India: In the Fishing Villages

Fishing Village, Chennnai

Eric’s  project with the fishing village is very interesting, and sad. Eric’s project involves having the villagers tell their stories about their way of life in order to help them make sense of what they have as a village. He says the government has little interest in helping to maintain the village as the people contribute little to the economy. Also, as the people go out in their boats (rafts and small junkets) at one in the morning and stay out til 5, the government wants no responsibility for their whereabouts or safety. Also sad are the strange and mysterious fires that occur, that burn down whole sections of the village and leave people homeless. I find this an important project as he wants to help them maintain their way of life.

Fishing Boats

Apparently there is a proposal for a highway to go right through their village. The question really is not whether to have the highway, but how to preserve the villager’s way of life. Also, huge, indeed, monstrous hotels are being built right behind the villages. That may actually  be the true demise of the villagers. The hotels demand a “nicer” seashore.

I met one of his main contacts yesterday. Am sorry I didn’t take a picture of him, in front of his hut. The huts are so flimsy- I’m surprised they make it through monsoon season. People lined up selling fish – mainly the women as the men are resting from being out in the boats. Eric’s contact was no longer a fisherman but is now an electrician. Unfortunately, that has not elevated him in terms of being able to earn enough for better housing.

The social anthropologist in me is coming out. I find that although the poverty stinks (literally), the way of life for these people clearly has such value for them, and they work hard to maintain themselves as a community. I am profoundly disturbed by in the way people choose to ignore or reject the needs of others, especially those of lower economic means.

Advertisement