A century of aspirations on flame

The Taj Mahal at Agra is among the seven wonders of the world.
But the Taj Mahal Palace hotel is not very far behind. The state of the art building with a blend of west and mughal architecture is among the elite heritage of India. But its not just its history, it's the motive, the determination and the willingness to fight all odds, that makes this work of masonry so special.
It was during 1900's when Jamsedji Tata was refused entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time, Watson's Hotel, as it was restricted to 'whites only'(Picture above). When he protested he was thrown out. It was then that he decided to build a hotel around Watson, that would be the most luxurious hotel in the country. And that was how the Taj was born on the 13th day of December 1903. While Watson hotel still exists in dilapidated state, the Taj flourished. It became the first true five star hotel of the time in the entire region. Not just that, its design layout, architecture and ofcourse unparalleled luxury drew attention of many international personalities who couldn't resist but to opt for the ultimate, the Taj. Mick Jagger, Jacques Chirac, The Duke & Duchess of Kent, Joan Collins, The King & Queen of Norway, Marianne Faithfull, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Beatles, Bill Clinton and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to name a few were distinguished guests at the hotel. Even the Queen mother had to fall for the Taj.
Its grandeur, elegance and intricacies give the hotel a character unique to it. But more so it is a sense of pride for every Indian. When it comes to Mumbai, The Taj Mahal hotel in the Apollo bunder is the first thought. It's a thought for prosperity. Its a thought for glory. Its a dream to all of the Indians who dream big. A week back when it was on fire, it certainly wasn't just the timber of the hotel that went up in flames, It was the aspiration of every Indian. It was the pride of Mumbai, the pride of India that was burning. It was a hope, the hope of a glorious India that was burning. The charred remains of the hotel is not just the remainder of the past but also the apathy we face today. How sad we couldn't save our motivation.
But I'm sure, the Taj would rise again to all its glory and strength. We will not let it down. It has to rise from the ashes. It will very soon give us the picture of India we are looking forward to. The India that has stood all odds. The India that will prove the world yet again that no matter what comes our way, we'll stand tall and declare, 'We've arrived'.