The Siege: The Attack on the Taj Paperback – 1 January 2015

If this book would have cost Rs.2,500/- I would have paid. If for God's sake I would have not been working, I would have begged or would have taken loan from my father to purchase this book. Yes the book is "that" good.Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott has down a commendable job. In some way they have risked their life to write their book. In the Afterword section they have mentioned about their tenure in Pakistan and interviewing Lashkar-e-Toiba as well as visiting the training camps to know about their rebel. Few points about this book:(1) It is not an ordinary book.(2) On many occasions you have to consult the internet and know the history and the acronyms and(3) The book is very strong in terms of vocabulary. This is no ordinary English -- you have to consult dictionary several times, both technical and literary terms. The authors have used very strong vocabulary.The book would:(a) Help you know a detailed history of The Taj, Mumbai(b) Understand the philosophy, hierarchy and structure of Lashkar-e-Toiba and similar other organizations(c) About commandos and their gallant activities(d) The plan and execution and a detailed activities of the members of the Taj and Oberoi – how they have helped to save lives of people that nightThe book starts with “Dramatis Personae” – the guests and diners Will Pike and Kelly Doyle, Andreas Liveras, Sabina Saikia – the famous food critic, Kuttalam Rajagopalan Ramamoorthy banking executive from Tamilnadu (who faced the attack and was tortured), Amit and Varsha Thadani – came at the wedding reception in the Crystal were saved by fireman from the window with the hydraulic ladder and many other.The book also gives a detailed account of the terrorists David Headley, Ajmal Kasad and the other members of Lashkar-e-Toiba.The book starts with the chapter Jadu Ghar (House of Magic) – different personalities settling a busy morning. The authors provide almost in “clinical details” the layout and architecture of The Taj, its’ history founded in 1902, how the building developed and how the internal architecture and the internal rooms and decoration evolved. In the chapter “Prince David” – the book details on the childhood and the life history of David Headley, born as Daood Gilani, his involvement in the drug cycle and how he provided a detailed map of The Taj to the Lashkar. The authors have done an excellent job to carry out the witness, even fake email id(s) that they used from Mumbai to get the connection.The chapter “Salaam Alaikum” starts with the attack, the CST and then the Leopold Café which underwent sufficient damage. Many people got killed and in this book you would almost see, events unfolding before your eyes. You would fall in love, feel sympathetic with the hostages and would whimper in the pain of the sufferings. Intelligence, desperately trying to intercept the caller…….They could not recognize who is calling. The attack at Leopold Café, followed the one in The Taj, Oberoi and Nariman point almost got the entire nation on the run.The books also examine the radicalisation of the youth and how they have been fed by the idea of hatred, anger and religion. Levy and Scott actually takes you into the journey of the attack, crossing the borders and entering the Indian water, how they hijacked the boat and then…………..The rest is history.The fight was a fierce one – the gunshots were among the alleys, behind the doors in the kitchen. Lot of chefs were executed in the Kitchen Massacre. People like Amit Peshave, saw the terrorists gunning down the halls and they have been patient to help their eminent guests. The complexity of the Taj baffled everybody. Police officers, commandos, guests, staffs – they were unable to understand where to run and where to hide – yet the gunmen almost had the blueprint in their memory; their mentors guiding them from remote.Karamvir Kang could not save his family. Uday and Samar Kang (photograph you would find in the book) along with his wife died. Karamvir saved at least 100 lives. Amit Peshave, former manager at the Shamiana restaurant saved many lives in the hospital. The author explains the massacre at the Nariman House and then the fierce battle . At one point the fidayeen attacks were so intense that they were unable to win over. The author points out at one point of bringing down the entire Taj with air support. The MARCOS were prepared.Officials died, a fierce battle took place, when the commandos finally took down the gunmen. Taj was saved. Most important is the “Afterword”. The authors here give their experience about how they met each officials, sharing their memories, nightmare and brave act of saving people. The desperation were immediate, the grief was insurmountable, the loss was unaccountable – yet the zeal of human beings to survive made it possible. In the memories of the survivors it would always remain accountable, for Indians….. Yes, we made it possible, to survive and defeat the evil from the good.The book is really something to read. The authors have done an extraordinary job to bring to us the saga of the Taj.Jai Hind !!

An exceptionally well researched and well written book. I am a Mumbaikar and was seeing the TV broadcast during the entire period of the siege at Taj. I, and so many Indians, did feel that uninterrupted TV broadcast did help the cross border terrorists to prolong the siege. In any case it was an instance of Indian state having withered away, fosaking its citizens to be butchered by hatchet-men sent by India's mortal enemies.Mumbai police, 46000 of them were present, did not lift a finger except DCPs Vishwas Patil, Rajvardhan, and Inspector Dhole, India is obliged to them. Government of India has been in a state of denial for too long, Adrian levy brings out in sharp focus local spies of LET ( the Choohas) and the Honeybee in Delhi who provided intelligence and local ground support to the terrorist sponsored by Pak state. It lays bare the intelligence apparatus of India which had no cue about David Headely the LET's and ISI's master spy in India, notwithstanding his stay of almost three years in Mumbai. What better can be expected from a police force which has perfected HAFTA collection into a fine art. Over-all an exceptionally well written book which is an eye opener for Indians like me. To deal with cross border terrorism Indians have to deal with enemy within first.

The Siege... Adrian Levy... The first book of 2014. The unraveling of the happenings of 26/11 at Mumbai portrayed on an a highly researched timeline of events. Impeccably gripping and deeply moving since it is not a happening of imagination, but in reality. The pathetic bureaucratic delays and handling of events lethargically by the competent authorities that led to the deaths of many people is an eyesore. The in depth analysis made in to the crypts of terrorist organization and their modus operandi to dishevel the country makes one to realize whether humanism exists today. To read - this is much better than any Thriller of imagination but realizing that it is a real incident makes the heart weak.

Loved the book. Everyone should read.

If someone has read one of the book from this couple, all books have interconnected figures.This book highlighted few things-Lax crisis handling from Indians.- Intelligence failure.- US not doing due diligence on terrorism unless it’s related to 9/11.- Hotel staff was the most professional group, my respect for them increased multifold.Bonus, if you have read all Levy-Clarke books it’s much easier on brain.

Very well written. Informative and true account of the attacks. Hard to put down. Must read for anyone who would like to know more about the terrible event.

As the book is written by persons who were actually present there in Taj in the capacity of layman, the book gives actual descriptions of events happening all over that area! Thrilling experience to read it!.Delivery by amazon was quite fast! 1.5 days if actual time is to be considered. Packing was poor but handelling was good! Hence book was not damaged!.No bookmark received ☹️