"He will spoil the wheat crop"
: (an angry voice on the street)
"He will destroy the farmers..."
:(another dejected angry voice as though replying & reflecting the 1st)
Both the sentences overheard in passing "in unison" pressed a Pop-up in my brain....to think....
WHAT ???
these two sentences in quick succession in northern India are uttered only & only when...... Talking of "Indra" the God of rain, the King of Heaven, the King of Gods themselves
I immediately looked up towards the sky- Not a Star to be seen.... & Yesss Indra's forces were back !!
I had got down from my car to buy some cigarettes near Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in Chanakyapuri. It was a silent night, not a leave moved, absolutely still & that's why could hear the two voices clearly from far away. (The time about 11 - 11.10 p.m. this monday night.) Were we in the eye of the storm?
The whole sky had taken a darkest hue of Orange.... reflecting back the Orange lights of New Delhi's mighty & Vast street-light network system....
Within minuetes there was a first gust of wind warning the trees to bow in salute to Indra, they obediently complied making a deep whoosh sound announcing the arrival of the forces of The King of heaven..... then silence as it was before... as though waiting with bated breath thestart of the orchestra.... not moving a leave like rehearsed disciplined soldiers....
The first light sort of dancing, the smallest raindrop possible started.... HIS Orchestra had began playing his latest Show in the Capital....
Smiling at his gift I got back into my car to proceed on my way...
then I remembered the oft repeated two sentences at the time of Harvests whenever Indra decides to play mischief.....
& I felt Guilty....!!
When we the city people would be blissfully sleeping, happy at the good weather, the tired folks in the villages would be having tension filled sleepless night.... they have been going to the fields everyday checking the soil if it was good for harvesting.,. Contemplated all day what to do looked at the sky & the ready crop before their eyes..... the crop that would give them & their children the wheat for bread for whole year, & fodder for their cattle for half the year....
they have vivid memories of their ready to harvest crops flattened "No good" by Rains or hailstorm or high wind force so many times.... they pray for just 5 days of clear weather...
They would be getting up in the night when it starts to drizzle waking each other up to untie their livestock from open air to the safty of a roof lest they fall ill....
& I couldn't smile anymore thinking of the children sleeping in their rag-tag attires, their parents holding dreams for them.... they can work towards those dreams for their children once the harvest reaches under roof making them free from worries reagarding one year's bread supply....
Children's new clothes budgeting will be done weather they would get some new toys or will that be postponed till the next harvest.... will the marriage take place after this harvest or will it be postponed till the next....
Budgeting exercise is over for Govt. Of India done by our finance Minister in the delayed March Budget session of Parliament, the Corporates are on the verge of completing their budgeting if noot already done after financial year closing on 31st March.... their exercises are based on rational figures......
But the Budgeting exercises for each village household is in limbo.... it is yet to take place.... & IT WILL, but an unknown quantity has to be factored in before that.... but the most crucial quantity..... :- the INDRA Factor...!!! Indra will decide what the Budget for each household will be like ....!!
How they would be laughing their bezt jokes, how lightfooted they would feel after taking two days nap once the harvest is indoors.... how energetic they would feel on any topic any task... how some old enemities have a chance to be resolved in that overall positive atmosphere.... & the harvest is good this time.....
I look upwads where Indra would be consorting with his heavenly fairies, not knowing weather my quite voice will reach him or if he would bother...
I ask him:- look we city people can easily do without the luxury you are bestowing on us... but the other India can not do without their "need".... we wouldn't even thank you for the luxury or even remember you, but they will thank you & thank you from their heart.... so think about them & do for them....
I did my Karma...... Indra will do his Karma as he thinks fit...
[above is THE insight into the oft-repeated 2 Indias]
Have a nice day !
