Missing Monsoon ...

Monsoon showers at Aranmula temple

Last 2-3 days in Trivandrum it looks and feels like monsoon time .. .. after coming to Trivandrum monsoon seems to be for few days than few months … Someone who was brought up in North Eastern states of India where major part of the year you see only rains – there was time when I hated rains .. now I miss monsoon . Sometime back while chatting with my schoolmate from Silchar , he asked me “do I ...remember the days spend in school” -- and I said how can I ever forget those days and years spend in school -- Small school Tinned roof – when it rained it was so noisy - we had to close all the windows (wooden windows) and complete dark rooms – we all would make so much noise that it was difficult to make out if the Rain hitting the roof was noisier or children in the classroom … we had acres of agricultural land (ofcourse no cultivation happened ) in front of our school which would get filled with water --- lush green --- can still feel the wet socks and shoes at the thought of the rain and field – and it is pouring here in Trivandrum :)

We shifted to Assam in 1986 after spending 4 years in Arunachal Pradesh – from Forrest to Plains … . So Silchar was a bigger place for me , though school was smaller … class 1-12 one section each and on an average 35 students per class … me and my brother would be in first few mallu’s and probably only christains in our respective class when we joined the school – though later we did have few more south Indians and Mallus joining the school .. Our campus was probably 1.5 - 2 kms from the school and we used to go to school in Matador … around 15 children from the campus .. I joined this school mid of Class 4 – some of my classmates in class 4 rishi, geeta ,sangita, gopal,ranjana, frankly was not too excited about the new school , as our school in Arunachal Pradesh was much bigger and better is what I felt then :) By the time I was in class 5 , I was part of the school – Class 5 - First Ink Pen :) changing Handwriting , trying to make notes suddenly you feel you have become Didi :D Started participating in sports , Brother was popular in school for his Mandolin performance ,gradually started to understand and learn the local culture, better – By Class 6 some more new friends ruchi, amit, namita, nayana and whole lot of changes the way you behave in class – boys versus girls , seniors versus us , juniors versus us , Co curricular activities, preparation for daily assemblies , India is my country , daily news , quizzes, unit tests .. oh my god .. kya kya activities .. and in between all these class mein chakkar pe chakkar, serious competition among guys for gals :D Baba re baba ye kya ho raha tha .. looking back it brings smile :)

Almost every alternate year soon after the school reopening and after a month of classes by July end Cachaar region (where silchar is) and where Brahmaputra river flows, the whole place used to get flooded and our school used to become one of the refugee camp; 1-2 week School close and when you join back things look different … then by October Durga Pooja time , ans its about the drum beats every where – Lunch time and boys will start beating the bench – woh bhi competition maar key :D .. carefree days in school …. Exams would come and go … vacations will come and go … cricket,football , badminton kho kho games in school . Sip up. Phuchka (gol gape) ,channa chur, ice candy our snacks .. matador, cycle rickshaw our transportation .. going for regional meets my outing …. What more could I ask for .. ... I miss the school days , I miss the place, and I miss the Monsoon ……

Rim-Jhim Gire Saavan, Sulag Sulag Jaae Man

Bhige Aaj Is Mausam Mein, Lagi Kaisi Ye Agan

Rim-Jhim Gire Saavan 

Pahale Bhi Yuun To Barase The Baadal,

Pahale Bhi Yuun To Bhigaa Thaa Aanchal

Ab Ke Baras Kyuun Sajan, Sulag Sulag Jaae Man

Bhige Aaj Is Mausam Men, Lagi Kaisi Ye Agan

Rim-Jhim Gire Saavan 

Is Baar Saavan Dahakaa Huaa Hai, 

Is Baar Mausam Bahakaa Huaa Hai

Jaane Pike Chali Kyaa Pavan, Sulag Sulag Jaae Man

Bhige Aaj Is Mausam Men, Lagi Kaisi Ye Agan

Rim-Jhim Gire Saavan