Happy Diwali

We have just finished lunch. But I am not ready for my afternoon nap. Frankly, when it's this pleasant, one does not even feel like a nap. It's neither hot nor cold. The day is bright. The breeze is gentle. Perhaps a little later, I'll lie down for a while and rest because tonight is going to be hectic in a fun sort of way.

The kids came to school today. But there were no classes. Instead, they spruced up the classrooms, cleaned up the temples and other "public" areas and went home to come back this evening to light up the lamps and burst the few crackers we bought and also partake of the sweets we have ordered for them.

Bhola went to Devdanr to fetch all this. Unfortunately, there's a tractor stuck on the only bridge on the only road connecting Devdanr to Roldih and so he can't come through. He's stuck there and couldn't even make it for lunch. Meanwhile Chandrama from Cheo came to collect the sweets for the kids up in the hills. So I asked him to go to the bridge on his motorbike and collect Cheo's share. No point in his waiting here. It's so convenient that he now has a bike.

Acorrding to him almost every family now has a motorbike! Wow!! That's progress for you. Not so long ago, the Paharias did not even possess bicycles. And now, all the young people that I know, have shiny new motorcycles. Even Chandrama, who claims that the honorarium we give him is the only income he has, bought a motorbike! It's second hand, but it did not come cheap.

I asked Ramnath if he has one and he made a sad face and said he has no money. But today I discovered that his son, who is in college and has no source of income, has a new motorcycle! Where did that come from? Hence, it's obvious that the Paharias are definitely earning enough money from the sale of forest produce and the sale of cash crops such as beans and oilseeds.

Now my next question is, why can't they pay for the education of their children? Some do. They spend good money to send their kids to government schools elsewhere. And I've been told they often have to give a "bribe" of upto 5,000 Rupees to get their children admitted to these schools that are free. So why can't these people pretend to be peniless when it comes to paying a few rupees fees to the project school in Cheo?

I am now, no longer feeling guilty about thinking of closing down the Cheo centre. Ramnath and Chandrama can continue teaching theire and getting the parents to pay them a "tuition fee". Whatever they get will be extra income. I'm sure they are not dependent of Dakshinayan for their bread and butter. In fact, no one is. Everyone here owns some land -- especially the tribals. So even if the Cheo centre closes down (even Roldih) the "teachers" won't be affected in any way. I do admit that the children of  Cheo may be deprived of "quality education". But it's not as if they won't be getting any education at all. There is always the option of the government schools. The Cheo school is more like a preperatory school. It prepares the kids to gain easy entrance to the government schools.

Bhola is here now. The road is clear. Chandrama has taken his sweets and gone back to Cheo. Some of the school kids have started drifting in. The celebrations are going to start early it seems. So let me wish all of you a Very Happy and Enjoyable Diwali this evening with family and friends.

Bad start to November

A new routine, a little lecture about the plight of children who are slave workers in fireworks factories, shampoo distribution to regulars and warning to those absent for more than 3 days in October -- that was assembly yesterday. The weather was cool. The sky was overcast and there were a few drops of rain too. But nothing to indicate that it would start raining later.

Attendance was good. School started well. But I did not teach. No point in starting when I know I will be gone in a few days. It would unnecessarily disrupt the new routine. Renee is teaching English in four classes -- 1 to 4. And since Bhola is teaching the other subjects in classes 3 and 4, there was nothing for me to do but to sit back and relax. Besides I was feeling unwell.

I've been getting headaches every day since I arrived here. At first I thought it was because of the bus journey. Ten I thought it was because of the change in weather. But when I started shivering around noon, I knew it was malaria. So I decided to take a dose of my herbal medicine and that's what prevented the fever from rising too high. I lay around all day with a fever and by evening I was already feeling better. I'm fine today. Just weak from the effects of the medicine.

But November started badly for me. Not only did I fall ill. My phone stopped working! Bhola checked with the service provider and was told that for some mysterious reason, my sim card has been rejected. Then I tried to get on the net and discovered that my data card was also not working! It's still not working, but I've managed to get online on a borrowed one. So for those who have my old project number, please note that it is not working. I'm not giving out my new number here. But I'll be sms-ing it to individuals.

I am wondering if all this has anything to with the fact that someone called me on that old number and told me that I had won a million rupees and could I please give him my name, my father's name and my bank account number! Of course I did not. It was obviously someone phishing. I then got a call from the service provider saying that should I get a call asking me for personal details, I should not oblige! The warning came late, but was not necessary. I was cautious anyway. But that night, my phone stopped working. So I'm wondering if it's a coincidence or someone deliberately tampering with my phone.

That aside, yesterday was also a very bad day weather-wise. It started raining soon after noon and continued all night. The temperature plunged by 10 degrees celsius and it was horribly cold. I felt it more because of my illness. Bhola went out in the rain because he had some family business to attend to and came back with a cold. He's feeling under the weather today. I hope he will be well for Diwali celebrations. I'm glad I'm feeling better. I was a little worried about my health. I usually fall ill around this time. Strange, but true. I've spent many Diwali nights in on a sick bed. Or I fall ill a few days before or after Diwali. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I was born on a Diwali night! According to the Indian calendar, my birthday is on Diwali. I, of course, prefer to celebrate it the Zodiac way.

Renee, after initially wonder if she could stay on at the project all by herself, has now "fitted in". She's happy teaching and taking part in all the chores -- cooking, cleaning, sweeping and of course spending time with the children. I've deliberately not interacted with her too much so that she doesn't feel my absence when I'm gone in a few days.

I have a hectic schedule ahead. As soon as I arrive in Kolkata, I will barely have time to pack my bags and head for the airport to catch a flight to Lucknow for yet another trainning sesson. I'll be back in Kolkata on the 12th unless there's a change of plan. I hope then I'll get a few days to spend in Bolpur. I'm expecting guests in the first week of December. I'm also hoping there'll be a few volunteers too!