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Memories and make-believe

Glorious skyline The Taj Mahal Hotel flanked by the Gateway of India is the enduring symbol of Mumbai

The city prided itself as one that never slept and primarily as one that is SAFE even in the wee hours of the night. A week after the fateful Wednesday, the Indian tricolour hoisted at the Taj Mahal Palace stands as a symbol of resilience. The Leopold Café opened its door to regulars on Sunday, who came back to the café for coffee and snacks, sporting t-shirts with slogans that thumbed down terror. Frequent travellers and Mumbai-breds who made Hyderabad their new home, in the mean time, are inadvertently revisiting memories of South Bombay. A politically incorrect usage ‘Bombay’ might be, but for old timers, the Taj, Colaba, Oberoi, Leopold Café and the Gateway of India still constitute South Bombay.

The Taj Mahal Palace is more than a luxury hotel for hospitality consultant Kaiz Patel, who has grown up in Colaba. His memories of Taj go back to 25 years when his mother worked at the hotel; he cites the hotel as an inspiration to enter the hospitality industry. “To me, the Shamiana, Harbour bar and Wasabi bring back memories. I’ve been associated with the hotel in my professional capacity too. I admire the central dome, the huge staircase and the crystal ball room. It has stood the test of time and I’m sure the Tatas will restore it to its former glory. The Leopold cafe was where I met friends in college days,” he shares. Senior consultant and former banker Suresh Kumar called off his wedding anniversary celebrations and his son’s birthday over the weekend. “My wife is from Mumbai and I spent 15 years working in the city. We used to frequent the Shamiana restaurant on dates. For professional reasons too, I have stayed at Taj and Oberoi for several conferences. In a city like Mumbai that’s short of space, the Gateway of India and the lane leading to Taj are places where young couples spent their evenings, taking photographs against the magnificent structure. I’d love to visit the place when it’s open again.”

Coffee at the Taj, a buggy ride near the Gateway of India or just watching the sun-kissed view of the hotel as the tourist boats speed away towards Elephanta Caves are what memories of Mumbai are synonymous with. Former journalist Kaniza Garari recalls the times spent working in Mumbai. “The Gateway of India and Colaba were considered the safest places to be in. There was a sense of pride while visiting the area for work or with friends. My husband and I come from Mumbai and have spent many days driving around the area at night. My friends there are shaken up and angry to think that terrorists barged into their home and scarred it,” she says, the anger in her voice palpable.

The heritage building is a symbol of aspiration for marketing professional Aparna Ganti. She saw the hotel as a child, as she took a boat ride in the Arabian Sea. She hoped she would grow up and visit the Taj. “I went back after many years, especially the old wing, and it was like visiting a museum. Every wall, every room had an old world, royal feel to it. Like someone rightly said, the Taj Mahal hotel is to Mumbai, what the empire state building is to New York.” She intends to revisit the Taj on her next visit. “It’s a place of national pride, and always will be.”

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