotel

Before I start my review, I want to write two sentences about myself. I was born Bombay in 1958 and left for the US in 1980 with an undergraduate degree from IIT Bombay. I am now retired and Sugar Land, a beautiful suburb of Houston, is my adopted home. During my years in India, I did not travel outside Bombay much as we could not afford expensive vacations. I am saying all this because this review is from the lens of a Bombayman. I visited the Taj several times but only after my job in my adopted country, the US, now allowed me to have money for some lunches there.So, I want to warn everyone that this is a very very emotional review. If one of the other cities of India had been attacked, it may not have been as painful. These incidents happened over 8 years back. But thiis book, that I have read twice and the Audible narration that I also purchased brought them back into sharp focus. I also watched the Bollywood documentary Mumbai terror attacks during the days I was listening to the book. The book is incredibly detailed and a product of an exhaustive research for four years. It details mostly what happened at the Taj. The other targets receive very little attention. I was able to find more information on the attack at the Jewish center about an hour ago. The Rabbi and his 6 month pregnant wife were brutally tortured. I wept and I still have tears falling down my face. What kind of monstrous indoctrination produced these brutes? The book itself deals, among other victims, about the Taj General Manager Kang's family. His wife and two beautiful boys were burnt alive on the 6th floor of the main hotel. There is even a picture of them taken at the hotels professional studio 1 hour before the gun men entered. Very hard to see it. But Mr. Kang never left his post, even knowing what fate had befallen his loved ones. The fate of Andreas Liveras, a man so full of life, is also hard to accept. Similarly Faustian Martis, a long time waiter, at the Taj perishes but his daughter Florence is saved by Army commandos. A family portrait had me in tears as Mrs. Martis, a Christian, is wearing a saree and a necklace called a mangalsutra worn by Hindu married women. Faustian, if there is a god, you are with Jesus now.I do have a few minor quibbles about the book. The suburb I grew up in, Bandra, is wrongly shown to the south of Malabar Hill. It is well to the north of it. Also, the Bandra Worli sea link was not completed even in February 2009. Now as regards, the Audible narration, in the main it is quite good. Unfortunately the narrator has made no attempt to learn the Indian pronunciations, which really detracts from his effort. Even then I highly recommend getting it especially since Amazon has a special price if you own the Kindle book version. Just listening to it and watching the pages turn brings the book to life. It also made me that much more emotional. As the book tells us what is happening, I was praying that all these people would get saved.I can talk about the incompetence and utterly disgraceful response of the Indian and the Maharashtra state government, the despicable behavior of the Bombay police commissioner Hasan Ghafoor and his WWII vintage rifles equipped men (a few courageously gave their lives even with their primitive weapons facing highly trained terrorists) but other reviewers have done that in detail. I am not sure India has learned any lesson from this and is now better prepared. Also, although Pakistan denies any involvement, it seems hard to believe. If any of you readers want to get more information, watch the Bollywood film. It is shocking and the brutality is shown in stark detail. It is available on iTunes for $2.99 in HD. Finally, I want to thank the authors for writing this book. The product of the inquiry held by the Indian government in comparison was pathetic.

In November 2008, for a few days, we watched on TV how 2 hotels (where I have stayed several times) were under attack from terrorists. Inspite of the enormity of the event, there are no comprehensive enquiry reports in the public domain in India. Till I read the book, I knew very little about about the motivations of the terrorists and how the people caught in the sttack and security agencies dealt with the challege. My knowledge was restricted to what was reported in the media.The book is a gripping read and after a long time I found a book that occupied all my free time, till it was finished.This book centres around 2.5 themese. One theme is around how Kasab and others were recruited, trained and one day found themselves conducting an operation in Mumbai. As a part of this narrative, one read about the David Headley and his relationship with the Pakistani and US establishments. Wov, how proud his hadlers would be that they will ashamed telling their children that their actions contibuted to this incident.Second theme is around the people who found themselves caught in the carnage. For lots of them, it was not just a "moment" of near death experience. It was about spending hours in the rooms, in the lounges, in the restaurants knowing that death was around lurking. Really moving are the stories of the staff and chefs of the Taj Hotel and how they dealt with the crisis. Reading this, I thought that Arjun and Krisha would be proud that there was a generation of Indians (leading in a way a mundane middle class existence) but who rose to the occassion in carrying out their duty selflessly.0.5 theme is around the role of the police and the secuity agencies. Only, some motivated and dedicated police officers are willing to fight it out. However they kept waiting for re-inforcements that never arrived. As always the system failed miserably and no heads rolled. As a politician said "bade bade shaharon main, aisi chotti chotti cheezen hoti rahti hain". His party now supports the current Government in Maharashtra/ India.....so we continue to be in safe and capable hands.Reading the book, I felt very sad and angry....sad that terrorists like Kasab (rebels without a cause and not really comprehending how they have been used) killed innocent people who have done them no harm. Very angry at the Pakistani establishment for what they did and at the Indian establishment at how they reacted to the operation.I am glad that this book was written. This book is testament to the fact that without independent journalism, no liberal democracy can survive. If not for the authors and some others, we would never know the truth of the attacks. Those who do not learn from history are condemmed to repeat it.

R.I.P to all those that lost lives families and loved ones in November 2008.I recently visited Mumbai and ate at the Leopold cafe when my aunt told me and showed me the places where these attacks had happened my curiosity wanted to know more. I found this book which was stunning, in the sense so well written it made you feel like we knew these people like they were are own. This was one book I couldn't put down and read cover to cover and seriously it's so well written!

If this book would have cost Rs.2,500/- I would have paid. If for God's sake I would have not been working, I would have begged or would have taken loan from my father to purchase this book. Yes the book is "that" good.Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott has down a commendable job. In some way they have risked their life to write their book. In the Afterword section they have mentioned about their tenure in Pakistan and interviewing Lashkar-e-Toiba as well as visiting the training camps to know about their rebel. Few points about this book:(1) It is not an ordinary book.(2) On many occasions you have to consult the internet and know the history and the acronyms and(3) The book is very strong in terms of vocabulary. This is no ordinary English -- you have to consult dictionary several times, both technical and literary terms. The authors have used very strong vocabulary.The book would:(a) Help you know a detailed history of The Taj, Mumbai(b) Understand the philosophy, hierarchy and structure of Lashkar-e-Toiba and similar other organizations(c) About commandos and their gallant activities(d) The plan and execution and a detailed activities of the members of the Taj and Oberoi – how they have helped to save lives of people that nightThe book starts with “Dramatis Personae” – the guests and diners Will Pike and Kelly Doyle, Andreas Liveras, Sabina Saikia – the famous food critic, Kuttalam Rajagopalan Ramamoorthy banking executive from Tamilnadu (who faced the attack and was tortured), Amit and Varsha Thadani – came at the wedding reception in the Crystal were saved by fireman from the window with the hydraulic ladder and many other.The book also gives a detailed account of the terrorists David Headley, Ajmal Kasad and the other members of Lashkar-e-Toiba.The book starts with the chapter Jadu Ghar (House of Magic) – different personalities settling a busy morning. The authors provide almost in “clinical details” the layout and architecture of The Taj, its’ history founded in 1902, how the building developed and how the internal architecture and the internal rooms and decoration evolved. In the chapter “Prince David” – the book details on the childhood and the life history of David Headley, born as Daood Gilani, his involvement in the drug cycle and how he provided a detailed map of The Taj to the Lashkar. The authors have done an excellent job to carry out the witness, even fake email id(s) that they used from Mumbai to get the connection.The chapter “Salaam Alaikum” starts with the attack, the CST and then the Leopold Café which underwent sufficient damage. Many people got killed and in this book you would almost see, events unfolding before your eyes. You would fall in love, feel sympathetic with the hostages and would whimper in the pain of the sufferings. Intelligence, desperately trying to intercept the caller…….They could not recognize who is calling. The attack at Leopold Café, followed the one in The Taj, Oberoi and Nariman point almost got the entire nation on the run.The books also examine the radicalisation of the youth and how they have been fed by the idea of hatred, anger and religion. Levy and Scott actually takes you into the journey of the attack, crossing the borders and entering the Indian water, how they hijacked the boat and then…………..The rest is history.The fight was a fierce one – the gunshots were among the alleys, behind the doors in the kitchen. Lot of chefs were executed in the Kitchen Massacre. People like Amit Peshave, saw the terrorists gunning down the halls and they have been patient to help their eminent guests. The complexity of the Taj baffled everybody. Police officers, commandos, guests, staffs – they were unable to understand where to run and where to hide – yet the gunmen almost had the blueprint in their memory; their mentors guiding them from remote.Karamvir Kang could not save his family. Uday and Samar Kang (photograph you would find in the book) along with his wife died. Karamvir saved at least 100 lives. Amit Peshave, former manager at the Shamiana restaurant saved many lives in the hospital. The author explains the massacre at the Nariman House and then the fierce battle . At one point the fidayeen attacks were so intense that they were unable to win over. The author points out at one point of bringing down the entire Taj with air support. The MARCOS were prepared.Officials died, a fierce battle took place, when the commandos finally took down the gunmen. Taj was saved. Most important is the “Afterword”. The authors here give their experience about how they met each officials, sharing their memories, nightmare and brave act of saving people. The desperation were immediate, the grief was insurmountable, the loss was unaccountable – yet the zeal of human beings to survive made it possible. In the memories of the survivors it would always remain accountable, for Indians….. Yes, we made it possible, to survive and defeat the evil from the good.The book is really something to read. The authors have done an extraordinary job to bring to us the saga of the Taj.Jai Hind !!

This book gives you insight of issues which our government takes lightly and created a disaster on 26/11 due to the negligence. They provided an unbiased view of the incident. The story revolves around the taj attack cause it was a central part of attack and the seige ended there. It also provides not only account of victims of the attacks but aslo conspirators and the brave officers who handled it and some died doing. It shows how unprepared we were at that time and how our bureaucracy failed to handle it properly dispite all the counter measures at hand. At the end it will make you think, how much we are safe now? And after finishing it you will not be the same person again...

As the book is written by persons who were actually present there in Taj in the capacity of layman, the book gives actual descriptions of events happening all over that area! Thrilling experience to read it!.Delivery by amazon was quite fast! 1.5 days if actual time is to be considered. Packing was poor but handelling was good! Hence book was not damaged!.No bookmark received ☹️

This is a very well researched account of live incident.Both the authors need to be congratulated for this.I had seen the whole attack on various news channels, thanks to 24 hour news channels.There are few things which are striking; the planning done by Let is very well documented.The lackadaisical approach and response by Taj management and Tatas is very much visible.Till now we knew about NSG stories of courage and valour but now with this story we know few more people who were involved like Vishwas Nangre Patil, Rajvardhan, Amit Peshve and the guestsIf proper steps would have been taken by Taj management things would not have been different. The Taj management was warned by DCP Vishwas Nangre Patil but was ignored by them a sad but ultimate truth.We came to know some new things about new things about the Mumbai attack and Adrian Levy (Author), Cathy Scott-Clark (Author) need to be congratulated for this.