Ain't any Silver Lining; Ain't any Light...

I grew up in a small town tarapur in a central government colony. My colony had a siren kinda of system. There was a loud siren ringing twice a day. One at 7 in the morning and the other at 7 in the evening. I don't know for what purpose it was meant. But the evening siren was a barometer for the kids to reach home by 7; after the evening play or from tuition or other classes. It was a ritual to be followed at home; to be back at 7. To be safe. It's been more than 10 years I have been staying outside home. Today also that siren rings in my mind. To reach home safely. To reach station safely when gotta catch a late train. With those crossword games played in mind. Isn't that auto guy looking lil scary? While returning from the airport from a late flight; the mind toggles whether to take a cab or airport bus. Which would be much safer? Should I walk down this dark lane? Those stares; they are not only scary. They symbolize you as some filthy object. Someone touching your body without your permission. That feeling. You cannot put it in words. If you are thinking that I am being lil pessimistic; then you are wrong. This is the story of every other women in this country. They play those crosswords in their mind while travelling. That fear rumbles on their mind. To reach home safely; it's like a luxury in a country like India. She knows that the lethargic law and the hypocrite society ain't gonna protect her. And that she has to play her own game.

They say India is a land of great culture and great mythology. What culture they are talking about; where we are celebrating the 67th Independence Day, while women in the country cannot move independently without that fear. Where an innocent girl going home after watching a movie becomes victim of ruthless beasts. Being raped to become martyr; so that media can sensationalize it in their own way, so that political parties can use it for their purpose. The kinda of culture which gave the world all those chapters of kamasutra but didn't emphasize upon the fact that each human being need to take the consent of other human being before touching him/her. Shouldn't Lord Ram have taken that Dhobi to task for asking Sita to take the Agnipariksha; thereby setting an epitome that whosoever behaves that way with women will not be spared. If Lord Krishna was so powerful, shouldn't he be killing Duryodhan, for Draupadi vastraharan in front of the assembly thereby setting an example in the history; whosoever touches another human being without his/her consent will be awarded death penalty? Why he waited for Bhim to take the oath of killing duryodhan in the battle field. In that case Draupadi waited till the battle for her justice. I always make it point to end my posts and poems with an optimistic note; but not  this time. India ain’t a nation for women.  Ain’t a nation for daughters. Ain’t a nation for baby girls.  There ain’t any silver lining. There ain’t any light at the end of the tunnel.

Lord of wisdom deserve more sanity...

Being a Maharashtrian, ganesh festival always occupied that special place in my heart. As kids, we were always excited about the Ganapati celebrations. It was a small two day event at my granny's place. Little joys came up in their own way. Decorating the Ganesh idol. Helping granny with the modak preparations. Plucking hibiscus flowers from the backyard garden. They say lord Ganesha loves red flower. Kids were given the task of making durva to be offered to the idol. Durva is made up of field grass; each grass comprising of 3 leaf strands and 21 such grass stems combined to form one durva. Prayers were simple. To give wisdom. Good health and good marks in the quarterly exam which was held a few days before the festival. Performing the quintessential aarti was my favorite part. I have always loved the rthyme of those chants. The night was spent doing Jagraan. Jagraan is to stay awake the entire night; kinda giving company to god. We were told god would be upset, that if we don't stay awake. Not the fear but the faith and belief in god kept us awake.

The next day visarjan remained simple. Some 7-8 families in the village with their ganapati idols proceeded in the procession towards the beach. We kids carried an extra set of clothes; as along with the Ganesha idol immersed, we took a dip in the water. We did carry a plastic pouch; for our little palms couldn't fit in all the prasads distributed by different families. Back home we came drenched. Although the idol is immersed but that night also aarti is being performed for the sand which is picked from the sea during immersion. I can quote many such instances of the ganesha celebrations during my childhood; not because I am a religious person or something. Bcuz those days were happy days. Small family gatherings, preparing the lunch together and distributing prasad in the neighbourhood. No loud music, no pompous sound but just the little ways of joy that brought smile on my granny's face; I remember that so very much.

Wish things remained that simple. Today my only concern was to reach home safely. Escaping the traffic. Escaping those drunkyards dancing outrageouly in the procession. What if they spill the colors over you. What if you get stuck on the way home. Celebration of this festival was started by the great freedom fighter Balgangadhar Tilak during the national struggle for independence to build peace & harmony amongst the people of different religion and caste. The communal riots in muzaffarnagar occuring few days before this festival is in itself a contradiction to the very basic foundation for which this festival is being celebrated.

Today I see the view of hussainsagar lake from my terrace. Beautifully litted with the lights for the immersion. Tommorow there would be cranes pulling the remnants of the immersed idols. And needless to say bulk of money already being spent in the 'Save hussainsagar lake campaign'. Do we have all these to offer to the lord of wisdom? Aren't there any other saner ways to celebrate this. Making clay ganesha idols at home. Coloring those with pastels. Immersion in bucket filled water at home. Collecting funds; not to play loud music or perform drunkard dancing but for a social cause. For an orphanage. For those unprivileged children. Getting little ways of joy ain't that difficult; just that we need to change our perspective with time. The lord of wisdom deserve to be celebrated with more conscience and with more saner ways.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

The air is moistened...that humid whiff is playing around...drops of rain are not settled yet...that drizzling water is dripping through the window panes...there's no clue of the sunshine since many days...the chirping birds are taking their share of sheds under the window roofs...the rope line has clothes hanging for days...even if the clothes are dried, they are cold and numb, sulking with moisture...the hot ginger tea and crackled pepper chips are lying around...there is a rush of cold through the nostrils....it's much cozier to be in the velvet blanket...lethargic mind don't wanna take a step out in the mud puddles, in the showers and in the freezing breeze...it's just waiting for the sunshine to come up...It's just pondering about the beautiful lines of Alexander pope,

"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned."

Some day it is hoping to awake in the morning with this eternal sunshine..May be some day this eternal sunshine will come up and erase the moisture in air, clean up everything and remove those dark specks on the mind...Somehow the mind is very hopeful about the eternal sunshine and believes in it what The shawshank redemption says "hope is a good thing...may be the best of good things. and no good thing ever dies"

Kuch aise hi hai hum...

Source: Internet

नंगे पाव जल रहे है सिसकती धूप में ,

फिर भी ओस की बूंदों के समान ख्वाबों को हथेली पर लिए चलते है हम 

 ज़िन्दगी कुछ ऐसी ही है, कभी गीली मिट्टी की खुशबू , कभी कच्ची अम्बियो का स्वाद 

फिर भी मंज़ूर है हमें ये धुप छाव का खेल और ये खटास और मिठास 

पंख थोडे घायल ज़रूर है,पर नशा आसमान का आज भी है 

अरमानों की चादर लिए, आज भी हम पाँव पसारे है 

थोड़ी गुस्ताखियाँ  भी करते है हम, थोड़े से नादान ज़रूर है हम,

इसलिए यारियो में हसी बटोरना भुलते नहीं हम 

 टूटे दिल को जोड़ने का खेल जानते है हम, ज़ख्मो पर मरहम लगाना जानते है हम,

इसलिए खामोशियों में भी शोर ढूंढ़ लेते है हम 

जानते है हम, ये रास्ते पथरीले ज़रूर है 

पर थिरकते कदमो को हमने डगमगाने नहीं दिया है 

खट्टी मिठी यादों की गठरियाँ साथ लिए चलते है हम 

इस रूठी हुई ज़िन्दगी से भी खोले बाहे मिलते है हम 

हम काले बादलो को देख,बारिश की बूँदें ढूँदते है 

और काली रैना में चाँद देख खुश होते है 

बिखरे हुए सपनो को भी सहेजकर आँखों की पुतलियों पर रखते है हम 

क्योंकि सपनों की कीमत जानते है हम 

कुछ ऐसे ही है हम, बेपरवाह पवन की तरह ,खाई की गहराई की तरह 

सतरंगी इन्द्रधनुष की तरह ,आवारा झरने की तरह 
टिमटिमाते तारों की तरह ,चमकते जुगनू की  तरह 

हमें टटोलने की कोशिश मत करना,कुछ ऐसे ही है हम !!!!

Nange pav jal rahe hai sisakti dhoop mein,

phir bhi aos ki boondo ke saman khawbo ko hatheli par liye chalte hai hum..

Zindagi kuch aisi hi hai, kabhi gili mitti ki khusboo, kabhi kacchi ambiyo ka swad,

phir bhi manzoor hai humein ye dhoop shav ka khel aur ye khataas aur mithas…

Pankh thode ghayal zaroor hai, par nasha aasmaan ka aaj bhi hai,

armano ki chadaar liye aaj bhi hum paav pasare hai..

Thodi gustakiya bhi karte hai hum,thode se nadaan zaroor hai hum,

isliye yariyo mein hassi batorana bhulte nahi hum

Tute dil ko jodne ka khel jante hai hum,zakhmo par marham lagana jante hai hum

isliye khamoshiyo mein bhi shor ki gunj  dhund lete hai hum…

Jaante hai hum ye rasste patharile zaroor hai,

par thirakte kadamo ko humne dagmagane nahi diya hai

Khatti mitthi yaado ki gathariyo ko sath liye chalte hai hum,

Iss ruthi hui zindagi se bhi khole bahe milte hai hum…

Hum kale baadal dekh, barish ki boondein doondte hai,

aur kali raina mein chand dekh khush hote hai hum…

Bikhare hue sapno ko bhi sahejkar aakhon ki putliyo par rakhte hai hum,

kyunki sapno ki kimat jaante hai hum…

Kuch aisi hai hum, beparwah pawan ki tarah, khayi ki geharayi ki tarah,

satrangi indradhanush ki tarah, awara zarne ki tarah,
timtimate taaro ki tarah, chamakte jugnoo ki tarah,

Humein tatolne ki koshish mat karna, kuch aise hi hai hum….