The term monsoon came from the Arabic word mausim, meaning season. In India, it stretches from June to September, bringing us relief from the scorching summer.
Whenever we think of monsoon, an image forms in our mind about dark clouds, pitter patter of rainfall interrupted occasionally by thunder and lightning, smell of the wet earth and the rain-soaked lush green vegetation — that is the magic or beauty of this season.
At times, the list gets enriched by food items. For me, a Bengali, the quintessential khichuri with ilish maachh bhaja, papad and chutney add to the enchantment of this season.
While discussing food, one gets reminded of the farmers who grow crops through hard work and for whom the monsoon rains are a blessing. There are also birds like the pied cuckoo whose arrival in the Himalayan foothills has been traditionally believed by farmers to be linked to the onset of monsoon. This season’s beauty reminds me of the Rabindrasangeet Aaji jhor jhor mukhor badar din e. It is in this season that one can float paper boats down the waterlogged courtyard, play in puddles and have a half day off or even remain absent from school because of a self-declared rainy day! The season’s charm also lies in the fact that it rejuvenates the earth’s ecosystem and it is important for the survival of all species.
This season, like all other seasons, also has its own drawbacks like flood, submergence of homes, disruption of accessibility along with a perennial problem in every home — of clothes not getting dry.
All said and done, the biggest specialty of monsoon lies in its most important function of maintaining the hydrological cycle which in turn ensures the constant supply of water— the elixir of life.
This function alone surpasses all its demerits and makes the season truly a magical one.
Arkadipta Das, 21 years,
Shyamali Housing Estate, EA Block
Rishita Gupta, 13 years, VIP Enclave, Baguiati
Paulami Ghosh, 22 years, Dum Dum Park
(Top, centre, bottom pic) Manabendra Talapatra, 70 years, Block C, Bangur Avenue
