The utter devastation, wrought by the sheer scale and enormity of the twin natural calamities that have struck Japan, has stunned me. My eyes have literally been glued to the TV screen this past weekend. Nature, usually beautiful and enthralling and therefore much admired, presented itself this time in full fury, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Akin to the after effects of lord Shiva's tandav or goddess Kali's rudravatar!
Japan, a country that has time and again stood up tall and strong after being dealt blow after blow. A nation which today is recognized as a powerful, industrialized nation despite its geographic location in the far east and in the third world. Today its people are again on their virtual knees. Not only have they faced a monster earthquake followed closely by a huge tsunami, but they seem to be on the brink of a third upheaval (this one man made) - a series of nuclear disasters. I hope that the latter can be averted and, if they can't, that the damage is minimized.
My heart goes out to the countless people whose lives have been snuffed out so suddenly, whose bodies either lie buried under huge mounds of rubble or have been washed out into the vast Pacific ocean. All of humanity is with you now, my Japanese brethren, in your hour of need. May you face these tough times head on, and rise again like the phoenix that arose from its ashes!
Jay Ho, Nihon!
