‘Throw an emotional lifeline to each other’

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on a visit to Jadon village in Solan district, which was affected by cloudbursts, on August 14. Pic/PTI

It is with anguish and considerable trepidation that I consume news these days. The dreaded news about Himachal Pradesh is all about the state sinking under the weight of water, death and destruction; as we read about floods and fatalities, lives and homes lost. Occasionally, there is a burst of sunlight through the darkness: we hear of heroic rescues and people literally becoming lifelines for each other in distress. The humanity shines through.

Club genesis

Humanity has always been the cornerstone of Himachal Mitra Mandal, a Chembur club, founded in 1952. A group of friends, around eight of them, from Himachal living in Mumbai got talking about how one can help the Himachali community in the city. This support could comprise funding a sick person's treatment, fees for a needy person's child… in fact, many factors of living here. Soon a network began to blossom and formalised into a club. At that time, it was called the Kangara Mandal. We had a great many cabbies (black 'n' yellow) taxi drivers who had come in from Himachal Pradesh. Some businessmen also made Mumbai their home, coming in from 2,000 km away to build a life here. The club recognised that all these people may need help in their own way, and it was important to come together to be able to offer support and guidance.

A Bhavan

In 1980, the club had a brick 'n' mortar outpost, a Bhavan came up in Chembur. The name also changed to Himachal Mitra Mandal. It is now a two-storey building with a terrace. We have 12 rooms, plus a hall with two more rooms. We have a couple of shops on the ground floor. The Place of the Gods or Dev Bhoomi as Himachal is known, had put down its cement roots in Mumbai and our social and community work goes on. We have 30,000 registered members. There are at least 2.5 lakh Himachalis all around, in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Thane, Vasai, Virar… We are that one-stop shop contact for them.

Memories, families…

The current scenario is heart-wrenching for all those settled here. People have families back in Himachal Pradesh. That land has been compromised to a large extent by construction. Buildings have come up on loose mud/soil. When a tree takes root, its roots go deep into the ground. They are also spread out, giving holding and staying power. In Himachal today, younger people, besides those in the defence forces, fly the family nest to work elsewhere, even within the state like Shimla or Kullu Manali because of tourism. While there is nothing wrong with seeking opportunity, many of them return and make sprawling homes for themselves. Ecological imbalance happens because trees are being cut to make way for housing infra. There is also relatively less awareness about climate change and the devastation it can wreak, one that has hit home in such a forceful and fearful way now.

Early scene

There are continual arguments that landslides happened earlier, too, and we have seen heavy rainfall in the past. While that is accepted, it is the population boom, crowds and construction that we see leading to large-scale disaster. We have always had homes, but earlier, these were much more scattered. There was space around a house. Even if a tree fell, because of the space around, it was unlikely that somebody would be crushed underneath it.

Learn now

Even as the rain fury shows no signs of abating, the time to learn our lessons starts now. Re-look at all the construction through this place. Teach children and adults alike about environmental impact. Make it part of the academic syllabus, so that a child of 10 becomes climate conscious. The government of Himachal Pradesh, the CM, his MLAs and the machinery are working day and night and humanity is also evident.

It may seem out of place to cite Mumbai as an example in an environmental topic, but people will recall the unprecedented flooding of 2005. I urge people within Himachal now to offer emotional support to each other. With that, and funds, mobilisation and rehabilitation, Himachal Pradesh, the Place of the Gods, will never be deserted by the divine even in its darkest hours, can find its feet and rise up once again.

As told to Hemal Ashar

The columnist is general secretary, Himachal Mitra Mandal