July 24, 2004

When the heat will go away,

And the clouds will prevail,

There will be a gay day,

And children will hail:

“At last we now gain

The cool showers of rain!”

The months of June and July in Pakistan bring with them the burning heat of summer. The hot weather troubles every young and old, creates disturbances in daily life and work and even makes people fall ill due to sunstrokes. But at the end of June, the clouds play hide and seek with the sun. This is the time when we wait anxiously for a rainy season to beat the heat.

The arrival of July and August, the monsoon months of Pakistan, has numerous effects on people. Rain is always regarded as happiness and a blessing of Nature. During the bitter summer, a rain shower cools down the hot atmosphere. It refreshes the environment and gives a greener look to plants and trees. It is even refreshing for animals and birds.

Excited children fully enjoy the cool showers of rain in their summer holidays. From my point of view, they should complete their summer vacation homework as early as possible so that they can make the most of the rainy season at the end of their holidays. They usually go out to shower in the first drizzle of rain. However, it is never advisable to soak ourselves in the initial showers as they carry dust particles, germs and bacteria which are not safe for our health. After three or four rainfalls, the rainwater becomes clean enough to be enjoyed.

Enjoying this season does not only mean bathing in rain showers. Sitting calmly in our bedrooms, listening to music and watching the downpour through the window has a charm of its own. The ill and elderly usually spend the rainy season in this manner and derive pleasure, joy and delight from the magnificent view. That is why the rain itself and the cool atmosphere brought by the rain are beneficial for their health.

As Henry Longfellow said in his famous poem: Rain in summer;

The sick man from his chamber looks

At the twisted brooks;

He can feel the cool

Breath of each little pool;

His fevered brain

Grows calm again,

And he breathes a blessing on the rain.

Outdoor games like football, volleyball and basketball are often played while soaking in the rain showers. But indoor games including board games such as scrabble, chess and other activities like different puzzles and jumbles are also pleasurable when they are played with family or friends while sitting on the terrace and viewing the beautiful scene of natural water falling down.

Moreover, the delicious pakoras, sweet mangoes, tasty kebabs, ice creams and other savory snacks add more delight to these cool rainy moments. Some families also arrange picnics to make the rainy holidays more memorable. If you have spare money and you are arranging a gathering for your friends, why not have it on rainy day? Its double the fun and excitement!

But the rainy season is not just all ecstasy. It also gives rise to some troubles and inconveniences like the spread of diseases, traffic problems, floods etc. In the year 2000, there came a period of severe drought in some areas of Sindh. People and animals started to die owing to lack of water, and the whole nation prayed desperately for rains. The rains came after a long while. Contrary to this, last year, an excessive amount of rainfall caused large floods, which took the lives of many people.

Continuous downpours give rise to certain problems, which interrupt the daily routines of people. Citizens are usually disturbed by the frequent and prolonged power breakdowns. Faults also occur in the telephone lines, causing problems like distortion, interruption and call drops while talking through mobile phones. The major difficulty faced is traffic hazards. The rate of accidents also rises and driving becomes difficult, as we cannot see properly through the heavy rain. Pedestrians also suffer when they are going to important places as passing-by cars splash muddy water all over their clothes.

Water gets contaminated, which gives birth to many diseases. To overcome this problem, drinking water must be boiled and filtered properly. Eye infections and other viruses also spread, particularly diseases like malaria, due to the stagnant water present at many roadsides.

If you possess any pet animal, then it is necessary to take its proper care.

Some children also play in stagnant water present at roadsides. This is not only harmful for their health as it is not clean at all, but it is also dangerous because playing by the roadsides may cause accidents and other traffic problems.

In an agricultural country like Pakistan, it is true that crops need large amounts of water, and rain provides them with that. But excessive downpours cause floods, and these have adverse effects on crops. The government is taking preventive measures to overcome the problem of floods.

But a fact is that rain is a blessing of Nature, and we should always thank God for the pure showers that rain down upon us from above. After all, it is rain which relieves us from the annoying summer heat.

I shall not write more as I see the sky has become heavy with clouds and there are chances of rain. So I must finish this article before power failures occur. I’m going outside to have fun, but I will leave you with this verse from Henry Longfellow’s poem Rain in Summer:

How beautiful is the rain!

After the dust and heat;

In the broad and fiery street,

In the narrow lane

How beautiful is the rain!

Happy Rainy Season!