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'We have to get on with our lives'

Savera R Someshwar in Bhuj

The morning sun had thrown a grim light on a seemingly deserted Bhachau, one of the worst affected towns in Gujarat's January 26, 2001, earthquake. All shops, like in many other parts of Kutch district, were shut and people preferred to stay indoors, wondering what January 26, 2002, would bring them.

There was a palpable sense of fear in the air, or, as a resident put it, "dehshuth sa tha [people were terrified]".

Bhachau had already spent a restless night, yet many of the students of the girls' high school made it on time for the flag-hoisting ceremony. They had been practising all week to perfect the patriotic song they were to sing.

But not many turned up for the official flag-hoisting ceremony at the collectorate. Later in the day, the local merchants' association in this primarily trading town took out a 500-strong maun yatra [silent procession] from Mandvi checknaka to the customs checknaka in memory of those members of their community who were no longer with them.

Life returned to the town only after noon. "As the day passed," said Harshad Thakker, an office-bearer of the merchants' association, "we began to feel better. The sense of unease passed as nothing untoward had happened. We can now go on with our lives."

Bhuj too was deserted on Saturday morning after having spent a sleepless night. People were unwilling to step out of their houses. But sitting indoors also did not help escape the thoughts of what had happened last year. Eventually a few of them ventured out to revisit the spots where their homes had once stood. Many did small pujas there, lighting agarbattis [incense sticks] and leaving a few flowers that soon blew away in the dusty wind.

Even Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit failed to lift the spirits of Kutch's capital. The crowds at both his flag-hoisting ceremony and the dharti pujan at the Swaminarayan temple grounds were dismally thin.

Attendance at schools too was thin. Even at schools that boasted of having as many as 3,000 students, only a few score made it for the flag-hoisting ceremony, with people unwilling to send their children out.

The principal of one school said children were still affected by last year's event. Loud sounds agitate them and many come running out of their classrooms, he said. They have to be coaxed and cajoled back.

It was only post-noon that Bhuj started showing some signs of activity, though most shops remained closed for the day.

The devastated village of Ratnal was far more enthusiastic in its celebration of Republic Day despite the broken-down houses and the uncleared debris. The villagers turned out for the flag-hoisting ceremony in the morning and the dharti pujan in the evening decked in their traditional finery.

Clearly, January 26 has not been an easy day for Kutchis. The fear of another tragedy, whether a quake or something else, was evident in the sleepless nights and subdued mood that permeated the district. For once, the indomitable spirit of Kutch seemed to have been overwhelmed.

But like the residents of Anjaar say, "What has happened has happened. We have to get on with our lives. And we will."

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

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