No Rain in Roldih

I'm sitting on the veranda in Roldih. Arrived here last night via Jasidih with Mitali. Bhola went to fetch us. He is no longer working with us, but is always there to help out with work on the project and off it -- shopping, repairs, bank work and of course fetching people from the station or bus stop.

School is on at the moment. Sushanti is teaching nursery so that Shanku, the usual teacher for that class can take care of chores. Mitali is teaching English in class 2, which is usually Sushanti's class. Raju is teaching in class 1 as usual. I'm not doing anything. So I decided to check the blog. What I discovered shocked me -- I haven't updated the blog for two months!

A lot has happened meanwhile. Shanku's mother died and he was away from the project for most of May and the early part of June. Bhola resigned. He is no longer on the payroll but helps out with work on the project and off it -- shopping, bank, fetching people from the station or bus stop. It's not a bad arrangement. And thought I used to complain about his absence from the project, I find that he is the ONLY person I can rely on. The others are simply happy to teach for 3 hours and goof off for the rest of the day. God knows what they do during the rest of the day. There have been no village visits. I can understand that. It's been terribly hot. But I do hope that once the weather improves there will be other activities on the project too. Otherwise, the expenses incurred in running this project can't be justified.

The weather has been really bad. It has rained only once in 3 months! That's bad. People are anxiously waiting for it to rain so that they can till their fields. People, especially children, are falling ill. And though the single rainfall has turned the leaves of trees green, it is simply not adequate.

Right now, there are clouds in the sky, but it doesn't look like rain. But fortunately, the day is not unbearably hot. We will change the school timings from tomorrow. Today school started at 6:30 and will end at 9:00. From tomorrow it will start at 7:30 and go on till 11:00. Attendance is very poor -- about 50%. I am told this is not normal. On other days, it seems, the attendance is close to 90%. So why poor attendance when I am around? Mitali and I will be here till the end of this week. So let's see.

I'm sad that Bruni is not here. Whatever happened to her? Shanku claims she stays away from the project these days? Why? Why would a dog stay away from a place where she gets fed twice a day? She's been living on the project ever since she was born! And has continued to live here even when there was no one living here. So why would  she abandon the project? Could it be that she is no longer alive and no one is willing to tell me so? Anyway, I've asked the kids to find her for me.

Though I haven't updated the blog since April. I have been visiting the project quite regularly all of April and May. I did  not come in June as it was simply too hot for the long drive from Prantik (Shantiniketan) to Roldih on the motorbike. At my age (a few months short of 60) it would be taking chances. Heat-stroke among mobike riders is quite common in India during summer. The air is dry and hot. Riding is similar to standing in front of a blast furnace and it's a 5-hour drive to Roldih.

The nights are not unpleasant thought it's not cool after sundown. We slept on the veranda and I dreamt of snakes! There are no mosquitoes. That's really strange. Perhaps because it hasn't  rained. I guess once it rains, they will emerge from wherever they are hiding at the moment.

It's drizzling now. School is over. I'm waiting for Bhola to  come so that we can settle the accounts. I have to  send him to the bank to fetch money to  pay the salaries and other expenses. I'm looking forward to his visit. He's the only person (besides Mitali) whom I can communicate with and get news from! Perhaps,  while I am here, I will keep updating the blog with news if there's any.