22 December 2008

The Tree of Life revives the Taj

MUMBAI - The valuable collection of art and antiques inside the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower survived last monthÃ¢â¬â¢s attack on the hotel by terrorists.

Reuters reports that more than 90 percent of the hotel's eclectic collection, which was carefully gathered over a century, was unscathed. The remainder will be repaired.

The collection comprises more than 2,500 paintings, antiques and artifacts.

Even as the terrorists indiscriminately sprayed bullets in the marble lobby of the grand hotel, the precious red mural by M F Hussain that was tucked behind the front desk, escaped without a single bullet hole.

But the most emotional escape is that of the Ã¢â¬ËœTree of LifeÃ¢â¬â¢, a six-foot-tall metal Bastar tribal sculpture made of brass, bronze and alloy casting.

It is an integral part of the hotel's art collection, and originally stood on the fifth floor in the grand staircase area, under the dome.

A little more than a fortnight ago, it stood in the lobby near the all-familiar red and beige dome that went up in flames a few hours after the terrorists barged in.

The entire area was gutted, walls were charred, ceilings were dented, and furniture reduced to ashes, but this piece of art was left unscathed.

"It was fully covered in soot when we discovered it, as soon as we were allowed to enter the hotel. That's when we found our memento, which symbolises the spirit of the Taj and the rest of Mumbai,'' said a hotel spokesman.

On Sunday, when the Taj reopened to guests, it was displayed near the waterfall in the main lobby, and thousands of distinguished guests paid homage to it.

The Ã¢â¬ËœTree of LifeÃ¢â¬â¢ stood between two other brass plates, one inscribed with the names of those who had laid down their lives in the terror attack, and another inscribed with a tribute them.