Fading Romance of Rimjhim

A short commentary

By

SKT Nasar ‘Babul’

Arrival of monsoon is eagerly awaited when scorching summer is intolerable. And, with the prayers rewarded, we passionately embrace the joy of monsoon. Dusty settlements and parched crop fields dance with relief. Apparently lifeless vegetation suddenly jumps back to life, spreading a carpet of soothing green everywhere.  Organisms from miniscule bacteria to large trees to gigantic whales start proclaiming that life is beautiful; life is not extinguished, after all!

Rimjhim, the monsoon drizzle sprouts romance all around. The thirsty soil produces a fragrance unmatched by branded perfumes in sheer ecstasy when the first rain drops kiss it. Young people get soaked in rainwater so their skin-clinging clothes highlight contours to attract adoring attention of the other gender. Love stories are set in motion. Intoxication of rimjhim continues through the entire rainy season running well into deep winter.

Jhamjham, a heavy downpour, produces twists to the romance of rimjhim. Birds find shelters; so do domestic animals. Burrowing animals stay put in underground perches. Romancing couples sprint for secluded lodging, lonelier the better. Children run to the open to splash muddy water, to swim in mud, to float little paper-boats on streaming water. Family Moms are like angry birds, worrying about the daughter in school, the college going son loafing around, her romantic husband flirting someone. Family oldies try to find comfortable postures in vain. Romantic gestures by the old man are rebuffed by his old lady. In frustration, the old man prevents younger members from rejoicing the rains; he had done through his life. Is it jealousy? Yes, of course!

Jhamajham is the category of torrential rains. Only farmer-tillers are coaxed into action. They rush to crop fields with cattle and ploughs. Affluent folks stay put in cosy homes, sipping hot drinks. Water logging in metropolises brings life to a halt. Jhamajham for several days in a row is a sign of oncoming floods.

Cloud bursts that cause excessive rains in short spells wash away all romance; it could be a sign of disasters especially in mountain slopes. Acid rains are scary. Rare blood-red rain fills everyone with fear; hearts and minds are left with no room for romance.

Seasonality of rains with connected romance is fast disappearing. Global warming, unprecedented carbon footprints and climate change are blamed for the distress. Are we, or the extraterrestrial humanoids, responsible for the malaise? Our forefathers passed on to us the romance of monsoon. We, the present generation of humanity are gifting to our children, our children’s children, their children a mother earth devoid of the romance of rimjhim. Yet, oldsters shed crocodile tears on the fading romance of rimjhim.

Let humanity join hands to reverse the processes of disastrous climate change. Let humanity revive the fading romance of rimjhim.