The recent devastating Tsunami that sunk tens of thousands of people is but an inkling of what is in store for us. These most unfortunate people have met an end that is ultimately in store for all of us, nay for all living creatures on this planet - death by deluge or "pralaya". Many people may scoff at the entire concept of "pralaya", but I believe it is God's way of wiping the slate clean to begin afresh on a brand new day. Apart from this theorising, I have quite a bit to say of the Tsunami and its wake of destruction.
1. Once again, the media is having a field day. A disaster is the surest-shot way that news channels gain viewers and newspapers gain readers. Something of this scale gives them their bonus. The Gujarat carnage and the war in Iraq are two of the more recent events that also resulted in a 'field day' for the media. Another aspect of this is the nearness of the disaster to everyone in the world, which can be attributed to the media, again. The gut-wrenching scenes at the disaster sites were transmitted live across the globe, and the television took every viewer into the heart of the action. We all felt as though we were there in Nagapattinam or Cuddalore or Galle or wherever else dead bodies were floating around amidst ruins of houses and wrecked cars. The surprising thing is the relish with which the general public laps up this news. The sight of a carcass of a woman bloated with water and half-eaten by fishes is as lip-smacking as the sight of the most delicious gourmet dishes. A friend of mine looked positively disappointed when I told him that the preliminary estimates of the death toll was 'just' 1500, but he was beaming the next morning when the paper put the estimate at over 10000, and he said, "Hey Anirudh, look - over 10000 people have died" with the same enthusiasm with which he might have said, "Hey Anirudh, look - Sachin just overtook Lara's record." And then there's talk of 'reducing the population'. Quite thoughless, I must say...
2. Anyone knows what's happened to the numerous indigenous tribes who inhabited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands? They were the last remaining 'truly indigenous' tribes of India, and all they had for protection from nature's wrath were the dense jungles around them and their own primitive huts. It's highly improbable that any significant number of them survived. Even if they had survived the Tsunami itself, they will find it near impossible to survive the week or so after the Wave. The Government (in fact, the colonial Government) had labelled most of these tribes as 'dangerous', and no attempt had been made to take civilisation to them. Therefore, now there is no way of reaching these people, nor of knowing what has happened to them, nor of sending help across to them. Only God (and what 'hideous' tribal God that may be!!!!) can protect them now. Citizens of the same India, eh? We'll soon see.....
3. Apart from the media, another group of people who immensely profit from disasters are the 'relief' groups. And profit is the right word, too. With no disrespect meant for any group honestly engaged in rescue and relief work, I must say that a disaster means money for many. The Government proudly announces monetary packages for the families of the deceased, missing and injured. How much actually reaches these stricken families? Other organisations raise phenomenal sums of money, apparently to buy food, clothing and medicines for the victims. Does it reach them? I don't think so. The suffering and agony has to sort itself out, and the victims have to arrange their own affairs if they have any wish to survive. So much for pseudos and their work....
I seem to have made it a habit of writing long blogs. I will put a stop to the current one, although there's lot more to say. Perhaps I may find the energy to write up a sequel to this. As of now, I must return to the TV - they are showing particuarly mouth-watering scenes of mass cremations and relatives beating their chests and wailing...
