Sabina Sehgal Saikia (c. 1963 – 29 November 2008), an Indian food journalist, restaurant reviewer, and editor for the Delhi Times in Delhi, India, was known for her column "Main Course." She was a victim of a 2008 Mumbai attacks on The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.[1]
Sabina Sehgal Saikia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | ca. 1963 |
| Died | 29 November 2008 The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, India |
| Cause of death | Terrorist attack |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Food journalist, restaurant reviewer, and editor |
| Employer | Delhi Times |
| Known for | "Main Course" |
Personal edit
Sabina Sehgal Saikia is survived by her family, including her husband, Shantanu Saikia, and the couple's fourteen-year-old daughter and eleven-year-old son.[2] She was sometimes called "Ma Sehgal".[3]
Career edit
Saikia was the consulting editor of the Times of India where she started in the eighties, and a well-known food-critic. Sehgal changed direction and covered the Enforcement Directorate and CBI.[4] She had a column in the Delhi Times called, Main Course, that was very popular on the eating out life in India.[2] The column would review one restaurant a week very critically and was said to have the power to make or break a restaurant.[4] Saikia was considered India's leading food critic and restaurant reviewer.[citation needed]
Death edit
In November 2008, 10 terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked a train station, a Jewish cultural center, and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where Sehgal was attending a wedding.[5] Approximately 170 people were massacred and the hotel was left burning for days while Indian authorities attempted to track down the terrorists whereabouts.[5] Among the 170 killed there were 18 foreigners of US, German, Canadian, Israeli, Britain, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Thailand, Australian, and Singapore citizenship.[6] Nine of the 10 terrorists were killed during the attacks.[6] Ajmal Kasab, a 21-year-old Pakistani, was apprehended alive.[5]
Context edit
This was India's worst terrorist event since 1993 Mumbai bombings where 257 were killed.[6] The policemen at the scene were armed with pistols, while the militants had AK-47s and various explosives.[5] These attacks convinced the Indian government to supply more police officers, better guns, and more training on how to handle different types of terrorist threats.[5] George W. Bush, President of the United States, pledged the full support of the U.S in the apprehension of the terrorists.[6]
Impact edit
Sabina Sehgal Saikia was known for her reviews of food and restaurants. She began her career in journalism through her membership with ‘Spicmacay’, a global, non-political organization that promotes culture to young students. She became involved with the Times of India while working on the 150th anniversary.[4] Sehgal later switched her direction as she became a writer who covered the CBI, also known as the Central Bureau of Investigation in India.[4] This career path finally landed Sabina a position of editor of a popular Indian paper called ‘Delhi Times’.[4] Her work with ‘Delhi Times’ is where Indian journalism began to recognize the talents she had for reviewing restaurants.[4] Sabina's knack for analyzing the ambience, service, value for money and, food of restaurants made her a famous food critic that could determine the future of any eateries in India.[4] When Sabina perished in the attacks on Mumbai her impact as a journalist was renowned from all over the capital even from people who did not know her personally.[7]
Reactions edit
When Sabina perished in the attacks on Mumbai her impact as a journalist was renowned from all over the capital even from people who did not know her personally.[7] Sabina was a character of that in itself and many co-workers of hers admired her sense of appreciation for the smaller things in life that meant more to a person than just a job.[8] The neutralization of these attacks from just a group of young men was delayed by mismanagement by the Indian government and their lack of preparedness for terrorist's threats.[9] A counterterrorism official from the U.S. hinted that this terrorist group being well trained seemed to be very similar to Al-qaida in the acts they committed.[6] Many people were disturbed and felt questionable about how this attack turned out sparking a dramatic change in national security for India.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Indian victims include financier, journalist, actor's sister, police". CNN. 29 November 2008.
- ^ a b "Media mourns loss of Sabina Sehgal Saikia".
- ^ "Tribute: Sabina, Scrabble, and the Spinach Rice". The Times of India.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Leading food writer Sabina Sehgal Saikia no more". Zee News.
- ^ a b c d e ABC News. "Mumbai Attacks Anniversary: Victims and Cops Speak Out". ABC News.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mumbai begins to heal after rampage". hindustantimes.
- ^ a b "Sabina Sehgal Saikia - - The Economic Times". The Economic Times.
- ^ "26/11: Sabina & Smoke".
- ^ "When India Failed in the Mumbai Terrorist Attacks". The Daily Beast.