EP12 : The 26/11 Hostage Negotiator

Fresh off his voyage, Commander Abhilash Tomy is the first Indian with a podium finish in the Golden Globe Race. Despite a failed attempt, a broken spine and an empty bank account, Cdr Tomy was able to bounce back and win one of the toughest races on the planet. Here's his story in his own words.

In his five-decade-long career, veteran journalist thor Satish Jacob covered some of the most tumultuous events in the history of independent India. 30 years ago, the then BBC Deputy Chief for India, Jacob was one of the few journalists to witness the infamous Operation Blue Star at Amritsar. This is his account of a day that shook India.

June 25th, 1983 transformed Indian cricket. As an underdog team triumphed at the global stage, India’s World Cup victory would go on to inspire entire generations and laid the foundations of India’s rise as a cricketing superpower. 40 years ago, Indian wicket keeper Syed Mujtaba Kirmani would play a pivotal role in the World Cup campaign. Here are his recollections from that incredible journey.

India's Mahasweta Ghosh is the first Indian woman to complete the Marathon Des Sables race in a time of 55 hours 42 minutes. It is a six-day 250 km-long ultramarathon, perceived as one of the toughest races in the world .

In 1987, India launched Op Pawan, its only foreign war ever, without a UN Mandate. The three-year deployment resulted in 1 Param Vir Chakra and 6 Maha Vir Chakra awards. 1200 Indian soldiers were killed, 7000 wounded and the conflict led to the assassination of India's Prime Minister. Lt Gen A S Kalkat was the Overall Force Commander for the operation. Here's his recollection of India's forgotten war.

In 1998, a fiercely independent Baloch woman, Naela Quadri, raised her voice against Pakistan’s nuclear tests in her homeland. Consequently, she had to face brutality unleashed by Pakistan's real rulers. Balochistan's PM-in-exile narrates her ordeal.

How did a boy from Bengaluru end up winning three Grammy Awards and catalysing social change? Watch Ricky Kej recount his inspiring journey and the secrets of being a global music star.

A transformative encounter with E. Sreedharan, the 'Metro Man' of India, whose unwavering dedication at the age of 91 defies convention. Beyond retirement, he ventured into politics, actively reshaping the nation's infrastructure and piloting groundbreaking projects.

How did the Khalistan movement begin? Why does it survive in the West 30 years after the insurgency was crushed by India. Former Special Secretary, R&AW GBS Sidhu witnessed first hand how a small coterie of politicians conspired to create a Frankenstein that still haunts India. This is his account of a dark chapter in India’s history.

In an exclusive interview, Israel's Ambassador to India Naor Gilon reveals the details of the attack and the nation's plan of action to ensure such an attack isn't repeated, in the aftermath of Hamas terror attack on its civilians.

On 26 November 2008, Lashkar-E-Taiba terrorists, with the help of Pakistan, carried out the worst terror attack in India's history. Despite public anger, the Indian government chose not to retaliate. Former NSA MK Narayanan recounts why India did not seek revenge for 26/11.

As the 26/11 attack was underway, Professor P V Viswanath was requested by the Jewish Chabad movement in New York to translate and talk to terrorists at the Nariman House, where the Mumbai Chabad centre was located. The negotiation ended tragically as the terrorists killed all six hostages, including Rabbi Holtzberg and his wife, who was six months pregnant.

When he fell into a 70-metre crevasse near Mt. Annapurana, 34-year-old Anurag Maloo thought he wouldn't make it out alive. This is the story of his survival.

On 3rd November 1988, President Gayoom of Maldives sent a distress call, seeking aid in the face of a coup attempt. And India answered. Within 16 hours, India’s famed Paras arrived in Male, rescued the President and restored normalcy to the island nation. This is Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia’s account of the incident.

One of the three Indian scientists who played a key role in India’s nuclear weapons programme, Dr R Chidambaram narrates how India became a nuclear state.