Quote on Life

This one is so true...

"Life is hard. After all, it kills you."

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!

Whom the Gods Love, Die Young

"Something it is which thou hast lost,
Some pleasure from thine early years.
Break, thou deep vase of chilling tears,
That grief hath shaken into frost! "

Twice in a span of two years, and the second one, much more unexpected and shocking.
I am talking about death...the stark reality of life which we all shudder to think of.

First my father...and now my friend.
I did not know I would shed so many tears on her death. Well come to think of it, I did not know what she meant to me. Not until I read, that she is no more.

Life is so unpredictable, everyone said...I used to think...so it is...so what...big deal.
But now I know...big deal it is.

In this age of technology, no matter where they are, people can communicate with each other.
No distance seems too big...nothing is too far...except........

Suddenly the realization dawns on you....the communication becomes one sided, you can speak, but the other cannot hear.

My school teacher taught me...when you sleep at night, make sure you bear no strife in your heart, for you know not whether tomorrow you will have the chance to settle it.
I tried to follow it...but so many times I failed.
I fought with people and slept...I promised to do things and didnt do them....

But her passing away, has completely shaken me.
It has made me realize, that in life....there are no retakes, no use of lamenting.
When the deed is done, its done for good.
She is gone...resting in peace...

I am distraught......but I know...I will be a better human being now.
I am sure if God took her away at 26, he needed her more than us.
She was such a baby, and I am sure must be resting now, in the arms of the Almighty.

So many worlds, so much to do,
So little done, such things to be,
How know I what had need of thee,
For thou wert strong as thou wert true...............

Another one

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/401360/freedom_of_life_fighting_cancer_in.html

This is the story of a woman I met for a few minutes.
The pain and the suffering which she doesn't show but is feeling all the time.

Peotess

My first attempt at poetry
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/370440/the_unheard_voices.html

Paradox?

Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.

–Charles Dickens - Great Expectations

Such a beautiful expression of how life can be miserable even when you have everything.Paradox?

More Travelogue - Bhuleshwar

Bhuleshwar is a Shiva Temple located on the top of a mountain- Some 50 kms away from Pune. Built in the 12th Century, it is one of the finest structures that have remained intact from the past. The inside of the temple is beautiful and cool, so much so, that the outside temperature had no effect on the inside.

The cool breeze, the mountain top, the view of the valley and GOD, it is one of the rare places that can soothe the mind and ease one in these days.

The carvings on the wall have been damaged, speaking of the days when Hindu temples were being destroyed, and if you take a close look at each of the statues, each has a story to tell. The structure of the temple itself does not give the look of a temple, possibly it was transformed to protect the temple from invaders.

There is a small door on one side of the temple, from where you can see the entire valley. As I was standing there and watching the view, I was wondering who would have designed the temple and selected that particular spot for the door showing such a breathtaking view.

The roof has two small rooms where the pujari and his family stays. And when you step out, there is a small window in the wall which has a direct view of inside the temple.

A place which made me forget everything - and which I will never forget.

Travelogue - Konkan

I am not a traveller. I knew this when I was very very young. Even after we went to a different city, I would prefer to sit in the hotel room and watch TV instead of going out.

But I think I have travelled a lot. And now after these many years of existence (and I will not say how many) I think I have started enjoying travelling. Not that I do not wish to get back into my shell quite often.

This weekend we went to Konkan. Nature at its best. For the first time in my life, I saw a mountain and a sea hugging each other, literally. It was an amazing experience and the scene will remain eteched in my memory for years to come now.

The greenery, the blue of the sea and the sky ; all had an amazing effect on me.

I am sure I will gather the enthusiasm to visit that belt again and relive this experience.

Life goes on…

At times I think, what makes us go on, despite all the hardships we face almost daily. Which force are we driven by, that inspite of all the troubles of life, we carry on. We just move on, unaware of where we are going. The Almighty has made a strange world full of strange creatures and I cannot help but marvel at the beauty of his creation called LIFE.

Life, in any form, is so beautiful, that no matter how many storms rage in the day, when we sleep at night, we pray that we may get another day!

Musings

When I was in school I had read an article titled “Kya Likhoon?”. The whole article revolved around the subject - the writer said that he wanted to write, but he did not know what to write. He went on to take up different subjects and explain why he could not write about each of them. In the end he had ended up with a 3 page article on why he could not write about anything!

I had laughed then thinking that if he had so much to write, why did he ask “Kya likhoon?”. But today, I know what he must have felt when he wrote that article.

At 1 am, with my ailing son in my lap, and the laptop on my side, I am dying to write something. Thrice I tried to take a topic and start writing in it, but lost the enthusiasm and interest in the subject after writing three lines.

So posts started accumulating as drafts as I abandoned one subject after another and I finally decided to write on nothing in particular. Why, everyone is capable of doing nothing, thinking nothing, saying nothing, so why not writing about nothing.

Nothingness is the most incomplete concept that has ever existed. Just like people claim that darkness is nothing but the absence of light. Similarly nothingness is only the absence of something that should ideally be . When we are not doing something , we say we are doing nothing. However, by doing nothing we are staying idle, which again is something, but that something is not a subset of the some things that we may call something, hence we call it doing nothing.

And by writing nothing, I am not trying to achieve anything.

Well all good things must come to and end. So my tryst with nothingness ends here as I go about doing something more concrete.

Happy Birthday Dear Son

My Adorable Baby,

Today you have turned one year old. Exactly 365 days ago, you came into this world.I had wished so much that you be born on Nov 14 (Childrens Day) but when the Doc told me at 11pm that your child will take another 3-4 hours to arrive in this world, I lost my hope of celeberating your birthday on Childrens Day every year! People tell me your kid preferred to share his birthday with Sania Mirza rather than Chacha Nehru!

I still remember how the doctor wrapped you in a white cloth and put you over me. My bundle of joy, your touch instantly made me forget all my pain and I cried in glee.

Then he took you to your dad, and he cried too when he saw his lil son.

In fact he and I were just discussing that is this your first birthday or second? 'Coz it was your first birthday when you were born.

You have changed our world. I have not known what it is to have a good nights sleep since you were born, but I also have never had happier times in my life. When I see you smile and jump when you see me, I feel so elated. When you go off to sleep peacefully in my arms, I feel like I can hold you like that forever.

When you cry, I feel like crying too...and when you clap with your small small hands, I start clapping myself.

My darling, you are the world to me. I love you tonnes. And even though you are still too young to realize the importance of today, this day is really really special for me and your dad.

Happy Birthday Son!

With Luv,

Mumma

A Womans Poem

I dont know who wrote this..but I just loved it!

He didn't like the curry

And he didn't like my cake.
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.
I didn't prepare the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Isn’t there anything I could do
To match his mothers shoe
Then I smiled as I saw light
One thing I could definitely do
I turned around and slapped him tight...

Like his mother used to!!!!!

Letter to Papa

My Dear Papa,

Next Friday, it will be a month since you went away from our lives, to another world where we cannot reach you. Cant hear you, cant touch you, cant see you, cant ask you how you are.

Nothing much seems to have changed since you departed. I still wake up every morning, do my daily chores, dress up and come to office. I am involved in my work whole day, taking and giving directions, holding meetings, chatting, mailing and evening comes. I again go home, play with Aryu, prepare dinner, eat and sleep. The whole day is just like what it used to be.

But you know papa, when I pick up the phone to call up at home, I realize that I will never again hear your voice on the phone. Thats when I realize that things have changed.

When Aryu does his little tricks and I recall how happy you used to be to hear them, I realize that I will never be able to tell you again what he does.

When I recently won an award in the company, I realized I will never hear your happy voice again which used to say, ‘After all your are my daughter’.

When I am low and upset because of the way life is going on, I realize I will never again hear your motivating words that could lift my mood anytime.

As I am writing these words, I know you are not listening to me. You are far far away. You are gone and you have gone for good this time.

These and such hundreds of moments come and go everyday when there is a split second that brings forth the shocking reality of your absence from my life.

I just hope that wherever you are, you are free from the misery and pain that you had to suffer from in the last few years of your life.

I love you papa and I will always strive to be a good human being that you wanted me to be. I will be strong for Mom and I will always take care of her.

Missing you dearly.

Your loving daughter.

Mind Vs Matter

What is mind,

No matter!

What is matter,

Never Mind!

Women

The strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analyzed, women merely adored.

– Oscar Wilde

Women speak two languages - one of which is verbal.

--William Shakespeare

On Courage

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”

–Mary Anne

“Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.”

–Tom Krause

Aryaman

The joy of seeing a little one grow and turn into an individual knows no bounds. I was delighted when Aryaman turned and lay on his stomach the first time on March 6. He was learning that he can make his body move.

Yesterday, he got his first tooth. The very first one, and its just a small piece, which is not even visible, but can be felt.

I just can't wait for the day, when his smile will be filled with pearly whites!

My first blog

I sometimes hold it half a sin,

To put in words the grief I feel,

For words like nature half reveal,

and half conceal the soul within.

But for the unquite heart and mind,

A use in measured language lies,

The sad mechanic exercise,

Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.

- Lord Tennyson (In Memoriam)

My confessions here, are but an attempt, to use “measured language” for unloading what burden life imposes on the heart and mind.

This may or may not be of interest to anyone. I am just trying to create a space on the web, for my writings. I have no specific purpose for doing so, but I am acting on a whim of my mind.

If someone finds my writings useful, in any sense of the word, I will know that I made good use of the space I reserved for myself. And if it goes unnoticed, my say is-

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathomed caves of oceans bear;

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air."