town criers

Slow to react, we all are. In all our worries about passing exams, getting home on time, not burning the milk, paying the phone bill on the last day, filling petrol before the bike breaks down, finding a home, finding peers, asking boss for leave, not getting fleeced by the automen, watching soaps to see if the vamp gets her way, and oh so many mini-paranoias, we are only taken aback by a tsunami.
Not shocked, terrified, or anxious. Just taken aback. Dazed.

I was going to blog of how I ran from the huge wave in Mahabalipuram rushing to swallow the town, but I heard too many people say, "I almost died, you know… I'm ok now. And I'm all ready to party on New Year's".
I'll desist from telling my tale. I don't want to be another tourist with a digital camera, capturing a capsized boat with the naked orphan bawling next to it. I'll let the ones who know speak.
*****

This morning…

Me: Did the tsunami affect some more slums last night?
Automan Raja: There are no slums left, ma… See how everyone's on the streets…
Me: Is your house ok?
R: Mine was a brick house. One full wall crashed down on Sunday morning. I'm wearing my brother's shirt. I'm left with nothing but my life.
Me: Oh. Your family…
R: Thank god, ma. They're all alive. We are living in this school here (points to it as we pass by).
Me: The government is giving some compensation, no?
R: Yes, yes… Rs.2000, rice, and clothes. Oh, to get that stupid Rs.2000, the kind of nonsense I had to go through… No queue, nothing. They'll throw it and we have to catch. Everyone was stamping on each other, grabbing whatever they could. It was like they were feeding wolves.
Me: Umm… Rs.2000? For how long?
R (Laughs): Till another tsunami strikes!
Me: …
R: That's all, kannu. That's all they'll give us. But Jayalalithaa has asked for more funds. I hear so many people are donating money and medicines. But where? I haven't got anything… I don't know where it all goes. We can't say politicians take rice away! They might sit there on their asses doing nothing, but I think we poor people are the ones really stealing away from each other.
Me: How can you say that?!
R: Because everyone's afraid they're going to die now. If I sit dry and safe in a big house far away from the sea, I might feel sympathy. But right now, I want my family to be alive. I don't care if the guy in Nagapattinam dies.
<<>>
Me: Do you get food regularly?
R: They bring food to us everyday. Some sambar rice in packets. They bring it in the kuppathotti lorry (garbage lorry). The food stinks, but we have to eat, no? All the kids have been vomiting since 4 days.
<<>>
Me: I'll get off at Santhome church.
R: Santhome? It's near Marina, I hope you know. Be careful, ma… Don't go near the beach. If something happens to you, your parents will not be able to bear it.
Me: I thought you didn't care…
R (grins): What to do? Stupid human feelings…
*****

This morning at home…

Me: Your daughter didn't come with you today?
Maid Chellamma: No, she's gone to my old house near Besant Nagar beach. It's all broken.
Me: Who stays there now? Is it your own house?
C: What you are asking me such idiotic questions? As if I'll have my own house! I'm a maid!
Me: So? My maid in Bangalore has a house…
C: Are her children earning?
Me: Yes.
C: So there. Mine is still in school.
Me: Ok, anyway… did the people living in your old house get money from the government?
C: Yes. They got Rs.100, 3 kg rice, one sari and one lungi.
Me: Rs.100?! Per head?
C: Oho. If it's per head, will you be happy?
Me: No, even that is not enough. Unless it's per head per day till you find a new place to stay in.
C: Aaaha. Sure. The government will give like that. It's actually Rs.2000 per family. But the real house owner comes after the government officers have gone, and take the money away. They give us Rs.100.
Me: It makes some sense. I mean, he only has to rebuild the house no?
C: Ok fine then. Shouldn't they have some provision for the tenants also? Does it mean that just because I stay on rent, I can die?
Me: Come on, Chellamma, don't be dramatic…
C: Tell me… how many people like you--students and young working people--live on rent? If some earthquake happened and your house crashed with all your possessions inside, will you say "Paavam, the owner will have to reconstruct"? You might find a new place to rent, but what about your belongings?
Me: They should have separate compensation for the tenants...
C: Are you even listening? I said those people got just Rs.100 to wipe their ass with.
Me: What about private people helping?
C: Yes, thank god for that. So many are surviving only because of that. But I think much of the contributions are not reaching us. Ok one help I want... Will you ask people to give their help to credible organisations? Or they can come and help us directly. We won't bite and eat them up.