The journey from terror to tranquility: The tale of a 26/11 Survivor (1/4)
Day 1, 19:00: I was an eye witness and survivor of the 26/11 terror attacks that occurred in the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in 2008. On Nov 26, 2008, I was invited by the Consulate General of South Korea in Bombay for the inauguration of the Korea India Business Association (KIBA). I distinctly remember going up the elevator of the Taj Hotel at 7 PM. I didn’t realize, then, that that elevator would not be available to me to go down a few hours later.
Day 1, 21:40: After our meeting ended at about 21:40 hours, we were about to go down in the elevator. Some of the security staff of the Taj Hotel said that there was a gang war going on. They asked us to be seated, till they notified us. Within the next 20 mins, all the doors were closed, and all the tables and chairs were lined up against the entrance of the door, on the 21st floor, in that banquet hall called Rendezvous.
The terror attack spread like a wild fire. We found out what was going on through the national television. Everybody in the room started getting calls asking if we were well…if we were affected by the terror attack taking place in the same hotel.
Fear and trauma
We started hearing gun shots. 10-15 minutes later, there was the sound of a bomb blast in the next building. The old Taj Hotel’s rooftop was engulfed in fire. We were all terrified. I slipped into extreme trauma, because I was debating with myself at that moment about whether I would be able to escape alive and unhurt. I started shivering. I didn’t know what to say or to whom, or what reaction I was going through. My mental faculty was at the lowest in that situation.
People were so terrified. Some of the staff members in the banquet room almost fainted. No doctors could be called, as everything was sealed. Some of the guests who were having dinner next door in Sook, a Mediterranean restaurant, also joined us. The Taj security said it was better to be one group. Our banquet hall was, also, safer than their open restaurant.
Read more about what happened that fateful night.
The journey from terror to tranquility: The tale of a 26/11 Survivor (2/4)
Day 1, 22:40: It was now about an hour after the attacks had started. Each moment felt like a decade. I kept thinking about whether I would ever see my family…whether I would leave the hotel unhurt. I kept questioning what is in store for me.
Many thoughts were going through my head. I wondered what I had done wrong in my life to be put in this situation. I believe a lot in karma. So, I started thinking about what my karmas had been that had led to this situation. Tears rolled down my eyes. My family tried to call me, but I had to preserve my battery, because the power was shut down. All the elevators were also shut.
Day 1, 23:30: Naturally, the main point troubling me was when and how quickly I would be able to escape, and be back with my family. I felt totally helpless.
Along with us, there were seven commandos from South Africa, who had been having dinner in the next room. The South African cricket team was expected the next day for the cricket match in Mumbai and they were supposed to stay there at the hotel. The commandos were there to look after their security arrangements.
Close shave with danger
I understood that the terrorists did come up to the 21st floor. They saw us from the door and windows. One person came up to the 21st floor, and then went back down. That was because the South Koreans with us looked Chinese. The terrorists were told not to kill Chinese.
We were hoping they would not come up again and waiting for an announcement that we could go down - by whatever means. This process went on for 2-3-4 hours.
Day 2, 4:00-5:00 AM: The wife of the MD of Indian Hotels was having dinner in the next room. She came to our rescue. She was trying to figure out what to do with us – senior diplomats and some of the captains of industry. Then, at about 4:30 AM, there was an announcement by the Chief of security of the Taj. Ladies were asked to take off their sandals. We were asked to take off our shoes, and walk down towards the fire exit from the 21st floor to the Ground Floor.
Read on about the escape and aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks.
The journey from terror to tranquility: The tale of a 26/11 Survivor (3/4)
There is a bridge between the old and the new Taj, connecting them. I didn’t know what I was doing. As the elevators were not working, I kept thinking that the terrorists would come up from the bridge, as we were going down. But, God was kind to us.
Escape at last
In 35 minutes, we descended the 21 floors. There were 400 media persons on the road who wanted to interview me after our escape. I could barely speak. But, some of the channels knew me. I ventured to give an interview. I explained what had happened briefly. That way people, who knew me…and watching on TV would know... I used to get calls from my mother, wife and children; they really didn’t know if they would see me again.
Day 2, 5:00 AM: Eventually, at about 5:00 AM, we walked up to the car that my driver had parked near the university. The roads were deserted.
The driver made the mistake of going via Marine Drive. The car was stopped by 50-100 policemen at Chowpatty, where Kasab (the lone terrorist, who was caught alive) was arrested. They thought our car was a terrorist car, and they pointed 100 guns at us. Luckily, I rolled down the glass and told them, “No, no, wait, wait. I am coming from the Taj. Don’t shoot, don’t shoot. I am the victim…”
They said I could not go through that area, as Kasab had been apprehended there, and it had been sealed. So, we had to turn the car and take another road.
Post-traumatic stress and the Art of Living
It took six months of counselling and homeopathy medicine to get over my post-traumatic stress. I, slowly, resumed my business operations. I used to handle it over the phone. But, it was a difficult time for me to even concentrate on my business.
My daughter was intensely into Art of Living. Now, she is a teacher. My daughter’s in-laws are also ardent devotees of Gurudev. They told me to do the Happiness program and Sudarshan Kriya (SKY). I started Kriya religiously. It did take me some time to get results, because I was deeply affected. I had to come to normalcy first, and then experience its effects.
My thought process in those six months was to give back to life…how can I help people in distress? Kriya and meditation helped me. I am very indebted to Art of Living.
Read about the recovery after the traumatic 26/11 attacks.
The journey from terror to tranquility: The tale of a 26/11 Survivor (4/4)
I distinctly remember sitting near the door during a Satsang session. Guruji was here, having returned from Bali just that morning. My wife was sitting on the other side. After half an hour, something happened to me, and I climbed the dais. Five-six people tried to stop me, but they couldn’t. I just sneaked up to Gurudev, and told him what had happened to me, and told him that only after he blessed me would I be alright. He put two fingers on my head. I was happy with his blessings, and thought then that everything was going to be fine now with me.
Post-trauma symptoms
Sometimes, when I see something similar on TV...I get into retrospections…The stress comes back. I still practice SKY. It is helping me immensely. I will continue the process of Kriya and meditation. I have also done the Inner Engineering Course. But, my focus and interest lies here with the Art of Living. I met Guruji again yesterday. I told him about me and, again, he blessed me. I think I am going to be fine.
I plan to tell Gurudev about the dedicated team he has here, doing such a lot of seva with integrity, devotion and a smile!
The change in me post the 26/11 attack
If anyone comes to me for any kind of help, I will help them. I am a social person and know people at various levels, and at various agencies. I, now, bend over backwards to help people. I will spend money, energy, and resources. I feel elated, and get peace, when I help people. I was not like this before. Even at 2 AM, if someone calls me, I will immediately offer to help them without knowing what help they need.
Until you see death at close quarters, you won’t know the value of life. My ambition in life is to do dedicate myself to a good cause, to do seva, along with my business.
Dilip Mehta
Background:
I am Managing Director (MD), Pegasus Shipping Agencies (P) Ltd., Advisor, Latin Aventuras, which promotes high end tourism to Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, Vice Chair of India Business group, Member of Committee of International Business and Cultural Relationship (IMC), Senior Member of the British Business Group that promotes trade between India and UK. Since 1994, I have been associated with various social and trade chambers of commerce.
