HUMMING WORDS

Thanks Fi!

2012-02-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

This is inspired by Princess Fiona's works. Thanks Fi for motivating me to try something really creative like this!

Vast

Space filled

Universe, I wonder

If I am , a part of the

Ever flowing river; sitting in

My own reverie, I ponder on stars and the

Bright moon. Why the stars twinkle? Is this their

Joy or drops of tears, I wonder why moon is so shy why he wears robes
white every night. I wonder life and death About
friendship and love. Are my feelings as vast

And as deep as the skies? what am I? Just

Another entity or a world of my own?

Like a leaf in a huge tree

That is my entity

Tree is green

Happy and

Vast

Book Review-The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2012-02-10T02:48:00.000-08:00

Title: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Author: Mohsin Hamid

Pub: Penguin

ISBN: 978-0-143-06424-4

MRP: ` 250/-

To say that I simply liked my latest read, ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ would definitely be an understatement. I loved this book immensely and it has now become one of my favorites. Written in a monologue style by Pakistan Born and Harvard educated, Mohsin Hamid, the book makes us ponder on a very important aspect. This thin book (184 pages) is filled with a meaningful and stirring narration.

The story revolves around a young professional named ‘Changez’. He narrates his four year US stay to an American in a local eatery in Lahore. The narration technique is ‘Monologue’, that is only one side describes every detail including the reactions of the other characters as well. The magic of the plot lies in its ending where a powerful secret is revealed in a very subtle way.

Here is the story in brief: Changez arrives to study in Princeton University from Lahore at the age of 18. After his studies are over, he joins a top valuation company. On a camping trip to Greece, he gets smitten by Erica, who suffers from chronic depression. After the twin tower tragedy, Changez gets disturbed by the behavior of Americans towards Muslims and decides to return to his hometown, Lahore. He takes up the job of a university professor. The best thing is the ending that is not only shocking but is in fact a sad reality.

The book seeks to convey that violence is tragic not only for the victim but for the perpetrator as well. How violence can devastate the lives of common people on both the sides and converts them into hardcore ‘fundamentalists’, though ‘reluctantly’ has been described wonderfully by Mr. Hamid.

This book was short-listed for Man Booker Prize 2007.

कोई चला तो था इन राहों में......

2012-02-01T01:23:00.000-08:00

कोई चला तो था साथ तेरे कुछ दूर तलक

पूछा करती है अक्सर ये सुनसान सड़क

कौन से दयार पर हयात ले आई आज

रही न वो बेखुदी जिसपे करते थे नाज़

न वो दस्त-ए-यार रहे न कोई हमसफ़र

बीते तमाम खुशनुमा पहर; ढल गयी मुबारक सहर

हमदम फ़क़त खामोश राहें, ये मैला असमान

सरमाया फ़क़त तीरगी में लिपटा एक खाली सा मकान

ये किसके घर में आ रुका मेरा कारवां

हँसते हैं साए अजनबी से, आईनों में जहाँ
सराब निकली वो राह-ए-ख्वाब-ए-हयात

चले थे जिस पे कभी हम साथ साथ

पता न था करेंगे इस कदर शिकवा तेरा

होगा तेरी ही तन्हाई से फिर निकाह मेरा
ये स्याह ख़ार-ए-दर्द, ये कहर तेरा

है वफ़ा-ए-पाक का इनाम, मेहर मेरा

चलता रहे तुम्हारा सिलसिला-ए-तिजारत यूँ ही

मांगी फिर एक दुआ तेरे लिए ही

के हो न जाए कभी शर्मसार मेरा यार-ए-दरिं

खुदा ना ही करवाए तुझे अब दीदार मेरा

चूर चूर बिखरा वो आईना 'हमारा'

रहा अक्स को भी नागवार साथ तेरा-मेरा

रिहा कर दिए आज खुद से तेरे आखिरी निशां

के उढ़ा आये सबाह में ख़ाक -ए-आशियाँ

हयात=ज़िन्दगी/Life
दस्त-ए-यार=यार के हाथ/Hands of the beloved
फ़क़त =सिर्फ/Only
सरमाया=खज़ाना/Treasure
सराब=मृगतृष्णा/Mirage
स्याह=काला रंग/Color Black
ख़ार=काँटा/Thorn
सिलसिला-ए-तिजारत= व्यापार/A tendency to deceive (acc. to context)
यार-ए-दरिं=पुराना दोस्त/ Old friend
सबा=हवा/Breeze

*****

Thus Spake 'He'

2012-01-26T01:57:00.000-08:00

Vanity dripping and spine erect

Head high, I gape at my body perfect

Oh! I love my silken skin, such golden glow

My sea blue eyes and feline walk slow

Praise showered galore wherever I go

Each minute filled with a cheer anew!

Thus, I beg almighty to freeze the time

Can’t just let go youth golden of mine

May this shine of gifted allure never fade

Amen. I hope my pleadings reach His space

One nice day, when sun heads earth’s rim

When after the usual pleading, I saw ‘him’

He sat quietly on a wooden porch

Near the place where I beg to my god

His hair rugged and looks so rustic

Surely, those eyes did master some magic

On a mere leaf he eats and prays all day

His words too, cast a spell they say

Near he came and opened his pursed lips

I melted and got confined to his jinx

He said, “Lovely body is but a delusion

Soul is truth we are to fathom

From the time of arrival until we depart

This molded dust forms just a part

We all become one in the end

For death unites us once again

Burned to ashes by our own friends

For none escorts after a life ends

Change is truth; the essence of life

Embrace lovingly, for it only survives

Do chart your path but rise above the jumble

Barter desires for the joy of surrender”

All this was very true and right

And I did come from darkness to light

However, I never saw him after that day

Was he God himself in a body of clay?

(Images from Internet)

I Forgive You Mr. Kapoor! -- A Short Story

2011-11-16T09:39:00.000-08:00

Sitting in my office, my stare moves from window to ceiling and then to the desk, where lies a huge mess of old and new files, samples, rusted scissors, scattered stationery and amongst all this, a cup of tea, cold as ice by now. However, for me the only thing important is my job that I take damn seriously. I have even told Mr. Kapoor all this minutes back.

Mr. Kapoor, my boss, is short and stout with a hanging lower lip that seems to indicate that it is too tired to keep the beetel and pan masala from coming out of those pursed lips. However, whenever Mr. Kapoor calls me ‘beti’ instead of Sarika, I can’t even describe the feeling.

It was only 20 minutes ago when I was summoned to Kapoor’s office, a cubicle tastefully decorated in maroon and purple, strange as himself. Anyways, as I entered he interrogated -

“Helloji, everything fine?”

“Yes sir”

His calm and composed ‘every thing is fine?’ question is actually the lull before the storm. I could see his hawk -like eyes, his computer like mind was ready to bombard me with some unforeseen issue.

As far as my cool and composed ‘yes sir’ was concerned, what a junior merchandiser can say even if she has to fight for her chair and water jug every morning with other employees. Actually chair means literally that- ‘chair’, the ubiquitous four legged furniture but Kapoor has not replaced those office chairs since Noah built his ark so a fight follows every morning with employees going even to the extremes of making insignias on them.

Kapoor started in his husky voice-

“What do you want to do in life?”

“Sir ?”

“What do you want to do in life?”

“Sir a comfortable life, what else?”

“How will you get a comfortable life beti?”

This beti word is a sign of danger, for it allows 61 year old Kapoor to scold staff like one scolds one’s own children- much more ruthlessly.

“Sir, by good performance. What happened sir?”

“No don’t ask me beti you know better”

“Sir I did send the samples to ‘Anks’

‘Anks’ was one of the clothing brands I was handling.

“I also contacted the sourcing department for the exact color of buttons they want and the thread number required”

“Hmmmm” said Kapoor in a low tone as if gauging his prey before pouncing and tearing it into unrecognizable pieces”

“Sir I have worked really hard”

“Just like a donkey right beti?”

“Sir??”

“Sir my foot! You stupid girl… the buttons you ordered were of exact colour but have you checked the shade? Did you make the minutes of the meeting on Anks? You took two days, two full days, to respond to the department about the status of the sample”

“But sir, I have to handle four brands more sir. That’s why the delay”

“No, the delay was because of our incapable staff” he said looking me into eye. “And yes, your disinterest for work. What if you handle five brands? What if? Look at me, I have three kids and a wife and a house and a company and a club and my investments and my health and a thousand other issues to take care of. Getting some inspiration or not?”

Kapoor said adjusting his glasses and grinding his teeth when he stopped to inhale some air as if it were glucose that would give him more energy to shout.

“I know” he continued “I know a normal merchandiser can handle two brands normally, but always remember you only said for yourself at the time of recruitment ‘Sir, I want to prove myself’. Now I have seen the proof” he shouted, making funny hand gestures.

I have been working here ever since I have earned my diploma in merchandising from an institute nearby, affiliated to some obscure university somewhere in South India. I report to Kapoor directly.

“Do not stand here and let your work suffer now, go and complete the entire work now only”

“Yes sir”

“Got it?”

“Yes sir”

“Go now. By the way, do you think you deserve another chance here?”

“Yes sir, Please trust me. I will prove myself for sure and you will definitely see zero mistakes from now” I said wiping my hot tears. He then gestured me again to get back to work.

His is the only room that has all the things in working condition in fact. He sits on a high Godrej chair and has a peculiar habit of scanning every staff member from head to toe from behind his gold rimmed glasses as if he could detect cocaine hidden in someone’s stomach.

I swear on my dead husband, if I were not having all the EMIs to pay along with the home loan he took for our one room flat and for my child’s education and yes, only if I were a little more educated, I would have spat on his devilish face.

But as I sit here under the ancient fan that always seems to be begging for retirement by creaking loudly, I have pardoned Kapoor once more for behaving rudely with me. After all, you see, I am not like him, insolent and rude, so I forgive him for all the rudeness he shows to me after all he has called me ‘beti’!

…

Images: http://www.shutterstock.com
http://daniwao.wordpress.com/

MOVIE REVIEW - CHITRALEKHA

2011-11-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Certain movies never make it to the super-hit status but certainly to must watch list; ‘Chitralekha’ (1964) is one of them. It is a classic example of soulful cinema. It is based on a Hindi novel by the same name, written by the great author Shree Bhagwati Charan Verma. The lead actors are late Meena Kumari as Chitralekha, Pradeep Kumar as ‘Samant Beejgupta’ and Ashok Kumar as head priest Kumargiri, known as ‘Swamiji’. Mahmood also plays an important role as ‘Brahmachari Shewtank’. The story is set in the ancient Mauryan period when Emperor Chandragupta Maurya ruled the nation.

This story is about the clash of opinions and ideologies of a hermit and a harlot; ‘yog’ and ‘bhog’, the two schools of salvation. While the former takes the path of salvation through celibacy and meditation to reach God, the latter believes enjoying every pleasure to be the right way.

The story is as follows:

Chitralekha is a high profile court dancer, who comes to the city of Patliputra with the troupe she heads. She wins a royal dance competition and hence meets Beejgupta and eventually falls for him. Beejgupta too, starts feeling an uncanny attraction towards her and starts visiting her daily. Incidentally, Beejgupta is engaged to Yashodhara, the beautiful and religious daughter of a prominent courtier of the emperor. Slowly, the friendship between the dancer and Beejgupta takes the form of a deep platonic love. Meanwhile, worried about his daughter’s future, Yashodhara’s father requests the head priest, Swamiji to show Beejgupta the right and pious path of marriage and family. Swamiji visits the place of Chitralekha and gives her a hard hitting lecture on morals and ‘karma’ on which she too retaliates and justifies herself, something quite unimaginable for the swami. Later, lives take curious turns; Chitralekha starts deviating towards religion and decides to take ‘sanyas’ while Swamiji gets enamored with her. I will not disclose the climax here as it will spoil all the fun. The story is beautifully woven with interesting dialogues.

This movie is a far cry from all those frivolous and cheap Hindi flicks that are usually released these days. A complete family movie and very beautifully directed, Chitralekha makes us ponder about life, love, duties and spirituality. Lyrics are written by the great poet, Sahir Ludhiyanvi and music is by Roshan. I loved two songs in particular, ‘sansaar se bhaage firte ho’ in which Chitralekha justifies her point of view and ‘mann re tu kahe na dheer dhare’ that consoles the heart stung by separation.

This movie is definitely a must watch!

Book Review - Neither Night Nor Day

2011-11-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

Title: Neither Night Nor Day

Edited By: Rakhshanda Jalil

Publisher: Harper Collins India

ISBN: 978-81-7223-691-5

MRP: Rs 250/-

‘Unputdownable’, ‘awesome’ and ‘shaking’, these are some of the adjectives I would use to describe my latest read, ‘Neither Night Nor Day’. It is an anthology of 13 short stories by women writers from Pakistan. However, the collection is edited by our very own Rakhshanda Jalil, the Media and Cultural Coordinator of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

These short stories basically deal with the lives of women in Pakistan. This book had been short listed for 'The Commonwealth Writers Prize 2008'. Pakistan’s image for most of us is that of a society very conservative and stifling, suffocating for women in general, but this work dispels that impression. Women now have opportunities to write and to express opinions on a much wider and larger platform .

The first story ‘Plans in Pink’ was not so interesting, but was a good read anyway.

The second, story, ‘The Tongue’ is set in a fictional land where everyone is mute for their tongues are cut as per the orders of the ruler but who fails to sever the will of the people.

The third one ‘She Who Went Looking For Butterflies’ is set within a time frame of a few hours when a lady waits for her execution. Somber and well written, it will definitely touch you somewhere.

The next story, ‘Leaves’ talks about the reunion of childhood buddies in their old age, and is a nice read.

Then comes the story from which the title of the book is taken, ‘Neither Night Nor Day’. This is my favorite as well. Amazingly written, this tells the story of a Paki immigrant in London and her deep set feelings of insecurity and identity crisis. This is a must read.

'The Breast’ talks about the brutality towards women in a Pakistani village. This story will definitely make you feel blessed and you will never curse your family or society again!

The next story is actually an excerpt form a novel by Sorayya Khan. The story ‘Five Queen’s Street’ is set in the time of partition. It is about the abduction of a Hindu woman by Muslim men, witnessed by a Muslim girl and her dilemma and outrage towards her own community.

The next in line is ‘A Brief Acquaintance’, I found personally boring and confusing. It is about Ron, a soldier from

USA

who dies near Waziristan.

Then comes another favorite of mine, ‘The Job Application’. This story describes the situation we all frequently deal with. It tells the story of a widow who applies for a job vacancy and the great pains she takes to make it up to interview, only to find that the job was not to be given to her, and shows in fine details the how a single unprofessional move by a company creates mess and flutter in her life and upsets her daily routine. You will love this too!

The ghost story, ‘The Sandstone Past’ is the next. This talks about a ghost in the elevator and a girls’ night out party. Basically, the story seeks to describe the cordial Hindu-Muslim relations in old Karachi.

The next story about honor killing can move many readers. In ‘The Wedding of Sundari’, a Sindhi teenage bride gets killed on the very day of her marriage for a very trivial issue, or rather non-issue. This is also one of my favorites.

In ‘The Goonga’, a disabled father dies craving for his son who is too embarrassed to accept him in public. This story literally made me cry and most of the readers will feel the same way.

The story ‘The Heathen Air’ is also immensely readable. This story is about the English ways of a rich lawyer and his wife’s silent suffering when he goes too far in his angreziat!

There is a solid reason behind using the first adjective to describe this book; I finished it within two days of purchase!

PS: I found it much better than the recently published book ‘Urban Shots’ which is also a collection of short stories.

Indian Honour Under Hammer

2011-10-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

The valuable gold Rolex watch of our first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, will soon be auctioned at Sothby’s in Geneva. It is pathetic that this has not made more than a passing news item in papers.

We all know that antique items have their own value and charm which attracts a lot of art curators and aficionados across the globe. But in this case, more startling is the fact that this watch was reported stolen in 1963 from Dr. Prasad’s Museum in Patna. The Indian government as usual is too busy to even investigate how a memorabilia item reached up to Sothby’s in the first place, let alone to make efforts to bring it back to India. Although the legal heirs of Dr Prasad are doing all what they can but Indian government is sick as usual. Is this the way we honour the people who sacrificed so much of their lives for us?

What makes the watch extremely valuable is not that it is of Rolex brand or it has a map of

India

made on its dial but that it was presented to Dr. Prasad on the first Republic Day.

Some time back, Mahatma Gandhi’s spectacles were also stolen from Sabarmati Ashram. The Indian government must be ashamed on its inability to preserve memorabilia of people who laid their lives for the country.

Let’s hope and pray that we get this watch back to our country.

Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sothebys-putting-Dr-Prasads-stolen-watch-under-the-hammer/articleshow/10361541.cms

We will meet

2011-10-05T00:06:00.000-07:00

Like a true companion

Your memoirs never leave me alone

However hard I may attempt

I witness circus* with a subtle contempt

I sauté in dark solitude

I burn out like a flame

I smile half-heartedly

I cease to think; everyone is the same

That fire within me is still ablaze

This lights my path in the entire maze

We will meet somewhere in high pastures

Where time does not prevail

Where life is but a passed stage

*world

Book Review– ‘More Malicious Gossip’ and ‘The Vintage Sardar’

2011-09-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

First of all, it is quite audacious on my part to review the work of the veteran writer Khushwant Singh. I have read his various books and he is now amongst my favorite authors. Still, the two books I’ll try to review here are ‘More Malicious Gossip’ and ‘The Vintage Sardar’, both compilations of his best writings of his long spanning and successful career as a columnist, novelist, editor, journalist, traveler and a diplomat. He has achieved much in life and hence these literary pieces are not just plain essays or boring travelogues but, concise and thought provoking pieces that can flood the reader with knowledge and interesting facts.

The first book is More Malicious Gossip, which is published by HarperCollins. This book is divided into three parts, viz, ‘With malice unspared’- personality portraits, ‘Going places’- travelogues and ‘Musings’- essays.

The first part describes the lesser known facets of people admired and hated. Their lives, careers and their real self have been described (read exposed) in a very to-the-point manner. The people included are Lord Mountbatten, urdu poet Faiz ahmed Faiz, dacoit turned MP Phoolan Devi, criminal Charles Shobhraj, actors Nargis Dutt and Ingrid Bergman, and Mughal ruler Aurengzeb, amongst others. Whatever he writes is his unbiased and frank point of view. He bashes politicians openly and cuts them to size. He describes how an innocent village lass Phoolan became a notorious dacoit, how Faiz Ahmed Faiz (who also happened to be his senior in college) was unhappy with the way Pakistani government worked and was looped into the dirty game of politics, how Shobhraj cleverly escaped from prison, and many other things. This part 1 is immensely readable.

The second part is travelogues. Khushwant Singh has traveled around the world and his writings on places are also quite interesting. He describes places like Syria, Germany and various Indian cities like Konark, Hyderabad and Goa.

The third part is Musings, essays and his thoughts and opinions on various things like disturbance in Punjab, family planning, dowry deaths, God and religion. This part is also extremely interesting. Here you’ll find naked truths and unbiased contemplation of matters we come across everyday but rarely stop to ponder upon.

The second book is ‘The Vintage Sardar’, published by Penguin Books. This is a compilation of his articles, especially those from his coloumn ‘With Malice Towards One And All’ in Hindustan Times newspaper in late 80s and early 90s. The range of topics is wider in this book and various new categories have been included as well, like nature, sex, death and faith.

He talks about shrewd Pakistani General Zia Ul Haq and his deceptively innocent looks, Nehru’s affair with Lady Edwina Mountbatten and how paparazzi sneaked inside their hotel at midnight, the infamously nymphomaniac life of painter Amrita Shergill, who was also his neighbor in Lahore and her catfight with Singh’s wife. He also takes us back to Mughal era and tells us what Babar told Humayun about India in his famous letter, and much more, from the secretive functioning of the gay community of Mumbai to Singh’s tactful dealing with a verbally abusive caller.

I loved both the books and undoubtedly I applaud Khushwant Singh for such a clear and informative yet interesting style of writing.

Listen

2011-09-26T04:49:00.000-07:00

Listen to the tranquil sky

It is the color palette of heavens

Listen that little birdie fly

How she flaps her lovely wings!

Listen what the leaf tells her tree

“Good bye sir, I am now glad and free!

I’ll fly and fly, miles and miles,

I’ll visit far away shores on my solitary journey

And all lost castles once brimming with symphony

Good bye, I am not tied to ye

May ye stand tall forever, at this last goodbye I say”

Ponder why these new leaves crackle

Do they too long to break their shackle?

Listen, what these new born buds say

What plans do they design the whole day?

“Lo! Wait is over and we arrive!

Young and innocent, pure and naïve

But we fear those rough hands

That will pluck us to faraway lands

Ah! World is but a cruel game we see

Unlike leaves we don’t wish to be free”

Listen to the water as it falls over

Can’t wait to meet its beloved river

What does the fall confess?

To that elderly rock at the edge

“I am impatient and young

Dreaming of her all day long

She loves me though but him much more

Alas! She longs to kiss the ocean’s shore

I love her still, knowing all of this

For my love is chaste though one sided

So, deaf to every wit and numb to logic”

Listen till your senses smoothen

Listen till your soul is calm

Listen till you reach eternal shore

Listen till you listen no more…

Images: http://www.robertmichie.com/photography.html

http://www.forestwaterfalls.com/waterfalls3.htm

http://www.123rf.com/photo_5645073_autumn-maple-leaf-flying-away-against-the-background-of-blue-sky-with-clouds.html

'The Versatile Blogger' Award

2011-09-23T05:52:00.000-07:00

I received 'The Versatile Blogger' award from Tanmoy Porel . Thank you Tanmoy!
Here is that award

And here are 7 random things about Myself (as per the award rules).

1. I am a Capricorn

2. I am a pure vegetarian and I love animals esp dogs and birds

3. I love reading Urdu poetry, in fact I find Urdu very beautiful

4. I wish I had light blue eyes :P

5. My first crush was Leonardo Di Caprio

6. I HATE people who laugh at personal tragedies of others.

7. I am quite good at preparing Kadhi –Chawal!!

As per the rules, I am also supposed to award this to 15 blogs I think are good. Honestly, being a novice writer myself, I am not worth judging someone's writing and label it as good or bad. We (bloggers) write basically to convey our ideas and views. So, every blog is worth reading. I pass it to all my blogger friends :)

Cheers!!

Water Water Everywhere......

2011-09-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

There is a famous poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. These two lines of this poem are quoted very often-

Water water everywhere

Not a drop to drink.

It would be interesting to fit these two lines on various people in different situations

***

1) Amar Singh on phone call drama with Bipasha Basu (who later denied the entire thing)

Water water everywhere

But I prefer a quite sip!

2) Rahul Gandhi on his single status

Water water everywhere

But I don’t simply bother...

3) Ashmit Patel on his new avatar as flirt guru on a reality show

Water water everywhere

I’ll teach you how to drink, yo!

4) The very pious and respected Dalai Lama

Water water everywhere

I am never tempted to drink.

5) Shiv Sena on opposition of non- Marathis residing in Mumbai

Water water everywhere

Only marathi manoos to drink here

6) Writer Khushwant Singh on his famously flirty life

Water water everywhere

I drank and drank and am full to brim :)

7) Dr Manmohan Singh on everything

Water water everywhere

Let me get the permission letter :P

8) Mayawati, the Chief Minister, UP on her dictatorial control over her cabinet ministers

Water water everywhere

I’ll order my cabinet to get it here

9) Cricketer Yusuf Pathan on being ignored by BCCI

Water water everywhere

Alas! No one tells me to drink

10) Actor and IPL team owner Shah Rukh Khan on Saurav Ganguly (The IPL bidding controversy where Ganguly had no takers)

Water water everywhere

But I won’t let him drink

11) Salman Khan on...You can guess who! hee hee!

Water water everywhere

No thanks, I have got my imported bottle!

12) Sania Mirza on Marrying a Pakistani national

Water water everywhere

Hey! That of the next pond seems better

13) Vijay Mallaya, famous for his Kingfisher Beer and elite parties

Water water everywhere

But my premium beer is even better

14) Shri Anna Hazare- Our very own, modern bapu

Water water everywhere

Please take only your own share

15) Dr. Kiran Bedi on her resignation from Indian Police Service

Water water everywhere

Grr! I was shoved before reaching there

16) Shiela Dixit, the mark of Delhi’s amazing development!

Water water everywhere

Ya Ya, that’s, because our roads are broken all over!

17) Rakhi Sawant, the crap queen

Water water everywhere

Why drink? I take regular dips herzz!!

PS: ‘Water’ here is not to be taken in romantic sense alone and this is just a non serious pun, to be taken with a pinch of salt! warm water can also be added..hee hee ;D

I Broke A Million Strings...

2011-09-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

The maze is eternal with roads galore

Deeper I gaze, sink I more

Simply an endless swim without a shore

Keep passion hidden and face stoned

For each one is wolf in angel’s robe

Not a soul can be trusted, nor can be loved

Still a million strings tie me to the web of world

Let me break all ropes and take a road straight

Still keeping safe spaces on both the ways

I sever all strings once I feel Thee

All cravings go numb and

Soul feels like a bird set free!

I soak His light and sleep deep inside

Lo! I am the new sprout in the womb of light

Pains and joys are trivial now

From a raging fire and flaming ember

Here I beam with the joy of surrender

I am but a clay with scent of Thee

Ah! I can be anything I wish to be

For I have broken those million strings and

Soul feels like a bird set free!

Image:http://freegreatstockphotos.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/a-bird-in-the-hand-set-free/

The Deadly Four

2011-09-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

It is often said that world is nothing but an illusion. I don’t know if this is correct but in my limited experiences, I have noticed four perceptions that can be termed as illusions. I mean, we are rational animals and are somewhat emotional also; hence most of us fall to these four notions very easily.

1. All good looking people are good individuals: This is the most common mistake people make: if someone is handsome or beautiful, he or she will be an ethical and even-tempered individual as well. In a nutshell, almost all of us go for appearances. Beauty is a wonderful thing but it creates a halo effect too; it has caused wars, it has inspired poets and writers, and it has stripped the great kings of their crowns. Even in these times, it is not uncommon to see boys falling for beautiful and tempting but evil or loose character girls and ruin generations to come by marrying such nymphs. Similarly, girls running after handsome boys and assuming them to be a benchmark of perfection and bravery is also common. When the mists of such false notions disappear, depressing truths emerge.

2. People fluent in English are brilliant: English is just a medium of communication that merely expresses a thought or idea. The value is not of the unique bottle of perfume or the case of diamond ring but of the perfume and ring itself. Similarly, good English in no way indicates intelligence of the speaker. School dropouts, street urchins and even pimps sometimes speak better angrezi than doctors and executives.

3. Expensive gifts indicate deep feelings: It is simply our greed that makes us think so. People who are devoted to us must not be put to test every now and then. A gift is more of a formality to avoid being the odd-one-out at social events. A flower or a diamond does not anyways indicate the depth of feelings, rather actions and behavior does. I have seen people literally criticizing gifts openly; this is something that not only indicates shallowness but avarice as well.

4. Those who speak less are highly evolved and mature: There is a saying in hindi ‘band mutthi lakh ki; khul gayi to khak ki’ that means an empty fist is valuable only till it is kept closed. Similarly, dumb asses prefer to keep their mouths shut when some intellectual talk is going on to get a benefit of doubt. Maturity is not reflected in brooding the whole day or scorning at jokes, but in the level of dexterity with which one manages the daily affairs of his/her life without disturbing the relations and social settings.

Finally, I would love to quote Famous English philosopher Francis Bacon here:

“Dignity of presence is much better than beauty of aspect”

Absolutely!

Image source:http://featurecreaturesfx.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-actor-safe-prop-knife.html

Universal Blindfold

2011-09-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

Amongst all the human emotions, some offer huge exploitation potential for the people with tainted intentions. Greed is one, vanity is another; as per Hinduism the two along with anger are also considered the gateways to hell. The motherly love or mamta has, however, been exploited most widely, for all kinds of purposes.

A few days back, a scene on television caught my attention instantly, hence this post. A documentary on Mongolian villages on NG Channel showed how wild goats and other beasts can be domesticated without much botheration.

The locals keep lambs tied uncomfortably to a mule, as hostages to be more precise. This way, the lambs keep crying out in pain and mother wild goats come bleating after them upto the village. Hence, the entire task of finding, catching and domesticating a wild goat is reduced to one single action. Mothers can go to any extent for the sake of their off springs. What the locals there do is basically done by people all around the world; only forms vary.

The romantic love knows no bounds; so does love for progeny, but while the former is often dipped in lust, the latter is as pure as a dew drop from heavens. All over the world and from the times immemorial, people have widely cashed in on the parental love for varied ends, from money to thrones. Even the great Mahabharata battle can be attributed to it: king Dhritrashtra ignored all the evil doings of Duryodhan out of paternal love.

Companies, especially health-foods makers clearly show mothers wishing their kids to be the brightest and tallest in the entire group. This love is more of a mint machine for MNCs.

So, I cannot just blame the Mongolians or the goats; every living being is literally blindfolded with this. The few, who are not, stand out like sore thumb. Isn’t it?

Images: http://www.indolink.com/kidz/Mbharatpart12.html

http://animalszooguru.blogspot.com/

My Guest Column in The Viewspaper

2011-08-08T01:24:00.001-07:00

The post 'Zindagi Aisi Na Ho Dobara' has featured in The Viewspaper, here the link:

http://theviewspaper.net/zindgi-aisi-na-ho-dobara/

Check out!

Ye Dil mange more!!

2011-08-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

When I saw that Vodafone ‘borrow talk time from friends’ ad recently, at that very instant few people having perfected the art of borrowing came to my mind. Now, if we look closely, there are basically two types of people who borrow: first, those who are in genuine need, and second those who are habitual shameless creeps. I have all the sympathy and help ready for the first category. The second category is of people who just ask for anything shamelessly as if they have a legal right on all your things. They can go to any lengths for borrowing and they can knock at your door even at midnight.

One girl in my class who hailed from Meerut was a pro in borrowing anything from anyone. She even asked for a formal shirt and shoes for a presentation. The funny thing was that my presentation was minutes after hers. She could be a perfect model for borrowing, she literally asked me for everything like cell phone, bucket, clothes, bed, blanket, books, shoes, heating rods and many other items. Later I came to know that I was not the only one on her hit list, whole hostel suffered this problem. That obnoxious girl was definitely not in the first category. Life was easy for her as her mantra was ‘main maang loongi yaar!’ (I’ll borrow from someone yaar!)…cheap

Second comes the borrowing of books. An old proverb goes, “The best way to keep a friend-never borrow, never lend”. One of my friends borrowed my book for a week or so but I got it back after 10 months that too after repeated pleas and requests. Later I came to know that he had lent the book further to 10 or 11 more people.

I could not stop laughing at one incident when a relative wanted to borrow my grandfather’s underwear! Grandpa had refused for sure but we still laugh at the audacity of that man!

A neighbor once approached my mother for the recipe of tomato soup (!), and guess what; she even took all the ingredients and spices from us only! ha ha ha ha!!

How many such people have you come across??

Zindgi Aisi Na ho Dobara

2011-07-19T00:47:00.000-07:00

What a queer coincidence! The hot shots, the tycoons celebrated at the badshah’s palace, Mannat the success of the recently released flick ‘Zindgi Na Milegi Dobara’ at the time when the victims of the bomb blasts were suffering these words literally. The Maximum City was burning under three serial bomb blasts in which about 20 people died and many more were injured. Strangely, in such times celebrities like Shahrukh Khan and actress Katrina Kaif found a reason to celebrate. The party was hosted by Mr Khan at his residence and amongst those who arrived happily to wine and dine were Hritik Roshan, Adi Godrej, Kartina Kaif, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and a few others. Don’t they owe any concern to the city and the audience that made them what they are so high headed about- superstars. Mr Khan has expressed sadness via Twitter. Fakeness of emotions can be easily seen through: the lament about bomb blasts and a totally converse behavior at the same time do not go in sync. Ms Kaif must be ashamed of herself to celebrate her birthday in such tragic times.

Another epitome of shamelessness was Minister Subodh Kant Sahay who was enjoying the fashion show of his daughter, pleading later that he didn’t know of the blasts till then: even when the entire country knew it!

True, in a country of more than a billon people, everyone can’t share everyone else’s miseries. But the people turned into celebrities by the masses owe in return some concern towards them, at least in such grave times. If they fail to do so and behave like a common man, well then it’s time we turn them back into one. After all masses make one a celebrity and this is nowhere more true than in the entertainment industry. We should stop eulogizing these ‘sell-ebrities’ any more.

As a quote by Napoleon Bonaparte goes “what hurts you in the end is not the words of your enemy but the silence of your friends”. It is not the unscrupulous motives of terrorist organizations that actually exist only for terror activities; it is the insolent attitude of our own ministers, government and the people who represent our society and in case of India, film celebrities included.

For the blast victims too, it is Zindgi Na Milegi Dobara for they will never get a lease of life again.

Book Review - Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

2011-07-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Today I finished reading one of the classics, ‘Les Miserables’, written by the great dramatist and writer, Victor Hugo. This book has been a wonderful read. Even though it is some 600 pages long, it is very much able to keep a reader hooked.

The novel is set in France at the time around the French Revolution. The protagonist, Jean Valjean, a poor farm labourer, steals a loaf of bread to feed his hungry family but instead gets caught and is sent to jail. He undergoes a lot of trauma, social boycott and misery in life and becomes more of an emotionless robot. After he gets out 19 years later (his sentence is increased after three failed escape attempts), he is transformed into a kind man by a noble bishop who gives his brazen soul a new lease of life. Valjean sets out to make something of himself and eventually becomes the mayor of a city. At a point of time, he faces a moral dilemma- whether to save a convict who is mistaken for Jean Valjean by disclosing his reality or to continue with his respectable and good life. Finally he takes the best decision. A parallel track also runs, that of an orphan lady called Fantine and her illegitimate child Cossette who grows up to be an integral part of the story. The plot is very well woven and is not that simple. How the lives of Valjean, Fantine and Cossette cross and what happens afterwards when Cossette falls in love with a handsome lawyer, Marius in the backdrop of the famous French Revolution form the climax of the novel. It has become one of my most favorite books from now.

Another prominent thing that you will notice is the beauty of the language and the descriptions of untold emotions. The ending made me cry and I actually felt a tiny jolt somewhere deep inside.

Les Misreables is a book worth reading!

Academics - Our New Dumping Ground

2011-06-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Basically, this post is a written outcome of my frustration that I could not vent properly while in college and even in school. Taking pangas with teachers can create mayhem in a student’s life. I have been observing this since long and to my surprise, many of my friends too are extremely irritated. I’ll end this filmy suspense and will tell you clearly what this post is all about.

Over years of my student life, I came across a plethora of teachers, some extremely sincere, some strict, some verbally abusive, some akin to mental counselors and some totally unemployable duds who ‘had’ to enter academics to earn a living. This post is about those falling in the last category.

These days, every nook and corner and village and alley has a management institute. These have become more ubiquitous than the paan shops and local grocers. Students hailing from semi urban backgrounds or those unable to pass the entrance tests of high profile institutes take admission in these ‘management shops’ and all they learn is pure theoretical knowledge. Of all the students passing out of professional colleges, best ones are picked up by the companies, a few join family businesses and rest, who are at the bottom, join such grade less institutes only to ruin the future of students.

Such teachers can be found anywhere, not only in colleges but in schools as well. But if you think such pests can be found only in such third grade institutes, you are clearly mistaken. Even the top institutes have them, though less in numbers. I did my MBA from a very reputed B school and I can clearly remember three or four such faculty members who entered academics only because they were not getting jobs anywhere. Out of the three, two were visiting faculties from another top management institute. I was shocked at the audacity of one of them; when someone asked a question, he retorted “If you have a query that is your problem” Such was this man’s reply!

(Check out this awesome satire on Indian schools)

Another dud claimed he was a PhD from IIM. His very incorrect basics coupled with his cranky personality and immaturity created a very obnoxious image of this man. His terrific angrezi still makes me roll on the floor with laughter!

A girl whom I know very well did her graduation and MBA from the same institute and after MBA, she joined there only, as a lecturer. She had been an average student and her presentation and public speaking skills were literally zero. She was also rejected by various companies for job. Left with no choice, she entered academics.

And the limit - an office assistant (secretary) I knew, now works as an assistant professor at one of the B schools in Mumbai! Not only she is one of the most irritating personalities one can encounter, also her cacophonic voice makes it almost impossible to stand her nonsensical talks!

These are only a few cases from the thousands. I am not accusing the entire academic staff of the country neither I am trying to prove that only duds enter this sacred profession these days but my point is that, in general academics has become a dumping ground for the unemployable and for the unemployed as well.

June-16-2011 Lunar Eclipse - First Shots!

2011-06-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

Today was the much hyped Lunar eclipse. Needless to say, I was quite excited to capture the rare celestial event in my camera. Such an eclipse will appear next only in the year 2041. Here are a few shots taken right from the start of the eclipse.

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘WEST IS WEST’

2011-06-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Today I saw the movie ‘West Is West’ in an up market cinema hall. Will fume about the cinema hall later (in PS); let me first present the review.

The movie is a sequel to the super hit ‘East Is East’, in which Jehagir Khan aka George Khan (Om Puri) migrates from Pakistan to London in search of a better life, leaving his wife Basheera (Ila Arun) and daughters. There he marries an English lady Ella and settles down. He has seven kids from her.

The sequel is set in the early seventies. The story basically revolves around his youngest son, Sajid, who is going through a terrible patch because of his identity crisis. He is bullied by white students and bunks school most of the time, and is on his way to become a delinquent youth. He roams around aimlessly on streets, shoplifts and gets caught once as well. His father, ashamed of his act and confused about his education and future decides to take him to their native place, Pakistan. His other son, a very mature and mild mannered Muneer (Jimmy Mistry) also joins. The trio arrives in Pakistan and is given a warm homecoming by the family. The combined family, along with uncles and cousins also includes his first wife, (played to perfection by Ila Arun) and their married daughters. Actor Vijay Raaz has portrayed the character of one of the relatives who becomes a voluntary guide for the entire trip. The rustic charm of village and natural beauty is very well captured in the movie. A simple village life, without creating any false image is shown. Bullock carts, dusty alleys, women toiling day and night, pir baba, old markets, old houses with joint brick roofs, buffaloes and the like are well portrayed.

Unlike Muneer, Sajid feels very out of place in his ancestral village which is completely alien to him in every possible way. George Khan tries his best to calm down the boy but all his counseling and even beatings make Sajid even more rebellious till he meets the local ‘Pir baba’ who interestingly converses in fluent English. He also befriends a local village lad who becomes his best buddy later.

Now starts the main story. The baba, in simple words and through tales and examples explains him the concept of individuality and adaptation. He gets him to wear local clothes and slowly and surely calms him down. Sajid transforms from a confused teen to a confident boy, aware of his identity and no longer ashamed of accepting it openly. A parallel track runs between the guilt laden George Khan and his first wife. She clearly tells him that since she somehow managed the tough task of being a single mother to perfection for last thirty years, she has become strong and independent from within and feels no need to appeal to any man’s mercy. Also, that she is not just an address for his letters and money orders but a living breathing individual. Her silent expressions speak volumes. The most beautiful scene in the entire movie is when she explains Ella, George’s second wife (who arrives later tracking George) that she neither loves nor longs for him anymore and shows her their old wedding photograph in sign language (due to different languages).

A few more events take place rapidly; story has its own little twists and turns. I would not like to disclose each and every aspect of the story here. Two notable things about this movie are the kind but firm attitude of George Khan’s first wife towards her step sons and even Ella, and that except a few Hindi/Punjabi slang, there are no saucy scenes. Hence, unlike most of the movies being released these days, it is very ‘safe’ to watch it with elders/parents.

I would give this arty movie a rating of 4 on a scale of 5.

PS:

1) Only seven people were there for West is West. Two couples, one uncle, and us. The couples quickly occupied both ends of the last row and were giggling all the time :P

2) Another thing that I particularly dislike about such hi-fi halls is the overpricing of food items.

Sehar

2011-06-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

सहराँ-ए-ग़म में डूबा अंजुम-ए-हयात

उम्मीद की एक किरण निकली तो फकत सराब

अपने ही माजी से है ज़िन्दगी खफा

मर्ज़-ए-ग़म को कैसे हो अब शिफा

क्या यूँ ही तन्हाई में अब दिन काटेंगे

न कोई आहट और न दस्तक सुनेंगे

न पुकारेगा अब दरीचे से कोई हमदम

याद-ए-माजी पर ही बस अब निकलेगा दम

थम गया वक़्त फकत एक सहर के इंतज़ार में

अँधेरा ही पसरा है खिज़ा-ए-हयात में

सदियाँ बीतीं एक हरफ-ए-तसल्ली के लिए

कोई तो आये बस थोड़ी तशफ्फी के लिए

लेकिन ये ज़िन्दगी भी एक किताब है

हर वर्क कीमती जिसका, हर लफ्ज़ लाजवाब है

बदल गया सबा का रुख यूँ इस तरफ

न रह गया कीमती अब वो तसल्ली का हरफ

दरिया-ए-शीरीं बह चला इन अश्कों के दयार से

सब्ज़ होने लगे हैं पत्ते बिना इंतज़ार-ए-बहार के

Here is the English transliteration of this poem

The shining star of my life drowned in desert of pain

The only ray of hope too, turned out to be just mirage

My life feels ashamed of its own past

How will I get out of this vicious circle of grief?

Will rest of my days be spent in loneliness?

Without expecting even a single knock

No beloved will call me from the world outside

Some memories mere remain now to live by

The wait for the morning (happiness) has been endless

Only darkness prevails everywhere in life’s barren land

I spent a lifetime waiting for a word of consolation

And waiting for someone to sympathize with me

But, this life of mine is a story book in its own

Each page is wonderful and valuable and so is every word

These days the winds have started blowing the other way

These days I do not long for sympathy anymore

My eyes now brim with sweet drops of joy, not with bitter tears (of grief)

See, yellow leaves have now started turning green without even waiting for the spring!

(I am growing stronger from within, without waiting for any anyone’s sympathy or support)

PS: I wrote this poem originally in Urdu. Special thanks go to sir, Mr. Zafar Naqvi , former Editor-in-chief of the leading Urdu daily 'Sahafat' for his constant support, guidance and encouragement.

Thank you Mohan for motivating me to write something in Urdu!

Photo: me- http://www.flickr.com/photos/as_hummingwords/4894433113/in/photostream

WAIT FOR ME

2011-05-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

I struggle in this pitch dark night

On a sordid journey called life

Living alone on a grave of ardour

Mere memories now my heart harbors

Running far from all ugly cacophony

All I long is your sweet symphony that,

You will be humming for me waiting,

Beyond the stars where time has no meaning

Where death is myth and soul is the living

Where only love and calm prevails

No vexation, desolation or anymore heartbreaks

Strolling universe, we shall go beyond the sun

Far from any sects to follow, any galleys* to return

Hold my hand, let me seep deep inside

Contain me within yourself somewhere, let me hide

It is my only pleasure pure, my only bliss divine

Please, be inseparable, remain forever mine

Wait for me near that pearly, pristine full moon

Enjoy agony of longing; I shall arrive soon

* 'Galleys' here indicates society and rules.

My article in Political Express

2011-05-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

Hi! This is my article published in the Political Express magazine, May 2011 issue.

The Blast - My First Short Story

2011-05-14T01:12:00.000-07:00

The tranquil misty winter morning seemed a bit new and different but Sarika’s schedule was same as it has been since she married Manoj a decade ago. She woke up early, prepared morning tea lovingly for him.

She came out in the front yard of her house trying to absorb the few rays of the shy winter sun. Sipping her morning tea and planning the hectic day ahead, she heard the desperate cry of Sammy, the old dog of her neighbor. Sammy was callously left behind when the family shifted residence to Meerut, simply because it was old and required care. All day it would sit outside its old house in biting cold in an unending hope that some day its family will let it in. Sarika felt pity for it and would occasionally tossed bits of left over food towards it. She again saw it trying to get inside the locked house through spaces and crevices in the locked iron gate. “Anyways, what can I do, suffering and pain is the destiny of this dog. I have got a thousand things lined up of my own and on my own, and who has got time?” She stared at the dog blankly while sipping tea and came inside, something she was doing since the owners left.

One late evening, Sarika came to shop for some groceries with Manoj in nearby market. She was hassling as usual, and Manoj stood at a distance smoking, unconcerned, for he considered bargaining one of the signs of being effeminate. Suddenly there were two loud gunshots. The people all around got panicky started running in whichever direction they could. The fear of getting killed is worse than death itself; people carrying their children in arms, old people struggling to hold each other, everyone started running for cover. The market was not that crowded though, but a sort of stampede followed. Two gangs of goons were on their way chasing each other. After the goons left, the crowd started coming back from their hidings. Sarika too came out of a shop through its half closed shutter and looked for Manoj. Her hand reached for cell phone but it wasn’t there. Perhaps it fell somewhere. She fretted around but to no avail. Sarika felt her legs shaking and an uneasy feeling crept in. The market came back to normal within some time but Manoj was nowhere to be seen. Fearing the worst, she gathered all her might and visited the temple nearby to pray for the well being of the man she loved so intensely. It was also the moment of truth for her when she realized how deeply she loved him. Her confused mind pictured her tensed husband searching hysterically for her as she rushed home to intimate her family and well wishers.

She barged straight into the house panting but got her breath back when she found Manoj relaxing on the sofa, watching cricket, completely unruffled by what had happened in the market.

“Come on Sarika I am here, nothing can happen to you, my brave babe. In fact I have been praying for you ever since I came back. Actually I thought you would be at home so I came back searching for you only” he said, as he saw her.

“I could have got killed in the stampede” replied Sarika controlling her tears, after staring for a few minutes at the man who appeared so blasé and chilled.

“It wasn’t much of a stampede, you could take care of yourself. And you are not a five year old who needs constant protection” he said trying to hide the discomfort that started to appear on his face.

“What if I were killed? I have returned so late, weren’t you worried about me” said Sarika as if trying to remind him of his vows that he could die for her.

“Where were you? I looked everywhere, couldn’t find you, and so came home. I knew you would make it to home safely.”

“But I could have got killed!” Sarika said trying her best to fathom his intentions.

Manoj avoided any eye contact, for the eyes sometimes speak the naked truth. But sometimes the mask itself reveals the real face of the actor. He scorned and switched off the TV, banging the remote on the table and went inside while she stood there frozen in time and feeling slapped on the face. She felt like crying but only a few tears rolled down her cheeks. She remembered the days when she would pray for his success and health, when she would pick up quarrels with relatives for him, all those delicacies she would prepare even when she was not keeping too well and a storm of such nostalgic memories swept through her mind. And here was the man who claimed that he could do anything for her, sitting shamelessly leaving her to die or get lost somewhere in the crowd. Sarika got all her answers. She could now piece together his every word and that in fact created an ugly picture.

Wiping her tears she came out and sat motionless in the porch. Sammy was there as usual. She could now feel an uncanny bond with it; they both stared at each other for a while but this time the stare was definitely not blank......

PS: This is my very first attempt towards writing a short story. Hope you will like it!

Image courtesy: http://www.pawsandbones.blogspot.com/

My Fair Lady

2011-05-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

No one can recreate the magic of Late Princess Diana. Her charm and aura were unmatched and will always remain so. Although she was a princess, her life had been quite tragic.

Diana, the princess of Wales (Diana Frances; née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family and an international personality of the late 20th century as the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981. The wedding, which was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, was televised and watched by a global audience of over 750 million people. The marriage produced two sons: Princes William and Harry.

Medium : Pencil Color

Info Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana,_Princess_of_Wales

REBIRTH

2011-04-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

What lies beneath, none can fathom

Deep within this heart rests my gold

Made up of a few memories moist

And a few secrets untold

A treasure of bitter and sweet tales,

And a few candid details

That I always wished to recite

Though could never gather that might

Lost under wraps are some faded figures too

And some names half forgotten

All lie shut and frozen,

Refusing to see the light

In a spirit dormant and brazen

But tables have turned; the tide has come,

To swallow this latent soul

To awake it from this deep sloom

To destroy the battered walls of gloom

Can’t stop this ebb at all

That got me into a bottomless hole

It is like a rebirth of my dead soul

Going inside never to come out

Or to grow again like a new born sprout

I see no darkness but only light

Of all lost hopes burning bright

Ah! I stumbled upon old ambitions also

These have accorded to sing in rhyme!

This is my world, my terrene

The holy abode of all once orphaned dreams

What am I without these yearnings?

That burn day and night

To give me light and to flicker forever

To pave my paths always and ever.

Image courtesy: http://www.123rf.com/photo_8307565

The Famous Afghan Girl

2011-03-06T05:17:00.000-08:00

Sharbat Gula, an Afghan lady was photographed by the famous journalist Steve McCurry.
Gula was living as a refugee in Pakistan, during the time of the war when she was photographed.
This image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Gula was then around 12 years old.
The team relocated Gula, then around the age of 30, in a remote region of Afghanistan in the year 2002.
She had married and returned to Afghanistan from the refugee camp in 1992. She had never seen her famous portrait before it was shown to her in January 2003.
She is now living with her husband and three daughters.

Medium: Pencil color

Info Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl

AN UNENDING VEXATION

2011-02-28T21:46:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, in a far away place

In a village of seven hills and seven lakes

There was this handsome lad,

His eyes bright and face glad

In the morning sun he basked,

In the evenings he played

Happy spring cheered his soul

While autumn made him joyous

And stream was but a lovely opus

He brimmed with joy in every season

His soul was content for no reason.

Until a day when his world turned

All the joys had his heart shunned

That was the day he got a taste of glory

And was all set write a different story

His eyes starry and heart pure no more,
Tainted with avarice he left for far away shores
Time raced and years passed,
No one heard again from this lad.

Now, stewing in his own paradise,

He became a big name already

But was numb to the cool breeze

And deaf to cuckoo’s melody

Though could listen to jingle of coins

His savior, his god, his life

His world’s deity divine

What goes, for sure comes around

Coz fate is a clever friend

It twists lives and makes the world go round.

One day, He chanced on his old place

Still same except for one deserted cottage

Reduced to a forgotten grave expecting none

Ah! That ruined cottage was his sweet abode once.

Still, he kept knocking with a false anticipation.

He wiped tears all by himself

Alas! His gold hummock gave no solace

Silver plates failed to gratify

And silken bed was too a menace

But he only had chosen this path,

Also, there was none left to blame.

Look! there he walks alone,

That king of glory who adorns a throne

But without a hand to wipe that tear

Without anyone to hug him near

His life has only isolation

His bed of roses will always hurt

It is rather an unending vexation.

A DESERTED ADDRESS

2011-01-30T08:48:00.000-08:00

Stuck in my own cobwebs,

Within the nooks deep in my heart;

I am unable to break free and make a new start,

Even sunlight seems mere shadow of a once glorious past.

Only the darkness now rules in life’s lonely lane,

With a few dusted memories,

Of joy, of celebration, of bliss, of fame;

I am now a deserted address, no letters for this forgotten name.

My lonesome heart yearns for those friends,

To wipe my tears and hold these shaking hands,

But world bows only to the rising sun;

The fallen stars are dirt for every one.

(This is written for a superstar of Indian Cinema, whose insolence, rudeness and arrogance shocked me. Stars like him, once shining, are now lost in history, for space at the top is narrow and pitch very slippery. Nothing lasts forever, as the saying goes, ‘This too shall pass’. I hope this hero gets this lesson soon)

Image source: http://abstract.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/64492/

ARE WE LIKE THAT COMPASS NEEDLE??

2011-01-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

I have been pondering over this matter for quite some time. I would like to provide a small disclaimer this time as well. I do not mean or intend to hurt any one in any way; these are simply word forms of my thoughts, perceptions, and especially my observations. To start with, the basic topic of this post is gender based discrimination. If you see things deeply from a third person’s perspective, chauvinism peeps out from even the most simple words, statements and situations.

We all ignore any news of discrimination and crime against women, labeling as very rusty, raw and rather ‘chhote-shaher ka’ types. Are we liberal in real sense? Does our ‘modern and educated’ society very capable of giving lectures on women power really practices what all it preaches all the time?

Let’s take the example of corporate first. Female employees, have to constantly give ‘signals’ of ‘I am not available for fun’. Even the HR people advise them to dress modestly. Why should a girl change her dressing style if some male is not able to keep his feelings under check? Secondly, it is an open secret that ladies have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to get promotion. Even if she has climbed the corporate ladder through hard work and dedication, she is often accused of compromising with the bosses to get the chair that only a man ‘deserved’.

It is very common to see people taking respite in tagging ladies who are separated from their husbands. Whether a lady leaves her husband or he leaves her; in either case she is the ‘culprit’; rather the only one. The things are not same for men. In fact, I have seen men who recently lost their wives, flooded with marriage proposals but a widow is considered inauspicious and is avoided like plague at auspicious ceremonies like marriage etc. Why this discrimination? Abuse is not only physical; these boycotts are often the worst form of torture one can inflict on an already disadvantaged being, for some emotional wounds take forever to heal.

Any man with a jovial and friendly disposition is considered positive and good natured. He is considered smart and attractive; while any girl with a similar nature is tagged slutty and cheap? This discrimination is deeply rooted even in our so called modern society. It is a literal cakewalk to spoil the name of any girl- just spread a few rumors and she will be tainted for life.

I know of a particular case where, to know each other better, a girl requested her suitor to meet her separately at any public place. The boy not only refused to meet her but his family snapped the ties too, for they thought the girl was very ‘forward’, desperate and lacks ‘sanskaars’. Silly, but good for the girl; luck got that pest out of her life!

Also, rape is the only crime wherein the only one blamed is the hapless victim. As Napoleon rightly said ‘In the end, what hurts us the most is not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends’. The disdainful look and apathetic treatment of the victim by her own society in fact makes her life hellish since every minute she is reminded of her ‘tragedy’ by her very own people.

There are many situations like this and the list is endless, literally. No sex is superior to the other; both are at the same level. This unnecessary discrimination covered under the mask of so called modernity makes us even more obnoxious. It is high time we open our mind and start truthfully practicing what we always preach about gender equality.

‘Like a compass needle always points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.’ – Nana to Mariam, in “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini….. Can’t agree more!

Image source: http://the-universality-of-cheese.blogspot.com/2009_08_31_archive.html

WHAT’S YOUR RASHI- PART-3

2011-01-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

In the last post, girls broke off the engagement. Now let’s see how our boys of the zodiac are going to react to this. Let’s suppose they have come to know that they have been dumped.

Aries: haha! As if I bother!!
Taurus: (After hearing all the things patiently): Its ok, I am fine with this decision. I don’t want a partner who is like a baggage on me.
Gemini: What! You are breaking off the engagement? You know only strong girls can do that. No girl can live in a suffocating relationship. I hate such relationships as well... You were so nice, I enjoyed with you. You must be a strong girl. Emotions have their place in relationship, you are too emotional to take right decisions, and I feel emotional girls are not strong and …………so.........and........
Cancer: What?? I am devastated. Please do not leave my lady; I just cannot take broken relations. Please do not make my nightmares come true. But finally, if you should, then I also know how to live without you.
Leo: Letting go a man like me proves that you are a certified lunatic…and by the way, I always wanted to tell one thing that even my maid has a better style sense than you girl...In fact you never ever deserved me, get lost!Grrrr..
Virgo: Yes, madam, I also noticed various things like you were staring blankly out of the window when my aunt was giving you tips on better knitting, I heard you did not flush when you used the restaurant loo, you also did not wash your hand after touching the escalator railing and you also took the compliment given by my cousin on your dress very lightly. Thanks a lot for letting me off your clutches.
Libra: Hmmm…Hmmm...Now what is the exact problem and what is the exact root of this decision. See, exact root can make you take a few other decisions as well like you may delay, you may set some particular terms and conditions but I can see you have cancelled. If the cause and effect are the same, then a peculiar habit of mine may be the reason. See, I think…….. And I think… and I think……… (The poor girl says yes to avoid argument!).
Scorpio: OK lady (Thinking: How dare you, you dumb ass, can’t you feel the heat of my intense passion for you? Now I’ll teach you a lesson or two for sure, and then you will think a thousand times before hurting any one again like this... wait and watch girl, just wait and watch….).
Sagittarius: Yaar, that’s what I was saying, why don’t you lose some weight and why don’t you wax your upper lip? I mean it’s good we are not getting married; after all I am not gay! hahaha! Btw my ex was saying that you need a new haircut also!
Capricorn: No. I need a concrete reason, won’t leave till you give me one. It is your life; do whatever you wish, I do not have time for your silly girly crap. All I want is a that basic reason in one line and without tears. You have five minutes.
Aquarius: Accha! So should I say yes to my scout friends for that trekking trip? Actually I was getting delayed due to this engagement ceremony... would you like to join us?
Pisces: That’s because we are not made for each other. Our ‘spiritual-energy-karmic-yin-yan-love connect’ might be weak; it surely is as I saw and felt it deeply in my dream. Anyways watz up sister :)

(Image courtesy: www.theselfishgene.com)

Watz Your Rashi - Part 2

2011-01-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Let us assume a girl has to reject a suitor she has been going around for months, may be. Here is how the girls of the zodiac will behave:

(To be taken with a pinch of salt!)

1. Aries: Yaar, I think we are incompatible so I am leaving you- bye.

2. Taurus: I think you are an aggressive person and my patience is coming to an end; before it results in a deadly explosion, please leave.

3. Gemini: Am I leaving you? Who told you that? You think so? You know I had heard compatibility is an essential quality for marriage. When we went to that club yesterday, it was so much fun. I think it is going to rain tomorrow. There are so many men who hate rains you know, but I love them. I want to marry someone who loves traveling, that’s what! I want such a man yaar! Oh yes, btw I think I am leaving you. You are so sweet, how can a girl let a sweetie pie like you slip off her hands, you know………………… (The guy is still waiting at the altar, still unsure if she will come or not!)

4. Cancer: You were smiling when I was crying?? You did not give me enough sympathy. How could you kick that stray pup? And how can you not smile back at that beggar child? You steel robot. Leave please (crying), please leave I want to marry a kind gentle man and not some insensitive demon.

5. Leo: You are not worth marrying a girl like me. Go and look at your face but dare not show that damn thing to me again... now get lost....Grrr..

6. Virgo: That day when we were sitting in that restaurant, I noticed you licked your little finger while having pizza. That day when we were watching movie, I noticed a white strand on your head! The day we were at the grocery store I saw you did not check the expiry date while buying the packet of chips. I also noticed you were throwing a glance at the lady behind the counter, I also noticed…… after all the analysis, my choice has changed, I am really sorry. Did not mean to hurt you.

7. Libra: hmmm…hmmm... I think marriage is something that is a union of minds, right! Now we are two dignified individuals and we both are educated too. I do not mean to say I am better looking than you but even that part requires a balance too. There can be n number of reasons to break the marriage like incompatibility that can be emotional or cultural or financial. There are other reasons as well like past affair. I do not care but…………………can you please tell me where I was? Yes, incompatibility... I think you get the point dear; you are really a very good friend of mine. But…..

8. Scorpio: I think you are not up to my standard, so? That’s your problem not mine and loss is also yours boy. Leave.

9. Sagittarius: Yaar, I like men who are manly, no don’t mean you are girly but I mean I want more manly, you are so cute and sweet, yaar honestly I don’t want competition ..Ha-ha! Should I explain more??

10. Capricorn: I got to know from my trusted sources that the house you are living in belongs to your father. Also, that watch you gifted me last week was available on sale on xyz store. You also did not tell me that xyz percent of your salary is deducted for a car loan you took last year. Now how can I marry you? I don’t want to argue. Thanks a lot sir, it was nice with you but that’s my life, simply can’t take chances!

11. Aquarius: Why don’t you marry my friend, she has long hair and is an excellent cook!

12. Pisces: There is something about sea shores, that day I saw a dream where a man was calling me to the sea shores. Do you believe in treasures? I think that was not a dream but a prediction. I am leaving for my destiny’s call so can’t marry!

And how the boys of the zodiac are going to react to this??

Coming in the next post!

What lies beneath?

2011-01-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

Before proceeding any further in this post, it is important to give a small disclaimer. Basically, I am writing this on the basis of my real life experiences with friends and especially social group members like neighbors and relatives. How you problem is a time pass for them and how eagerly people look forward to what happens next in your life is just similar to how a serial buff looks forward to the next episode; how much your drooping face interests them and how much willing they are to stir up waters to catch some mew ‘masaala’ from your life! Not just some of your relatives but a few neighbors as well fall into this category. I do not mean everyone is like this but most of the people definitely are, and you find more so if you keep your senses open and become a bit more observing.

1. This happened when my mother was hospitalized and I was a small kid of six years. This bitch used to be a neighbor of mine.

Miss A: Where is your mother these days?

Me: She is at hospital.

Miss A: So who is managing the house? Her sister? (With a wink)

Me: No

Miss A: What did your father cook for dinner yesterday?

Me: Xyz curry

Miss A: What else he can cook?

Me: I don’t know

Miss A: why? (Angrily)

Me: ?

Miss A: He bathes your mother?

Me: I don’t know

Miss A: Why? Are you mad? Don’t you live with them? Anyways, who was he who visited your house yesterday?

Me: ? (Crying)

Miss A: Go and come tomorrow.

After that, at that tender age, I swore I will refuse to talk and keep mum if any one enquires about my mother again.

2. This happened when I was in school. One of my friends had three more siblings.

Teacher: How many siblings do you have?

She: Madam, three

Teacher: My gawd! four kids in these times! And what is your father?

She: He is a professor at Xyz University

Teacher: Still four? hahahah!

She: (Silent)

Teacher to a fellow teacher: He must be keeping his evenings free of private tuitions (with a wink)!

I clearly remember my friend cried bitterly after that and swore never to befriend any one of that particular religion to which that teacher belonged.

3. This happened when I was in college.

A few distant relatives visited us. As soon as they arrived, they started doing recce of the house, opening closets and surveying nook and corners. I was asked to show some old photographs. As soon as I got the bag out of the drawer, it was snatched and all the albums spread on the bed. Much to me and my mother’s discomfort, my college trip album was picked up, and then started the interrogative process. They started inquiring about my male friends in my group. The uncle looked at me with penetrating eyes and said: “Hmmm, so schooling was in co-ed school?”

Me: Yes uncle.

He: College as well

Me: Yes

He: Hmmm (passing a silent and dirty smile to his wife)

Me: So???

4. Finally this happened to me when I was working:

A friend of mine was going through a painful marriage. She called me one day at two in the night and started crying. I tried my best to console her. After I told her to be calm and even, and after an hour long conversation, I was firmly told by her not to ‘interfere’ in her ‘personal matters’, ‘husband’ and ‘married life’. I was also given a lecture on relationships and emotions.

That was the last conversation of my life with that girl. I swore never to interfere in anyone’s marriage, no matter how close he or she is and how painful it is going.

I have noticed, some people do not leave a single opportunity to insult others in any way and sometimes they create situation that can provide them an authority to insult. I strongly feel such people are kind of mentally deranged or sick and not worth interacting with.

Also, certain experiences and insults that shook you from inside are very capable to form some particular attitudes and beliefs for the rest of your life. If you think someone is that possessive about this or superstitious about that or simply refuses to let herself/ himself go, prod a little; you will find an insecure child or a confused teen somewhere in her/his soul. Next time, before rushing to form an opinion after the first meeting, just go a little deeper, things may not be what they seem, something else lies beneath.

Anton Chekov- A Portrait

2010-12-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

Born on January 29,1860 in Taganrog, Russia as Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.
After he finished school Chekhov enrolled in the Moscow University Medical School.
While attending medical school Chekhov began to publish short stories to support his family.
As a writer he gained serious fame in the year 1886.
By May 1904, Chekhov was terminally ill with TB.
He Died in sleep on July 15, 1904 at the age of 44.

(Medium: Pencil Colours)

LIKE...

2010-12-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

Like an oasis in the desert

Like cool breeze in hot summers

Like a thousand roses in full bloom

Like a swish of sweet perfume

Like a pure drop of dew

Like a flower bud new

Like innocent chirping of birds

Like tiny bells of cattle heard

Are my innocent feelings for you

For pure love gives life a rosy hue!

(I wrote this poem long back but I am posting it now)

GHAM AUR RAHETEIN AUR BHI HAIN…..

2010-11-27T03:51:00.000-08:00

Something caught my attention immediately, something that was bang on and that hit the nail. What happened was that while reading a poem by Sir Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a line simply described what I have always believed; I guess this is the magic of poetry, specially ‘shayari’. I have reproduced the entire poem here in English. I tried to translate it from Urdu; whatever I could is given here. That’s not my motive to make you read my translated English but the main thing is that life’s deepest philosophies can be described in a few words. In its simple Urdu words, it is equivalent to my hours of explanation about what I actually feel. The tenor of the poem is amazing and Faiz, as always, has weaved magic in this verse as well. Now let’s get to the poem but before that, two of my fave lines are given below :

“Aur bhi gham hain zamaane mein muhaabat ke sivah

Rahatein aur bhi hain vasl ki rahat ke sivah”

“There are other sufferings too in this world besides the agony of love

There are other joys too, besides the joy of union”

(Vasl= Union)

There are many more wonderful lines as well but here is my translation of this entire poem:

My beloved, please do not expect that same love from me now

I used to believe that with you, my life is shining

Before the sweet agony of your love, life's miseries seem nothing

Your lovely face make springs to stay forever on earth

In your beautiful eyes, lies my entire universe

My fate would be humbled if I were to get you

But all this was just a wish of mine, nothing in reality because,

There are other sufferings too,besides the agony of love and romance

There are other joys too besides the joy of union

The dark curse of savagery is there since ages

Woven in silk and satin, this is presented in a deceptive manner

Bodies are sold all along the markets and dusty alleys

Bodies are wounded and are smeared with dust and blood

Bodies are sick with countless filthy diseases

With pus still dripping from unhealed wounds

I see and I notice all this happening around

Your beauty is still that charming but,

There are other sufferings too, besides the agony of love and romance

There are other joys too, besides the joy of union

My beloved, please do not expect that same love from me now

That’s it! We live in a society and not in isolation. No man is self sufficient and it is hence necessary for all of us to manage the society and keep it free of pain and agony as much as we can. Love and romance have their own place. But my point is that we need to become a bit more sensitive towards our social responsibility too.

We are a family!!

2010-10-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, even the most mundane things can give you deep feelings of joy and happiness and can put that wide smile on your face within a second. The best part is that all such things are free! What I mean here is that we just have to be a little observant of our surroundings and keep an open eye. A small birdie decorating its nest to a tiny and colorful butterfly fluttering around that yellow flower to two baby squirrels running after each other to a new flower bud and the like and can make you forget all your worries and take your mind off your problem. This post is all about such beautiful and happy go lucky creatures of good God.

Recently, two birds decided to build their nest in my storeroom. While the male bird would bring in all the straw and other material and would hand it over to its lady, she would do something really really cute; she would always ponder for 2-3 seconds and then place it appropriately as if some interior decorator is thinking about the exact placement of furniture and lampshades. I have been observing this pair since the time they started fluttering around the storeroom.

Now, there lay two beautiful white eggs and I am eagerly waiting for them to get hatched so that I can listen to the sweet melody of two new lives, the most beautiful creation of God. I feel we all should imbibe this thing that we hold no right to kill any of the living creatures for food or fun; they also inhabit the same earth as we do.

Godfather

2010-10-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

"I'll make him an offer he cant refuse"... This was indeed the most famous dialog of the legendary actor Marlon Brando, who played the role of the don Vito Corleone in the movie Godfather.

Brad Pitt

2010-10-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

I find him too cute :)

(Medium is pencil color
This is made on a paper bigger than the standard A4 size so some portion is cut while scanning)

Big B

2010-09-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hii!

A pencil color portrait of Big B
:)

LYRICS

2010-09-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Today while listening to a Hindi song, a point struck me. I pondered over the style of lyrics of bollywood numbers and English songs. Both are very popular and music of any sort tends to make you groove but this thing is a bit different. Indian songs, be it folk or regular movie ones, have thoughtfully crafted lyrics with deep meanings, and rhyming so beautifully that they make you sing and sway with the song. The songs become much more enjoyable because of these wonderfully woven words. I am not criticizing but except a few English songs, most numbers have a complete emphasis on beats and music and the lyrics are often ignored. The poetry and prose of Hindi songs and the descriptions of nature, emotions and beauty that make up a song are amazing. Although music gets you high , only lyrics make you feel the song in its right spirit. Good lyrics also make the song memorable.

Shera Speaks!

2010-09-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Madam CM ji, please have some pity,

These lake sized holes and roads dirty

Make my little heart go down

Though envoy,I feel like a clown

Crime has taken a toll

Law & order both went for a stroll

It seems you are sleeping and snoring

While the Delhi is weeping and howling

Please listen to our pleas

Delhi is also full of dirt and fleas

Ever since the Yamuna went crazy

A few hopes left now, seem hazy

Anyways, now you have a different case

Since the godsend rain has saved your face

Now you have got something to blame

And save your chair and your name.

But first please answer my question

You may even lose the election*

Which causes more destruction?

Nature or this deep set corruption?

*Thanks SG

The Best Revenge

2010-09-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Every one of us, at some point of time or the other has felt ditched and used. It is a very common feeling but the most important thing is how we really manage our revenge and anger. Some people are extremely vindictive and they literally plot strategies and traps to hit back with double intensity. I read a quote by Gautam Buddha some time back; it said ‘when you throw a burning coal at someone, you burn your fingers first’, and I feel this is absolutely true. I feel there is no point in burning with vengeance day and night. I believe that success is the best revenge. Focus on your goal and become more successful than those who have hurt you. And believe me, ignoring and outshining your enemy is the best “clean” defeat he can suffer at your hands.

I have tried to pen down my feelings in these few lines of poetry:

With my heart burning with vengeance, a curse came to my lips

For I still remorse that time my heart was crushed to pieces

Words and more words, harsh as stones and poison arrows

Pierced through me and made an insignia of sorrows

But unlike you, I shall never stoop that low

And I forgive you for being reason of my woe

My lips stayed closed and parted not

My eyes now fixed at my own rainbow

I have attained freedom from all mental filth

For I know that revenge is a murderer

And two graves always she digs

I thank god for our separation

And that in you, I do not see my reflection

I am whatever, but not like you my foe

For it’s not thorns but flowers that I now sow

I refuse to take this path of darkness

Coz I know that my best revenge being only success

The True Saviour

2010-09-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

While taking a stroll outside

Praising the deep, dark but starry night

Cool breeze, bright stars and the lovely moonlight

Like molten silver dripping from misty skies

When a painful cry caught my attention,

A tiny plant it was and to the ground it had fallen

Separated in one stroke, from its brethren

I decided to let it suffer not

But planted it in a new earthen pot

In a few days, it regained its sheen

From dull yellow to fresh green

Its joy could be easily seen

“You seem hale now I see,

Feel obliged forever and be grateful to me”

Said I, swelling with pride and vanity.

With a mystic smile said he

“Though thankful I am to you but grateful only to Thee”

“But I saved your life, so why not just me? "

“Coz you were sent by Him only

The true savior of all beings is almighty

The good God lets no being suffer lonely”

Pat came his crisp reply with a meaning deep to imply

God helps all of us in the hour of need

For world is a rosary, every being but a bead

To His divine abode we all must proceed

With faces smiling and hearts without ego and greed.

LOVE

2010-09-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Again the misty morning came,

For each day the ritual was same

The leaf‘s heart desired for that bliss

Longed for a hug and prayed for a kiss

Once again the dew arrived on the leaf

Shining and happy for their meet

Than the dew disappeared in the ground

The leaf’s heart little was again drowned

One day he said to his beau, “why can’t I hold you forever?

Why can’t we be united to be separated never?”

The dew smiled and said “my beloved, this is the eternal wish of all the lovers,
You are not alone.

Union and separation is the holy wish,
The wish of thee, One who wears the ultimate throne”

Said the leaf once more

“His wish I too adore,

But my love longs for inseperation

For I no more can bear this heat of desperation”

Dew smiled and said “love is not union, nor depression,
nor desperation and not even the gloom of seperation

Pure love is fresh like some rose in full bloom

As pure as some child’s smile

Calming like wet earth’s own perfume

And as rich as some land fertile

When lovers long deeply in the silence of the night

Unknown to the sleeping world and their agony burning bright

From deepest heart they pray to see each other

To be embraced and weave dreams together

Beloved leaf, love means not only rosy days

But a heat of longing that never ever fades

No matter how deep cuts the separation’s blades”

The leaf smiled and the dew as well

Both had got the meaning of love

In each other’s hearts they dwell

And thanked for it, the heavens above!

UNLEASH

2010-08-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

On my way to my rainbow

That is but in my mind,

I raced as always and met a spider

“You are mad” I said

Your web is nothing but a mirage

For you rule here alone

Unheard of, in a kingdom unknown

Too proud of your imaginary throne

Nay... friend, you are a like fellow too, said he

I live in my kingdom and you in your perception

That being but a faint shadow of reality

You erect huge walls and let not the ideas in

Stagnant frame rots and you dance in the sweet scent

Shunned ideas lay like dead and your merry your win

Are you not living in your own world?

My kingdom still is better for it is real and stout

And yours, made up of imporous walls

That keeps all new change far and out

In shame hung my head

How exact was each word he said!

I pondered and the spider was true

I am a criminal, the victim being my soul

As I broke the walls , like a bird it flew!

An afternoon at a school gate

2010-07-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

(This is written by my dear Ashutosh Bhaiyya)

The afternoon sun beat down on my face forcing me to squint at the gate of the school which had swallowed my wife and somehow seemed to have digested her completely. I had prefered the glare of the Sun to the cool shade of trees on opposite side the street in which I had parked my car among the multitude of vehicles ranging from taxis, maruti vans, mini buses, bigger buses and a horde of personal vehicles belonging to the parents and other guardians of the students.
At exactly 2.30 pm the school gates suddenly spewed out with a vengeance a motly crowd of big and small school kids who now turned the afternoon calm into a furious and noisy madness. The kids reminded me of dust particles seen in a shaft of light in a recently swept room. The random unpredictable movements created a melange of similarly attired.

A little calf trapped in the human crowd, children crying "cow cow". Calf gets hit by a car whose mudguard gets loosened.

The girls' fight turns to serious verbal fight, two kids chasing the calf. It hides behind my car. One small kid, lean, dreamy, snapping his fingers and listening to the sound by snapping them next to his ear. A musical child. Another jackson in making.

cars with parents, cars with drivers, cars with grandparents, choking the narrow street. The kids could have used the school bus. All big cars. Vulgur show of money. Small girls chiding the taxi driver.The girls' fight gets vicious. They take out their water bottles using them as clubs. One club hits my car narrowly missing the rear window. I shout at them but they go on fighting relentlesly. Three kids come to peek at the calf who is by now scared and confused. The kids try to scare him more to see it jump and bump into cars. I scold them and they back away. The yellow coloured battle tanks carry away the army of human offsprings. The future pests on the earth. The street becomes deserted. The calf dares to come out from behind my car and slowly trudges towards the far end of the road.

Motherless, shelterless, its food snatched by the mighty humans, the poor animal searches for some relief in this concrete jungle created in the name of civilisation.

WHAT IF...A PRANK GOES WRONG??

2010-07-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

As soon I finished watching the second episode of Channel V’s ‘Axe Your Ex’, I sat down to pen my thoughts. Firstly, this is a new reality show that Channel V has started. In this people spoil the day of their ex and the channel plans all the nightmares for the poor ex in advance. Today’s episode featured a boy who wanted to axe or spoil the day of his ex-girlfriend. The girl was a 20 something and surprisingly her roommate was involved in this dirty game too. She was firstly called to this mall where strangers would come up to her to give her presents and flowers. All this was set by the channel to irritate the girl. One stranger even gave her a bikini set and asked her to try that out, much to the embarrassment of the girl and all the people sitting in the mall where all that drama took place.

Finally, the worst prank played: An actor was asked to play the role of a psycho killer and scare the hell out of the poor girl, already tired and irritated. As soon as she entered her apartment, she spotted a dead body (fake, of course!) and then a new drama started. She was even made to do sit ups to apologize for something she had never done, all that on a knife point and on the public television. And in the end her ex-boyfriend and the channel crew came in and told her that it was only a prank! You should have seen her face; she was scared and frightened as hell and burst into uncontrollable tears while that stupid boy, the one who staged all this to take revenge was laughing all the way like a sadist enjoying torture of his victim to the hilt.

Now, I did not find anything enjoyable in this entire drama. What is the channel trying to teach us? Barbarism? Sadism? Bitchy tricks, or to laugh when someone is going through a rough patch? Or enjoy when someone’s day goes wrong? All this humiliation, that too on a national TV can be enough to drive anyone to take drastic steps. Who would be responsible if the ex commits suicide out of embarrassment? What if she gets a heart attack during that idiotic prank? World is round; what goes around comes around too. Enjoying somebody’s problems is not ethical and it is not right. What if a prank goes wrong??

YOU

2010-06-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

When life takes a toll

When soul needs a stroll

I think of Your power divine

That can bless this life of mine

For You are there in every sphere

In gloom, in joy, in sadness and cheer

In every single soul, rich or poor

You manifest everywhere

Thinking of You frees my mind

All basal desires are left behind

As I move to Your sphere

I can feel you close and near

You are my lover and my friend

For such bonds stay, even after life ends

Sir Albert Einstein

2010-06-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

14 March 1879- 18 April 1955

He is often regarded as the father of modern physics. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.

(Wikipedia)

EGG TALES!

2010-06-15T02:23:00.001-07:00

To have them or not is a big debate. While some people are frantically against them, some need them every day…I am talking of eggs (cultured artificially). I have been eating eggs since childhood. In fact, when I was in nursery class or so, I was literally crazy about boiled eggs. Vegetarianism has been divided into two major categories- egg and non egg eaters. I am absolutely against non vegetarian food but despite repeated attempts and requests from PETA crazy classmates I still find it difficult to stop taking eggs. I have not eaten them since 2008. It has been two years and I am not going to continue this trend further!

Making promises is not difficult at all, keeping them is. But why do we have this tendency? Why do we love making the same mistake twice? Why do most of us fancy ourselves as outlaws’? Why is it so very difficult to keep a vow? I think, when you take a vow of not doing a thing, you feel like doing it even more, that too, with a new intensity. That is why most New Year resolutions fail badly. One needs a great amount of zeal and enthusiasm towards the thing you have taken vow of not repeating.