The southeastern coast of India has always been an idyllic getaway zone - a beach-lover's dream come true, with ancient seaside temples greeting the incoming tide at sunset, palms set against a broad expanse of blue sky capping the green-blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, representing for many a necessary escape from clogged city life and work pressure.
Hundreds of thousands of coastal dwellers also live year-round in this open landscape of sea and sky, as they have done for centuries. Most are poor and have never known the luxury of electricity; they light their homes by hurricane lanterns as the twilight turns to ink-blue night. For the most part, their lives pass peacefully and uneventfully, intertwining with the tourists and the more affluent local communities who live in solid brick and mortar homes and resorts, well-stocked with TVs, gas-cookers and bright lights.
Although the region is no stranger to floods and earthquakes, the tsunami of December 26, 2004 must have seemed like the apocalypse to the fishermen of Kovalum and coastal Chennai - previously called Madras - the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu. The fishermen and coastal dwellers live in flimsy hutted encampment wide open to the elements. The huts are made of dried palm leaves layered over bamboo frames.

Anohar John
Source City Review