“It was an emotional experience. He looked into our eyes and shook hands with us,” said a tearful Kia Scherr — whose daughter Naomi and husband Alan were killed in the November 26, 2008 terror strike at the Trident Hotel — after meeting U.S. President Barack Obama here on Saturday.
Ms. Scherr was part of the 12 people who had a close interaction with him for 10-15 minutes at the Taj Hotel. They included Karambir Kang, who lost his family at the Taj, and some staff members of the hotel. “It was a very heartfelt, moving meeting. It was not so much what told us as its connection in the heart,” Ms. Scherr told The Hindu .
She thanked the President for the letter of condolence he sent to her after the tragedy. “I told him that we must take a stand and honour those who have lost their lives and honour their memories; then we can make a difference to the outcome.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Ms. Scherr was happy that the President vowed to fight terrorism.
He also honoured those who gave up their lives to save others that day. After the President finished his commemorative remarks on 26/11, he and his wife Mitchelle Obama met the people in the audience on the terrace of the Taj Mahal Hotel. Among those present were a smartly uniformed Jillu Yadav, the railway policeman who hurled a chair at the terrorists and tried to fire at them at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; Vishnu Zende, a railway announcer whose timely announcements to evacuate the station saved many lives; Momina Sheikh, whose husband was killed in a taxi blast, and Mahesh Naik who helped guests at the Trident.
A rather grim Momina said she couldn't understand the President, as he spoke in English.
ADVERTISEMENT
After his speech, Mr. Obama signed autographs and talked to many people in the audience, who included Taj Hotel owner Ratan Tata, his lieutenant R.K. Krishna Kumar, Union Minister Salman Khursheed, and U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer. The President also posed for pictures.
Mr. Zende was thrilled at getting Mr. Obama's autograph. “I did not speak much, but he told me I did a good job at CST,” said an overwhelmed Zende.
Mr. Jillu Yadav also could not understand what the President said. “I think he asked me what I did that day and seemed appreciative.”
The owner of Leopold Café Farhang Jehangi was present at the Taj and he met the President.