'Himalayan Tsunami'

 

After a big gap of two months, I am writing on this page. I took time to come out of the deep-shock of Uttarkhand hill-shrine tragedy. Friends, please bear with me.

I am presently working, on a 4-month assignment (June-Sept 2013) as Visiting Professor at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand. I came here on 10^th June 2013. This time, I came alone and will be back in India on completion of this academic/research programme, on 6th Oct 2013. I am teaching a paper on ‘Mycology: Taxonomy and Diversity’ to under-graduate and graduate students of this University. Besides, I am assisting research scholars working with fungi on taxonomy and biodiversity. Week-ends, accompanying the mushroom group, I go out on collecting fungi. Collecting, working and teaching fungi; what else will bring joy for people like us? Two weeks ago, I gave a seminar talk entitled ‘Evolution of taxonomy of Hyphomycetes and its present status’, to the Mycology group. Time is running! If we want to accomplish more in the limited time, we should work hard and with great speed. 

Exactly a week after my arrival here, one of the worst natural calamities struck Kedarnath temple Valley in Uttarakhand, India. Torrential rain, instant flash flood and huge landslides, together lashed out at Kedarnath temple premises and the whole valley - all happened on June 16^th-17^th 2013. This terrible nature’s fury has been aptly named as ‘Himalayan Tsunami’. The landslides and flash flood from the mountains, accompanied by huge boulders and mud-slurry, gushed down the sloppy terrain and washed away everything on the way. A sea of humanity and vast amount of built-in infrastructure which included buildings, roads, dams, bridges, vehicles and forest trees, were washed away or got buried in the mud. I read all these in the news, continously flashed by the Indian media channels! Unimaginable loss of human lives and huge damage to state infrastructure – I was deeply, deeply shocked! I pray Bhagwaan Shankar Mahadev to bless the departed souls with everlasting peace.  My heart goes with deepest sympathies to all those who lost their dear and near ones in this horrendous tragedy.   

Sacred Chardham theertha-yaathra is perhaps every ardent Hindu believer wishes to undertake, in his or her life-time. Located in the astonishingly beautiful foothills of Himalayas in Uttarkhand, Yamunothri, Gangothri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are India’s most revered and glorious four shrines. With famous Haridwar as gateway, age-old sacred shrines of Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag, which altogether reminisce thousands of years old Hindu mythology and Indian history. In my childhood days, I heard these legendary stories from my mother. Way back in the 8^th century, great reformer and Hindu philosopher Shree Adi Shankaracharya travelled to Kedarnath by foot from Kerala and established the temple. On the walls and roof of Kalady Sharadamba Temple, on the bank of river Periyar in Kerala state, the birthplace of Adi Shankara, details of establishment of Kedarnath shrine and Shri Adi Shankara attaining divinity is inscribed. It is quite but natural that thousands of devotees from all over India, throng these sacred shrines in Uttarkhand, during the festive and auspecious season.  

I read with anxiety and deep pain the untold tragedy and unimaginable difficulties faced by local people and thousands of devotees visited the shrines, during this painful devastation. Our Army forces (land, air and mountain) did a yeomen service in rescuing the trapped devotees from nature’s fury.  Press and TV channels did a great service to us by reporting the news first-hand and in great swiftness, utmost care and continuity.  History will always remember this 'Himalayan flashflood tsunami' as one of the greatest natural calamities of the time.

It will take lot of time, energy and money to rebuild the shrines and infrastructure in a holistic and planned manner. The Chief Minister of Uttarkhand, Shri Vijaya Bahuguna, is doing everything possible to put the place back in its natural glory, fame and divinity. All of us should join him and his government in this noble and pious task. That will be a great service to the nation and deep prayer to Bhagwan Mahabaleshwar.   

(D. Jayaram Bhat)