Mrityu sir par mandra rahi hai!. Review on Earthquake - HN Srivastava

I have encountered earthquake at least two times in my life, one when I was in Dehradun at my friend’s place and other in New Delhi in my home, both were equally frightening and shakening experiences.I was sleeping with my female friend and her little sister when all three of us fell on each other on floor from bed, TV and safes were shaking like hell, the vision frame became diagonal as in Jeetendra-Jaya Prada movie songs and quickly we came out on terrace when we saw all the lights went on in everybody’s home at 3.30am, ideally they shouldn’t have switched on lights, but may be everybody panicked.I want to mention it specifically due to a comment in this review that 768 people were killed and 5066 persons were injured in this Uttarkashi quake of 1991, its magnitude was 6.6 and at least two persons were killed in Dehradun itself in our near vicinity, we were lucky we could save our lives by running to open terrace.

The other incident happened in New Delhi when I thought my bed was some kind of swing, antenna to my stereo fell with a bang, water was shaking in bottles and when we came out, cars were shaking like toys in parking, electricity cables were swinging.Surely these incidents frighten us, but I always thought there must be some forecasting and some kind of mitigation we can do in these cases, that’s when this detailed book “Earthquakes by HN Srivastava”caught my eye at a mobile book van.

This book tells us about how earthquakes occur, why they occur and what can we do to forecast and mitigate it.

I also got to know some interesting things through this book about earthquakes which I will share with you.I realized despite forecasting, earthquakes were deadly or could not be forecasted and I remembered a saying by Asaram Bapu”mrityu sir par mandra rahi hai…”meaning there by Death is hovering around you, so either fully enjoy life or else time will be gone.

Also, unusual animal and human behaviour have been reported prior to earthquakes.I, myself, twice saw dreams of earthquakes prior to earthquake occurring in different parts of the world which also were felt as minor tremors in Delhi, I felt unusual about it, but then read in this book that skin of some human beings catches minor foreshocks which translates into bodily restlessness which may lead to such dreams.Sure enough, occult things have scientific explanations too which delighted me as a logical human being.

Also it was interesting to note the social implications of earthquake, it depreciates property values and increased insurance premium.I was in Assam when a forecast was issued regarding an deadly earthquake, I still am chilled when I remember the panic in people regarding it, although the quake did not occur, but mass graves were dig, oxygen cylinder supplies were updated and people fled leaving their homes and properties.

Once I visited  Rishikesh and whole night we felt minor tremors in our room, through this book, I have got to know now that water in barrages shakes the adjoining soil so much that minor tremors are a normal occurrence there.Our guesthouse was on banks of forceful Ganges and thatswhy it happened.

All in all, it’s a great book and must be read by everyone, although it’s a bit technical at times, but still it’s a great read, you can skip those technical details if you wish!

Thanks for reading my review.