Pursuit of Happiness
What is it that gives you joy? For some its power, while others say its pride. For some, it’s money while for some, its wisdom. But for the people of Basanti slum, Survival made them happy.
The Dual Disaster
Basanti slum, Kolkata, the city of joy had been home to approximately 6625 according to 2011 census but this was in 2019 and people around the globe were struggling with Covid-19. But for the people of the slum, another disaster was in line. It was when Amphan hit. This dual disaster shook West Bengal and Orissa to its core but the severely affected were the slums.
The Fateful Survival
“Wind blowing at a speed of 115km/h blew off the houses made of vinyl sheets, scarp, tarpaulin and cardboards leaving just the skeletal roof. The cyclone left the narrow streets clogged with filth, fallen trees and broken electric wires. Amidst the howling winds and incessant rainfalls, those who survived considered themselves to be lucky.
Hunger and fear started taking its toll. They survived the cyclone but lost everything. What does a cyclone-hit person desperately need? Roof over their head was gone, clothes and utensils washed away, their houses lay battered. Power and connectivity were long gone.The only source of food for them was, what was left after the devastation.
Helping Hand
But like they say, God helps those who help themselves and life is what you choose to make it. The people in the slum knew they had to start from scratch to make their lives better. They were devoid of even the basic amenities but they had optimism and hope in abundance.
Meera, a widow with her two children was left by a bin of rice, some drenched notebooks, a broken almirah and an old sewing machine. She came up with the idea to stitch masks for the slum people from the clothes that lay scattered in her almirah.
The idea was to have roof over the head while maintaining social distancing.
While Meera stitched masks, the menfolk started making temporary shelters from fallen tarpaulin, vinyl sheets, fallen trees. The womenfolk took up the job to collect and restore whatever was left in the name of food.
Hope for a Better Tomorrow
When help arrived later, some order was restored to the chaos. Fighting against the dual crisis of COVID-19 and Amphan had been difficult but people like Meera and others from the slum knew they had no option but to restart because; What’s gone is gone. For those without food and homes, dignity and well being are remote, but holding on to distant aspirations in these tough times is what makes one a Survivor.
-Nishita
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