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She had the will. She had the guts. She had the zeal. Immediately on landing in India, US Secretary of State, Mrs. Rotham Hillary Clinton, she set her foot on the Hotel Taj, Mumbai. That Taj Hotel which was the target of 26/11 by diehard terrorists who wanted it to be turned into rubble and a grave for the hundreds of Indians and foreigners staying there. She could stay anywhere else too. But she displayed the spirit to stand by those who had stood firm on their post of duty to serve their guests as best as they should in normal situations. They did not fear for their life or for the life of their families. The hotel manager lost his wife and two children at the hands of terrorist bullets. Three female receptionists had been gunned down at the post of their duty. Many of the hotel staff were either killed or maimed. So is the story at the Trident Hotel. Yet, they were not rattled. They were not
The first thing on the morning after her late night arrival was to meet a few members of the Taj's brave hearts. She felt touched and privileged about meeting the staff, an executive present during the interaction said. She praised them for the courage they displayed during the attack and said she was moved by the Tree of Life, a six-foot metal sculpture in the lobby. The monument was the only part of the lobby that escaped destruction during the siege.
Before that she signed a memorial book in which guests expressed their sympathies over the death and destruction that took place during the attack. She did find time to glance over other's tributes.
Mrs. Clinton met Mr. Nitin Minocha, a chef, who had fractured his left arm during the 26/11 terror strike. She sympathized with him saying that she could gauge the pain he was feeling as she had injured her right shoulder as well. She made the staff proud by shaking hands with each one of them.
Her morning meeting's focus was on meeting those who were involved in rescuing guests at both the Taj and the Oberoi during 26/11. She met them at the Crystal Room in the heritage wing of the Taj. There were five representatives from the Trident Oberoi and more than 15 from the Taj, including the general manager Mr. Karambir Kang.
Last update : 05-08-2009 23:29
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