Mumbai Gave Me My Life Back: Kia Scherr's Reflections Post Losing Family In 26/11

Kia Scherr, a US citizen who lost her husband and daughter in the 26/11 attacks, once shared profound insights on the power of forgiveness. Throwback to her moving reflections on coping with loss and finding peace.

'Mumbai Gave Me My Life Back After 26/11'

In 2016, while speaking with The Indian Express, Kia opened up about her experiences and said that she was visiting family in Florida for the Thanksgiving weekend when she received a call to turn on the news. The Oberoi hotel, where her husband and daughter, Naomi, had been staying, had been attacked, and both husband and daughter could not be accounted for. Kia said she couldn't believe that the news was real at first. She switched on the TV, and the first image she saw was that of the Taj Hotel burning. Maybe they got the hotel's name wrong, she thought.

She lost her family members that day. They had come to India for a meditation retreat. Each year it gets worse, she said, because she is reminded that even more time has passed for which they have not been present. And she is still dealing with the loss.

"I was reborn here"

Surprisingly, Kia said that Mumbai gave her her life back. She said, "The kindness and generosity I have received from the people of Mumbai has helped me."

After the incident, Kia launched One Life Alliance, a global peace initiative that works to bring peace, compassion and love to education, business and government. She has also launched a sensitisation program for Indian policemen, “Peace OK Peace”, in alliance with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

She noted, "You don't have to be a psychologist to provide trauma relief. It doesn't take years to learn. It can be generated and taught." Her program aims to raise the emotional intelligence and sensitivity of police officers. Kia has been living and working in Mumbai since 2010.

"Forgiveness is a process"

"Forgiveness doesn't mean letting them off the hook. It's a personal thing I'm still learning and it's a process. It's a choice I make for me because I don't want to be held hostage by terrorists. I want to bring value to the world and to create love and respect."  

"If one doesn't learn to forgive, that path gets closed"

Kia also spoke about how we should circulate the narrative of love in society. If one doesn't learn how to forgive, that path gets closed, she said. She understands people's anger but wants to present another possibility.

To that end, the media has an important role to play, Kia said. It should not only report facts but also ask itself how it creates a story around these facts, she pointed out.

"The media should try and create stories that bring out the best of us, instead of generating fear."

"Someone once told me that a black ball has been thrown at you, and you threw a white ball back," she said. She loved that image and urged everyone in the crowd to keep the image of throwing a white ball back in their minds.

Her story showed how the incident is still playing out in so many people's everyday lives.