A father's fears, a son's fate and duty: Indian journalist in Iran survives bombing by seconds

IANS June 19, 2025 245 views

A Lucknow father shares his emotional rollercoaster after learning his journalist son in Iran narrowly escaped a missile strike. Ravish Zaidi had stepped out of his workplace mere seconds before the building was hit, coincidentally on his late mother's death anniversary. The dedicated journalist even returned to the bomb site to report on the attack, telling his father martyrdom "wasn't written in his fate". While regional tensions keep airports closed, Ravish continues his work in Iran, describing daily life as normal despite the dangers.

"Humari kismat mein shahadat nahi thi, isliye bach gaye. Duty kar rahe hain" - Ravish Zaidi
Lucknow, June 19: Ameer Abbas Zaidi, a resident of Lucknow, is filled with emotions of gratitude as well as anxiety after learning that his son narrowly escaped a bombing in Iran — just seconds before the missile struck the building where he worked.

Key Points

1

Journalist survived missile strike by stepping out seconds before impact

2

Attack coincided with his mother's death anniversary

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Father in Lucknow recounts harrowing wait for contact

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Ravish returned to bomb site to cover news despite danger

Zaidi’s son Ravish has been working with a news channel in Iran for the past 15 years. Based in one of the country’s major cities, he has built his life there with his family.

Tragically, his wife passed away on September 23 last year, after which Ravish had briefly returned to India before heading back to Iran.

“We tried contacting him, but couldn’t get through,” Zaidi told IANS. “Then a news channel reported that the building where he works was bombed. That’s when we realised something terrible had happened.”

The building attack coincided with the day of Ravish's mother's death anniversary, adding a deeper layer of emotional turmoil for the family.

"As a father, my heart sank," said Zaidi. “But later, Ravish told me that he had stepped out just seconds before the missile hit. He survived by pure luck. After the attack, he even went back inside to cover the news", he added.

Zaidi said Ravish downplayed the dangers when they finally spoke. “He told me, ‘Humari kismat mein shahadat nahi thi, isliye bach gaye. Duty kar rahe hain (Martyrdom wasn't written in my fate, so I survived. I am doing my duty)."

"Strangely, this attack happened on the same day when my wife died," said Zaidi.

Despite the incident, Ravish has no plans to leave Iran.

According to him, life in major Iranian cities continues normally. “He said it doesn’t feel like a war zone. People are calm, the country is beautiful, and Iranians are very hospitable,” Zaidi added.

Airports in Iran remain closed amid rising regional tensions, limiting any possibilities of Ravish's immediate return.

While the situation is volatile, Zaidi says he trusts his son’s judgment but cannot help worrying. “He’s doing his duty. I’m proud of him — but as a father, I just want him safe.”

With regional tensions showing no signs of easing, Zaidi’s story is a poignant reminder of the human cost and personal bravery behind the headlines.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.
What a heart-wrenching story! Ravish's dedication to journalism is inspiring, but I can't imagine how difficult this must be for his father. As Indians, we should be proud of such brave journalists representing us globally. 🙏
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Rahul M.
"Kismat mein shahadat nahi thi" - such powerful words! This shows the courage of Indian journalists working in conflict zones. But I hope our government is keeping track of Indian citizens in volatile regions like Iran.
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Sunita P.
The coincidence of this happening on his mother's death anniversary gives me goosebumps. It's like divine intervention saved him. But as a parent myself, I would be begging my child to return home. Safety first!
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Arjun S.
While I admire his commitment, I wonder if Indian media organizations provide enough security training and support for journalists in such dangerous postings. This incident should make us reflect on journalist safety protocols.
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Neha T.
The father's mixed emotions are so relatable - pride in his son's work but natural parental worry. This story shows how global conflicts affect ordinary families. Hope Ravish stays safe and can return soon. #JournalistBravery
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Vikram D.
Interesting that Ravish says Iran doesn't feel like a war zone despite the tensions. Media often shows only one side of these countries. Maybe we need more balanced reporting from ground zero.

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Tags:
Iran bombing Indian journalist in Iran Lucknow father Ravish Zaidi Middle East tensions