3 Years Later, Nariman House Has Yet to Recover

Packed furniture, heaps of cement and a few labourers welcome you at Colaba’s Nariman House, days before the third anniversary of the November 26 attacks. Six months after Rabbi Moshe Holtzberg, brother of slain Rabbi Gavriel, reached a peaceful settlement with the orthodox Jewish Chabad movement over the ownership rights of the house, the Colaba building continues to wear a deserted look.

Soon after the resolution between the Holtzberg family and the Chabad movement in May, there were reports that the first two floors of the building would be reopened on the third anniversary of the terror attacks. Rabbi Chanoch Gechtman, new representative of the Chabad movement, said: “There are has been no clear discussion on the exact date of the reopening.” The Rabbi and his wife continue to operate from an undisclosed location in south Mumbai.

“We began the plastering work on November 1 but had to stall it owing to the unavailability of water and electricity,” said the Mumbai-based contractor. “It will take eight months to complete it.”

While the flooring and furniture of the top floors of the building have been sold, the first floor has remained untouched.

“Any delay in the reopening will only affect the orthodox sections of the community,” said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation.

“What is the guarantee that there will not be another attack on the house once it is reopened?” said Preeti, niece of Harish Gohil, 25, who died in the terror attack.