By Satvik Bansal
For any native of Dehradun, the last decade has felt like a slow goodbye to the city we once knew. We watched our “Green City” turn into a heat trap of concrete and exhaust, where the summers became something to endure rather than enjoy. But this year, something shifted. For the first time in a very long time, it feels like the Dehradun of the eighties and nineties has decided to make a comeback. There is a specific rhythm to the weather this April-May that feels like a homecoming. Just as the afternoon heat starts to peak and the air gets that familiar summer sting, the clouds roll in over the hills and a sudden downpour washes everything clean. This isn’t just a nostalgic feeling or a coincidence. If you look at the numbers, the data actually proves that we are witnessing a freakishly cool season.
This April, Dehradun recorded rainfall that was more than 130 percent above the normal average. While we are used to dry, dusty winds during this transition, we have instead been treated to frequent western disturbances that have kept the mercury significantly lower than usual. It is a rare sight to see the Mussoorie range looking so lush and green at a time when it should be turning brown under a harsh sun. For those of us who remember when ceiling fans were optional in Dehradun, this weather feels like a gift we thought we had lost forever. However, as we enjoy these cool breezes, it is also a moment for reflection. We know all too well how much our valley has changed. The orchards that used to act as the city’s lungs have largely been replaced by apartments and shopping complexes. Usually, all that concrete absorbs the heat and keeps the nights uncomfortably warm. This year’s rain has acted like a natural reset button, overriding the urban heat and giving us a glimpse of our original climate. It serves as a reminder that the soul of Dehradun was never in its malls or its traffic, but in this very air that turns cool the moment the sun goes down. Seeing people out for evening walks without breaking a sweat or even reaching for a light jacket in mid-April is a beautiful sight. It reminds us that our climate is our most precious heritage. While we can’t stop progress, this “throwback” weather should make us think about what we are building and what we are destroying. We’ve been given a temporary reprieve from the heat, and it feels incredible to have our city back, even if it’s just for a few weeks. For now, every time it rains after a few hours of sun, it feels like the valley is finally breathing again, and as a native, I couldn’t be happier to see it.
(Satvik Bansal is an entrepreneur and a prominent youth activist. A native Doonite and the author of three books, he is a vocal advocate for preserving the culture and environmental soul of the Himalaya Foothills.)
