The monsoon has definitely failed us this year. Even if it starts pouring from tomorrow, it's too late. But at the moment, there's no hope of even that happening. The clouds come and go. Even a few that look pregnant with rain. But it does not rain. The saplings we planted are wilting. We are keeping them alive with buckets of water, but what they need is rain -- pore soaking rain. The other trees too have waited all year for this season and now they are thirsty. Unlike animals, they can't even go to a water source! Some are reaching towards heaven as if in supplication. Others have given up the fight. Their branches are drooping like the shoulders of the farmers who are slowly giving up hope. No one smiles any more.

Some villagers wanted to paddy threshing machines. They were to come and hand over and application. They haven't come. When Bhola met them he asked why they hadn't shown up. They said what's the point? We'll have no paddy to thresh this year. It's that bad. How will they survive?

The Paharias up in the hills seem a happy lot though. Ramnath was here. He seemed worried and I asked him if he was concerned about the lack of rain. He said no. He was concerned that people up in the hills seemed to have lost interest in farming. Lost interest in farming? What will they survive on? I asked. There are no forests left either. He shrugged his shoulders and said that that is precisely why he was worried. People have lost interest in farming because the government is giving them free rice! The Paharias are getting free rice! So they see no need to farm any more! Hmmmmm... What happens when the government decides they can't give them free rice any more?

It's been a routine day for school. But Bhola has managed to find a couple of labourers and so some work got done around the project. We still haven't found anyone willing to help us complete the second well. Things like this makes me wish for a famine! At least then people would be willing to work! Or maybe they'll just sit back and expect to get handouts. Who knows...

Bruni's not well. She didn't eat the biscuits I gave her. Khagen is not well, though one doesn't know what's wrong with him. Suman is not well because he's constipated...

Sunday started off on a busy note. As soon as everyone was awake, we decided to plant the saplings that Bhola had brought from Godda and Bhatonda. In fact, he was away all day yesterday trying to bring trees to plant this monsoon. He didn't manage to get all the trees we wanted. But the did bring a few with him and ordered more. In any case, there were over a donzen saplings to be planted -- flowering shurbs and trees, lemon, lime and a few decorative ones too.

Bhola left at about 10:00 a.m. and since then it's been very quiet here. I've been helping Suman in the kitchen since Khangen has been feeling unwell after the morning's toil. He's been feeling under the weather for the past few days anyway. So I suppose the digging and planting was too much for him. Richard helped too. Only Suman missed out on planting because he was busy in the kitchen making breakfast and tea for everyone.

It's been a realtively warm afternoon. The morning was nice and pleasant. But there's been some sunshine since 2 p.m which has made things rather humid. It drizzled a bit. Not enough rain though. Wonder if it will rain tonight. We definitely need more rain than what we are getting if the farmers need to grow a crop. When it started raining they looked happy, but now they all have a frown all over again!

The net is working again, as you can see.

Monsoon Moonrise!

The connection to the internet has been very whimsical and erratic. Sometimes it works. Most of the time it doesn't. It's been difficult checking mail etc. Even mobile phones are not working properly. They tend to go dead in the middle of a conversation. "Tower problem", as we say here.

But all this was expected during the monsoon. And monsoon has started in earnest. It's raining intermittently -- from light drizzle to heavy downpour. There's a very heavy shower on at the moment. But the sky is clearing and soon it's going to stop. The temperature is very, very pleasant.

Bhola is in Kolkata. He went yesterday in the evening and will be back tomorrow in the morning. I haven't been able to stay in touch with him because of bad connectivity. But I gathered he's managed to do most of the errands that he had gone there for. I'm excited to see what kind of "yoga mat" he brings back for me.

The good news is that Intel has now officially given us 10 "waterfall" laptops. That's the good news. The bad news is that they don't have OS and hard disks! That's going to cost money to install. Rahul is doing something about it. Unfortunately, I have not been able to connect with him on the phone.

Richard looked like death this morning! He was suffering from severe stomach cramps. I asked him if he had anything at the market that he had gone to, he said No. But Khangen informed me that he a "small" piece of sweet. Anyway, the outcome was that he had severe stomach cramps. Poor chap was holed up in the toilet for about a couple of hours! I gave him some ORS and Metronidazole. He's feeling better now. Resting. I'll see how he is by tomorrow morning. If his condition does not improve, I get Bhola to escort him to a hospital in Kolkata. It would be sad if he has to leave. He's fitted into the routine here and is quite useful as a teacher.

The wall separating the staff area
There has been some construction work on the project. We built a coal bin to keep the coal in one place and also protect it from the rain. We also got a wall made to separate the "staff area" from the "ashram area". Actually that isn't the intention. The idea is to be able to lock up the dogs there while school is on! The pups make a lot of noise while class is in progress. They tend to run into class and also have lately taken to chewing the books kept on the desks! We kept them outside the gate for a few days. But it seems cruel in this season. So the best thing is to confine them to one small area. They can move to "Suman's Veranda" when it rains.

I wrote this yesterday. But was unable to post it. I wonder if it will go through now... I'd like to add a few photos. But I suppose I will be able to do that when I have a better connection.

Connectivity hasn't improved. It seems to be a bit better at the moment and so I'll quickly add a few more words. Hopefully I will be able to upload this without a problem. Last time I tried, it failed.

The coal bin under the Gulmohar tree
Bhola is back from Kolkata. A few minutes after he arrived we got a visitor -- a journalist. I gave him a cup of tea and told him we don't want any publicity. He was surprised. But we had a nice chat about the area and the work we are doing. And then this evening we got another visitor. This time it was the BDO (block development officer) of Sunder Pahari. He wanted to know all about our work and also wanted to know if I could tell him about the Paharias. I told him I would, provided he came to meet me alone and not with a retinue of minor officials. He agreed. A nice young man. Sincere and as yet not disillusioned by the system. I hope he will be able to do something for those who need help.

Richard is feeling better. In fact, he's normal again. I'm sure he'll be able to teach tomorrow. He wanted to teach today. But I asked him to take it easy. He did go for the village visit with Bhola and ate a normal meal this evening. I'm glad he's recovered so soon and so well.

It's been raining a lot. The weather is nice.

Looks like monsoon is here! We've had intermittent showers all day. Great. The earth is wet, but still not soft enough to plough. But the farmers are looking hopeful. They may get a crop this year if this continues. But it's too early to start celebrating.

Paddy requires a lot of water, especially during the nursery stage. For that one needs torrential rain so that there's standing water in the fields. Right now that kind of rain seems elusive. But, as I said, there's hope yet. There are clouds in the sky and the fact that it is drizzling off and on will at least allow the farmers to prepare the field for planting. They are three weeks late already.

Suman is back. He doesn't look ill at all. In fact, he looks more sheepish than sick. I told him he need not lie if he needs leave. And that he should ask for leave before he leaves. As to why he was rude to me and Bhola on the phone, he had no answer.

There's a mason at work. We made a small enclosure for the coal. We repaired a few things here and there. And from tomorrow he will build a wall near the staff room. Unfortunately, the new well-digger who was to start work from Monday has not showed up. I wonder if the second well will ever get completed!

I also got some bad news today. The volunteer who was expected to come in August is not coming! Hmmm....

A strange Sunday. I woke up feeling rather unwell. In fact, I had a restless night. Slept fitfully and at times I felt that perhaps I had fever. At the same time, I felt too tired to get up and check.

So I took it easy in the morning. Got out of bed at 5:30 am. Sat around till breakfast time at 8:00 am. And then I felt somewhat better. So spent a lot of time trying to catalogue the pictures in my collection. I also pottered around a bit with the solar panels. And somehow the day passed.

At 5:00 pm Suman called to say that he was feeling unwell and would be back on the 7th. He had gone home yesterday in the morning promising to be back by this evening. When Bhola called to find out if we could get him a doctor or even medicines, he was very curt on the phone. I thought perhaps Bhola was over reacting. So I called him to see if he needed anything. And he was rude with me too! Hmmm... this won't do! And this is not the first time he's gone home and failed to come back on time. Earlier he was very punctual about coming back. But not any more. Anyway, I'll have a talk with him when he get's back. Maybe it's time for him to leave too!

Bhola was supposed to go to Kolkata tomorrow. But has postponed his trip because Suman is not here and he doesn't want to leave me alone. But after the way Suman spoke to me today, I might be better off staying on my own! I know a lot of people are unhappy with me these days. I've destroyed the "nest" -- which suited not only people living on the project, but also those not living on it!

Richard is getting quite integrated. Bhola is more active now that he is staying at home. Poor Khagen is landed with more work. But he's quite sporting and everyone (including me!) helps him with his chores.

No yoga today. I've decided to give it a break. Hope I will feel well enough to continue my practise from tomorrow. The weather is really strange. Cool one moment. Hot and sweaty the next. It's not surprising that I'm not feeling too good. Besides, I think I tend to foget my age when I start doing the asanas! I push my body to do things that I used to do when I was 30! What to do? The heart still feels young!

There's nothing much to write about. All is well on the project. Peaceful, efficient and organized. Richard, Khagen and Suman and me. I'm teaching Khagen to cook these days. Suman cooks too. But I'm encouraging Khagen to cook and give Suman some respite. Bhola comes when there's work. He's here every morning to help the kids with "shram daan" and take care of other things. He goes home for lunch and comes back in the evening for village visit.

Tomorrow Suman is going home in the morning. He'll be back Sunday evening. I suppose Bhola will spend the night here tomorrow. Right now he's got an infection on his leg and is in great pain. I hope it isn't anything too serious. I want him fit enough to go to Kolkata early next week to collect a few things for the project.

We still haven't had any serious rain. Bhola called a while ago to say that it rained in Devdand! And here in Roldih not a drop! In fact it didn't even seem like rain. Very strange weather.

Maybe the monsoon is here. We had a shower just as school started. Then a brief one in the afternoon. Then brilliant sunshine and now once again a brief shower. It's some relief from the heat. But still quite worrysome for the farmers. They have not been able to plough their fields as yet! For paddy, one needs lots and lots of water. And that kind of water is not falling from the skies. But at least there's some hope that the monsoon may start in earnest soon, even if delayed.

The day was routine. School. Khagen and Suman doing their thing. Bhola had gone to Godda. And today after a long, long time, I cooked. It didn't turn out too bad. But I think the kitchen is now going to get reorganized or someone will get the sack!

The good news is that I got a call from Sonia and also an email from her informing us that Dakshinayan is going to get the 10 "waterfall" laptops from Intel. The Committee that decides such things have agreed to give us the 10 laptops we had requested. They need to be picked up from the warehouse in Bangalore. I've already contacted Rahul to see how he could help.

These laptops won't have hard disks. They are removed for security reasons and so new hard disks have to be installed. Once again, I've requested Rahul to see how he can help. 

But all this is good news and exciting news. The kids have been looking forward to not having to share the laptops. Right now there are three kids to one laptop. 

It's now time for my yoga. More tomorrow. Hopefully.