About Winter In Summer

About Winter in Summer

The scorching and ruthless summer of Delhi drains out the energy and enthusiasm of its residents. High temperatures during summer may not be an unusual feature in a tropical country like India. But what is significant is the extreme weather change.

Any person who visits Delhi for the first time during the winter season would never believe that it is the same place, blazing fire in summer. It is so despicable to understand how the place experiences two contrasting climates. Harsh and severe temperatures are a common feature in Delhi. The strategic geographic location of the place in the northern hills is the reason for all its woes. Owing to its proximity to the mighty Himalayan ranges and Thar desert on the west. It is sandwiched between the two antithetical entities, i.e., snowy mountains and the hot desert. Thus, bestowing with the harshest possible climate and hence climate of the place seems to be its natural and fiercest enemy. Hardly any other metro in the country experiences such extremities. It is hard to imagine how the numb, lazy and shivering cold days slowly turn hot, sweltering and fiery.  Though the transitions seem to be very slow and perceptible it is really difficult to understand.

Nature controls existence of life on earth. Climate exerts greatest influence on the all the life forms. Delhi is also reeling under severe air pollution contributed by its huge fleet of vehicles, air conditioners and refrigerators that constantly pump dangerous chloro-flouro gases into the air. The effects of global warming seems to be imminent in this place as the artificial heat generated by these pollutants is further enhancing the severity of the climate and making it too harsh. Today I just want to relive a typical wintery day to beat this summer heat and to chill..............

 It is a common experience to find every Delhiite be it young, old or child all of them will be struggling to get out the comfortable and cosy layers of the comforters. As even the Sun God seems to be trying to lazily force himself out of the blanket of clouds with chilly winds unleashing the winter skies. Eventually everyone is swept by this breeze of sluggishness and seen pushing themselves hard to reach their work places in time or their daily duties. Interestingly, most of them often don’t shy away from accepting their reluctance to attend important schedules during early hours of the day. The cold climate has such a magical effect that people would long to sleep for hours together. Of course it is not person’s indiscipline or inability to control his physical being. But the cold temperatures urges the body to conserve the heat and hence the lethargy in performing all other activities. Consequently, food, clothing and the required paraphernalia at home are subsequently changed to suit the cold climate. Everything seems to have taken a sudden twist with people preferring fattier and protein rich diet. Don’t be mused if you find people constantly munching peanuts/Gajaks. Kitchen seems to be busy all the time buzzing with activity to satisfy the unquenchable appetite. As suddenly the appetite seems to increase and no amount of food seems to be sufficient. Women folk experience a sudden urge of try out new delicacies/recipes to keep body fit and agile. Winter is a fun time in terms of even personal clothing. We quickly lose count of the number of the layers of cloths we are wearing. None seems to be bothered about the style quotient as along they are feeling warm (barring few youngsters or fashion conscious people). Rest all seem to pack themselves to beat the cold. It is heart warming to recapitulate the normal routine of winters.

Climate undoubtedly changes the way of living. Perhaps all the above cycle of events are more are less similar in most of the households. But for people who thrive on marginal incomes like the slum dwellers, rag pickers or the daily labour that has migrated to the city in search of living life is in abysmal state especially during winters. They hardly have a shelter and it is pathetic to find them sleeping on the pavements during harsh cold. The infrastructure of the city coupled with apathy of the concerned authorities failed miserably to provide adequate shelter and offer some respite to at least the old and children. The hapless lot are seen wrapping sheets of plastic around to tide this cold climate.

Situation in developed countries is much better in this aspect as their houses are sufficiently furnished to tide over the extreme temperatures. Miserably the houses in the capital city are not sufficiently equipped to accommodate room heaters or instant hot water supply systems to mitigate the severe cold which returns unfailingly every year. Further the long nail, biting cold seems to be unending due to frequent load shedding caused by extensive usage of heaters. For most of the corporate working class the best place is of course their plush office cabins which are sufficiently equipped to meet the extremes of the climate.

 

@ Copyrights reserved.