Profile of Nagapattinam Locals

These two boys came to greet me during a Tsunami houses-opening ceremony. The one on the right has a devoted pet parrot that never leaves his side.

Vasandha is 45-year old widow. Since her husband passed, she’s been working as a coolie laborer on construction site to support her family. Women are often used for transporting the rock and sediments to the site because they are much cheaper than machinery. Her silver-lining is her son, who received a scholarship for vocational school. He’s left for another province to work as a caterer and she lives alone, but she’s happy that his life will be easier than hers, hopefuly.

Moorthy is a fisherman. He spent a few years in Dubai fishing for foreign companies and learned some tricks. The house he lives in was built completely by his own hand. Here, he is accosted by his three children.

Fishermen spend a lot of their free time, mending their fishing nets in preparation for the next trip to the sea. This grandfather has found an ingenuous way to babysit while fixing up his nets.

This naked one-year old stumbled into the room, no joke, brandishing a knife. His parents said he’s their only child and they hope for many great things from him.







The local farmers have it pretty good. They have a diversify portfolio of coconuts trees, groundnuts, vegetables, rice paddies, and livestock so they are less vulnerable to the elements. Soonaja lives with husband, one of sons, daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren on 5 acres that feel like Eden. When we arrived on her farm, she plucked fresh coconuts from her trees to serve us. The women sat around shooting the breeze. When she found out I was still unmarried, she tried to set me up with her son. But, she was politely turned down (my horoscope did not mention any impending arranged marriage in coastal village)

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Caught in heavy and unseasonal rainstorm, this local truckdriver offered to give us ride, but first we had to help get his truck back on the road.

Cell phones are becoming cheap and rampant. This little one is quite technology savvy

Dalites are social and economically excluded caste. They have a difficult time breaking out of their position. Even if they try to start a small business selling milk or vegetables, the neighbors from higher caste refuse to purchase from a shunned caste. But, the children are just as happy and carefree, completely unaware of the social shackles that bind their future.