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Daughter of Tsunami

Tsunamika is hope for women from tsunami-affected families

Photo: K.Gajendran

HANDMADE TSUNAMIKA DOLLS

December 26, 2004 is a day that South Asia will shudder to remember. It's almost a year and lives of the Tsunami-affected victims have not yet stabilised. Ravaged by the disaster yet with their spirits buoyant, is the women's help group in Pondicherry that refuses to give in to fate.

Belonging to the fisher folk community they are patching up their lives back, as they congregate and craft tiny dolls that have by now travelled to various parts of the globe with message of resilience that these women exude. Stoic, with a dash of mirth, from the colourful ensemble that it sports, Tsunamika represents a ray of hope for many victims as them. And it comes in variants — bookmarks, paper clips and hair clips. Tsunamika was born in Auroville, when Upasana Design Studio took up a project to empower women from tsunami-affected families. Workshops were held under trees, in empty buildings and temples, after which job work packets with raw material to make dolls worth Rs. 50-Rs.100 was offered. The dolls are made from left over fabrics at Upasana. Quality control was the second step and with it higher confidence levels. Today about 100 women employed earn Rs. 3,000 per month.

So, what can you do is ask for Tsunamika. The dolls come for free. Tell the little ones at home the inspiring story of Tsunamika. And would you wish to contribute, you can log in to Tsunami Relief Work, Auroville www.auroville.org/tsunami or www.tsunamika.com.

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