Hey, Today is declared a holiday!

Ram silently sneaked out of his bed. It was 5 A.M. He peeked outside the window. It was raining cats and dogs outside. He put on the television and switched to sun news. His dad and mom felt so proud to watch his 10 years old kid watching news at this time of the day. They were mistaken probably. They were admiring him silently. Suddenly he started jumping in joy. He ran towards the bedroom shouting. 

"It is a holiday today due to rain! Hurray!" 

His dad was embarrassed about his thought. But he too laughed with his kid. 

"The Corporation of Chennai has declared holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai in wake of heavy rains!" 

This has been the most wanted news for every school and college student for the past few years. Everyone look forward to heavy rains in morning and a declaration of holiday following it. School kids put on TV very early and they switch to news channels. Parents of those kids feel so proud to see their kids watching news channels so early. But they are mostly mistaken. 

When heavy rains lash the city, the people suffer a lot due to the roads, transport, electricity, water, money, winds and what not. The roads in several places become so bad and damaged that they can't be used. The travel during this time of the year becomes so difficult due to the heavy rains which get us drenched completely in spite of precautions like umbrella or raincoats. Those who can afford cars can travel safely. But what about the condition of common people who can afford only a public transport or a two-wheeler? They have no other go but to get wet in rain and proceed. 

This is the reason why the Government declares holiday for the schools and colleges. It is to avoid the sufferings of the common students who travel a longer distance. But why is it they don't declare holidays when it is raining heavily or when we need it? They declare holiday when it drizzles and when we don't want.The kids see this as an enjoyment because of the holiday. 

Image: Harikrishna Raghuraman

But College students are matured enough. Can't they come in rain? I am an under grad student. I too have to travel a far distance to reach my college and I find it difficult. But I too feel very happy when I hear about a holiday. First and foremost today's exam is cancelled. So no fear, no tension, no pressure. Second, we can take rest for some hours midst the busy schedule. Then, we have a fair amount of time to prepare for tomorrow's exam. Yes, we have a fair need of holiday. We too look eagerly for rains so that a holiday may be announced. But these holidays turn deadly for us at this time of the academic year. We have our semester 15 days ahead. Our study holidays start next Tuesday after our third internals which ends on Monday. But today it seems that the heavy rainfall has decided for a declaration of holiday. Our today's exam will be postponed to next Tuesday which will cut short the study holidays by one day. So it is us those who are going to suffer though we are happy at present. The other departments have their lab semester exams scheduled today which also will get postponed to some other day. This will increase our pressure which will last till the end of the exams. 

Image: Harikrishna Raghuraman

Rain Rain rain, go away, 
Come again another day.

College students want to play;
Cyclone, cyclone, go away,
Show your face another day!

Anyways the cyclone will swiftly pass our state and cross the lands somewhere in Andhra or Orissa. We will have yet another sunny time soon. We people are so enigmatic. We pray for rains throughout the summer for the fear of the heat. But when rains lash, we curse them for making our day dull sitting at home. These rains never allow us to do our daily routine which can always do in summer. The sun makes us tired yet it never intrudes in our daily work. But the rains make us so dull and it intrudes in our daily life. Yet the feeling of eating a hot snack in home watching a heavy rainfall is eternal when compared to drinking a cold beverage under the hot sun. 

A few lines from "How Beautiful is the rain" by HW Longfellow!

From the neighbouring school
Come the boys,
With more than their wonted noise
And commotion;
And down the wet streets
Sail their mimic fleets,
Till the treacherous pool
Engulfs them in its whirling
And turbulent ocean.

In the country, on every side,
Where far and wide,
Like a leopard's tawny and spotted hide
Stretches the plain,
To the dry grass and the drier grain How welcome is the rain! 

So I am gonna admire this rainy day with a hot snack and curse it at the same time for reducing my study holidays!