DISSOLVING THE BOUNDARIES TO ONENESS!

ReBuilding Kerala!

As Arundhati Roy rightly said, disasters such as this can bring out the best as well as the worst in people. The flash floods in Kerala have caused property damages worth 19500 crores. Over 445 people died and at least a million people were evacuated. But more than anything, the roaring waters have succeeded in destroying the walls that existed in our minds; those barriers that divided humanity!

Kerala is still suffering from the aftermath of a deluge that struck her from North to South. The waters from 35 dams drowned our land; roads damaged and blocked for repair works; houses filled with floating wastes and wreckages; damaged power supplies; many places isolated with no electricity, communication and transportation facilities; trauma and mental breakdown of survivors; deaths and casualties…

At least for a few days, Kerala was no less a battle ground; social media and news channels flooding with details of rescue operations; rescue helicopters all over the sky, airdropping food and water; army, policemen and fisherfolk ,everyone risking their lives to redeem her free from flash floods. This was certainly a war; but this time it was between man and nature.

Satellite images of affected areas before and after flood
(Photo Credits: NASA)

However, the very same epoch is "making history" by showcasing a society founded on unity and humility. Army, rescue squads and policemen camped at disaster hit sites, helping and managing the crowd. Voluntary organisations, youth clubs and local collectives working close by the administration system to provide food, emergency medical support, and financial aid to residents of relief camps. Generous support from businessmen and non- governmental organizations. The vibrant youths who stayed forefront in the rescue operations, blurring the differences between the virtual world and the real world. The helicopters that showered more help than the torrential rain. Schools donating books and study materials to the affected children. The little ones too doing their bits by contributing their piggy bank savings! The fisher folks, the heroes without capes or iron suites, devoting themselves to the rescue missions. Everyone doing their part, lending a helping hand to rescue our people and our state. This was, indeed, a crisis that tested the virtue of the people and the Govt.

Also, there may not have been a time in history of Kerala that witnessed religious harmony as intense as this. Mosques and madrasas opening doors to shelter Hindu families! Muslim women applying mehendi to nuns on the occasion of Eid. A Hindu man buried in a church cemetery! Muslim youths cleaning Ayyappan temple and Hindu youths cleaning masjids! Lord Krishna, Jesus Christ and Allah, the almighty; all worshipped in a single room!!! 

God's own country!
(Photo Credits: Twitter/@SunilUpdate)

Furthermore, this catastrophe has taught us umpteen number of things; the must dos and must nots!!! Things that teach us about nature and how well we should nurture it. Things that we should take care of to avoid future disasters and precautions needed to be taken beforehand.

But most importantly, this event has given way for the humanity to reflect upon themselves! To rethink if the wars fought so far or the assets seized were worthy at all!! To retrace back to their pasts and examine if the fabricated stories of religion and caste man himself made, to garnish his being, was of any benefit at hard times like this! To remorse about the filthy ways he adopted for piling up currencies in his locker and how he forgot to live! To fathom what it is to be human without any embellishments of caste and colour, money and power! To see in a new light that we all are equal, and this life is all about souls recognizing souls... stardust colliding upon meetings!

And again, it has taught; That karma is true and everything we do to others come back to us! That it’s high time to get back to a humble way of living. That people/things which we often leave unnoticed or ignored will be the most useful at times such as this. That nothing man boasts about or takes pride in can comfort him during sorrows! 

And that love and only love can save this world!