26/11 survivor Devika Rotawan: That incident cut short my childhood
Monali Bordoloi
We cannot fathom how children's lives change profoundly when they are victims and survivors of traumatic events such as violence and crime. And how they are still haunted for years by what they experienced. Fourteen years after the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, survivor Devika Rotawan, now 23 years old, tells us how that fateful event changed her life
It was just like any other day for the Rotawan family. They were traveling to their relative's place, and Devika, her brother, and her father were at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) train station in Mumbai, waiting to board their train. And then it happened, terrorists opened fire in the CST train station. Young Devika was in the middle of indiscriminate firing by the terrorists, and one of the bullets hit her.
Later, Devika became an eyewitness in the 26/11 trial, along with her father. However, life was not easy for Devika after that incident.
What went through the young mind of Devika Rotawan when she became the youngest survivor and the key eyewitness to the carnage that happened on 26/11 in Mumbai?
"I was just nine years old then, and that incident cut short my childhood abruptly. I spent one-and-a-half months in the hospital, and subsequently, there were numerous court visits too."
"It was not easy for me; when I re-joined school after the incident, I was mercilessly teased. I just couldn't shake off that incident from my life, and students used to bully me, saying, 'Kasab-ki beti and 26/11 wali.' With time, I learned to take everything in my stride. My extended family back in Rajasthan also took great care of me as I grew up amidst this chaos."
Many organizations felicitated Devika for her resilience and bravery.
"I lost my mother when I was young; my father and brothers raised me with a lot of love and care. I got the courage to testify against a terrorist from my father. He didn't budge from his stand even if we faced a lot of discrimination from a section of society as we were involved in this case."
Recently, Devika met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Hotel Taj, Mumbai, and recounted her experience. She also expressed that now she looks forward to a future where terrorism is a thing of the past. Devika is currently preparing for the UPSC exams and wants to become an IPS officer.
"It took me years to come out of that trauma, and I wish no child should ever have to experience what I endured," Devika added.
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