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On quake anniversary, Gujarat CM wants people to appease gods

In keeping with his Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has decided that the state will commemorate the first anniversary of the deadly January 26 earthquake by reciting verses from the Veda and a prayer to appease the gods.

Some good words for the government's rehabilitation efforts will also be thrown in for added effect.

While the rest of India will celebrate January 26 as Republic Day, people in Gujarat will observe the varsi (a ritual) in memory of those whom the killer quake claimed.

Modi is aware of the strong emotional significance attached to the day and wants to exploit it for all it is worth.

Some time in December, the state cabinet had spent almost three hours discussing 'ideas' to commemorate the first anniversary of the deadly earthquake, which claimed over 13, 000 lives.

Out of that churning came the idea of dharti pujan (prayer to the goddess of the earth).

Following this, Chief Secretary G Subba Rao informed all the district collectors about the programme for January 26 in a video conference.

After this, Rajiv Topnu, the district development officer of Kutch, gave details of the programme.

All the earthquake-hit villages will hold a public meeting between 1800 and 2000 hours (IST), Topnu said.

Villagers will be encouraged to bring diyas (candles) to the meetings where verses from the Veda will be recited and a puja to appease the gods will be performed. This will be followed by a collective condolence prayer, he said.

Government employees or its representatives called 'liaison officers', specially deputed for the occasion, will recite the verses in the 7633 earthquake-hit villages of Gujarat.

After this, the 'liaison officer' will brief the audience about the government's rehabilitation efforts.

On January 11, Modi held a video conference with district officials in which he appealed to them to ensure the success of the puja (prayer) and use the occasion to publicise the government's rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the quake, N K Soni, an official in the disaster management department in Kutch, said.

The state's top IAS officers, including the chief secretary, relief commissioner and development commissioner, were present during the conference, he said.

Since last year had brought misery and grief to the people, let's pray and appease dharti mata and tell her to cool down, Modi reportedly told the officials.

Later, the chief minister's office faxed the relevant verses to the office of the collector of Kutch.

The government is planning to spend around Rs 100 million on the event, according to a source in the state capital Gandhinagar.

However, not everyone is convinced that this is the right way to commemorate the tragedy.

Kasimbhai, a social worker as well as a businessman, said, "Actually, the January 26 earthquake brought people together. However, such programmes, which may be welcomed by the Jains, who are in a majority here, while alienating Muslims, will cause divisions among the people."

"This makes no sense. What is the connection between a natural disaster and a religious event? Nature is beyond religion. We will not participate in this exercise," said Sushma Iyengar, secretary of the Abhiyaan group, an umbrella organisation for more than 22 non-government organisations working in Kutch today.

"In Islam, we have been asked to worship only Allah. We can't worship anyone else. I won't participate in this puja," Shabbir, a clerk in the Bhuj collector's office said.

However, Jagdish Thakkar, information advisor to the chief minister, defended the event saying, "There is nothing communal about it. Such pujas are performed when important works are commenced."

The proponents of a scientific approach to the issue were unconvinced.

"It is easy to resort to melodrama. After all, more than 13,000 people died in the span of just 15 minutes," said Mahim Pandhi, a senior editor and celebrated science columnist of Bhuj who lost his younger sister in the tragedy.

"Instead, explain to people the science behind earthquakes. The event was a wake-up call for Kutchis. Now we know we are living in a region, which is prone to seismic activity. The government should be telling people how to live with this danger. Instead, the government is leading us towards the Stone Age."

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

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