The Monsoon Romance
True, there’d been dark, heavy clouds hovering over the sky the entire day, building up the anticipation of a rainfall after the scorching months of the summer. In Delhi, we’ve made our uneasy peace with the weather, and no one really expects favours anymore. So, the first few drops are especially delightful.
The smell of rain; that is all; I love the rain; I just wanted to express how much I love the rain; it’s cozy, it’s cool, it sounds nice, it smells nice, and it makes my dopamine levels rise, it’s just stunningly perfect, everything is better in the rain. And what better way to greet the grey and damp monsoon days than sipping steaming chai with pakodas in a cozy place to enjoy the rain, while listening to the pitter patter of the raindrops.
It's the season of romance, love and rain. And nothing epitomizes that better than music! From lyrics to ragas, from songs to pieces of music, the Hindi film industry has dedicated a lot to the rains. Bollywood has paid handsome tributes to the rains by producing most favourite lyrics like: Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhulegi Who Barsaat Ki Raat, Rimjhim Gire Saawan, Sawan Ke Suhana Mausam and many more.
In Indian culture, the monsoon season is often romanticized in films and music, further fuelling the association of rain with romance and love. Rain has been a recurring theme in literature and art throughout history, contributing to its romantic portrayal. In essence, romanticizing rain is a subjective experience that varies from person to person. It's a way of finding beauty and positivity in a natural phenomenon that can be both calming and inspiring.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote that when it rained, his heart would dance with joy:
My heart dances today – Dances like a peacock.
A heavy downpour falls on the new leaves,
The garden quivers with the chirrup of crickets.
The river has crossed the bank and approaches the village.
My heart dances today – dances like a peacock.
The monsoon lends itself to poetry and rhyme. But how to capture its majesty, its melancholy, its morbidity in a few lines? Which language captures the different rhythms of rain, from the gentle and soothing needed in overheated cities to the crescendo of a rumble and roar?
People always symbolize rain with love, romance, happiness, new hope and calm. Everyone awaits the monsoons with such zeal but very often rains bring with them a darker side of life i.e., death, unhappiness and melancholy. Thunder and lightning in poetry and prose are often used to symbolize that the story is about to take a negative turn, or that untoward events are on the verge of happening.
Romanticizing rain involves viewing rainy days with fondness and positive emotions, often associating them with feelings of coziness, peace, and nostalgia. This can stem from various factors, including the soothing sound of rain, the pleasant smell of petrichor, and the visual appeal of a rainy landscape. For some, it's a time for introspection and relaxation, while others associate it with romantic moments and happy memories.
The first rain often symbolizes renewal and change. This can evoke feelings of hope and new beginnings, fostering romantic sentiments as people feel more optimistic and connected. Rain renews the world. The smell of a sunny day after rains is exquisite and deep, sharp with wet, slowly giving itself to the air and sunlight in evaporation. Something is released in it, something left behind. To be out in the middle of that renewal while it’s happening is like partaking in a ceremony.
Rainy days let us all off the hook, somewhat. It’s a day off from being out and productive. It’s sweet permission to spend a day reading, or watching a movie. To go out and see a movie on a rainy day, braving the rain to find oneself warm and dry in a big theatre, is a surprisingly pleasant experience.
In summary, the romantic feelings associated with rain are a complex interplay of environmental factors, psychological states, cultural influences, and evolutionary instincts. These elements combine to create a unique atmosphere that many find conducive to romance.
It’s a sad tragedy of our times that one can’t recall the last time a beautiful rain song got made because psychologically everyone’s like ‘who wants to get out in the rain?’ Rampant urbanisation has robbed the cities of their rainy romance and we see its effect in music and movies too.
Bhushan Lal Razdan, formerly of the Indian Revenue Service, retired as Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Chandigarh.
