Bhola, Hannah, Fran and Kaori reached Roldih around 2:00 pm after finishing the police registration process in Godda. I'm glad they left Bolpur early so that they could finish off the Godda work and still reach in time for lunch and not have to make a special trip the next day. According to Bhola, the journey was uneventful and hassle-free. That's good. I was worried about road-bocks and wildcat strikes -- the curse of eastern India.
I'm glad the girls got to meet Tom and Roisin who are probably winging their way home even as I write this blog. Well, my message to them is that even though I haven't spent much time with them, I'm really grateful they came and stayed at Roldih and taught the children. I do hope they come back again. We'd love to have you back.
Well, it's been an interesting day for me. I bought myself a DVD player! Yes, I splurged. But it's not only for entertainment, it's also for work. I may have to show motivational videos to my "students". That reminds me, if you have some good videos on soft-skills or good motivational videos, please do send them!
I had a long, long nap in the evening and spent some time talking music with Sunil, who dropped in. He had helped me buy the DVD player in the morning and helped me set it up in the evening. We share the same taste in music (the Indian part of it) and so we had a lot to talk about. Sunil, who's a construction contractor besides having his fingers in various pies, does not look like someone who'd be interested in classical Indian music! This proves that looks can be so deceptive...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Campus Tour and Bengali Food
Bhola and the girls -- Hannah, Francesca and Kaori -- left about an hour ago for the project. By now they have probably crossed Siuri -- that's if they don't encounter any road-blocks which seem to spring out of nowhere for the flimsiest of reasons. No electic supply, no water supply, no medical assistance, a minor altercation between two people -- anything could be reason for a road-block or poth-oborodh as it is know here. I don't understand how this helps the cause. Creating inconveniences for the people who probably have nothing to do with the problem is certainly no solution. Why not go and gherao the people responsible for the lack of basic amenities?
Anyway, Mitali and the girls arrived around lunch time. We ate immediately and then everyone rested in the afternoon. It was terribly hot yesterday. Really, really, unbearably hot. So we all had a bit of siesta. Then Bhola took the girls to the museum, which was closed because everything -- shops, institutions, etc -- are closed for half a day on Tuesdays. And they are closed all day on Wednesdays -- and today is Wednesday. Anyway, they went around the campus and generally enjoyed the trip. Bhola to enjoyed driving them around as he had never been inside the campus before.
I think the heat and the journey got to Kaori, who was not looking too good when she got back from the visit. But a little bit of rest and she was ready for dinner. We all went out to our favourite eating joint -- Ghare Baire -- which serves authentic Bengali food. The ambience is nice and it's got Rabindranath's doodles and graffitti on the walls. and roof. Quite a nice place and the food is good and we had invited Sunil, his wife Abira and his daughter Shinja too. So it was a nice evening even though we were all too busy eating and so conversation was minimal. And we came back early so that we could get some sleep beacause Bhola and the girls would have an early start.
For me, it was a nice day and a great way to "warm up" the house and in some ways show off my "domestic skills"! Awww.... as usual, I forgot to take pictures!
Anyway, Mitali and the girls arrived around lunch time. We ate immediately and then everyone rested in the afternoon. It was terribly hot yesterday. Really, really, unbearably hot. So we all had a bit of siesta. Then Bhola took the girls to the museum, which was closed because everything -- shops, institutions, etc -- are closed for half a day on Tuesdays. And they are closed all day on Wednesdays -- and today is Wednesday. Anyway, they went around the campus and generally enjoyed the trip. Bhola to enjoyed driving them around as he had never been inside the campus before.
I think the heat and the journey got to Kaori, who was not looking too good when she got back from the visit. But a little bit of rest and she was ready for dinner. We all went out to our favourite eating joint -- Ghare Baire -- which serves authentic Bengali food. The ambience is nice and it's got Rabindranath's doodles and graffitti on the walls. and roof. Quite a nice place and the food is good and we had invited Sunil, his wife Abira and his daughter Shinja too. So it was a nice evening even though we were all too busy eating and so conversation was minimal. And we came back early so that we could get some sleep beacause Bhola and the girls would have an early start.
For me, it was a nice day and a great way to "warm up" the house and in some ways show off my "domestic skills"! Awww.... as usual, I forgot to take pictures!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Bandhs (strikes) and Road Blocks
Just got a call from Mitali. She and the girls are on the train. If all goes well, and the train is not delayed, they should be here by 1:00. But like everything in India, everything is unpredictable -- even the apparently predicatable.
A while ago I discovered that the Maoists have called a Jharkhand Bandh (strike). A friend, who was planning to take a train from Ranchi to Kolkata, called to say that he had to take the early morning flight from Ranchi because of the strike. So I called Bhola to find out if he was stuck in Jharkhand. He said that he was already in Siuri, which is about an hours drive from here. He hadn't heard of the strike and had no problems crossing into West Bengal. But then he called about 20 minutes ago to say that he has been stopped at a road block. This happens almost every time Bhola comes to Bolpur. It's amazing....
Apprently some villagers had decided to block the highway because the administration had not released water in the canals! The place is only 5 kms from Bolpur. So now God alone knows when he'll get here! I spoke to him a few minutes ago and he said that he had tried one alternate route, but that too has been block. He was going to try another route to get here. Let's hope he succeeds and gets here before Mitali and company arrive. He's supposed to fetch them from the station. But that's not a problem because they can always take a couple of cycle rickshaws and get to Mission Compound.
So that's the story so far.... once they arrive, I may get too busy to write the blog. I'm looking forward to the visitors. I've been a bit "lonely" lately. It would be nice to have company even if it's only for a day!
A while ago I discovered that the Maoists have called a Jharkhand Bandh (strike). A friend, who was planning to take a train from Ranchi to Kolkata, called to say that he had to take the early morning flight from Ranchi because of the strike. So I called Bhola to find out if he was stuck in Jharkhand. He said that he was already in Siuri, which is about an hours drive from here. He hadn't heard of the strike and had no problems crossing into West Bengal. But then he called about 20 minutes ago to say that he has been stopped at a road block. This happens almost every time Bhola comes to Bolpur. It's amazing....
Apprently some villagers had decided to block the highway because the administration had not released water in the canals! The place is only 5 kms from Bolpur. So now God alone knows when he'll get here! I spoke to him a few minutes ago and he said that he had tried one alternate route, but that too has been block. He was going to try another route to get here. Let's hope he succeeds and gets here before Mitali and company arrive. He's supposed to fetch them from the station. But that's not a problem because they can always take a couple of cycle rickshaws and get to Mission Compound.
So that's the story so far.... once they arrive, I may get too busy to write the blog. I'm looking forward to the visitors. I've been a bit "lonely" lately. It would be nice to have company even if it's only for a day!
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Strike Is Off
When I called Mitali about 30 minutes ago, she had just finished having lunch with Tom and Roisin and were looking at the pictures that they had taken during their stay at the project. Hannah, Francesca and Kaori had not been in touch. They should have arrived in Kolkata this morning if they had taken the overnight train from Varanasi. I wonder where they are. I hope they get in touch with Mitali by this evening. Their tickets are booked and Bhola will leave early in the morning to get here to fetch them! If they don't show up or show up too late, the plans may go haywire.
The good news is that there is not going to be a transport strike after all. At least that is what the papers are saying. But one never knows -- some local leaders are acting indepently and enforce strikes even though the leadership says it's off! I'm sorry that Tom and Roisin had to leave earlier than expected because of the strike call. I'm sure they would have loved to have a few more days on the project. Anyway, they are getting to see Kolkata, if that's any consolation. If would also be nice if they could meet the new volunteers. I have a funny feeling they took a slow train to Kolkata and that's probably been delayed indefinitely.
It's been another hot day here in Bolpur. I wonder if this is the end of the rainly season for this region. Strange.... it rains in Leh and destroys everything and it refuses to rain here and causes extensive damage to crops. What's happening to the weather?
I've uploaded some pictures of the house in Bolpur on Facebook. If you have the time or the inclination, you could go there and see.
That's all the news I have at the moment.... and when it comes to volunteers, no news is not always good news.
The good news is that there is not going to be a transport strike after all. At least that is what the papers are saying. But one never knows -- some local leaders are acting indepently and enforce strikes even though the leadership says it's off! I'm sorry that Tom and Roisin had to leave earlier than expected because of the strike call. I'm sure they would have loved to have a few more days on the project. Anyway, they are getting to see Kolkata, if that's any consolation. If would also be nice if they could meet the new volunteers. I have a funny feeling they took a slow train to Kolkata and that's probably been delayed indefinitely.
It's been another hot day here in Bolpur. I wonder if this is the end of the rainly season for this region. Strange.... it rains in Leh and destroys everything and it refuses to rain here and causes extensive damage to crops. What's happening to the weather?
I've uploaded some pictures of the house in Bolpur on Facebook. If you have the time or the inclination, you could go there and see.
That's all the news I have at the moment.... and when it comes to volunteers, no news is not always good news.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Blistering Bolpur!
It's been and hot and sunny Sunday so far. And why not? It's SUN-day! But somewhat unexpected considering that there's been lots of cloud cover and an occasional shower every day. I know whay it hasn't rained today -- it's because I brought in the washing before taking my afternoon nap! The days I leave the washing on the clothesline, it rains. Not for long... but long enough to wet the dry clothes.
I woke up to some good news. The three new volunteers are definitely arriving in Kolkata tomorrow and meeting Mitali. Great. They can also meet Tom and Roisin at Mitali's place. In fact, Mitali is busy planning lunch for T and R. Wonder if she'll put on some extra rice for the new arrivals.
It's still not very clear if the transport strike is on or off. There's nothing about it in the papers and there's nothing about it on tv. It's so bloody hard to plan anything in this country! And right now I'm quite upset with everything... the Corrupt Wealth Games, the numerous strikes in the name of the public and yet with scant regard for the public inconvenience.
Now that I have gone and made such elaborate arrangements to get volunteers to the project and also to the airport, I'm almost wishing that there's a strike on from the 10th till the 12th! That's terrible. I'm obviously not thinking of the enormous human suffering these strikes cause. The only people who seem to benefit from strikes are politicians and their "political workers" who have nothing better to do anyway. I am yet to see any strike benefit the common man. The poor rickshaw puller, the roadside stall owners, the cobblers, the labourers... these are the people who suffer. Even some white collared workers miss out on schedules and deadlines. The economy suffers. And all in the name of fighting for the rights of the poor people.
Anyway, here in Mission Compound -- that's where I live in Bolpur -- it's very quiet at the moment. It's about 400 metres to the main road. So the streets sounds don't reach here. But the rain tracks are quite close and so once in a while one can hear the diesel engines lumber by.
For those who are interested, today is Rabindranth Tagore's dead anniversary. There may be memorial programmes going on in some places, but since I don't know many people here, I don't know what's happening. But I've been listening to a lot of Rabindra Sangeet -- songs composed by the bard -- on tv. In a way, I'm glad I walk on the same land that was once tread by such a great man.
I woke up to some good news. The three new volunteers are definitely arriving in Kolkata tomorrow and meeting Mitali. Great. They can also meet Tom and Roisin at Mitali's place. In fact, Mitali is busy planning lunch for T and R. Wonder if she'll put on some extra rice for the new arrivals.
It's still not very clear if the transport strike is on or off. There's nothing about it in the papers and there's nothing about it on tv. It's so bloody hard to plan anything in this country! And right now I'm quite upset with everything... the Corrupt Wealth Games, the numerous strikes in the name of the public and yet with scant regard for the public inconvenience.
Now that I have gone and made such elaborate arrangements to get volunteers to the project and also to the airport, I'm almost wishing that there's a strike on from the 10th till the 12th! That's terrible. I'm obviously not thinking of the enormous human suffering these strikes cause. The only people who seem to benefit from strikes are politicians and their "political workers" who have nothing better to do anyway. I am yet to see any strike benefit the common man. The poor rickshaw puller, the roadside stall owners, the cobblers, the labourers... these are the people who suffer. Even some white collared workers miss out on schedules and deadlines. The economy suffers. And all in the name of fighting for the rights of the poor people.
Anyway, here in Mission Compound -- that's where I live in Bolpur -- it's very quiet at the moment. It's about 400 metres to the main road. So the streets sounds don't reach here. But the rain tracks are quite close and so once in a while one can hear the diesel engines lumber by.
For those who are interested, today is Rabindranth Tagore's dead anniversary. There may be memorial programmes going on in some places, but since I don't know many people here, I don't know what's happening. But I've been listening to a lot of Rabindra Sangeet -- songs composed by the bard -- on tv. In a way, I'm glad I walk on the same land that was once tread by such a great man.
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