Inspiration for poets,writers,photographers and painters and reason behind chaos for policemen,electrical workers and roadside sellers,each one has a different interpretation of the monsoon season The season of blossom is finally here and as the earth gets ready to be drenched in celebration,all are set to welcome the rains in their own unique way! While a poet sits with a cup of coffee lost in the world of words,a painter thinks about the right strokes that can portray the showering raindrops. For a few like the policemen and electricians,it is time to work harder and for some,it's just the time to buy colourful umbrellas to add spice to their boring routines. The rains are here and the city is ready for yet another monsoon. Monsoon for me is cutting chai and hot pakodas! I love the rainy season. I always get drenched in the first rains,as many have told me that it bring good luck. Reading,sitting beside my window,feeling the rain-drops on my face is the most amazing thing in the world, says Rebecca Thomas,a writer who has been in the city for over 16 years. In the words of Ajay De,charcoal artist,rains are about hope and a new life. In fact it is my favorite season,it never fails to give me happiness. The best part is that it brings a positive impact on my work. I get a new dimension. Most of my work has been done during the monsoon season such as the umbrella series and so on. This season is really a joy." For a few who are used to seeing the world through the lens,rains are an opportunity to compose new frames. Be it tangled electricity wires,fallen trees or for that matter the reflections of skies and buildings in the water collected in potholes,the shutterbugs are truly the happiest people during rainy season. Rahul Deshpande,a city-based photographer,says,"Rain,to me is like a laundromat,giving the world a turn in its automatic cleansing cycle. Just like the new shoots of grass,I am inspired to take my camera out for a walkabout. With the rains,I feel like pointing my camera at something other than a human being or an inanimate product. In a way,I break my own mould and shoot for myself. He further adds,The thing about rains is that it makes the air very clear,the colors pop and contrasts soften. All of this good stuff is fantastic for a photographer,you can stop worrying about technical details like exposure problems,balance,contrast and just go out there and shoot with feel. Compositions are easier and quicker to arrive at and you don't have to worry about repositioning a frame.because almost everything looks wonderful. I enjoy going out in search of locations to shoot,I pull out my hiking boots and head for the hills where the winding roads,valleys,trees have fantastic texture and the landscape has many,many layers. I also enjoy being in an urban environment where man-made things take on a new life. Its only fair that I get out and shoot! Whistling amidst chaotic traffic squares,the policemen,as one can imagine,is the saddest lot during rains. Imagine going to an office where there is no cabin. When the weather's good,its amazing. But bad weather in this country comes with power cuts,traffic chaos and most importantly conked off traffic signals. Getting drenched in the rains is fun,but not when you are at the epicenter of the chaotic traffic square, says Wasim Iqbal,a traffic constable. MSEB employee Santosh Rane is one such person who has a duty to ensure safety of citizens 24 X 7 during monsoon. We get calls any time of the day. Loose wires dangling around can very dangerous not only to people but even for us. But then,we have to do it, he smiles. It has been 15 years that Ramesh Gawale has been selling fruits on the busy M G Road. In his words rains are beautiful no doubt just that there are good rains and bad rains. If it rains when I am selling fruits,they are bad but when I wind up for the day and look at them from the window of my house,they are good, says he.
