तनहाइयाँ

रास्ते लम्बे नहीं , लम्बी हैं ये तनहाइयाँ
आदमी बौना मगर , लम्बी हैं ये परछाइयाँ

मन यूँ ही बस डूबता उतरा रहा हर लहर में
है किसी सागर से गहरी मन की ये गहराइयाँ

बेसुरा हर राग है मन में उदासी छा रही
मन दुखी तो बेसुरी लगती है ये शहनाइयां

कोई पत्ता भी नहीं हिलता हवा खामोश है
उमस तो घटती नहीं कितनी चले पुरवाइयां

Peacocks

Hi readers! I am travelling in South of India.Right now I am at Madurai in Tamilnadu. Came here for some work, but the pleasure element of this trip is also very strong. I am staying at a resort called Gateway-Pashumalai, owned by Taj group. Needless to stay any place ownned by Taj Group is classy. This place is different. You feel as if you are staying in some British property with touch of class.Lovely place on a slope.You can see whole of Madurai from here.

Let me come to the point. The best part of the stay here is Peacocks.This large lush green hilly resort is full of peacocks.You walk a little on the inside road and you may come across a beutiful peacock with long colourful feathers.And still the best part, the peacocks may appear in front of your glass window and start dancing. This is all natural. Not managed by the Taj management. The only good contribution of the management is that they let the peacocks live here with dignity and care. And they dont charge for this world class entertainmnemt.

A peacock is our national bird. I always knew that. But why? That I know now.

We the Indians?

Life is no more dull. We have life full of IPL now. IPL has gobbled up the entire news space in Indian print media. The whole nation is enjoying the spicy chaat. You start your day with hot updates about IT raids on IPL franchisees, BCCI's board meeting and Lalit Modi's attempt to postpone it. As if this much was not sufficient the whole of NCP has come into news. All for wrong reasons. One minister's daughter diverted Air India flights, keeping the original passengers stranded, to accomodate the IPL guys, another minister's daughter busy in explaining the status of her husband's share holding in a company which enjoyed the hefty bribe.

Shashi Tharoor was the first wicket down. Poor fellow lost his ministry. His girl friend still not decided how much was her share in the Kochchi IPL company. Busy explaining her friendhsip with Shashi. Congress party found it convenient to get rid of the twitter, as his twitting was getting on lot of people's nerves.

Tomorrow is the final of IPL-the cricket. Whole nation is excited about it. Large screens, IPL parties, Cricket over cocktails..... Its like having some national festival.And few lucky ones are busy telling for how much did they acquire the ticket for live viewing of the cheer girls (Cricket is better visible on TV, I feel). Lot of betting will start with the toss on the field. The odds of betting keep on changing with every ball, every four. every six and every wicket. Some smart people bet on both teams in such a way, that they finally get money. How, I do not know. If I had known I would not be wasting my time writing this blog.

Once this final is over, the second part of the IPl will start. The IPL of politics, IPL of corruption, IPL of mud slinging, IPL of political blackmails etc. The whole nation will continue to enjoy the hot chaat masala news through media.

Do we have a say in national affairs? Are we bystanders? Unfortunately we, Indians are more keen in being Mumbai Indians than INDIANS, we do not relate anything to ourselves. It is anybody else's duty always. That is why the nation runs this way. Am I wrong?

हे मानव

हे मानव ! हे मानव ! तू ईश्वर की स्तुति कर

जब दूर तलक दुःख के बादल छाए हों
घनघोर अँधेरे जीवन में आये हों
तब दोनों हाथ जोड़ कर के
तू ईश्वर की स्तुति कर

जब भी अभाव की चिंताएं घेरे हों
पापों की तरफ कदम बढ़ते तेरे हों
तब दोनों आँख मूँद कर के
तू ईश्वर की स्तुति कर

जब मन के दोषों से चाहो छुटकारा
मन में छेड़ो प्रभु चिंतन का इकतारा
फिर मन में खुशियाँ भर कर के
तू ईश्वर की स्तुति कर

आज कल

वक़्त पे जो काम आ गया वो मित्र है,
वर्ना एल्बम में लगा बस एक चित्र है ।

पाप है जो दूसरों को कष्ट दे रहा
दे सके जो मुस्कुराहटें पवित्र है ।

छल कपट के बाग़ में दुर्गन्ध है भरी
मेहनतों के खेत का पसीना इत्र है ।

झूठ, पाप, छल कपट तो आम बात है
आजकल ईमान धर्म ही विचित्र है ।

वाणी

जीवन का मधुरतम अंग -वाणी
जीवन का क्रूरतम अंग - भी वाणी

जब प्रसव की वेदना से ,
आहत होती है माँ
पराकाष्ठा शारीरिक कष्ट की वहां ;
तभी कानों में पड़ती है
शिशु के रोने की आवाज
कष्ट का उसी क्षण बदल जाता अंदाज
वेदना के बीच खिल उठते हैं
पुष्प कितने मन में ,कितने तन में
बन जाती है ममता का चरम रूप
शिशु की पहली वाणी

घर गृहस्थी की चक्की में
पिस रहा होता है जीवन
दौड़ धूप , आपा -धापी और उलझन
बौखलाया सा मन ,तिलमिलाया सा तन
इसी बीच -
शिशु ने पहली बार कहा माँ
सारे कोलाहल के बीच जैसे
मंदिर की घंटी बज गयी
पीछे रह गयी बौखलाहट
गायब हुई तिलमिलाहट
चमत्कार हो गया
मन जैसे पिघल कर
प्यार प्यार हो गया

और किसी देवी के
जीवन में सब कुछ है
वैभव हैं तन मन के
साधन हैं जीवन के
शान शौकत , नौकर चाकर
ऐश आराम सारे पाकर
ऐसा कुछ हो गया
जिससे मन रो दिया
सारा ऐश्वर्य धरा रह गया
कानों में जैसे
गरम शीशा बह गया
आता जाता कोई
बाँझ उसे कह गया
वाणी की मार से दिल छलनी हो गया

बेढंगी जिंदगी

हमने अजीब जीने का ,ये ढंग कर लिया
दुश्वारियों को खुद ही अपने संग कर लिया

खुसबू मेरे गुलों की है ,कोई दूसरा न ले
हमने चमन के रास्तों को तंग कर लिया

फूलों के तितलियों के रंग को जी न सके हम
दिल पे उदास स्याह हमने रंग कर लिया

औरों के इक मजाक से हम तिलमिला गए
औरों पे हमने जब भी चाहा व्यंग कर लिया

जो मिल गया उसी में ख़ुशी पा सके न हम
जो मिल न सका उन ग़मों को संग कर लिया

ढूँढा खुदा को मंदिरों की भीड़ भाड़ में
दिल के खुदा की बंदगी को बंद कर लिया

वो दिन

कैसे भूलूँ मैं उन्हें यादों से ना जाये वो दिन ,
कैसे बिसराऊँ उन्हें दिल में समाये हैं वो दिन

एक एक पल तो सजा है , दिल के दरवाजों पे यूँ
जैसे दिवाली के दीपक जगमगाए हैं वो दिन

भीड़ में तो फिर कभी खो जाते बच्चों की तरह
पर अकेले में हमें छाती लगाये हैं वो दिन

कितना रीता सा मैं हो जाऊँगा गर ये ना मिले
मेरे घर आते रहेंगे बिन बुलाये से वो दिन

मुफ्त

इस ज़माने में भी कुछ सामान मुफ्त है
हंस के देखिये अभी मुस्कान मुफ्त है

जिंदगी भर लेटने सोने के दाम थे
मर गए तो मौज है शमशान मुफ्त है

पेड़ से टूटे हुए गुल है बड़े महंगे
मेज पर टूटा हुआ गुलदान मुफ्त है

सांस लेने को हवा हासिल नहीं घर में
छत उड़ाने के लिए तूफ़ान मुफ्त है

मंदिरों में आज कल प्रसाद नहीं है
चाहिए जितने भी तो वरदान मुफ्त है

कुछ ढूंढता हूँ

गैर बेगानों में हमनशीन ढूँढता हूँ
मैं अपने पावों के लिए जमीन ढूंढता हूँ

दिमाग का हर काम तो मशीन कर रही
दिल का भी करे काम वो मशीन ढूंढता हूँ

हर शख्स दगाबाज है किस पे करें यकीन
हर शख्स में जरा सा यकीन ढूंढता हूँ

मतलब परस्त दौर में बदसूरती भरी
इंसानियत का चेहरा इक हसीं ढूंढता हूँ

What Cricket!!!!!!!!!!

IPL has taken the nation into an evening frenzy.Every evening almost 6 hours are spent by people in front of idiot box.I have always been fond of cricket.Always tried to watch matches. In my younger days I used to go to Eden Garden when I lived in Kolkata to watch Test Matches- for all five days.The stadium was not covered on top in those days.Sitting on cement slab, under scorching sun, with a cap on the head- I watched the whole match so religiously as if India's fate depended on my watching the match. Eight of ten matches used to get finished in a draw.Perhaps my driving force was loyalty to India.

Than came One Day matches. It took some time to get used to this new format. Gradually it was accepted.When Kerry Packer first introduced this format, it was called the Kerry Packer Circus.Played at night underflood light, in a picnic atmosphere.But the sense of loyalty was maintained.

Now this T20 thing. After watching many matches in this season, I realise that there is no entertainment in this.Ball after ball, the same cycle is repeated.A blind hit which may cause a six or a four or a wicket.It is a rut, which does not give a scope of any variation.In earlier two formats- a sixer or a four was a spice of the game.Here just another lofted shot.Yes some people enjoy it thorughly.Who? Those who bet on the teams. They have a sense of loyalty for the team which will make them earn some bucks.

This is business, friends! Those who play make money, organisers - huge money, telecasters- lots of it and the betters when they win. Others are wasting their time on it. What do you say?

Another one from Houston trip

Hi all ! While reading my own blog today I am reminded of another interesting experience during my latest trip to Houston. Sharing that here. Like me - Manju, my cousin sister was stayig with another neighbour of Bela. Raju Bhai….another Gujarati gentleman. Very friendly family. On the previous day of wedding, Manju had to return to her place of stay to get something from her room. Some car dropped her to Raju bhaii’s house. She entered the house through the garage as per the practice. She was not aware that the Electronic Security system of the house was activated by Raju bhai’s wife, presuming no one will return earlier than them that evening.

Lo! The alarm went off!!! In no time some Police guy, as narrated by Manju later( Could be some one from Security Company also) arrived at the house and rang the main door bell. Manju was scared to the bones. She was alone in the huge mansion and some Police guy was standing outside the glass door askng her to open the door. She did. He enquired who was she? She was shivering and was in tears. She somehow manage to tell him that she was a guest from India for the wedding. He checked with the wedding house and got the confirmation.

So that is the other side of Houston. People are casual with the Guests. Yet they secure their houses properly for uninvited strangers. In this case it misfired though. Ha…ha..ha

Humanity & Houston

Hi everyone! I am starting writing here on suggestion of my daughter Pallavi. I decided to write thinking that I already have at least one visitor to my blog. Let me narrate an experience of attending an Indian wedding in USA earlier this month. I went to Houston, USA to attend the wedding of my sister Bela’s son Vibhore. The wedding was kept small for personal reasons.

We, the guests from India- numbering about 15, other than direct family members were received and housed in the neighbourhood. Initially we had all kinds of doubts. Will it be practical to stay in some one unknown’s house? More concern was for the host. How will some one feel cmfortable with a stranger living in their house! Well, the stay turned out to be a memorable experience for all of us. I stayed with a Doctor family, in their lovely mansion. They spared three rooms for us, 5 of us from the guests from India. They are Gujaratis. Their stores were full of Gujarati farsan, fridge with lots of fruits, milk and yogurt and bar fully stocked. When they welcomed us, they gave us a nice tour of their house, telling what is available where. The kitchen was an open kitchen with all gadgets. It was easy for us to manage our morning tea. They had the computer installed in the living room with Internet connected. Finally they handed us over one remote controll of their entry through Garage, so that we may come and go any time.

Hospitality was at its best. They gave us car ride to reach my sister’s house for all functions and rituals. Huge collection of old hindi songs fed into their music system, audiable everywhere in the house was at our beck and call. I can not think of anything that could be required and was not available for us.

I always heard from my elders, how in our villages whenever a barat came for a wedding, all neighburs and villagers shared the burden of accomodating the guests in ther houses. An impression is set in our minds that such caring and sharing was possibe only in olden days. Ths visit to Houston has made me aware that humanility is same as it used to be in earlier days, only our environment, our circumstances make us less concerned. There , in USA also people have business and jobs, and have limited hours- what binds them is the need for mutual co-operation. Everyone needs there everyoe else as life is more community dependent.

Great Experience!!!