The promised monsoon has not arrived as yet. Oh yes, we do get the occasional shower, but it adds to the discomfort because humidity goes up. Wonder when the rains will start in earnest. A few days ago it seemed that the monsoon had arrived. But we were somewhat premature in our celebrations!
So, at the moment it's hot here and humid. And the situation is worse on the project. It's hotter there and humidity levels have gone up considerably. This means that the evenings are not very pleasant either. Bhola told me that they are all having 3 to 4 baths a day to stay cool. But a bath provides relief for just a few moments. He was envying the fact that I am able to sit under a fan. It made me feel guilty. But then, at his age I was without a fan too! He can go to Devdand and sit under a fan if he wanted to. I did not have that luxury when I was living in Cheo and Paharpur. But I must admit I am grateful that I can sit under a fan and even though it's hard to admit, I am glad I am here in Kolkata and not in Roldih in this heat.
I must also admit that I am bored out of my wits! There's nothing much to do here and it's too hot go out though there are so many things that one can do in this city -- visit art galleries, go to the theater, attend a music concert, etc, etc. But I do none of these because it's too hot and far away and I don't like going alone to these places. Besides, where is the money? Everything costs. So I stay indoors mostly and brood. Still no news about Bolpur. But there's hope. I've heard someone wishes to rent out their "outhouse" -- servant's quarters basically. I'll go and check it out once I find out if the news is genuine.
I've just learnt from Bhola that there haven't been yoga classes in school for a while. That's because classes start very early and there's no time before school and after school it is too hot. I've suggested that the kids do pranayam just before assembly. Perhaps Bhola will take my advise. He's thinking of pushing back the school timings anyway. But is waiting for it to rain and become cooler.
Shanku is back on the project. He had gone home and was due to come back on the 17th but had extended his leave because his mother was unwell. I haven't spoken to him and so don't know how she is now, but the fact that he's back is an indication that she's probably better.
According to Bhola, all is well. He was, in fact, plucking mangoes when he received my call. He has gathered over 150 mangoes and there are still that many on the trees. He's disappointed that I am not on the project to eat a few of them and they will probably not be there by the time I go to the project. Anyway, I'm glad that there are so many mangoes. We can now distribute them amongst the school children. I'm sure they've been eying them for a long, long time!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Clearing up a Misunderstanding
Perhaps I had been a bit dramatic in one of my posts when I said I am "leaving the project" or "going away". The fact is that I did leave the project and I did go away. But not PERMANENTLY! Though, to be honest, sometimes I do wish I could. Won't have to worry about funding for the project. Or feel guilty for staying away. Or feel responsible for it. But I know that since the project has been a part of my life for so many years, no matter where I go, I will feel responsible for the project and the people it serves -- even if the project's involvement in the community isn't as great as it could be or should be. The project could do a lot more. But we have to face reality -- we can't find enough dedicated people to scale up operations. And perhaps the community is not ready for more involvement.
How do I know this? Well, last year we offered to buy paddy threshing machines for the more villagers (we have already bought two). But no one came forward to take up the offer! We offered to help people with roof repairs and the story was the same. There were no takers!
Anyway, I'm drifting away from the main point, which is, that I felt that my capabilities were being underutilized on the project in Roldih and I want to be able to do more during the few more years of active life that I have left. I want to set up something in Bolpur so that I could work with students there and also the rural communities in the surrounding areas. I haven't been successful in setting up base, but that's another story. But the main purpose of leaving the project was to be able to do more and yet be close enough (reason for choosing Bolpur) to the project so that I could remain involved.
It so happened that when I came to Kolkata, I got this opportunity to do some training work which not only helped me to understand myself and my capabilites better, but also gave me an opportunity to meet some very interesting people and see some new places in India. I had been "stuck" on the project for so long that my world had become very limited indeed. Being able to move out has helped me to expand my horizons.
When I left Roldih, I had all intentions of visiting frequently and teaching. But the weather has not permitted that. Nor did my health. Though not seriously ill, I have not been well, ever since I moved to Kolkata. I get low grade fever very often that lasts for weeks and leaves me feeling weak. Hence, I have been a bit reluctant to go to Roldih in this heat. Classes are being held for 2 hours a day due to the heat. I know that I'd just be sitting and brooding for the day and feeling uncomfortable and perhaps even falling seriously ill.
So let me assure all of you that I have not ABANDONED the project. I've just taken som time off to rediscover myself and find out if I can do more than what I am doing at the moment. The project is too much a part of my life for me to GO AWAY permanently.
Bhola is doing a good job of running the project while I am away. Suman, Shanku, Kartik, Raiman and Radha are quite involved. Teaching has not suffered. Yes, they are not learning English. But they are studying all other subjects and that's what's important.
I'm waiting for the monsoon to start in earnest and then you'll find me back on the project again. And if some of you can make it to Roldih, hope to see you there!
How do I know this? Well, last year we offered to buy paddy threshing machines for the more villagers (we have already bought two). But no one came forward to take up the offer! We offered to help people with roof repairs and the story was the same. There were no takers!
Anyway, I'm drifting away from the main point, which is, that I felt that my capabilities were being underutilized on the project in Roldih and I want to be able to do more during the few more years of active life that I have left. I want to set up something in Bolpur so that I could work with students there and also the rural communities in the surrounding areas. I haven't been successful in setting up base, but that's another story. But the main purpose of leaving the project was to be able to do more and yet be close enough (reason for choosing Bolpur) to the project so that I could remain involved.
It so happened that when I came to Kolkata, I got this opportunity to do some training work which not only helped me to understand myself and my capabilites better, but also gave me an opportunity to meet some very interesting people and see some new places in India. I had been "stuck" on the project for so long that my world had become very limited indeed. Being able to move out has helped me to expand my horizons.
When I left Roldih, I had all intentions of visiting frequently and teaching. But the weather has not permitted that. Nor did my health. Though not seriously ill, I have not been well, ever since I moved to Kolkata. I get low grade fever very often that lasts for weeks and leaves me feeling weak. Hence, I have been a bit reluctant to go to Roldih in this heat. Classes are being held for 2 hours a day due to the heat. I know that I'd just be sitting and brooding for the day and feeling uncomfortable and perhaps even falling seriously ill.
So let me assure all of you that I have not ABANDONED the project. I've just taken som time off to rediscover myself and find out if I can do more than what I am doing at the moment. The project is too much a part of my life for me to GO AWAY permanently.
Bhola is doing a good job of running the project while I am away. Suman, Shanku, Kartik, Raiman and Radha are quite involved. Teaching has not suffered. Yes, they are not learning English. But they are studying all other subjects and that's what's important.
I'm waiting for the monsoon to start in earnest and then you'll find me back on the project again. And if some of you can make it to Roldih, hope to see you there!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
It's Raining in Kolkata!
It's raining in Kolkata. And for once, it's pretty cool here. We've had a few showers over the past few days, but only for short spells that left the city feeling like a steaming sauna. But this is the monsoon rain that has been going on for a while. Hopefully it will continue to rain off and on now and the weather will improve.
I just spoke to Bhola to find out if Roldih has been blessed with rain too. But they've had no such luck. It's still very hot. The only cooling experience they've had is the occasional cloud cover. At times it seems like rain, but doesn't. I know how frustrating that can be.
Even though I'm not frustrated with the weather, I am quite frustrated with life in general. I've been away from the project since February but I have not been able to do any of the things I had set out to do! I left Roldih to set up a centre in Bolpur and in that task I have failed miserably. I still haven't found a place to rent there. And unless I can set up a base in Bolpur, I can't start the centre. It's really frustrating. I'm willing to pay for rent, and yet can't find anyone willing to give me a place on rent. I've followed up on every lead, but to no avail.
I wish I had the money to buy a flat in Bolpur. That would solve a lot of problems. Firstly, I wouldn't have to rent a separate place to set up the centre. Secondly, since it would be MY property, no one could say anything about my activities there. But property prices have shot up recently and I certainly can't afford the 12-15 lakhs needed to buy a small flat. Even if I buy a small plot and build on it, it will still cost a lot more.
Anyway, I've been following up with agents, friends and friends of friends and I'm hoping something will work out. Meanwhile, I am feeling frustrated and non-productive. Also, I have not been well. It's nothing serious. But frequent headaches, low grade fever on most days seems to leave me with very little energy to be "productive". I've done a bit of training work. But that's all I have done. I could go back to Roldih, but the weather there is preventing me from doing so. So I am looking forward to the monsoon starting there. At least, I could go back and teach and feel that I am doing something useful.
I don't have much news of the project really. I speak to Bhola often. But all I get to hear is "all is well". School is from 6 am till 8 am because it is too hot. Even if I'd been on the project, I'd probably be brooding most of the time. Here at least I can watch TV and with the World Cup on, it's probably a good time to be here. Unfortunately, most of the matches are in the night (India time).
Shanku has gone on leave for a week. So Suman and Kartik are at the project along with Bhola. They are all praying for rain and probaly envying me for the beatuful Kolkata weather I am enjoying. Fortunately, it's a Sunday and so it hasn't disrupted life for people. For me, every day is a Sunday these days.
I just spoke to Bhola to find out if Roldih has been blessed with rain too. But they've had no such luck. It's still very hot. The only cooling experience they've had is the occasional cloud cover. At times it seems like rain, but doesn't. I know how frustrating that can be.
Even though I'm not frustrated with the weather, I am quite frustrated with life in general. I've been away from the project since February but I have not been able to do any of the things I had set out to do! I left Roldih to set up a centre in Bolpur and in that task I have failed miserably. I still haven't found a place to rent there. And unless I can set up a base in Bolpur, I can't start the centre. It's really frustrating. I'm willing to pay for rent, and yet can't find anyone willing to give me a place on rent. I've followed up on every lead, but to no avail.
I wish I had the money to buy a flat in Bolpur. That would solve a lot of problems. Firstly, I wouldn't have to rent a separate place to set up the centre. Secondly, since it would be MY property, no one could say anything about my activities there. But property prices have shot up recently and I certainly can't afford the 12-15 lakhs needed to buy a small flat. Even if I buy a small plot and build on it, it will still cost a lot more.
Anyway, I've been following up with agents, friends and friends of friends and I'm hoping something will work out. Meanwhile, I am feeling frustrated and non-productive. Also, I have not been well. It's nothing serious. But frequent headaches, low grade fever on most days seems to leave me with very little energy to be "productive". I've done a bit of training work. But that's all I have done. I could go back to Roldih, but the weather there is preventing me from doing so. So I am looking forward to the monsoon starting there. At least, I could go back and teach and feel that I am doing something useful.
I don't have much news of the project really. I speak to Bhola often. But all I get to hear is "all is well". School is from 6 am till 8 am because it is too hot. Even if I'd been on the project, I'd probably be brooding most of the time. Here at least I can watch TV and with the World Cup on, it's probably a good time to be here. Unfortunately, most of the matches are in the night (India time).
Shanku has gone on leave for a week. So Suman and Kartik are at the project along with Bhola. They are all praying for rain and probaly envying me for the beatuful Kolkata weather I am enjoying. Fortunately, it's a Sunday and so it hasn't disrupted life for people. For me, every day is a Sunday these days.
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