India has acquired its first "Irish village" thanks to the generous response of people here to an appeal for aid following the devastating earthquake in Gujarat last January.
Called Tarapar (meaning village in Gujarati), the village of 40 earthquake and cyclone-resistant new homes was built by the Mayur Foundation, which is headed by the Maharani of Morvi, exclusively using funds raised in Ireland.
The Maharani's eldest daughter, Princess Purna, who is married to the Hon Garech Browne, of Luggala, Co Wicklow, was in Ireland at the time of the earthquake on January 26th and made her appeal for aid on RTE radio's Morning Ireland.
"Every penny we have raised has gone into bricks and mortar to provide homes for people whose houses were totally destroyed by the earthquake", Princess Purna told The Irish Times. "And what we have built is the first Irish village in India."
A plaque flanking the wrought-iron entrance gate to Tarapar, unveiled by Jam Sataji III of Navangar, whose grandfather owned Ballinahinch Castle in Connemara, records in English and Gujarati the fact that it was built thanks to the generosity of Irish people.
Constructed in weeks under the supervision of Princess Purna`s nephew, Vishal Jadega, each of the 40 houses cost 40,000 rupees (about £800), including water and electricity, and is large enough for a family of six, with a courtyard to the rear for their animals.
A further 108 houses have been built by the Mayur Foundation, with support from the Indian government, at nearby Ravapar Nadhi to serve as a model for the reconstruction of villages in Gujarat hit by last January's earthquake, which claimed 35,000 lives.
"None of the foreign funds that came in after the earthquake have built a single home," said Princess Purna. "We were the first to rehouse people, using the money raised in Ireland. And with Tarapar completed, we're now planning to build a township."
She said the next priority for the foundation would be to set up a mobile hospital, at an estimated cost of £35,000 (not including doctors). Jeeps are needed to bring medical facilities to people in outlying areas because the roads are so bad.
"We've had constant tremors since the earthquake, which registered 7.2 on the Richter scale, and people are still gripped by a terrible fear," she said.
Princess Purna said a total of £100,000 had been raised in Ireland as a result of her appeal, and she paid particular tribute to the artist Camille Souter and the people of Dooagh, on Achill Island, for their generosity.
