A big salute to the auto driver who drove people for free, the good samaritan at the pharmacy who let an old woman buy medicines even when her credit card failed to work and the droves of young volunteers who are relentlessly helping thousands of flood victims at relief camps and makeshift shelters in the city of Chennai, which was ravaged by nature's fury last week.
With neighbours helping each other, employers reaching out to its employees, people opening up their homes to strangers and getting together to clean the streets, the humane side of the so-called 'conservative' city has come to the fore. In fact, a child was reduced to tears thinking of the plight of the animals in the zoo. There is nothing 'conservative' about the way people of the city have reached out to its fellow citizens in kind and spirit.
It is also heartening to see social media being put to good use, with useful information, contacts and hopeful messages being passed on. This has overpowered the usual rants and blame-games. A big 'Like' here.
May the spirit of the people continue to pour. Yes, there have been reports of chaos and commotion during distribution of relief materials and people making a quick buck or two and exploiting the situation, but let us choose not to dwell on that. Also, the politics and whys-and-wherefores behind the floods can wait for now.
For some of us who didn't have to wade through dirty water or be rescued in boats, even being without internet and power for 3-4 days may have seemed like living in the Dark Ages. Look on the bright side: the rains gave a lot of us a chance to live like 'normal' human beings.
The floods didn't spare anyone. Water became a great leveller as everyone - the rich and famous, the economically backward and the middle-class - got hit. The intensity of the losses may vary, but the pain and agony are the same. For those whose life's savings and valuable belongings got washed away, words of encouragement and assurances will go a long way in their road to recovery. Yes, we need to hit the road, and fast.
With last week's nightmare behind, the people of Chennai start a new week with hope and courage. The city is keen to pick up the pieces and start afresh.
While some are still on an extended holiday with companies continuing to reel under knee-deep water, Monday saw many people put on big smiles and march to work. Their smiles may hide many a tears, but they won't let the world know that. Hopefully, as the week rolls by more people will join the workforce and move on... for life does go on, rain or shine.
'Limping back to normalcy' is what the newspapers and TV channels like to call it. But let us skip the 'limping' and try the 'leaping'.
Come on, Chennai. There can be no better way to recover and heal our wounds than working our way through it. Let us scrub, clean up and get ready to face the world again. It is not going to be easy. But we have seen the worst already.
With neighbours helping each other, employers reaching out to its employees, people opening up their homes to strangers and getting together to clean the streets, the humane side of the so-called 'conservative' city has come to the fore. In fact, a child was reduced to tears thinking of the plight of the animals in the zoo. There is nothing 'conservative' about the way people of the city have reached out to its fellow citizens in kind and spirit.
It is also heartening to see social media being put to good use, with useful information, contacts and hopeful messages being passed on. This has overpowered the usual rants and blame-games. A big 'Like' here.
May the spirit of the people continue to pour. Yes, there have been reports of chaos and commotion during distribution of relief materials and people making a quick buck or two and exploiting the situation, but let us choose not to dwell on that. Also, the politics and whys-and-wherefores behind the floods can wait for now.
For some of us who didn't have to wade through dirty water or be rescued in boats, even being without internet and power for 3-4 days may have seemed like living in the Dark Ages. Look on the bright side: the rains gave a lot of us a chance to live like 'normal' human beings.
The floods didn't spare anyone. Water became a great leveller as everyone - the rich and famous, the economically backward and the middle-class - got hit. The intensity of the losses may vary, but the pain and agony are the same. For those whose life's savings and valuable belongings got washed away, words of encouragement and assurances will go a long way in their road to recovery. Yes, we need to hit the road, and fast.
With last week's nightmare behind, the people of Chennai start a new week with hope and courage. The city is keen to pick up the pieces and start afresh.
While some are still on an extended holiday with companies continuing to reel under knee-deep water, Monday saw many people put on big smiles and march to work. Their smiles may hide many a tears, but they won't let the world know that. Hopefully, as the week rolls by more people will join the workforce and move on... for life does go on, rain or shine.
'Limping back to normalcy' is what the newspapers and TV channels like to call it. But let us skip the 'limping' and try the 'leaping'.
Come on, Chennai. There can be no better way to recover and heal our wounds than working our way through it. Let us scrub, clean up and get ready to face the world again. It is not going to be easy. But we have seen the worst already.
2 comments:
Very well written Swetha. Love the part where you state - let's skip the limping and start leaping.
Very well written Swetha. Love the part where you state - let's skip the limping and start leaping.
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