अविभाज्य

कल शाम एक फूल की परछाईं से पूछा,
क्या तुम्हें कभी किसी ने छुआ है,

उसने मुस्कुरा कर मेरी तरफ देखा,
और धीरे से कहा -

जिसने भी इस फूल को छुआ है,
वह मुझसे होके ही तो गुज़रा है

मैं और यह फूल उजाले से बंधे हैं,
जब तक उजाला है हमें कोई अलग नहीं कर सकता

मैं अपने ख्यालों कि उधेड़-बुन में आगे चली गयी …कि सहसा चौंक उठी

शाम के समय मैं किस्से बातें कर आई ,
शाम को तो परछाईंयां नहीं होती हैं

पीछे मुड के देखा तो चारों तरफ अँधेरा था ,
फूल कहीं नज़र नही आया

अन्दर से एक आवाज़ आई ,
शाम को सिर्फ परछाईंयां ही होती हैं

Plight of television

Yesterday, I was watching a TV serial. With nothing much to do, entertaining oneself can be a daunting task. TV serials, much as I curse them, come to my rescue more often than I would like them to. But how long can you possibly read at a stretch. You need a break!
Hence I was watching this programme on television and in between breaks I saw the advertisement of a new daily soap thats about to begin.
One more to add to the filthy entertainment being dished out. Too much.
The leading lady was asking the audiences- Which is more important, being at your in-laws anniversary party, or taking your ailing father to the hospital? and more similar questions.
You get the idea.
Every time there was a commercial break, this woman's sound with her questions filled the room.
After a while, I was frustrated.
What in the name of God are these serial producers trying to do???
Have they lost their conscience? Agreed India is a land of sentimental people. So, dish out anything emotional and Indians will watch and weep and TRP ratings will rise.
People watch these programs for lack of better alternatives, not everyone is a sports freak and how long can you watch the same piece of news.
I remember there was a time when shows like Neev, Fauji were shown on TV. Immensely popular shows which the whole family could watch.
But today, what is being shown on the idiot box, is far from being categorized as a family show.
Well yes, they have a family in there. But the protagonist is a Goddess in human form. She is never angry, never loses her temper and is patience personified. No matter what is said or done, her faith in goodness will not waver. And then there are vamps. No matter how many times they fail, they continue to believe that evil will prevail.
A little bit like the indian movies...conflict of good and evil...goodness triumphs ultimately.
So we hope will happen on the idiot box as well. Only there is one catch. The end is nowhere in sight.
For all the producers know, they will continue with the same characters for a long (read indefinite) time period, and if the serial becomes unpopular or they run out of a story, they can always put an (abrupt) end to it.
So no one knows what happened to Jassi in her new avtar. Mona Singh is free of her contract and is doing so many other shows. People learn to forget.

So much for the plight of television. I wish somebody would come up with something better and provide a new lease of life to the ailing TV industry. Till then we have no option but to put up with the trash...

Childhood or no?

There is a musical show going on on a popular television channel. It showcases the musical talent of small children. Then there are other channels taking cue and coming up with similar programs. While some of the participating children are teenagers, others are smaller, much smaller.

Before I begin to commend or condemn the show(s), I would like to say that I am glad someone has thought of making kids feel special and has taken an initiative to bring out their talent before the whole world.

My concern is, at what cost?

Small children, who should be learning soulful prayers, bhajans and childrens songs have been so far removed from these that such songs have become a one special episode bonanza.

And instead, they are singing and dancing to the tunes of songs from films like Murder, Don.



As a parent I feel disgusted. At one time, when I was younger, I used to enjoy such shows. I would laugh and clap with the kids singing the song.

Not anymore. Its cute, but not right.



I am no great personality to pass a moral verdict. But I am a responsible human being. I feel that the parents who send their kids to such shows, should think before they act.

In the name of music and talent, a filthy game of TRP ratings and SMS earnings is being played.



No wonder my toddler prefers Dhoom machale to Twinkle Twinkle and Main hoon Don to Johnny Johnny.

Are we not snatching their childhood way too early and later blaming them for their unchildlike behavior?

Time to do some hard thinking!