What was supposed to be a routine family outing to the picturesque hill resort of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir turned into a nightmarish terror ordeal for a large group of tourists. A chilling attack,suspected to be that of the Resistance Front (TRF) offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali national.

Among the fortunate few to survive was Assam University professor Debasish Bhattacharyya, who was on leave with his family. His alertness of mind and prompt reaction saved him from what otherwise could have been a fatal experience.

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Amidst the state of confusion, Professor Bhattacharyya was also in a group of individuals standing beneath a tree, reading the Kalma, or an Islamic creed. Having understood the seriousness of the situation and following the actions of the people around him, he too began reading it.

A few seconds longer, and a terrorist seemed ready to confront him face-to-face. "He glared at me and asked, 'What are you doing?'" Bhattacharyya remembered. He began shouting "La ilaha illallah" over and over at the top of his lungs right away.

A Survivor's Reflection on a Close Call

Professor Bhattacharyya later admitted that he was not requested to recite the Kalma aloud but inadvertently uttered it when others were doing so. "I wasn't asked to say something directly, but I knew what to do. I heard him ask someone else if he said 'Ram Naam'," he said, describing the precision of the attack.

His tale is a grim reminder of the truth that at such crisis points, the interface of bravery and presence of mind may be what it means by the difference between life and extinction.

Government Steps In: Assam Assures Safe Return

The government in the state acted swiftly in tackling the crisis. Arrangements for the repatriation of Bhattacharyya and his family were in the making, the Chief Minister's Office has confirmed. The family was safe and is to return to Srinagar by April 26.

"Return of all members of the family to the state is being arranged on priority basis," the statement said, highlighting the co-ordination of the central and state governments.

National Mourning and Global Consequences

The assault, the deadliest on visitors in decades, shocked India. Prayers were offered in cities across the country as citizens reacted to the shock and anger at the killing of innocent people. Anger was expressed all over the world, and security personnel in Kashmir have been reinforced substantially.

In a stinging diplomatic tit-for-tat, India retaliated by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and withdrawing the SAARC visa waivers for Pakistani citizens. These steps are a policy change of note and betray the seriousness of the attack in the eyes of Indian policymakers.

Courage in Crisis

Professor Bhattacharyya's experience is unprecedented, not only as a tale of survival, but as testimony to being an eyewitness to human spirit being put to test. In the midst of such unselective brutality, his calm response and sharp thinking are testimony to resilience and instinct.