Today in the year 2011, one of the largest earthquakes of Richter scale 9 in human history hit offshore of northeast Japan, causing a massive tsunami that devastated surrounding coastal areas. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster one the major implications. One of the many victims of this disaster was Nippon Paper Industries' Ishinomaki Paper mill. In the below images you can see the plant befor and after the tsunami which I have taken from the book 'Saving the Mill' currently I am reading. In those days NPI was the source of 40% of paper used by Japan's publishing Industry and Ihinomaki was the core production facility.
While going through the story I was amazed with the resilience and dedication of the Japanese society in common. Just imagine you are the incharge of the plant. then obvoiusly you will take responsibility of safety of all the people of the plant during a disaster. But think of factory guards, company's vehicle drivers etc. Will you be thinking of that you will take the responsibility of each one of the factory people to evacuate witnessing death inching towards you in the form of giant sea waves? Each one of the employee had so much respect for every human life and a dedication to help that no one of the factory got killed in this disaster.
After the tsunami was over the factory's leader announced that the mill will be producing paper again in just 6 months! Hardly any one believed. The city had no power, no water or any other basic amenities and it was a total mess. But the the leader had assumed the onus of saving their company, its people, their city and even the Japanese publishing industry and made it a shared vision of the employee's and fulfilled their commitment to their country. This is an unbelievable story of indomitable spirit.
While going through the story I was amazed with the resilience and dedication of the Japanese society in common. Just imagine you are the incharge of the plant. then obvoiusly you will take responsibility of safety of all the people of the plant during a disaster. But think of factory guards, company's vehicle drivers etc. Will you be thinking of that you will take the responsibility of each one of the factory people to evacuate witnessing death inching towards you in the form of giant sea waves? Each one of the employee had so much respect for every human life and a dedication to help that no one of the factory got killed in this disaster.
After the tsunami was over the factory's leader announced that the mill will be producing paper again in just 6 months! Hardly any one believed. The city had no power, no water or any other basic amenities and it was a total mess. But the the leader had assumed the onus of saving their company, its people, their city and even the Japanese publishing industry and made it a shared vision of the employee's and fulfilled their commitment to their country. This is an unbelievable story of indomitable spirit.
Similar was the spirit of people of Vietnam and Laos after America imposed war on them and they defeated the mightiest country of the world at that time without any army, navy or air force of its own but just used bicycles and burrow tunnels! America dropped 270 million bombs, highest per square kilometer area bombed anywhere in the world history ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UM2eYLbzXg ) . But, against all odds, in the last 40 years both the countries have become economically significant in ASEAN.
So, when I see people making hue and cry about legacy of India and take it as obstacle in its growth and make Muslim invaders, Britishers and other innumerable factors responsible for them make me sad that we are just hiding our impotency to fight for life, fight for good and loosing an opportunity to giving our best in making this country a golden country again irrespective of our past.
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| Ishinomaki Paper Plant before tsunami |
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| Ishinomaki Paper plant after tsunami |
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| Bombs have now become an integral part of households in Laos |
