Chapter 40 – Impact of Tsunami

Tanvi woke up next morning amidst the playful sound of peacocks roaming freely in the garden. Sun rays were peeping from the breezy curtains. She was not an early riser but the natural beauty outside was so inviting that she didn’t mind going for a walk. Mud roads lined with canopy trees, different species of birds and squirrels around, small ponds with lotus plants, and fresh morning breeze set the mood of the day on a high note.

In Auroville, the emphasis is on living as close to Nature as possible. Thus, you will find organic food, simple and Nature inspired lifestyle. Even the groups working there are experimenting with nature and bringing such organic products to market that it helps people live a conscious life. She had hibiscus syrup and steaming hot idli as breakfast and walked towards her NGO office – Wellpaper – where she was volunteering.

Auroville is full of inspirational stories. To start with Wellpaper was started by an Israeli couple, Danny and Orly, who had come to Auroville as a tourist for a month long vacation when the Tsunami hit South India, in 2004. They said one day it was a buzzing sea side village that was full of life and the other day it was a wailing village full of dead people. The impact of Tsunami was hard hitting. People who were left behind had no livelihood or strength to get back to life. Seeing such devastation around, the Israeli couple decided to stay back and help these village people resurrect their lives. It was their calling.

They wanted a plan that was self-sustainable and thus was laid the genesis of WELLPAPER – Women empowerment through local livelihood. They would buy old newspaper, raddi that we call in Hindi and transform it into piece of art. They use recycled paper to make table mats, coasters, table lamps, accessories and a lot of other products. This plan not only gave women of nearby villages a source of income but it was sustainable and environmental friendly too.

In another story of inspiration, Danny told Tanvi about a group called Upasana. Many women had lost their kids while many kids were left orphans after Tsunami. There was sadness all around. So, to cheer them this person made a small doll by folding a piece of cloth lying around, and used this doll to make the kids laugh. Intrigued to see the kids enjoying themselves women too came and they too enjoyed a light moment. The doll was named Tsunamika as it became a symbol of hope and life. Today, the group helps people with earning livelihood but training them to make and sell various organic products but Tsunamika remains at the heart of their activity.

Every group in Auroville had an inspiration story to tell. A story that makes you love life. A story that salutes the spirit of humanity.

Read the previous post here: Chapter 39 – Life Altering Fantastico Experiences To Begin In Auroville

Read the next post here – Chapter 41 – Consciousness Awakening Impact At Mantrimandir, Auroville

photo credit: Tsunamika via photopin (license)