Koodankulam's Children: Growing Up With Struggle
By Anitha.S
29 September, 2012
Countercurrents.org
September 26th 2012 was a strange day for me. Since September 10th 2012, days have been getting stranger with unfamiliar and at times frightening happenings all over. Yet I cannot think of being away from here.
On September 26th, we all went to our dear beach and buried ourselves in the sand. On the surface the white and salty sand was warm with the sun’s rays. But as we buried deeper, it got colder and colder. After a few hours, my feet and fingers were really cold. We thought of the baby in Koottapulli, a neighbouring village near Idintakarai who smiled when he was first immersed in the sand thinking it was a new thrilling game. But after some time he cried to be released. I too felt a bit scared when I was neck deep in the sand. Then I thought of our graveyard day when 4 of our brothers were buried upto neck in soil and our mothers wailed. How Shiji, my friend cried that day! I asked her why she cried so much and she replied that she was afraid for them who were so boldly lying in the soil so that the world would look at us and react to the message we were conveying.
The day in the sea was also a special one for us – we held on to each other as the tides and waves rocked our bodies. It was funny to lose one’s grip in the sand as the waves lifted us off our feet. I shudder to think of 10th morning when I was really at the eye of the storm as police charged at us.I saw a picture of me running and looking at them. I hardly remember those moments, but I remember the energy that scare gave my feet t move in the sinking sand. I remember losing my chappal and not caring wanting to be near a safe place. Then I remember the smarting in my eyes and throat and the terrible smoke and burn. Even now the skin on my face and neck burns when I pour water or rub soap! I hear that they had used bad outdated tear gas shells on us. I also know that the shells should never be thrown at human beings but on the ground…..imagine what all could have happened. I hate to think of the pain of little Robin whose nose was injured that day.
Now we hear that the Supreme Court has said it will not hesitate to shut down the plant if there is any doubt about safety. Do we dare hope? We do not want to feel cheated as we have felt many times. It gives us courage to think that Koodankulam issue has been taken up in many parts of India and also the world. We are worried about the way in which Ministers and scientists sit so far away from the sea and say that so much degree rise in temperature will not affect fishes and prawns. We have not seen anyone coming to the beach here and doing a study. If we are the people living closest to the Power Plant, should we not have been consulted? The same people who say that there is no problem if there is a 7 degree rise in the temperature of sea water would attend International meetings to worry about global warming and a 2 degree rise in sea temperature that will kill all ocean life ! We live off the sea, by and for the sea. Like our dear grandmother who repeats “We have grown up playing in the sea. We are children of the sea”. Who would understand this relationship?
I am worried about the fact that we have not gone to school for so many days. The small children are looking a bit bored and running around. I wish we could sit together and start learning again. I like to study. In my small 2 room home, I usually sit on the ground and read and write. Even if there is a lot of noise from my 3 year old brother and sisters, I can concentrate. I also worry about how many days more do we stay in the samara pandal.I wish to go back and sleep in my small room with my mother.It is fun to sleep out in the open with the sand below and sky above. But some nights, I wake up hearing children coughing and crying, with women praying and sighing. It is a strange sight to be near so many human beings- a strange kind of security and belonging. Yes, life has been strange for us.
I sometimes wonder how our future will be. We are children of this Porattam. I look at small babies, at my sister who will soon have a baby – wonder how they will be. They are being born into the lap of the struggle. Like little Didina whose first words after Amma was Venda, venda ( No, No) because she has been hearing “NO, NO, Say NO TO Nuclear Power Plant”. We are proud to be growing up with a dedication to this cause, to learn and know what it is to fight in peace so that peace and justice will prevail.
These are my thoughts as the sun warms up my head as chill from the sand spreads to my fingers and I hear Shobhana and Shiji laugh …
Labisha of Idintakarai shares her thoughts with Anitha.S on 27th and 28th September, 2012. So too Shiji, Shobhana and Pinochia.
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