Taj Values & Ethos: Interaction with Mr. P.K.Mohankumar

Abstract

On 26th November, 2008, an extraordinary event changed the course of life for many people. That day the world saw two extremes of human emotions and responses. At one end the terrorists who mercilessly killed and maimed ordinary citizens, and on the other some ordinary heroes, who sacrificed their lives, to save fellow human beings. Some such ordinary heroes were at the Taj. During the onslaught on the Taj Mumbai, 31 people died and 28 were hurt, but the hotel received only praise the day after. Its guests were overwhelmed by employees' dedication to duty, their desire to protect guests without regard to personal safety, and their quick thinking. Restaurant and banquet staff rushed people to safe locations such as kitchens and basements. Telephone operators stayed at their posts, alerting guests to lock doors and not step out. Kitchen staff formed human shields to protect guests during evacuation attempts. As many as 11 Taj Mumbai employees—a third of the hotel's casualties—laid down their lives while helping between 1,200 and 1,500 guests escape.