Two Portuguese Help Tsunami Victims in Tamil Nadu

João Blasques, 27, has a degree in Environmental Engineering from Universidade Nova, and works in Portugal at the Sintra Yoga and Meditation Center. Rui Guimarães, 33, has a degree in History and Social Sciences from the University of Minho, and works in Portugal as a city council advisor in the area of education and youth.

Both were in India when the Tsunami struck, on a trip of spiritual deepening organized by the spiritual movement Ananda Marga (“Path of Bliss”). In their reports they expressed great tranquility and happiness. Marveling at the multicolored Indian reality, they visited places linked to the origins of yoga and meditation centers, as part of an international group.

On December 26 they were in Jamalpur, and did not feel the intensity of the tremor. Days later, after realizing the scale of the disaster, they decided to leave their travel companions and head for the affected area. They then got in touch with the Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT, the branch of Ananda Marga specialized in social service and disaster relief, see www.amurt.net), and as soon as it was possible they took a train south, heading for Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu state).

In Nagapattinam they joined the AMURT team, which since December 27 had been on site carrying out the first phase of the work: locating and cremating or burying the dead bodies. They then joined the work group that was cleaning the houses that had not been completely destroyed and that can be restored for habitation. João Blasques writes:

“The village where we are working was hit hard, with a great many houses destroyed down to the foundation and the remaining ones totally flooded up to a meter high with water and debris. When the wave left, it left enormous quantities of sand and debris in the houses, making it very difficult to live in them. At the moment we are basically cleaning the houses of the oldest people, who do not have the capacity to clean for themselves, and also of those who are too demoralized to do it.”
Something that catches their attention is the apparent calm of the people: “People in general do not seem too shaken, although I feel there is a deeply hidden scar. Especially in the children,” says João.

Rui Guimarães has now begun working with the traumatized children who have lost their relatives. On the phone, on the 8th, he reported on the work he started, doing games and even a yoga class with the children. He said that at the moment psychological support is extremely important and that he is very inspired to work toward revitalizing the self-esteem of the children in that place, having already presented a proposal of activities to the local person in charge, Dada Arthapremananda.

He also said that material needs such as clothing are already being met and that the construction of houses is being started for the people who saw their homes totally destroyed. The most urgent help at the moment is monetary, the cost of each house being about 1,400 euros.

João Blasques and Rui Guimarães send updates frequently.

AMURT is a worldwide social service organization recognized by the UN for the work carried out in various parts of the globe since its founding in India in 1965. In addition to disaster relief, it also develops local development projects and community support, including long-term projects. Since the teams are made up of volunteers, practically all the funds are used directly in the work carried out.

In Portugal AMURT previously carried out some small-scale initiatives and is currently fully involved in a fundraising campaign to help the relief work for the tsunami victims. AMURT is grateful for all possible help, in donations or in spreading the word about the campaign.