Give and take

Anthropologists are often criticized for taking from the field the data they need ,yet not giving anything substantial back to the people they work with. I hope that my study in general will be of use to the people of Shimla, both Christians and none Christians; however, as a way of helping in the short term I have also agreed to make some brochures for the two main churches, which draw upon the archival resources that I have accessed to highlight key architectural features of the buildings. As Father Xavier is away at the moment St Michael's brochure is on hold, but I have today completed a first draft of a brochure for Christ Church, which seems to have been initially well received.

Rained out?

After the dry period came the rains, and how they came, every day, sometimes all day. A wet mist settled on the mountain sides and clouds floated into the house. Keeping mold down became a constant battle and clothes and sheets were permanently wet. Dry gullies became rivers and the forest floor became filled with verdant growth. The rains were much needed but they began to wear me down a bit and I am pleased to announce that for the last two days they seem to have stopped. The sun is out again and I remembering how beautiful the hills can be.

Where is the water?

Today I was faced with a dilemma. For a few days now no water has come to our buildings and although we have made all reasonable effort to store and gather water our supplies are running seriously thin. I am constantly reminded by my neighbours of the need to only use essential water and preserve whatever pani I can. Yet, today I was tempted to give our precious remaining drops of water away. 

 

Raids on our water supply are not uncommon, by monkeys, langores and humans, normally they all can be seen off with a stick, but today when I heard the familiar sounds of someone raiding our supply I sprung upon a group of scraggly children carrying empty cantinas. Rather than run, such was there desperation (my neighbours would say their cheek) that they banged their empty cantinas and pleaded for water, saying that they were dyeing of thirst.

 

So, what to do? Should I stay faithful to my obligations to my neighbours and family and preserve as much of our rapidly diminishing water reserves as possible, or should I take pity on fellow humans lacking the most basic of human needs? 

 

In the end, I found a compromise, which only angered my household slightly and probably only appeased the children slightly. My compromise was to give them money and ask them to go to the market and use it to buy some water.  They grudgingly departed and my household later reprimanded me saying that the only thing you should give them is a hit with a stick. If you give them once they will be back for more, I was warned.

 

Water problems are nothing new in Shimla, the fact that the town was built in a dry area away from any major natural water source, such as a river. Was not a huge problem at first, however as the population expanded colonial Shimla had to increasingly wrestle with water supply. Fast forward to today and the population explosion, combined with the effects of global warming have lead to a rather desperate water situation. The people of Shimla therefore have to face dilemmas like the one I faced regularly. Most choose, perhaps sensibly, to look after there own and turn the others away. Yet, I wonder what the Father’s at the church make of this, or indeed the congregants. How is this squared with Christian ethics? I think I shall have to ask people about this on Sunday.

 

Kali on Holi

Me on Holi

Holi

Today has been a rather strange day. It was Holi, the festival of colours, which many Indians, including Christians enjoy joining in with. Anthropologists have long commented on it and their is a classic Turnerian analysis of the festival that was published by Marriot back in 1966. However it is strange for Shimla's Christians this year (and on others) because it is also Lent - a time of mourning; it was doubly strange for me as this afternoon I heard that my grandmother died.  Anyway, earlier in the morning we did play Holi with some of our neighbours and here are the pictures.