The monk who forgave terrorists

“I was like a monk in a war bunker. It was traumatising and saddening. I am glad it is over,” he said.

Master Charles was on the 12th floor of the building when the terrorists attacked it on Wednesday night. “We had just finished dinner and myself and my two disciples were discussing a visit to Ganeshpuri ashram on Thursday when we heard gunshots,” he said. On peeping from the window, he saw two terrorists firing at everyone. Few minutes later, they heard explosions and on switching the TV and communicating with friends on the only mobile phone found that militants had attacked the hotel.

“Later, there was a fire in the hotel and thick smoke started entering our room. It was dark and we couldn’t even breathe. We peeped from the windows and saw firemen trying to tell us to break the window. Only after we broke the glass, did we have some fresh air,” he said.

“There was only the closed door between us and the terrorists. We had blocked the door with furniture, but were aware that at any next moment, we could be killed,” he said.

On Thursday morning, there was no food except the snack in the mini bar, water supply was cut. Calls from spiritual leaders across the world and disciples kept him going. On Friday, he was informed by a staffer at Oberoi that the terrorists have been killed. “I can never forget the site while coming downstairs from my room as we were led by the commandos. Blood was smattered across the floors, shards of glass, and the bodies which were lying around. I was taken to the restaurant to identify the bodies of my two disciples. This was the worst scene which I can never forget. But I still forgive the terrorists,” he said.