1.4. House Typologies in Tharangambadi

So, now immediately after the post-Tsunami when I visited the place, the important issues are the food security, you know how to get their rations because they are all after the relief stage when they settle somewhere, so their daily needs, this is where every ration shop is full of queues, every water facility because their infrastructure has been damaged because of the Tsunami, where do they get the drinking water you know and their livelihood is in threat.

After the tsunami, the people of Tharangambadi faced significant challenges, particularly regarding their food security and access to water. Many shops had long queues as people sought rations to meet their daily needs. The infrastructure, essential for providing these services, had been devastated. This situation posed a serious threat to their livelihoods, as the local economy was dependent on stable access to resources.

Think of a time when a storm knocked out electricity in your area. Everyone would rush to the grocery store to stock up on essentials, leading to long lines. Similarly, after the tsunami, the people of Tharangambadi had to deal with the chaos of losing access to food and clean water.

So, this is where in the fishermen set up, you have the boat owners, you have the fishermen, you have the traders and everything used to cooperate with each other and they use to work.

The fishing community in Tharangambadi traditionally relied on cooperation among various roles, including boat owners, fishermen, and traders. Their mutual support system was critical during the recovery phase post-tsunami, as each group contributed to rebuilding their community's economy and social framework, showing a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration.

Imagine a sports team working together after losing a match. Each player reviews their performance, supports each other in training, and works on strategies to improve. Just like that, the fishermen and traders cooperated to rebuild their livelihoods.

And the traditional houses you know and their indigenous knowledge how they oriented their houses, they are climatically efficient, how it suits their livelihood needs.

The traditional houses in Tharangambadi reflect the indigenous knowledge of the local population. These homes were designed to be climatically efficient, meaning they stayed cooler in the heat and were resilient to weather conditions. This architectural approach not only suited their environmental context but also aligned closely with their ways of living and working.

Consider how some homes are built with large windows for natural light while others are designed with thick walls for insulation. Similarly, the fishermen's houses were built with a deep understanding of local weather patterns to make daily life easier and to protect against harsh conditions.

And different typologies of houses, this is in Tharangambadi and how different layouts of these houses like a joint family house, a nuclear family house.

In Tharangambadi, there are various types of houses catering to different family structures. Joint family houses accommodate extended families, while nuclear family houses are designed for smaller, immediate family units. This diversity in layouts enables families to choose living arrangements that best fit their needs and lifestyles.

Think of different types of apartments: some are designed for single occupants, while others are built for families with multiple bedrooms. The variety of house layouts in Tharangambadi serves a similar purpose, ensuring that families can find homes that fit their specific circumstances.

And their public places, how they were damaged. This is a huge infrastructure has been damaged. But one has to look at it but if you look at the evidences if a correct information has been passed down to these places, it took 180 minutes which is about 3 hours to reach to get these waves into the mainstream, you know to the mainland, so if that information has been passed on the right way, we would have saved many lives, we would have at least saved some important assets.

The tsunami caused extensive damage to public infrastructure in Tharangambadi, affecting various community spaces. It is noted that timely and accurate information about the incoming waves could have significantly mitigated loss of life and property. This highlights the importance of effective communication systems in disaster preparedness and response.

Imagine if an emergency alert system failed during a natural disaster, leaving people unaware and unprepared. The importance of knowing what is happening in real time can save lives, as seen in the case of Tharangambadi.

There is always a relief stage, there is a rehabilitation stage which goes for a few months and the final is the reconstruction stage. There is a lot of actors working from the government, international NGOs, local NGOs and the community groups which work on these aspects.

The recovery process after the tsunami includes several stages: relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. The relief stage provides immediate support, while rehabilitation helps the community adjust and begin to recover. Finally, the reconstruction stage focuses on rebuilding. Various organizations, including government bodies and NGOs, play key roles in each phase to support the community's recovery.

Think of a sports team after losing a big game: first, they have a meeting to address what went wrong (relief), then they practice together to improve (rehabilitation), and finally, they work on strategies for future games (reconstruction). The recovery from the tsunami follows a similar thoughtful process.

So, I am talking about the transitional shelter. So what they did was an immediate requirement for them as where to live, many of them lost their houses, so many I was visiting Devanampattinam village, the longest fisherman village and you can see that I have taken lot of questionnaires and a lot of semi-structured interviews. They got the tin sheets immediately and they have lived here for about two years.

Transitional shelters were a critical response to housing losses due to the tsunami. In Devanampattinam village, people were quickly provided with tin sheets to create temporary homes. However, many communities stayed in these shelters for longer periods than initially expected, highlighting the need for effective long-term planning regarding housing.

Imagine receiving a temporary tent after losing your home in a storm. While it provides immediate shelter, it is not as comfortable or durable as a permanent home. Similarly, the use of tin sheets gave the fishermen a place to live, but it was only a temporary solution.

And this is where the time where people have some professional minds come together, they started showing some choices, yes, we provide this option, now you can decide, we try to facilitate you know what they decide.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, professionals began to engage with the community to discuss housing options. The goal was to empower residents by providing them with choices that suited their needs rather than imposing solutions. This participatory approach is crucial for effective recovery as it respects local knowledge and preferences.

Think of choosing a meal at a restaurant. The server might present options based on what you like, allowing you to choose instead of forcing you to eat a dish you don't enjoy. Similarly, the community was involved in deciding the best housing solutions for themselves.

the most important challenge is not only about it should not be narrowed them only at the built form but one has to look at how this transition stage has to gradually go into the permanent stage. And there are issues like how this material could be reused in these two years, what are the things we have to address, children schooling, the community's health facilities, community’s livelihood, how they can regenerate and all these.

In the transition phase after the tsunami, multiple challenges emerged that needed to be addressed for successful recovery. It wasn't just about building houses; it required looking into education for children, health facilities, and livelihood opportunities for the community. This highlights the complexity of recovery, where various factors must be interlinked to create a sustainable future.

Think of a garden after a storm: it's not enough just to replant flowers. You also need to consider watering the plants, providing nutrients, and ensuring there’s enough sunlight. Similarly, the considerations for the community in Tharangambadi went well beyond just providing shelter.

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