Delhi in the August Rains

This was the first time that I was in Delhi in August , in about 15 years. And what a realisation!

The rains had to be seen to be believed. I don't know if this was the wettest Aug in many, many years, but it surely seemed that way.

In particular, on the day of the Book Club talk at the Delhi Gymkhana Club on the 14th of August- it was almost as if the skies had opened out-and they stayed that way...for the whole day!

Friends who had to come for the talk from places such as DLF, Noida and other distant locations surely did try, and were caught.What made it infinitely worse, was the total chaos as traffic jams started- and then-reigned supreme ...The next day we heard harrowing tales of how people managed to reach their homes, but about 4-8 hours after they had left their offices!!

But what was most touching that 98 people did show up- after all. And we had a Full house.Thank you friends, all those who came, as well as those who tried, but couldn't.

Delhi-it's clear that the roads are not equipped to deal with this kind of torrental rain at all, and we can only hope that someone who matters in the right places takes note of this. Given the understandable fact that the city is gearing up for the Common wealth games, as well as the major progress being registered by the Metro Rail network.

More thoughts later.....