Rebuilding the Taj

The prolonged siege of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Bombay has finally ended and compelling images of this city landmark have been erased from television screens. Before they fade away completely, here are some thoughts about the days ahead. Ninety-eight percent of the population of Bombay has always been excluded from the inside of the Taj, but the Hotel’s very presence makes for some serenity and structure in those chaotic lives.

The common people of Bombay should contribute towards the refurbishment of the Taj, not because Ratan Tata needs this, but it is one way we can signal the citizens’ appreciation of the Tata presence in our midst. A responsible collection organized around the Gateway of India till, say, November 26, 2009, should enable all of us to contribute towards the rebuilding of calm and security in our society. Maybe a flyer telling the donors why this is being done should be distributed. Words have powers beyond time, and unexpected impact. It’ll be rebuilding of some beauty, a positive symbol that should exist in our lives, however sordid those individual lives might be.

The very fact that this symbol is allowed to exist in the middle of much negativity elevates all of us to a peculiar poor man’s generosity. This is very important in a continuous civilization such as ours.

Dr RCA GODBOLE

rcagodbole@gmail.com