English: A resurrected MARTIAL ARTIST

“As long as there have been people, there has been fighting. And as long as there has been fighting, people have devised ways of helping themselves fight.” – unknown



Nothing else can summarize in a better way my personal experience of the 26/11 Mumbai attack and how the dormant martial spirit woke up in the midst of terror and uncertainty.

I work for a European airline as Cabin Crew. The night of 26/11, I was resting peacefully in room 1511 of the Trident Mumbai hotel until I woke up startled by a phone call from a colleague about the crisis. The media coverage sent shivers down the spine as I watched the TV in utter shock and disbelief. My Indian colleague, put up in a few rooms away from mine, on the same floor knocked the door. She was petrified by the events and came to stay in my room. Hardly 30 minutes after she entered, we could hear somebody screaming out for help in the floor. It was my European colleague and though I sympathized with her anxiety, I had to stop her from doing something that could invite trouble. So I stepped out cautiously checking for any danger lurking in some elevator or staff passage and quickly moved to her room. After explaining to her the situation, she agreed to join us in my room. It was a risk again to head back to my room, but we made it!

We stayed awake silent, alert and not knowing if we should proceed to the emergency exit or not. We didn’t know how many terrorists present, on which floor, when the rescue team would arrive…nothing! To make matters worse, even the TV broadcast was unavailable and we depended only on sms’s and phone calls. Only a handful of snack packets and juices in hand, we managed to survive until the morning of 28/11/08- the day we were rescued!

Back to the situation- one sms that was a rumour but initially scared us was that the terrorists were planning to enter rooms randomly and shoot anybody they spot. We were agitated; the ladies proposed to head for the exit, whereas I urged them to stay back as I felt we were still safer in the room. All the time, I was missing my family- especially my pregnant wife who was due to deliver in mid-December. What if I can’t see her again? My child???…. With closed eyes, like a flash of light, my heart and mind was filled with a surge of will power and I felt the warrior in me rising up from a deep sleep of nearly 15 years. As a child I had learnt Karate to a basic level. Immature then, that moment I felt a strange determination and courage to take on any force, just to go back HOME. Truly said- crisis is the test of character.

I organized all potential weapons in the room for self-defense- iron box, ironing board, water kettle, candle stands, fruit knife, belt, and wooden fruit tray and dress hangers. Strategies devised, we waited and waited from 27/11 until 28/11 morning when we were rescued.

The next day I was home to the delight of everyone. I was glad my wife was alright. But then, on 1st December’08, she went into labour and my new life was celebrated with a gift from God – a healthy sweet little baby boy. I have named him ‘Jishnu’ which means victorious and one of the 10 names of ancient warrior prince Arjuna.

In May 2009, I started learning Jeet Kune Do, to continue the journey of self-discovery that I had abandoned some years back. I owe my existence to my martial arts training, which showed me my true self, and making me realize that each day passed is your victory in the duel with death. I have not quit my job but reflecting back on the ordeal, it feels great to be alive to see my child growing up before my eyes. I have started appreciating all the little things in life. I express my gratitude to the brave soldiers, my company, friends, relatives, colleagues and my love to all my near and dear ones whose motivation, love and prayers have made it possible for me to live so happily.


( note: names of colleagues and the organization have been deliberately withheld by the author for genuine reasons)

[The author,Mr. RATISH IYER, is a very good friend of mine; an ally in the aviation field and a fellow martial artist. He is a student of Jeet Kune do, formerly trained in Karate on a basic level. A survivor of the terror attacks in Mumbai (26-29th November 2008, by Pakistani nationals which left 175 people dead and 308 injured), he returned to martial arts training after 15 years realizing that it was only Karate training in childhood that helped him remain steady and optimistic in those tense moments.The will power to defend himself even if it resulted in death is attributed solely to martial arts training which builds not only strength of body of mind, but also builds a strong character.
A Mizo language version (translation) of this article was published in the Bangalore Mizo Weekly newspaper - BMA AW, Vol. XV Issue No. 23,dated Sept 06, 2009; when I was the editor of the same. - Samuel Lalrozama Hmar]