Today we are going to where the wave hit the hardest. M. G. R. Thittu.
This island was named after the politician who helped establish it.
The morning started with a trip back to the house where eight of us headed off in two cars
to the island. It is difficult to follow another car on normal roads and in normal traffic however this
seemed impossible. I felt like I was in a Pink Panther movie with Peter Sellers. And I was in the
front seat!
We stopped for breakfast along the way. I was not hungry so I waited in the car.
The small town came alive with people off to work and children to school. I smiled at anyone
who passed by but only the children smiled back. Three children came up to the car and stood
there looking. When they saw me writing one of them indicated that he wanted the pen. My pen
had run dry so I had borrowed Isaac’s pen. Although it was one of many that he had and it was
not expensive, I did not feel comfortable giving it away. So I took their picture, it always works.
I showed them the image and they went on happy, looking back and waving. Cameras are great.
My first image of the “camp”, for that is what it appeared like, was one of extreme activity.
Houses were being constructed in various areas. Access to the main group was under a
sign for EFICOR, a large NGO in Calcutta. It is building homes for those whose houses were
destroyed. The government and Habitat for Humanity were also building but to a far lesser degree.
I was impressed, for a while.
We met a group of people and they chatted with Isaac and the rest of the people.
Then we headed down to the waters edge. There were many, like MANY, boats. We made our
way to one of them and got on board. It was one of the types that were swamped during the Wave.
Ten of us climbed on board and we set off to the island. A single cylinder engine propelled us along.
It drove a propeller at the end of a 6-foot long shaft. The operator stood at the stern directing the
shaft down into the water and adjusting the speed. It took 10 minutes to get to the island.
As we approached we passed the sunken wreckage of one of the boats. They explained that the
Wave had destroyed it. We had to get out and wade to shore, only a foot of water deep.
It was so silent. We wandered up the shore and into desolation. Houses were demolished.
There was a well pipe standing 4 feet above ground. They told me that the base I saw had been at ground
level before. The Wave had washed away 4 feet of sand and soil from that part of the island. It got worse.
We passed by some thorny bushes. They are everywhere in India. We were told that the Wave washed
people across the island and women and girls with long hair were caught in the bushes and could not free
themselves. They drowned. They were found later, after the water subsided.
There was a house with a steel door. The door was crumpled from the force of impact.
Everyone inside had been killed.
We walked along the beach area. Serene. They said that there had been 38 children playing on the
beach that day. All were swept to sea, never to be seen again. Because it was Christmas, many
children were off visiting relatives and escaped the disaster.
We proceeded to an area of palm trees. It looked pretty and quiet. I was told that many houses were built
in that area. None of them survived. A boat wrapped itself around one tree. Actually it was only the front half.
The other half ended up about 50 yards inland. The wall of a brick house was broken apart. It was the home
of one of the men with us. Another man lost his family. There was no sign of them. Signs of life and activity were
all around but neither of them was there then. Apparently, none will be there for a long time.
People are refusing to go back.
A man, Anbu Jeeva, saw the wave and rushed his wife and 3 sons to his boat. His 4th son was playing
elsewhere and there was no time to get him. They climbed in just before the Wave hit the far side of the island.
As it swept across, the boat pulled away. He is a Hindu and his son is attending a Christian school.
As the Wave headed towards them told them about Christ calming the seas. The son prayed for protection.
The force reduced. They rescued people and they all prayed - loudly. By this time there was a back-wave
from the island. The boat had 20 people in it now. The waves interfered with each other and then subsided.
They were saved.
We slowly made our way back to the boat. It was a quiet ride back to the mainland.
On shore we went to the home of Anbu Jeeva where we met his wife and 2 little boys.
The son who prayed is at school. We had refreshments and talked. He told us that they have received little
other than the houses. And they are just lined up in a long row like beach changing huts. Because EFICOR
is such a large NGO (Evangelical Fellowship of India Committee On Relief (EFICOR) ,
others are bypassing this area and not helping. They have had little or no assistance
from the millions donated to the Red Cross. Little of the food, clothing or water has been given.
They need nets to fish with. The nets, which were provided to them, were for the wrong fishing season
and there is no way of fishing. The men are sitting around with little to do. They need school supplies.
Some children were taken by a few NGOs after the disaster and now the NGOs want compensation
for their expenses. We thanked the people and took our leave.
We had much to think about while we made our way to Pondicherry. We were off to meet the Rotarian
brother of Isaac’s friend Antony. The trip took about an hour.
His house is beautiful. The second floor is still being constructed. He is an example of a Dalit who has
done well for himself. He is the principal of a school. He has been a Rotarian for a year and was interested
in the Brighton club.
His wife and daughter served lunch. I felt uneasy so I only ate a little. The food was delicious and I was
sorry to leave it. I went to lie down for a bit but stayed only a couple of minutes. I knew that we had another
appointment and had to go. We thanked them for their wonderful hospitality and left.
We took a short drive along the waterfront. Although the Wave struck here, little damage was experienced.
However, the city was building up the frontage with more large rocks just in case. I noticed 3 other white
eople bringing the total number to 9 since my arrival. All of them were in the tourist areas. We were now
heading for John Bosco’s School.
We arrived later than they had expected. Isaac asked directions often (yes men do ask them) but it was still
5:30 when we arrived. The students and teachers were all in the courtyard. They presented us with garlands
and painted a dot on our foreheads. We then proceeded down a carpet while the students threw flower petals at us.
The students performed 6 dances for us. They wrapped us with scarves and gave us paintings from the teachers.
They presented me with gifts the students had made. I made a speech about Canada and the reason for my
visit. It was a wonderful evening.
After dismissing the students, the principal took us on a tour of the facilities. It is large and spacious.
Most of the students live at the school. As we were making our way to the main building, we passed the
students doing their studies. There are no excuses when you live at the school.
They had prepared supper for us but I had to excuse myself. I went down to the car and tried to sleep.
I must have succeeded because I woke up as everyone was around the car saying good-bye. I said mine
and went back to the back seat. I slept there on the way back. We left there and arrived back at 2 am.
I went straight to bed.