March 18, 2005

Liberal arts South Asian student organization to aid tsunami victims

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Drishti, a South Asian student organization in Purdue University's College of Liberals Arts, is organizing a tsunami relief fund-raising event for March 24.

"Less than three months after an earthquake near Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed more than 150,000 people, relief agencies and social workers are struggling to maintain assistance and provide basic needs for those who have lost their homes and their livelihood," said Mangala Subramaniam, an assistant professor of sociology and women's studies. "This event is to raise awareness about the widespread destruction of life, especially in the countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand."

The event, which will take place from 4-8 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 320, is free and open to the public. The program will begin with a slideshow explaining the geological forces of the earthquake and tsunami, and will include photos of the destruction. Students then will read stories and testimonials that focus on life before and after the tsunami in South Asia.

A collection for tsunami relief will be taken at the event, and the money raised will be given to the United Nations Children's Fund, known as UNICEF.

Drishti, which means vision in Sanskrit, is a new student group composed of more than 20 students and four faculty members from the College of Liberal Arts. The group is open to everyone. Graduate students of Drishti have been very involved with organizing this event, said Subramaniam, the group's faculty adviser.

"We don't want people to forget what happened to this part of the world," said Subramaniam, whose research of social movements in Southern India was affected by the disaster. "This is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in other cultures or world events to not only contribute, but also to learn."

Those who cannot attend the event, can send checks payable to Charity Drishti to Mangala Subramaniam, 309 Stone Hall, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 700 W. State St., Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Drishti also received assistance from the Office of the Dean of Students and the College of Liberal Arts.

Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Mangala Subramaniam, (765) 496-2631, mangala@cla.purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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