Renewal, repair, reconstruction
PHOTO: SHAJU JOHN
On the morning of December 26, 2004, a new word entered the vocabulary of most Indians. It was a word that would suggest that the sea had suddenly gone mad, that the ocean could no longer be trusted, that the water had cannibalised the land.
It was a word that spelt total and unimaginable upheaval — devastation, death, destitution, fear, sorrow and loss. Thousands lost families, homes, livelihoods.
For those who escaped the monstrous wall of water, the real challenge was in rebuilding lives. It was about finding courage in the face of adversity, hope in the face of despair and learning to look ahead while leaving memories behind.
One year later, what is the situation on the ground? How are the survivors faring? How effective have rehabilitation measures been? What more needs to be done? This special supplement on the anniversary of the tsunami attempts to find answers to these questions even as it delves into the stories of survival — stories which show that the human spirit eventually endures.
TSUNAMI A YEAR AFTER
