South Asian Students Alliance and the Hindu Student Council joined forces this week to launch a relief effort for victims of last month’s devastating earthquake in India.
Earthquake Relief committee members asked fellow students for food, clothing, toiletries and monetary donations on Wednesday at a table in Norris University Center. The donation drive continues through Friday.
The Jan. 26 earthquake, which was centered in the western state of Gujarat, registered 7.7 on the Richter scale and has been called the worst natural disaster in modern Indian history. Relief officials estimate the death toll at more than 25,000, with hundreds of thousands more left injured and homeless.
Committee member Sriranjani Parthasarathy said the relief effort is important to many Northwestern students.
“There are so many people here who have relatives in Gujarat and other parts of India,” said Parthasarathy, a Weinberg sophomore. “People are really affected by this.”
Parthasarathy said food and medicine are never easy to come by in India, and the earthquake has made life even harder for the people of Gujarat. She said all donations from members of the NU community will be appreciated.
“We have so much means to give here,” she said. “If you just give five dollars, that goes so far over there.”
SASA President Purvi Shah asked all NU community members to assist in relief efforts.
“This is an issue that doesn’t just affect South Asians – it affects the world,” said Shah, an Education junior. “An incredible amount of people have died or been injured. It’s one of the tragedies of the year.”
The relief committee has also been at Norris painting mehndi designs on students’ hands and feet with henna, a reddish brown dye. Students then decide how much to donate to relief efforts.
“So far, the least anyone has paid is eight dollars,” Parthasarathy said. “One girl gave us twenty dollars.”
The group plans to hold a raas, or large party, with all the proceeds going to a non-governmental relief organization.
Members will also seek corporate donations and begin a letter-writing campaign.
The Medical Supplies Mission, an initiative of the NU chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, is beginning its own effort in India separate from the earthquake relief.
MSM, created by NSCS President John Broach II last year, will send a shipment of supplies to Al-Noor Hospital in Indore, India, at the end of Winter Quarter. The supplies were donated by Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and Highland Park Hospital.
“The healthcare professionals in these countries are such caring, good people,” said Broach, a Speech junior. “But they lack the supplies they need to properly treat patients. We can make a little bit of difference.”
Shah welcomed students’ help in any way – from cash donations to getting involved with the relief committee.
“We are so fortunate here (at NU),” Shah said. “Please donate.”
