January 26, 2001, marked one of the deadliest disasters in India’s recent history when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bhuj in Gujarat’s Kutch district. The tremors were felt up to 700 km away, claiming over 12,000 lives and leaving nearly 6 lakh people homeless. Entire villages were reduced to rubble, and the scale of destruction raised doubts about Kutch’s ability to recover. However, over the next two decades, the determined efforts of individuals and policymakers helped transform the region.