लफ्ज़ दर लफ्ज़

तुम्हारा  आना
किसी तमन्ना का पूरा हो जाना .
और  चले जाना
किसी दिल - ऐ -जज़्बात का अधूरा रह जाना

ये कैसी कश्मकश है ,
इस दिल के साथ आज
इक इज़हार का -
खामोशी का ग़ुलाम हो जाना

ऐसा बार -बार क्यों ,
कर गुज़रना पड़ता है ?
 किसी से एक लम्हा  रूबरु  होकर
दूजे में  में अजनबी बन जाना .

कुछ लाज़मी सी बात है
बस यूँ ही ज़ाहिर कर देने की ,
पर अफ़सोस , उस बात का
ज़बान का क़ैदी बन जाना .

In the end

And in the end ,
we will laugh together

you will see , my love!

in this charming moonlight 
we will dance-a waltz together.

Let us endure-

this sublime enigma

of our unbroken silence,

But,in the end , my love!

we will silently, smile  together.

I will beseech the king of "Time"

to spare our  moment

just for us.

in the shadow of that moment

we will live together
 just for ever.

All it does matter,

that in the end-

we will smile together.

सवाल

जो आज भी  जवां करें
तुम्हारे वो कौन से ख़याल हैं?

जो नफे -नुक़सान से दूर हों
तुम्हारे वो कौन से मददगार हैं ?

मिला करो जरा वक़्त - बेवक़्त
जिन्हें  अब अपने वक़्त का सिर्फ इंतज़ार है .

ये ज़रूरी नहीं कि वो ही हों
रिश्तों में पहल का न कोई रिवाज़ है

ये जानना भी ज़रूरी है अपनी सांस  के हर वजूद को
तो काबिल - ऐ तारीफ़ है , गर तुम्हारा उन पे इख़्तेयार है .

जो आज भी  जवां करें
तुम्हारे वो कौन से ख़याल हैं?


 इख़्तेयार : नियंत्रण ( Control/Authority/Power/Influence )

बेपरवाह

चलो आज फिर से कहीं बैठो यार
कोई साज पुराना  तो छेड़ो यार!
ये दुनियादारी कितनी बेदम है
एक कश सांस का ,दम भर खींचो यार!!

देखो -कितनी आवाज़ों का जंजाल यहाँ है
जो आपस में ही उलझी हैं!
दम घोंठती इनकी बातें नहीं
अब अपनी ख़ामोशी का दामन पकड़ो यार !!

ये रोज़ -रोज़ ही खुद से झगड़ा
आखिर किसकी खातिर तुम करते हो!
बेपरवाह इस दुनिया में
 कभी, खुद की परवाह करना सीखो यार!!

बहुत हुई खुद की काला बाज़ारी
अब कोई असली खरीददार ढूंढो यार !
जो दे सके बदले में दो सुहाने पल
किसी ऐसे को , खुद को बेचो यार!!


चलो आज फिर से कहीं बैठो यार....

मैं आज भी उससे मिलता हूँ

मैं आज भी उससे मिलता हूँ
पर वो इंसान  तो कोई और है
कल उसकी बातों में बे - फ़िक्री थी
आज उनमे दुनिया के बेवजह दस्तूर हैं

एक शाम कहा था उसने मुझसे -
कि  इस दुनिया की वो सैर करे
आज अपनी ही बनाई किसी दुनिया में
वो - कैद, पर मशगूल है

मेरे लफ्ज़ मुस्कुरा जाते थे
जब उसकी बातों में खुद को पाते थे
हैं आज वो लफ्ज़  ज़िंदा मगर 
उसकी बातों में अब न वो नूर है

ये  शामे बयां करती थीं, उसका ज़िक्र
बड़े अदब और पैमाने से
 उन्ही  शामों  ने मुझसे कहा
 कि  वो इंसान आज कोई और है...

मैं आज भी उससे मिलता हूँ.......

Quest

इन  बेनाम  शामों  के  दरम्यान
किसी  का  नाम  फ़िज़ा  में  गूंजता  है
कि जैसे  कोई  बात  अधूरी  रह  गई  हो
ये  दिल , एक  मुलाक़ात  का  लम्हा  ढूंढता  है

इन  बेजान  आवारा  लफ़्ज़ों  से ,
 वो  बात  बयां  तो  हो  न  सकी
हज़ार  जज़्बात  जिसमे  ढल  जाएँ
ये  दिल , वो  एक अलफ़ाज़   हर  कहीं  ढूंढता  है


नामों  की  इस  भीड़  में ,
एक  नाम   बड़ा ही   लाज़मी  है
वो   नाम  गुमनाम  हुए  बस  एक  लम्हा  हुआ
ये  दिल , हर लम्हे में   उस  नाम  का वजूद  ढूंढ़ता  है

इन  बेनाम  शामों  के  दरम्यान
किसी  का  नाम  फ़िज़ा  में  गूंजता  है ......

गुमशुदा सी इस वादी में ..

गुमशुदा सी इस  वादी में ,
उस जैसा कोई यहाँ भी था!

दुनिया ने जिसे एक ख्वाब कहा था -
उस ख्वाब में, हकीकत का एक समाँ भी था!

उन अमीर राहों ने न अपनाया जिसे ,न मंज़िलों ने ही पनाह दी
जो दो पल रुक कर देखा तो -एक खामोश रास्ता यहाँ भी था!

इस बंज़र ज़मीन से आज तो गुल यूँ ही  नाराज़ है
पर सुना है- इस बंज़र ज़मीन का, अपना कोई आसमान भी था !

गुमशुदा सी इस  वादी में ...

आज फिर किसी का ख्याल है

आज    फिर  किसी  का  ख्याल  है

 पर शायद  फिर  वही  सवाल  है ..
 उसी  दो - राहे  पर  दिल  है  आज
जिसके पास, आज  फिर  से  न कोई  कोई  जवाब  है

इन   खामोशियों  में  सिमटती  मेरी  सांसें
पूछती   हैं  -ये  कौन सा  नया  मेहमान  है
इस  तूफ़ान  में  फिर  से  बेनिशाँ  होगा  उसका  जहाँ
ये  दिल - ए- शहर ,आज  फिर  उसी  तरह  तैयार  है

कौन से निशां छोड़ जायेंगे उसके कदम
आज ये किसे  परवाह है
क्योंकि -आज इस दिल को फिर किसी का ख्याल है
पर शायद  फिर वही सवाल है .-

Selfie With Daughter- A sign of real change or just another fad?

Anyone who is a regular follower of social media and constantly barking TV new channels must be aware of a new social media fad – “Selfie With Daughter”. A campaign which have had its humble beginning from a not so known village – Birpur in Haryana few weeks back. Haryana, which is one of the notoriously famous states of India for its corrosive discrimination and violence against women and girl child.  The same state, few days back had come up with an innovative measure to bring gender equality in society which has now become a buzz word in every corner of society and the corridors of govt of India.

Our prime minister as always acknowledged a positive possibility in this social media campaign and urged the nation to take a selfie with their daughter to bring about a one step change in the mindset of our society. Nothing wrong in it and   it was not so difficult for one section of our ‘Janta’, which is hyper connected to social media and believes in taking part in any “Andolan” just by clicking on “I SUPPORT XYZ CAMPAIGN” to follow another wave of social change singlehandedly. Following the same pattern, this new idea of selfie with daughter has earned a huge popularity.

So what is wrong in that?

What prompted me to write this casual set of paragraphs- is the kind of criticism faced by an actress “Shruti Seth”, who dared to speak otherwise for “#selfie with daughter”. The kind of barrage of undignified comments and slanders she received on the same social media where the people suddenly started showing their ocean of love for their daughter, offers a clear but grim picture of double standard of our society.

However, any idea of a positive social change should not be derided in any case but a virtual support for any campaign has its very own limitations. We have seen it in Anna Hzaare’s Andolan against corruption. Innumerable people including youth supported the campaign on every platform of social media. But were the same people actively present and participating in it in real world –demystify the whole thing.

We are living in a strange time, where we all do intrinsically want to see a new burst of a propaganda or issue, until something new props up. Just imagine if the same luxury of internet was available some 100 years back and we were fighting for our freedom against British on facebook and twitter.

To take selfie with daughter is one thing and one time affair but to have a sensibility and treating both gender at par is another thing altogether and a regular attitude. Vivekananda once Said, “if you want to do something for betterment of women, just leave them alone .They can take care of themselves better than anyone”.

We shall be in no need of virtual campaigns like "#Selfie with Daughter”, if we bluntly accept our mental corruptness and mediocricity when it comes to accept the rest half of the population as human. To have common sense and being sensible enough towards our daughter will do better than toiling hard for an insignificant social crusade on facebook and twitter.

 As they say – a long journey starts with a single step. This so called social campaign is one of those initial steps, but it can never be the last one.

ये दुनिया ही तय क्यों करे

ये दुनिया ही तय क्यों  करे  

 कि ये दिन है या रात है
इन चीखती चाहतों के बीच- खामोश
कुछ तेरे मेरे ज़ज़्बात हैं .
हैं आरज़ूओं के बोझ तले- दबे
पर ज़िंदा मेरे ख्वाब हैं .
ये नज़र उठती तो देख पातीं
इस इंसानी जहाँ  से आगे  भी
खूबसूरत एक कायनात है .

ये दुनिया ही तय  क्यों  करे  

 एक इंसान की क्या औकात है .
जो जी गए हैं मरके भी
ये मौत भी उनकी ग़ुलाम है .
हों नफे -नुक्सान में लिपटी जिनकी बातें
उन्हें हर सांस की क्या पहचान है
कोई, एक मुस्कराहट  से उसका जहांँ बदल दे
ख़ामोशी से हर नज़र को ऐसे फ़रिश्ते को तलाश है 

 ये दुनिया ही तय क्यों  करे 
  कि ये दिन है या रात है
...

Malala Yusufzai and Kailash Satyarthi- Noble Peace Prize Winner 2014

 “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful”-Malala Yusufzai.

“I refuse to accept that the world is so poor, when just one week of global spending on armies is enough to bring all of our children into classroom” -   Kailash Satyarthi

Today is world human rights day, which came into existence on December 10, 1948 upon universal declaration and proclamation of human rights. Generally on this day, noble peace prize is also conferred on those personalities whose notable work become a reason for positive change across the globe. Today on December 10, 2014, two distinct personalities from two neighbouring countries – India and Pakistan have been conferred upon this most prestigious recognition- noble peace prize 2014.

I am talking about Kailash Satyarthi from India who is in endless effort to save children from various forms of atrocities through his Bachpan Bachao Andolan since 1980. Whereas Malala Yusufzai from Pakistan who is known for raising her fearless voice in support of  education and rights to children specially for girls across the globe. And of course who can forget her deadly encounter with Taliban gunman who shot life claiming bullets into her tender skull. But, eventually, she came out with more fearless spirit and resolution.

Both of them belong to the countries which are sworn enemy of each other but alongwith rich culture and heritage, share maligned attributes such as formidable corruption, rapacious lust to increase arsenal, dwindling basic facilities which every citizen expects from his / her government, gutter politics, extremism and grass negligence towards two extreme forms of life- children and aged people .

Though,Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yusufzai represent two different age, they  share same concern and responsibility  when it comes to care and shape the present and future of every child around the world, which , unfortunately, even the great nations and organizations have failed to recognize and address through their most advanced and systematic mechanism.

In his speech satyarthi reflected his thoughts by saying, “there is no greater violence than to deny our children to dream”. Unfortunately, we have recognized and addressed only the visible form of violence and bothered to tackle it. Whereas, the aspirations and small- small dreams of children have been sidelined and slowly removed from the priority list of governments. No one knows and seems bothered about the fate of those 250 girls of Nigeria who were kidnapped by the local terrorist outfit – Boko Haram in April this year. It is the children who are most helpless in case of any outbreak of war and social unrest. Consequently their little dreams and aspirations to be something get crushed.

Out of his experience, in his speech, Satyarthi further said that every time he freed a child from child trafficking, slavery or child labour he saw the god smiling through their faces. He stressed on global compassion for each other and surprised everyone by saying that by withdrawing the seven day military expenditure we can bring all children to the schools. 

Whereas Malala, in her speech said that she would continue her fight for education for children until she see every child in school.

These two great personalities who endangered their lives for a greater cause, shared the dais on this day and sent a ripple of promising hope around the world especially to the children that still there are some people who care for them and are working for their cause. 

There are many Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yusufzai who are fighting this holy crusade anonymously to save the precious childhood on their front and waiting their people and governments to join them.

Moments in Kerala

Where there is a kingdom of
 timeless sweet melodies

Where hills and hillocks

 breath in one sweet harmony.

O my destiny! take me to that land.

Where you can do nothing
but marvel at sudden splendor of nature

and you can simply meet

your very own- inherent clamor.

O my thoughts! drive me to that land.

Where one moment shakes you

with the mighty crash of thunder

And next moment offers you- a rainbow

Quietly, just to muse and wonder.

O, my mighty soul! sail me to that land

 

Where the sublime beauty

surprises you on every bend of road

and the last glimmer of twilight

is ever there for you, to enfold.

O my lord! show me the path to your home

show me the way to KERALA.............

War- Then and Now

 “There was never a good war or a bad peace”- Benjamin Franklin


On this 28th July we are observing the centenary year of nothing but the human eccentricity - World War I (1914-1918). A war, which united the world for mutual destruction. A war which crafted new forms of persecution of mankind by introducing lethal artillery and gamut of formidable weapons, which paved the way for homicide and genocide in subsequent wars  across the world. A war which plundered an unalloyed peace and misused the brave souls (soldiers) for its sickened purpose. But it could not make the concerned parties (Nations) feel ashamed of their lunatic deeds.

 Referring to some historic facts and figures of WWI- it started out of a less significant reason - the assassination of Archduke  Franz Ferdinand in Serbia, who was heir to the  Austro - Hungarian empire. This incident brought diplomatic crisis between two nations (Austria-Hungary and Serbia) and culminated into world war, which could have been restricted to a bloody conflict between two nations if it were not sponsored and fueled by other countries for their ulterior motives. For the first time, the world divided itself into two identities- central power (Germany, Austria- Hungary, Ottoman Empire) and Allies (Britain, France Russia, Italy, US and others). The immediate and long term aftermaths of this war were beyond any measure. Between 8.5 to 21 million soldiers lost their lives and 21 million more were wounded and some 37 million causalities were reported. And of-course no scale could measure the psychological and social impact of the outcome of this war. It cost approx. $186bn to perform this suicidal play.

Since then, hundred years have been passed , yet it is still a heavy irony that we as a community of different nations have comfortably placed ourselves in a positions to pass the hollow judgement on what had happened hundred years ago, without acknowledging the fact that we are no better than from that time, when it comes to prevail peace and mutual trust across the world. Today we don't use the term world war but it is being fought on different front, under different ideologies and for refined ulterior motives. This time the sophisticated form of science and economic tools are being used and bruised to prove worthless power. The saddest chapter of any conflict or war is that it refuses the aspiration and existence of those who never associate themselves to such atrocities. The most inflicted and wounded souls are small children and women, who pay irrevocable price of such deeds irrespective of consequences.

In current development, some 11,500 children have lost their lives in Syria's civil war, which is almost 10 % of total causality. This war is in its fourth year and has rendered millions of children and women to live with dire hunger and unending fear.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=BMCpy_UeRYc#t=6). (please watch this video)

Recently the Iraq crises, Israel’s Ground Offense in Gaza strip (over 1000 causalities, many of them are children) and unending turmoil in Middle East are just the glimpse of bloodstained legacy we are trying to handover to our future generation.

In the subject of economics war is considered as most unproductive sector, yet most part of world’s economy and resources are still being directed towards this sector without any fail and sense of guilt. Gone are the days when war was the only scale to measure bravery, courage, vigor and patriotism.

 The time has come to tear off those pages from the book of history which uphold and hail the sins of war, because this time we cannot afford to let history repeat itself for any bad reason.