THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On November 30 last year, life turned upside down for fisher families in coastal Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari. Hundreds of fishermen who set out in their boats failed to return, leaving their families panic-stricken with worry. Cyclone Ockhi, in its aftermath, left behind tales of grief, joy and anger. Grief for the dead and the missing, joy for the men who returned alive and anger for the alleged ineptitude of government agencies in forecasting the disaster. And now, nearly three months after the tragedy, the stories are about to be compiled in a single book which will strive to convey the enormity of the tragedy - perhaps the biggest witnessed by modern Kerala - to future generations.
The mammoth task is being undertaken by the Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, which has parishes in Thiruvananthapuram district as well as the southern parts of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu under its wing. In addition to commemorating the victims, the book is also intended as a useful text for researchers. “These stories should not be forgotten. The gravity of the disaster and the stories of the survivors and the dead should be recorded for the future generations,’’ Fr Eugene H Pereira, vicar general of the Archdiocese, said. If things pan out, the book will hit the stands in two months’ time, church officials said.
The book will tell the stories of the survivors as well as the not-so-lucky families in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Thuthoor in Kanyakumari district, Pereira said. The church has prepared a long list of the victims but will select around 40 families/fishermen whose stories need to be told in detail.
The survivors and the kin of the missing and the dead will be interviewed afresh and their experiences and plight recorded. The mammoth search and rescue operation undertaken by the Indian Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard starting December 1 also will find a mention in the unique work.
As a first step toward publishing its book, the church has compiled two bound volumes of newspaper cuttings on Ockhi coverage. The book will carry photographs and scientific data available on the Ockhi cyclone. Besides, the church also plans to have a chapter on the safety aspects of traditional fishing and various recommendations to ensure safety.