The story of Tsunamika is sure to touch our hearts.
This will be our Tsunamika story. Please feel free to put it up on your website.
First one is a little shallow and a light-hearted perspective about the role Tsunamika will play in our house:
1. For my little girl who's an American citizen, Tsunamika has a global role to play. It's a little too early to speculate, given that she's only 3 yrs old. However, when she grows up to be a few years older from now, my guess is that, given the peer pressure, and other cultural and commercial influences that most kids face at school, I won't be surprised if my daughter comes home one day from school, behaving and believing that she's one of those animated super-girl characters that can climb walls, brick structures, float in the air defying all forces of gravity, pretend to be bat-girl or whatever that's around at that time. To confess, this, in fact my worst parenting nightmare, if something like that were to happen in reality.
However, I am hoping I will remain a smart parent. And this is my plan. If I give her Tsunamika right away, at this age, I know she might play with her dressing her up - giving her a bindi* or something- coloring her with paints etc. However, that might change in a few years. Her association with Tsunamika might become that of an action figure or a role model. And that will be fine and its part of growing up, and I will be so glad my daughter picked Tsunamika as opposed to any of the commercially available, totally ridiculous and outrageous dolls like Barbie etc. Therefore, here's the light-hearted message I want to convey to all other parents who think like me:
Tsunamika has the natural power to overpower all the commercial action figures such as Barbies and other fancy dolls dressed in super-model outfits, power puff girls, bat girls, pokemon etc… just to name a few of those outrageous and disgusting toys and animated creatures that are available today in stores globally, which I am completely opposed to and will never buy any of those animated figures/dolls/toys to my kid. Tsunamika will convey a message to parents that we don't need non-biodegradable, wasteful, plastic, battery-operated, shiny, glittering toys in our wardrobes for our kids, that have absolutely no meaning and purpose in this world and to our children's lives except to big corporates who make money with those. Tsunamika is a socially and politically correct toy for your and my kid. Tsunamika will be cherished by every little girl in this world, not just mine.
2) Second, to put a little bit more deeper perspective into this: To my daughter, Kirthana (whose middle name is Ahimsa meaning "peace"), I would want Tsunamika to become a symbol of nature, culture, unity, and courage. Tsu will convey to her that people's lives are touched by nature in unimaginable and unforseen ways, and it's important we cherish this nature and ourselves. Tsunamika will bring Kirthana close to her cultural and natural roots. Although, she wouldn't remember the Tsunami that nature gushed upon us (and the tears that came gushing from all our eyes like a tsunami) considering she was only two yrs
old, I am sure Tsunamika will go with her wherever she goes in this world, and I want to give it to her as a reminder of the past, a gift for the present and for a bright future! :-)
Thanks for reading my two tsunamika stories.
With love and peace!
Praba
*Bindi – the dot Indian women wear on their forehead
p.s
My cousin Malathy and her daughter, Mathangi who live in Mylapore will appreciate Tsunamika, particularly because they were minutes from the Tsunami scene. Mathangi is giving her 12th board exams next March, and will truly appreciate Tsunamika's company while she's burning her midnight oil studying for her exams. Tsunamika symbolizes the powerful force of nature and strength. Mathangi will truly appreciate Tsunamika to give her the energy to succeed in her exams.