Sangam Works to Aid India

And in the spirit of their group's name, Sangam members are asking members of the UNC community to spare some change for the victims of last week's earthquake in India.

Sangam, UNC's South Asian awareness organization, has launched a campuswide fund-raising campaign to provide relief for victims of the earthquake that devastated the Indian state of Gujarat last Friday. The earthquake left an estimated 15,000 dead, nearly 100,000 missing and about $4.5 billion in damage in its wake.

The group's vibrant display in the Pit and classroom collections already have raised more than $1,000 since members began raising funds Monday.

"There has been an incredible response," said junior Sonia Daswani, Sangam's vice president. "We hope to send our first check within the next week."

The present contributions have come from the student body alone. Sangam members circulated cans in their classes -- collecting $100 in pocket change in one class -- and have raised more than $800 from only two days of sitting in the Pit.

The Center for Public Service also has agreed to match the $1,000 Sangam members already have raised.

Leaders of the relief effort hope to propose similar challenges for South Asian organizations at Duke and N.C. State universities and to seek contributions from local businesses.

Daswani said careful consideration will be given to the distribution of the funds. "We want to donate to a tangible organization, such as a hospital or school, so that donors will see where their money is going," she said.

Sangam will continue its Pit sits for another week, but additional innovative measures to help rebuild the Indian community will continue throughout the year.

Sangam also created a new committee, "Heeling India," which was developed in response to the crisis and will serve to coordinate future relief efforts for India. Headed by senior Raveena Rihal, the committee will conduct additional fund-raising activities in the Pit, as well as generate support from campus faculty and staff to increase contributions.

Daswani said the committee also will target various academic departments and organizations in hopes of uniting the entire campus in the fund-raising effort.

Nalin Parikh, professor of physics and astronomy and the faculty sponsor of Sangam, praised the dedication of Sangam members in the relief effort. "They have really taken initiatives," said Parikh. "Many people are in the streets, living in tents, living and cooking inside," Parikh added.

Although the efforts of Sangam and other similar organizations cannot raise all the needed funds, Parikh said there is still a sense of fulfillment in uniting the campus and community in the endeavor.

Parikh said, "There are many things to get done, and what we do won't be enough, but we will have the satisfaction that we tried."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.