Someone said Something good!!!

A DAY, WHEN YOU DON'T COME ACROSS ANY PROBLEMS - YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE TRAVELLING IN A WRONG PATH
- SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

THREE SENTENCES FOR GETTING SUCCESS
A) KNOW MORE THAN OTHER
B) WORK MORE THAN OTHER
C) EXPECT LESS THAN OTHER
- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

IF YOU WIN YOU NEED NOT EXPLAIN ... BUT IF YOU LOSE YOU SHOULD NOT BE THERE TO EXPLAIN
- ADOLPH HITLER

DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH ANYONE IN THIS WORLD .IF YOU DO SO, YOU ARE INSULTING YOURSELF
- ALEN STRIKE

IF WE CANNOT LOVE THE PERSON WHOM WE SEE,HOW CAN WE LOVE GOD,WHOM WE CANNOT SEE ?
- MOTHER THERESA

NO MAN IS RICH ENOUGH TO BUY HIS PAST
- OSCAR WILDE

IF YOU WANT REAL PEACE DON'T TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS , TALK WITH YOUR ENEMIES
- MOTHER THERESA

WINNING DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN BEING FIRST , WINNING MEANS YOU'RE DOING BETTER THAN YOU'VE DONE BEFORE
- BONNIE BLAIR

EVERYONE THINKS OF CHANGING THE WORLD , BUT NO ONE THINKS OF CHANGING HIMSELF .
- LEO TOLSTOY

I WILL NOT SAY I FAILED 1000 TIMES , I WILL SAY THAT I DISCOVERED THERE ARE 1000 WAYS THAT CAN CAUSE FAILURE
- THOMAS EDISON

BELIEVING EVERYBODY IS DANGEROUS; BELIEVING NOBODY IS VERY DANGEROUS
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN

LOVE YOUR JOB BUT NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR COMPANY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN IT STOPS LOVING YOU
- ABDUL KALAM

IF SOMEONE FEELS THAT THEY HAD NEVER MADE A MISTAKE IN THEIR LIFE,THEN IT MEANS THEY HAD NEVER TRIED A NEW THING IN THEIR LIFE
- EINSTEIN

NEVER BREAK FOUR THINGS IN YOUR LIFE TRUST ,PROMISE,RELATION,HEART BECAUSE WHEN THEY BREAK THEY DON'T MAKE NOISE BUT PAINS A LOT
- CHARLES

IF YOU START JUDGING PEOPLE YOU WILL BE HAVING NO TIME TO LOVE THEM
- MOTHER THERESA

There's No Second Chance :)

Opportunities they say knock door just once...I believe, it's true 'coz life itself doesn't give a second chance...a second chance to undo the harm that has been done by a selfish act...a second to get lost love..another chance to express our heart felt feelings to someone...a chance to apologise for our mistake...so...grab every moment and live it as if it were the last one...and you know you wont get this moment again :)

Human life my dear..is granted just once,
Thank god for keeping you amongst the lucky ones…
Then why celebrate births and mourn deaths,
When we all have a momentary stay on earth..
Why believe in love & hate concept,
When everyone accepts no one is perfect..
Why earn & amass enormous wealth,
When it cannot buy even basic good health…
Why fight..disagree..and make our lives a mess..
When the length of our stay on earth no one can guess…
Life my dear doesn’t give a second chance,
Don’t sit and stare..there’s no time to glance…
Spread love not rumors and be tender to the young,
Create peace and compassion and be humble with the usage of tongue…
Learn patience and perseverance, keep away from wrong,
And make life for everyone around a beautiful song…
Never do anything you would not do in your last hour,
To let life leave you with memories more sweet less sour…
Live every moment as if it was the last one left,

Live it the best way possible before it goes undealt… :)

अनोखी वर्णमाला

यूं तो जिंदगी में गलतियाँ हरेक से होती हैं,
पर मेरी गलतियाँ सबसे unique होती हैं…
एक दिन बदकिस्मती से मैं अपने एक मित्र के घर गयी,
जहाँ मेरी मुलाकात उसके पांच साल के भतीजे से हुई…
देखने में तो मुन्डा बड़ा cute और polite था,
पर केवल तब तक जब तक वो quite था…
कुछ देर में मेरे मित्र ने अपने भतीजे के कान में फुस्सुसाया,
“बेटा आपने अभी तक दीदी को ABCD नहीं सुनाया”
बच्चा ज़रा जीझका,थोड़ा हिचकिचाया,
पर जब बोलने पर आया तो मेरा होश उड़ाया..
बोला, “A से आइये,
B से बैठिये,
C से चाय पीजिए और
D से दफा हो जाइये,
E से इस तरह गायब हो जाइए की
F से face अपना फिर ना दिखाइए
G से गलती से भी
H से हमारे घर के पास नज़र न आइये
I से इसके बाद
J से जहाँ चाहे जाइये, जो चाहे
K से खाइए, पीजिए
L से लेकिन दोबारा
M से मेरे
N से नज़र के सामने मत आइये
इतने में पाते ही मौका,
मैंने उसे कुछ इस तरह टोका
O से ओये
P से पुत्तर
Q से कृपा करके
R से रूक तो जाइये, थोडा तो
S से शरमाइये , इस तरह तो मेरी इज्ज़त की धज्जियाँ न उडाइये…
T से तुम्हारे भेजे में यह सब जिसने है घुसाया,
U से उनके इस प्रकार के शिष्टाचार
V से विचार
W से व्यवहार के कारण को
X से Xpress
Y से यदि कर सकें तो
Z से ज़रा समझाइये
और इसके बाद ग्यारह number की बस पकड़ कर मैंने ऐसी दौड़ लगाई
सच मानिए घर पहुंच कर ही मेरी सांस में सांस आई…
उस दिन से मैंने मन में यह फैसला किया
और उन सब मित्रों के घर जाना छोड़ दिया
जिनके घर में छोटे भांजा भांजी या भतीजा भतीजी थे
ताकि औरों कीं ना सही, कम से कम खुद की नज़रों में तो मेरी इज्ज़त बनी रहे…

क्यों?

जीवन के इस खेल में सोचो क्या खोया क्या पाया तुमने..
सबकुछ पा लेने की चाह में क्या-क्या नहीं गवायां तुमने…
पास था जब तक पिता का साथ, मुमकिन लगता था हर ख़्वाब,
जो चाहा है मिल जायेगा, दिल में रहती थी यह बात…
ममता का था जो आँचल सर पर, पोछे थे आंसू जिसने हर पल…
टूट चुके हैं सब सपने उनके जिनके हर सपने में तुम थे…
तुम्हारी इच्चाओं के कारण भूल गए जो अपने सुख..
अंतर मन में झाँक कर बोलो…क्यों दिए उनको दुःख….
दोस्त समझकर जिसने तुम पर था विश्वास किया…
क्या सोचकर उसके दिल को कांच की तरह तोड़ दिया….
पग पग पर अपने जीवन के जाने कितनों का एहसान लिया…
काम हुआ जब पूरा अपना क्यों उनको पीछे छोड़ दिया….
शायद लगता है तुमको की ख़ुशी तुम्हारी सिर्फ तुमसे है…
भूल गए कैसे उनको जिनकी ज़िन्दगी तुम्ही से है….
दुखा कर इतने दिलों को कैसे खुश भला रह पाओगे…
टूटेगा जब कोई सपना…तो लौट कर कहॉ फिर जाओगे…

What is Hunger?

The following two compositions have common theme…hunger….which though well known and visible; is still omnipresent….these were written on the occasion of World Food day (celebrated on 16th Oct) in the year 2000…these creations fetched me deserved and desired appreciation from all my teachers…however, I couldn't get answer to my question from the representatives of the organization working for the cause who were in the college premises to impress upon the cause….I asked them, “we are aware that hunger exists…we see it’s there….what as students can we do for the cause at the individual level”….he said spread awareness….but I feel the best I can do at my level is what my poems already said……

It isn’t something that can be seen or smelt,
But something that you & I never felt…
It’s something about getting meals just two times a day,
Which indeed is not a child’s play…?
It’s something that makes one fight,
For a piece of bread which should have been his birthright…
It’s something, about which we rarely think,
As we get to eat whatever we want even before we blink…
Can we feel the pain of a child, who hasn’t had anything for a week?
Perhaps no, as that’s something beyond our imaginations reach…
However, what we must recognize,
Is that everyone must get his or her share of dal & rice…
Because only then can we say, “All are equal”,
When everyone has food & there is food for all…

Give It A Thought....

Why are some people always worried about food to eat,
While some others don’t have children to feed…
Why do some people get their second meal when they haven’t digested the first one either?
While some others are forced to remain hungry for days together…
Can we blame god for that?
As he is the one who decides who should get what…?
But, if we have the courage to accept the truth with our eyes open,
We find that the true accused is none but man…
Because we have enough food for everyone’s need,
But, it’ll never be enough to fulfill man’s greed…
We need just a little thought,
As to how this battle against hunger be fought?...
We could start by feeding a hungry person,
Or by not wasting any food in this millennium…
Let’s work together towards a millennium free from hunger,
And make India & hunger two complete strangers…

I want...

At times I feel very lonely at heart,
‘Coz there is nothing in me to set me apart…
I’ve neither money nor power,
To help someone in his needful hour…
At times I think of all that I could give anyone,
Only to find that my contribution to the society is none…
At times I keep looking for an objective to live for,
As I’ve done for years & will continue to do for some more…
At times, I find myself good-for-nothing,
And my presence in this world seems to have no meaning…
At times I ask god the reason to send me to this world,
But, he keeps quite & never speaks even a word…
I know I don’t have to live to wait for my death,
But, to live for those who celebrated my birth…
I want to be different in whatever I do,
‘coz I still have many expectations to come up to…
I still have promises to be kept,
& I believe I can always be better if not perfect…
I don’t want to survive on anybody’s sympathy,
Neither do I want to make anyone a victim of my apathy…
I’ll be happy if I become somewhat like Mother Teresa,
Or even a bit like the great ‘Isa’…
Though I’m still unsure of what I would become,
I wish to be someone who is remembered long after being gone….

(21-12-2000)

The Journal (general) problem

Hmm...here's a bit of poetry created just for fun....many of you may not be able to relate to this with the way it is required to be....but my ex-colleagues definitely know the significance of the bold highlighted words here...these were acronyms used for the ELSEVIER science journals that our organisation worked for & I hope it still does :D ....probably now you know why is the title that ways :)

एक दिन यूं ही Mr. Gupta से पूछ लिया, “ कहिये हुज़ूर कैसे हैं AAP”,
बोले,” बस जी कट रही है जिन्दगी प्रभु नाम का करके JAAP…
हाई कोर्ट में property का आज भी चल रह है CACE,
सुख-शांति का तो मानो जीवन में रहा नहीँ कोई trace…
बेटा एक है पढ़ने में जो है टाईं टाईं FISH,
पर खाने में चाहे हरदम बढिया से बढिया वो dish…
East west FUSION का मानो उसके अन्दर है VIRUS,
बन जाना चाहता है वो MTV VJ Cyrus…
सोच कर उसके FUTURE के बारे में, होने लगता हूँ मैं MAD,

तब कहता है SON मेरा ," Oh! Don’t worry DAD”…
कभी-कभी behaviour उसका लगता है बड़ा erratic,
पर सच मानिये उसकी ही वजह से बाना हूँ मैं POETIC…
चाहता है वो मिल जाये उसे कहीं से अलाद्दीन का magic MAT,
और घूम आये सारी दुनिया पहन कर suit boot with hat…
या पहुँचा दे कोई उसको दूर कहीँ परियों के LAND,
छोटा सा है पर सपने उसके हैं बडे grand…
सुन कर उसकी बातों को मैं रह जाता हूँ STILL,
और कभी अपनी जवानी के दिन भी होने लगते हैं RECYCL…
कंगाली में अपना तो गीला होता है FLUOR,
पर बेटा कहता है मेरा,” DAD ये दिल मांगे more!”…
क्या कहें आपसे बस अपना तो यही है हाल,
नाचते हैं उस धुन पर बेटा जो देता है TAL…”
सुनकर उनकी कहानी मैं तो रह गयी बिल्कुल दंग,
ऐसा लगा मानो there was no oxygen in my LUNG…
उनकी परेशानियों का सुनकर HEAP,
भाग खड़े होना ही लगी सबसे बढिया तरकीब…

Don't remember the time I wrote this..however, since it was published in the Apr'05-Jul'05 of our quarterly company magazine 'Vishwas' so must be some time around that... :)

Seed..

A forwarded mail which re-emphasises, "As you sow, so shall you reap"..

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he said. "I have decided to choose one of you. The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed.
He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened.
Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back.
"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO.
"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front.
Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed.
Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Here is your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"
Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said?
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was
not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. "When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"


Moral:
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap
later.

Where is equality?

I believe that to an extent the title of this blog gives idea of what this poem could be about...yes, it's about one of our fundamental right...right to equality...a right for all humans..for all citizens in our country...however, not exactly 'coz it is still just a constitutional right which is not in practice for the fairer sex...

Those of you who read my previous post may wish to consider me female chauvinist...however, that doesn't shake my views on gender bias in our society...it exists...is visible...and is a shame for us....no amount of education has been able to teach men that women are not just a means to satisfy physical needs/give birth to their kids/take care of their attire/complete household chores....she is and can be much beyond it....

Shahrukh Khan as the coach of Indian women's hockey team in the movie 'Chakde India" while motivating the team for a match against the Indian men's hockey team asks them to go & let the men know that if a woman can give birth to a man she can do anything....I firmly believe that it's high time that men actually understand this...after all when they can praise Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Kalpana Chawla,Sania Mirza....and if a woman (Pratibha Patil) can be the President of this country..why even today, is a girl child killed even before she can see how beautiful this world is? With old age homes filled with parents disowned by sons why are boys still a preferred child? Why does a guy need dowry to marry a girl who'll be with him thru the thick & thin of life & support him against all odds? Why are girls still expected to play dual roles of a house wife & career woman?

There are many such whys but answers are yet to come...and what's even more sad is the fact that these practices are prevalent not only in the rural/illiterate/low income group population but also the urban,educated and the upper class...Despite having studied quite a bit and having a fair amount of experience of life I still fail to understand why are women the weaker sex? Who/what makes them weak? Why do they need to be escorted if they have to go out of home at night? Who's creating this fear for them & why? I think, it must be some such mind that doesn't have the capacity to think & understand that if women were not there neither would he be....

All said & done..I know things would not change over night neither do I expect them to..however, it needs to be understood & engrossed in the minds of all that it requires a conscious effort to overcome & end this terror....after all wouldn't men be happy if their mothers/wives/sisters/friends had a mind without fear.... WAKE UP MEN..WOMEN BROUGHT YOU IN THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD...IT'S YOUR TURN TO ENABLE THEM ENJOY THIS BEAUTY TOO :)

I still remember as a student of ninth,
I learnt our so-called fundamental rights…
I learnt the right to equality which made me feel,
All are equal irrespective of caste, gender, religion or creed…
My parents taught me, “Girls & boys are equal”,
& I always took whatever they said to be real..
But as time passed & I grew old,
I discovered the fallacies of what I was told…
No, it was not of my family,
But, because of newspaper that I read daily…
I read how a girl is raped by her stepfather,
& is not helped even by her real mother…
I read how a man burnt his wife for dowry,
& tried to make it a suicide story..
I read how a policeman molests a girl,
& calls his misdeed a mistake in front of people…
I read how a female student is dragged into a van,
& raped by four men one by one…
I read about child marriage, female infanticide & ‘Sati’,
Which fills my heart with pity…
No, this pity is not for the females,
But, for the so-called stronger sex, the males…
For they never have and never can,
Realize the importance of a woman…
They worship their mothers & take care of their sister’s security,
However, all other girls for them are their private property…
Then they ask,” Why do ladies want reservation,
In buses & in parliament, when they want to prove themselves equal to men”…
I take this opportunity to tell all men,
“ We don’t want reservation any where,
We don’t want any special care…
Just give us our fundamental right,
Let us live fearlessly with pride…
Let us do what we wish to do,
Respect us if you want it too…”

(27-08-02)

कितना कुछ देखा है..

नन्ही-सी कली को सुन्दर फूल बनते देखा है,
ऊंचे आकाश को ज़मीन की धूल बनते देखा है..
सुख की मुस्कानों को दुःख के आँसू बनते देखा है,
दौलत के खातिर ख़ून के रिश्तों को टूटकर बिखरते देखा है…
निर्भीक जवानी को सहमे हुये बुढ़ापे में ढलते देखा है,
स्वार्थ के लिए इन्सान को पल-पल रंग बदलते देखा है..
कमजोर ओर असहाय पर बलवान को अकड़ते देखा है,
हालत से हारकर हमने पत्थर को पिघलते देखा है..
अपनों की आशाओं को निराशाओं में बदलते देखा है,
और यूं ही गिरते-गिरते कितनों को संभलते देखा है….
जीवन और मौत के बीच जो बारीक-सी एक रेखा है,
उस रेखा को किसी अपने के चेहरे पर हमने बड़ी नजदीक से देखा है…
छोटे-से अपने जीवन में जाने क्या-क्या बनते बिगड़ते देखा है,
कितना कुछ देखा है, लेकिन, अपने सपनों को केवल सपनों में सच होते देखा है…

(12-07-02)

Husband अपना इतना nice हो

On a lighter note ;)

Husband अपना इतना nice हो…
5 foot 10 इंच जिसकी height हो…
रंग चाहे जैसा हो दिल मगर white हो,
Jeans ढीली body मगर tight हो,
Husband अपना इतना nice हो…
मेरा हर नखरा सहे nature उसका इतना light हो
जहाँ चाहे जाऊँ जो चाहे खाऊँ ऎसी अपनी life हो
जब भी shopping करके आऊँ बोले, “ बीवी तुम मेरी pride हो,
मैं खुशनसीब हूँ कितना जो तुम मेरी bride हो”…
दुःख-परेशानी में जो हमेशा मेरी side हो,
Husband अपना इतना nice हो…
अच्छा-अच्छा dinner बनाए जब भी romantic night हो,
बिना लड़े ही हार मान जाये जब भी हमारी fight हो…
सास-ससुर के सामने हमेशा कहे, " जान तुम ही right हो”,
ऐसे husband के साथ ही तो जिंदगी delight हो,
Husband अपना इतना nice हो…
Decision हमेशा सही ले ऎसी उसकी insight हो,
हर weekend पर कहीँ ना कहीँ घूमने की अपनी flight हो,

ऐसे husband के साथ तो मेरा भी future bright हो,
और जो ऐसा हो तो मैं उडू आसमान में जैसे kite हो..
Husband अपना इतना nice हो…

(November, 2000)

Meaning of success

They say,"Nothing succeeds like success" yet "There are no short cuts to success"...very often in our lives we define boundaries around ourselves to define our failures & success...for some money is sign of success..for some name & fame...yet others feel successful if they have successful people around themselves...I tried putting words to my thoughts about success seven years ago...I believe for me meaning of success still remains the same....for me little things bring happiness and success and failures are just a means to learn how to try better the next time... :)

Once someone asked me,” What does success mean to you,
And to achieve it what would you do?”…
Quite unprepared for the question that came out of the blue,
I felt surprised because it was a question whose answer I never knew…
I asked myself, “Will I be successful if others thought so?”
Prompt came the reply, “Of course NO!”…
For me success changes its meaning at all stages of life,
& I don’t have definition of success of a particular type…
When I’m able to lend someone a helping hand,
I feel successful as a friend…
When I’m able to bring my parents a cause for laughter,
I feel successful as a daughter…
When I’m able to guide my brother & sister in the right direction,
I feel to have done the duty of a sister with much perfection…
When I’m able to study with sincerity & prudence,
I feel successful as a student…
When I’m able to set an example for others,
I fell successful as a trendsetter…
When I’m able to get my work done on my own terms,
I feel successful as a person…
So, I think success to me means, a feeling of contentment & satisfaction,
Which comes to me when I’m able to put my thoughts into action…
Whether peers criticize or praise, never catches my attention,
I hope there will be a day when I’ll call myself a ‘Successful Human Being’ without any hesitation…

(14.12.2000)

Chanakya's quotes...

Here are a few nice quotes that I received in a forwarded e-mail...

"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are victimized first."

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"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous." ***************************************************

"The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody! It will destroy you."

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"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."

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"Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."

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"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it." ***************************************************

"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."

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"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."

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"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."

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"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."

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"Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person." ***************************************************

"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."
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Independent India

It's that time of the year again when we the citizens of India see & feel patriotism which though deep rooted in our blood but comes out on occasions like Independence & Republic day only...Independence day wishes make a round across the country thru forwarded mails..SMSs...and at least for a few moments..or may be a day the pride of being an Indian is visible everywhere...

They say in India "कोस-कोस पर बदले पानी; आठ कोस पर बानी" (the taste of water changes every mile and language changes every eight miles.)...as many states...as many regional..socio-cultural diversities..yet unity in cultural diversity...is what makes us Indians hot...It's pleasing to see the progress that India has made in the last few years....India & Indians have made their presence felt everywhere across the globe and left it's mark everywhere...

However, all that glitters is not gold..I eagerly wait for a day when India can bid adieu to social taboos like..dowry deaths...female foeticide...etc etc..neither the constitution nor the laws can help shoo these away from society..we need a change in mindset...we need to start thinking differently now...it's ironical that though we are much appreciative of the western cultural & lifestyle where both genders enjoy equal rights & freedom...deep within us we still differentiate between a girl & boy child...& the differentiation that starts from birth ends only after death...gender equality is a much needed change 'coz unless we remove the gender bias..we may progress economically but can never move from 'developing' to 'developed' state...

I'm hopeful & wait to become citizen of a developed India...thus I wish that may the life of this bias & social taboos be very short in independent India..None the less;am still a proud Indian ... I have INDIA in my name :) B-India..Proud to be an Indian...

We're hot! We are Indians..... VANDEMATRAM!

She’s rich, she’s beautiful,
She’s cultured and colorful…
She’s our darling, she’s our soul,
She’s independent India, now 57 years old...
We love & respect her the way it is,
She’s our mother, though she’s a miss... :)
She has seen, faced & suffered a lot,
She is the witness of all the battles fought...
The struggle for freedom, the battles to make her free,
The battles to throw Britishers out of our country…
She was born on 15th August 1947,
And looks young & fresh as a girl of 17 even at the age of 57…
May she progress & lead us for time immemorial,
May she live forever & become immortal…

(15-08-04)

मेरा भारत महान है

हम सब भारतवासी हैं, भारत हमारी जान है,
इस धरती पर हमने जन्म लिया, ये देश हमारी शान है…
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

मेरे मातृभूमि का हरेक नेता घोटालों की खान है,
खुद्दारी की रोटी खाना इनके लिए हराम है…
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

इंसानों के हक से लेकर पशुओं तक का चारा खाया,
वाह रे मेरे देश के नेता पलक झपकते सब पचाया…
बुध्दि इनकी तेज़ है और हाजमा भी बलवान है,
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

अपने आराम में है दिखता, जिनको जग का कळयाण है,
जनता से मतलब उनको कुर्सी में उनके प्राण हैं…
बस एक बार नेता बन जायें, फिर करते जीवन भर विश्राम हैं,
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

गुठली से क्या लेना इनको चाहते ये बस आम हैं,
जो दे-दे थोड़े से पैसे कर देते उनपर तन ओर मन कुर्बान हैं..
ऐसे खुदगर्ज़ लोगों के हाथों में मेरे देश की लगाम है,
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

रख कर बगल में छुरी ये कहते राम-राम हैं,
जिसने किया तेहेल्का उसका कर देते काम तमाम हैं…
ऐसे सभ्य नेता मेरे देश की पहचान हैं,
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

जानकर सब कुछ इनके बारे में भी जो चुनती इनको हर बार है,
वह आंख मूंदकर चलने वाली जनता भी प्रशंसा की हकदार है..
जो देते हैं धोखा इसको ये करती उन्हें प्रणाम है,
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

स्वार्थी नेता, अंधी जनता फिर भी मेरे देश का नाम है,
लगता है मेरे देश की नैया के खेवैया स्वयं भगवान हैं..
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है,
इसीलिये कहती हूँ मैं मेरा भारत महान है…

(०३-०८-०२)

Happy Friendship Day

On our life’s way, we meet many people everyday,
We find some good, some bad & some just okie…
Some bring with them clouds of distress & some hope’s ray,
Some rely on lies & some do what hey say…
We wish to keep some near & some at bay,
Thus, some always remain strangers, while some become friends in a day…
But, not all friends are as good as they look,
For they just want their work done by hook or by crook…
They show their true colors as the friendship grows old,
& in the process teach us that old is not always gold…
True friends are hard to find today,
Because with all the uncertainties in life, unselfish love has lost its way…
If you find a true friend somewhere someday,
Don’t let him go; come what may…
Because for all that’s good in life,
You surely need to pay a price…
And in the meantime bind all those whom you find nice,
With your sincere friendship’s strong ties…
With a hope that you all, always find good friends on your way,
Wish you all a Happy Friendship day…

(03-08-02)

Call me...I'll be there for you...

Call me...when you lose all your hopes,
Like a dream in your eye...I’ll be there for you…
Call me...when life becomes unbearable,
Like a beat in your heart...I’ll be there for you…
Call me…when all ideas abandon you,
Like a thought in your mind…I’ll be there for you…
Call me...when happiness leaves you all alone,
Like a smile on your face…I’ll be there for you…
Call me…when moving ahead becomes difficult,
Like strength of your soul...I’ll be there for you…
I’ll be there for you…on your every call,
‘Coz you were, you are and will remain my sweet pal…

(09-12-04)

A friend...

When you feel depressed & let down,
And your self confidence is all gone…
When you feel there is no one to be called your own,
& find yourself all alone…
When there’s none to stand by you & share your sorrows,
& you are scared to think of the morrows…
When you feel betrayed by your destiny,
& reasons to survive don’t seem to be many…
When you find yourself good for nothing,
& life appears to have no meaning…
When your enthusiasm to live is lost,
That’s the time you need a friend the most...
A friend is someone who brings cheer when you are sad,
& gives you hope to make you glad..,
He extends his hand when you’re about to fall,
& comes to your rescue even before your call…
He gives you faith when you have none,
& makes you feel he is the one you can rely on…
He has the spirit of unselfish love,
With a touch as soft as that of a dove...
He wipes your tears & forgives calmly all your sins,
& makes you realize how special & important you are for him…
He never loses his faith in you come what may,
His helping hand for you, is always there all night & throughout the day…
He always encourages you to enter the race once more,
With confidence, enthusiasm & energy much more than before...
He fills in you the instinct to fight till the end,
& may be that’s why he is called a friEND…
However, a true friend cannot be begged, borrowed or stolen,
For he is an invaluable gift of god to man…

(05-01-2000)

TUTORIALS

Inspiration to write this poem came from the big seven & a half marks tutorial tests that were taken twice in a semester during our post graduation...they were much of a headache...those who were with me in those days..would easily identify with this.. :)

It always makes me go mute,
Whenever I hear the word ‘tute’
It makes me feel the earth from under my feet slip away,
When I look at my blank tute copy & think of the D day..
Even though three semesters are gone,
& six internal assignments have been done..
I find the preparation for the tutorial tests has remained the same,
With everybody wanting solutions it’s more like the cat & mouse game..
Solutions being mouse & students being cats,
Anyone having solutions becomes everyone’s pet..
Just two days before the tutorial tests,
Staying near the Photostat shop is best in one’s own interest..
Here one comes across faces that were never seen in the class,
With solutions & introductions coming together it’s a great time pass…
But as one gets busy collecting all solutions with a new name’s tag,
He forgets he has two copies of the same in his bag..
After collections are over, preparation begins,
With nothing going into head even passing becomes a dream..
But just like good times even bad times don’t last forever,
With all the prayers to god the tests get over…
This makes one promise oneself,” I’ll not commit the mistake again”.
But that’s only till the time he realizes,” To err is human”…
And as one gets back to his original routine
He thanks god for sending the Photostat machine…

Dear Friend...

Very often in life we stop ourselves from saying or doing what our heart tells us...reason could be anything...fear of being ridiculed...fear of being taken for granted...fear of being misunderstood..but, whatever little life I have lived and experienced I feel...It either happens now or never...Nothing is going to live forever...so live life to the fullest..live it the way you want...as if none is watching you...'coz life comes once and the saddest words to ever speak in life would be... "I wish I had... "

We've known each other for quite a while,

How will I forget your face with that charming smile...

The moments spent with you are still very clear in my mind,

The reasons to forget those I just cannot find...

Times when you were near but I ignored,

Moments when I wished to let you know how much you were adored...

Times when you felt I had big attitude,

Moments when I tried to talk but you were rude..

Times when each expected the other to speak a word,

But neither could get the courage from anywhere in the world...

It's these times and moments that shall always remain with me,

No matter where you go and where I may be...

If at any time you felt I hurted you,

Please be assured I hurted myself twice as much too...

If I ever made you feel unimportant or unwanted,

That was 'coz I feared being taken for granted...

I couldn't understand you; though I tried my best,

Neither could I make you understand myself shall always be a regret..

But, time I know waits for none,

Neither you and me nor anyone...

So, if in our lives we ever meet again please don't forget,

I wish to see you with a smile as sweet as the one you had when we first met...

'Coz to my god I always pray,

To keep you happy every moment and in all ways...

Peace Is Better Than War

Times Of India, 27 Jul'07 : Courage, it is said, is being afraid but soldiering on regardless. Eight years ago, gallant young officers and jawans of the Indian army displayed this in ample measure,evicting well-entrenched Pakistani intruders from the Kargil heights against all odds. Operation 'Vijay' launched to evict Pakistani Army soldiers, in the garb of jehadi militants, was successfully declared to be over on July, 26, 1999.

The story of courage & pride might have moved to page 12 from page 1 over the last eight years, but the strength demonstrated by our defence forces at that time shall always remain on top amongst anything of similar sort in recent times. No words of gratitude or appreciation can be a reward to those who lay down their lives so we could breath in free air today. I salute those sons of India and their families 'coz of whom we live fearlessly despite all attempts of our neighbours to destroy the unity in our diversity.. JAI HIND!! JAI HIND KI SENA!!

‘Live in peace’ is what we teach,
But do we follow what we preach..
Why do we need to fight?
Is it to prove others wrong and ourselves right?
Within the country we fight over religion,
& outside it ‘Line of Control' is the reason.
These days kargil is the main issue,
To be Martyr our jawans are standing in queues…
They are true citizens in my view,
& therefore mutual co-operation is what we need to pursue..
But the question that bothers me,
Is what could the possible cause for this be?
Is it Pakistan’s selfishness,
Or was it due to our carelessness?
Well whatever is the cause for this,
What we surely need is nothing but peace…
Not only in our country but also worldwide,
So that we may call ourselves Indians with pride..
I think peace is better than war
Since, in peace sons bury their father...
But in war it is the other way round
& for any father it’s the greatest wound...
‘Coz many a times his son’s body is not even found...
We know hatred can never put an end to hatred,
For this love is the sole trade..
As hope is the physician of every misery,
I eagerly wait for the day when man starts behaving more wisely...
Let’s understand that perfect non-violence is highest bravery,
& it alone can help us live happily & fearlessly..

(16-Jul-99)

महिमा श्री 'के' की

‘किस्मत’ से एक दिन राह में मिले मुझे ‘श्री के’,
तेवर तो बदले-बदले दिखते थे जनाब के…
पूछा जब मैंने, “ क्या कोई लॉटरी हाथ लग गयी”
बोले"-नही एकता नाम कि लड़की मुझसे पट गयी…
जबसे मिली है वो मेरा हाल ही कुछ ऐसा है,
नाम होता मेरा और कमाती वो पैसा है..
अब तो ‘कहानी घर घर की’ है यही,
‘क्यूंकि सास भी कभी बहु थी’ को मानते हैं सब सही…
‘कौन बनेगा करोडपती’ प्रश्न यही गूंजता है,
‘कमजोर कडी कौन?’ एक दुसरे से पूछता है…
‘कुंडली’ बनाती है ‘कभी सौतन कभी सहेली’
‘क्या मस्ती क्या धूम’ कहती है सोनाली हठेली …
कभी ‘किसमें कितना है दम’ पूछता है सोनू निगम,
और कभी ‘कलश’ से भरे हाथों में खनकते हैं ‘कंगन’…
जबसे नाम हुआ है मेरा लड़कियों ने नाम बदल डाले,
सविता हो गयी ‘कविता’ और ‘कुसुम’ ने सुमन कि किस्मत के खोल दिए ताले…”
यह सब सुनकर मेरे मन में अजब जिज्ञासा जगी,
और अचनाक अपने नाम में ‘के’ कि कमी खलने लगी…
मन ही मन विचार आया क्यों ना ‘बिंदिया’ को ‘किन्दिया’ कर दिया जाये,
इससे शायद मेरी भी सोयी हुई किस्मत जग जाये…
और तभी मुझे ‘कहो ना प्यार है’ और ‘कभी ख़ुशी कभी गम’ में ‘के’ के तात्पर्य समझ आने लगे,
‘के’ से शुरू होने वाले सभी नाम मन को बहुत भाने लगे..
सोचा काश ‘दिल्ली’ होती ‘किल्ली’ और ‘पाकिस्तान’ होता ‘काकिस्तान’…
ना होती कोई लडाई ओर हम शान से कहते, “मेरा कारत महान”
इतने में श्री ‘के’ बोले ,"मैडम कहॉ है आपका ध्यान?”…
मैं बोली,"के तेरी महिमा महान,
दिया मुझे अमूल्य ज्ञान…
आज तक इस रहस्य से रही मैं अनजान,
अब समझ में आया क्यों रहा मेरा जीवन वीरान…
अब तो बस रात दिन ‘के-के’ ही कहा करूंगी,
‘के’ पढ़ूगी,’के’ लिखुनगी, ‘के-के’ ही रटा करूंगी..
करती हूँ ‘कोशिश-एक आशा’ है कामयाब होगी,
‘कहीँ किसी रोज़’ अपनी भी इज़्ज़त कहीँ तो जनाब होगी…

No marks for guessing that this poem is inspired by Ekta Kapoor's tele series whose names invariably started with K :)

सपने

जब आकाश में आता है चन्दा और जग में छाये अँधियारा,
चमकता है दूर गगन में टिम-टिम करता छोटा-सा तारा..
थक कर सो जाता है जब गहरी नींद में जग सारा,
और पा लेता है पल में इस झूठी दुनिया से छुटकारा..
ले आता है चेहरे पर मुस्कान तब, एक भोला-सा सपना,
सपनों कि जिस दुनिया में लगता है सब अपना-अपना…
दिन के उजियारे में इन्सान को जो ना मिल पाता है,
रात के अंधियारे में, सपनो में वो सब पा जाता है..

पर सपने तो सपने हैं , उनका क्या आते जाते रहते हैं,

हक़ीकत तो वो दुनिया है जिसमें हम-तुम रहते हैं...

Love..

Here's another piece of poetry in continuation with my one liner...Life is to Live, Love & Laugh !!

Love, is one of the most beautiful emotions felt by human heart..a deep felt feeling for someone can make us forget..forgive..overlook any weakness..any shortcoming that our loved one may have...It's a universal language..spoken & understood by all living beings equally...doesn't need mouth to speak..or eyes to see...just a heart to feel :)

They say, speak least to the one you love the most, 'coz if s/he doesn't understand your silence, s/he can never understand your words...you can always LISTEN to your loved one even when s/he is SILENT :) However, love is not blind..it sees but doesn't mind... :D

It's so big a thing that even today I'm incompetent to define it in words..my vocabulary doesn't seem to have the words that could most precisely express what it is...but, here's how I defined it three years ago... Cheers! Fall in love...it's a risk...RISK IT ;)

Ever thought of love & it’s meaning,
It could be a debate with no ending..
As many people as many definitions,
And just as many logics & explanations..
For some it could be the sole reason to live,
Where they have nothing to take but never hesitate to give..
For others it’s lake of sorrow, ocean of tears,
Valley of death & end of life with no cheers..
For some it brings all that they ever wanted,
And for some it makes their future haunted..
For some its thought brings a smile on their face,
And for others it makes life a sad note with no joy’s trace…
Some say,” Don’t cry in love..’coz someone who loves you shall make you cry”.
Other’s argue ,”it’s always for the other someone this heart wants to try…
& it’s for that someone these tears flow and eyes go dry…”
Although the same god created love for everyone,
But it turns out to be a nightmare for most and blessing for some..
For me I think love is a wonderful feeling,
Which unless mutual holds no meaning…
True love doesn’t demand or expect,
It just wishes good for whom it is felt…
It is given without any condition,
And expressed without hesitation…
If your love is true & pure, you surely get it back,
But, if you don’t, there’s nothing that you lack…
Just like all other life’s tests,
Love also helps bring out your best…
Don’t worry, if not today then tomorrow,
Love will fill your life with joys killing all sorrows…
Have patience, there will be a day,
When you’ll meet love coming your way… :)

The call girls

Making & calling someone untouchable is an easy action,
More so when we do not belong to that unprivileged section...
Though our society has never given women their due share,
But the most affected ones are those few, about whom we just do not care...
Society calls them, the call girls,
& treats them like animals...
Taking their name in public is discourtesy,
But, visiting them for pleasure is a man’s liberty..
Ironically , our society is based on hypocrisy…
Is it easy for a woman to give away her virginity?
No! she doe it only to fulfill her duty...
The duty of a mother, a sister, a daughter & a wife,
She does it not for herself but her dear one’s life...
But, we always call only the women involved as the culprit,
While the men involved are given a clear chit…
It’s easy to call these women characterless,
But, it’s equally tough to fight an empty stomach...
Even the idol of Goddess Durga becomes complete,
Only when soil of these women’s area is added to it...
Still, I know I & my society don’t have so kind a heart,
To accept these women as our integral part..
Our society never has & never would approve of such things,
Yet, they’ll continue till man stops living...
The least we can do is to accept their children,
So that they do not suffer humiliation in their life’s run...
Let’s give them the power of knowledge,
To help them write their own fate...
Let’s stop making them feel guilty for their mother’s helplessness,
Let’s help them enjoy human life in all its richness…

Three things...

Three things in life that,once gone, never come back

Time

Words

Opportunity
Three things in life that may never be lost

Peace

Hope

Honesty
Three things in life that are most valuable

Love

Self-confidence

Character
Three things in life that are never certain

Dreams

Success

Fortune
Three things that make a man/woman

Hard work

Sincerity

Commitment
Three things in life that can destroy a man/woman

Wine

Pride

Anger
Three things that that never fail
True love
Determination
Belief

A forwarded mail that I received from one of my friends and felt these three things were worth reminding self again & again.. :)

Please, don't be a teacher!

Curiosity as you know is deep rooted in human behaviour,
& can come out of you at any odd hour..
Being a human I’m curious too, you see,
About what my friends would do after M.Sc.?
So, I asked a few of them,” What are your future plans?”
They said in chorus,”Oh! We love to be called Ma’am”..
I asked them," So, you think you have the qualities essential to be a teacher?”
They got furious & replied,"You better worry about your future”..
I said," Don’t get angry, I just wanted to know, If I had a chance of the same career option,
& if I could also work in the similar direction?”..
Tell me what would you do, if a student puts up a question whose answer you never knew,
Slowly as their temperature went down,
& from excited state they reached the ground..
They said,” We know how to face such a problem”
& following is what they said was a permanent solution...
Tell the student,” You have done this in your previous year,
& the chances of my repeating it are very rare...
OR go & look for the book by Mr. So & So,
& if you still don’t understand come to me tomorrow...
A serious student would get the answer I’m sure,
& a non-serious one would not raise questions any more...
OR tell them,”This you can do yourself,
& if you don’t get the answer forget the question itself..
Above all tell them.” I expect you to know things so small”,
& add,”I’m afraid, your knowledge is abysmal”..
I’m thankful to my friends who brought my curiosity to an end,
& made me feel pity for their future students…
I wanted to tell them."Please don’t spoil the name of this noble profession,
For your stupid obsession...
For teachers lay the foundation of a future citizen,
For teachers are the makers of good human...
For teachers are the god if schools are temple,
For without them our dreams would crumble..
For they are the water of our knowledge pools,
So, if you think you can be a good teachers you are absolute fools”..
I wanted to stop them but kept quite,
As choosing their career option was their right...
Also because teachers had taught me the Newton’s third law of motion,
I knew for my every action there could be an equal and opposite reaction...
So, I well understood what stopping them meant,
& wished them all the best for the future as good friend..

My Inspiration for this poem were my M.Sc. teachers ; who often used above excuses in tricky situations :) No intentions of offending anyone..so if I happen to..I'm sorry :)