As I left my seva at Amrita University I heard thunder, then the sound
\nof swiftly approaching wind in the branches of the coconut palms. Rain
\nbegan falling through the atrium of the AICT-Biotech building, bouncing
\noff the plants, falling into the pond below.
\nUnfurling my umbrella I walked swiftly toward the boat jetty in the
\ncompany of dozens of students, hoping for quick boat service. Alas, the
\nboat was on the other side of the water and the volume of rain increased
\nas we stood clustered together, hopefully staring at the other side of
\nthe river. I offered the shelter of my umbrella to three other students
\nand we stood laughing as the wind threatened to blow away the umbrella
\nand perhaps us as well.
\nThe crowd on our side of the river increased. Computer, engineering,
\nbiotech students; international visitors including a group of giggling
\nteenagers, and a few bramacharis and bramacharinis, workers and
\nvillagers thrown in the mix as well. Some of the students wore their tan
\nuniforms. Some wore colorful and stylish salwar-kameez. We waited and
\nwaited as the boat filled up with passengers on the other side and the
\nwind slanted and blew rain in under our umbrellas.
\nFinally the large canopied boat majestically drew up alongside the
\njetty. We poured into the boat and filled up every bit of space. I
\ncommented to a fellow Westerner about how happy and unconcerned the
\nlocal people were about getting wet. Everyone seemed to be enjoying
\nthemselves; comparing states of wetness and smiling and laughing with
\neach other.
\nWe considered that it might be because everyone in India knows that rain
\nis the life of the land. Without the monsoon, traditionally drought and
\nfamine follow. The rains bring great rejoicing and many people run out
\nto be drenched. The monsoon usually arrives first in Kerala and then
\nmoves across the rest of the land of Bharat. Perhaps this creates a
\nunique joy in the rain that is not so pervasive in our native countries.
\nSomeone else mentioned that now that we had entered the ashram boat we
\nwere sheltered under Amma\u00c2\u2019s roof, safe from the storm. I looked around
\nat the happy faces: all the different countries, all the different
\ncolors. Despite the differences we shared the joy of rain, the joy of
\nshelter from the rain and the joy of the shelter of the arms of Amma.
\nRta S., USA
\n12 Aug 2006<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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