President’s Message
Fellow Rotarians,
Very Warm Greetings!
‘Varsha Ritu’, ‘Borsha’, ‘Varsham’, and ‘Kar’ in different parts of India. The English word monsoon is believed to originate in the Portuguese ‘moncao’, the Arabic ‘mawsim’, and the Dutch ‘monson’.
Monsoon and amchi Mumbai have a poetic bond. The turbulent lashing sea, black clouds and dark overcast skies herald its arrival.
This is one season that many of us Mumbaikars, as residents of this coastal city, eagerly await after the scorching heat of the summer months. The scent of the first showers of rain on the parched sunburnt earth is always special and unique. It makes one shut one’s eyes and breathe in that hypnotic and fresh earthy scent.
What is it about the monsoons that has this mesmerising effect on people? Watching the pitter-patter of raindrops falling on your window pane and birds taking shelter at every conceivable place that they can find is enthralling. Looking at the raindrops on tree leaves is soothing and calming. Monsoon brings with it a feeling of happiness, a cool breeze, and nature drenched in rain.
The city becomes spellbinding, with nature weaving its magic; Marine Drive, otherwise serene, is beset by the sound, fury and lashing of the monsoon high tide, the picturesque Gateway of India through a watery haze, in which water droplets appear to travel hither and thither in the air, are sights to die for.
The sight of the arc of the rainbow (‘indra dhanush’) in seven colours (‘sat rangi’) of red, orange, yellow, green, blue/cyan, indigo/blue and violet in the sky are nature’s gifts for all to marvel at and enjoy.
Young lovers walking on the beach under a single umbrella and children getting mucky playing football in the muddy Azad Maidan are common sights.
The first shower brings yet another expected change to Mumbai. Markets, as well as roadside stalls, get flooded with a sea of umbrellas of different colours, sizes and types from pocket and folding umbrellas to umbrellas with long sticks, manual and automatic.
The monsoon weather is unpredictable. What begins as a mild rain may suddenly turn into a heavy downpour. Heavy rains through the night mean delayed trains and jammed roads, but then the Mumbai work culture rises to the challenge of the monsoon. If we were to ignore the traffic disruption, potholes and sewage problems, Mumbai is certainly a place worth being in during the monsoon. The poor weather department and weather man is always at the receiving end of anger and ridicule, for usually getting predictions and forecasts wrong.
And, during the worst of the wet weather, hot steaming cups of milky sweet or black masala cutting chai with crunchy, salty home-made kandaa or other bhajias complete the monsoon experience or even sitting next to the windows in a sea-facing restaurant while it rains and savouring nature’s beauty.
A drive or overnight trip to Lonavala and Khandala are a ritual for many to enjoy the ‘naisarg’ (nature), the lush greenery, the stunning sight of the hills under a thick blanket of cloud.
In the good old days, a drive to Khopoli just to enjoy Ramakant’s then-famous batata wadas was a must.
Music, too, can’t be far behind. Classical Hindustani music: Ragas Megh and Malhar infused together to give Raga Megh Malhar. The ever-popular folklore of that great Indian Classical maestro and one of the ‘navratnas’ in Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court, Mian Tansen, having performed the intense Raga Deepak (Poorvi Thaat), suffering incurable heat and physical agony, roaming India, until he reached Vadnagar in Gujarat to be pacified by the rendition of Raga Megh Malhar by two sisters – Tana and Riri, related to the Poet Saint Narsinh Mehta or Narsi Bhagat said to be a Adi Kavi.
The lush, green, and alive monsoon is a sight and this beautiful form of nature has been used extensively in Indian cinema, particularly the ever-popular Bollywood cinema, for depicting passion, romance, drama, intensity, and poetry. Expressing Indian cinema’s larger-than-life aspect, rain is one of the most loved props of storytelling in Bollywood. And some of the popular songs (good or masala types) are – ‘Barso Re Barso Re’ (Tansen in 1943 – K L Saigal); ‘Pyaar hua iqraar hua‘ (Shree 420); ‘Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si’ (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi); ‘O Sajna Barkha Bahar Aayi’ (Parakh); ‘Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi’ (Wo Barsat Ki Raat); ‘Roop Tera Mastana’ (Aradhana); ‘Lakhon Ka Sawan Jaye’ (Roti, Kapda Aur Makan); ‘Megha Re Megha Re’ (Pyaasa Sawan); ‘Aaj rapat jaayen’ (Namak Halal); ‘Lagi Aaj Saawan’ (Chandni), ‘Rim Jhim Run Jhum’ (1942 A Love Story); ‘Ghanan ghanan’ (Lagaan), ‘Barso re’ (Guru); ‘Give Me Some Sunshine, Give Me Some Rain’ (3 Idiots).
Whatever be our feelings toward it, we cannot deny nor ignore the magic of monsoon in Mumbai, even when the magic gets a little dark at times.
Some hate it. Some love it. I love it!
Preeti Mehta
President
