January 17th

January 17th; when we visit another world entirely.

Today I managed to start the day with a very quick but helpful chat with Sekar, back from his week's leave, so that I feel happier about next week when I  hope that we can talk with the teachers and have an exchange of ideas for the curriculum. After this Andy and I set off on the bone-shakers to Seetarampet (if it's Saturday it must be Indra's house!) Just as we entered the village we could see that Pongal communal games were taking place. This one involved  a cooking pot suspended over the road and then people- starting with children and going up in age- took turns to be blindfolded and then they had to walk forward and try to whack the pot with a large stick. The winning whack would get the prize. As roaming reportage photographer (see yesterday*) I placed myself ready to take video. Next thing I knew both Andy and I had been persuaded to have a go. As I had Suresh walking by my side giving me verbal 'left a bit, right a bit' type instructions I got quite close. The other game played at Pongal is when teams of young men try to help each other shimmy up a very greasy pole, again to obtain a money prize at the top.

We had to leave to get to Indra's house for lunch. Suresh came with us, so that he could explain Jude's absence because she is feeling wearied by a chesty cough which disturbs her night's sleep; and so that he could also explain that we needed to leave by 2 o clock. Our meal was - of course- delightful. Indra is a member of the self-help group which supports the centre and she alternates with Vimula as the cook for the elderly. Padmini stayed to help with chat and she explained that she and Indra have been friends since both women came to Seetaramanpet as new wives of Seetaramanpet young men. Women traditionally move in with their husband's families on mariage. We talked about the importance of friends for women. A huge amount of support is shared by the women of this village. Those who find themselves married and newly arrived here must feel themselves blessed that there are so  many kind souls here to welcome them. Just as we were eating a young woman walked by with her baby girl aged just over a year. Balaji (who had also popped in to watch us) reminded me that she was Pria, the young girl whose mariage we attended towards the end of our last stay. She is back in the village to visit her home because it is Pongal. It was good to see her looking well and happy especially as Pam and I had felt that she looked very overwhelmed and near to tears at her wedding. It must be so frightening for young women to enter mariage with a stranger and to know that from that day on their home is in his home and friends and family are left behind. 

Back then to RUHSA to collect Jude and to set off with Dr Rita to Vellore. She had offered us a lift and suggested that we might like to visit the swimming pool which is on the vast campus of CMC (The Christian Medical College). I have often heard Arabella Onslow, who visits RUHSA frequently as Chair of VRCT ( Vellore Rural Communities Trust) rave enthusiastically about this pool but I was totally unprepared for what awaited us. 

Set as it is in the beautiful grounds of CMC, in a suburb of the hell that is Vellore, it is the very definition of an oasis of calm. There were even warm showers, and the water in the pool was lovely. Such a treat to be immersed after the squalor, dust and traffic. Just what we all - especially Jude- needed to perk us up. For Rs 400, just over £4 for a day pass we could relax and take a break from the emotional and physical demands that India places on us. What a treat!  

The gardens of CMC chapel

This is the life

The cafe did not offer capuccino and a brownie, which would have completed the dream but instead we  tucked into a fairly unpleasant cheese toasty, with sweet bread and processed cheese. We sat in the sun as it was going down behind the coconut palms,  Andy had the Hindu newspaper to read, and we counted our blessings. 

* No sign of the overturned lorry in the paddy field this morning. Somehow that swarm of chaps had sorted it.