MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Janki
Lalani, treasurer of the Indian Student Union, watches as
a Bruin Walk passer-by gives a donation to a relief fund for
victims.
By Linh Tat
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
South Asian groups are raising funds and planning a candlelight
vigil for victims of last week’s earthquake in northwestern
India, which killed more than 14,000.
“The collecting of donations and the vigil have brought
most of the South Asian groups together, which we didn’t have
before,” said Vibhati Kulkarny, a second-year microbiology
molecular genetics student and graphic design director of
Sangam.
The student groups involved in relief efforts include the Indian
Student Union, Delta Phi Beta, Beta Chi Theta, Pakistani Student
Association, Sikh Association, Sangam and Sigma Delta Sigma, and
the Student Alumni Association.
Since Monday, students have raised more than $1,600 in donations
on Bruin Walk. Tabling will continue today and may extend into next
week, said organizers who hope to raise at least $5,000.
“My mother told me about the earthquake,” said
Umangi Popat, a third-year psychobiology student and member of DPB
and ISU. “I didn’t even realize how devastating it was
until I saw the pictures on the news.”
“My heart was aching for them,” she continued.
“After hearing about the earthquake, we felt, as Southeast
Asians, it was our duty to do something.”
All proceeds will go to the Indian Development and Relief Fund,
which directly aids the victims in India.
The Jan. 26 earthquake ““ the strongest in India in more
than 50 years ““ disrupted the country’s celebration of
Republic Day, a national holiday.
While officials originally said the quake measured 7.9 on the
Richter scale, those at the U.S. Geological Survey say it measured
7.7.
More than 60,000 people were injured and 600,000 left homeless
by the quake as of Thursday afternoon, according to The Associated
Press. Officials say the death toll may eventually reach
35,000.
For Kishore Kukreja, a graduate student in the history
department, the disaster hit close to home because of relatives
living in India.
“We’re assuming everything is okay,” said
Kukreja, a member of ISU. “We’re still waiting to hear
from my far aunt. My grandad went up to the epicenter to check on
my family.”
Volunteers in India set up a Red Cross field hospital earlier
this week and now, most relief effort consists of caring for
survivors. Some rescue teams abandoned their search efforts for
survivors Thursday.
Besides raising money, the groups have scheduled a candlelight
vigil for Tuesday, with a speech by Viji Prakash, who teaches an
Indian dance class at UCLA. Organizers expect about 500 people to
attend.
“This vigil has opened the doors to opportunities of
finding closer ties to other South Asian Organizations,” said
Rosaalie Shah, a second-year undeclared student and member of
Sangam.
“It is bringing together not only the groups on campus,
but the South Asian community in the greater Los Angeles,”
she continued.
Organizers are also considering a food and clothes drive in the
residence halls and selling henna tattoos next week, with proceeds
going toward the relief fund.
Students will collect donations on Bruin Walk from 9 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. today. A candlelight vigil will take place Tuesday from 8
to 10 p.m. at Westwood Plaza. With reports from Daily Bruin wire
services.