For most people who live in an urban setting, a monsoon sounds like something to be dreaded. It becomes harder to travel, the weather is utterly inconsistent so that you have to lug around extra rain gear, and it just gets cold and depressing. But for people all over India, the early arrival of the South-West monsoon by 10 days on the 6th of July was cause for celebration. July 6th is said to be the official date when the monsoon covered the entire country.

Consider the fact that monsoons in India usually bring about sudden and unpredictable floods, which cause damage to countless homes, commercial establishments, motor vehicles and public property. Remember also that flooding often results in spread of diseases like cholera and typhoid fever and you may wonder why citizens of Kerala cheered at the sight of heavy rains in late May.

These rains marked the end of a year-long drought – the worst one since 1972.

Had the rain not arrived, CNN reported that commercial establishments were threatening to raise the prices of commodities dependent on crops of wheat, rice and other grains. India is already experiencing an inflation rate of up to 18 percent for such commodities.

For now, it looks like weather forecasts are promising, but India’s trade ministry had already begun to consider opening up their markets to big box retailers like Wal-Mart as a contingency if crops don’t begin to grow soon. Such retailers are quick to point out that they would be able to lower prices on commodities using their vast distribution networks, but India has traditionally been protective of its retail sector.

I’m hopeful that the rains will continue to irrigate the crops in India. At the same, this provides an excellent opportunity for people in the country to learn from their experience, and be better prepared for the year to come. India has made leaps and bounds in other industries such as renewable energy and waste disposal, and they have the capacity to overcome the adversity that comes with drought.