D-Random Notes: The Indian Thug

swollen skies

beating rains

frail trees

fallen grass

buried roads

unburied lives!

lightless streets

listless deeds

leaking coats

peeking crows

yawning cows

barking dogs

blind traffic

callous cars

stiff muscles

stretched nerves

cold world

rugged life

take your sack, ride your bike

get through all and hit the bull

That’s when my dear son,

You become the real Indian Thug!

Kerala Monsoon of 2023!

Yet another Malayalam new year has unfolded with Chingam day today. But unfortunately what Kerala goes through now is not its pleasant traditional aura of the season. Instead of the rain chilled days, the pleasing mornings and cool nights, Keralites are nowadays waking up to temperatures hovering around 30 degrees with humidity hitting 80%, somewhat like an early summer. Call it El Nino or greenhouse gas emissions, it is a fact that Kerala is at the receiving end of the global climate crisis. Earlier this year scientists had given their “final warning” on the climate crisis which is at the brink of becoming irrevocable. Humans, however, in their frantic pursuit of their insatiable gratifications, are yet to realize that they are accelerating their own impending destruction.

If we observe the past decade, the climatic change in Kerala is swinging like a free pendulum hitting the dreaded bells at both extremes. In 2016 Kerala experienced its worst drought of the last century and within two years, in 2018, it hit the other extreme of the worst flood of nearly a century. In 2016, when Kerala was declared drought-hit by the Centre, as per the IMD, Kerala faced 34% deficit during Southwest Monsoon (Jun-Sep) and 62% deficit during Northeast Monsoon (Oct-Dec). In fact, it was the worst drought hit in the past 115 years.

Now coming to mid-Aug of 2023, Kerala is already facing a deficit of 44% in the ongoing Southwest Monsoon with just one more month to go – 10% worse than the worst drought Kerala faced! Just to show how serious it is, from 1-Aug to 15-Aug Kerala received just 25mm rain while the average expected is 254mm! This is not just alarm ringing; it is the ambulance siren blowing at its full throttle for Kerala. Few reports say it is ‘break of monsoon’, if it is true and if monsoon revives soon all Keralites can feel like each of them have won an Onam bumper! If not, the wait will be for the dicey Northeast Monsoon - the final chance to survive beyond which it will turn catastrophic.

Kerala in its history never had to really face any situation of a prolonged drought. Even the 2016 drought got neutralized with 2017 rains. And for centuries, the twin monsoons have always blessed it showering the pure grace from heaven in abundance making it God’s own country. However, the past decade teaches us it may not always be so. Everything has its tolerance limit and there is no doubt we have already transgressed its breaking point.  

PS: To those who wonder what we should choose given an option between drought and flood, researchers are of the opinion that while both are disasters, drought is more devastating than the flood. Drought has a lasting impact on flora, fauna, groundwater, water availability and several human civilizations were dusted because of long lasting droughts.

പഞ്ഞ കർക്കടകത്തെ പഞ്ഞിക്കിട്ടേ !

ഇടവം പണ്ടേ ഇടഞ്ഞു തന്നെ. മിഥുനം ഒന്ന് പരുങ്ങി നിന്നു, എത്തി നോക്കി, പേടിച്ചോടികളഞ്ഞു. ഇപ്പൊ ദാ, കരിമ്പോത്തിനെ പോലും കിടുകിടാ വിറപ്പിക്കുന്ന കർർർ...ക്കടകവും, മലയാളിയുടെ മുന്നിൽ മുട്ടുകുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു. 

മകരമാസത്തിൽ മഴപെയ്താൽ മലയാളം മുടിയും എന്നൊരു ചൊല്ലുണ്ട്. പക്ഷെ കർക്കടകത്തിൽ മഴ പെയ്തില്ലെങ്കിലോ? ആ, അങ്ങനെ ഒരു സംഗതി പഴമക്കാർ പോലും സങ്കല്പിച്ചിട്ടില്ല! ഈ പഞ്ഞ മാസം മലയാളിയെ വിട്ടൊരിക്കലും പോവില്ലെന്നാവും അവരും കരുതിയത്. എന്നാൽ, ഉൽകൃഷ്ടരായ ഈ നാട്ടിലെ ഉത്തമന്മാരുടെ ആ ഊക്കും, ആ ഉത്സാഹവും, ആ ഉശിരുമൊക്കെ കണ്ടിട്ടാണെന്നു തോന്നുന്നു കർക്കിടകവും ആവിയായി പോയിരിക്കുന്നു! ഹ ഹ ഹാ! 

കുറേയായി ഈ പഞ്ഞ കർക്കടകം ഞങ്ങളെ കൊണ്ട് പാരായണം ചെയ്യിക്കുന്നു, കഞ്ഞി കുടിപ്പിക്കുന്നു, ഈറനുടിപ്പിക്കുന്നു! ഇനി ഞങ്ങളിവിടെ കർക്കടക ചൂടിൽ കൊപ്ര ഉണക്കും, കർക്കടകകിഴിവിൽ കിട്ടിയ അമേരിക്കൻ ബെർമുഡയിട്ട് നട്ടുച്ചയ്ക്ക് പോപ്പി കുടയും ചൂടി കറങ്ങി നടക്കും, തമിഴ്നാട്ടിൽ നിന്നും ഇറക്കിയ കരിക്കും, മിൽമയുടെ (നന്ദിനി നഹി നഹി) സംഭാരവും, ആസാമിയുടെ നീമ്പു പാനിയും കുടകുടേ കുടിക്കും, ഗുജ്ജുവിന്റെ അമുൽ ഐസ്ക്രീം നുണയും, പോഷകത്തിന്ന് വേണ്ടി മാത്രം ഇത്തിരി പ്യുവർ കള്ളു (നമ്മുടെ സ്വന്തം) പാനം ചെയ്യും.  രാഷ്ട്രത്തോട് കൂറുള്ള ഞങ്ങൾ ഉറങ്ങുന്നതിനു മുന്നേ ഒരു മഗ്ഗ് (അല്ലേൽ വേണ്ട, ഒരു പെഗ്ഗ്) 'ജവാൻ' പച്ച വെള്ളം തൊടീക്കാതെ (കുടിവെള്ളത്തിന് അന്യായ കരമാ ഹേ!) മോന്തും - (അത് ഞങ്ങളുടെ ജന്മാവകാശമാണേ!) 

അങ്ങനെ ഇവിടെയൊരു നവയുഗമുണരും മക്കളെ ! ചോർച്ചയോ, നനവോ, ഈർപ്പമോ ഇല്ലാത്ത ഊഷ്മളമായ നവയുഗമുണരും, ചൂടാറാത്ത നവയുഗം!

വീണ്ടുമൊരു പരിസ്ഥിതി ദിനം !

നോവുന്ന പരിസ്ഥിതി ദിനം

ഉറക്കത്തിൻറെ കാണാക്കയത്തിലായിട്ടും ഒരു സ്ഫോടനം പോലെ ഭൂമിയിലേക്കു പതിച്ച ആ ഇടിവെട്ടിൻറെ കുലുക്കത്തിൽ ഞാൻ ഞെട്ടിവിറച്ചുണർന്നു. മണി മൂന്ന്. പുറത്തു മഴ കോരിചൊരിയുന്നു. ഇടവപെയ്തിൽ പതിവില്ലാത്ത ഈ ഇടിനാദം എവിടുന്നു വന്നോ ആവോ?! എന്നാലോ, പകലായാൽ ഇടിവെട്ട് പോയിട്ട് മഴക്കാറ് പോലും കാണാനില്ല. മനുഷ്യൻറെ ചെപ്പടിവിദ്യകൾ മഴയും പഠിച്ചെടുത്തോ? ഞാൻ വീണ്ടുമൊന്നു മയങ്ങിതുടങ്ങിയപ്പോഴേക്കും പിന്നെയുമൊരു ഇടി വെട്ടി. ഇപ്രാവശ്യം ഭൂമികുലുക്കം പോലെയാണ് അതെനിക്ക് അനുഭവപ്പെട്ടത്. ഭയന്നുവിറച്ച ഞാൻ തലയണയെടുത്ത് ചെവിപൊത്തി കിടന്നു. എന്നിട്ടും എൻ്റെ നെഞ്ചിലെ കിടുകിടുപ്പ് ലേശം പോലും അയഞ്ഞില്ല. യുക്രൈനിൽ നിന്നാണോ ഇപ്രാവശ്യം ഇടവപാതി ഇങ്ങോട്ടെഴുന്നള്ളിയത്?! പുറത്തു വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും ഇടി വെട്ടുന്ന മുഴക്കം. എൻ്റെ ഉറക്കം തീരുമാനമായി. ഓ ! ഇന്നാണല്ലോ ജൂൺ 5, ലോക പരിസ്ഥിതി ദിനം, ഞായറാഴ്ചയും. കൊള്ളാം, വെറുതെയല്ല ഇങ്ങനെ മഴയും, ഇടിയും.

ഇത് മനുഷ്യവർഗ്ഗത്തിനുള്ള ഭൂമിയുടെ മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് തന്നെ! മനുഷ്യൻറെ "പരിചരണത്തിൽ" വീർപ്പുമുട്ടിയ പ്രകൃതിയുടെ അലർച്ച! പരിസ്ഥിതി ദിനമെന്നും പറഞ്ഞ് പതിനായിരം (ചതി)കുഴിയും കുത്തി സെൽഫിക്ക് വേണ്ടി ചെടിയും തൊട്ട് പോസ്സും പോസ്റ്റും ചെയ്‌താൽപിന്നെ തിരിഞ്ഞുപോലും നോക്കാതെ പൊടിയും തട്ടി കടന്നു കളയുന്ന കാപട്യത്തിൻറെ ആശാന്മാരായ മനുഷ്യകുലത്തിനുള്ള താക്കീത് പുറത്തൊരശരീരിയായി മുഴങ്ങുന്നു!  

"അടുത്ത പരിസ്ഥിതിദിനമാവുമ്പോഴേക്കും നട്ടതിലും കൂടുതൽ നീ വെട്ടും, കുഴിച്ചതിലും, കിളച്ചതിലും കൂടുതൽ നീ മാന്തും, പിച്ചി-ചീന്തും, മാലിന്യമിട്ട് മൂടും, പുകച്ച് എൻ്റെ ശ്വാസം മുട്ടിക്കും, എന്നിട്ട് ഒന്നുമറിഞ്ഞിട്ടിലാത്തവനെ പോലെ വീണ്ടും വരും - ഹാ! എന്നെ രക്ഷിപ്പാനെന്നും പറഞ്ഞ്! 

എടാ മനുഷ്യാ ! നീ എന്തറിഞ്ഞു? നീ കണ്ടതിലും എത്രയോ ഞാൻ കണ്ടു. എൻ്റെ നെഞ്ചിൽ വിജയകൊടി പാറിക്കുമെന്നു പറഞ്ഞിറങ്ങിയ നിൻറെ അപ്പൂപ്പൻറെ അപ്പൂപ്പൻ വരെ കരിഞ്ഞമർന്ന് പുഴുവായ്, കാണാകീടമായ്, വെണ്ണീറായ് എന്നിൽ കിടന്നലയുന്നു, എന്നിട്ടും, പമ്പരവിഡ്ഢിയായ നീ കരുതുന്നു നീ എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കുമെന്ന്! വേണമെങ്കിൽ നീ സ്വയം രക്ഷപ്പെടാൻ നോക്ക്! എൻ്റെ രൂക്ഷരോഷത്തിൽ നിന്നും! നിൻറെ സർവ്വനാശത്തിൽ നിന്നും!"

പുറത്തെ പെരുമഴയിൽ അടുത്ത ഇടിവെട്ടുന്നതും പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ച്, കണ്ണുകൾ ഇറുക്കിയടച്ച് പുതപ്പിനുള്ളിൽ ഞാൻ ചുരുണ്ടമർന്നു.

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ഒക്ടോബറിലെ മഴ !

16-ഒക്ടോബർ-2021 - ശനിയാഴ്ച  -  പുലർച്ചെ ആയാസപ്പെട്ട് എഴുന്നേറ്റ് ചെറിയ ഓട്ടത്തിനായി ഇറങ്ങിയതാണ്. കൂടെ രമേശും റെഡിയായി എത്തി. ഒപ്പം സൈക്കിളിൽ അപ്പുവും. കോട്ടപ്പുറം ചന്ത വഴി ഓടി പുത്തൻവേലിക്കര പാലം എത്തിയപ്പോ സമയം ഏഴേകാൽ. തെളിഞ്ഞ ആകാശം. ശാന്തമായ അന്തരീക്ഷം. അകലെ കിഴക്കു സഹ്യൻ മിനുങ്ങി നിൽക്കുന്നത് തെളിഞ്ഞു കാണാം. ഞാൻ ഒരു സംശയമായി ചോദിച്ചു - "ഇതു നമ്മുടെ വെസ്റ്റേൺ ഘാട്സ് തന്നെയാണോ ?!" രമേശ് അപ്പുവിനെ വിളിച്ചു കിഴക്കോട്ട് ചൂണ്ടി പറഞ്ഞു - "എടാ - അവിടെ നോക്കിയേ - മലകൾ കാണുന്നുണ്ടോ ?" - ഞങ്ങൾ മൂന്ന് പേരും സഹ്യൻറെ ആ പ്രഭാത സൗന്ദര്യം ആസ്വദിച്ച് വീണ്ടും ഓട്ടം തുടർന്നു - ഓട്ടത്തിനിടെ കവലയിലെ ചായക്കടയിൽ നിന്നും റേഡിയോ വാർത്ത ഞങ്ങളുടെ കാതുകളിൽ ഓടിയെത്തി - "അടുത്ത ഇരുപത്തിനാലു മണിക്കൂറിൽ കേരളത്തിൽ ശക്തമായ മഴയ്ക്ക് സാധ്യത" - അത് കേട്ടതും ചിരിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഞങ്ങൾ പരസ്പരം പറഞ്ഞു - "കേട്ടോ കാലാവസ്തഥാ പ്രവചനം - ഇന്നിനി നോക്കണ്ട - പൊരിഞ്ഞ വെയിലായിരിക്കും !"  

അങ്ങനെ ഓടി കിതച്ചു വീടെത്തി അരമണിക്കൂർ കഴിഞ്ഞുകാണും - ആകാശം മൊത്തം ഇരുണ്ടു. ഇരുട്ട് കൂടി. കുറച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോഴേക്കും മഴയും തുടങ്ങി. മഴയെന്നു പറഞ്ഞാൽ കോരിചൊരിയുന്ന മഴ - റേഡിയോ വാർത്ത പറഞ്ഞത് "ശക്തമായ മഴ" എന്നെങ്കിൽ ഇത് രണ്ടായിരത്തിപതിനെട്ടിനെ ഓർമിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വിധം "അതിശക്തമായ മഴയായി" മാറിയിരിക്കുന്നു - ഇടിയും മിന്നലും എക്സ്ട്രാ. ഇടവഴിയിൽ വർഷപ്രവാഹം കുത്തിയൊഴുകുന്നു. "മഴയുടെ രാജാവ്" നേരിട്ടെഴുന്നള്ളിയ അവസ്ഥ !

രണ്ടു മണിക്കൂറിനുള്ളിൽ മാധ്യമങ്ങളിലെല്ലാം കേരളത്തിൽ പെയ്തിറങ്ങിയ മഴരാജാവിനെകുറിച്ചായി ചർച്ച. സഹ്യൻറെ അവസ്ഥ കണ്ട മഴരാജാവ് അസ്വസ്ഥനായോ? അതോ കാട് വെട്ടി നാടായത് കണ്ടു രോഷാകുലനായോ? മനുഷ്യരോടദ്ദേഹത്തിന് അവജ്ഞയും അമർഷവും തോന്നിയോ? - അറിയില്ല. പക്ഷെ, മഴരാജാവിന്റെ കല്പനയെന്ന പോലെ പശ്ചിമഘട്ടത്തിൽ വീണ്ടും ഉരുൾപൊട്ടി - കൂട്ടിക്കലും, കൊക്കയാറും ദുരിതകയങ്ങളായി ! മനുഷ്യർ നൂലറ്റ തോൽപ്പാവകളായി - ഭൂമിക്കയോഗ്യരെന്നു കല്പിച്ച് മനുഷ്യർക്കായി വിധിച്ച ശിക്ഷ.

എന്നിട്ടും, സഹ്യനിൽ പെയ്തിറങ്ങിയ ആ മഴയുടെ ഇരമ്പലിനൊപ്പം ഒരു മനുഷ്യൻറെ പേരു മാത്രം മാറ്റൊലികൊണ്ടു  - "മാധവ്‌ ധനഞ്ജയ് ഗാഡ്‌ഗിൽ" !

Monsoon Band

In the cosy morning darkness,

holding my mug of steaming calmness,

I see them through my window -

In the dark grey tent above, 

the magical waves from south unfold !

Floating with those south west winds,

Flapping strong their steel blue wings,

With bag full of monsoon tunes,

the magical waves from south unfold !

Ever slow, Ever smooth,

Wrapping me in velvet blanket,

Painting my eyes in purple darkness,

the magical waves from south unfold !

Ever gentle, Ever graceful,

Swaying in soaking wind,

Soothing those zillion leaves,

the magical waves from south unfold !

Playing their surreal music, 

Melting me in that pure bliss

My monsoon band has arrived ! 

My divine days have arrived as the magical waves from the south unfold !

****

5th June 2021 - Monsoon of 2021 reached my village today, incidentally it happens to be World Environment Day. Morning was cloudy and soon the divine darkness enveloped us! Slowly in the background the drizzling music started - the monsoon rains have arrived - and they are here to enchant us for months to come ! Merciful Nature has blessed us once again - a lazy nature lover I am, for the whole morning I did nothing other than floating, melting in that blissful music from heaven as the frequent tea mugs reaching my palms kept me warm ! 

****

Insane 2020!

31.Dec.2020 – I tried to look back as far as I can but could not recollect a year which ended with rains on its last day! – That’s why we say 2020 has gone crazily INSANE! Hope we will have sanity back in 2021 !

മനസ്സിൽ എന്നും മഴയാണ് !

മനസ്സിൽ എന്നും മഴയാണ് !

കാറും, കോളും, ഇടിയും, മിന്നലും നിറഞ്ഞ 

ആരും ശപിക്കുന്ന പെരുമഴ!

ആ പെരുമഴയ്ക്കു കൂട്ടായി ഈ ഞാനും!

Monsoon Prayers

Yes! Prayers are Heard! The dry and empty sky is getting transformed. 

The refreshing breeze is dancing down as the harbinger of its arrival.

Sitting down, looking at the sky, we see those thick, dark clouds crowding together.

Yes – Prayers are Heard! Prayers are Heard!!

Watching those massive formations above, we realize, we are small, we are smaller, we are smallest – in front of the colossal stature of Nature God!

On our knees, closing the eyes, mind absorbed completely in Nature we pray our hearts out – and then we feel the God come down - for us, into us.

We feel the bliss! As a hundred billion droplets! Bringing into us a thousand million emotions.

We feel to cry. We feel to laugh. We feel all the unknown! 

In the rapture our hearts scream which gets echoed to the Himalayas!

Our Earth is Blessed, Our Land is Blessed ! 

Our year-long prayers are heard! 

Monsoon has arrived. Monsoon has arrived!!

(28.May.2018)

തിരിമുറിയാ മഴയത്ത് ...

പ്രക്ര്യതി പൊറുത്തു

പ്രക്ര്യതി ഇത്തവണയും പൊറുത്തു.

പരിഭവങ്ങൾ മറന്നു കാലവർഷം വന്നു.

പ്രബുദ്ധരാകുവാൻ,

പുനർചിന്തനം ചെയ്യുവാൻ,

പ്രക്ര്യതിയിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങുവാൻ

ഒരു അവസരം കൂടി !

ഇടവം എത്തി !

ഇടവം എത്തി. ഇനി ഇടവപ്പാതിക്കുള്ള കാത്തിരിപ്പ് !

     16-May-2016

Divine Wish

01.Dec.2013 - Tripunithura

No one would have imagined such a deluge like downpour in December.
Nor would have anyone seen such deserted surroundings on a Sunday evening during Vrischikolsavam at Poornathreyesa Temple.
But Divine Wish Overrides the Laws of the Nature and Logic of this World.

The August Rain

August 4, 2013 - Kodungallur, Thrissur

It was a bright Sunday morning - pleasant with the deep hues of sunshine flowing in through the open windows. After quite a long time my Sunday morning tea had the pleasing warmth of early morning shine. It continued to be so through the noon till I had my evening tea when things started to change.

Black clouds started to pound in from all directions. Soon the surroundings turned gloomy and sinister. From the verandah of my house I saw the wind blowing heavily on the distant tall trees.  It was 4 in the evening but it seemed to be 7. Yes it is monsoon and the rains are due anytime. But this time, the signs above seemed potently ominous.  Within no time it turned out to be very true. The rains plundered down. It was severe to very severe without any signs of subdue. It continued non-stop in its relentlessness fervor for over 5 hours. Rainwater flooded everything around and then started to steadily flow down in fierce pace. Surroundings turned misty and visibility went down. It was for the first time I was experiencing such a horrendous rain from my home.  For some time it seemed my home is in the middle of some giant waterfall! 

There was nothing but safety the only concern. With doors and windows shut, the streaky blow of wind and rains were heard hammering outside. It continued unabated as I dozed off. 

Early Monday morning, things were less severe, but not completely over. I did manage to travel to office but all along the way the people in the bus, the train and office had only one thing to discuss – the Sunday rains! All were experiencing such unprecedented rains for the first time.  

I felt relieved – I have not gone crazy.
I felt scared too – What I saw was not a dream!

Now along with the rains the news channels too are busy streaming the muddy water to all.

Monsoon News - 2013

It is not about watching it drain through the glass pane of your cosy car.

It is not about staring it through the window of your conditioned room.

It is all about reaching out to it.

It is about getting drenched and feeling the punch of its nostalgic charm.

Again, you are not quite there if it just touched your heart.

Allow it to seep through the heart into your soul and then see the magic it unfolds!

Yes - “Into each life some rain must fall”

Courtesy : www.imd.gov.in

Saturday, 15.June.2013

Today is the fifteenth day since monsoon arrived in Kerala. But then, what an arrival it was - within a fortnight the monsoon has already brought out its myriad flavours for us. From a painfully subdued downpour last year it has already poured its heart out with its breathtaking nostalgic charm. 

Eventually, this time my long cherished wish for monsoon travels has also come true - thanks to three hours of my daily train journey to the office. 

In the mid of May, when my daily travel started, it was distressingly barren and dry all along the way. Water in the wells, ponds and dams had hit their abysmal depths. Sluggish Rivers, drowsy cattle, fatigued farmers crouching in summer heat all went past the dusty window pane of my choking train. 

But by the end of May, far at the corner of the south-west sky appeared the signs of its arrival. Through the window I saw the dark blue cloud formation slowly approaching my moving train - like the marching battalion. They were thick like frothed curd with a faint tinge of grayish-black at the brink of its rich blue fabric. It was like an aura of anticipation advancing towards us. My train also seemed to have sensed this as it picked up its speed. 

Soon came the first day of June - with that big moment. The monsoon clouds had already enveloped everything around. My train had just started off for its morning journey. The light morning breeze suddenly transformed into a chill of wind. A mystic darkness descended from nowhere. And then from miles away in the sky, I saw a tiny rain drop coming down to meet her Mother. Soon many followed. Within moments the entire surroundings got engulfed by the torrent from the sky. Here is our Monsoon!! The long wait is over. The prayers are answered. Ha ! What a joy it is ! - It is splashing everywhere - in the river, over the barren fields - It is fun to watch it chase down the running train, catching up with the crescendo and thudding on the roof as like telling it has caught us ! Look how quickly everything has changed around me with its arrival. My dusty window pane is now washed clean. The wet green grass is now refreshingly fresh. There is nourishment. There is life. The cows are mowing merrily. The buffaloes are relishing in rain. The farmers are drenching in the blessings from heaven - all living and non-living things around are celebrating their existence in its presence!

But, Nature is never known to take half-measures. The monsoon soon burst down more vigorously. Within days the other side of its majestic form got revealed. The river gushed down like milk-coffee, the fields flooded, the backyards got inundated. Cranes fed on the unlucky fish, Trees got uprooted, Power lines broke, Sea waves wreaked havoc. Fever broke out and my train too started to crawl through all these to reach its destination.

But this is how it is! this is how it was! Monsoon has its own way of doing things. When it comes, it comes down with life, death, creation and destruction. In fact, the Monsoon is just as it should be to balance this entire gamut of Nature. Human logic may not be enough to explain it. There is long way to go to catch up with its true essence. My train rumbled again and rolled through the monsoon drenched rails.

***

For those who are in love with Monsoon, here are some excerpts from the Monsoon News of the last fortnight taken from ‘The Hindu '

June 1, 2013 - Monsoon at the doorstep

The State received widespread rainfall on Friday ahead of a formal announcement from the India Meteorology Department (IMD) about the arrival of the southwest monsoon.

The IMD, in its evening bulletin for the day, said the onset could happen any time within the next two days. The weather charts showed the northern limit of the monsoon having advanced further north during the day to cover half of the Sri Lankan Island. The weather parameters were becoming favourable for the monsoon to make its real arrival over the Indian subcontinent.

June 2, 2013 - Monsoon starts with a bang

Kannur reports rainfall of 29 cm. The monsoon began with a bang in Kerala, with reports of heavy to very heavy rainfall coming from several centres spread all over the State on Saturday. Kannur reported extremely heavy rainfall measuring 29 cm on the gauge during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. 

Very heavy rainfall reports also came from Vadakara in Kozhikode (19 cm) and Karipur airport, Nilambur and Manjeri in Malappuram (13 cm each). In the northern hill district of Wayanad, Kuppady too received 13 cm of rainfall, whereas, Vythiri recorded a rainfall of 12 cm. Thalasserry in Kannur district (11 cm), Kanjirappally in Kottayam district (9 cm) too received very heavy rainfall. The Thiruvananthapuram Meteorology Centre, in its bulletin for the day, said widespread rainfall would continue for at least two more days, with the likelihood of heavy downpour in isolated places in the State. 

Fishermen putting out to sea from the Lakshadweep islands and the Kerala coast have been asked to be careful during these days since the wind could blow at speeds ranging between 45 km and 55 km per hour over the seas of the region.

June 3, 2013 - When it rains, it pours woes for health department

The monsoon has just arrived, but the district health department is already in deep waters. The department is in a limbo, left without funds to even buy petrol for its vehicles to inspect areas of outbreak of monsoon-related diseases. More than 850 cases of fever were reported on Saturday. Of the 418 cases of dengue reported from various government and private hospitals in the district, 191 have been confirmed.

June 4, 2013 - Monsoon triggers spurt of viral diseases in district

The dip in mercury levels with the setting in of monsoon has triggered a spurt of infections including viral fever and diarrhoea in the district. On Monday, 1,371 people sought treatment for viral fever in the district. Of these, 40 were admitted to various hospitals. The public has been advised to avoid cold beverages and to drink only boiled water. Maintaining a healthy and light diet will also help prevent infections.

June 7, 2013 - 16,000 fever cases in one day in State

Dengue continues to take its toll in the southern districts, with a majority of cases being reported in the State coming from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta. While the number of cases dipped slightly in Thiruvananthapuram, a rising trend is seen in Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam. Fever cases have been going up in Palakkad and Kasaragod also. On Thursday, nearly 16,000 fever cases were reported at the outpatient clinics in government hospitals and medical college hospitals in the State. As many as 774 of these patients have been admitted to the hospitals.

June 10, 2013 - Heavy rain triggers floods in Kuttanad

Heavy rain lashing the district for the past few days has resulted in a rise in water level in Kuttanad. Kainakary grama panchayat has been the worst affected. Areas including the R-Block have been submerged, posing difficulties to residents. A few areas on the Alappuzha-Changanassery (AC) road were flooded on Saturday. An anganawadi building was also destroyed in the rains. Vehicular traffic on some roads in the Kuttanad villages of Champakkulam and Kainakari was disrupted due to flooding of the roads on Sunday.

June 10, 2013 - Umbrella of self-help

The monsoon season may be a dull period for many in the hilly district, but for the members of the Karunya Self-Help Group (SHG) at Kayakkunnu near Nadavayal in Wayanad it is the season of fresh hope. Though umbrella making is not a lucrative business now, the members of the SHG, perhaps the first and only SHG of visually challenged people in the State, from different parts of the district meet together daily during March to June at the office of the Wayanad unit of the Kerala Federation of the Blind (KFB) to make umbrellas. Some travel up to 60 km a day to reach the unit.

Their collective not only provides them an extra income, but also helps develop self-confidence among them. The umbrella-making unit was started in 1999 and the SHG was formed three years ago, with the aim of developing saving habit among the visually challenged, M. Krishnan, president, KFB, Wayanad district unit, said.

June 12, 2013 - Lashing waves damage 60 houses, sea walls

The coastal belt in the district is bearing the brunt of the heavy rain as the monsoon intensifies. Huge waves damaged more than 60 houses in the Kodungallur taluk. Eriyad, West Vemballur, Edavilangu and Kara panchayats were the worst hit. According to the Kodungallur tahasildar, one relief camp has been opened. In all, 16 families of Eriyad panchayat have been shifted to the camp. Arrangements have been made to open more camps if needed.

Mobile health units have been deployed in the coastal belts of the district. Health workers are carrying out door-to-door awareness programmes. Special squads are conducting surprise visits to various blocks to review the monsoon preparedness.

June 13, 2013 - Monsoon to enter vigorous phase

The southwest monsoon is set to climb to a vigorous phase over Kerala during the next three to four days under the combined influence of a low pressure system that has taken shape over the northwest Bay of Bengal and an ideal offshore trough along the west coast. Heavy-to-very heavy rainfall in some places is the forecast for the State for the next couple of days, with no significant change during the subsequent two days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its bulletin on Wednesday, predicted very severe weather for the State till Friday, but its numerical weather prediction models, which show the weather possibilities for a seven-day period, showed that the unfolding vigorous spell of downpour could last till June 19.

Very intense rainfall is forecast in the areas lying at the head of the offshore trough (Gujarat) by the time the Bay system merges with the weather system on the west coast, while Kerala, which lies at the tail end of the trough, would receive ‘heavy to very heavy rainfall.’

June 15, 2013 – Rain releases State from the grip of drought

Copious monsoon and increased inflow into reservoirs have released the State from the grip of drought. The more- than-normal rainfall in most of the districts in the past 10 days and the rising water level in the major reservoirs has prompted the Drought Monitoring Cell of the Disaster Management Department to revisit the declaration. Considering the improved weather conditions, the cell may soon recommend lifting of the drought declaration.

June 15, 2013 - Monsoon fury unearths a King’s era remnant

Tidal waves lashing the coast have thrown up an unexpected sight for the residents of Valiathura.The waves, which have washed away a major portion of the beach near the Valiathura football ground, exposed on Friday an eight-inch pipeline, which was hitherto buried about three to four ft beneath the ground.The pipe, locals say, could have been laid during the 1930s, when the Valiathura port was active, and was most probably part of the distribution network of the Willingdon Water Works Trivandrum, the ‘ancestor’ of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).

June 15, 2013 - Rain will be copious, says IMD

In what should come as a big relief to policymakers who are grappling with a slowdown of the economy, monsoon forecast models of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have indicated that rainfall during the current monsoon would continue to be copious in the coming months, with a fairly uniform distribution across the country.

Releasing an update of the long range forecast, IMD Director-General L.S. Rathore said the re-run of the models with fresh data obtained since the last forecast of April had reconfirmed the prediction that the country could get 98 per cent of the long period average for the season as a whole. In addition, they have shown that rainfall in July would be 101 per cent of the normal and that for August 96 per cent of the normal.

The southern peninsular region — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands — is likely to top the table with a rainfall of 103 per cent for the season as a whole, followed by central and north-east India with a rainfall of 98 per cent each and north-west 94 per cent. Meanwhile, with the monsoon steadily progressing northward, the country as a whole has so far received 28 per cent more rainfall than normal.

And for those who look at its physical stats here it is as of 15 June, 2013 in major locations in Kerala:

Place	Rainfall during last 24 hours (in mm)	Total rainfall in mm since June 01, 2013
Alappuzha	17	506
Kannur	36	772
Kochi AP	32	518
Kottayam	15	436
Thiruvananthapuram City	10	298

Magic Days Ahead :)

Glittering River, Misty Air, Cleansing Shower

Nature's Great Magic is Back Here! 

A July Afternoon

An electrifying afternoon.

Clouds thickening in the horizon.

Wind giving a cool touch all over.

Spirits reignited - Just energizing the whole.