TURKEY-SYRIA EARTHQUAKE : Lessons for ASSAM (india)
The countries of Turkey and Syria fall in the Anatolian plate which is situated in the seismic hot bed of Asia Minor region. Multiple earthquakes ranging from 7.5 to 7.8 has struct the region and about 30,000 plus lives have been lost in the unprecedented natural calamity. The Earthquakes of Turkey-Syria region in early February of 2023 brings alive the horrific memories of 8.6 magnitude earthquake that devastated Assam in the year 1950. The fact that Assam, specifically the Brahmaputra Valley which lays sandwiched between two tectonic plates in its northern and the eastern boundaries along Bhutan, Eastern Tibet and Western Myanmar is probably siting on a time bomb as this region lies on the Earthquake Zone 5. The April 28, 2021 earthquake of magnitude 6.0 saw massive impact on the city of Guwahati and surrounding towns with its epicentre near Dhekiajuli. Assam, especially Guwahati and neighbouring towns have developed its infrastructure tremendously over the last decade and this trajectory of economic and infra-growth is pegged to get even bigger in the near future. But are we somewhere being forgetful about the grave danger that looms large around this part of the world – the unpredictable nature of big earthquakes ? Agreeably the tall apartment buildings, high rise offices and residential complexes having double digit storeys built in the last ten years in and around Guwahati are a projection of a typical modern day urban City.
But, the million dollar question remains – Can Guwahati withstand a quake like the one in Turkey? It simply cannot. Thus, the Assam Government should keep a vigil eye for unscrupulous builders around Guwahati who notoriously violate construction standards, build concrete jungles keeping the ever increasing earthquake risk at the back-burner. Also, as a lesson from the Turkey-Syria episode, our schools and universities should have compulsory education on ‘Earthquakes’, so that the new generation can be aptly sensitised about the unpredictable calamity, and avenues to mitigate the damages in real-time.
GEO-POLITICS POST EARTHQUAKE: Turkey & INDIA
Turkey and India hasn’t been on the same page on multiple occasions in the recent past when we talk in-depth about geopolitical developments in the Indian Sub-continental region. Turkey has been a stern advocate of Kashmir’s autonomy and supported Pakistan’s skewed narrative of questioning Indian occupation of the region. But, the might of Indian diplomacy is such that the likes of Turkey’s propaganda and anti-India narrative has only been decimated each time. India’s ever increasing closeness with the Arab world and other the Muslim nations including Central Asian countries really matter in geo-politics and our current External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is a ‘breath of fresh air’ and his ability to aptly present the ‘story of India’ to friends and adversaries around the world with such compassion is itself exemplary.
Soon after the earthquake, India has deployed its soft diplomacy into action. Within Turkey, the cities of Antakya and Gazantiep have been the worst hit. India’s relief response has been to both the aggrieved countries of Turkey and Syria. Notably, Syria is still under sanctions. Yet, India has shown the world how humanitarian aid bothers no boundaries and political affinities. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) workers have also been deployed in these regions for aiding in carrying out critical search and rescue operations using sophisticated techniques. Moreover, a temporary military hospital has also been set up in Turkey having latest amenities. Besides sending relief material, medicines and providing shelter to the displaced in the quake-hit region, India’s Embassy in the country has been proactive in catering to the needs of Indian nationals trapped within the quake-ridden cities. This operation is termed as “Operation Dost”.
All these relief efforts for Turkey in the times of difficulty, has only quantified the stature of India amongst the general population of those countries and probably, it may trigger a paradigm shift in geo-political spheres in favour of India from the lens of Turkey – including supporting India in the Kashmir standoff. India is currently hosting the G20 meetings and events for this year, and the overwhelming pouring-in of praises for India shall only solidify its position as the leader of the Global-South.
“Our teams are working day and night as a part of ‘Operation Dost.’ They will keep giving their best to ensure maximum lives and property are saved. In this critical time, India stands firmly with the people of Türkiye”.
– PM Modi, via Twitter.
Observers are of the view that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would definitely try to better ties with India in the coming years and shake hands in the ‘pursuit of dosti’, as we’ve always been told – a friend in need, is a friend indeed! But, can it happen in diplomacy too? Well, only time will tell.
– Banraj Kalita
(A part of this excerpt by Banraj Kalita can be found on the “Letters to the Editor”, published on the Assam Tribune Newspaper dated 10th Feb 2023 , Editorial page 6.)