WHEN I was in my elementary school, the English language teacher would ask us to write an essay on a rainy day. The whole class would write in words expressing enjoyment and jubilation. Back in time, people would look forward to rain spells, especially during the July-September phase, as they provided some relief from the sweltering heat. The sight of dark clouds would bring joy to people.

When it rained, many would hit the streets to have an uninterrupted interaction with the falling rain, while others would watch from the windows or verandas. The cool weather during and following the rain was enjoyed with a feast of munchies, especially pakoras.

These festivities during the monsoons were not confined to any particular city or region; they were the norm across the subcontinent.

Since the rain celebrations were wide-spread and a strong part of the culture, moviemakers on both sides of the border would often include songs in their films picturised on leading actors, dancing and enjoying in the rain. They made hundreds of rain songs in that era, which are still popular with the people, like Zindagi bhar naheen bhoolay gi woh barsat ki raat, by Lata and Rafi, Rim jhim rim jhim paray phoar, by Noor Jehan and Munir Hussain, Ghanghore ghata lehrai hai, by Naseem Begum, and Rim jhim giray sawan, by Kishore Kumar etc.

No one makes such songs now in part because rain is no more associated, at least directly, with fun. It is unfortunate that a rain forecast is now enough to cause an intense feeling of gloom and doom. People living in the vast areas of Sindh and Balochistan, where rains caused havoc earlier in the year, get extremely, and rightfully, distressed and panicky on seeing the dark clouds hovering overhead.

The monsoon is also a nightmare for the people of Karachi now. In addition to all the grave issues that afflict life in the metropolis, like prolonged electricity breakdowns, water scarcity, destruction in the name of development and so on, the first thought that crosses the mind of people in Karachi when they hear of a rain forecast is to think of some route that may facilitate their commute between their homes and workplaces.

The aftermath of rains is more horrific as broken roads and potholes make even short distances appear and be actually long and miserable. The cost incurred by people for getting their houses and shops damaged by rains repaired is exorbitant.

One could never visualise that the phenomenon of climate change would also adversely affect the cultural traditions and patterns so drastically, and bring such agony to people on such a large scale across the social spectrum.

Parvez Rahim
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2022