The country’s fourth largest city Chennai, still struggles with the unrelenting cyclonic storm flooding the whole metropolis since first downpour began a few weeks ago. The unison of voices of all the panic-stricken residents is a singular prayer begging the Rain God For mercy. And respite from uncertainty, imminent peril and incessant, inclement weather.
The city, which witnesses flooding in some localities each monsoon year, was completely marooned. It has the appearance of an island, cut off from mainland . As if it were Andaman & Nicobar Islands and not the good old Madras (rechristened as Chennai a few years ago)!
Incidentally, the original name of this hamlet identified by the East India Company as southern gateway to India, was Chennapatnam – named after the Telugu chieftain of then fisherman Hamlet, adjoining the Bay of Bengal. Currently, offices, schools, colleges and other educational institutions remain closed for days.
A population of one crore living in the metropolitan area suffered, as water seeped into homes, schools and everywhere. Is it the State Government and its lazy administration to be blamed for this natural disaster or is there any fundamental duty of the common man towards keeping the environment safe and clean? This is the billion dollar question posed by pundits of climate change control, today.
It was definitely all the successor Governments over these years who would have to take the cumulative, social responsibility for the resultant common evil which seems to have over axed the culture of illegal constructions, defective storm water drainage system and missing awareness of rampant corruption in the town planning department of the city (paradoxically, renowned for its excellent educational system!).
The answer is so simple: Nature itself took its toll, fixing responsibility squarely on the State administration machinery.
Residents of Chennai have learnt a lesson with deep wounds laid in their hearts forever for their responsibilities towards the society. As you vote, so do you beget a Government!
Every human being has to understand how great an effect and impact individual behavioural attitudes can influence and affect Nature.
Little wonder then that Mother Nature knows how to reinstate orderliness of Nature.
This unhappy catastrophe then is a mere trailer part which nature has shown how far it may act to reset character of Planet Earth. It is now left to the people whether to live naturally or continue to exist in a fools’ paradise of idolising political leaders as demi-gods and garlanding Hindu deities with chappals in name of anti-God movements. Illiteracy and mob mentality may be attributed as chief causes of this attitude in Chennai.
Few may ask- what about Katrina in USA? Well, all societies must wake up to the Chennai lessons ,for a more secure life on Earth.
Chennai , three cheers for rising as one tide of humanity in aftermath of the national disaster but do rectify the visible faults ,ranging from choosing wrong crop of politicians as administrators to technicalities in clearing constructions to unifying old Fort Saint George building culture to modern day architecture.
All things considered, thank God for stellar role of army of humanity who rescued and are still bent on saving life, property and cattle from the doomsday – type deluge!