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How capital profited from Gujarat earthquake
Title: The Political Biography of an Earthquake: Aftermath and Amnesia in Gujarat, India; Author: Edward Simpson; Publisher: Oxford University Press; Pages: 302; Price: Rs.950.
On the whole, reconstruction works that followed the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat have been presented as a success. British scholar Edward Simpson, an old student of Gujarat, doesn’t agree. True, a great deal of money was spent on building new roads and suburbs, and tax concessions and other state-subsidized incentives led to a booming industrial economy. But all this required heavy borrowing, spawned new inequities, fragmented public services, and led to severe environmental degradation. But Simpson admits that not everyone will agree with this.
A professor of social anthropology in the University of London, Simpson says his book – a scholarly work – “is about the chaotic war of ideas prompted by a disaster” and “an account of how abstract political ideas are made into concrete realities”. It is also about memory, use of history and hope.
Simpson is not saying that ‘good work’ is inherently bad but argues “it is never as neutral or innocent as people often claim and sometimes appear to believe”. The Gujarat earthquake story, he feels, might also be read as an allegory of 10 years of politics in the state.
The January 2001 quake killed around 14,000 people, with Kutch itself accounting for 12,221 deaths. It produced 25-50 tonnes of rubble. Hundreds of villages were flattened in varying degrees while badly built tower blocks collapsed in faraway Ahmedabad. In Anjar town, a few hundred school children taking part in a Republic Day parade were crushed to death. It was devastation at its tragic worst.
Simpson gives full credit to the management of mass death. This was “mostly well ordered. there was no contagion from corpses”. At least one truck even made a long trip to northern India to submerge ashes in the holy Ganges. Private groups and dedicated volunteers did their best.
BJP-ruled Gujarat, Simpson points out, was the first state in India that went for comprehensive economic and structural reforms well before the temblor. The quake was a boon for those who wrote proposals for international funding; it also became tied to the general reforms of the financial sector. “Policy drafted in offices in Manila, Geneva and New York rippled invisibly into provincial Gujarat.”
Equally significantly, Simpson says, the Sangh Parivar and allied groups manipulated the alienation and divisions that followed the quake “for political gain through systematic and planned penetration of the society”. Amid rising communal feelings, some excluded Muslims from new settlements.
There were also widespread allegations of corruption and poor quality construction – even as good work went on. Contractors vanished with advance payments, leaving works incomplete. In the years to come, hundreds were arrested for corruption. All this sparked anger against the state. There were also demands that Kutch should get a union territory status. At one time, Narendra Modi, who became the Gujarat chief minister in 2001 but after the quake, was irritated by calls for Kutch’s political autonomy. Eventually, however, the state overcame all dissent.
This is truly a political biography of a terrible disaster. It is written with a sense of loyalty to the people of Gujarat but with a perspective not everyone, particularly in the state, will be comfortable with.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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