When Jai Hind echoed inside the Taj!

The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower which most Mumbaikars refer to as simply ldquothe Tajrdquo could easily be one of the most defining landmarks of our city Overlooking the Arabian Sea with the Gateway of India right opposite the two structures have been privy to varied sights and sounds The parent heritage building The Taj Mahal Palace commissioned by Jamsetji Tata in 1903 was also one of the many nerve centres of the Indian independence movementLord Louis Mountabatten Viceroy of Imperial India speaks at the Taj two days after Indiarsquos Independence in 1947From being requisitioned by the Indian Army as a military hospital in 1916 to being used as dormitories for army personnel during World War II and hosting early India leaders who held meetings with the maharajas of Indiarsquos Princely States the palatial building has witnessed it all We spoke to General Manager Ritesh Sharma who stitched together an intriguing portrait of Indiarsquos foremost luxury hotelrsquos tryst with freedomAs the last British troops prepare to depart from India they line up next to the Taj Pics courtesyThe Taj Mahal Palace and TowerSarojini holds courtOf the many great men and women of Indiarsquos freedom movement who crossed the threshold of the Taj none were more closely associated with the hotel than Sarojini Naidu for whom it became virtually a second home for the for the better part of three decades She was a person of rare quality and a great liberal devoted to the twin causes of HinduMuslim unity and political freedom for her country A suite of rooms at the Taj was kept more or less permanently at her disposalSarojini Naidursquos daughter at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Bombay 1928 PicGetty ImagesHer rooms at the hotel were always crowded with visitors from princes to paupers and she played hostess in the most princely way All were welcomed and all were treated to drinks and food whenever they came Even before you sat down her first question would be ldquoWhat will you haverdquoAn invitation to dinner by ldquoAkkardquo as she was affectionately called by all was always a social event for you met many interesting personalities at her table hobnobbed with the big and small ate and drank merrily in her genial company For any important visitor to Bombay a pilgrimage to Mrs Naidursquos suite at the Taj was always a mustFreedom at the TajThe hotel threw open its doors on the eve of IndependencemdashAugust 14 1947mdashto usher in a new beginning with music dancing speeches and merrymaking It hosted a special dinner with the cityrsquos wellheeled in attendance There are no records of the names of the guests that night but the food consisted mostly of IndoFrench dishes A special Independence Day menu priced at R1947 included an array of dishes celebrating independence such as the Consomme a Lrsquoindienne Vacherin de peches liberation and Poularde Souffleacute IndependenceThe special dinner was accompanied by a cabaret performance Legendary musician Micky Correa was on stage along with famous trumpeter Chic Chocolate The evening also saw a performance by classical dancer sisters Khurshid and Shirin Vajifdar As midnight struck the cabaret launched into a jaunty version of Jana Gana Mana As recounted by fashion designer Catherine Courtney also known as Madame Pompadour who had a boutique at the Taj ldquoEveryone was very happy and gay At midnight the lights went out and DF Karaka who then owned the Current Weekly got up and made a little speech Outside the Taj the streets were absolutely packed with people I remember rushing out to powder my nose in the ladies room and seeing hundreds of people coming up the stairsmdashcrowds who wanted to join in the fun They were all happy and gay and I said Jai Hind Long live India and they said Jai HindrdquoVenue of history in the makingMaharajas and businessmen British and Indian meet at a dinner at the TajIn 1916 the then President of the AllIndia Muslim League the Nawab of Mahmudabad happened to be occupying a suite of rooms and the convention of the league was reconvened at the hotel That historic moment in a quiet backroom resulted in the members of the Muslim League settling their differences with the Hindudominated Congress and in a step towards national unity agreeing to adopt a common goal that of selfgovernance for IndiaThe Taj Mahal Palace was host to early India leaders who held meetings with the maharajas and maharanis of Indiarsquos Princely States in the Princes Room before agreeing to give up their seats of power and embrace democracy And finally Lord Mountbatten announced Indiarsquos independence from the steps of The Taj Mahal Palace