In the great plains of India, there is nothing romantic about the monsoon; People's fate depends on the monsoon's mood swings. If it falls to keep its date with the country, there is drought. If it's over generous, the floods cause death and destruction. Even when it's "normal", some river somewhere exceeds the danger mark and kills a few hundred people. After the skies clear and the water recedes, armies of mosquitoes and bugs launch attacks. Millions fall prey with chills, cramps, fever. In this part of the world, drought, deluge and death are as much an annual phenomenon as the monsoon.
Bangladesh may be famous for its notorious floods, but India is not far behind. Every year, the monsoon floods leave a trial of destruction in India. Roughly 20% of deaths caused by flooding worldwide occur here; some 30 million people are evacuated every year. Every witness an "unprecedented flood". Every other year the "worst flood in living memory" leaves scores dead. Is India becoming ever more vulnerable to monsoon fury?
No, say Vinod K Sharma and AD Kaushik of the National Centre for Disaster Management in a recent paper on floods in India. They argue that states did not appear quite as vulnerable as before because there was less developmental activity and population pressure. "However; in the present time unabated population and high rate of developmental activities forced on the occupation of flood plains has made the society highly vulnerable to flood losses", they wrote.
In 2009, the monsoon was weak and deficient but it caused floods, deaths and displacement in Orissa, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and the north-eastern states. In 2008, the monsoon was normal, but Bihar faced the worst flood crisis ever as the Kosi brqched its embankment, changed course and deluged several districts, leaving hundreds dead and three million homeless.
Call of Duty
It is better to perform one's own duties imperfectly than to master the duties of another. By fulfilling the obligations he is born with, a person never comes to grief. No one should abandon duties because he sees defeats in them. (Bhagavad Gita 18:44:48)
Duty, the essence of which is truth, is said to be the root of all in this world; it is truth that is the support of duty; everything has truth as its basis; there is nothing greater than the truth. (Ramayana 109)
If one does not perform duty to one whom the duty is due, one becomes a thief of the duty. (Avesta, Videvdad 4)
Do daily and hourly your duty; do it patiently and thoroughly. Do it as it presents itself; do it at the moment, and let it be its own reward ……. Never mind whether it is known and acknowledged or not, but do not fall to do it. (James H Aughey)
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