Wednesday 17 August 2011

Rain washed country side







I  returned  from  Lucknow  late  evening on
August  15th (our  Independence  Day).
It poured  heavily  all  day and  I  missed  the  earlier  buses. Sonia  and I  waited more than 2  hours at  the
bus station , once  I  got  a  seat everything  was  OK.
In  spite  of  rain, I   had  a  lovely  time  with  Sonia and  her family. I  will  post pictures  of  the  places  we  saw. I  was  visiting after a gap  of  10  years, much  has  changed  in that  city.

I  travelled  by  a  very  comfortable AC bus and tried to take photos through  the  closed  windows.

Lucknow is  205 kms (kilometers) from
Allahabad.
These  pictures are of  the  River  Ganga flooded
in  the  middle  of  the  monsoon. All  the  low  lying  areas  and  villages  are  submerged.
The  village  roads  were  very  muddy  and  slushy.
While  the  cities  and urban areas  are  developing at  a very  fast  rate and  everywhere you can see signs of wealth, prosperity  and  advancement, the  villages  are  far behind and  neglected.

Before leaving  I  had  made  arrangements  for Mama  and  Aunt  Maya , ensuring  their  comfort and  ease (even Sheeba). Mama  was  very  worried and  kept  calling  me  on my  cell   phone.
On entering  Lucknow we  passed   through
a newly developed area which  is  a  memorial park, I told  her  so. Mom was   puzzled  by  that   and  thought  the  bus  driver  was  taking  us  through a  wrong route. She  rang  up  my  sister  and  brother-in-law and  had  another  person  call  them.  So there  was  a lot  of  telephonic activity during  my  approach to the city.
My  mother was  only satisfied  when  I  told  her that I  had  met Sonia and  Abner  at the bus station.
Up till then my  poor  mother  was  thinking  I  was  lost, kidnapped  or hijacked!
After  all   I  had  left  town after  ten years.

10 Fertilize my soul:

Nadwrażliwiec said...

I'm hope it isn't dramatical flood. But, what is the most important - You returned healthy and "in one piece" like we say in Poland.

Amrita said...

Hi Zim, yes I got back alright.

23 people died in our state because of the rain storms.

JI said...

Hi Amrita,

It seems like a very wet monsoon season where you are. I suppose it's better than no rain for the sake of crops.

What do you think about Anna Hazare and his anti-corruption protest? It's making quite a lot of news here. I undertsand he has a lot of support across India. Although it is good India has finally arrived at this moment when people are totally fed up with corruption, I'm very skeptical there will be any significant change. Corruption is like a cancer in India. You can't simply blame the government for it. It needs a transformation of society, and I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.

Best wishes,
JI

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

Very nice takes!

And villages are better keeping apart from wealth, prosperity, etc. for they are calmer and patient at mind!

Saija said...

i'm glad the Lord blessed you with a good and safe visit ... i'm sure your mom is happy to have you back - safe and sound ...

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Amrita,

Fantastic photos. I am appalled at the flood and devastation all around. I agree all the villages near the low lying area of the river will get flooded during heavy monsoon. Sometimes houses and crops are destroyed and people die.

Very sad.
Joseph

David C Brown said...

The monsoon is always a worry - too little or too much.

Interesting to hear about Lucknow - it's famous to me for the Indian "Mutiny".

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Our countries are very similar since both are always inundated by monsoon rains alternating with very hot weather. Your mother was so worried about you while you were away from your home. Great that you were able to come back just in time. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.

Amrita said...

Dear JI I am voicing my opinion on th e Hazare episode on my Facebook page .
I hold the same views as you. I wonder if the Lokpal can effect change at the grass root level where it is needed the most.

The present govt. did not handle this issue wisely and have dione a great disservice to themselves.

Amrita said...

Hi Bhavesh, I' d prefer village life too, only it should be well connected with roads an d have a proper electricity and water supply and health services.