Walking among the great ones

Author: Zhang Wu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The muggy heat before the rainy season seems to evaporate time, leaving people dazed. Therefore, a saying is in India: Whoever rules India is a fleeting ruler, because the true ruler of this country is the monsoon. Indians pay far more attention to the monsoon than to politics. As long as the monsoon does not arrive on schedule, people anxiously gaze up at the sky, guessing when this true ruler will "hold court" and worrying about it making a "policy mistake." If it arrives a day late, people will endure an extra day of scorching heat. A slight deviation in its direction could leave half of India in a state of drought, making food a major concern for the entire nation. Indians always welcome the arrival of the monsoon with a sense of reverence.
The monsoon initially starts as a lullaby over the Indian Ocean. When its moist air mass clashes with the dry, cold air mass, after a few fierce battles, it forms a massive cloud cluster. Then, it gathers strength and makes a grand entrance onto the South Asian subcontinent from the southwest sea in late May. Its prelude is a churning sea of clouds and towering cloud pillars. A few vultures circle in the dark clouds, like tiny boats in turbulent waves. When these boats suddenly capsize, the heavy rain pours down, turning the world into a white haze. The bushes and wild grass in the fields excitedly change shape, shaking their bodies vigorously as they absorb the water. On the windows of city buildings, countless faces press close, immersed in the unity of sky and water. The streets and alleys in the city instantly erupt with waterfalls of all shapes, as if a thousand ravines are rushing, echoing with the heavens. Cars on the roads become swaying rafts. Under the torrential rain, the scorching air scatters in all directions.
The monsoon races forward and reaches northern India by early August. The relentless heat has made India smoldering, with people's skin feeling as if wrapped in a transparent plastic film. The heavy rain peels off that plastic film, allowing the body to have a close encounter with water. Indians are inherently gentle, but once the monsoon arrives, the in their blood, like ignited religious fervor, becomes extremely excited. In the pouring rain, it is rare to see people frantically dodging the rain on the streets; instead, most are smiling and cheerful.
When I worked in India, I brought a sturdy umbrella to protect myself from the wind and rain. Throughout the rainy season, however, my umbrella was completely useless. The force of the storm flipped it upside down, turning it into a cumbersome burden in my hands. On Indian streets, it is rare to see people using umbrellas in the rain, while those who do so on sunny days are far more numerous. When heavy rain falls, people are accustomed to hiding under dense trees, enjoying themselves as they admire the raindrops hanging from the sky.