<p class="title rtejustify">Nearly a century ago when floods ravaged Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi had termed the misery of the people as "unimaginable" and stepped in to mobilise over Rs 7,000 to help them, records show.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">If the present rain fury has claimed over 290 lives and displaced over 10 lakh people, the massive floods that crippled the state in July 1924 are believed to have claimed a large number of lives and caused widespread destruction.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Mahatma Gandhi, through a series of articles in his publications 'Young India' and 'Navajivan', had urged people of the country to generously contribute for the relief of the flood-hit' Malabar' (Kerala).</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Following his appeal, people from various walks of life including children had donated even their meagre savings to help the flood-affected people.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Many had skipped a meal daily or given up milk to find money to contribute to relief fund mobilised by Gandhi, according to the journals penned by him.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The "Father of the Nation" had mentioned in one of his articles in 'Navajivan' about a girl who had stolen three paise to contribute to the relief fund.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Malabar's misery is unimaginable," Mahatma had said in the article titled "Relief Work in Malabar."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">He said he had to "confess" that the response to his appeal had been "more prompt" than he expected.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It has been proved not once but many times that, by God's grace, compassion does exist in the hearts of the people."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Many funds had been launched for collecting relief amounts and people could contribute whichever one they choose.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I would only urge that pay, they must," Mahatma Gandhi had said.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The massive flood that lasted for around three weeks in July 1924 had crippled and submerged various parts of the then Kerala including hilly Munnar, Trichur (Thrissur now), Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Aluva, Muvattupuzha, Kumarakom, Chengannur and Thiruvananthapuram.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">It was commonly referred to as the "Great flood of 99" as it had happened in the 'Kolla Varsham' (Malayalam calendar) 1099.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">As per records, Kerala, which was administratively fragmented into three princely states (Travancore, Cochin and Malabar) during the time, had received excessive rains.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Just as now, all rivers were in spate and Periyar had flooded following the opening of the sluice gates of the Mullaperiyar Dam.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Freedom fighter, K Ayyappan Pillai has vivid memories about the "Maha pralayam", the great deluge of '99.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I was a school student when the heavy rains and floods submerged various places causing massive devastation. Normal life was crippled in the unabated rain," the 104-year old Ayyappan Pillai told PTI here.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Roads had turned into rivers... overflowing water bodies... paddy fields inundated...people even sought refuge on hilltops in many parts," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Gandhi, who came to know about the deluge from the state's Congress leaders, had sent them a telegram on July 30, 1924, asking them to assist the relief measures of the government and also work in their own way to help the affected people.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">In another telegram, the Mahatma said he was collecting money and clothes and his only thought was about people who had no food, clothes and shelter.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">In an article in 'Navajivan' dated August 17, 1924, he said, "A sister has donated her four bracelets and a chain of pure gold. Another sister has given her heavy necklace. A child has parted with his gold trinket and a sister with her silver anklets."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"One person has given two toe-rings. An Antyaja girl has offered voluntarily the ornaments worn on her feet. A young man has handed over his gold cufflinks. Rs 6994-13 anna-3 paise have been collected in cash up to date," Gandhiji said.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">In the wake of the present floods, the state-based multi-lingual history website - dutchinkerala.com has carried Mahatma Gandhi's 1924 appeal to contribute to Kerala's relief fund to persuade people across the world to donate to the Chief Minister's distress relief fund.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Meanwhile, donations pouring into the <a href="https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/" target="_blank">Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) </a>have crossed Rs 500 crore.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">From school children to corporate giants, all are contributing to the relief fund to help rebuild the flood-hit state, whose loss has been estimated to be over Rs 20,000 crore.</p>
<p class="title rtejustify">Nearly a century ago when floods ravaged Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi had termed the misery of the people as "unimaginable" and stepped in to mobilise over Rs 7,000 to help them, records show.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">If the present rain fury has claimed over 290 lives and displaced over 10 lakh people, the massive floods that crippled the state in July 1924 are believed to have claimed a large number of lives and caused widespread destruction.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Mahatma Gandhi, through a series of articles in his publications 'Young India' and 'Navajivan', had urged people of the country to generously contribute for the relief of the flood-hit' Malabar' (Kerala).</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Following his appeal, people from various walks of life including children had donated even their meagre savings to help the flood-affected people.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Many had skipped a meal daily or given up milk to find money to contribute to relief fund mobilised by Gandhi, according to the journals penned by him.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The "Father of the Nation" had mentioned in one of his articles in 'Navajivan' about a girl who had stolen three paise to contribute to the relief fund.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Malabar's misery is unimaginable," Mahatma had said in the article titled "Relief Work in Malabar."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">He said he had to "confess" that the response to his appeal had been "more prompt" than he expected.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It has been proved not once but many times that, by God's grace, compassion does exist in the hearts of the people."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Many funds had been launched for collecting relief amounts and people could contribute whichever one they choose.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I would only urge that pay, they must," Mahatma Gandhi had said.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The massive flood that lasted for around three weeks in July 1924 had crippled and submerged various parts of the then Kerala including hilly Munnar, Trichur (Thrissur now), Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Aluva, Muvattupuzha, Kumarakom, Chengannur and Thiruvananthapuram.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">It was commonly referred to as the "Great flood of 99" as it had happened in the 'Kolla Varsham' (Malayalam calendar) 1099.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">As per records, Kerala, which was administratively fragmented into three princely states (Travancore, Cochin and Malabar) during the time, had received excessive rains.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Just as now, all rivers were in spate and Periyar had flooded following the opening of the sluice gates of the Mullaperiyar Dam.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Freedom fighter, K Ayyappan Pillai has vivid memories about the "Maha pralayam", the great deluge of '99.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"I was a school student when the heavy rains and floods submerged various places causing massive devastation. Normal life was crippled in the unabated rain," the 104-year old Ayyappan Pillai told PTI here.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"Roads had turned into rivers... overflowing water bodies... paddy fields inundated...people even sought refuge on hilltops in many parts," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Gandhi, who came to know about the deluge from the state's Congress leaders, had sent them a telegram on July 30, 1924, asking them to assist the relief measures of the government and also work in their own way to help the affected people.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">In another telegram, the Mahatma said he was collecting money and clothes and his only thought was about people who had no food, clothes and shelter.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">In an article in 'Navajivan' dated August 17, 1924, he said, "A sister has donated her four bracelets and a chain of pure gold. Another sister has given her heavy necklace. A child has parted with his gold trinket and a sister with her silver anklets."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"One person has given two toe-rings. An Antyaja girl has offered voluntarily the ornaments worn on her feet. A young man has handed over his gold cufflinks. Rs 6994-13 anna-3 paise have been collected in cash up to date," Gandhiji said.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">In the wake of the present floods, the state-based multi-lingual history website - dutchinkerala.com has carried Mahatma Gandhi's 1924 appeal to contribute to Kerala's relief fund to persuade people across the world to donate to the Chief Minister's distress relief fund.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Meanwhile, donations pouring into the <a href="https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/" target="_blank">Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) </a>have crossed Rs 500 crore.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">From school children to corporate giants, all are contributing to the relief fund to help rebuild the flood-hit state, whose loss has been estimated to be over Rs 20,000 crore.</p>