On January 26, 2001 a frightful earthquake devastated the State of Gujarat, in the North West of India. It caused thousands of victims, wounded and homeless people. The earthquake measured 7,9 on the Richter scale: the same destructive power as 1.000 H bombs. An Italian humanitarian Body organized a relief expedition, and was looking for funds, food and emergency supplies to ship to Gujarat.
This expedition was supported also by Mr. Piero Vigorelli, a reporter of the Italian Television channel Rete 4, who invited people to collaborate during the programme Miracoli (Miracles).
Universal Soul knew of this initiative at the last minute and participated in the expedition with a grant of Euro 5,165. Moreover, we committed ourselves to make the impossible come true: in just five days, we collected 45 tons of humanitarian supplies (food, milk, clothes, medicines, etc.) donated by our followers. In the following two days, everything was weighed, listed, packed, loaded on three lorries, and carried to Cesena for the shipment thanks the work of our volunteers and Ramia brothers.
Mrs. Patrizia Mirigliani, patron of the popular TV beauty contest Miss Italia, wished to join this mission of Anima Universale. She donated 10,000 litres of mineral water, indispensable to the most faraway villages of Gujarat that still lack drinkable water.
Ramia Carlo, ramia Franco and ramia Andrea, brothers of Anima Universale, left with the expedition. They carried the heart to India of all the Ramirians, who committed themselves in helping those needy brothers with Love, sensitiveness and munificence.
The Government of Gujarat made great efforts to support the expedition. The District Magistrate, Dr. H. N. Chibber Ias, (at the centre in the photograph below) expressed his gratitude and admiration for the first-rate work accomplished by the team. He declared that he had never seen foreign volunteers come on site and distribute the aid personally to survivors. It was exactly for this reason that he did his best to help the expedition by giving us a base, an escort and indications about the operation zone.
We reached villages near to the Pakistan border. The delivery of the relief supplies lasted several days, from dawn to sunset.
We distributed food to more than eight hundred families and we left plentiful supplies in each village we visited.
We were struck by the dignity of these people. They silently waited for their turn, standing for hours under the sun, and afterwards they thanked us with the only thing they still owned: a cup of tea and an unforgettable smile.