Abstract:
The earthquake of 26th January, 2001 in
Gujarat had devastating results. The
settlements in regions of Gujarat went
through a very difficult time. The shock of this
kind of a natural disaster and the prospect of
a new start shook people. Under these
circumstances help from government and
foreign humanitarian aid played major role.
The provision of necessary relief and rescue in
terms of shelter became a reason of
migration, detaching the living environment
of people within the affected areas.
This paper under the theme of resettlement
and traditions, discusses various approaches
followed by the villagers and the outsiders. In
most traditional environment any start is
always based on precedents. This could be a
reflection of a tradition followed from
centuries, which has become the genius loci
of the place and people. Also, the wisdom to
utilize available local resources and doing
something innovative applies universally to
any indigenous culture.
Any disaster creates a sense of vacuum in the
continuation of traditions and built-form. The
villages in Halvad faced tremendous pressure
against their very existence. The idea of a new
shelter was to give immediate respite to the
people. Resettling and that to a new location
was completely alien and not acceptable to
the locals. In these circumstances people
started creating their own environment within
the newly established conditions and the
place started to transform.
This paper is based on my field research in the
region of Kalvad. After eight years of
aftershocks the life in these villages seems
settled and has a sense of belonging and
meaning behind it. The framework of analysis
is based on how people lived in their villages
prior to the disaster in comparison with the
post earthquake dwellings and discusses the
new emergent environment created by local
manifestations.
