Villages and Monsoons

Slow ride today. A larger group, lured by the idea of a short route and very mild, very un-Delhi-like weather. We rode through fields and villages, having almost given up city rides for the time being.

The Yamuna river has overflowed from the Monsoon's excesses and the situation for the villagers living on its edges has become very difficult. I was talking to the polite gentleman above and he mentioned how villagers in the safer areas have lent a hand helping the displaced ones. How schools, small farm-houses, warehouses and other buildings have doubled as temporary shelters for the ones whose homes have been swept away by the river. Even all along the road we found beds with mosquito-nets and small tents where villagers have been spending their nights. It is a very difficult reality they are faced with and talking to this man made me feel reassured, that there is sufficient support for them.

The other side of the story is rooted in our constant need to push limits and cut corners. And not just with money. India's large population and disproportionate opportunities draw us to this direction. Delhi, driven by a business-oriented culture is a very strong embodiment of this quality of bargaining unfortunately inherent in us, Indians. It's the villagers, who had built their homes and their farms on what should actually have been the river's path, are the ones in peril now. The land wasn't theirs to begin with. The fierce summers and inadequate rains had allowed them to prosper for a while until these Monsoons helped the river claim its path.

Had Adda been with me on a ride like this, we would simply have parked the cycles for a while to stare into those vast beautiful green fields.

More detail large.