00:00Stephen from Ireland was present in the vicinity on that fateful evening of November the 10th
00:08when the blast took place right here.
00:10I read the news and we discovered we were so close to this area when just around the
00:16time it happened.
00:17I value the peace times now and the price of peace is worth the effort.
00:22There's a saying in our part of the world, keep calm and carry on.
00:28It was then and it is now.
00:30We are thankful that our visitors from Ireland are safe and sound standing with us here.
00:38And why I say so because Stephen from Ireland was present in the vicinity on that fateful
00:46evening of November the 10th when the blast took place right here.
00:50Stephen and his friend came here to see how things are.
00:54They stayed in Delhi.
00:56They did not move out knowing for a fact that the agencies would be working hard to solve
01:01this mystery.
01:02Stephen, thank you so much for speaking to One India and we are happy that we are talking
01:06to you in person.
01:07Stephen, help us understand where were you in this vicinity when the blast happened on
01:13Monday evening?
01:14So we were visiting a local mosque.
01:17It was quite a busy area.
01:21We looked across the hedge, the trees and we could see the red fort.
01:27We were quite near it, I think it was in about one kilometre.
01:31And then we left the area and we arrived in our hotel and read the news and we discovered
01:37we were so close to this area when just around the time it happened.
01:41Right.
01:42So it was quite shocking.
01:43Stephen, I mean, you come from Ireland.
01:45Ireland has its own history of struggle.
01:48This is correct.
01:49Independence for its rights, for its, you know, voting rights so much.
01:53So when you look at this Asian perspective, the conflict that India is facing as of now,
02:00what comes to your mind?
02:01How this can be solved?
02:02Is there any way out to this?
02:05This is the million dollar question.
02:07It's not easy to resolve people's opposing views and there's some elements of society
02:14that would take the action into their own hands in the wrong way.
02:20I would encourage a peaceful solution, democracy, everyone should come to the table and talk.
02:27We endured 30 years of conflicts, bombings, shootings, there were daily news articles, bombs,
02:34so many things for many, many years.
02:38I was a young child when it was the worst, but certainly as a teenager and as I grew up,
02:42it was, it was still there.
02:44Right.
02:45So, I value the peace times now and it's, the price of peace is worth the effort.
02:52Right.
02:53Absolutely.
02:54Stephen, when you chose to visit New Delhi or India from Ireland, did it ever occur in
03:00your mind that the place could be volatile, the place could be arrested given the fact
03:05that we have tensions with our neighbours?
03:08I am aware of some issues in Kashmir, it's like a dual jurisdiction, I'm not quite sure.
03:16And I just about remembered there was, there was bombs roughly 20 years ago in the city.
03:22Was it the metro?
03:23I can't quite remember.
03:24Yes.
03:25In 2010, we had a blast in New Delhi outside a court complex, public court complex.
03:29And then in 2008, we had the Mumbai bombings that happened and then later on followed.
03:35Yeah.
03:36So, roughly 12 to 20, 15 years ago, yes, we had that situation.
03:40Yeah.
03:41It was very much in the far back of my mind.
03:44It was absolutely not something I was thinking about, but I do have some memory of it.
03:48So, it was just a shock.
03:49It was an absolute shock that there was anything like this in 2025.
03:54What's the plan from here on?
03:55Do you still stay here or you're here for work or going to other parts of the country also?
04:00Yeah.
04:01So, we're here for tourism and we are almost finished our trip.
04:05And we're looking forward to returning home tomorrow morning.
04:08So, you've caught me just before we go to the plane almost.
04:11Right.
04:12Stephen, it's remarkable that you chose to stay here.
04:15And lo and behold, Stephen and his friend, who is behind the camera as of now, recording
04:20the proceedings, this conversation, that you came back here to see.
04:25We often talk about the resilience of the human being.
04:28And the moment the road opened, I saw you guys were here.
04:31What does it tell you about the people of India especially?
04:35And I'm sure it is the same across the world that life goes on.
04:39There's a saying in our part of the world, keep calm and carry on.
04:44Right.
04:45Keep calm and carry on.
04:47Keep calm and carry on.
04:48I think so.
04:49Absolutely.
04:50That I think is the takeaway from this scenario here.
04:54When you go back, I'm sure this memory won't fade easily from your mind.
04:58When you tell this story to your kids and grandkids, how would you present it to them?
05:06I guess it's just the bump in the road to peace.
05:09That's how we call it that.
05:12Sometimes circumstances and life throws up unexpected things.
05:16And if luck is on your side, then, you know, you're back from it.
05:20It doesn't affect you.
05:21And as you say, hopefully the authorities will catch whoever is involved and prevent such
05:28things from happening again.
05:29Right.
05:30We absolutely do not want to see this ever again.
05:34Absolutely.
05:35So do we, Stephen.
05:36Stephen, one final question before I let you enjoy the rest of the day from here in this
05:41bright and sunny, almost wintry afternoon in New Delhi.
05:47Cricket is one thing that connects the Asian subcontinent, Ireland also, England for that
05:53matter.
05:54We have, you must have seen it in the past, not, you know, very old story that India chose
06:00to put up a very stern stand when the World Cup was going on, when the cricket was going
06:07on.
06:08Obviously, our neighbors do play cricket, Ireland's England does also do that.
06:14Do you think that there is a point in our career, in our history that we need to put
06:20our foot down and tell the aggressors, if I may say so, that, hey, look, we are not going
06:26to take this anymore.
06:27Do you think it's a humane thing to do?
06:30I suppose you have to think about what method you use to try and come to this point.
06:39Fair enough.
06:40Fair enough.
06:41I guess it's the card and the stick.
06:43You can go out all guns blazing and possibly this is a language some people understand,
06:48the only language they understand.
06:49Or you can extend the hand of negotiation and come round the table and perhaps you need
06:56a bit of both.
06:57You need to encourage them and tempt them at the same time.
07:00So, yeah, there absolutely comes a point where you try your best to achieve the prize of peace.
07:09It's difficult, but it's absolutely worth it.
07:12Okay.
07:13Fair enough.
07:14And any message for the people of Delhi and for the people of India in these fine times?
07:19Stand strong, stand together, love one another and yeah, just be kind and we thank you for
07:28making us feel welcome and helping us with our journey in India.
07:33We appreciate it.
07:35Thank you, Stephen.
07:36Absolute pleasure to speak to you.
07:37And you, sir.
07:39Please do enjoy the beauty of this historic city in New Delhi and also across the country.
07:45Absolutely.
07:46No, thank you for your welcome.
07:48Stephen here speaking to One India, narrating the ordeal, narrating the story, what he witnessed
07:52and how he feels even five days after the Dastadi blast that shook the national capital.
07:58With camera person Imran Shah, this is Pankaj Misha reporting for One India from New Delhi.
08:09Download the One India app now.
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