Nerve Endings Firing Away

Today is Blog Quake Day

On October 09, 2005 the earth shook and devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Pakistan was the worst-hit, resulting in uncountable casualties. Parts of Indian-administered Kashmir also suffered casualties. Relief work has been undertaken in right earnest but there has been disconnect in relief reaching the people most affected. The blogosphere, especially the Desi blogosphere has been mostly silent regards relief operations and financial donation outpouring. Admittedly, the IIPM controversy overshadowed this tragedy.

But has ‘disaster-fatigue’ in light of numerous natural calamities (Mumbai Cloudburst, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, etc) in recent times desensitized people toward such calamities? Should there be a global relief fund that all countries could contribute to annually? (issues of moral hazard abound, I know) After playing political games, Pakistan’s premier Mushy finally accepted Indian help and I am glad that Indians offered unconditional relief help. After all, tragedy knows no boundaries.

Ash is spearheading an effort to galvanize the Desi blogosphere over at DesiPundit. Today, October 26, 2005 is Blog Quake day. She has listed many organizations that you can donate to and if you live in the Tristate area, you can even donate in kind. DesiPundit also asks you to write about the earthquake today and the need to contribute financially has never been more important. Hop over to DesiPundit for linking material and agencies that you can donate to. Sepoy at Chapati Mystery has been relentlessly advocating for relief and has a ton of images, banners, and posters that you can use.

On another related note, I am saddened by few reactions in the blogosphere that any financial help for the quake victims might find its way to the terrorists who might use it to inflict harm on India. Although this might be a reasonable fear, we can always choose to donate to international organizations that are providing relief help to the quake victims. Tragedy knows no boundaries and just as we chastise Mushy for politicizing calamity by refusing aid, we shouldn’t follow suit and offer conditional help. Such measures will only be deemed insulting and in fact worsen relations.

If the jihadi groups can call for a truce (somewhat) and help out in the relief efforts, then we definitely can stand on a higher moral ground by helping the poor people on the street for whom terrorism is the last thing on their mind. I have a deep-rooted lack of faith in the Pakistani establishment but for the common man, I have nothing but empathy in these times of crises. I choose to disassociate myself from the unfounded fear in certain sections of the Indian society. Trust me, I am not making cultural comparisons or even calling them our “traditional brethren” but merely expressing a need for more humanitarian empathy. I would do the same even if the earth shakes in distant Mongolia (first place that seems distant that popped up in my head; no other reason).

We can always continue squabbling, if we have to, after the dust settles. Literally and metaphorically.