Consignments of relief material to head for Kerala by sea and air this Onam

KOLKATA: Every year on Onam, relatives and friends in Kerala send goodies and wishes to Malayalis settled in Kolkata. But this year, there has been a role reversal with the Malayali community here flagging off two consignments of relief to flood-ravaged Kerala, one by sea and the other by air.
The 15 Malayali associations and clubs in Kolkata had cancelled the Onam celebration immediately after the devastating flood in the southern state.Everyone began to collect relief material in earnest. On Thursday, the goods were brought to a school, sorted and packed. They were then ferried to the Kidderpore docks and Kolkata airport from where they will be shipped to Kerala on Saturday.
“This is the first of many consignments that will be sent from Kolkata. We are grateful to Kolkata Port Trust and Kolkata Police for offering to transport the material,” said T K Gopalan, trustee of Kolkata Kairali Samajam. Talks are also on with Eastern Railway to transport some of the relief materials.
This is perhaps the first time that the Malayali community in Kolkata, and the rest of the country, is forgoing Onam celebrations held in the month of Chingam. “We celebrate with floral decorations, called Pookkalam, and the preparations begin 10 days before Onam. This year, the collection drive began around that time. On Saturday, we will do a basic puja at home. When people in Kerala are going hungry, we cannot be feasting,” said Gopalan.
Several members have relatives and friends marooned in different parts of Kerala. “Water had entered their houses and all they could do was to climb on their beds and pray that the water level did not rise any further. They stayed like that without food and water for three days. Finally, the army rescued them,” recounted businessman V Srikumar, whose elderly parents live in Chengannur.
Gopalan’s brother, T K Sudarshanan works in a publishing house in flood-affected Aluva. The entire ground floor of his house is still submerged. He and others have been confined to the first floor. Everyone here will be praying the situation in Kerala improves soon.