The Social Cohesion

“What is the most important thing in life? If we ask someone living on the edge of starvation, the answer is food. If we ask someone dying of cold, the answer is warmth. If we put the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer will probably be the company of other people’, writes Jostein Gaarder, the author of the international best-seller, Sophie's World. 

The people of Nepal at this time need the strong support and company of the world after they were struck by an earthquake on April 26, 2015. Measuring a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale, reports say that it has claimed more than 2,500 lives and leftover 5,000 casualties (a figure estimated as of today). The earthquake which is not an anticipated “great Himalayan earthquake” as claimed by Roger Bilham, a geologist who studies seismicity in the Himalayan area, has also tremored Bhutan and India. Thankfully, it has not claimed any lives in our country but reported damages in some parts of India. 

Picture courtesy: Click LINK

It is truly inspiring that a Bhutanese team of 52 (37 medical teams assisted by 15 De-suups [Guardian of Peace]) led by the Prime Minister are flying to Kathmandu, Nepal, on the command of His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, to join the world in rescue and relief operations. Bhutan will also donate a sum of Nu. 62 M (USD 1M) by the Prime Minister and the rescue team on behalf of the King and the Bhutanese people. 

The ‘People’s King’, who is always compassionate and altruistic to his subjects and to the world in general, has as usual exercised the genuine indigenous attributes of a true ‘Dharma (Buddhist) Kings’ by helping with what a small nation like Bhutan can offer. 

From the flashback of September 21, 2009 earthquake which measured up to 6.1 on the Richter scale, and destroyed many houses and artefacts in the eastern regions of Bhutan, I know what fear and phobia caused due to the earthquake insinuates. We experienced terrible aftershocks a minimum of 10 times a day for almost a week. Fearing the abrupt aftereffects, we have even forgone to celebrate the ‘Blessed Rainy Day’, the traditionally auspicious day of cleansing our bad deeds by natural water resources that fell on the 23^rd of September annually.

Experts advise us not to panic and remain calm during such hours of natural catastrophes, but it does not work in reality. Even that systematically practised ‘Duck, Cover and Hold’ skills during the mock drills in the schools just become a forgotten story. Needless to say, the so-called safe evacuation routes and safety zones never comes into our mind but rather ends up running into more dangerous spaces when engulfed with fear. This is natural because everyone simply fears losing their life. We don’t want to die without a reason of our own.

And one of the most unfortunate things that usually takes place is the interruption of telecommunication linkages and getting the network congested. But these days we are grateful for the advancement in technology that we can trace our families, friends and relatives living in any part of the world that has good mobile connectivity. Thanks to Facebook for creating a “Safety Check” and Google for the “Person Finder”. Such applications are extremely laudable particularly during times of such emergencies. 

I hope that those missing members are traced out very soon. I deeply share the grieve of those bereaved families who have lost their beloveds in this unfortunate tragedy. May God bless them for the quick recovery and recuperation of their health.

“Hands that help are holier than the lips that pray” – Sai Baba