अलग था

 Some observations on changing times; hope it conveys the spirit in which it was written

अच्छी आदतों का सिखाना अलग था

सफलता का मगर पैमाना अलग था

जिन के भरोसे पर हम खेलते हैं 

उन तर्कों का मगर ज़माना अलग था

तब सच्चे थे अब बेवक़ूफ़ हैँ

तब अच्छे थे अब अनकूल  (uncool) हैँ

ऊँचा बोलने  वाले  ही की जब सुनती हो दुनिया

करने वालो के वक़्त का फ़साना अलग था

काल चक्र की तारों में पँख  फंसा बैठा पंछी 

सोचता है सपनों  में तो आशियाना अलग था

चुग रहा रसहीन दाने कारों(cars) वाले चौक से

छत पे बेपरवाह बिखरा दाना, दाना अलग था

अब समझाओ भी तो  कोई कहाँ सुनता है ?

और पहले तो , बिन बोले भी सुनाना अलग था

इतनी बदल जाएगी शायद पता था, फिर भी

दुनिया से दिल को लगाना अलग था 

अच्छी आदतों का सिखाना अलग था

सफलता का मगर पैमाना अलग था

जिन के भरोसे पर हम खेलते हैं

उन तर्कों का मगर ज़माना अलग था

Can Not Forget

 There are times that you want to remember and are not able to keep in the memory with correct colors and details. And then there are days that you would want to forget but those adamantly stay stuck in your mind with their stubborn and even ugly details. 

 Today happens to be one such day.  20 Years ago today; I left my hotel room. The plan was to be in The City before 8AM so that we can be at the site roof top latest by 830AM. 

 My coworker was late in picking me up. Which did annoy me a lot. And then he had these annoying jokes playing on the radio while our car was crawling slowly through the jammed highway. This travel time can be less than 40 minutes with no traffic and more than 2 hours with traffic. An early start would have meant quicker arrival. But his 15-minute delay in start would cost us at least an additional 1 hour on the road. 

 We can never reach there on time, I complained. Let us plan to get to lesser crowded roads further south this morning, to the island and get back to city later in the day or tomorrow maybe. He responded.

 We didn't seem to have a choice, so I reluctantly called rest of team and asked them to move to the site visits further south. And everyone agreed. Likely we were not the only ones from the larger team, who were late that morning.

 

The joke on radio was almost obscene when we stepped on the lower level of the bridge. In a few minutes the bridge shook, as if a tremor has hit. We didn't know what that was. But we learnt; by the time we reached the other end of the bridge thorough a flash news on radio, “A plane has hit the world trade center”

 Confused and clueless we turned the car and get to the shores of the river at the Staten Island, just outside the ferry station, when a 2nd plane hit the 2nd tower.

 This was 20 years ago, and the painfully ugly display is stuck in the Mind with all its details. What followed was chaos that lasted hours maybe days. Two amazing and iconic buildings decimated. Thousands of lives lost. Tens of thousands of families were left with bleeding hearts. The way we had lived changed forever that day. 

I would have been on a site caravan visit at 830Am that morning on the roof top of a departmental store right next to the twin towers, if my coworker was not late to pick me up that day. 

 

20 years past but that pain on loss of life stays. That Confusion about insanity of human race stays. That shame on the level of ruin of human mind stays. That feeling of being lost stays. All that and more is still so vivid in the mind. 

I can still feel the irritation in eyes from the smoke and smell the burning metal. I can still feel the chaos around that ferry station. I still can see those cars standing outside the ferry station, many of whose owners will never return. I can still see the confusion on the faces of survivors coming from the city in the ferry with the business suits covered in ash and soot and some with blood on their face, ears, nose, hands. I am sure none of them has forgotten that day when thousands of lives were lost, and humanity was defeated.

 Although the day didn't end at destruction. The display of ugliness was followed by the selfless heroism of the fire fighters, police and other first responders and many common men and women. The Humanity was hurt that day, but it didn't die. These heroes kept it alive.

20 years later when those painful  memories surface, I remind myself of the heroes of that day who went on in the harms way to save and to heal.

That delay in start that morning, the change of plan, watching the horrible events of that day, feeling the loss and desperation that followed; all that combined; tells me there must be a reason for me and my coworkers the way that day unfolded. Also that hate has no room anywhere. Hate is un-Godly; irrespective of the faith one follows

That is a day I can never forget

That is a day I will never Forget.

देश ना हो

Having just celebrated India's Independence day this month, I have been thinking. Patriotism always has a high place in my mind and I have always been proud of my being Patriotic. Now that I am a US citizen and I am still patriotic, it doesn't have to change my love for my birth country. I think most of my ideas are grounded in another feeling, Humanity. 

What if one have to chose between being human or being patriotic? I know this is a tough choice. So I wrote the lines below, which may make it easier. Just a thought and if I offend you with this, then accept my preemptive apology

देश ना हो ना हो सरहद

ना देश प्रेम की बात भी हो

हम एक विश्व हम एक कुटुंभ  

ना दुश्मनी द्वेष की बात भी हो

ना जंग रहे ना फ़ौज रहे

ना झंडे ना ही कोई राष्ट्रगान

ना करना हो  दूजे का तिरस्कार

ना ही अपने पे अभिमान

हम सब मानव, हम एक जात

सब आगे बढ़ें, हम एक साथ

स्पर्धा प्रतिस्पर्धा से ऊपर उठ कर

विश्व कल्याण की ही हो बात

ना दास रहे ना दासता

ना स्वतंत्रता के लिए लड़े

ना ऊँचा ना नीचा कोई
एक साथ एक ओर बड़े

तब सब मिल के मनाये

स्वतंत्रता दिवस निराला

वो दिन जब मानव ने खुद को

सच में स्वतन्त्र कर डाला 

और तब

देश ना हो ना हो सरहद

ना देश प्रेम की बात भी हो

हम एक विश्व हम एक कुटुंभ  

ना दुश्मनी द्वेष की बात भी हो

उल्लुओं के पीछे

 In this day and age, many are becoming just “trend- follower.” And there are too many trends to follow.(social media trends, business trends, sports trends, political view trends and trends on almost all what matters or doesn’t). Even though many find a lot of these trends questionable. Then there are those who won't follow and will be considered "uncool." Many just feel forced by pure peer pressure to follow the trends. A confession, I might have toggled between being UNCOOL and forced follower myself from time to time. The lines below are just thoughts of  trend followers, forced or by choice.

हर शाख पे उल्लू बैठा था

तो हम भी उल्लू हो लिए

बर्बाद गुलिस्ताँ होता देखा पर 

उदास आँखे मींचे सो लिए 

फिर सोचा इन शाखों पे

कितने उल्लू हम जैसे होंगे

जो बाज की फितरत रखते थे

पर उल्लुओं के पीछे हो लिए

सोचो, बाज बाज ही रहते तो 

गुलिस्ताँ अब भी आबाद होता

Note: Didnt click any Owl or Hawk pictures so birds in pics are different.

Meet the Storyteller

 

If you and I are in a party, 8 out of 10 chances are you will not notice me even if I am right there, just like the fly on the wall. 1 out 10 chance you will notice me and would want to get rid of me, just like the fly on the wall. And then there is this 1 chance that you would like to know me, and you will end up having a friend to rely upon, and more.

 

That is me in 3 sentences. I am not unsocial or loner or anything, on the contrary I am always in awe of fellow humans. I just love to listen and observe. I am so interested in all the awesome things people have done and continued to do that I get immersed and live their experiences through their narration. I don't speak as I don't want to burden people with the mundane things that I can offer. I live a lot of my days on my desk, on my work and in my mind. There is a beautiful cosmos in there, decorated with the stories and anecdotes you have blessed me with from your life. Those stories make me know you so well.

 I don't bother that you don't know what my likes or dislikes are, as I am aware I could never share those with you with an interesting narrative for you to remember.

 

I have experiences and stories. All of them are real. Maybe 80% real from what happened in the world we all share and 20% real from the world that my mind is. But I would never mix them as the two sets should never be mixed. The basic laws including those of physics are applied differently in the two realms so mixing the two can never be fun. Being able to observe the two and be a part of both is a blessing. I try to share those through my writings. Again, keeping the storyteller mode on and not that of a seasoned author.

 The era of my kind is fading. Age of superiority and precision of all things dawned long ago. I did cling on to what I loved. And I will continue telling my stories, as that is what defines me. 

 I believe story is what defines us as humans. Our history, our Mythology, our religion, our scientific advancement; all of it would cease to exist if there were no story tellers. And when I say the Era of my kind is fading, I don't really mean the era of storytelling is fading; storytelling will always be there as long as the human race exists, although it will change ways like it has many times in past centuries. The Spirit of storytelling is immortal and will always stay

 And so, the storyteller will always be there. 

 To end this note I will say that now that you have noticed me, don't forget this; however uninspiring I may seem at the gatherings. Take that one chance out of 10, to know me. Just try and you may hear a story that warms your heart or may even change your life. Good news; there are many of me in all gatherings in all parties, somewhere in the corners immersed in a story while weaving a new one. Just say hello and ask and be ready to listen. 

और तुम पूछते हो

ऐसा तूफाँ कि बस्तियाँ उड़ा दे 

और तुम पूछते हो, 

"दिल में क्या छुपाये बैठे हैं?"

यह बाँध टूटा तो क्या-क्या बहा ले जायेगा 

पलकों के उस ओर,

इक सैलाब दबाये बैठे हैं 

ऐसा नहीं कि मन में तरंग नहीं कोई 

मगर रोज़मर्रा से ही, 

बहुत उकताए बैठे हैं 

फिर भी तुम पूछते हो 

"दिल में क्या छुपाये बैठे हैं?"

Monkey and roasted grams

 

 What do you mean out of this world taste? He asked. Can not explain, you have to taste it yourself, his friend replied with mischief on his face. Come with me tomorrow and I will show you. I am sure you will thank me for that. His friend stated before going to his night rest.

Next morning both were on their way to the temple on the top of the hill. And outside the temple in small saucers made of dried banyan tree leaf were these small yellow balls, with cracked brown shells. These are roasted grams; the humans roast it with salt and that make it the heavenly treat. His friend whispered in his ear, as both walked gingerly, towards the priced find. Being monkeys, moving with that gait was obviously unreal, but they wanted to pick the heavenly goodness before the humans chase them away. The roasted grams were kept; to be bought by worshippers as an offering to the goddess inside the temple.

They pounced and grabbed 1 cup each and dashed, scattering more than half of the contents hurriedly. He tasted and as his friend has predicted; he was hooked to the taste. And then this became almost an everyday trip to temple, grab and scatter; get chased all the way to the thick woods and then sit on a high branch to enjoy the goodies. A few days later, seemingly the humans gave up and started keeping a few saucers of grams at a little distance from their shops so that the monkeys can grab those without disturbing the shop settings. But little did the monkeys know that with ease comes greed and with greed comes problems.

A few days went past, and the monkeys were getting used to daily treat of roasted grams and were thankful to the humans and the Goddess of the temple.

One day when he was taking his regular trip to temple, as he stepped out of the thick woods, he saw there was a big wooden box sitting on the ground. He moved close to see, to see. Monkeys are inquisitive by nature. When he peeked inside the box from the hole on the top, he knew it was his prayers being heard; his dreams came true. The box was filled with grams, roasted to perfection, so he can get those from here without having to go all the way to the temple, he thought. And this box will last him weeks. He quickly slid his right hand through the hole and grabbed a handful of grams in it. There was another hole right next; he slid his left hand and filled another fistful

As he tried to pull his hands out, he realized that the holes were to small to let a fist full of grams to slide out. He was annoyed, how can these humans be so clumsy. He tried to yank his hand out, but the fist was too big for the hole, he tried his left hand, but the same thing. He was upset and angry and tried to pull harder. But the fists were stuck. For a moment his mind thought that he can open his fist and pull his hand out, but that will mean losing the grams. He rejected the thought as soon as it came to his mind. How could he lose the treasure that was granted to him? He tried and tried to pull his fists out. But will not lose even one roasted gram from his grip. A few hours went past; his hands were hurting, his wrists aching, and he was extremely tired and annoyed. But he was committed to not lose his treasure.

By the time it started getting bit dark, he was too tired to stay alert; but will not lose his grip. How could he, and then a few men came out of nowhere. The shopkeeper from the temple was leading them; he was hoping that he is rescued; but in a flash the dangerous looking man from mid of the bunch, placed a collar around his neck.

What was that? He was confused and upset at what was happening; not realizing that he has lost his freedom; to roam in the woods and was held captive by the monkey charmer. His mom’s caution flashed in his mind, “beware of the tricks of madaari” Now he knew. (Madaari is the hindi word for monkey charmer)

The monkey was enslaved by the Madaari. He lost his freedom and he realized; it was not the madaari who played the trick; it was his own greed that enslaved him. But it was too late and he may not be even able to warn his friends of that. Ashamed and restrained with a collar tied to a large rope he followed the madari to his fate, that his own greed had written.

 Everyday I see people running after hoarding material gains while ignoring the simple beauty of life. Next increment, next bonus, next car, next house, next boat, next plane, next holiday, next diamond next opportunity to brag at the cost of ignoring health, family, friends, peace of mind and life it self. And I feel, we still are not completely evolved from the apes as we carry the same illogical greed. Just think, can you let go the next fist full of your roasted grams and be free?

GREED ENSLAVES 

PS: Ambition and Greed are very different things so let us not confuse the two, above story is about greed and not about ambition