Chennai lesson

Water is a powerful medium that unites and separates mankind. No body can forget the war for water every year with neighbouring states. All kinds of differences emerge – language, region, status to name a few. Environmentalists bellow for awareness among planners, builders and all. Who cares? Every summer our folks buy water in small bottles, big containers, and sometimes truck loads to fill and supplement the available source. But this December, people really meant the old nursery rhyme imploring rain to go away and appealed  the divinity to give them a break and that too, a longer break, enough to regain the things  lost including the mental strength. Chennai was a Venice devoid of fun. Even planes had a taste of Chennai sewage. Broad roads became muddy waterways in which boats of all colour and size sailed along with loads and loads of careworn city dwellers who could not possibly have afforded a cruise in their life. They have left all their belongings at home undecided as to what to carry along and what should be left behind. Small savings that took shape of furniture, electronics, utensils, clothes- all were devoured by slimy brown waters which brought far off reptiles into the city. Water assumed another role of equalizer. It brought together warring neighbours, young and old, sick and healthy, rich and poor, literate and others to the same  shelter house. All ate the same food, drank the same water and slept under one roof. Children cursed the rain and disregarded the romantic charm of the monsoons. All their toys have either disappeared or become incredibly shapeless. There is little hope that they would be replaced. Policemen in their uniforms were visions of hope and security, no longer images of insensiivity and bribery. Cars and bikes became unusable and unserviceable, mechanics became costlier, insurance agents out of coverage area, and the future darker and dimmer. Lamenting housewives wondered how to restart the kitchen. Street vendors did not know the whereabouts of their stock or carriers. Chennai flood is a reminder to one and all that any day, anybody could become nobody. And sometimes you would be forced to begin from scratch. Those who escaped the fury of flood thanked their gods, congratulated themselves on their choice of residential area and never ceased from advising others on doing this or that. Well this year, it is flood! What awaits us next year?