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Journalism of Courage
When India faced one of the worst terrorist attacks,an anxious nation watched The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower,Mumbai,billowing fire and black smoke for days. Unwittingly,this captivating Indo-Saracenic structure facing the Arabian Sea became the symbol of Indias fight against terrorism and Mumbais resilience. The Taj Mahal Palace has been a living monument and a symbol of the citys strength, said Ratan Tata,chairman of Tata Sons,during the recent release of a coffee-table book,The Taj at Apollo Bunder by Charles Allen and Sharada Dwivedi.
The Taj had once become the second home for the countrys Maharajas. It was also a preferred stop for celebrities visiting the city,from actor Gregory Peck to Beatle George Harrison. The book narrates how a special bed had to be made to accommodate the very tall Peck. The pages hold interesting nuggets like George Harrison of the Beatles growing his moustache and trimming his hair to remain incognito during his stay at the hotel with wife Patti. But he had to flee to Srinagar when news of his visit leaked out.
When another Beatle,John Lennon,checked in with his then-girlfriend Yoko Ono,they chose to remain locked up in their suite for five days.
Thus,despite a self-congratulatory tone,the book is important in tracing the cultural and social changes in India.
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