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Today we’re going to learn about the case study of Tharangambadi and how the tsunami affected the housing and social structures of its communities. What can anyone tell me about the importance of community in times of disaster?
Community support is crucial during disasters because it helps people recover emotionally and financially.
Exactly! Community ties can significantly influence recovery. Can anyone think of how houses might be reconstructed after disasters?
Maybe they need to consider the needs of families, like if there are women who might need shops to support themselves?
That's a great point! After the tsunami, many women started turning their homes into small shops to sustain their families. This adaptation highlights resilience.
Let’s discuss the participatory approach to housing. Why do you think it's important to involve the community in building and designing their homes?
Involving the community ensures that the houses are suitable for their lifestyle and needs.
That’s right! When communities participate, they can ensure that the architecture reflects their culture. What role does mapping play in this process?
Mapping helps identify important landmarks and how people move in the community, which is vital for planning.
Spot on! This mapping helps urban planners understand existing social networks, which can be crucial for maintaining connections after rebuilding.
Can someone explain how relocating homes after the tsunami affected social interactions among communities in Tharangambadi?
After the tsunami, people found it hard to connect because the new paths kept them away from each other.
Exactly! The path's design hindered movement between friends and family, which weakened social ties. How did residents feel about their new homes?
Many were unhappy and even decided to sell their new houses to return to their old community.
Yes! This illustrates the importance of social networks in community satisfaction. Now, how do we think resilience played a role in their adaptation?
Resilience shows in how women adapted by opening shops to support their families. They made the best of a bad situation.
That’s a powerful observation. Adapting to challenges and finding new ways to create social and economic roles is key to resilience.
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The section explores the aftermath of the tsunami in Tharangambadi, detailing how different communities adapted their living spaces, the challenges of relocation, and the significance of social networks in shaping community responses to disaster. Through participatory approaches, key observations were made about the changes in connectivity and housing dynamics post-disaster.
In this section, we delve into the case of Tharangambadi and examine the impact of the tsunami on three major community sectors: the Danish colony, the Muslims, and the fishermen communities. Post-tsunami, various architectural and social initiatives were undertaken to facilitate the relocation of homes for fishermen, emphasizing a participatory approach. Through detailed mapping exercises, significant insights were gathered about community dynamics, cultural landmarks such as the Renuka Devi temple, and the resulting social fragmentation. For instance, the disconnection caused by new pathways led to diminished social interactions, prompting residents to express dissatisfaction with their new environments. Women, particularly those who lost their husbands, began to adapt their homes into small shops to support their families, reflecting resilience and innovation in response to their changed circumstances. The section concludes by illustrating the importance of considering traditional community structures and needs in post-disaster housing designs.
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So, where the woman have started expanding their house front as a small shop to run the family expenses. Similarly, the kitchens were extended.
This chunk discusses how women in the community began extending their homes, specifically the front of their houses, to create small shops. This initiative was likely a response to economic needs after a disaster, allowing families to support their households. In addition to this, kitchens were also extended, possibly to accommodate more cooking space for growing family needs or business demands.
Imagine a family that loses its primary source of income due to a disaster. To make ends meet, they might convert part of their home into a small shop selling homemade goods. This not only helps financially but also allows the family to remain in their community and maintain connections with neighbors.
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In the second case of Tharangambadi, it is the three clusters one is the Danish colony, and the Muslims, the pre-colonial houses and the fishermen society, let’s say and this is a Renuka Devi temple square and this is basically, the tourism circuit goes on to this because of the Dansburg fort here and the town centre. So, this is the highway and it goes like this and this is a Masilamani nadhar temple which caused damage during the tsunami.
Tharangambadi consists of three distinct community clusters: the Danish colony, a Muslim community, and a pre-colonial fishermen society. The Renuka Devi temple square serves as a significant point for tourism due to its proximity to the Danesburg fort and the town center. The Masilamani nadhar temple is also a notable location, which suffered damage during the tsunami. Understanding these clusters is important for recognizing the social and economic fabric of Tharangambadi, especially in the context of recovery efforts.
Think of a city that is a mix of different neighborhoods, each with its own culture and history. The Danish colony could be compared to a historic district filled with heritage buildings, while the Muslim community could represent a vibrant marketplace. The fishermen society might resemble a waterfront area where local fishers live and work. Each part of the community adds its unique flavor to the overall environment.
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If we look at the network after the tsunami, many Kuriakose architect and as well as the SIFFS Agency has worked on this relocation of this fishermen houses they identified this land and they tried to work out the housing when a more of a participatory approach.
Following the tsunami, both Kuriakose architects and the SIFFS Agency played crucial roles in relocating fishermen's houses. They employed a participatory approach, which means that they involved the community in the decision-making process. This typically ensures that the new housing meets the needs and preferences of the residents, leading to greater satisfaction and a stronger sense of community after the disaster.
Consider a town that is rebuilding after a flood. The local government holds meetings where residents can share their thoughts on where new houses should be built and what they should look like. This way, people have a say in their future, making them feel more connected to their new homes.
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But in Tarangambadi, it was not possible because when I gave some papers to draw their mental maps, they were bit hesitant to draw the hand started shivering.
In Tarangambadi, attempts to have residents draw mental maps of their community were met with hesitation. The lack of participation could be attributed to trauma or emotional distress from the tsunami, indicating that residents may have been reluctant to revisit memories of loss or displacement. This highlights the psychological impact that disasters can have on communities.
Imagine asking someone who has just experienced a major loss to recreate their memories on paper. They might feel overwhelmed or anxious, causing them to hesitate or be unable to complete the task. This reflects the emotional weight of the event on their current state of mind.
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In the interviews, many of the people even from the pre-colonial side they started saying we are not happy here because none much of my friends they are left and we are not, it’s very boring here. So, they started selling their houses and they are going back to some nearby areas.
Interviews with community members revealed dissatisfaction among those relocated from pre-colonial areas. Many felt isolated as their friends had not relocated with them, leading to feelings of boredom and disconnection. As a result, some individuals began selling their new houses to move back to areas where they had stronger social connections. This emphasizes the importance of social networks to individual happiness and community cohesion.
Think of a student who moves to a new school where they know no one. They may initially feel lonely and out of place, eventually longing to return to their previous school where they had friends and a sense of belonging. Just like that student, people in Tharangambadi longed for the companionship they lost in their relocation.
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This map, have shown me why they are not because earlier, this is the only street which was connecting all the three communities. But now, they are walking on the periphery of the town and only to the school which means they are not walking from this. Which means the pedestrian movement have actually created certain communication gap and also it started weakening some social networks.
The analysis of a map illustrated how the relocation of houses altered pedestrian movement in Tharangambadi. Previously, a central street connected the three communities, fostering interaction. Post-relocation, residents found themselves on the outskirts, leading to decreased movement through the town. This change in pedestrian patterns adversely affected social interactions and weakened previously strong community ties.
Imagine a favorite café on your street where you meet friends. If the café moves to an out-of-the-way location, you may find it less convenient to visit, leading to less time spent with friends there. This showcases how changes in accessibility can impact the strength of social connections.
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Fortunately, these two people got in a lottery method, they got two brothers got an adjacent house. So, what did it was they extended one single roof to represent the sense of belonging, people started in expanding the kitchens at the rear.
After facing challenges caused by the tsunami, two brothers were fortunate to receive adjacent houses through a lottery system. To strengthen their connection, they decided to extend their homes into one unified space to symbolize their bond and shared experiences. This effort reflects a broader trend of community members adapting their homes to foster togetherness after a disaster.
Think of two siblings who buy houses next to each other. Instead of having separate backyards, they build a shared garden to cultivate together. This not only allows them to spend time together but also creates a shared space that enhances their family connection.
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And they don’t have public places lets they started encroaching the neighbourhood lands and they started conducting some children activities for socialization process.
Due to a lack of public spaces for community gathering, residents began using neighboring lands to host children’s activities and social events. This informal encroachment reflects their initiative to create spaces for interaction and solidarity, filling a social void left by the disaster’s impact.
Consider a neighborhood where the local park is no longer available. The residents might decide to hold community picnics in someone's backyard to continue to foster friendships and create a sense of community, even in limited spaces.
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Key Concepts
Impact of the Tsunami: The tsunami significantly reshaped the housing and social structures in Tharangambadi.
Community Adaptation: The communities adapted by reconstructing homes, often in a manner reflective of their original social organization.
Participatory Housing: Involving community members in reconstruction ensures that housing designs are culturally relevant.
Social Network Disruption: Relocation affected pathways and social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation.
Resilience: The ability of community members to innovate solutions to address new challenges is crucial for recovery.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Women turning their homes into small shops to sustain their families.
The use of mental maps by community members to navigate their new environment after relocation.
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In Tharangambadi, where waters rise, communities adapt and wise, shops and homes, they devised, through changes, resilience is prized.
Once in a village called Tharangambadi, a great tsunami came and changed everything. The villagers faced the waves, but instead of surrendering, they joined together. The women created shops from their homes, turning grief into purpose, proving that resilience lies in unity and creativity.
R-CAP: Resilience, Community, Adaptation, Participatory approach
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Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Participatory Approach
Definition:
An inclusive method that engages community members in the planning and decision-making processes regarding housing and urban planning.
Term: Social Networks
Definition:
The structures of relationships and connections among individuals and communities that can be affected by physical and social changes.
Term: Relocation
Definition:
Moving people from one place to another, often in the context of rebuilding communities after disasters.
Term: Resilience
Definition:
The ability of individuals and communities to adapt to challenges and recover from adversity.
Term: Mental Maps
Definition:
Personal interpretations of the geographical layout and important places in one's environment.