Traditional Earthquake Signal - Latest Technology vs Rural Wisdom

In the wake of the recent earthquake that shook Delhi, a stark contrast emerged between technology's promise and an age-old tradition practiced in remote parts of rural India.

#Earthquake, a common natural disaster, emphasize the importance of early warnings, yet not all solutions prove foolproof. In September, #Google launched an alert system in #Delhi (Earthquake prone zone-4). This system aimed to utilize smartphone sensors to detect and estimate earthquakes, which faltered in alerting about the recent earthquake in Delhi.

I happened to visit Vidyasagar village in Tripura, which has recently been recognised as one among the best tourism villages in India. Tripura is earthquake prone zone 5. While exploring this village, I encountered a remarkable tradition among the rural women of #Tripura. This tradition, reminiscent of the festive signals witnessed during #Kolkata #weddings, is known as 'ululation' and plays a unique role in earthquake preparedness. In this region, when a lady senses danger, she initiates ‘ulu’, a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound or signal, prompting others nearby to join in. Soon, the entire village echoes with these alerts, serving as a collective warning to safeguard against earthquakes in their entire region.

This #indigenous practice reflects the resilience and unity of #rural communities.

While we look to advanced solutions, let's not forget the wisdom and effectiveness found in our own traditions. Tripura's earthquake warning signals prove that sometimes, the most powerful alerts come from the heart of our #culture.

#Sustainable #Responsible #Tourism #Village #UNWTO #India