Roof Repair

Today, the masons were repairing the roof of the building where Bansi and Suman have their rooms. So they kept coming to me for advice every time they needed to take a decision. I would have to leave the class and go and supervise the work. So today I really couldn’t teach in school properly. But at least the roof has gone up and the masons will be able to deal with the repair work without requiring my presence.

But school went on as usual. The volunteers are doing most of the teaching anyway. Today, however, during the first period Radha, Anjana and Lilita from class four taught nursery while Bansi, Suman and the class four boys gave fertilizers to the trees we have planted so far. Many of them are not growing as fast as they should. You can’t blame them! They were planted on gravelly soil with little or no nutrients to speak of. Hopefully the fertilizer will help them grow.
The girls were tired after yesterday’s trek to Cheo and back. Dani had hurt her knee while playing football with the Cheo kids. She seems to have recovered from her injury. Kaz and Ren were feeling “knackered” throughout the day.

Today was the last day of Sohrai celebrations in Roldih village. The drums fell silent this evening after the villagers visited the project for “jail” – the mandatory contribution to the celebrations. Like every year, we gave them two bags of “muri” (puffed rice) and “gur” (jaggery). Some village women also came to pay obeisance to Baba Lokenath. Some villagers danced outside the project premises because they wouldn’t enter the place in an inebriated state. The project is considered sacred because of Baba’s temple.

I am happy that they showed respect for the place. But it’s unfortunate that the volunteers did not get to see tribal dancing. But I think they did get a glimpse of it while coming to the project from Godda. Their taxi had been stopped at many villages that were celebrating Sohrai and they wouldn’t let any vehicle pass without giving “chanda” (voluntary donation). Believe me, there’s nothing voluntary about it. The girls block the road and dance and will only move away if you give them a small donation.

It’s getting warmer every day now. Basant (Spring) is almost here. It was quite hot in the sun when I was supervising the roofing work. Before we realize it, summer will be here. We didn’t get the kind of winter we expected this year.