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As fishermen try to pull out their boats with the help of equipment provided by the state government, District Collector J Radhakrishnan has an unexpected visitor. Reverend Gyomyo Nakamurai, a Japanese monk from the World Buddhist Centre, has come to pray for the souls of the dead to the god of the sea and find out how he can help the people affected by the tragedy.
"I am J Radhakrishnan," said the much-lauded IAS officer extending his hand. "Like the second President of India," replied the monk with a genial face who had spent the last 30 years in India.
Introducing the monk to the fishermen behind him, Radhakrishnan told them in Tamil, "This holy man comes from Japan where the word tsunami originated." Then turning to the monk, he asked him to explain the genesis of the word and translated it from English to Tamil for the fishermen.
An energetic young bureaucrat with a degree in veterinary science, J Radhakrishnan has drawn wide praise for his work after the tragedy. "He was carrying dead bodies on his shoulders on that day and comes here almost every day," said K Anjamma, a resident of Akkaraipettai.
This morning, he was telling the people there was no reason to fear another tsunami. That he would come and sit down with the people of Akkarapettai to allay their fears.
OTHER DISPATCHES FROM TAMIL NADU: Still scared of the sea
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