1000 கடல்மைல் | வறீதையா கான்ஸ்தந்தின் | தடாகம், 2018

1000 Kadal mile

Vareethiah Konstantine

Thadakam- KadalveLi/2018.

Vareethiah Konstantine, the author of this title, with his rich experience as chronicler and writer, has produced some good text on tsunami reconstruction vis-à-vis the coastal subaltern communities of Tamil Nadu.

The current title views 2017 Cyclone Ockhi as a point of order. Four critical points are treated here: Ockhi as an invisible disaster on an invisible people, namely the maritime community- advocacy for cultural sensitivity in disaster management; revisiting the deep sea cyclone – probing the gaps, assessing the cost and the lessons learnt on the part of the Governments; sea safety for deep sea fishermen- vouching for the emergent need for a paradigm shift in safety protocols; the future of maritime disaster widows – their deep concerns in the light of their economic disempowerment  due to technologisation and policy developments.

Sea safety culture and practices are wanting among artisanal fisher folks. Non-compliance to safety specifications in vessel construction (Design) has proved fatal. Unlike the Sri Lankan Mechanised Fishing Vessels, the Thoothoor MFVs lack state-of-the-art communication gadgets on board. The crew lack the expertise/ training in modern weather watch system and safety practices. These and a few other factors added to disaster casualty in the mid sea.

The author has chosen a responsive and responsible approach on the above critical and time relevant subject, which sets this text off from the noisy and politically motivated gimmicks in media. To add to the authenticity of his text he has travelled, besides Kanyakumari coast, to Nagappattinam, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram and Thoothukkudi coasts to interview disaster widows’ families one month after Ockhi. In furtherance of the subject, studied views of researchers, writers and activists have been categorically documented.

Interviews with serving captains/ Skippers/ crew heads of passenger ships, mercantile vessel, fishing vessel, Mechanised fishing vessel and FRP boat fishermen and disaster victims who had a narrow escape from deep sea disaster provide the reader with field situations in terms of sea safety and pointers for future measures towards sea safety. A dialogue with a lead media stalwart sheds light on the significant job media has got to do in times of crisis.

The text is divided into three parts: the first is a set of columns the author has penned on lead dailies in the disaster and post disaster period. The second contains writings based on interviews with stake holders on major issues like concerns of sea safety and of maritime disaster widows; the third section is a compilation of views and observations on the affected communities and their future.