‘Good’ Time for Disaster: The Importance of Temporality in Governance Thinking

Abstract

In this chapter, I look at why certain Indian states have well-functioning disaster preparedness, whereas others do not. I analyse the ‘success story’ of disaster governance in the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. I look at how two recent disasters—the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) and cyclone Thane (2011)—shaped its priorities and approaches to disaster risk and facilitated the development of various tools of disaster preparedness among state as well as non-state actors. Furthermore, the chapter explores the opportunities that were presented through these events. Was it a matter of the ‘good’ timing of disaster? To answer this question, I explore the proliferation of technologies as well as the developments of the various tools of disaster preparedness that have been implemented on the ground. How is Puducherry different from other Indian states, which have been much slower in implementing new disaster management policies prescribed by New Delhi? In search of the answer, I take a closer look at the common and widely shared narrative about the reactive Indian population. The findings are based on my field research in 2012 and 2013, as well as the analysis on anthropology of disasters and science and technology studies.