Greatness of a people even in disaster

By Amal HEWAVISSENTI

For us Sri Lankans, March 18 this year provokes a surge of sympathy for Japanese people who were struck by forceful tidal waves last year.

The wreckful tsunami waves demolished buildings, ripped out live wires, devastated property and rather surprisingly, claimed lesser number of lives in its wake.

Most apparently, the tsunami left a trail of death and destruction within seconds along much of coastal Japan. Here we notice that Japanese have drastically minimised the loss of lives as if by a prior preparation (sufficient evidence of premeditation on the part of Japanese people!).

They have considerably averted a greater loss of lives to the credit, of course, of the tsunami training that had primarily prepared them for prompt action.

However, it is the extreme intensity of the earthquake and the consequential tsunami that was directly responsible for such a loss of lives.

It is clear that they had well-judged plan and consciousness in responding to such an emergency and both young and old were highly consistent in their moves.

Struggle

Numerous television programs showed that Japan had to struggle with triple destruction namely, earthquake, tsunami and the consequent damage on nuclear plants.

The destruction had a tremendous impact on country's economy and people as electronic media and newspapers disclosed.

What deserves thorough notice here is not the scale of destruction but the way they faced the predicament. Japanese displayed great courage, strength of character and determination in the hour of national crisis.

These qualities served as the primary force behind Japanese people when they emerged as a powerful nation out of ashes of destruction of world wars. Though the wars in history had reduced them to ashes, their management and integrity as a nation elevated them to the top most position in the world.

How they acted in the disaster provides a clear picture of their honest feelings for the country and their true concern for their own people. Japanese surprised the world by acting with an unconfused mind and calmness in the face of the national disaster.

In point of fact, they bore the afflictions at the loss of lives and property but they never lamented unnecessarily over what had been lost.

Rare

Thus Japanese exhibited the rare capacity to suppress or bear up afflictions, sorrows and disappointments and to stand up unmoved. Following the tsunami disaster, there was an acute shortage of foodstuff as most of supply routes were hampered. Japanese, in this terrible shortage of food, were careful to buy in amounts sufficient for them only and provided ample chances for others to buy what they wanted. They did not profit by the occasion to get the biggest amount of anything or to keep unnecessarily high stocks for future gain. This is indeed exemplary.

Affected

People were in hot water as the earthquake and tidal waves of the tsunami had form apart the highways shops and means of getting fresh water, because the displaced people were in temporary dwellings, food-stuff and drinkable water were supplied from outside.

Here too the people demonstrated a surprising level of discipline and caring for others even though they suffered immensely in scarcity.

Even some others who had not been affected by the disaster struggled with the shortage of drinking water. Under the circumstances, Japanese people waited in queues with much patience and discipline which are otherwise impossible to be expected any where in the world under such an emergency.

They did not struggle with others in the same crowd or queue for any benefit or bully the weaker in their attempts to get much water or good amount of food.

Each respected others' rights for anything and remained in the queue until he got his opportunity.

In a widescale disaster, it is customary for most people to take advantage of the general confusion to loot and steal property from shops and houses. But Japanese people acted in perfect understanding of the situation and totally avoided seizing another's property under the camouflage of 'helpers' or benefactors'.

In case of national disaster or acute shortage of food, most businessmen make every possible effort to make hay while they could.

They unabashedly increase prices of essential food items or conceal food stocks to be sold later at exorbitant prices exhibiting little concern for victims of the particular disaster.

This is because the food shortage beefs up the demand and encourages businessmen to augment the prices in the 'rare opportunity'.

But in total contrast, the Japanese have set an important precedent for social fair play.

Prices

In this regard, Japanese shop owners have considered decreasing prices of goods and they seem to have counted it their national duty.

Accordingly, they lowered prices of essential foodstuff in the hour of need and thereby displayed integrity and consistency in a national disaster.

This is presumably the most important characteristic of a developed nation.

Looting and plundering under these conditions are very common because lapses of security services occur in the widespread turmoil.

He is interesting to note that many government buildings banks and shops in Japan were entirely devoid of any security services and lay vulnerable to looting.

But no effort whatsoever to break open any bank or shop to steal money or valuables was reported in Japan during the days following the tidal waves.

Instead, there was incessant support for the victims from those who had not been affected.

The third in the series of disasters was the heavy damage caused to nuclear power plants.

It was reported that around workers remained in the power plant to ensure the minimal damage to it.

It is clear that the workers had kept their lives at heavy risk in protecting the nuclear power plant under damage.

When the government employed the fire brigade for the power plant, to remove the excessive heat and fire, some people were reported to have volunteered to assist in the task. Japanese treat these people as national heroes.

Support

Following the tsunami disaster on March 11, 2011, China sent a special team of relief workers to succour Japanese tsunami victims.

The international media introduced this exclusive team as the first foreign team to have arrived in Japan to bring relief to the Japanese in trouble.

Though modern China has been rebuilt after a ferocious battle with Japan which had invaded China, it was not a barrier for the Chinese government to extend its hands of support for a country which holds rival political ideology. This is also a good example of friendship in trouble.

Finally, last year's tsunami disaster on Japan tells a story of a people with honesty and determination. It was this self-same honesty that made their journey to a powerful nation, a possibility.