Mumbai, India – Spoke to Terrorists, Now at Site

Mumbai, India – He had been an impromptu interpreter for the Chabad Lubivitch organisation that was desperately trying to confirm the safety of hostage rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, wife Rivka and others trapped inside the Jewish Center of Nariman House for 14 hours during the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes. Three months later, P V Viswanath, the multi-linguist professor from New York, has come to take a look at what remains a chilling reminder of Mumbai’s worst terror attack.

On a business trip to India, Viswanath — originally from Mumbai — had stopped in the city to track the terror route. “I had been in touch with the terrorists at Nariman House, asking for the safety of the hostages and their demands. I wanted to see the place as I was involved in a way. Since I was talking to a terrorist inside the Chabad House and was hooked to the TV tracking the happenings, I was interested to see how it stands now,” he said, after visiting the Nariman House on Friday afternoon.

From New York, Viswanath had been in touch with terrorist Imran Babbar for 14 hours, negotiating for the safety of the hostages, when he was told to inform the Indian Government to release Ajmal Amir Kasab who was caught by the Mumbai police. He was helping Rabbi Levi Shemtov, a Chabad emissary in Washington, to interact with the terrorists in Urdu, ensure safety of the hostages and find out their demands.

The terrorists had later killed the five hostages at Chabad House.

The professor of finance in the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, New York, visits Mumbai annually and has been visiting the Chabad House every time he visits the city. “I have visited the Center twice in the past two years and had planned to do it again in March. I had met Rivka and Gabriel earlier,” he said.

After 44 hours of firing and counter-firing, the Chabad House today stands bombed, flaunting bullet marks, twisted window iron grills, broken staircases and a gaping hole created by the NSG bombarding the place to kill the two terrorists. “This was a religious centre where people used to pray, eat Kosher meal and spread goodwill. It’s hard to believe and see it this way with all the grenade and bullet marks and police surrounding the building,” he said.

During his conversation with the terrorists, Viswanath was told not to speak loudly or in a manner that would upset them. And he did so, but was surprised to find that they were also calm and composed, and except for a few times did not show signs of annoyance.

Viswanath spent nearly an hour at the Chabad House, and even spoke to those residents who helped the NSG commandos in gaining positions and making food arrangements. “I try to bridge the gap between the Jews and the non-Jews wherever I go. These residents have helped a lot in the entire operation and I would like to thank them on behalf of the Jews,” he said.