The Song

Kashmir

2011-10-18T17:17:00.000+05:30

Relations areunder a cloud of suspicion
And the fragrance is dissipating from thesurroundings
Why the grounds are becoming red
And why the sky is turning sad?

So much is the connect in my heart

O Kashmir!

That the slogans of separation

Are causing my eyes to rain!

Kashmir is mine too…

I’ll go onwhispering even under the threat of terror and even in my death!

Kashmir was yours only…

I heard thisand I froze, and then, the flowers fell, got crushed in the rampage!

More than a billion are there on this landcalled Hindustan

Should we nowfight and debate -

That Srinagar has a different identity ?

If you candivide the Nur of Allah, then only, press for this!

Jhelam and Dal have been yours and minesince our childhood

So what, ifyou have a different Shikara!

Oh, how youwould get freedom from me

When I neversubjugated you?

A gloom spreads around

Why you talk of partition again…

The Kafan isbeing needed too often and becoming too difficult to sell for these shopkeepers,

Let us go toDargah and offer a Chadar rather.

Common is our heritage

Walkingtogether would heal you and me,

Let there beprayers in the mosques and worship in the temples

Kashmirbelongs to us all – Hindustan repeats this on every beat of its heart !

.................................

Notes:

Help on native words...

Hindustan: India

Nur: The Divine Light

Allah: God, The Supreme Being

Jhelam: A river in Kashmir, also known as Vyeth in Kashmiri language and as Vitasta in Sanskrit

Dal: A lake in Kashmir

Shikara: A special boat to ferry people over Dal lake

Kafan: A piece of cloth to cover a dead body

Dargah: Shrine built over the grave of a reverred person, spiritually enlightened being, usually sufi saints in India and some other countries

Chadar: A piece of cloth offered as a symbolic form of cover conveying thankfulness for a Dargah

Call to the Soldiers - आह्वान

2010-10-25T23:30:00.004+05:30

जनमत जनशक्ति साथ हो

राष्ट्रप्रेम की अनुभूति लिए तब

करते सेवा जन – जन की

तुम आना रण विजय घोष को ।

रोको उन बेगानों को जो नहीं मानते…

करते स्वागत द्रोही जन का वे

और बेचते नित राष्ट्र हमारा

स्वार्थ लोलुप बन बाज़ारों में ।

जनमत जनशक्ति साथ हो

भर हुंकार उठा पतित को

समरस समाज की रचना कर

तुम आना रण विजय घोष को ।

कितना लहू बहाया

कितना दुःख उठाया

उन देशभक्त दीवानों ने स्वातंत्र्य अग्नि में

निज को होम चढ़ाया ।

जनमत जनशक्ति साथ हो

उठा कदम निश्चय से भर

तुम निडर बढ़ जाना पथ पर

ओ भारत के रक्षक।

दहके थे वे शोला बन कर

उन पराधीन, काली रातों में

भेजे थे बच्चे माँओं ने

चढ़ने को भेंट, छुपा कर आँसू ।

जनमत जनशक्ति साथ हो

आगे बढ़ फिर थाम तिरंगा

तुम बनना ढाल जन-जन की

ओ नवयुग के सेनानी ।

Yah Kashmir Hamara Hai - This is Our Kashmir !

2010-09-29T12:20:00.003+05:30

एक चोट लगी है प्यारों
हिन्दुस्तान के सीने में
गर्म हवाओं के थपेड़े
फिर से देखो आए हैं ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

सुलग उठा कश्मीर हमारा
वो ले जाने की बातें करते हैं
हो जाओ खड़े ऐ वतन वालों
दुश्मन ललकारा करते हैं ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

कैलाश हमारा होता था
था मानसरोवर भी अपना
अब सर्द हवाओं में जाने वाले
बेगाने वहाँ कहलाते हैं ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

तक्षशिला के विद्यामंदिर में
चाड़क्य पढ़ाया करता था
सन सैंतालिस में बाँट लिया
याद बहुत अब आती है ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

ननकाना साहिब छूट गया
आँखें गीली रहती हैं
गन्धार हमारा होता था
यह सिंधु अभी भी कहती है ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

बापू ने कह भाई भाई
देश विभाजन स्वीकार किया
शांति कहाँ पर उतने से
बन दुश्मन भाई खड़ा हुआ ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

कश्मीर हमारा है देखो
बात बहुत बढ़ आई है
आज हिमालय की घाटी में
अलगाव की ज्वाला आई है

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

यह देखो नूर जो फैला है
हज़रतबल में मौला का
क्या इसे बेगाना कर दें
मौसम आएगा रोने का ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

ईसा का प्रेम सिखाने वाले
गिरिजाघर ने भी बोला है
हिंदुस्तान नहीं बँट सकता
हिंदुस्तान नहीं बँट सकता ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

शंकराचार्य पहाड़ी पर
दर्शन करने जाने वालों
कह दो इन बेगानों से
हिन्दुस्तान नहीं मानेगा ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

पैगंबर साहब और हज़रत अली से
कहते हैं उनका खून जुड़ा था
शाह हमदान हज़रत ने देखो
दीन यहाँ फैलाया था।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

ये इबादतगाह हमारे
ये गुलिस्ताँ, ये डल के किनारे
हैं करोड़ों मुसलमाँ साथ हमारे
ये सब हमारे – ये सब हमारे ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

अमरनाथ को जाने वाले
कसम यही अब खाते हैं
हिंदुस्तान उठ आ जाएगा
अलगाव नहीं हम मानेगें ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

अब बच्चा बच्चा जागेगा
यह कश्मीर हमारा है ।

To listen go to YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckd0_mBKQDk

Kashmir

2010-09-25T18:52:00.004+05:30

सवालों के घेरे में हैं रिश्ते
और हवाओं में खुशबू कम हो रही है
मेरे कश्मीर की मिट्टी न जाने क्यों लाल
और फिजाँ गमगीन हो रही है ।

जुड़ा है हिंदुस्तान का दिल इस कदर
ऐ मेरे कश्मीर तुझसे
कि अलगाव की बात सुन
आंखों से बरसात हो रही है ।

कश्मीर हमारा भी है
यह कहने में मुझको क्या झिझक ऐ दोस्त
कश्मीर तुम्हारा ही है
यह सुना तबसे जिंदगी खामोश सी हो गई है ।

सौ करोड़ से ऊपर हैं हम हिन्दुस्तानी
क्या लड़ें आपस में अब इस बात पर
कि श्रीनगर की पहचान अलग है... (?)
खुदा का नूर बाँट कर ये हो तो हो, नहीं, तो हरगिज़ नहीं ।

झेलम और डल झील बचपन से मेरी और तुम्हारी रही है
शिकारे अलग अलग हैं तो क्या हुआ
आज़ादी तुमको मुझसे कैसे मिलेगी मेरे दोस्त
जब गुलामी मैंने दी ही नहीं ।

अब न करो फिर से बात बाँटने की
हिन्दुस्तान गमगीन हो उठा है
कफन और नहीं बेचे जाते इन दुकानदारों से
दरगाह पर चादरें चढ़ाना ज्यादा अच्छा लगता है ।

साझी विरासत है हमारी
साथ चलना ही भला है
मस्जिदों में दुआ और मंदिरों में पूजा होती रहे
कश्मीर हमारा है - हर धड़कन पर दिले हिंदुस्तान यही कहता है ।

Sep 25, 2010

Mother

2010-09-24T21:54:00.001+05:30

Mother,
In this corner of the world
Far from home
I am all alone
And
I’ve something to share
Something
That no one listens to.

With my aching legs
I keep searching
Little bit of rest
Alas!
I get it not
And I keep roaming
With eyes
All wet.

The chapattis
That you made
The chidings
You so fondly offered
Those moments keep coming back
And I leave...
My dinner half way
Staring into the skies.

Moments

2010-09-24T21:52:00.002+05:30

Out of nowhere
As if from sky
Appeared in my mind
The long forgotten moments.

As I stopped by...
The road offered a shade to sit.

I groped around
In my bag
Trying to locate my valuables.

As the time rolled...
One by one,
The passerby
Hovered around
And started asking –
What is this?
What is that?

I looked up
Couldn't speak though
I dusted my things
And kept them back into my bag.

After all
I’ve to keep moving…!

Darkness

2010-09-24T21:47:00.003+05:30

Fear surrounds me when it is dark
Not because that
I cannot see anything
But because they can see so well in dark.

I know that
As this darkness would spread in time and space
Their eyes will get used to it well
And they will master their shots.

Ah, no one listened to the old fakir
He indeed said so
"Let the sun set - it has to after all
Do not lament it."

"Just keep the lamps alight in your homes
With effort and care
Let them not be extinguished
One such is enough to make them blind!"

Now all of you are weeping
Already this darkness is so terrible
But it makes me sad to think
That I had thought the old fakir to be right.

And I had also thought:
To keep my lamp lit
To arrange to keep it safe
Oh why so, I did nothing!

The Suicide Note of a Bad Man

2010-09-24T21:43:00.000+05:30

You never listened to me.

I had told you
To tell these people - not to laugh
But you got concerned for those who were sad
And tried to lighten their hearts.

I told you
To stop the breeze
And to ask for winds laden with dust
So that people get blinded in the day.

But alas!
You rather asked the storms
To get calm
And quiet.

And I desired
That you talk to rivers
That they collude with clouds
To flood the cities and create havoc.

Oh again
You did not listen to me
You sent away the excess clouds
To drought struck places.

I wanted to take away innocence
I wanted to take away fragrance
I wanted to destroy relations
And I wanted to divide the earth.

And so many were my desires
Unfulfilled
I pity myself
You never stood by me.

Left with no choice O my Life!
This day
With all your goodness
I'm killing you.

The Owl on Banyan Tree

2010-09-24T21:38:00.003+05:30

That night
A shriek broke the silence
The owl on the banyan tree
Could not help itself
But to keep its eyes shut
It got scared deep within.

They say so
Whatever the owl saw that night
It was scary
Very scary.

A man
Walked slowly to the tree
He took off his mask
Silently
Then he turned his head upwards
As if looking into the mirror called sky.

That was it
The owl on the banyan tree
Cried in shock and fear
And it never opened its eyes after that.

Destiny

2010-09-24T21:35:00.000+05:30

Eyes turned dry as stones

Heart insatiated for ages
Dry lips
Such storms around
Tottering steps
Unknown directions
Strange faces
O Destiny! What harm did I do to anyone?
That you got me
To this turn in life!

March 04, 1993

Time

2010-09-24T21:33:00.000+05:30

O Time ! Why do you oppose me so much ?

Joining hands with winds
You blow hard right on my face!
At each turn of life
You put me on a tough path
O Time ! Why do you oppose me so much ?

August 08, 1993

Loss

2010-09-24T21:31:00.000+05:30

कुछ संग छोड़ गए

कुछ बने विरोधी
और कुछ बन अजनबी
चुप साध गए ।

क्या जाने कैसी भूल हुई
कि हम सब कुछ हार गए !

September 24, 1993

A Strange Preparation

2010-09-24T21:28:00.000+05:30

दुनिया में

हर रोज
जब
मैं उठता हूँ
हर सुबह
तो
देखता हूँ कि
सारे के सारे लोग
लगे हैं
इस तैयारी मॆं
कि
शाम के
आते आते
इतना शोर पैदा किया जाये
कि
भर जाये
मनों का खालीपन
और
मिट जाएँ
सन्नाटे ।

पर अफ़सोस
न जाने क्यों
हर शाम
सूरज डूबने के साथ
सन्नाटे और गहरे हो जाते हैं
खालीपन और बढ जाता है ।

और फिर
जब मैं उठता हूँ
सुबह
तो
देखता हूँ कि
सारे के सारे लोग
लगे हैं
उसी तैयारी मॆं ।

November 23, 1993

Let Me Rest

2010-09-24T21:25:00.000+05:30

सभी कहते

"चले चलो
जब तक चलें कदम "
पर अब नहीं मानता मन ।

क्यों न रूक जाऊँ
अभी
यहीं ।

नहीं करता
आगे चलने को अब मन ।

बहुत हुआ
करे बहुत झगड़े
भागे फिरे
यहाँ से वहाँ
ले कर मन में
जाने कितनी प्यास ।

अब बस तो बस ।
नजर भर कर देख लूं
अपने चारों ओर
जी भर कर लूं गहरी साँसे

और सुनूं उन साँसों की आवाजें
ठहर कर
यहीं
बस यहीं ।

April 02, 1994

Words

2010-09-24T20:29:00.000+05:30

शब्द

घुल गए
हवा में
बन महक
सोंधी मिट्टी की जैसे
यहाँ से वहां तक ।

उस दिन
तुम्हारे दो शब्द
मुझसे
बहुत कुछ कह गए ।

बदलता मौसम और उम्मीद

2010-07-18T11:32:00.001+05:30

आखिर बारिस आ ही गयी। पर खुल कर नहीं आई । फेट तूफान का धक्का ऐसा लगा कि कुछ छ्लक सी गई । कुछ बिखर सी गई । कहते हैं कि अभी उम्मीद है कि फिर बादल ज़ोर से घिरेंगे । और झम झम कर बरसेंगे । पर कब, यह कोई नहीं बताता । उम्मीद ही है बस ।

The wheel of time has been churning...

2009-10-08T23:30:00.007+05:30

It's been quite some time since I last wrote on this blog. I wonder where the time went away...though, unlike earlier years, it was acceptable to be so busy! Deep within, there was an inexplicable peace in the midst of all the hustle-bustle and after late hours of work the midnight walks were filled with satisfaction. The longings of the heart have been silenced and the work is no more an attempt to achieve something. Work is a response to the situations present and the duties around. Oh time... the change maker!

Wisdom

2009-03-27T22:41:00.004+05:30

Feel the pleasure of cool touch of water seeping through an umbrella over your head,
It's first rain.
Oh Dear! Look up, what you are faced with!
No, this is inevitable after a long summer...let's feel it within and without.

It's Raining

2008-07-02T23:48:00.005+05:30

It's raining out here.

The silence of the night is filled with the falling rain drops
And there is a far off lightening streak in the sky.

You know, it's cloudy far upto the horizon
And I feel like humming a song.

The soul is filled with lightness
And the mind is keenly expecting.

Oh Dear! Come, let's run, getting drenched in the rains
The life looks inviting for a song...!

It's raining out here.

आओ खड़े हो जाओ साथ ...

2008-02-17T23:30:00.011+05:30

आओ खड़े हो जाओ साथ ...
तुम भी अकेले हो और मैं भी
ऐसे और भी हैं ...
सुना है चौरासी करोड़ हैं
जो गरीब हैं
इस देश में जिसे भारत भी कहते हैं ।

मैं और तुम

या तो हम हैं
मजबूर, गरीब, अत्याचार के शिकार... ।

या फिर हम हैं
असंतुष्ट, थके हुए - अन्याय और अव्यवस्था से ।

इस तरह से या उस तरह से ।
सुना है हमारी कुल संख्या
हो सकती है चौरासी करोड़ ... ।

आओ खड़े हो जाओ साथ ...
क्योंकि साथ खड़े होने पर
बदल सकती है बात ।

संख्या हमारी ज्यादा है
हाथों में ताकत भी है
जनतंत्र चलता हमसे है ।

आओ खड़े हो जाओ साथ ...

Reference:Sengupta, Arjun, et al. ,"Report on Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganized Sector",National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, New Delhi, India, 2007

खोज

2007-12-16T14:58:00.002+05:30

क्या खोजते हैं सन्यासी
नश्वर जगती की राहों पर ?

क्या उकेरते हैं शिल्पी
इन पत्थर चट्टानों पर ?

क्या माँगते मर्त्य मनुष्य
अमर देव स्थानों पर ?

काल के अटल प्रवाह में
हैं सभी क्षणिक प्रतिबिम्ब ।

प्रतिबिम्ब खोजते सत्य को
सत्य में मिल जाने को ।

अपना अंतःकरण उकेरते
नयनों को दिखलाने को ।

दया माँगते मर्त्य मनुष्य
पाषाणों को पिघलाने को ।

प्रतिबिम्बों को ही फिर खोजा करते
प्रतिबिम्बों के खो जाने पर !

स्वर

2007-12-09T21:09:00.001+05:30

स्वर अभी भी गूंजते हैं
फूटे थे कोमल अधरों से बन कर राग
आग्रही प्रेम के गीतों में ढल
स्वप्नों के रंग से रंजित मोहजाल ।

निशा निमंत्रण बन कर गूंजे थे...
वे कभी घृणित हुए थे दंभ भरे
समझे थे नश्वर को सत्य
अपमान भरे विष प्यालों जैसे ।

असीम वेदना के भी वाहक
रूक रूक कर करुण पुकार बने
वे आर्द्र थे उस संध्या को
लगते थे स्वयं में डूबे ।

आज भी इतने समय के बाद
और भी अनगिनत रूपों में
उल्लसित, शांत, करुण...
वे स्वर अब भी गूंजते हैं ।

चलो संग

2007-12-01T23:18:00.001+05:30

प्रतीक्षाओं के लंबे साए
और जीवन के चुनिंदा गहरे पल
यही मूल है कुछ भी कहो
अश्रु भरी अकेली आंखों का ।

तारागण मुस्काते हों
और सौंदर्य विस्मित बने रहो
सच के साथी कुछ पल छोटे...
ढूँढ सको तो चलो संग ।

एकाकी खडे रहो तुम चुप
अश्रु ह्रदय से हो कर निकलें
सोच रहे हो गत काल प्रवाह ?
विषपान नहीं और जीवन कथा !

दीपों से सजी मधुर वीथिका...
स्वप्नों की प्राचीरों पार करते वास
अनादि सुरों से अनजाने
जाते कहाँ वैरागी आज !

मूरत के श्याम

2007-12-01T22:58:00.001+05:30

श्रद्धा से नत मस्तक ले प्रभु द्वार तुम्हारे आया हूँ ।
पट खोल ह्रदय के तुमको अपने साथ ले जाने आया हूँ ।
वे कहते हैं कि . . . तुम ही तुम हो जग में ।
पर हे मूरत के श्याम, मैं तो तेरी यह छवि ले जाने आया हूँ ।

Time

2007-10-26T18:37:00.001+05:30

O Time! In your inexhaustible flow
Deep into the moments
I wonder
Where I have reached!

I searched for peace at times
And then lost in intrigue
On hearing some footsteps
I’ve been waking up from bewildering sleeps.

In pursuit of truth I turned into a seeker at times
And then unknowingly became a story untold
With tears rolling from my eyes
You only know whom all I have been calling back…!

O time! You kept walking with me
And in your unknown dimensions
I kept making countless efforts
Searching your meaning.

In detached moments of life
Pulling my self towards higher levels
Knowingly at times and at times with no idea about it
I’ve been putting on new robes.

I’ve been seeing new sun every morning
Spreading its fresh rays and shine
It setting then in far horizons, getting lost
I’ve found myself roaming silently in desolate forests.

I kept playing with joy
And then stopping suddenly at some moments
O Time! Trying to pull the strings on you
I’ve been fighting wars in my thoughts.

In a small hut
Amidst the cool breezes
All alone in evenings disappearing fast
I’ve been having visions of storms.

O Time! Even after knowing the meaning
Of your laughter so loud
I do not really know why
I’ve been attempting to take lasting forms…!

Accepting my very own, even the shadows around me
Mixing up and singing melodies with them
I’ve found their sizes increasing with your flow...
Getting lost all of sudden into unknowns.

You have turned into the destroyer at times
And at times I’ve found you to be the protector on my side
Whether I’m with you or you are with me…
I’ve been searching this thread for long.

समय ....

2007-10-07T10:15:00.001+05:30

Composed on October 29, 1989
--------------------------------

समय ! तेरे अजस्र प्रवाह में
गुजरते पलों की गहराईयों में
मैं न जाने कहाँ से कहाँ
चला आया हूँ ।

मैं खोजता रहा शांति कभी
और फिर क्षोभ ज्वार मॆं डूब
कभी किसी पदचाप को सुन
अनजानी नींदों से जागा हूँ ।

सत्य साधक बना कभी
फिर व्यथित सा अकथ कथा बना
कुछ आँसू ढुलका
न जाने किसे बुलाता रहा हूँ ।

तू काल ! चलता रहा संग
मैं तेरे अनजान आयामों में
करता अनगिनत उपाय
तुझे खोजता रहा हूँ ।

मैं जीवन के वैरागी क्षणों में
अनुभूति को ' परा ' की ओर से
खींच कर जाने अनजाने
नए आवरण ओढ़ता रहा हूँ ।

नए सूर्यों को हर सबेरे
बिखेरते अपनी लालिमा और कांति
हर सांझ डूबते, खो जाते देखता
निःशब्द निर्जनों में घूमता रहा हूँ ।

मैं करता रहा हास
फिर रूक कर अचानक किसी पल
समय ! तेरी डोर खींचने को
विचारों मॆं लड़ता रहा हूँ ।

मैं मन्द शीतल हवाओं में
छोटी सी कुटी छा
हर सांझ नितांत अकेला
तूफानों को स्वप्न करता रहा हूँ ।

समय ! तेरे हास के अर्थ
जान कर भी न जाने क्यों
हर दिन जाने अनजाने
नए नए बिम्बों में ढलता रहा हूँ .

मैं छायाओं को अपना समझ
घुल मिलकर संग गीत कहते
फिर उनके बढते आकार ...
यकायक विलीन होते देखता रहा हूँ ।

कभी बना तू कराल
या तुझे बनाकर अपनी ढाल
तू मेरे संग या मैं तेरे
मैं यह सूत्र खोजता रहा हूँ ।

Nirbal Ke Bal Ram - Shri Ram is the Provider of Strength to Those Who are Weak and Downtrodden

2007-09-17T12:21:00.001+05:30

O Shri Ram, let there be millions of salutations at your feet and let there be light in the dark minds of even those who try to question your being!

How naive of someone to question whether Lord Ram existed or not! How insensitive too!

If ASI - Archaeological Survey of India - does not have proof of Shri Ram's existence, it only means that they do not know enough.

Also, as the officers responsible run for their head, it would do good to them to visit the Lord's temple and invoke Him to pardon them for what they did... Alas, such could be the irony that one turns to help from the same Lord whom he/she denies an existence.

True, Nirbal Ke Bal Ram... The Lord does not discriminate.

Salutations to Shri Ram!

Krishna...Krishna....

2007-09-04T16:53:00.001+05:30

Krishna Janmashtmi, September 04, 2007

Krishna...Krishna.... so echoed the soul stirring name of the eternal spirit called Krishna.

The echoes were so real and deep within that tears rolled out of the eyes and my soul got filled with 'bhakti' (devotion) for the Lord.

The place was Ujjain and I was at Sandipani Ashram - the place where lord Krishna received his education under his teacher named Sandipani. Located in the same premises is a place called 'Baithak' where Vallabhacharya gave discourses on Lord Krishna. When I entered the 'Baithak', the sweet sound of Krishna...Krishna.... started echoing in my very existence and I witnessed Krishna in my whole consciousness across the ages....! There was silence in the hall and there was this deep echo in my heart...!

Krishna... Krishnaa... O Lord, I offer you my salutations and my heart is overjoyed with your presence in my very being !

Words

2007-06-24T10:22:00.001+05:30

Words
Dissolved
In air
Turned into fragrance
Of first rain
All around me.

That day
Those few words of yours
Conveyed to me
So much !

Sunrise to Sunset...

2007-06-23T11:00:00.001+05:30

Sunrise to sunset
And sunset to sunrise
The journey continues
As if forever.

The moment rolls over
The moment arrives
Ah, a moment was there
And the moment is awaited!

Sunrise to sunset
And sunset to sunrise
The witness creates the images
And images witness the moments.

How short is the day
And how long is the night
The moments between the moments
And the moment after the moments!

Time...The Fundamental Building Block

2007-06-18T08:21:00.001+05:30

The world is created out of time. As the time unfolds, the world appears. And as the time folds back, the world disappears...! The time is the most fundamental building block. Matter, energy, space...all are created out of time.

Let Me Rest

2007-06-17T10:46:00.001+05:30

Everyone says so -
"Keep moving
Till the last breath."

Oh oh...
My heart does not agree any more.

Why I should not stop moving ahead !
Now... right here.

I just do not feel like
Keep moving any more.

It's been enough
Living life like this.

Enough of these daily struggles
Running around
Enough of handling
Thirsts that never get quenched.

Now, I only want to
Look around and drink
The beauty of life as it is.

Now, I only want to
Inhale the life
Deep inside me as I breathe.

I just want to hear
My own breaths
In the stillness of life around me
Right now... here.

April 02, 1994

A Strange Preparation

2007-06-11T23:59:00.001+05:30

In this world of mine
Everyday
When
I get up
In the morning
I see that
All the people around me
Are busy
In a strange preparation
To
Create as much noise as possible
So as to
Fill the emptiness of their minds
And to
Get rid of
Loneliness.

But alas!
I do not know why
By evening
As the sun sets
The loneliness becomes overwhelming
And minds get drained.

And then
When I get up the next morning
I again find
That everyone
Is preparing
To fight again.

November 23, 1993

Loss

2007-06-11T00:05:00.001+05:30

Some went away
Some turned adversaries
And some played strangers
Keeping silent.

I just do not know what I did
That I lost all !

September 24, 1993

Time

2007-06-10T13:15:00.001+05:30

वक़्त तू क्यों इतना विरोधी है ?
करता है सांठ गाँठ हवा के हर झोंके से
कि बन थपेड़ा वह मुझे चोट पहुँचाये ।

जिन्दगी के हर मोड़ पर
तू मुझे कठिन राहें दिखाए
वक़्त तू क्यों इतना विरोधी है ?

August 08, 1993

Wait

2007-06-10T13:01:00.001+05:30

वो काफिले सजाते रहे
और हम करते रहे इन्तजार
पर अफ़सोस - वक़्त को न थी किसी की परवाह
वो तो दूरियां और बढ़ा गया ।

March 05, 1993

O Destiny !

2007-06-10T12:46:00.001+05:30

पथराई आँखें - शून्य तकतीं
मन में अबुझ प्यास
सूखे ओंठ
ये तेज हवाएं
लड़खड़ाते कदम
अनजान राहें
अनजान चेहरे
पराए से
नियति ! मैंने ऐसा क्या बिगाड़ा था ?
जो इस मोड़ पर ले आयी !

March 04, 1993

The Owl on Banyan Tree

2007-06-07T23:52:00.001+05:30

उस रात
गहरे अँधेरे में
सन्नाटे को अचानक तोड़कर
चीखने के बाद
बरगद पर बैठने वाला उल्लू
चुपचाप आंखें बंद कर बैठा है ।

कहते हैं
कि उस रात
उसने जो भी देखा
वह बहुत ही भयावह था ।

एक आदमी
दबे क़दमों से पेड़ के नीचे आया
अपने हाथों से उसने
अपना चेहरा उतारा
फिर सिर ऊपर कर
आसमान की ओर देखा ।

और बस
तभी बरगद पर बैठने वाला
उल्लू चीख पड़ा
और उसने अपनी आँखें बंद कर लीं ।

The Suicide Note of a Bad Man

2007-06-04T23:26:00.001+05:30

तुमने कभी नहीं मानी मेरी बात ।
मैंनें तुमसे कहा था कि
कह दो इन लोगों से - हंसना छोड़ने को
पर तुमने तो रोते हुए लोगों को भी
हँसाने की योजनायें बनाईं ।

मैंनें कहा कि
तुम इन हवाओं को इतना मंद - मंद बहने से रोको
और कहो इनसे धूल उड़ाने को
जो लोगों की आंखों में भर जाये ।

पर आश्चर्य
तुमने तो आँधियों को भी
समझा बुझा कर
धीमे धीमे बहने को कहा ।

और मैंने चाहा था कि
तुम नदियों से कहो कि
वे बादलों की सहायता लें
और उफ़न कर तबाही मचायें ।

तब तुमने एक बार फिर
मेरी न मानी
और ज्यादा बादलों को
सूखे वाले इलाकों में भेज दिया ।

मैंने बच्चों की मासूमियत छीननी चाही
फूलों की खुशबु छीननी चाही
इंसानी रिश्तों को ख़त्म करना चाहा
धरती को बाँटना चाहा ।

और भी न जाने क्या क्या
अरमान थे मेरे
पर अफसोस
तुमने मेरा कभी भी साथ न दिया ।

इसलिये ऐ मेरी जिंदगी
में आज
तेरी सारी अच्छाई के साथ
तेरी ह्त्या कर रहा हूँ ।

composed on : April 08, 1993

Realisation

2007-05-23T12:01:00.001+05:30

Our seemigly individual existences have a connecting thread !

Explore that connection and you might stumble upon a life shaking experience...the Lord of the Universe manifests in a variety of forms and one of them starts exploring the Self and comes across the Self itself on the road built by Himself.

O Ganges !

2007-05-21T10:00:00.002+05:30

Composed on Nov 22, 1989
------------------------------

ओ गंगा ! तू जो कि रही है साक्षी
फैली हुई अनगिन समय धाराओं की
करती रही है विदा बूढी़ होती सदियाँ
बता, मैं तेरे तटों पर कुछ पूछने आया हूँ ।

तेरी चपल धारा - श्वेत वस्त्र सी धरा पर
तूने तो सुना होगा राम का नाम और कृष्ण का गान
तूने देखा भी होगा बुद्ध का दैदीप्यमान मुखमंडल
और सुना समेटा होगा निर्झर जो झरा मुख से ।

बता गंगे ! कैसा था ऋचाओं का नाद
यज्ञ कुण्ड की अग्नि जब धधकती थी तटों पर
क्या करते थे होम ऋषिगण
कैसा था पवन का वेग और कैसा था सूर्य का ताप ?

बता जब तेरे तटों के इस ओर से उस ओर
उतरतीं थीं सेनाएँ - होता था शंखनाद
गुजरते थे विजयी सम्राट करते उदघोष
क्या लक्ष्य लिए जाते थे सेनानी ?

नानक की वाणी और सूफी संदेश गुजरे थे तेरे तटों से
कबीर कह गए सब सार जो था तत्त्व का; सादगी से
सूरदास और तुलसी गुनगुना गए भाक्ति भाव से
तेरे ही तटों पर नहा गए ईसा के प्यारे ।

गंगे ! क्या अब भी झरते हैं निर्झर
तेरे तटों पर क्या अब भी पवित्रता बसती है
बोल क्या पीड़ित आत्मायें नहीं आतीं
लिए चीत्कारें दूर निर्जनों में मिटाने को अग्नि ?

बता तू जो कि है कथा सार इस विस्तृत भूखंड की
हिमवान से सागर तटों तक करते नमन जन
न बह चुपचाप कर गर्जन बन विशाल
तू भी तो ऋणी है इस धरा की ।

गंगे न बनके चल तू शव वाहिनी
तू सूना वे ऋचाएं रखीं तूने जो संजो
तू बहा निर्झर बुद्ध के स्वरों का
और सुना वे गीत करें जो रोमांच पैदा ।

देख सब देख रहे हैं तेरे तटों को
तू पावन सूना वे अमर गाथाएँ
कैसे बाँटता था बन मेघ हर्ष निधि अपनी
सुन सिंघनाद वीरों का भारती मुस्काती थी कैसे ।

बता कैसा था रंग बलिदानियों के रक्त का
कैसा था आमंत्रण मृत्यु को अमर सेनानी का
बता गंगे तेरे तटों पर क्या शपथें लेते थे वीर
क्या गुनगुनाते हुए वे प्रयाण कर जाते थे ?

गंगे बता इन जनों को
चेतनता तरंगित करती है कैसे
कैसे जागृति के प्रकाश तले
खड़े करतीं हैं सभ्यताएँ विजय स्तम्भ नए ।

Darkness

2007-05-16T08:15:00.001+05:30

Composed on Nov 07, 1992
------------------------------

मुझे घने अँधेरे में डर लगता है
इसलिये नहीं कि
इस अँधेरे में मुझे कुछ दिखायी नहीं देता
बल्कि इसलिये कि इस अँधेरे में वे देख सकते हैं ।

मैं जानता हूँ कि
जैसे जैसे इस अँधेरे की उम्र खिंचती जायेगी
उनकी आंखें और अभ्यस्त होती जाएँगी
उनके निशाने और अचूक होते जायेंगे ।

तब तो उस फकीर की बात किसी ने नहीं मानी
उसने कहा था कि
सूरज डूब जाये - जो कि डूबेगा ही - तो
ज़रा भी शोक न करना ।

बस अपने घर के दीयों को
जतन से जलाए रखना
उन्हें बुझने मत देना
उन्हें अंधा बनाने को एक दिया भी काफी है ।

और अब तुम सब बैठ कर रो रहे हो
यह अँधेरा तो पहले ही इतना भयावह है
पर मुझे तो दुःख इस बात का है कि
मुझे भी उस फकीर की बात सही लगी थी ।

और मैंने सोचा भी था
दिया जलाने के लिए
इंतजाम करने को
पर न जाने क्यों मैंने कुछ नहीं किया ।

O Clouds!

2007-05-16T08:11:00.001+05:30

Composed on Sep 04, 1992
----------------------------

वर्षा के पानी की बूँदें
सरसराती ठंडी हवा
और मेरा मन -
मधुर भाव -
हाँ यही बनेगा इनसे मिलकर ।

तो बरसो
ओ मेघों ।

She

2007-05-15T23:58:00.001+05:30

Composed on Jun 14, 1991
-----------------------------

वह आज चुप बैठी रही
सुबह से - जब उसने दूध गर्म करने को चढाया
दूध गर्म हुआ, उफान आया, और फैल गया
वह न उठी ।

छोटा बच्चा उसके पास आया - वह भूखा था
वह न उठी ।

पति ने खाना माँगा
वह खड़ा रहा - कुछ देर - और फिर चला गया ।

बच्चा भूख से कुछ देर रोया - और फिर सो गया
सूरज धीरे धीरे आसमान में चढ़ा और ढल गया ।

पर वह यूं ही बैठी रही; चुपचाप ।

वह सोचती रही न जाने क्या
कहीँ मानो उलझ गयी ।

घर भी चुप है
दीवारें सहमी सी हैं ।

शाम हो गयी है ।

बच्चा जग गया है और माँ के पास बैठा है
पति लौट आया है
वह भी पास ही बैठा है ।

सब इंतज़ार में हैं
वह उठे और चूल्हा फिर जले
कि फिर घर बोल उठे ।

Moments

2007-05-11T00:01:00.001+05:30

Composed on Oct 22, 1994
----------------------------

अचानक
याद आ गए
बिछुड़े हुए पल
और ठहर गया मैं
राह चलते चलते।

टटोलने लगा
अपनी
पुरानी गठरी।

चारों तरफ
हो गए
इकट्ठे लोग
और पूछने लगे
कि -
यह क्या है ?
वह क्या है ?

पर मैं कुछ न बोला
और रख दीं
सारी चीजें
झाड़ पोंछ कर
वापस।

आख़िर
मुझे
आगे भी तो जाना है |

Mother

2007-05-10T23:40:00.001+05:30

Composed on Apr 29, 1994
----------------------------

माँ
दुनिया के इस कोने में
घर से बहुत दूर
मैं
अकेला हूँ
और
मुझे कुछ
कहना
है
जो
कोई नहीं सुनता।

थके हारे कदम लेकर
मैं
ढूंढता फिरता
थोड़ा सा सुकून
पर मुझे कहीँ भी
चैन नहीं आता
और मैं भटकता रहता
ले गीली आंखें।

तुम्हारे तवे की
वह गोल गोल रोटी
और वह डांट
याद आती है
हर रोज
और उठ जाता मैं
आधे पेट ही
देखता रहता
आसमान को।।

River

2007-05-10T23:14:00.001+05:30

Composed on Jun 20, 1990
----------------------------

जाओ छोड़ो भी
अब न सुनुँगा मैं कुछ भी
क्यों पिछली बारिश में तुमने
मेरी सीमाओं को तोड़ा था ...?

चंचल हो पर इसका यह मतलब तो नहीं
कि छोड़ दो तुम तटिनी कहलाना
मेघों को धरा से ही देखो
इस बार फिर भटक ना जाना।

ये बारिश है ही ऎसी
रोक न पाती मैं खुद को
जीवन का रस सुमधुर
हे तट मैं क्या करूं!

मैं नदी - प्यास बुझाती
पर फिर भी मैं जल की प्यासी
मत रूठो; लौट तो आती हूँ
इस बार दूर न जाऊंगी ॥

Love

2007-05-10T20:46:00.002+05:30

Love does not stop. Love does not agree. It does not listen, it only says "I love you." And then it glows in the eyes and flows from the lips...let the love spread!

Silence

2007-05-08T18:08:00.001+05:30

Is silence a fact or a feeling (?)...is it about acoustics or is it about aural capabilities...?

On a deeper thought...silence is all about cessation of vibrations...you could choose which one...!

In Sanskrit (संस्कृत) there is a word - 'spandana' (स्पन्दन) - which stands for quivering, palpitation, etc. and also connotes the beginning of life or the activity of the mind.

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः (yogah chitta vrtti nirodhah) - so says Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. Vrtti connotes flutuations or movements. Chitta connotes mind, intellect, feeling of self - all inclusive. Yogah connotes union of the limited self with the supreme self - state of supreme bliss, peace, silence. Nirodhah connotes cessation.

So here lies the deeper meaning of silence and a hint to achieving the same by cessation of fluctuations, vibrations...

A Summer in India

2007-03-11T09:45:00.001+05:30

There in the north of India flow two very sacred rivers named Ganga and Yamuna. At the confluence of these two ancient yet alive rivers, lies a city called Allahabad. You could call Allahabad a deep-sea pearl in the waters of the civilization called India. Very beautiful, very rich.

Here, in this city of Allahabad lived a young girl named Prachi। She was beautiful and she was just eighteen with a bustling desire to live. Prachi’s father was a well known physician. Her mother was a homemaker - a bundle of joy and love on the move.

Prachi had a brown complexion, well chiseled face and she carried a thoughtful smile. Her father’s insistence on maintaining good health made her grow into a toned up figure.

This was the month of May. She had just got her twelfth standard results and she was looking forward to enjoying her summers. She had appeared for medicine entrance exams, and if it all went as planned; she would start her studies in a medical college in July this year, though, she was not averse to taking a year off with her aunt in Shimla and learn dance from her.

The sky looked red…a summer storm might be approaching. The months of May and June in Allahabad had this unique feature of north Indian summers. Prachi was sitting in the first-floor balcony of her house. There was a palm tree right in front and the boundary walls of her house had shrubs lined up along them. The summer storm subsided after a while. The temperatures came down and there was a small shower. The earth smelled sweet. Prachi felt like humming – “बरसो रे बादल ... जरा झूम के बरसो ! (Baraso re baadal…jara zhoom ke baraso! - O clouds bring rains…O clouds, dance and rain!).”

The evening became pleasant. For a while Prachi thought what to do. She felt like going to the Yamuna bank. At Yamuna bank there was an old Ghaat (wide stairs leading to the river waters) named Saraswati Ghaat. There was a banyan tree, an old Hanuman (from the story of Lord Rama) temple. Morning and evening prayers were held without fail. Adjacent to Ghaat was an old fort – The Akbar Fort. A wall of the fort had collapsed and leaned over the river waters. It was fun to be sitting at the edge of the leaning wall. Prachi picked her purse and called up her friend Uma to give her company. Uma agreed readily. The girls rode their scooter to the river bank. The breeze passed by…it was feeling great. There was the roar of an aircraft flying over in the skies. The life offered a flight of imagination and the two young hearts were keen to dream...

Uma wanted to sit close to the edge of the leaning wall, however, Prachi desisted from doing so. The waters were deep right below the wall. It was silence spread all aound with the temple bells ringing once in a while. Sun was on the setting course. Uma asked, "Would you come to Lucknow this weekend?" Prachi said, "No."

...To Continue

Kaala Chakra - The Wheel of Time

2007-02-25T01:20:00.001+05:30

dinayaaminyau saayam praatah
....shishiravasantau punaraayaatah
kaalah kriidati gachchhatyaayuh
....tadapi na mujncatyaashaavaayuh

________________________

..............Aadi Shankaracharya (Bhaja Govindam)

The time rolls on…how(?).
Day and night, dusk and dawn, winters and springs keep coming again and again – like points on a rolling wheel. As if, while the time plays its game - lo and behold! The life has passed away.
One by one everything ebbs away…but, still…
One does not leave (how strange!) the desire (a breath full of expectations) for more.

Thinker

2007-02-09T16:00:00.001+05:30

Summers were peaking. Clothes were turning into a trouble...such was the heat. It was on one such summer evening. The sun was on the setting course, but, there was hardly any relief. A sort of stillness spread all around. It looked as if sun and the wind had conspired.

There was, on the road, a slender looking man; moving slowly. His age seemed eager to over-express itself.

"Ah, let me reach home early today. I really could not achieve anything in my life. I wish I could get good living for my kids at least. But, then I have my limitations. What more I could get in a small job."

This was Rameshwar Lal. He was in deep thoughts. What dreams he had! Everything was over for him, as if. Though, he was a good man. Not much concerned with the complexities of the world. He had three kids at home. His wife was a sweet and charming woman. His two daughters were older than his son. Rameshwar tried his best that he could earn enough to place his son in an English medium school. For middle class in typical Indian cities, an English medium school meant status and good education.

Today Rameshwar's cycle was under repair. He had to live with a walk to his home. "How do people make so much money...How come my neighbour Vikas has got a land in the name of his wife. Soon he would build a new house. Where has the wind gone, dead, is it so? These guys in the US are ahead of us just because they have cold weather. Really! Look at this truck driver. How does he drive! Wow, what a car! I just cannot have it in my life. I guess I should take up a side business. But how to get initial investments. I hope I were younger. Bad luck."

A tight pocket leads to thinking habits. Whether on his cycle or on foot, he was deep in thoughts. Suddenly his foot hit something on road. It was a purse. Black leather purse. He picked it quickly. He could not afford to not to open it. Alas, it was empty. Empty! "Thank God, no one lost his money. But what do I do now! Did anybody see me picking it?" He looked around.

"But it's a good purse. What will someone think if I am seen throwing it. Now they must be thinking that it is mine. That is why I picked it. Why is that kid looking at me? He must have seen me picking it. There is one big drain ahead. I'll drop it there. That should be fine."

Rameshwar got rid of the purse. Ah, how relieved he looked! He was approaching his house. He wiped his forehead with his shirt sleeves, straightened himself and started climbing the stairs in his building.

Self Acceptance

2007-02-08T15:40:00.003+05:30

Accept your own self. And an amazing phenomenon will start unfolding. What all would happen...here's a glimpse in the form of a small story...

"There was a beautiful girl named Asha. She lived in a village at the banks of river Mahi near Anand in Gujarat. This girl had a boon given to her by a sage that whatever she would truly believe in, would happen. Such was the power of the boon that whatever this girl named Asha would truly believe in, would happen.

So the life was passing by.

Asha believed that she had to study and help her mother at home in daily chores and this would go on for years before she would one day get married to a young boy. So her days used to pass like that...slowly.

One day there was a strong storm and the sky was clouded. Then there were rains lashing the ground. Asha looked at the sky and felt charmed by the lightening and the pattern of clouds and she felt within that it would be so wonderful to be like clouds wandering around the world. How free they looked like. And she really believed that such would really be a very good life...She went to bed.

Next morning she suddenly got up and found water below her bed. The utensils were floating and then with a huge sound her house collapsed.
When Asha opened her eyes again she found herself in a train. It was night and she was bewildered. What happened to her family...she looked around and was relieved to see that her mother and father were sleeping beside her. After a few hours there was morning and her parents got up. She asked them what happened. She was told that their house had got destroyed in the rains and now they were travelling to her mother's place in Delhi. She and her mother would be staying there for a month while her father would be going back to Anand to get the house rebuilt...and Asha suddenly thought about her desire to be like a cloud...!"

Accept your own self as it is and you would start to notice that it is you who creates this world...but it all happens so slowly and gradually that it makes you feel that it all got superimposed on you from outside.

You want to enjoy the phenomenon and in turn you forget that you created it. So, first accept what is around you as it is and then you'd see that it all is your own creation...a notional world... and then with a bang you'll see your own Self all around...such is the power of Self Acceptance.

The Little … Small Fights…Challenges and Opportunities

2007-01-08T23:26:00.001+05:30

These so called little things in life are important to handle. Remember that there is no way out...though there is a way through!

Going through these worldly fights with attachment OR without joy is not the right thing to do. They will come back time and again.

What life presents to you is because of the pending transactions that you need to clear. Handle it with duty and enjoy the outcome, whatever it is. But be fully involved when doing your job and out of it once through.

It matters a lot how you handle your present. Nature does not allow you to evolve or rise without crossing the current barrier. One must win the fight at hand!

Also, opportunities in life do not come your way out of any fancy of nature. They are your destinies. You need to handle them too. Value them.

Think on your own and decide for your own self.

Think…

2007-01-08T23:17:00.001+05:30

Keep looking at your thoughts and separate your original ones from those that come from others or from books. Analyze your motivations and desires. Take care of your desires by fulfilling them through fair means and hard earned fruits of life. Refine your motivations.

Analyze what you like most and when you are happier than rest of the times. Think what situations make you feel better and what make you feel uncomfortable. Never decide under persuasion, greed, pressure or shyness. Be on your own and take your decisions yourself. Never worry on what others would say or how the world would look at you because of your failure or success.

I think if you can reach this level first at least in your worldly life, rest you will know how to handle.

On a Monday afternoon

2006-08-07T17:56:00.001+05:30

The Song begins...