How about using the first column of 2009 to write about an experience that will spread hope, happiness and good thoughts?

I spent the last 10 days of December in Mumbai, and participated in two events associated with the terror attacks of 26/11. The first was on December 21, when the Taj Mahal Hotel reopened its tower wing. The solemnity of the ceremony was made more memorable by Ratan Tata’s defiant words: “The enemies of India may have hurt us, but they will never knock us down.” The longest applause, of course, was reserved for the hotel employees who showed exemplary courage and dedication to duty even when death stared them in their faces. They were led by general manager Karanbir Kang, whose name has already joined the many legends of the Taj. He was busy saving guests on the ground floor, even as his own wife and two children were trapped in fire—and later found dead—in their top-floor room.

Another place, many more legends. On December 26, I attended a commemorative function near Nariman House, also in Colaba. The world watched a never-seen-before commando operation here against Pakistani terrorists, who had stormed a Jewish prayer centre, killing six inmates, one commando, Gajendra Singh, and four locals in the vicinity. Two images will remain etched in the minds of TV viewers: National Security Guard’s black-cat commandos being abseiled from a helicopter on the terrace of Nariman House; and hundreds of local residents shouting ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ on the morning of November 29, as they bade a heartfelt goodbye to the commandos after they successfully completed the operation.

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