Nagapattinam, here I come!

I would say that Dec 26, 2004 will be remembered by millions of people around the world as one of the nature’s worst disasters.

I haven’t slept much the last two weeks and I have been trying to figure out what my part is in the Tsunami disaster. My home town Nagapattinam (Nagai) was worst hit, off the coast of Tamil Nadu State (South India). Nearly 6100 people have died.

Nagai used to be the fishing hub of Tamil Nadu and it’s decimated. I wonder what the fisherwomen will do. Their husbands and children are dead. Their house and boat is destroyed. I can’t just sit here and watch this happen in my town.

I ate their fish until I came to Canada. I sat on the beach every Sunday with my sister, grandmother and friends eating salted peanuts watching the waves until the moon rose and the bright yellow light turned on the light house. It was like a large giant, painted in black and white stripes with a red top. I would watch in wonderment.

My biggest thrill was to dig a hole behind all the elders and watch them fall behind. The high light of the evening would be to stand on the water until it came up to my knees. My grandmother would hold us tight and worry. But Mother Nature took good care of us. On our way home we would pay a short visit to the town’s biggest church. We would light a candle and say a small prayer. Even though I was brought up Hindu, my grand parents exposed us to all 3 religions that were predominate in Nagapattinam (Hindu, Muslim and Christian).

It’s sad to know Nagapattinam (Home of a large Shiva temple), Velankanni (home of a very famous Portuguese Basilica) and Nagore (home a famous masque where the prophet Mohamed had once visited) were all hard hit by Tsunami. So Mother Nature didn’t play favorites.

Yesterday according to the Hindu national news paper of India, Nagapattinam district’s death roll has risen to 6,035 (1,875 men, 2,400 women and 1,760 children). The whole fishing industry has been decimated. My little town and all villages nearby are in serious trouble. How will they rebuild and survive? Their houses or huts are gone. Their fishing boats are destroyed. Women have lost their husbands and children. Many children have lots their parents. Two generations of fishing industry is wiped out.

I also heard about a temporary orphanage setup up to house close to 3,000 children at a nearby village called Sikkal. The children are asking for their parents and crying at night.

I can’t get these pictures out of my head. Looking at the pictures of Ackarapatti (the fishing village of Nagapattinam) taken last year with my mother seems so far away. It will never be like that again.

What can I do? How can I help?

After going back and forth I have decided to go to Tamil Nadu, to be specific to Nagapattiam.

I have hooked up with an aid agency called AID India. They are doing great work. I have been corresponding with them and seems like they can put my skills to good work. I will be doing Media and Documentation work. I will be documenting the village with digital camera and writing reports for AID India and other media outlets.

Finally I feel at peace. Seems like the right thing to do. What little I can do is going to help so many people. I am happy that I can make the difference.

The beauty and innocence of Nagai is gone, what is left are people in need of great help. As humans we have moral obligations to do the right thing. To me, my decision feels good inside. Nagapattinam, here I come.