Monsoon Magic!

Monsoon Magic! 

                                                                                                             - Vinod M Kumar 

                                                                                      

Monsoon is always the best time to visit any location in India. The whole of India comes alive with the onset of south west monsoon (June - August) except Tamil Nadu. While the ghat regions of the state gets some rainfall, most of the state as a whole remains dry during this season. There are two reasons for it: One, the state lies in the rain shadow region of the Arabian Sea branch of south west monsoon. Two, the coast of Tamil Nadu is situated parallel to the bay of Bengal branch. So as a result the state receives no rainfall, when most parts of the country will be busy fighting floods at the same time. But nature always has a way of balancing things. Thanks to retreating monsoon winds, Tamil Nadu is one of the few places on earth that gets its maximum rainfall during the winter season. This is famously called as the North East monsoon (October - December)  period. So not only in terms of history, language & culture Tamil Nadu is an exception when it comes to geography too.

Before North-East Monsoon

After North-East Monsoon

It’s been a month since the onset of North east monsoon and there was not a day without any rain, the past ten days here at ACCC. It rained a whooping 84 mm on 30th October, the highest single day rainfall so far this year. The whole campus has turned lush green with the rains. Even the iconic hill behind accc which often looks barren and rocky has turned green as if someone has put a green blanket over it. On some rainy days I would wake up to see the clouds crashing over the hill. It is something which I cannot describe in words. At the sight of it, My mind would be filled with only one thought. That “Heaven is right there on this earth”. And I just wish that every morning should start like this!

There is still a month left for the monsoon to end. I just hope that the pond inside the centre will get filled up by that time. So that some waterbirds can lay eggs and raise their young. Mathivanan sir did mention that some comb ducks raised their young at the pond last year. I am eagerly looking forward to it!

View of the tank