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...                      

 

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN........

10th grade... The final step of secondary education.
As I approach the last days of this academic session, I recall how enjoyable it had been.        Started with excitement, went through so many different phases and now comes to an end with a lot of  transitions....
Not only in mine, the scenario in all classrooms has changed..

In the past few weeks, it appears as if all my class fellows have actually stopped 'facebook'                      
and started 'facing' their books.The regular chatting and gossiping has taken a backseat as viva-voce takes their place while the practical files and projects seem to have replaced comics and pen-paper games.....
Then comes the actual reason of stress.........
 Before we could give out a sigh of relief after the Assessments, we had the Maths Practical coming up. And as we tried to relax after the Science Practical Test, there came the Social Science Project. Last, but not the least, to add to the "stress mess" was the Computer Practical......

Also, since a couple of weeks, we have had the selections for the Athletics Meet going on. In all, we have had a good 'brain and body' exercise...!!

This is only about school. Back at home, the workload is not less.As the teachers literally 'rush' in order to complete the syllabus, all the written-work is left to be done at home...
At the coaching centres, facing the so many 3-hour Test Series for Final Examination actually haunts us...

Then there's the universal question for all class-10 students, "11th mai kya subject le rahe ho?" My mind never seems to settle at one place, as it drifts from Science to Commerce to Humanities and back again... I guess I should rather follow my heart....

As everyone around keeps reminding how crucial the next few years will be, I too realise it's time for the textbooks and time-tables (hard to follow though..!).
                           
So, here I grab my spoon of chawanpraash and gear up for the upcoming challenges....


               

We The Public.... this Republic......

26  January, 1950. 63 years back, India was declared a republic. It feels great to celebrate this day seeing the hoisting of the Tricolour, singing the spell binding national anthem. I can actually feel the goosebumps of patriotism in me....  
                                           Republic Day is a day that reminds us of sustaining our Independence. It is a day when we can feel the patriot in us...
                                          What does Patriotism mean? Merely talking about our love for the country and ignoring our negative points is not patriotism. Nor in today's scenario does it imply going to jails and sacrificing ourselves as martyrs....
                                       It means true dedication for the progress of the country. Even small efforts like conserving our resources, protecting our heritage, preventing violence, making people aware of right and wrong and performing our duties signify our patriotism.
                                       Fighting on the basis of religion, discriminating on linguistic basis, then calling ourselves independent. Is this the land our martyrs sought and fought for...??
It is our fundamental duty to promote harmony and spirit of common brotherhood....
                                     Carelessly littering around or polluting our resources is a big fault on our part. And then complaining, is even worse.
                                      Seeing someone harm any place of heritage and yet doing nothing, then blame the government for not taking action. Do you know it comes under our Fundamental Duties to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture?
                              We must remember, the role of the government is to make laws. It is up to us whether we abide by them. It is our responsibility whether we prove to be dutiful citizens or not.
       Thus, many of our problems can be solved if we just perform our duties sincerely...
                              Following our duties is the most vital step towards taking the nation on the path of  progress. If every individual performs his role as a true law abiding citizen, where's the chance of a crime? If there's no crime, no wrong deed, then what's the need to complain? Then there's progress. Development.
                              Accepted the fact that it's not possible to attain a  Utopia, for mistakes are the natural phenomenon of humanity, but mistakes can be corrected. The incorrect can be changed, if we change ourselves....
                             This Republic Day, let's awaken ourselves to our duties and our role in bringing about a change. Let us stop demanding and start doing. Let us come out of our trifles and strengthen the foundation of our Republic Nation.......

                                                               JAI  HIND....!!!
                                                and 
                            HAPPY  REPUBLIC  DAY....!!!

                           

Call for Retribution......

After the dreadful sexual assault in Delhi, the country is going through yet another shock. The inhumane and brutal killing of two of our countrymen at the Pak Border is not just a simple instance of what is probable at the border. And to top it all, is Haffiz Sayyid's award to the Pak soldier, who was not human enough to leave the corpse in 'one' piece..... This act of aggression and ceasefire violation by Pakistan has undoubtedly angered us all.....
                           In this time of national insecurity, amidst this natural agitation, I do not consider it sane on the part of our politicians to create yet another issue out of it. Unfortunately, our retalliation is limited only to empty debate and discussion. The Indian audience tends to satisfy itself with what their leaders say. So appealing it is, ''vo ek ko maarenge, toh hum 10 maarenge" ;"hum pakistan ko dikha denge ki hum kya kar sakte hain" et al. Mere mouthing of these words is not going to change the situation...
                 As a joke doing the rounds goes:
Responses to a similar assault by other countries....
USA -  " If you attack us, we will attack you."
Iraq - " If you attack us, we will demolish you."
and our response..... 
               " If you attack us, we will not play cricket with you..... 
                                 (though we go ahead and do even that....!!! )
         This does not mean we forget our principles of non-aggression and bombard their land, but at the same time it will be improper on our part to just stay quiet and send a wrong message...
         It's high time we show them their limits and prove what we are actually capable of......
         It's time we stop being content by a flag meeting and actually resort to some affirmative action....!!!!