Kochi: A book on the bravery of Keralite fishermen who risked their lives to rescue thousands of people from flooded areas in August 2018 when Kerala was damaged by century’s worst flood is to hit Indian stores soon.

Written by Rejimon Kuttappan, former chief reporter with Times of Oman in Oman, the book portrays how the brave fishermen spent days and nights soaked to the skin, steering on empty stomachs to rescue the stranded people in the Central Kerala which was underwater for a full week. 

Titled Rowing Between the Rooftops: The Heroic Fishermen of the Kerala Floods, the book is both a chronicle of heroism and a tribute to the enduring courage of a community that saved the state in its moment of need.

“They had to navigate the wild flood’s treacherous undercurrents and dive into dirty waters, risking disease and injury. Sometimes, they had to carry people or act as footstools to help them climb into the boats. They even had to swim alongside the boats, so that more people could fit,” Rejimon said.

During the first two weeks in August 2018, Kerala witnessed the worst floods claiming some 600 people and displacing 1 million people.

According to United Nations, Kerala has suffered a huge loss and some INR30,000 crore is needed to rebuild the State.

Rejimon writes in a highly readable manner that brings their heroism to life. Each page, filled with heart-warming anecdotes of the valour of our coastal communities, provides a reflection of the selfless spirit that animates this community, whose members are well deserving of the highest praise and admiration from a grateful society. A work to cherish!

Dr Shashi Tharoor

“These fishermen ignored the heavy downpours during the rescue operations, soaked to the skin and steering their boats on empty stomachs. They had to navigate the wild flood waters with their treacherous undercurrents, with their boats repeatedly catching on the rooftops of submerged houses. They had to dive deep into the dirty waters, ignoring the chances of diseases and injuries. Many had to dock their boats on the second floor of the marooned houses and climb into the building to find the stranded people. Sometimes, they had to carry the rescued people out,” Rejimon added.

On asked why he decided to write a book on these brave fishermen, Rejimon said that, in the fast-moving world, which is flooded with news, people will forget these fishermen’s bravery very soon. 

“I don’t want people to forget these brave fishermen. If they had not jumped into rescue, then the death toll would have been high. Those days, a few newspapers had their bravery stories. But more than that nothing happened. I realised that very soon people will forget those brave actions. So, I decided to write it in a book format,” Rejimon added.

The Kerala government statistics reveal that fishermen rescued some 6,50,000 people from flood-hit areas, mainly in Chengannur and other parts of Central Travancore. 

In contrast, trained Indian Army and Navy personnel could only rescue around 8,000 people.

Published by Speaking Tiger, the book tells the inspiring stories of courage and humanity during recent events in Indian history.

Both a chronicle of heroism and a tribute to the enduring courage of a community that saved Kerala in its moment of need. Many anecdotes of personal courage, innovative use of social media and community coming together and important to consider in a time of increasing climate crisis and natural disasters.

I don’t want people to forget these brave fishermen.  Those days, a few newspapers had their bravery stories. But more than that nothing happened. I realised that very soon people will forget those brave actions. So, I decided to write it in a book format.

Rejimon Kuttapan

The book is also suitable for all ages, written simply and in a moving manner.

Through interviews with fishermen, government officials and flood victims, as well as extensive research, Rejimon brings to life the events of those terrible days, the daring heroism and the heart-wrenching sorrow. In the process, he also reveals the precarious lives of the fisherfolk communities – threatened by climate crisis, increasing coastal erosion and a rapidly changing way of life. 

In the cover quote, Dr Shashi Tharoor, the Indian Parliamentarian, has written that In Rowing Between the Rooftops, Rejimon brings to life the heroic, life-saving efforts, made by the fishing community of Kerala, particularly those from Thiruvananthapuram, at the height of the devastating floods that held the state of Kerala hostage in August 2018. 

“Rejimon writes in a highly readable manner that brings their heroism to life. Each page, filled with heart-warming anecdotes of the valour of our coastal communities, provides a reflection of the selfless spirit that animates this community, whose members are well deserving of the highest praise and admiration from a grateful society. A work to cherish!,” he added.

Rejimon has also portrayed the history of these fishermen’s forefathers who played a vital role in helping the Kerala kings in thwarting the Dutch Navy in 18^th century in book as a special chapter.

Rejimon is based in Kerala and is an India-Arab Gulf Senior Investigator for UK-headquartered Equidem Research and Consulting probing migrant workers’ rights. Additionally, he also writes for Thomson Reuters Foundation, Middle East Eye, Migrant Rights, Equal Times, Caravan, wire.in, The Lede, The News Minute and various other news outlets. He writes on workers’ rights, the struggles of Dalits and tribals, challenges faced by manual scavengers, and marginalized people in Kerala. 

He is also an ILO-Panos fellow on Labour Migration and an advisor for the Ethical Journalism Network. He has been published in an anthology, Uncertain Journeys: Labour Migration from South Asia, by Speaking Tiger (2018).