nature's fury

There goes a proverb in Assamese which when interpreted means thus; On the onset of spring, BORDOICHILA (wind) goes to her mother's place. However, when she returns, she returns with a vengeance, destroying whatever comes on her path. I have seen BORDOICHILA yesterday night, and oh how!

Yesterday night, while basking in the ambiance of spring cultural fest in the campus and getting soaked in the heady and scintillating bihu dance performance, we heard the distant rumbling of an approaching thunderstorm. However, before we could reach our car, big pelting raindrops and gushing wind hit us on the face, taking our breathe away. We anticipated the thunderstorm late at night and was completely taken by surprise. The wind was so powerful that it blew away most of the roofs of the thatched housed in the nearby village. As the wind blew in a spiraling pattern, it just demolished whatever came on its path. How transient and small we felt as we just watched nature's fury being unleashed and was helpless and powerless to do anything about it!

At this juncture, numerous thoughts has crossed my mind and I felt an urge to unwind and share my musings. While there is tremendous advancement and hi-tech inventions every other day, at the other end, natural disaster is claiming more and more lives in different parts of the globe. It is a pity that despite numerous disaster mitigation and management workshops, seminars and conferences, and despite chalking out agenda of action, disaster is causing and will continue to cause untold misery and havoc in people's lives, be it in J&K, or Pakistan or Italy. One of the most important factor causing maximum causality and damage in a disaster like earthquake and storm is poor housing condition. So quality housing should be one of the priority action in any disaster management and mitigation plan.

My new abode

I have recently moved to my new abode, overlooking an unique wetland, frequented by varieties of migratory and local birds. From our elevated balcony, which is some 50 mtrs above the wetland, the view is irresistibly beautiful. Most of the wetland is covered with vibrant green grasses, and pools of water can be seen only intermittently. Unseen to the naked eyes, birds settle in the grassy parts of the wetland and only when they takes flight are they visible to viewers. And what a spellbinding, soul stirring scene it creates!

Right there in the middle of the wetland, there are two date trees, laden with fruits. These are wild dates and not the delicious ones imported from Arab countries. Yet,the trees give a panoramic view of the wetland, like an artist's canvass unfolding before the eyes. Towards the far end of the wetland, there are naturally grown trees, creepers,shrubs and bushes, giving it a unique appearance, as if there is a rainforest in the vicinity of the wetland. Along with birds and insects, there are reptiles too including python and green flying viper. The other day, a python was seen lying across the road leading to our quarters, blocking traffic for a while. It later slithered towards the wetland below.

From the ripples created in the water and from the attentive stork's unwavering and alert stance, it is logically deduced that fish population is present in the pools of water, although we are yet to see a stork catching it's pray. The specialty of the wetland is that it is not fed from rainwater, rather from a spring from below. For this reason, water always remains, despite scorching heat.At one time, the grassy part was utilized by the villagers nearby to grow one variety of rice named "Bao Dhan" during rainy season and Corn was grown in the relatively drier area
during summer.

Be it rain or scorching heat,when I look across my balcony, I can feel a somnolent serenity enveloping the atmosphere and it inundates my soul as I inhale the fresh air and raw earthy scent wafting through the air. To me, it is an epitome of spiritual fulfillment and inner bliss.