They pray for rain by Nishika Hassim It was a gloomy morning. The rain and wind gods were in unison as we drove through the early morning gloom. I asked myself; why was I wasting my precious weekend to join my colleagues to drive half way across the country?? I had no answer then. As we sat at the District Secretariat Office, in Mihinthale awaiting the ‘grand arrival’ of our lorry I looked around and all around me were plants, grass and trees green as they could be. A gardener nearby was even watering a vegetable patch! I asked myself again; had we been fooled? Have these areas actually been struck by severe drought? After many long hours the lorry finally arrives; delayed due to a problematic tire. However, the driver buoyantly says that all these problems had disappeared after a stop at a temple on their way where they had made offerings and prayed for a safe and trouble free journey. The work of an unforeseen power, they proclaim. “The gods have blessed us” they add. We begin our journey, just past noon, in search of villages affected by the drought as identified by the Disaster Management Office and Divisional Secretariat Office. Nearly 10 kilometers away from the Mihinthale town, we approach the quiet village of Doramadalawa; our first stop; an area where sub-villages are only known by code. At the Doramadalawa Puraana Raja Maha Viharaya we are greeted by the chief incumbent priest and taken on a scenic tour of the temple; the historical stories that unfold are breath-taking. Doramadalawa Level 01, 02, 03, 04 - As we stop at each village we are greeted by a throng of villagers eagerly awaiting our arrival. A little girl taps on the window of our car as if to ask us to hurry and then runs away to join the others as they gather around the lorry. As we begin the distribution, villagers thank us for this good deed. Some ask us where we are from; others shower praise on us. We tell them that many have contributed to make this possible; they are quick to add praise and blessings on those good souls too. Our next stop, Undiyagama - A similar story unfolds as the villagers gather around our vehicle. Children try their best to carry the bottles. Some are fortunate enough to have bikes to help them carry the bottles but the others use up all their strength and walk with the unforgiving sun beating down on them. It’s a bittersweet sight; a temporary solution to a persistent problem. We distribute the last of the bottles we had at our final stop Ukkulankulama, Kabaragoyawa. We try to wash our hands at a nearby house only to be told that the taps have no water. The tube wells? We are told the water from those wells can’t even be used to water the plants; the water is that contaminated. But the villagers are good people and they somehow find some water for us. They even give us a bar of soap; a luxury for some. I notice the dirt in the water; my heart goes out to the villagers. They cannot store water in aluminum pots because they begin to decay due to the toxicity of the water! I think of the house I pass daily, just outside our office in Colombo, where the driver seems to be washing his master’s Mercedes come rain or shine. I’m angry with the world; with its people. What if I resort to stand in front of his gate with a placard in my hand? Will it make a difference??!! To the villagers, we are their saviours and heroes. They treat us with drinks and biscuits and even wipe the chairs before we sit on them. I can’t help but be thankful for everything I’m lucky to have. Many of us complain and look for luxury. Over here, drinking water is what they pray for. The villagers look on and are full of praise and blessings as we head out of the village. They look on even after our vehicle has passed them as if to say, “We await your return”. Seated in the car once again I think back to where we started. How I asked myself if it will only be a waste of time. I look at my colleagues and as if in agreement they all talk about how wonderful an experience it was. The sleepless and tedious journey, the holiday spent half way across the country in a dry and dusty land, was not in vain. The look in the eyes of the villagers and the smiles convey a message so strong, I consider myself lucky to have been a part of it all.
The British Council Locally Engaged Staff Association (BCLESA) would like to sincerely thank all staff members from Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna offices who generously contributed towards making this project a success.