These days I am putting up in the hostel of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), which is in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. The campus is not definitely 'the most beautiful one' in terms of its decor etc., but it has its own elegance and a pristine aura. You will get to see a lot of greeneries and ponds occasionally punctuated with overgrowths. Being born and brought up in South Kolkata, I was hardly in touch with nature, but here I became acquainted with different speicies of birds, trees and insects. I shifted to the hostel in the month of November, when the climate in Kolkata was just pleasant. But in the ISI campus even at that time it was COLD! You know, the campus is not self sufficient, in the sense that you have to go out to Bonhoogli every time you need to buy a Colgate or a Lifebuoy, or would like to have an ice cream. And trust me, outside was hotter by at least two degree (courtesy, the pollution spread by the trucks and trailors speeding through the notoroius B.T.Road). Now I am a person who can barely stand cold. Every night in the hostel my nails would turn blue and i would curse the bio diversity in the campus enclosed by red brick walls on all four sides.
Now why am I drifting like this? I am supposed to write something about monsoon - a topic I have voluntarily chosen. Then why this winter,cold and B.T.Road? No its just a foreward, I sincerely apologise for the length.
So, where was I? Oh, I was complaining about the bio diversity. Don't shout at me, I am not being weird, I am just not used to it. Stay in South Kolkata and you will know. The only animal you get to see is dogs, the only birds are crows and a few sparrows and only insect is cockroach! Forgive us, but we are more comfortable with the stories about new brands of cars and shopping malls than we are with the beauty of nature. Its man's creation that appeals to us more.
This year Kolkata experienced an early monsoon. Now, rain to me, or for that matter, to most in south Kolkata, means inconvenience. Traffic snarls, wterlogged roads - life becomes a perfect standstill. With all the pollution around our immunity has gone down to a pathetically low level, which forbids us from getting drenched in the rains in open fields (forget that, you will not get a field in a city).
In here, its a totally different experience. With vast fields around and woods (though woods in ISI campus will be a bit of euphemism) it feels so special... One night, the night monsoon arrived I was on the terrace talking to someone, I didn't know at that time will become someone special to me and bring me happy rains every morning and night. I was showered both by nature and love... It is a feeling inexpressible, at least by someone like me who has started scribbling her thoughts so late. My first monsoon at ISI is quite remarkable - first time a born South Kolkatan has fallen in love - in love with nature. With its magnificence. With its majestic grace. One day when I was coming back from the Institute to my hostel through the road beside a pond I noticed at least three different kinds of frogs (don't ask me what varieties are they, since that was my first day of learning about nature). I never knew there can be so many types of beetles and snails on earth! That's not all. Next morning I woke up early. Since I didn't have anything better to do, I thought of taking a walk around, if I could see any of those animals I saw last night. However, I couldn't find any. I was about to be disappointed when I saw a few species of birds which I have never seen before. I stood there, very carefully, lest they get frightened. I listened to their calls and watched them collecting food. I still don't know their names, but I know which bird sings what song....
