Move forward mentality rules above all
Sadhna is a typical Gujarati woman. The first time I was introduced to her was in 2001 when she was bed ridden in a squalid government hospital in Kutch. She had just her lost her baby during her eighth month of pregnancy.

The doctors were deliberating whether her uterus should be removed or not. That would have ensured that Sadhna did not become a mother ever again. But then, as some of her relatives had pointed out to me, there was no point in her becoming a mother again ever. Because Sadhna had lost her husband of six years also. The earthquake had robbed Sadhna of her husband, her not yet born first baby and her father in law.

The memories of earthquake have again come back. The second anniversary of the earthquake is here and this January 26, we are again going to remember the 13,811 odd people (the government figure, the unofficial figure was put at over 20,000) who died in Gujarat in the century’s worst earthquake.

As it happens always, allegations against government authorities for poor rehabilitation and lackadaisical approach will continue but what gives a glimmer of hope are typical Gujaratis. Typical women like Sadhna of Kutch. Or Minesh Bhatt of Ahmedabad, who survived the earthquake ordeal at Mansi in Ahmedabad or Zankhana Shah who lost her mother-in-law and husband and her right hand to the quake.

Two years after Sadhna lost her husband and her yet to be born baby, she has moved forward. This month she gets remarried with blessings surprisingly(in a conventional Indian context)from her (ex)mother-in-law. And Mineshbhai, who lost five of his family members in the earthquake, will be going back to the A block in Mansi. And Zankhanaben, who could have a record of a maximum stay in the hospital (January 2001 to January 2003) besides 27 surgeries, is at a new home looking forward to a new life with her two young sons.

Sadhna poignantly says, "We have to flow with life, isn’t it?" She has wrapped up her past and is looking forward to a better future. And yes, her mother-in-law will be living with her since she has no other place to go. The MIL’s response to developments: "I can’t let Sadhna remain stuck in a rut. Life has to go on."

That’s MFM. The Move Forward Mentality of Gujaratis, which not just characterises them but differentiates them from all others who like to keep on crying for what they have lost in life. Unless you bury the past, you cannot present yourself with a future. A future that holds hopes and promises. Not that the future is going to be all rosy but to risk a future is to dream of a better tomorrow. And this is what Gujarat does. After cyclones, earthquakes and riots, the MFM keeps the Gujaratis going.

As a tribute to this amazing Move Forward Mentality, of telling goodbye to the past and surging ahead, The Asian Age tried to focus mainly on positive stories to commemorate the second anniversary of the earthquake. The result has been amazing for we have found that almost every Gujarati has got ahead with his life. Whether he or she is in Maliya Miyana in Morbi or in Mansi or Maninagar in Ahmedabad or in Bhacchau or Rapar or Ratnal, they possess this marvelous move forward mentality.

There were 14 quake orphans who complained of ill treatment by relatives, there were people with pending compensation claims,handicapped people who have been sacked from their jobs but to counter it all, this newspaper found that all of them were taking this in their stride and facing the situation in the best possible manner.

"This earthquake anniversary don’t just salute the 13,811 who lost their lives but all those who have lost their loved ones. We lost our limbs, our loved ones, our jobs but we still have our hopes and dreams intact," almost all survivors of the ordeal stress.

Maybe this move forward mentality makes Gujaratis not just brave but beautiful people.

Republished from The Asian Age