Hyderabad, Jan. 26 -- January 26, 2001, the fateful Friday was destined to be a Republic Day with a difference. I had arrived in Bhuj a day earlier to see a childhood friend with whom I had parted company after schooling in an industrial township (where our fathers were posted in early 1970s). Being a journalist, I was there as if by an appointment with a catastrophe whose memories would remain etched in my mind's notebook lifelong.

It was 8:46 am as we gave finishing touches to our breakfast. A light jerk heralded the quake. Though it did not escape anyone's notice, the entire household preferred to ignore it. Soon the ceiling fan swung wildly to a side; doors and windows began to shiver; and, utensils tumbled off the shelves. There was...