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Bharat Joshi

British Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai

Part of UK in India

8th December 2015 Chennai, India

CITY OF HEROES

floods1As I look outside at bright sunny skies, it’s almost impossible to recall what the last 3 weeks have been like. Chennai has been battered by the highest rains in over a century. The BDHC closed for 3 days when the electrical supply room flooded, and the power had to be switched off but this pales into total insignificance when compared to the damage across many parts of this city that I have come to love. floods3Hundreds have died, thousands have had lost virtually everything, Roads and bridges have collapsed; sewage and water are creating a lethal cocktail in many areas and while food and water issues are gradually being addressed, there’s still a long way to go. I visited a colleague yesterday who had lost his floods4home and all his belongings. He and his family of four were sharing a classroom in a government school with 7 other families. Many, many others are in a similar, heart-breaking, position reminding me of much of the privation I’ve seen in IDP and refugee camps in Africa.

But whether this is just the eye of the storm, or the tail-end of it, my enduring memory will always be of a city that selflessly, quickly, powerfully, and with minimum fuss came together to help others. It wasn’t the best of times but it showed the best of many people. That IMG-20151208-WA0019 includes Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officers who have been leading the state response in the field floods7and the Armed Forces who have swung into action with the speed, selflessness and zeal you’d hope for. It also includes private actors like the many Rotary Clubs in the City (and their associated floods2Rotaractors), including my own; Religious Organisations that have IMG-20151208-WA0010acted as Distribution Centres, kitchens and rallying points for volunteers (including Amir Mahal, the ancestral home of the Prince of Arcot); Yacht and Sailing Clubs floods8that went out in boats at high personal risk; Lions Clubs and floods5Round Tablers. But most of all, I am humbled by the efforts of individuals. The stories of individual bravery and sacrifice will become a part of the legend of this city. An Army Commander told me it’s the only city in which he’s worked in which floods6it often felt as if there were more volunteers than there were victims. What a great strapline for this city.

I am proud to say, that includes my own team. Many of my own Indian staff who were themselves been IMG-20151208-WA0000impacted by the floods have nonetheless been helping others who were in greater need providing food, water, blankets and IMG-20151208-WA0001medicines etc to the needy in far-out places that until now they’d never heard of. UK staff and their partners, and Indian colleagues, helped set up and sustain a contingency operation, including to make sure all our staff were safe and to support British Nationals in need. IMG-20151208-WA0016The Transport and Logistics Team worked ridiculously long hours to get everyone around safely, including getting a Delhi colleague to Bangalore and bringing me back the same way through bad roads and worse weather. The Maintenance and IT teams pulled several rabbits out of hats, with the help of (a UK company) GSH to get the Mission online so quickly so we could open our doors at 0900 yesterday, offering a full service (yes, including for visas!). Even those that couldn’t leave their residential areas, set up communal kitchens to pool their resources and feed their communities.

The rain may have stopped, but the real work is only really beginning. Once the adrenaline has stopped pumping, and the media – and the politicians – move away, there will still be a job to do to get those that have lost everything up and running. Many were already vulnerable, but I’m struck by the number of middle class living in affluent areas – who have been affected. There will be lessons to be learnt about sustainable urban planning and about disaster management. I hope that this city and its citizens have the stamina for these long-term efforts.

But most of all, I hope the people don’t quickly forget how well this city came together in a time of crisis, and holds on to that spirit of humanity that has been so noticeable everywhere over the last few weeks. That would be the biggest loss.

6 comments on “CITY OF HEROES

  1. Your Excellency Honorary British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai,

    My name is Zakhir Hussain from Chennai. I am in possession of Coins issued by the Great British Empire ruled by Her Majesty during 1835 and after. I need to donate the coins to the Museums at the United Kingdom for a consideration as I am now facing many calls from unsolicited buyers who wanted to test the coins for their greedy wishes. Your Excellency I need your kind appointment any day in the week so that I can bring the coins and submit at your good-self for your inspection and verification. Thanking you. ZAKHIR HUSSAIN 09884347007

  2. Bharat

    Trying to get in touch. Please e-mail me.

    I hope all is well with you and the family!

    Paul

  3. Thanks for such a great post. It is great to learn about the heroism of the people of Chennai and especially your team in the hour of crisis.

    However, can’t help but think of the parallels between the flood victims and those who apply for their visas and wait forever for a rescue team.

    In my case especially, having lived in UK for 7 years now – I am currently homeless and separated from my loved ones on the brink of losing my job and all this chaos caused not by floods but because of sheer negligence in the processing of my visa.

    Hoping once again your team would be the heroes and rescue us from this crisis.

  4. Hi to all @BDHC
    Well done and congratulations on the excellent team work!
    As a past BDHC Chennai staff member it was good to see the team worm and commitment.
    Reminds me of the late 1980s when as the STPA in charge of water related work in the south I had compiled a portfolio of pictures on the flooding pattern in Chennai during a cyclonic period in October. This was prepared for Severn Trent Water Authority Leeds as they were commissioned to prepare a master plan for cleaning the three rivers of Chennai.
    Sadly the report was ignored…..and we have to live to see this tragedy!
    My best wishes to you all
    Indu Palaniappan

Comments are closed.

About Bharat Joshi

Bharat was brought up in Kent. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1995 from the hotel industry and has had diplomatic postings to the Gambia, Dhaka and…

Bharat was brought up in Kent. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1995 from the hotel industry and has
had diplomatic postings to the Gambia, Dhaka and Qatar. He was most
recently British High Commissioner to Cameroon, and non-Resident Ambassador to Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.
Before that he worked as a Private Secretary to two British Ministers, as well as in various Departments of the FCO including the European Union Department and Press Office.
Bharat has experience of crisis management and has been deployed to the scenes of major incidents involving British nationals, including after the tragic bombing of the British Consulate-General in Istanbul in 2003.
Bharat’s varied career has been spent dealing with a full range of
HMG objectives, including promoting political and economic reform and
improved human rights; improved UK prosperity through trade; climate
change and UN policy issues. A major part of his portfolio in Chennai is supporting mutual prosperity between the UK and India, transforming lives through jobs, entrepreneurship and skills partnerships.
Bharat has been very happily married (at least forhim) to Bhakti for 18 years and they have two
wonderful daughters. His interests are cricket, badminton, history, reading and travelling.
Bharat speaks English, French, Gujarati and Hindi and Spanish, and is desperate to learn Tamil.