26/11: A Night of Terror

Sixteen years ago, on the night of November 26, 2008, I was in Mumbai.

I had just returned home from the bank when I received a message about shooting at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station. Assuming it was a film shoot—a common occurrence in Mumbai—I dismissed it without much thought.

However, when I turned on the television for the news, the true gravity of the situation hit me. This was no film shoot but a horrifying reality of gunfire and terror. The unfolding scenes on the screen were so distressing that I couldn’t sleep that night. I remained glued to the TV, watching the live and uninterrupted coverage of the chaos.

That night, ten heavily armed terrorists, associated with the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, infiltrated Mumbai via the sea. They executed a series of coordinated and devastating attacks at multiple iconic locations across the city, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, CSMT, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Cama Hospital, Metro Cinema, Chabad House, and Leopold Cafe.

The city was caught off guard when the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, a symbol of Mumbai’s grandeur, became the epicentre of a deadly conflict. Security forces engaged in fierce battles to neutralise the terrorists, further complicated by hostage situations that intensified the terror and chaos.

The following day, November 27, I had to take behavioral science sessions for my banker colleagues in the Santa Cruz area, which remained untouched by the violence. However, attendance was sparse, and discussions inevitably centred on the attacks and the behaviors surrounding them, as the city grappled with collective grief.

The siege lasted four harrowing days, claiming the lives of 166 innocent people, including civilians, security personnel, and foreign nationals, in an unrelenting wave of brutality.

I fail to comprehend how and why individuals take the lives of others, innocent people, even at the cost of their own. What drives such actions? Is it some misguided ideology or a belief in a future no one has seen? Is it truly for a cause, or is it just a tragic misadventure? Does the uncertain future outweigh the reality of the present? These questions are countless but defy easy answers.

Ironically, this day also marks Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas), when we honour the adoption of the Indian Constitution—the longest written constitution in the world. Embodying the vision of a progressive and inclusive nation, it symbolised India’s transformation into a resilient and democratic republic.

The memory of November 26, 2008, remains etched in India’s collective consciousness—a poignant testament to Mumbai’s resilience in the face of adversity and the sacrifices made that day. It serves as a constant reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by terrorism and the shared responsibility to confront it.

In the heart of Mumbai, a city that never sleeps and pulses with the vibrancy of Bollywood, the magic of limitless imagination continues to flourish. No dark force can dampen our spirit. It was through our strength and resolve that we overcame that tragedy and emerged stronger, rising above its shadows.

I humbly pay tribute to the noble souls who lost their lives to the cruelty of others. However, our greatest homage lies in a collective commitment not to let terrorism shape our way of life. Let us stand united, defy the misguided, and uphold the values of humanity and unity 🙏💐🙏

–Kaushal Kishore