As I share my reflections on the monsoon season of 2023 in India, it’s important to note that this essay represents my personal experiences and perspectives. The observations on infrastructure, government priorities, and societal challenges are subjective, and readers are encouraged to interpret them through their lenses. This piece is intended for archival purposes on Medium, offering a snapshot of my thoughts during a specific time and season.
As the monsoons descended upon India in 2023, I couldn't help but discern a juxtaposition of wonderment and disillusionment. Dilapidated thoroughfares, compromised pavements, and contaminated waters ubiquitously pervaded the landscape, reminiscent of a nation ostensibly overlooking rudimentary infrastructure while boldly donning the mantle of a "Vishwaguru."
The conspicuous negligence and distorted priorities of the governmental apparatus became evident against the backdrop of the rainfall, which, while accentuating the splendour of nature, concurrently brought to the fore the systemic shortcomings afflicting our societal fabric. The fissured roads and sunken walkways assumed symbolic significance, emblematic of the vacuity inherent in the lofty proclamations and ornate rhetoric emanating from the corridors of power.
The predicament escalated when confronted with the disconcerting amalgamation of open sewers intermingling with rainwater – a disarray that underscored the deleterious consequences faced by ordinary citizens. The olfactory assault arising from these dilapidated urban spaces served as an unrelenting reminder of the health hazards thrust upon the populace within this chaotic milieu.
The purported nationalistic pride, encapsulated in the epithet of Vishwaguru, underwent an inglorious revelation as a mirage dissolving under the weight of reality. As a conscientious citizen, I found myself compelled to navigate this precarious terrain with circumspection, meticulously preserving my dignity and safeguarding against the very nation entrusted with our well-being.
Transitioning to a metaphysical discourse, the contemplation of divine bestowals upon individuals elicited a nuanced perspective. The notion of soliciting freedoms from a higher power, accompanied by selective impositions, rendered the purported liberty a paradoxical construct. In envisioning a scenario wherein unbridled freedom is granted by a divine entity, the incongruity of retaining the status of a subject while adhering to predefined constraints becomes apparent. The contention is posited that authentic freedom emanates from an intrinsic moral compass, rooted in personal consciousness, thereby rendering the solicitation of divine freedoms an exercise in self-regulation.
Concluding this reflective narrative is an account of a leisurely day amid the monsoons. Rising late into the day, around noon, I embarked on a quest for literary treasures bathed in the scorching sun. Serendipitously encountering fervent devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the ensuing exchange of pleasantries, punctuated by the venerable "Hare Krishna," revealed a shared adherence to the Vaishnavism path. The interconnectedness culminated in a pledge to reconvene in the future, sealing the day with a convivial feast at my aunt’s abode, resonating with Hare Krishna's sentiments.
