However, my hour of silence is only silence on MY part. Around me, things go on as usual. The faint sound of traffic on the main road, the occasional autorickshaw zooming past our house, the watertank next door which is forever overflowing and dripping water onto the banana trees below (incidently, the banana trees, (or are they banana plants?) have a huge bees nest on them. Never seen one like that before, with a lovely concentric circular kind of pattern). The wind is noisy too, and rushes at you as if its trying to push you back into the house. I fight my way to the varanda and listen to more sounds. Clothes flapping on the line, the kids from Kottarvayal, a village just down the road, and the sudden burst of crackers in celebration of the poojas.
I make my way to the kitchen to find something to sooth my aching throat. More sounds there. The gas stove, the water bubbling and boiling, the rasping knife as I peel some ginger. Armed with hot ginger and honey, I smile as I listen to Dilip’s deep breathing that is interrupted by the sudden contented snore.
It’s not so bad this time. My world seems to be making enough noise to cover up for my involuntary silence.
(Throat, I hope your not listening to this though – because still I want you back!!)

http://picasaweb.google.com/shikhadilip

www.adivasi.net/amsnews.asp

So the next time you go shopping, THINK!

Happy Independence Day

Sunset at Bissamcuttack is different every day!

THE SEA OF SUNSET

This is the land the sunset washes,
These are the banks of the Yellow Sea;
Where it rose, or whither it rushes,
These are the western mystery!

Night after night her purple traffic
Strews the landing with opal bales;
Merchantmen poise upon horizons,
Dip, and vanish with fairy sails.

Emily Dickinson, Nature XIII

This is what the Hospital looks like from the hills behind (photos courtesy: G Zaman, Sara & Tue)

CHB was started over 50 yrs ago by Dr. Lis Madsen, a Danish Doctor and amazing person who began with a clinic on the church veranda. Today, CHB provides essential health care facilities in a state which has the HIGHEST death rate (9.8 per 1000 population), HIGHEST infant mortality rate (87 per 1000 live births), HIGHEST Maternal mortality rate (738 per 100,000 births) and about 50% of all malarial deaths in the country!

This part of Orissa is absolutely beautiful. Mitra (Madsen’s Institute for Tribal & Rural Advancement) which is the Community Health wing of CHB, works in 50 villages in the area and the sights and sounds are absolutely stunning. A team of committed staff work hard to fulfill the mitra dream of