ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR - SIX YEARS AFTER TSUNAMI

Living with the Sea

 

Man has always been fascinated by power and beauty. He finds it both a challenge and an opportunity; challenge to tame the powerful and opportunity, to conquer the beauty. And oceans and seas across the world offer both.

 

Naturally, since time immemorial, large water bodies have always attracted mankind in various ways. Oceans and seafronts with vast expanse of water spread across the horizons – all the more so. Ferocious waves breaking over distant rocks with a roar, turning the shore white with foam and spreading a fine mist in the air around, is a thrilling scene to behold.

 

 

The gentle ripples whispering sweet nothings in the ears of scurrying hermit crabs in golden sandy beaches is an equally enchanting and refreshing experience. Seashores, waves and beaches have always excited and stimulated the poets, authors and painters to contribute exquisite pieces to their respective fields of creativity.

 

Oceans and deep seas have their own share of mysteries, myths, legends and parables – be it the mermaids, fire-spitting dragons, sea-demons, water spouts, whirl-pools baffling underwater currents or the scientific puzzles like the Bermuda Triangle. There are also the enticing lagoons, the captivating mangrove lined creeks beaconing the nature lovers.

 

Mangrove lined creek near Baratang Island (South Andaman)

 

Water sports have acquired their own dimensions over the years – adventure sports, more so. Wind surfing, yachting, kayaking and trans-oceanic expeditions have always allured the brave and courageous people. These events test the courage, endurance and spirit of adventure of the enthusiasts.

 

Swimming, the oldest water sport has lost much of its charm. Yet it is the first brush with water and that too physical and intimate one. It remains and will always remain man’s primary engagement with water.

 

Water Sports for tourists at Aberdeen Water Sports Complex, Port Blair

 

Sea or for that matter an ocean is not all about Cleopatra’s beauty or Wordsworth’s poetry or Michelangelo’s paintings. It is much more substantial. There is an entire universe out there in the sea – much more exciting and breathtaking. A whole world of plants and animals, the corals, the weeds etc. add life and colour to the mystery of the sea.

 

It is a major source of food for the teeming millions and so far, just about 2% of the seafood resources have been exploited. Various species of fish, sea-weeds and other organisms make a substantial contribution to manufacture of drugs and medicines. Fossil fuel and precious mineral-nodules hold a great promise to meet our future demands.

 

It is not for nothing that tens of thousands of people rush to waterfronts to get themselves refreshed and rejuvenated. The entire economy of small coastal and island nations depends entirely on tourism. Fishery is the mainstay of another dozens of nations providing direct or indirect employment to millions of people.

 

But for all the bounties we receive from the sea, what do we give it in return?

 

 

We pollute its crystal clear water, jeopardizing plant and animal lives, corals and sea-weeds. We spill millions of tons of crude oil when a super tanker bursts. We discharge all the filth into it. But it still bears all the torture with magnanimity and forgiveness.

 

Sea is, however, not a dead entity. It not only has a body but a soul, as well. It has sentiments, feelings and ego as any human being. It breathes, laughs, cries and demonstrates all the human sentiments. It feels hurt, injured, neglected and insulted when the people who depend on it for their very survival and sustenance ignore it continuously. It also needs love, respect and caring like any living being.

 

It can get furious, vindictive and utterly destructive when people fail to understand its displeasure and hurt; again, as we all do. And it did get furious – on December 26, 2004, 6 years ago from now.

 

Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, Port Blair battling with Tsunami at 7 a.m., on 26^th, Dec, 2004

 

One can surmise the fate of this victim of the Tsunami of 26^th December, 2004

 

There is no gainsaying the fact that we have been neglecting the sea for much too long – to our own peril. In fact, we have been taking it for granted as a benign, compassionate and benevolent provider of sustenance. We took it that we did not owe it anything in return. Not even the necessity of understanding it.

 

There are examples galore to substantiate my point. Though surrounded by water all around, apart from gazing at the sea from the safety of shores, we have done precious little to go near it, touch it, feel it and roll with its waves. It would have enabled us to get a feel of the varying moods of the sea expressed through the temperature, ‘charge’ and the churnings at a given moment.

 

Humanity is engaged in a self destructive pursuit of material comfort, power and status to the exclusion of everything else. Attempts to explore and understand Mother Nature is no more a virtue. No wonder, we have lost the basic knowledge that such lowly creatures as rats, snakes and monkeys possess, leave aside tribes. The result is there for everyone to see. The tribes that were farthest from civilization, as also the animals, sustained the least or no loss of life.

 

A Jarawa woman showing her catch

 

Until a couple of decades back, fishing and hunting were the hobbies, nay a craze of a large number of local inhabitants of all hues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But gradually everyone gave it up and the present generation hardly knows anything about it.

 

Swimming used to be a regular event on Sundays and holidays at the Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair, but now hardly any crowd is seen on such days. Even if children gather there to take a jump into the water and learn swimming on their own, they are shooed away. It is a matter of shame that most of the people in these islands of ours do not know proper swimming. Even those who know it, know it imperfectly that would not take them far in a crisis.

 

Our sports-persons participate in national and international events of rowing, canoeing and kayaking but in annual sports and athletic meets there are no water sports events. Such rudimentary event as swimming fails to get a place in the scheme of things. Although, with a little effort, water sports like rowing, canoeing, kayaking, yachting, para-sailing, water ski, pedal boating etc. can be promoted easily. It makes a good business sense too.

 

The Lt. Governor, his officers and the Member of Parliament with the Commonwealth Games baton, earlier this year

 

My head goes down in shame when I see people in the mainland of our country engaged in rowing and pedal-boating in lakes and we, with water all around us, do not have a rowing club. And, how many people in the islands can handle a sail boat?

 

A faint attempt was made by some interested people a couple of years ago, to get swimming included in the school curriculum. But obviously, it is gathering dust somewhere in the files of the lackadaisical administration, which is handled by the bureaucrats posted mostly only for a tenure of a couple of years on transferable basis by the Centre at New Delhi. Hence, the listlessness in the implementation of long term policies, the modus operandi of which is long-winded.

 

To add to the ill fate of the islanders, a flock of renowned NGOs like Oxfam, Save the Children, Action Aid, West Bengal Voluntary Health Association, Butterfly, Prayas and the rest, who ‘ventured to work’ for the welfare of the tsunami affected islanders of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after the fiasco of 26 December 2004, are also yet to contemplate working in the field of inculcating the fundamental protocol of living by the sea.

 

ICDS Centers built by the NGO, Save the Children at Car Nicobar

 

In the worst Chilean tsunami in 1960 spawned by a magnitude 9.5 earthquake, the loss of life was 3,500, simply because the people knew and understood the sea. We are installing Tsunami Monitoring & Warning Systems in a big way. But let that not deceive us into complacence.

 

Even if a Warning System were in place, I doubt if Southern Group of Islands could have been saved. Tsunami had hit within ten minutes of the massive tremor felt by the people there. There was simply not enough response time. In case an earthquake in Great Nicobar or Diglipur or Barren Island spawns a tsunami, there would simply not be sufficient time to avert a catastrophe.

 

Extensive awareness campaign and individual preparedness to face a tsunami and; the skill, in case someone is caught in a killer wave, would only save lives. In such a moment of crisis, it boils down to individual life and the individuals would have to prepare themselves to face it: Government efforts notwithstanding.

 

Today is yet another very significant day in the history of the great Indian Freedom Movement. These exemplary islands that once reverberated with the footsteps of the daring freedom-fighters, are today celebrating the 67^th Anniversary of the hoisting of the National Tri-color for the first time on the Indian soil by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

 

 

It was on this day i.e. December 30, 1943, that one of the greatest freedom fighters in the history of modern India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had hoisted the National Flag for the first time at the Gymkhana Ground, Port Blair, the current capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, declaring the Islands, the first Indian Territory freed from the British rule.

 

***A big Salute to Netaji!!! ***

The intrepid son of Mother India!

 

And the last but not the least: a word of experience in retrospect for the islanders of the world:–

 

The sea all around us is a genuine friend of ours. We are destined to live by its side and also enjoy its bounties. Let’s do it with its leave. It will be a relationship of mistrust if we live by it but not understand it. And: love it.

 

 

Wish you all a

Happy, Prosperous & Peaceful

New Year 2011!!!

 

PROJECT TO 'IMMORTALIZE' ANDAMAN TRIBES

A Ray of Hope…

 

Finally, an exhilarating ray of hope for the haplessly endangered aboriginal tribes of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands…

 

 

But, providence notwithstanding, the colonially inherited Red-tapism is proving to be a damper for a fascinating research project to “immortalize” the cell lines of the endangered tribes of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

 

A team of scientists from Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), led by Director Dr Lalji Singh, had sent a proposal to the Centre more than two years ago seeking permission to draw the blood samples of primitive tribes for clinical studies of their genome structure and “immortalize” their cell lines. However, the proposal is caught in a bureaucratic maze, still awaiting the nod by multiple ministries.

 

“The permission from multiple agencies is required for this project. The clearance was not given earlier but I am planning to write to the government again on the need to preserve the genome of these tribes for posterity,” Singh, who retired recently from the CCMB, told The Tribune in an interview.

 

 

Surviving for over 70,000 years without any exposure to modern civilization, the tribes such as Onges, Jarawas and Sentinelese are considered the direct descendents of the set of human beings who migrated from Africa. Suresh Dharur of Tribune News Service, says, “These ancient tribes are fast vanishing and their population has come down to less than 250 now.”

 

“The genetic material of these ancient tribes reflected the “heritage of mankind” and could be of immense help in the search for medical cures for many diseases,” Singh, who continues to work for the CCMB on Bhatnagar Fellowship, said. “These tribes are on the verge of extinction. Our aim is to preserve their genome by immortalizing their cell lines,” the scientist, who pioneered DNA fingerprinting technology in India, said.

 

 

The scientists use a procedure called “epstein- barr virus transformation” to develop transformed cells, which will multiply externally.

 

His team from the CCMB, in association with Harvard Medical School, the Harvard School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT in the US, had recently published extensive studies to trace the genetic history of the Indian population.

 

“We have ICMR’s (Indian Council for Medical Research) permission for the project. But, we need clearances from the ministries of Home, Tribal Welfare and Environment and Forests, besides the administration of the Union Territory,” he said.

 

In order to preserve the unique genetic material of these endangered tribes, their blood samples have to be transported within 24 hours of collection to the laboratory where facilities for developing the transformed cell lines exist. “We need to create laboratory facilities in the islands because experiments on blood samples should start within 24 hours,” Singh said.

 

 

Those who are opposed to taking up such a project argue that the tribes should not be used as “guinea pigs” for laboratory experiments. India is home to over 500 tribes and 70 of them are classified as primitive. Of them, the tribes of Andaman and Nicobar islands are the most endangered.

 

Well, a pretty promising innovation about the glorious “immortalization” of the cell-lines of these very rare tribes which does hold water indeed!

 

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how well and how honestly we can work towards a much-needed breakthrough in the direction of saving these significant tribes from a hapless extinction further by trying, in an organized manner, to curb their alarming rate of mortality, which is due to multifarious socio-economic and environmental factors.

 

News Courtesy: The Tribune

SUPPORT 'SAVE OUR TIGERS' - ROAR NOW

Save Our Tigers

“Our national animal is fighting for its life.

From around 40,000 at the turn of the last century, there are just 1411 tigers left in India.

If we don’t act now, we could lose this part of our heritage forever.

Speak up, blog, share the concern, stay informed… Every little bit helps.

Aircel has partnered with WWF-India to help save our tigers. Explore the site to know how you can help.

Watch this space for updates from Stripey, the tiger cub…”

… And I was devastated deep in my heart to the maximum, to say the least, as I watched the agonizing image of the two months old tiger cub and went through these nerve-racking lines on the page of http://saveourtigers.com

An obviously concerned & charged Basab Mukherjee, one of those humans who’ve got involved in spreading the word around, says quite pertinently:

“I found a very touching picture in the cub, touching lines too. Saving tigers comes at second stage. First we should introspect how much we love all those animals that abound us. “Save our Tigers” cannot just be a slogan. We must feel what we say. Pretensions won’t work. We need sufficient environment awareness to preserve the ecosystem so that humans and tigers do not confront. Also we need stringent laws, and also their enforcement. If I get the license to be a bit emotional, those people should be shot at sight who try to kill innocent animals, or tigers for that matter. No trials, no democracy. If you can look at the eyes of a three month old cub, you will find your own child of same age. Think that way. Only then can you have real power in your roar.”

Another notably stirred & grief-stricken Michelle says: “My heart was in pieces after seeing the advert on television regarding the little cub. It is heartrending that humankind has managed to destroy our planet and the beautiful, majestic creatures that we have the privilege sharing this world with, to such a degree. I think it speaks volumes as to what we as a species have become. I truly hope that this campaign will touch millions of others as it touched me and that the senseless, needless killing of our big cats can be brought to an end! I hope that the roar becomes deafening!”

Well… Yes!!! It may be a bit too late now, but better late than never… Time to roar and make the authorities see reason, be human and take immediate action towards saving our gorgeous national animal from extinction!

I vehemently request my fellow bloggers & readers to blog this, tweet this, share this on social networking sites and forums and contribute to the movement by getting involved for the immensely significant cause.

Come; let’s do our iota of it... NOW…!

I just did… when are you doing yours…?

NEW MILITARY HUB OF INDIA - ANDAMAN & NICOBAR

India Girding up its Loins

To counter the emergent Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, the Government of India has planned to turn the Andaman & Nicobar Islands into a formidable military cantonment replete with Indian Air Force and Indian Navy bases.

Fighters aboard INS Virat at Port Blair after Tsunami

As per a meticulous master plan, the proposed Tri-Service Andaman & Nicobar Command will be put into action, as early as, by the end of 2009. If everything goes by the plan, these paradise islands could be India’s most formidable military outpost in about a decade from now.

By 2020, the magnificent coral islands will see a Nuclear Submarine base in South Andaman, a permanent Sukhoi-30 base at Car Nicobar, a permanent Tactical Aerial Recon base at Campbell Bay, a permanent Aircraft Carrier base and expansion of INS Kardip Advance Naval base in Nicobar.

India’s first floating dock at Port Blair

A dedicated 250 MW Nuclear Power Station on the Islands is also proposed to come up on the island territory, which is of great strategic importance for India. The facility will feed the enormous power requirements that the ambitious Island militarization program will ultimately demand.

SWINE FLU SUSPECTS IN ANDAMAN & NICOBAR...

 

Carmel School Closed Till Monday 

Following the cases of two suspects of swine flu who were admitted in the GB Pant Hospital’s isolation ward, the management of Carmel Sr. Sec. School has decided to close the school upto Monday 17th August 2009. 

The decision was taken after it was known that one of the suspects was a 14 year girl studying in IX standard of Carmel School. The news had created a panic among the parents who have been watching the cases of swine flu over TV for the past few days. Parents flocked together to the Principal of the school requesting for closing the school at least till the results of the samples are received from National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Meanwhile the Directorate of Health Services has already issued the necessary guidelines to all the schools functioning in the islands. In an interview with the Door Darshan Kendra, Port Blair Dr. Avijit Roy, Nodal officer of H1N1 virus in the islands said, that there is no need to panic and people need not rush to purchase masks. If the people feel they are in an insecure zone they may use their handkerchief as mask. The nodal officer further informed that the samples have been sent to Pune and the results can be expected by tomorrow. He also said that the student suspect was responding well and chances are less that she may turn positive. 

Consequent on detection of about four cases of Swine Flu including a school student in these Islands, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has also taken up the issue with Director of Health Services to ensure that arrangements such as separate isolation wards, ventilator, sufficient medicines protection mask, testing facility, checking of passenger at entry/exit points are made on war footing. The Director of Education has also been requested to declare holiday for schools for one week. But, so far all the schools are functioning normally without any plans to shut down temporarily. And there is an obvious disquiet among the parents of the school students as the reports of the school authorities sending some of the children to the hospital, who showed the symptoms of flu, goes around in the territory. (courtesy: Andaman Chronicle)  

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegrams carried the following report in issue dated - 12th August, 2009--- No Swine Flu case reported in isles: DHS

"No case of Swine Flu has been reported in A&N Islands till date and there is no need to panic, said the Director of Health Services, Dr. N Sadashivan while addressing the media persons in his chamber at a press conference here today. However, the DHS clarified that two suspected cases have been admitted in the Quarantine ward of the GB Pant complex as precautionary measures and the blood and swab samples have been sent to Pune for investigation, the result, for which is expected by tomorrow.
The DHS further said that every effort is being made to restrict the entry of the Swine Influenza virus (H1N1) in these islands. He said, doctors have been posted at the two entry points i.e at Airport and Wharf. A 13 bed isolation ward has already been set up at GB Pant Complex and services of a full time doctor have been made available.  

About one thousand (Tami flu) tablets are already available with the GB Pant hospital for treating the patients, if found, affected with (H1N1) virus, the DHS said, adding that a helpline number “03192 230622” is functioning at GB Pant Hospital for the benefit of the general public.
Dr. Sadasivan further informed that the Govt. has assured to send further about ten thousand (Tami flu) tablets for these islands territory soon. The DHS further advised that if anyone found swine flu symptoms which include fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting and uneasy breathing should immediately report to the GB Pant Hospital.
Responding to queries, the DHS said that the ICMR here has the testing kits for (H1N1) virus. The Directorate has sent a proposal to the Health Ministry for its approval to allow the ICMR to carry out tests here itself, he added."

7.6 Intensity Earthquake Rocks Andaman & Nicobar

ANDAMANS QUAKE! 

 

Oh, my God! What a horrifying last night we have had here in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands yet another time, when the Islanders were abruptly jolted by the massive earthquake at 1.55 a.m. IST! 

We rushed out of our houses and took shelter under the open sky and returned indoors only after the strong tremors had subsided, after about a minute’s run. 

It was only through the NDTV News channel on TV that we, the Islanders came to know that a Tsunami Warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre for India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia amongst other countries of the region and that the massive earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, the epicenter of the same being about 169 miles North from Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 

My knowledge thanks to the experience gathered from my comprehensive stints with the Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction initiatives in association with various NGOs over the past five years in the Islands that Earthquakes of this magnitude have the potential to generate a destructive local tsunami and sometimes a destructive regional tsunami along coasts located usually no more than a thousand kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter, prompts even more caution and carefulness. 

The rest of the night was spent watching various News channels on TV, trying to get the latest updates on the incident and frequently trying to get a feel of the environment outdoors. As is usual during an earthquake of such a high intensity, the normal breeze had stopped flowing and there was an uncanny silence all around, almost like the one that precedes a Tsunami due to the receding sea. 

In fact, the Andaman Sea area witnesses frequent earthquakes caused by the meeting of the Indian plate with the Burmese micro plate along an area known as the Andaman trench. 

The Tsunami Warning was cancelled after about 4 a.m. IST as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported that there was no noticeable Tsunami in the region. If a tsunami were to strike, it would reach the coastlines of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia within one to three hours i.e. from 2.55 am IST to 4.25 am IST. 

This morning, things were back to normal in the Island territory with the children going to schools and the adults going to work. The bottom-line is that after having experienced the gargantuan earthquake of 9.2 magnitude, followed by the most destructive Tsunami of 24th December, 2004, the Islanders, here, have learnt not to panic and to live with it fearlessly, while trying their hardest possible to make peace with the traumatized nature by living with it and not at the expense of it.  

It’s not Man versus Nature; it’s Man with Nature that ought to be the notion in the interest of humanity. 

Related post – “Living by the Sea”

A Social Development Network in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Facebook Shrinath Vashishtha: "Hi, pals! In fact, currently, I'm head over heels into building a network of like-minded concerned people in the A & N Islands and elsewhere for the purpose of establishing a social development organisation. Please, feel free to add your ideas and opinions for the enrichment and strengthening of the objective. Let's do some positive result-oriented networking in a bid to bring about the necessary changes around ourselves, friends! Give me a hand...plz"

The Nicobarese Tribe Wakes up to Sustainable DRR - A Case Study

Dawn of responsive attitude amongst the frivolous Nicobarese tribe is the harbinger of indispensable sustainability in DRR initiatives in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands… 

James Reuben, a 12 years old boy, who stayed beside the Senior Secondary School near the seashore at the village of Malacca, Car Nicobar when the ferocious Tsunami struck the island of peace on 26th December, 2004, scampered away with his father and the rest of his family towards the jungle in the interior of the island, immediately after the islanders heard the bloodcurdling sound of the tsunami waves approaching the island that reminded some of them of the earsplitting hoot of a gargantuan anaconda.

 

Now, four odd years after one of the most devastating catastrophes that humankind has ever been witness to, James Reuben, a 16 years old maturing teenager has been selected by WBVHA’s Child Led Disaster Risk Reduction (CLDRR) team as a promising member of the Search & Rescue wing of the Task Force Group (TFG) of the village of Malacca.  

 

While attending the comprehensive training for “Strengthening of the TFGs” at New Malacca, where he, now, stays with his family in the permanent shelter provided to them by the A & N Administration, James says ruefully in his Nicobarese tongue, “If, at all, we had the requisite fundamental knowledge and expertise and the Rescue & First Aid kits and the other essential equipments that WBVHA & Save the Children - BRB have now provided to us, at the time tsunami had struck, quite a lot of lives would have been saved”. 

 

James, now, makes sure that he doesn’t miss a single training session, awareness program and other participatory learning and action (PLA) exercises organized by WBVHA under the purview of the visionary CLDRR project.

 

 

He is a regular learner and a partaker who motivates the other members of the community to practice the techniques and methods taught by WBVHA’s proficient trainers and instructors. 

 

 

The Nicobarese community was busy head over heels during the month of March, 2009, observing the holy fasting of 40 days which lasts up to Easter. Hence, all the Village Headmen had denied WBVHA the permission to conduct any activities during the months of March & April. 

Nevertheless, with the Program Coordinator meeting the Bishop of Diocese, A & N Islands, Rt. Rev. Christopher Paul and convincing him of the inevitable need of carrying out the necessary training and awareness programs without a hitch with the imperative participation of the community for the far-reaching welfare of the entire Nicobarese community, all the village Headmen were directed by the Bishop to permit the WBVHA project team to conduct the same, who saw reason and the significance of the CLDRR initiatives of WBVHA. 

 Bishop of Diocese, A & N Islands in the pink shirt with the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobars, Mr. Srikanth being garlanded by WBVHA staff.

Shrinath Vashishtha, Program Coordinator of WBVHA handing over the Health & Rescue Kits to Mr. Lionel Nicomede, the First Headman of the village of Chukchucha, Car Nicobar Island,  accompanied by Mr. Peterson Job, the mercurial Second Headman.

In a nutshell, this proved to be the very dawn of a much-needed responsive attitude amongst the frivolous Nicobarese tribe and can be fittingly comprehended as the harbinger of the indispensable sustainability in the CLDRR initiatives amongst the community.

 

Case Study prepared by -

SHRINATH VASHISHTHA

Car Nicobar.

ECOLOGY OF ANDAMAN & NICOBAR AT STAKE...

Oh, what an incomparable respite from the tremendously scorching heat & unbearably sultry weather that the Islanders of this “Floating Paradise on Earth” had been suffering from for over almost two months, now!

For, at last, after a long wait and yearning, it has rained today for about one & a half hours this afternoon, for the first time properly in this season in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The bionetwork has veered off to a ghastly great extent ever since the appalling Tsunami struck the Islands of peace on 26^th December, 2004.

The archipelago that used to receive torrential rainfall almost round the year, a pleasant feature of the Islands that I have personally been witness to, being a local Islander myself, are now left to experience measly rainfall for not more than six to seven months in a year, except for an annual tryst with some transient cyclones.

It’s not merely due to Tsunami or the ever burgeoning danger of Global Warming, for that matter, that the eco-system of these Islands has been transforming itself so rapidly, but also very many man-made episodes of mistakes and thoughtless actions on the part of the Administration and the political leadership as well, which are to blame.

The flawed and indifferent policies of the Administration which is headed by the Central Government bureaucrats in the positions of the Lt. Governor, the Chief Secretary and a mammoth assortment of other Secretaries and Commissioners of various departments and agencies is reflected in the present scenario of these historic coral islands.

The ever-increasing traffic, both vehicular and human is one of a dozen causes of the sorry state of affairs in this crucial Union Territory of India. Although the growth of incoming population from the mainland India with a view of settling down into these fragile coral based islands which had reached an alarming rate during the last decade of the previous century has been somewhat curbed, it still continues to haunt the local residents of these Islands as there have been umpteen number of incidents wherein an incredibly large number of people coming here as labourers have succeeded in grabbing the “Local Certificates” by greasing the palms of the concerned officials of the Administration and have been availing themselves unduly of the benefits thereof.

With the advent of the automobile giants like Maruti and the Hyundai car dealerships in addition to the existing Mahindra & Mahindra, TATA Motors, Ashok Leylands and Hindustan Motors among others, the narrow roads are impounded by automobiles of all sorts. Maruti, Hyundai, Scorpio, Chevrolet, Toyota, Ford, TATA Indica, Sumo, Safari, and a host of other happening motor brands are seen wheeling on the roads of Port Blair and many of the small far-flung islands also.

All these and many others including the merciless and callously unremitting blasting of the delicate hills for obtaining metal chips out of the rocks for the purpose of unplanned constructions all around under the pretext of the implementation of one or the other developmental policy, leaves the irate, long-suffering residents of this virtuous land of the martyrs of the Indian Freedom Movement, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with the Hobson’s choice – to vote their long-standing Member of Parliament, whom they had always looked forward to with devoted faith for solutions & justice, Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta out of the Parliament and out of any future reckoning, in a bid to end the agonizing saga of unthankful breach of trust of his own people.

The balding hill beside the Corbyn’s Cove beach at Port Blair

Well, for, now, my dear friends, after having spoken my heart out a bit with you all, allow me the luxury of getting drenched in the first showers of the season, something which I’ve loved doing all through my entire life in the Andamans. Catch you later… ciao for now… take care!

LATEST SITUATION IN ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS AT CAR NICOBAR

Hi! I’m back with you all, my dear friends, after a long month of Sundays, from Car Nicobar. In fact, it’s been a mighty wide-ranging state of affairs at the Child Led Disaster Risk Reduction (CLDRR) project that I’ve been coordinating for over past 8 months, now at one of the toughest territories to work in the entire Indian sub-continent. Anyways, the rigorously comprehensive project continues towards materializing the sustainability ambitions in the Disaster Risk Reduction endeavors for the far-reaching welfare of the Nicobarese tribal community.

For now, my dear friends, here’s presenting you all with some fascinating pictures that satiate the nature-lovers’ cravings and also the curiosity of the aware citizens of the world…

Enjoy these latest pictures of Car Nicobar…

The lighthouse near Mus Jetty, Car Nicobar behind the breakwater amongst the aesthetically lined up coconut trees

The dense coconut plantations on both sides of the main road that has been rebuilt after Tsunami, stretching from the Mus Jetty to the Headquarter area, the administrative hub of Car Nicobar at Perka village

The cute cove alongside the Mus Jetty sculpted by the Tsunami, whose brunt is still evidently noticeable on the landmass

A cargo vessel & M V Sentinel, one of the oldest passenger ships run on the inter-island routes by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, berthed at the Mus Jetty, Car Nicobar

Disaster Risk Reduction at Nicobar- A Case Study

Metamorphosed Nicobarese: From skeptic restraint to candid participation……

Sabrina Jack, a ten years old school student from Small Lapathy village was attending a participatory learning and action (PLA) program on Disaster Risk Reduction for the first time in her life. She stays in the permanent shelter provided to her tsunami-affected family of 7 members by the A & N Administration in her village at Car Nicobar, one of the worst affected islands during the catastrophe of 26^th December, 2004 in the archipelago of A & N Islands.

Sabrina Jack, Small Lapathy, Car Nicobar

When asked by Miss Anita Rebecca, the Village Level Animator (VLA) of WBVHA, who was anchoring the presentation program for Vulnerability Risk mapping and Resource Planning at Small Lapathy village during the month of December, 2008, “Which are the risky and safe zones in your village?”, Sabrina was one of the first amongst the participants to raise her hand. She answered, “The desolate area among the woods in the interiors where I’m not allowed to go to play is the risky area because a couple of people had committed suicide there.”

Miss Anita Rebecca, VLA, WBVHA, Car Nicobar

Sabrina was only six years old when the tsunami had struck her panam (world) and since then she has heard of umpteen number of similar DRR programs being organized by multifarious organizations in her village, but was never before allowed by her parents to partake in them. They told her it was all for the grown ups and not for the young kids like her.

Children participating in CLDRR activities at Small Lapathy

In fact, despite a surfeit of relief, rehabilitation and disaster preparedness initiatives taken up by various government and non government organizations during the past four years post tsunami, due to lack of sustenance for the DRR initiatives, the Nicobarese community was ignorant of the fact that children can and have to play a protagonist role in disaster risk reduction and preparedness initiatives for the sake of factual sustainability. WBVHA’s Child Led Disaster Risk Reduction (CLDRR) project, supported by Save the Children-BRB, has succeeded in bringing the children out of the closet and has provided a unique platform for them to participate, learn and lead the community in the DRR initiatives for the far-reaching good of the entire archipelago. And their vivacious response has been overwhelmingly constructive.

Nicobarese playing Volleyball at Perka, Car Nicobar

The people of the buoyant Nicobarese tribe from the Nicobar group of islands are renowned for their uncomplicated civilization, unequalled hospitality, their swarming passion for sports and cultural activities. Christmas is the major festival celebrated with impeccable groundwork throughout the Nicobarese tribal area and Car Nicobar happens to be the hub of it all. The preparations begin as early as one and a half months before 25^th December every year, with the mighty Tribal Council overseeing all the activities to a T. Consequently, no externally initiated activity is entertained by anyone in the whole island during the period. Nevertheless, with the escalating awareness and the mounting gusto among the community, owing to the WBVHA’s CLDRR field team’s comprehensively participatory methodology, the community paid due heed to the urgency and the significance of DRR for themselves and their generations to come and, hence, cooperated with the team in carrying out the activities despite the stringent schedule of the Christmas Day preparations and also the alarmingly high rate of mortality in the island.

As the First Captain of Small Lapathy, Ms. Irena Mark said, “We can celebrate the holy festival of Christmas befittingly and rightfully, only when we secure ourselves and our future generations against the probable disasters and hence going hand in hand with the activities of WBVHA’s CLDRR team has to be an integral part of our Christmas Day preparations, as well. We will celebrate the holy Christmas with thanks to them.”

Dear friends, I’m leaving for Car Nicobar, again, this morning at 10 am for a fortnight to coordinate the program further. See you all when I’m back by 25^th January, 2009 or so. Until then, your Islander’s signing off, here. But, the Blog is very much there with you to devour it. Take care! All the best… Cheers!!!

NEWS - Fourth Anniversary of Tsunami in A & N Islands

Remembering the Scars of Tsunami…

Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 26^th December, 2004

Port Blair, December 26, 2008:

The Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retired) Bhopinder Singh today led the islanders in paying rich tributes to those who lost their lives in the mammoth earthquake and the catastrophic tsunami on 26^th December, 2004. At a solemn function held to commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of tsunami at the Tsunami Memorial at Water Sports Complex, the Lt. Governor laid wreath at the memorial and offered floral tributes.

The devastated Aberdeen Water Sports Complex; Port Blair on 26^th Dec., 2004

Others who paid floral tributes included the Member of Parliament (MP), Shri Manoranjan Bhakta, the Chief Secretary, Shri Vivek Rae, the Chairperson, Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC), Smt. S. Selvi, State Social Welfare Board Chairperson, Smt. Shanta Laxman Singh, Councilors of PBMC, senior officers from Civil and Defence administration, senior citizens and school students.

A two minutes silence was observed and candles were lit as a mark of respect to the departed souls. An all religion prayer was also held on the occasion.

The destroyed Junglighat Jetty; Port Blair, on 26^th Dec., 2004

District Control Room:

A newly constructed District Control Room (DCR) for South Andaman District has come up adjacent to the District office at Port Blair, the capital. The Control Room building was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Shri Vivek Rae at a simple function held in the DCR premises on 26^th December, 2008. The Control Room has video conferencing facility and is connected with other such centers in the A & N Islands and the mainland India, as well. This facility enables communication with the rest of the country wherever NIC’s network facility exists.

Evacuation by Indian Navy at Hut Bay; Little Andaman

The setting up of the District Control Room is a part of the preparedness of the Administration for tackling any disaster type situation as well as in meeting any exigencies etc.

Nicobars Observe 4^th Tsunami Day:

Car Nicobar: The 4^th Tsunami Day was commemorated at Tsunami Memorial, Big Lapathy; Car Nicobar on 26^th December, 2008. Wreaths were laid on the memorial by the Deputy Commissioner (Nicobars), Superintendent of Police (Nicobars) and the Vice Chief Captain of Tribal Council, Car Nicobar. A large number of general public and Govt. officials assembled at the memorial and paid their respects to the departed souls. Similar functions were also held at Nancowry and Campbell Bay Sub-Division.

Aerial view of tsunami-struck Malacca; Car Nicobar on 26^th Dec., 2004

Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar) 2 days after tsunami - 28^th Dec. 2004

Homage by ANTCC:

The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) also organized a function on the day at Gandhi Bhavan to pay homage to the tsunami victims of 26^th December, 2004 and offered Sarva Dharma Prayer for the solace of the victims’ souls. The function was organized in a bid to pay tributes to the tsunami victims and also in the memory of those killed during the terrorist attack on November 26^th, 2008 in Mumbai. The function was attended by the President, ANTCC, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the MP, Shri M R Bhakta and senior leaders of the Congress Party and of frontal organizations.

All the local dailies published from Port Blair carried a host of obituary messages by the relatives & friends of the Tsunami victims of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on the Fourth Anniversary of the unforgettable tragedy.

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR - FOUR YEARS AFTER TSUNAMI...

Hi, Friends! On 26^th December 2004, precisely four years ago, one of the world’s worst-known disasters – a Tsunami set off by an underwater earthquake – hit the ‘Floating Paradise on Earth’, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The southern part of the Islands, the Nicobars, took the major brunt of the earthquake and the killer tidal waves.

Junglighat Colony, Port Blair

Gandhi Chowk, Car Nicobar.

Hut Bay, Little Andaman

Car Nicobar

Restoration work at Car Nicobar after Tsunami

In the period following the disaster, the Islands received unprecedented attention and saw an influx of ‘outsiders’: both representatives of the administration as well as development workers from Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and elsewhere. Reconstruction and rehabilitation work started in full swing, and their results are not inconsequential. In fact, the Nicobar Islanders were one of the largest focuses of the tsunami rehabilitation efforts in Asia.

Sonia Gandhi with Tsunami victims at Car Nicobar

Four years on from the disaster, the results in some areas are reassuring. However, the pace of rehabilitation efforts seems to have slackened, according to the tribal communities, in certain areas. The Islands are located at considerable distances from each other and from Port Blair, the capital. Relief and recovery processes take long because access to the Nicobars require ‘landing permits’ or a ‘tribal area pass’. In ways more than one, the Nicobar Islands have a long way to go.

Funerals at Car Nicobar after Tsunami

Many in the administration argue that the situation is much better now than what it was on the islands before the tsunami. There are, for instance, two helicopters plying on a daily basis, covering the distance from Port Blair to the Nicobar Islands such as Car Nicobar, Campbell Bay, Kamorta, Teressa and also North Andamans. The quality and frequency of shipping services has improved, although marginally. If anything, there is greater resource allocation now and greater vigilance on the part of the community.

Murugan Temple at Malacca, Car Nicobar after Tsunami

This despondently points to the fact that it took a disaster to make the Government take note of the struggles of the people in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, especially the now-civilized tribal people of the buoyant Nicobarese community. The fate of the other aboriginal tribes of the Islands, viz. the Jarawas, the Onges, the Shompens, the Sentinalese and the Great Andamanese, remains unbeknown.

The Sentinalese, the most hostile of the Tribes in Andamans

A youth from the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar

The heightened interactions with outsiders and systems after tsunami have been a compelling experience for most Nicobarese who are diffident by nature. The process of acculturation and integration is proving to be a painful one. The fact that monetary gains and greed determine social relations amongst ‘non-tribals’ and the realization that each person is out to make money (with the knowledge that the Nicobarese have received compensation monies) challenges local cultural norms in very deep and fundamental ways.

The olden days’ natives of Arong village, Car Nicobar

Well, friends! In most cases, the solutions are apparent and only require the will of the administration to be translated to reality. I, personally, am in the midst of things at Car Nicobar, as you already know, by way of the Child Led Disaster Risk Reduction (CLDRR) project of WBVHA supported by Save the Children – BRB and am coordinating a serious and sincere endeavor towards securing a better-planned and prepared future for the Nicobarese community with the support and assistance of the mighty Tribal Council of Car Nicobar headed by the Chief Captain, Mr. Aberdeen Blair and of course, Mr. Tapan Mandal, the farsighted Development Commissioner, A & N Administration. Hence, I shall keep you all posted about the journey ahead.