A week in God's Own Country.....

With surreal  beauty and culture so immensely great, Kerala indeed stands out with divine perfection. From hills carpeted with green tea leaves to the sparkling backwaters, its each terrain is carved with care...
The success of high and widespread literacy is reflected in the lifestyle. The administration is relatively more efficient, the surroundings cleaner and the people better disciplined as compared to several other states.

Munnar ( hill station)

Through narrow winding roads , passing magnificent waterfalls, we reached the beautiful hill station Munnar. When the soft rays of the rising sun from between the clouds fell upon the green hills yet covered in mist, the sound of the Church Bell amidst the profound serenity of the valley felt like heavenly blithe...

Every bit of land here is home to some spice or plant. The extensive cultivation of world famous coffee plants, cardamom, pepper, cloves, etc. undoubtedly makes the state the 'spice house' of the nation.

Major Attractions:

• Kanan Devan Tea Factory
• Flower Gardens
• Idukki Dam 
• Eravikulam National park

                                  Thekaddy ( Periyar Tiger Reserve)

Famous for its Periyar Tiger Reserve, thekaddy is also  the heaven for spices like black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

Home to elephants, monkeys and of course tigers, the Periyar reserve is enriched with the 

river Periyar and Pamba. A cruise in the sparkling 

waters was a pleasant means to appreciate the thick 

forest cover and watch stags, wild boars and water birds.

A tortoise shaped snack bar

Kumarkom , Allepey ( The backwaters)

The waters of the Venice of the East, Allepey , are a treat to the eyes. The lagoons, estuaries and sangam of 44 rivers, carrying the water of Arabian Sea are beautified by several coconut trees.

Kerala would be incomplete without its backwaters. An overnight stay in the houseboat is highly recommended.Watching the sunset from a houseboat  in the backdrop of coconut trees with authentic Malyali cuisine , is a tourist's delight....

Kochi

The commercial capital of Kerala, Kochi, is a well-planned city and a shopper's delight.The city has the oldest synagogue and the Dutch palace. It is fun to watch Chinese fishing nets and the ships cruising by. The icing on the cake is the Lulu Mall, which is the second largest in the continent.

Spices

Lulu Mall

The synagogue

From a rich cultural heritage to glossy cosmopolitan leisure, Kerala offers every kind of pleasure.With the highest literacy rate, life expectancy and sex ratio, it is the least corrupt and an ideal state......

Why we need to debate....

Recently, I took part in the inter- class debate organised in my school for classes 11th and 12th. There were 30 speakers in all who presented their views on the proposition "Our Biggest Problem: Caste system or Ill-treatment of women”. The 2-hour event was a great success and we witnessed some very fine speeches.

The revitalizing environment created by a debate is an experience in itself to be enjoyed. The air is filled with motivational speeches, seriousness of issues, nervousness of participants and also excitement. As speakers put forward their views, it appears as if the bunch of people is actually going to bring about a rapid metamorphosis in the present situation. We come across good orators who exhibit natural speaking skills, a few engineered ones, while some who tend to become melodramatic.

The situation behind the scene is all the more interesting. Hours are spent in front of the mirror, rehearsing over and over again. The students who express grave intensity of emotions on the day, are the ones who were perspiring and struggling with words just the other day.

During the process, it is not just the issues we learn about. We improve oration, overcome stage fear, develop self-confidence, get inspired by impressive speakers and also learn to be good listeners. Apart from our own hard work, each other's mistakes too, teach us a lot.

Debating, as the primary step, is also the most essential tool for solving problems or drafting welfare schemes. Dissension  in itself is the soul of democracy, which is reflected through debate. By sharing views and criticizing, we exercise our fundamental right to the freedom of speech and expression. The country too, follows this principle of deliberation in some form or the other, be it framing laws, accommodating difference of opinions or deriving a consensus.

Often, we are already aware of the arguments and counter-arguments. Yet, we enjoy the debate. Why?  Because it is essential to bring things of great importance in the limelight when they take a backseat. The scrutiny never goes waste as it helps spread awareness and tell people what they are missing. Everyone knows that caste system and ill-treatment of women are big blots on our society, but it is necessary to repeatedly remind and inspire the people to raise a voice against them.

Awareness, ideas, thoughts, etc can be spread through speeches as well but through debates, the difference of opinions that is created, teaches us how a thing can be viewed with different perceptions. We learn to think in totality and not just stick to our point of view.

So…. let us, discuss, debate and deliberate!!!

After a stressful week that went in giving exams, making projects, finishing assignments and running from place to place to complete tasks, 'break to banta hai yaar'...

Having reached a considerable level of exasperation and exhaustion, everyone would love to go to a place where everything is placid and quiet. Surrounded by the most beautiful natural landscapes, where every life form breathes calmness. Where there is soft sunshine, a soothing chirruping of birds, sparkling dew drops on freshly bathed leaves, a fragrant air, soft grass beneath the feet, a cool breeze lifting the hair......

Wonderful! Isn't it? This dream place is what they call 'Peace'.

Unlike the picturesque description it is usually subject to, Peace does not necessarily mean a morning walk in fresh air. It needs to be viewed with a broader perspective. Peace is closely associated with stability. One who has achieved real satisfaction in life will never be desperate for peace.

When we aim at excellence and do not indulge ourselves into momentary success, shrewdness and greed, we are also excavating our real happiness. Our capability, our self-confidence and our strong character give us inner happiness, the happiness from the heart. That is what makes Peace divine. It is like God, it is present in us while we search the world for it. We just need to sweep the impurities in us to make more room for it.

Usually it is the financially successful and diplomatic people who are in search of blithe. They work in a place which is surrounded by hostility, corruption and other evils. The fame fever has risen so much that people are ready to do or get anything by hook or crook (probably only crook works...). I chanced upon a very true saying, '' Wealth is not measured by the things we have, but by the things we have, for which we would not take money.'' The wealth of happiness one obtains by making others happy cannot be measured in words. By lending a share of joy in this world to the unfortunate, one can obtain a rich treasury of blessings, praise, bliss and ultimately, peace.

Also, we can find peace even in small instances like chatting with friends, listening to music, enjoying parties or even while eating pani-puri with cousins in the mela..!!. It is because it gives us a feeling of joy, togetherness and a reason to live, not merely exist. In order to succeed in life, many people sacrifice these little occasions of joy. This is the time to be alarmed. When somebody involves oneself into achieving worldly pleasures at the cost of this happiness, they are more likely to fail. And because of regular failure, many tend to opt for wrong means and unhappiness and pessimism creep in. Negativity leads to nowhere. Even if someone manages to walk on with inkiness, one is likely to shatter soon.

What we need is a pure soul which is the very abode of peace……

The world is hungry for a taste of Peace. Let us not waste our resources in international disputes, wars, conflicts etc. Let us give the wings of peace to the needy millions so that we can fly towards development.

                                     

                                                                                                          

Memories.........

A poem written by me in class VI.....!!

                                                                 THE  STRAY  CAT

       

Once on the street, I saw a pretty cat,

With twinkling eyes in front of me she sat.

She was cute, also a bit fat,

her innocent face waited for a pat.                                                       

Then she was there, every morning,

all through the afternoon and evening.

Cornering the balcony, a crate of cardboard

and an old mat was now her abode.

Her skin was soft as silk,

and quickly she lapped up the milk.

She would come and sit beside me,

and I patted her while drinking tea.

She would show up in one call,

and loved playing with my ball.

She ran all around the house,

Since then, we haven't had a single mouse..!!

Soon we heard the sound of kittens four,

naughty ones, tried to get inside the door.

Their mother brought them out before anyone could,

and would sleep soundly, just as babies should.

They entertained us in every way they could,

laughing, rolling and running wherever they wanted.

The cat tried to teach them good things,

Being kids, they didn't listen.

One day the kittens ran on the street,

Dogs were ready, up on their feet.

Here and there the kittens ran in terror,

but the dogs ran faster.

 

They seized their mother, who did care,

for saving her babies, didn't she dare!

The kittens were saved, hidden behind their mom,

but the dogs were three, and she one!

Though bravely that she fought,

she couldn't prevent being caught.

I made the dogs run away,

Seriously wounded, the poor cat lay.

The kittens stood trembling with unknown fears,

and my eyes started welling up with tears.

As the cat breathed her last,

I hugged her babies to my heart.                                                                           

                                                                                   

BADI NAANI...

In my older post, 'ROOTS' , I laid down my views on the importance of knowing our older generations. As I enjoy my summer vacation at my maternal grandparents' place in Kota , I come to appreciate them all the more....
                             Almost all of us have relished the tempting 'nani ke haath ki Mithaai'  but I feel glad to be among the few fortunate ones who get to enjoy the sweets made by great grandmothers...

In this pricking heat of May-June, nothing can compete a bowl of delicious ice-cream. The sweet blend of cashews, almonds and milk prepared by my ' Badi nani' ( great grandmother ) is the tastiest ice cream I've ever had. As it melts drop by drop, the touch of affection and tradition makes it all the more tastier..

It's not only about the sweet. It is about the love behind it. It is about the magic of belongingness that spreads as the family comes together to talk and laugh together. Even sweeter than the dessert is Badi nani's smile. It is so very interesting to sit and talk with her. She narrates her experiences in a way as if I were really there to witness them. Her words also have the power to captivate me with the stories of her times.

Even at this age, she possesses great intelligence and a sharp memory. She also has a lot of interest in the news and things going on around. Be it philosophy, history, literature or politics, she can speak on just anything. No wonder one gets 'wiser' as one gets 'older'......

At present, all of us, that is, I, my mother , my grandmother and grandfather, and my 'great' grandmother are living together under one roof. We all maybe very different when it comes to lifestyle and habits but these differences are too small to keep us from being connected through the supreme bond of love and blood......

RESULTS.....TIME TO CELEBRATE...??

Now that the results of CBSE are out, the newspapers are filled with the photographs of the high achievers of India. With thousands of students scoring over 95% and tens of thousands getting CGPA 10 (grade point), everybody is all praises for the CCE system.

The education system has gone through a lot of changes in the past few years, inviting both praises and criticism. The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system has been a topic of debate since it was introduced. In some cases, this pattern has definitely been beneficial. Exams, they've become more of a free give-away marks center. As compared to previous years, there is almost no pressure over students. 

     

Unlike the various State Boards, the scary Class 10 Board Exams no longer haunt the students of CBSE Board. As a result, they can concentrate more on their interactive skills, mental ability and sports. Instead of sitting for long hours cramming up chapters, they can develop their creativity by working on projects and presentations. Even during exams, with so less syllabus to complete, there is no need for worries.....

This system doubtlessly seems to be advantageous for students as now there's no problem in getting marks.But more than the few short-term benefits, it has its long-term demerits.

As students don't get to experience the real pressure of exams in 10th, they may get all the more under-confident and nervous while facing other competitive exams later in life.

Since they would have had no practice of sitting for hours to study, they are likely to take even 12th lightly, which they might regret later.

The CCE pattern aims at removing pressure from students and make things easier for them.Now, everyone

above 90% is at an equal standing.Be it 90.5 or 99.5, there's no difference. This tender and lenient face of this education system masks the real pressure students will have to face, if not now, in the 12th standard.

As the students become more and more relaxed, they tend to lose international competence, something Indians have been famous for globally.

Also, the increased number of assignments and projects have become a burden for teachers as well as students. The system focuses excessively on co-curricular activities which are difficult to carry out with so many students in a class. Even the complicated marking system is too tedious to be carried out in government schools in rural areas. This kind of education pattern is successful only in countries with less population and more resources, not in a highly populated one like ours.

There's a need for an education system that is made in accordance with the population and standards of the country, with quality education being the main aim. With a perfect balance of studies and sports, the system should target overall development of students. Instead of being so lenient with students in grading and marking, they should be made to face  reasonably strict marking and appropriate grading which will be helpful in later years. A proper balance between academics and other activities will definitely help to shape a better future...

ENGLISH-VINGLISH

 Just the other day, I spotted two school girls in the market. While mom busied herself with the groceries, I amused myself with their conversation (sincerely not eavesdropping..!!)

            
“Hey, look at the cool dress I got. Isn’t it awesome?”                                                             
“Yup. The design is so famous, like you know, in the fashion these days. I mean everyone's talking about it."                                 

 “Anyways, did Deeps (Deepika) call you?”

 “Nope. I guess she’s kinda busy”.

 “I hope she comes for the party tomorrow, it’s like boring without her.”

And so they continued chatting. At first, I felt happy about the fact that finally the teens have started speaking English among themselves, be it even as a style statement. After hearing their conversation, I wished they would come back to Hindi. Most of their words or rather slang are a disgrace to English! All the ‘credit’ goes to these social networking sites that tremendously encourage usage of such shortcuts or meaningless phrases. If an English expert happens to observe the chats of the youth here, he would pity on the brutal assassination of English grammar…

            
There’s a whole new range of words of yet new spellings, leave alone the rules. It’s an entire new language. ‘Because’ becomes ‘becoz’ or ‘coz’ ; ‘great’ becomes ‘gr8’ and ‘school’ becomes ‘skool’.

Always being surrounded by such a vocabulary, the children grow up with this knowledge, therefore lack the ability to make use of proper language even at the required places. If you type their status updates in MS-Word, I am sure all of it would be highlighted with the ‘red zigzag lines’. The highly popular abbreviations and acronyms have replaced the original words and phrases.

            
Using shortcuts is not at all bad. In fact, it is sometimes necessary to use them while taking down notes or sending urgent messages. Shortcuts were invented to save time while using SMSs. However, here the scenario is different. While chatting on facebook or mobiles, taking 10 minutes to think of a reply and then using shortcuts is total foolishness.

Using shortcuts also becomes wrong when we fail to distinguish where to and where not to use them. If one uses the ‘shortcut language’ in English examinations, which happens quite often, I am afraid one might have to be a repeater in English….

            
Due to excessive use of the facebook jargon, teens have lost the simple sense to identify the logic behind the words they speak. For instance,

I mean

It’s often pronounced (I min). At least they should pronounce it properly! Obviously we mean what we say..!!

I guess

They actually mean, ‘I think’. You can’t probably be guessing all the time..!!

Anyways

Hell, where did they get this word from? Do we say ‘anybody’ or ‘anybodies’? Then how do we have ‘anyways’? The correct one is ‘Anyway’.

Awesome!

Ah, here’s the main one. The favourite word of girls. Most of the brats who use this word, do not even know what ‘awe’ means. It is a feeling of respect with terror or fear. So, an awesome dinosaur in Jurassic Park is okay, but how can a beautiful profile picture be awesome…?

The most annoying one is ‘Howz u’? In this case, one cannot say it’s a shortcut. Typing a ‘z’ or an ‘r’ takes equal time..! It is just another case of mistakenly assumed style statement.

Not only the words, even pronunciation of some of the words is equally exasperating. While trying to prove themselves stylish, they do exactly the opposite which takes them far from style. It is a great misconception among most of the teens that speaking English in a stylish way by twisting or turning the words is the 'in-thing' while proper and correct English is reserved for the old and the professor-likes.

It does not matter what language you speak. What matters is how you speak. Sophistication comes not from the language but from the manner of speaking the language. Speaking Hindi while in  groups or over dinners etc. is considered out of fashion these days. In reality, the charisma of a fluent Hindi speaker can be much more than that of an ill-English speaking person.

We shouldn't forget that everything, say culture or as in this case, every language, has its unique value and that it should be performed or spoken in its own style, maintaining its decorum. For instance, don't we laugh at foreigners who speak Hindi in an unusual way? In the same way, it is very  funny to see someone  speak tampered English.

So, let us learn to respect every dialect or language, so that we don't make fools out of ourselves..... 

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

दुलार और ममता है जैसी,

वैसी सहज और प्यारी पुकार है ।

हर मोड़ पर राह दिखलाती,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

आंचल की छाँव में छिपाए नहीं,

धूप का सामना करना सिखाए ।

मुसीबत में थामे नहीं ,लड़ना सिखलाए,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

छुपाती नहीं दुलार के घेरे में,

स्वावलंबन और दृढ़ता पढ़ाती है ।

संघर्ष से बचाए नहीं, बढ़ाए मनोबल,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

सबसे मित्रता रखना सिखलाती,

समझाती शत्रु को पहचानना है ।

बताती सबकी सुनना पर स्वयं निर्णय करना,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

डर से बचाती नहीं,

भयभीत से भयहीन बनाती है ।

सिखाए निर्भर से बनना आत्मनिर्भर,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

अश्रु देख अश्रु न बहाए,

सिखाती दुःख निकाल आग बढ़ना है ।

खुशी की नींव आशावाद बतलाती है,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

मौज के वक्त मौज, काम की जगह काम सिखाती है ।

समय अनुसार सख्ती से भी,

कामयाबी नहीं काबिलियत का पाठ पढ़ाती है,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

सही गलत का मोल सिखलाती,

हर राह पर मार्गदर्शन देती है‌‌।

हार से भी सीख लेकर जीतना बताए,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

पुरातन की छवि रखते हुए,

अपनाती नवीन ममता है ।

आधुनिक जीवन में जीना-लड़ना सिखाए,

ऐसी मेरी माँ है‌‌।

ROOTS

What you sow, is what you reap,

What you inherit, forever you shall keep.

Even the tallest concrete,

that stands proud says,

its strength and height,

depend on its base.

Same as the longevity of a tree,

and sweetness of its fruits,

depend on its roots.

Strong roots bind the soil,

And prevent the plant’s fall.

Weak ones can devastate,

the same well before harvest.

ROOTS by Alex Haley. That’s the latest novel I've read. The comprehensive description of seven generations of a family from well before American independence to the mid-twentieth century is flabbergasting. It is a leviathan that describes the plight of the Africans that were bought as slaves to the present day America. The virtual journey from the fresh breeze, bright sunlight, lush green grasslands, dense forests and an amicable atmosphere to the stinking, unhygienic, dark decks of slave ships and the atrocities of contemporary Americans is unbelievably shocking. The adverse conditions, the forlorn life and inhumane treatment those people went through is spine chilling. This novel illuminated a fact in my mind I had not paid much attention to before. The importance of our ancestors…

           

For every structure to exist there ought to be a strong foundation. If it is erected on a weak base, it may sustain for a while but it’ll be vulnerable to even the slightest storm. A strong base ensures stability and sustainability and prevents it from collapsing even in adversities. Similarly, in the case of us humans, our foundation is our ancestors. Why, if it had not been for our ancestors, I would not have been here writing this article..!!

           

Our ancestors are our identity. Since time immemorial, from the oldest tribes to medieval-age dynasties, all have been mostly recognized with a common name or a ‘surname’. We have been continuing this trend since. This common name tells us who we are and where we belong. This brings all the descendants of the same ancestors together.

           

Physically, our bodily appearances, features, disabilities, likes, dislikes, etc. depend on the genes we inherit. And these genes come from none other than our forefathers. Often, in social gatherings, elders recognize the young ones through their resemblance with their grandparents and so on. This in itself is an example.

           

The lifestyle our ancestors lead and the habits they had, have a great impact on our characteristics. Our deeds are greatly influenced by what we carry in our blood. Years of evolution, inter-mixing and speciation has resulted in today’s global population scenario. No wonder, our present and future depend greatly on our past…

When I was studying evolution, I used to believe we progress and become ‘better’ with time. We can boast of being the most intelligent of all times because of our sciences and technology. However, on a close observation, we find that every single modern device, gadget, medicine or art is sculpted out of an ancient base. Our ancestors are the ones who invented them, we have just enhanced them. In fact, the quick tricks, remedies and intelligent solutions they devised have proven to be a mojo in this ‘developed’ and masked world.

All the morals we are taught, the principles we follow, the culture we have adopted and the rituals we perform, are all bestowed upon us by our forefathers.

The importance of knowing the lineage of our predecessors is immense. This is what history is basically all about. When we learn more about our ancestors, indirectly we come to know ourselves even better. In our day-to-day lives, whenever we get stuck in some situation and problems seem to be never ceasing, it is advised to restart from scratch, and mostly, we get the solution. Same applies to studying about our ancestors. Until we are not sure of the structure of the ‘roots’, how can we expect a good ‘shoot’…??

When we know more about the experiences, achievements and the daily life of our forefathers, we come to know of their intelligence, their mistakes and can strive to shape a better future.

There was a time when it was a custom in families, irrespective of religion and caste, to pass on the information about the forefathers to the younger generations. Even a child knew the origin and life of his ancestors. And now, looking at the modern culture, it seems our great grandfathers have disappeared in the vast sands of time.

We remember them only annually, that too customarily, in times of ‘shraadhs’….

Today, we don’t have them among us, but deep down, they are present within us, in the form of an invisible conscience that guides us at every step of our life and when we tend to digress, they bring us back to our so-long followed principles and values….

जीवन क्या है?

ये जीवन क्या है?

प्रभु की माया है,

या कोई विग्यान है?

कभी है खुशी,

दुःख है कभी,

अनेक रूपों वाला,

यह कैसा अद्भुत अहसास है?

कभी है ऐसा लगता,

जीवन कोई कसौटी है।

हर मुकाम पर,

लड़कर जीत को पाने का,

यह जो संघर्ष है,

क्या इसी का नाम जीवन है?

क्या जीवन बचपन की मुस्कान है,

यौवन का रूप है या झुर्री है  बुढ़ापे की?

यह जानते हुए कि जाना है सबको,

फिर भी ठोंकरें खाना और संभलना,

क्या यही जीवन है?

मनुष्य आते रहें,

मनुष्य जाते रहें।

इसका अस्तित्व अमर है।

पृथ्वी पर प्रकृति का,

यह कैसा गज़ब करिश्मा है?

आखिर यह जीवन क्या है?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT? THOUGHT FOR FOOD !!

In Biology, we are taught that ‘all living beings obtain energy by direct or indirect means for proper functioning of life processes to ensure survival and stability. In short, food is required by all organisms to live. When the body has synthesized all it has got, it asks for more, which is a phenomenon called ‘Hunger’.

Do we really eat merely to ‘ensure survival’ or to satisfy ‘hunger’? Seeing the high rate of obesity among children, I don’t think that’s the reason…..

If food had been just for survival, man would still have been dependent on carrots, cabbages, apples, watermelons, potatoes, wild grass and other raw veggies. He would not have created different cooking styles, recipes, etc. There’s definitely something more to food that attracts us…..

Think of it. Different places have different cuisines to offer, all equitably delicious. Had it not been so, life would have been so ‘spiceless’ and drab....

Since I was a kid, the major attraction for me in weddings and functions has been food. The preparations in the big fat marriages like the sweet-smelling deserts and ‘mithais’ , the snack stalls, cold beverages and the main course itself, make me harpy…

In restaurants, the menu card in itself is enticing to look at. The pictures and the very names of dishes brings the child in me out, wanting to eat everything available.

Even at home, so much so as a tasty vegetable (like Paalak Paneer or Chole) would suddenly increase the number of rotis that day (happens with many others as well…).

This sudden increase in appetite is a testimony to the fact that food is far from just a reason of existence….

If something has got good points, it definitely has got some bad ones as well. The tastier food you take in, the farther will the needle move away from ‘zero’ (hope you understand) , something which makes ‘ figure conscious’ people (I mean, women) scream and pledge not to touch high-calorie food.

So it happened with me. Having realized my favourite dress didn’t fit any more, I moved on to salads and soups (boiled veggies, argh...!!) It must have continued for a week when we received some sweets. The neighbors had bought a new car or something. Initially, the small white spheres drenched in sugar syrup appeared to me as ‘adipose’ moulded into something so very irresistible. I vowed I would just take a bite, only for taste, but soon all of it was gone. That day, I understood how taste overpowers all vows and pledges. Truly said, “Strongest is the person who can stop after a peanut”.

All this signifies food is not just a biological requirement, it’s an art. Various people show their skills off as food decorators and why else would we have food colours and salad dressings…??

Food is like meditation. When we are tense and dejected, the very drop of chocolate sauce on the tongue titillates the taste buds and the mind wanders off into thoughts as sweet as the chocolate, making us forget all our troubles ,which makes food also an excellent stress buster….

Thinking of my love for taste I hope I remain a foodie and don’t turn into a phagomaniac….!!!

आवरण हटाकर तो देखो

    My new composition...                    

                  आवरण  हटाकर  तो  देखो

जीवन  कैसा करिश्मा है,

सच-झूठ की माया है ।                      

ये तारीफें ये वादे,

जाने छुपाते कैसे इरादे ?

बात करते हैं सुंदरता की,

क्योंकि सभी ने यही है सीखा।

खूबसूरती और श्रंगार के पीछे की

बुराई को है कभी झाँक कर देखा?

करते हैं बात तौर-तरीके की,

पहनने, रहने और बतियाने की |

मुँह से तो बहुत होगा सुना राम-नाम,

कभी पीछे झाँक कर देखी है छुरी?

बहुत देखे होंगे तुमने,

मुस्काते चेहरे आस-पास ।

उनके पीछे के आँसु और दुःख का,

क्या तुम्हे हुआ है आभास?

साथ बैठ हसेंगे सभी,

पर आँसु पोंछने न आएँगे कभी |

सच्ची दोस्ती कैसे तुम जानो?

नेक इरादे कैसे पहचानो?

संसार जैसे मृगतृष्णा है,

पानी है नहीं पर दिखता है‌ ‌।

संसार जैसे तरणताल है,

है गहरा पर लगता उथला है ।

बाहरी दिखावे का राज है ।

बड़ी-बड़ी बातें तो खास हैं।

सत्य के प्रति सभी हैं मौन,

आखिर दिल का इरादा जानता है कौन?

दया और ईमान यहाँ छोटे हैं।

छल कपट का है गान।

चेहरे नहीं ये मुखौटे हैं,

सच-झूठ की कैसे हो पहचान?

पंडित नहीं हर जन जो पढ़े गीता,

रावण नहीं हर जन जो हरे सीता।

है हर संत का बीता हुआ पल,

है हर पापी का आने वाला कल।

जीवन एक दोहा है प्रियों,

शब्द नहीं इसका अर्थ सीखो।

कभी आवरण हटाकर,

अन्तर्मन को तो देखो।

MUSICAL NIGHT AGAINST MOONLIT MEHRANGARH

Yesterday, I witnessed a Rajasthani folk music programme; far away from the babel, amidst the hills, adjacent to Ranisar Lake in the backdrop of the  majestic Mehrangarh Fort .The arid land was covered with a carpet and on the walls hung dimly lit lanterns. The singers dressed in their traditional attire were seated on a raised platform.

No longer had we seated ourselves, that the musicians began captivating us with their melodious numbers.Though the lyrics were a little difficult to comprehend, the charisma of the singers and the mesmerizing tunes on the Harmonium, Dholak , Saarangi and Kartal accompanied with the cool breeze from the placid Ranisar lake had a profound pacifying effect on me. At a distance,the brightly lit Mehrangarh stood proudly. The glow of the full moon over the fort cast a divine blessing....

The magnificence of Mehrangarh, the bright moonlight, the dimly lit surrounding and the Rajasthani melody made me feel like a Maharaja....                                                              

                                                                         

 In the busy and exhausting urban lifestyle, it often becomes necessary to take a break to meditate and revive the grandeur of our cultural heritage. The air of folklore is so addictive that we never seem to get satiated and keep asking for more...