How many of you remember the 2001 Gujarat earthquake.
Also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January, India’s 52nd Republic Day, at 08:46 am IST. The epicenter was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India.
The intraplate earthquake reached 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum felt.
In addition to killing more than 20,000 people and injuring more than 150,000 others, the quake left hundreds of thousands homeless and destroyed or damaged more than a million buildings. A large majority of the local crops were ruined as well. Many people were still living in makeshift shelters a year later.
Those who witnessed the devastation at the time must have thought this would set back development by decades. There was an outpouring of sympathy from around the world, much of it from Gujaratis living abroad.
Four months after the earthquake the Gujarat government announced the Gujarat Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Policy.
In this special presentation of The Lallantop’s documentary film ‘Mitthu’ made by Rajat Sain & Roohani, we cover the internationally acclaimed Rann Utsav of Gujarat that attracts tourists from around the globe. The festival happens in White Rann of Kutch- the world’s largest white desert, for three months. Since in Gujarati, namak is called Mitthu, it was befitting to title the documentary based on Rann. The vast expanse of white salt is an experience in itself as a natural phenomenon. But we also discover the business behind creating such an iconic event which is now one of the most popular aspects of Gujarat Tourism. We find out how Asia’s largest tent city came to be, how the soil was managed to bring some greenery around, and how once demolished beyond recognition during the earthquakes of 2001, Bhuj has now become a sprawling spectacle. We discover how local people are involved in the festival and PM Narendra Modi’s involvement in the same. Watch this special documentary to experience nature’s beauty unfold on your screens.
Script | Direction | Cinematography | Editing | Sound: Rajat Sain & Roohani.
Produced By: The Lallantop
