The June That Never Was: Poetry vs. Reality in Kharkari Makhwan

"Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly."

These beautiful lines by Pablo Neruda, paired with the vibrant image of blue and orange butterflies dancing over wet, lush wildflowers, paint a dreamlike picture of June. It evokes a sense of peace, life, and natural harmony.

But when I look at this picture, I am instantly reminded of a world completely opposite to this digital art—my own village, Kharkari Makhwan, located near Tosham.

For a long time, ours was a purely rainfed (barani) area. In those harsh summer days, there was no water even for the plants to survive, and the canal had not yet reached our lands. Without a single green leaf or flower, we often wondered—where would the butterflies even come from?

Over time, things changed on paper. The canal infrastructure finally arrived in our village, but the reality on the ground remains a struggle. Today, the canals rarely run with enough water. To make matters worse, our underground water is completely brackish (salty) and unfit for daily use or drinking. We are forced to rely heavily on the government water supply, which is highly insufficient for our daily needs.

This beautiful artwork of a wet June is a luxury that only abundant water can bring. For us in Kharkari Makhwan, June is still a story of survival, a daily hustle for drinking water, and a long wait for the monsoons. Beautiful poetry cannot mask the dry realities of our daily life, but it certainly reminds us of the green dream we are still fighting to achieve.

What about you? / आप क्या सोचते हैं?

"Every village and every region has its own unique relationship with nature and summer. While June is a dream for some, it is a struggle for others.

I would love to hear from you in the comments below:

• What is the water situation like in your area during the summer?
• Does your region face similar groundwater issues or dry canals?
• How does June look through your window—is it green like Neruda’s poem, or is it a struggle like my village, Kharkari Makhwan?

Share your stories, your village's reality, or your thoughts below. Let’s bring the unseen realities of our areas to light together!

Read about my village Kharkari Makhwan, and tell me in the comments—how is the water situation in your area?

XOXO

Verse 17 of the BG, summer

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मण: |
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गति: || 17||
BG 4.17: You must understand the nature of all three—recommended action, wrong action, and inaction. The truth about these is profound and difficult to understand.

commentary :Action in inaction. There is one kind of inaction where persons look upon their social duties as burdensome, and renounce them out of indolence. They give up actions physically, but their mind continues to contemplate upon the objects of the senses. Such persons may appear to be inactive, but their lethargic idleness is actually sinful action. When Arjun suggested that he wishes to shy away from his duty of fighting the war, Shree Krishna explained to him that it would be a sin, and he would go to the hellish regions for such inaction.

Inaction in action. There is another kind of inaction performed by karm yogis. They execute their social duties without attachment to results, dedicating the fruits of their actions to God. Although engaged in all kinds of activities, they are not entangled in karmic reactions, since they have no motive for personal enjoyment. There were many great kings in Indian history—Dhruv, Prahlad, Yudhisthir, Prithu, and Ambarish—who discharged their kingly duties to the best of their abilities, and yet because their minds were not entangled in material desires, their actions were termed Akarm, or inaction. Another name for akarm is karm yog, which has been discussed in detail in the previous two chapters as well.

 No apologies

Even though I am embarrassed to let my blog go for so long, I 'm not going to apologize like I always do,oh. It was a hectic summer with the result being I am raising my great granddaughter for the school year. So I have a good excuse!!

I've been doing lots of sewing, went to a retreat in Balmiki Dharmshala, near Camp area and had a great time. Finished up a rag quilt while I was there. I will post pictures soon.

Anyway, life is good, and I will post more often.

verse 16,chaapter 4,beauti tips

किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिता: |
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् || 16||

BG 4.16: What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused in determining this. Now I shall explain to you the secret of action, by knowing which, you may free yourself from material bondage.

Commentary: The principles of dharma cannot be determined by mental speculation(vaad-vivad). Even intelligent persons become confused in the maze of apparently contradictory arguments presented by the scriptures and the sages. For example, the Vedas recommend non-violence. Accordingly in the Mahabharat, Arjun wishes to follow the same course of action and shun violence but Shree Krishna says that his duty here is to engage in violence. If duty varies with circumstance, then to ascertain one’s duty in any particular situation is a complex matter. Yamraj, the celestial god of Death, stated:

dharmaṁ tu sākṣhād bhagavat praṇītaṁ na vai vidur ṛiṣhayo nāpi devāḥ

(Śhrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.3.19)[v17]

“What is proper action and what is improper action? This is difficult to determine even for the great ṛiṣhis and the celestial gods. Dharma has been created by God himself, and he alone is its true knower.” Lord Krishna says to Arjun that he shall now reveal to him the esoteric (unclear) science of action and inaction through which he may free himself from material bondage.

Forget going to an expensive spa! You don’t need anything fancy to make your skin glow, actually…most of the ingredients you can find in your very own kitchen! Lets get started!

Ultra Hydrating Facial Scrub and Mask

{this sweet and sticky recipe is best applied in the bathroom…it’s a smidge messy!}

You will need:

A small bowl and spoon

1.5 teaspoons cornmeal

1 teaspoon honey

0.5 teaspoon warm water

In the bowl, combine all the ingredients and let sit for about a minute. Pull your hair up (you could wrap it in a towel or shower cap). Using your fingertips, gently massage mixture onto your face, avoid the eyes. Then lie down and relax about 10-15 minutes. After time is up, gently rinse with warm water and pat dry. Follow up with light moisturizer (I like argan oil).

{note: only make enough to be used within 5 days. Don’t store for longer, the honey and water will cause the cornmeal to ferment, making a strong odor of whiskey! You can also omit the cornmeal and water and do a raw honey mask. It is moisturizing but doesn’t exfoliate.}

Simple Lip Scuff

{To get luscious lips…apply lip balm before going to bed, then follow-up with this recipe in the morning!}

What you will need:

Baking soda

a wet, soft bristled toothbrush

Sprinkle some baking soda into your hand, then dip the damp toothbrush head into it. The baking soda should stick to the bristles. GENTLY apply the brush to your lips and brush in a back and forth motion for about 15-20 seconds to remove the dead skin. Do not brush too hard as that will irritate the delicate skin. Follow up with a moisturizing lip balm.

Easy as 1,2,3 Lip Balm

{This recipe is the simplest of simple as far as lip balms go. Of course you could always tweak it, but if you’re on a budget this is a great place to start!}

What you will need:

a double boiler system of sorts

a shallow ice-water bath

a spoon or whisk

container to store balm in 

1.5 tablespoon coconut oil

1.5 teaspoons beeswax pastilles

0.25 teaspoon vitamin e oil (or a capsule or two)

optional: 0.5 teaspoon honey and a couple drops of vanilla or peppermint to “taste”

In the double boiler, warm oil and beeswax until the wax is just melted (no need to boil). Remove from heat and add vitamin e and “flavor” (honey and vanilla/mint). Place pan in the ice-water bath and begin to quickly whisk until the honey is well incorporated and consistency is like thin frosting (30-60 seconds). Spoon mixture into storage containers and allow to cool/set for several hours. Apply to lips as needed. Will store for about 12 months.

Rub-a-dub-dub Energizing Scrub

{This homemade body sugar scrub will leave your skin alive and glowing and your senses alert too!}

What you will need:

1 cup sugar (either white or brown)

5 tablespoons ground coffee (the fresher, the better)

4-5 tablespoons of coconut, almond or grape seed oil (coconut is my favorite)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

In a bowl, combine the sugar, coffee and oil. {If the coconut oil is in a solid form, simply warm it up before mixing} Slowly start adding the vanilla drop by drop. Blend until well mixed and there are no hard clumps of sugar. Spoon into a storage container with a good seal. Massage a small handful into wet skin in a circular motion. Rinse and pat skin dry. If needed, follow-up with a teaspoon coconut oil to moisturize. Use within six months. {note: if you use coconut, it may solidify again which is fine. Just use a spoon to scoop it out of the container.}

I hope you will get a chance to pamper yourself a little bit the week! If you are interested in making other homemade skin care products here are some great books to read!

Happy Day.

shlokaa 15 of chaapter 4,

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभि: |
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वै: पूर्वतरं कृतम् || 15||

BG 4.15 :,Knowing this truth, even seekers of liberation in ancient times performed actions. Therefore, following the footsteps of those ancient sages, you too should perform your duty.

spiritual musing, kolkata

We visited writer's building  in 2008 when my daughter was invited for awad  for her poems in Naya gyaanoday 

last year in Februry 2018 we again visited and now   we plan to visit  shantiniketan 

this is  Writers’ Building, presently the Writers’ (as it’s also known) houses the State Government of West Bengal, it has served multiple functions over the past centuries.

Built in 1777, the Writers’ Building was meant to accommodate junior servants, or ‘writers’ as they were called, of the East India Company. When it was leased to the company in 1780 for this purpose, it was described as looking like a ‘shabby hospital, or poor-house‘. After several structural changes over the next couple of decades, Fort William College set up camp there, training writers in languages such as Hindi and Persian, until around 1830. In the years that succeeded, the dwelling was used by private individuals and officials of the British Raj as living quarters and for shopping.

Extensive remodelling and renovations have occurred most of the times the building was switched between hands. Today, there are 13 blocks; six of which were added after India won independence from British rule. The 150-metre long structure has a distinct Greco-Roman style, with several statues of Greek gods as well as a sculpture of Roman goddess Minerva commanding attention from the pediment.

After knowing so much about it, I feel that I know something about the elderly people there. Last time we went to Calcutta, the old driver had told a lot. This time we will get to know about it here leisurely.

xoxo

nostalgia

आज मुझे बचपन के दिन याद आ गए हम पास के गांव  कुछ काम से गए थे तब उनके यहां लकड़ी का दरवाजा लगा हारा देखा. इस लकड़ी का दरवाजा बने हारे में  अक्सर दूध ही गर्म किया जाता है. जब मैं छोटी थी तब मेरी दादी ऐसे हारे में दूध गर्म करती थी।  इस हारे में छह- सात इंच गहरा और १८-२० इंच डायमीटर का गड्ढा खोद कर उसे गोबर-मिटटी का लेप लगा देते हैं। फिर उसके ऊपर चार दीवारी खिंच कर छत  भी बनादी जाती है,और फिर उसके सामने लकड़ी की छोटी खिड़की लगा दी जाती  है।

हमारी हवेली में तीन परिवार रहते थे. हमारे घर में  ऊँट  होते थे उनके मिंगने  ( डंग )  हारे में  ईंधन के रूप में प्रयोग किये जाते थे. 

इसके लिए हारे के गड्ढे में कुछ सूखे मींगने डाल दिए जाते थे फिर उस पर चूल्हे की आग अथवा जलावन डाल कर ऊपर से फिर सूखे मींगने डाल दिए जाते थे धीरे-धीरे आग सुलग जाती थी ,फिर उसके ऊपर दूध  भरी कढावणी(टेराकोटा बिन)रख दी जाती थी मेरी दादी जब हवेली से बाहर जाती थी तब हारे की खिड़की पर ताला लगा कर जाती थी।  

खाने के समय हमें मिलता था गुलाबी रंग का स्वदिष्ट दूधः और उसकी मलाई तो लाजवाब होती थी. 

In museum, This is a milk cooking device with wooden door  at the back of my g-daughter

इस चित्र में मेरे साथ मेरी पोती रेहाना खड़ी है उसके ठीक पीछे खिड़की वाला हारा फिर उठाऊ हारा और उसके साथ  उठाऊ चूल्हा(पोर्टेबल-हेअरथ) दिखाई दे रहा है.

पिछले साल जब हम लाइब्रेरी की प्रदर्शनी में गए थे तब हमने धरोहर में यह सब चीजें देख थी 

XOXO

spiritual musings ,coconut shell craft. उपयोगी तोहफे .. नारियल से

अर्जुन उवाच |
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन |
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव || 1||
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे |
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् || 2||

BG.1-2: Arjun said: O Janardan, if you consider knowledge superior to action, then why do you ask me to wage this terrible war? My intellect is bewildered by your ambiguous advice. Please tell me decisively the one path by which I may attain the highest good.

activites of  NGO first session.........

 Coconut tree has multiple uses. Hats, mats, baskets, wall hanging, rugs, toys etc are manufactured from various parts of this tree. But, it is the shell of a coconut that is most commonly used in the art and craft world. Bowls, cups, spoons, coasters, bas, belts are formed out of the hard shell of coconut by the skilled hands of the artisans. Slowly it has found application in the fashion world and today necklace, earrings and bracelets are also manufactured by the shell. Excellent products with unique design and concepts have also been made in combination with wood, leather and metal, especially gold and silver.

 बच्चों  को बेकार वस्तुओं का उचित उपयोग करके उन्हें यह सब चीजें सिखाई गई और इन्हें हिंदी में लिख कर ब्लॉग किया ताकि वे बाद में भी पढ़ कर उपयोगी वस्तुएं बना सकें।

उपयोगी तोहफे बनाइए.....
आम-तौर पर हम बहुत सी चीजों को अनुपयोगी समझ कर फैंक देते हैं लेकिन क्या आपने कभी सोचा है कि इनसे भी आप कई उपयोगी चीजें बना सकती हैं१ यदि चाहें तो आज ही आप नारियल से फूलदान, पेन-स्टैंड,ऐश ट्रे, और बचचो को जनमदिवस पर चाकलेट भर कर देने के लिये आकरसक बरतन बना सकती हैं। टूटी पलेटों से गमलों के थांवरे बना सकती हैं।


फूलदान

आवश्यक  सामानः नारियल, चाकू, पीलर, (सैंड- पेपर) आरी, चूङी, टूथ-पेसट का ढकन, पेच, वारनीश, रंग आदि।
बनाने की विधिः आवकतानुसार गीला अथवा सूखा नारियल, जो (चटखा न हो) लेकर चाकू की सहायता से उसका रेशा निकाल दीजिए, पीलर  से अच्छी तरह छील लीजिये तथा रेगमार पेपर की सहायता से उसे खूब चिकना कर लीजिए, ताकि वानिश और रंग उस पर भली प्रकार  चढ सके। आप जितना रेगमार पेपर से रगङेंगीं उसकी फिनिश उतनी ही सुनदर आयेगी।

रेशा उखाङने के बाद नारियल में आपको तीन सूराख अथवा गडढे नजर आयेंगे, उस तरफ एक चूङी रख कर पेंसिल को चू,ङी के घेरे के अंदर घुमा दीजिए। इससे नारियल पर गोलाकार निशान बन जायेगा, जिस पर कि आपको नारियल काटना है। सादा अथवा लोहा काटने वाली आरी को निशान पर रख कर धीरे-धीरे आरी चलाइए।जब निशान के सथान पर कुछ गहरा गडढा हो जाये, तो नारियल को थोङा सा घुमाइए तथा आरी चलाती जाइए, जब तक कि वह दो भागों में कट न जाये।अब उसके दोनों भागों में बीचों-बीच चाकू की नोक से घुमा-घुमा कर इतना मोटा सुराख कर लीजिए कि पेच अथवा नट-बोलट लगाये जा सकें। इस काम में यदि आपको दिकत हो, तो आप बढई से यह काम करवा सकती हैं।

अब चित्र   में दिखाये अनुसार काटे गए नारियल के दोनों भागों को पेच अथवा नट बोलट की सहायता से जोङ दीजिये, दोनों के बीच में टूथ पेसट का ढकन सूराख करके लगाना ना भूलें. लीजिये आपका पैन स्टेण्ड,फूलदान, पेन्सिल स्टेण्ड,टॉफियां डालने वाली सुन्दर कटोरी- कितनी ही जरूरी चीजें बन गई।

Happy crafting!