Indian community welcomes New Year with donation drive

Though there are only about 40 Indian nationals working and residing on Saipan, they have also begun to mobilize to help their tsunami-stricken countrymen, particularly residents of Nicobar and Andaman islands in the Indian Ocean.

Mustafa Shakir, an entrepreneur who runs a fashion store on Saipan, has lived in the Commonwealth for almost 15 years now. For the New Year, he invited fellow Indians to celebrate the coming of 2005 with his family of three, but their “reunion” was not as festive as recent years.

Much as they wanted to be merry and enjoy the coming of the New Year, the group’s discussion quickly turned to the tsunami that ravaged their homeland as well as killed tens of thousands in Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa.

“There were people in my place but it’s not the same that you’d have the cheerfulness,” said Shakir as he described their party during New Year’s Eve. “The entire topic that time, even during other gatherings, was mostly about the disaster,” he added.

Although the devastation in India was limited to the coastal areas and their family members were not affected by the tragedy, Shakir’s group said they are willing to start a relief drive.

“Though everybody was in a somber mood,” Shakir shared, “By God’s grace none of the members of our community here lost any family member,” he sighed in relief.

Shakir shared that once they have gathered donations and contributions for India, they will immediately forward it to legitimate agencies in India. The group, as much as possible, would like an Indian-based, non-government organization such as the Children Relief and You, to receive the donations.

According to Shakir, CRY, which was established on December 1978, is an Indian non-government organization that seeks to uphold and restore basic rights to underprivileged Indian children. CRY currently runs its “CRY-Tsunami Relief” program.

“We want to course it [donations] through CRY because based on the reports most of all the 40,000 who died were children,” Shakir said. “So we are looking at CRY, who cares for children.”

In line with this, Shakir is seeking the Saipan community’s help for monetary contributions for people affected by the tsunamis in India. He said other in-kind donations are also welcome but they prefer monetary contributions because of the speed and convenience it would give to relief efforts in India.

Nishad Kunhi of Telesource, Nani of Midpac Napa, the management and staff of Taste of India Restaurant, Mukesh of Bargain Center, and Sumil of Carpet Masters are also lending their hand on the relief drive.

Donations can be dropped at Bali Fashions located at the Middle road, Gualo Rai. Contact Mustafa Shakir at 483-2254 or 233-1190 for more information. All monetary donations must be received on or before Jan. 10, 2005 due to the immediate aid needed at Nicobar, India.

In a related story, the Saipan Thai community would like to extend their appreciation to all those who have contributed and helped the victims of the same tragedy on Phuket Island, Thailand. The group said it has already received a total of $1,000. Clothes and other valuable materials were also received. The group will meet tonight to finalize when and how to send the donations to Phuket.

They are still accepting donations. Donors may contact the following: Bonsong Srisomkseo at 888-7785, Tomgciba Chamnilok at 235-7888 loc. 173, Banatorn Sawadd at 235-7888 loc 127, Lampung Wangksoo Klang at 235-3787 and Wari Bracken at 235-8603. Donations can also be dropped at the Thai Food Store located along San Antonio opposite Division of Immigration.