There are small, energetic boys (the Muthus, Murugans and Kumars) who are eager to tell me details of their life violently demarcated by the killer waves. That is when this thought struck me. Just as we denote normal years as A.D or B.C, almost everyone here talks in terms of B.T and A.T (Before Tsunami and After Tsunami)
While discussing plans for building concrete houses, we tell them that there is a new requirement from the Government - every family has to take a photograph in front of their home/land, whatever condition it may be in. This will be documented and serve as an evidence in case any disputes arise after building the houses. Later, when the houses are completed, they will have to take another photograph in front of their new home and submit it to the respective NGO. This request immediately brings a subtle but noticeable gloom among the fishermen. It becomes our duty, then, to explain that all this is for their good. "Development", we tell them, "has to be scientific, and not knee-jerk or haphazard". One guy, whose house is the best in the village, (unaffected by the tsunami) is worried - "If you see that my house looks good in the photo, will you cancel my name from the shelter list, or will you still build a home in the excess land I have?". Clever question indeed. If we said yes, that would mean, inside his compound, he gets another home, in 325 sq feet, at no cost. He could use it for any other purpose, while still living in his original home. "We will talk to the Government on this example and let you know".
