What Is The Word?

What Is The Word?

What is that one quality that describe you the most?
No this is not an interview question for some MBA exam. I really want to write this.

What is that one quality? Do you see that for your life you chose difficult choices to happen and you would say that "Courage" is something that defines you the most. Or is it a simply "Simplicity". What is it ? Is it a random thing like "Rebellion" or is it "Bonhomie". What is it that abstract word that describes you?Your friends might not necessarily agree to it, but this one word is an assurance deep down in your heart that makes you "You". It is your own view of yourself. Finding this word might even guide you through quite a few decisions in your life. Is that word "Love" or is it "unlucky". Are you the one with "Optimism" or the one with "Cynicism". It might be something you dont want to put it out to the world, but you know deep inside. It might be one of your worst fears, it might be "insecurity" and it might be "Confidence" on the other end.

As much as the word would typecast you and put you in a silo, it would make you unique. It gives your character that unique strength that comes out of knowing one's self.

Its quite difficult to deal with this abstract ideas that goes in the realm of psychology and self-search. It doesnt come easily. Neither the search of the word nor the strength to accept it comes easily. It takes you through the difficult confessions and it takes you through your life like going through flashbacks to define yourself. But say now you know what that word is.

That single word, that identifies you the most. That describes you. That quality that makes you stand tall and different. What if, one fine day you see yourself going weak on this quality? What if you "Courage" fails you one day when you need to take a plunge in through a small decision of life? What if your confidence goes weak in its leg as you stand infront of a crowd talking about your best work? What if the rebellion in you starts feeling that the world will remain the same and you will have to change? What if the bonhomous part of you gets a little cynical? It would distrub you. And,I feel, it would disturb you the most. Even a single thing, even a smallthought that affects this one-word abstract quality of yours happens, you would feel disarrayed. You would want to cry, without knowing the reason why. You would feel disenchanted with everything around. You will feel disconnected with yourself. It would bring those moments when in the loneliness of your room, you just stare the roof and you think you are without any thoughts. You are not. Your self concept has been hit. You need to come over it soon. And you need to restore your basic quality. You need to reconstruct "Yourself".

P.S. : I think for me "Patience" is the word. Trying to reconstruct myself:).

A Poem : Baarish Ka Kankaal Ye Baadal

सूखे खेत की चारपाई से, नंगा आसमान तकता हू,
नीले कफ़न की चादर ओढ़े, बारिश का कंकाल ये

बादलज़मींदारो के क़र्ज़ में डूबे बीवी के गहने बच्चों का खाना,
बिन बरसे हर कतरेका मोल , जी का है जंजाल ये बादल

पिछले बरस आया था ऐसे, कुछ खुशिओ के दाम चुकाने,
हवा के झोकें से बिखरा था, बिन बारिश कंगाल ये बादल

शाम की रोटी, मुन्ने की फीस, बीवी का गहना, तेरा सपना ये ही है,
बस ये ही है, तू आँखों में आश में संभाल ये बादल

पहचान से मेरी पिछले बरस कुछ नेता माँगने आए थे,
उनके लिए सत्ता ही सब, कभी महाराष्ट्र कभी बंगाल ये बादल

Poem : दो बिछ्डे भाई

दो भाई ओ की अनोखी एक बात सुनो तुम,
कुछ वक़्त तक दोनो चले साथ सुनो तुम,
एक था तेज़, एक अपाहिज,
एक की दुनिया, एक की ख्वाहिश,
एक की ज़िंदगी कुछ पाने की चाह,
एक का खाना, दो रोटी संग चा,
एक फॅशन का बादशाह है
एक शर्दि में नंगा काँप रहा है
एक रहता है ३८ वी मंज़िल पे,
एक जो नीचे पहरा देता है ,
एक की चोट पे दुनिया रोती है,
एक की मौत पे घरवाले भी नही ,
एक नया है, संग दुनिया के हंस रहा है ,
एक बीमार सा दुनिया को ताने कस रहा है
एक का चेहरा अख़बारों की सुर्खी
एक बेचेहरा सा मौत के आँकड़ों में है
जब से बिछ्डे है तब से बिगड़े है ,
कोई कोशिश नही करता मिलाने की,
या फिर वो मिलना ही नही चाहते है,
एक झूझता रहेगा, एक जीता रहेगा दुनिया,
एक गावों में पलता भारत, एक शहेरो का इंडिया

A Poem - Writer's Block

सोचता हू ,
क्या लिखू, के दुनिया की एक नयी ही तकदीर नक्श हो,
क्या लिखू, के दुनिया की एक नयी तस्वीर भी अक्स हो,

क्या लिखू, के सियासतदार भूल जाए जंग कीबातें ,
क्या लिखू के फिर ख्वाबिदा नौजवान कल के गीत गाते,
क्या लिखू के गोलिया स्कूल के कानो में ना चीखे,
क्या लिखू के डोलिया दहेज की कहानियाँ ना लिखे,
क्या लिखू के भूखो की बस्ती में रोज़ पकवान बन जाए,
क्या लिखू के सूखे खेत में मरनेवाला ना कोई शक्स हो,

सोचता हू ,
क्या लिखू, के दुनिया की एक नयी ही तकदीर नक्श हो,
क्या लिखू, के दुनिया की एक नयी तस्वीर भी अक्स हो,
क्या लिखू जो रोक पाए बढ़ता काला धुआ चमन की ओर,
क्या लिखू जोउलज़े नौजवान उठ ले थामे वतन की डोर,
क्या लिखू के बच्चों को खेल के इस भीड़ से मैदान मिल जाए ,
क्या लिखू के बुड्ढे झुकते पेड़ थोड़े से सहारे से खिल जाए,
होसला दे जो सफ़र में थके काफ़िर मुसाफिर को इबादत का,
क्या लिखू के प्यार-दोस्ती-अमन ही यहा सबका लक्ष हो,
सोचता हू ,
क्या लिखू, के दुनिया की एक नयी ही तकदीर नक्श हो,
क्या लिखू, के दुनिया की एक नयी तस्वीर भी अक्स हो,
सोचता हू,
लिखू तू क्या लिखू, ये या वो, कुछ समज में नही आ रहा,
सोचता हू,
लिखू तो क्या लिखू, लिखने से कुछ बदल भी नही पा रहा

A Song - Kunwarji

(Inspired By a Song "Chawk Purao, Mangal Gao .... ". Trying hands on something different than what I have written earlier)

Thought : A woman whose husband is on a short trip outside their village just after their marriage, longs for him. She knows he will be coming soon, and she wants to enjoy her life only with him. She awaits his return sitting on the porch of their house and sings.

ओ बहती ठंडी पुरवई,
मीठी हँसी तू ले आई,
सपने आँखों में नये ले आना,
जाओ,
कुंवर जी आए तब तुम आना,

गैया की गले की घंटी गाती है,
सुबह सवेरे एक मुर्गे के संग,
बँध बियाहे बक्से से गाए कंगन,
साज़ पुरावे मेहेदि के रंग,
सब वाट देखत जाए मोरे संग,
ऐसा संगीत रोज़ ना बजाना,
जाओ,
कुंवर जी आए तब तुम आना,

खेत-हरियाली सिंचते पानी ये जु,
मिट्टीसे बारिश की आवे खुसबु,
तेरे लिए धीमी आँच पे है रोटी,
नीवाला एक
मुझको खिलाना, एक तू खाना,
जाओ री यादें,
कुंवर जी आए तब तुम आना,
सपने आँखों में नये ले आना,
जाओ,
कुंवर जी आए तब तुम आना

A Chhotu Poem and a hair cutting salon

Chhotu Poem - Pa-Ma-Ma-Pa
Son, I hear a faint sigh coming from you in sleep,

I wonder what are you seeing in your dreams deep,

Is it the fear that for office we might leave you?

Is it speed's thrill that you felt in your pram new,

I hear another sigh from you, I wonder without worry,

I see your Mom, in panic, she knows you are hungry,

See that is the difference,

You might be my son, my heart closest to thee,

But loving like your mother, Son, I can never be.

P.S: Conversation at a Hair cutting salon (Let me call it hair styling, as it was one of those types jaha "Baal bhi kat jaye aur pata bhi na chale")

Mahesh (The stylist :)) : Aapke baal ache hai. We will give it a different look.

Me : ***Confused Look*** Umm.. Ok... Just make sure my friends dont laugh at me in office

Mahesh : Not at all sir, This slant in your hairs can be given a great cut. If you do it at Loreal, They charge you 350, I will charge 50.

Me : *** Confused*** Why would I go to L'Oreal? I need a haircut, tu bindaas apni style se kaat.

Mahesh : Nahi sir, aage se ekdum Zigzag katenge, Just like Ranbir Kapoor!

Me : ***Confused Again *** Ok!

Mahesh : Piche baalo ko thoda kaan pe dhala hua rakhna sir, we will give you a Shahid Kapoor style over ears.

Me: ***Confused to a point of running away *** Shahid Kapoor!

Mahesh : Sir, Film wala. Aap Picture nahi dekhte kya?

Me: Nahi.

Mahesh : ****Confused****

Me : Ek star ka pata hai mujhe uske jaisa kaat paoge?

Mahesh : Try karoong kaun sir?

Me : Naresh Kanodia

Mahesh : ***Confused to death ****

Me: Chhod ... Jaisa kaat na hai kaat
For Reference here is a Naresh Kanodia pic. The guy in the golden boots.



Awesome Hair cutting salon, I am going there next time even if its just passable, It is entertaining. If you find me somewhere do tell me that my hairs just above my ears, look like Shahid Kapoor, I will complement Mahesh.

26/11 - Un Hazaaron Ke Naam

(Wrote this on my company blog on 26/11. )
We got to do our bit. We owe it to those who are ready to sacrifice their life for us.

It has been one year today. Hardly anything has changed. We still feel the same hatred for our politicians; we still fight in the name of Maharashtra and Karnataka and Hindus and Muslims. We still dont vote. We still use our pirated softwares and music and movies and try to justify it saying everyone else is doing it dont tell me. We still bribe the traffic police. We still breed corruption. We still feel good when we read about India's progress and we roll up our car glasses when some beggar is troubling us at the red light. We still have a volatile temper and a simple candid comments like "Cattle class" and "Nobel for filth" irritates us. we still dont like facing the mirror.

What did we see in this year? Raju's Satyam, Kasab's Biryani, Koda's Money, Liberhan Commissions REPORT!, A messed up Pakistan, a ruined western Economy, an unacceptable but played-down chinese statements, a nuclear deal, ministers we were angry on getting reinstated,

what has changed? NOTHING MUCH.

Ok, I agree we have a strong stand now to get the terrorists from Pakistan, but that is as much because of weakening Pakistan as for force of our statement. India is rising, but that isn't because of some great changes, most of it is "NATURAL ECONOMICS".

For a real change one thing and the most important thing that we as a country needs to come over is the corruption of Morales that we have bred in ourselves. Let us understand, it's not OK to bribe people; it's not ok to use pirated stuff; it's not ok to let others vote undesrving candidate to power; lipservice is not ok, we need to do whatever little we can; its not ok to FORGET those scars and say "Let us get over the attacks" "Let us think of other things - Who will be going out from big boss today?", we need to do our bit and we must do it.

Especially for people who write blogs or writes, this writing their views on these stuff is very important. We need to praise and keep praising our heroes who faught for us. Even when making movies and writing books on it sounds like creating business of pain, it has to be done for generations to keep the wounds alive. We need to criticize the people who ought to be criticized. We need to gel with each other so that no one can spark fights dividing us on language and religion or Region. We need to come over Hate politics and hate mentality. We need to keep our emotional bond to these issues strong. We need not forget the thousands dieing on the border and in the country to terrorism and feuds. Let us create a positive world in whatever little way we can.

A small poem of my thoughts :
एक साल बीत गया,

जलती चित्ता, मकान, जलते बदन, सब बुझ रहा है,

कुछ दाग रह गये है, पर वो मेरे बदन पर नही,

थोड़ा सा दुख हुआ था, देख जलते लोग मुझे,

पर वो चित्ता मेरी ना थी, मेरा ना था मकान,

अब सब बुझ रहा है,

बुझ रही है लौ, जो जली थी उन अंगारो से,

बुझ रही है वो, जो लगी थी खून के धारो से,

बुझ रहा है जुनून, जिसपे कसमे ली गयी थी,

लौट आ रहा है सुकून, जिसकी कमी रही थी,

शहीदो की चित्ता की तपिश भी बुझ रही है,

ज़मीर की वो खोटी खलिश भी बुझ रही है,

बुझ रहा है सूरज, जो जला था आग की लपटो से,

बुझ रहा है ईमान, जो जागा उन कुछ हफ़्तो में,

सब कुछ बुझ रहा है,

सब कुछ बुझ रहा है,

क्योकि वो दाग मुझपे ना थे,

क्योकि वो लोग मेरे ना थे,

क्योकि उस आग ने मेरा घर ना जलाया था,

क्योकि मेरे ज़मीर पे मेरी ख़ुदगरजी का साया था,

क्योकि उस दिन गोलिओ पे नाम मेरा ना था,

क्योंकि सब मेरे है, ये गुमान भी मेरा ना था,

क्या मुझे इंतेज़ार है, की मेरे अपनो की मौत मुझे जगाएगी?

क्या मुझे इंतेज़ार है, की कोई आएगा और दुनिया बदल जाएगी?

सब बुझ रहा है,

क्योकि मेरी सोच, मेरा ईमान,

क्योकि मेरा धर्म मेरा ग्यान,

ससब अंगारों में सर्द जम रहे है,

सब बुझ रहा है

सब बुझने ना दो

There was a movie made on this, quite dramatic but a weak cinematic piece. The incidence deserves much better. I was thinking about the characters and their backstories, it must have been very painful for all.

घाव से बहता गर्म लहू , ठंडे प्लॅटफॉर्म पे बहके जम रहा है,

"ये तू ना हो" सोच एक कदम मेरा बढ़ रहा एक थम रहा है,

घर जाने को उत्सुक थैला, वो पीली चुनर शायद प्यार की भेंट,

वो स्कूल बॅग से निकली किताबें, वो जवान जिस्म के फटे पेट,

खून से लथपथ प्लॅटफॉर्म पे, मेरे बुढ्ढे कदम लड़खड़ाते है,

आखरी साँस लेते कुछ तुझसे बच्चे आगे ही फड़फड़ाते है,

दोपहर तेरी आवाज़ में सुनके, वो क्रिसमस पे छुट्टी की बात,

सोचा शिमला की बर्फ़ीली चमक, होगी मुन्ने के सपनो में आज

ये मौत का तांडव देख, मेरे संग तेरा भी मुन्ना सहम रहा है,

"ये तू ना हो" सोच एक कदम हमारा बढ़ रहा एक थम रहा है,

जलते गुंबज के नीचे खाक हुए बदन पे तुम्हारी ही शेरवानी है,

"ये तुम ही हो" सोच एक साँस में बिखरी अपनी प्रेम कहानी है,

मेहन्दी से कत्थई हाथ थे मेरे , शर्म से लाल तुम सेहरे में थे,

कत्थई आँखें अब लाल है मेरी, लाल हो तुम घाव गहरे ले के,

कितने साल हुए थे हम दोनो, बस इस दिन की ख्वाहिश में जीते थे,

मेरे होंठ को पास आते देख, आज के जैसे तुम तब भी आँखें मिचे थे,

"छोटे से घर में तुमसी राज कुमारी के संग, में राजा तू रानी है"

"ये तुम ही हो" सोच एक साँस में बिखरी अपनी प्रेम कहानी है,

(Here is something I wrote Last year, a day after the 26/11 incidence. I still feel guilty.
http://jkpcblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/unanswered-questions-in-my-mind.html)

A Poem : Sunset at Marine Drive

सूरज डूब रहा है, गोल रोटी सा दूधिया पानी में,
खिचड़ी याद आती है, जो थी बीरबल की कहानी में,
दो रोज़ हुए मेरी खुद्दारी से भूख ने जंग सी ठानी है,
गाली खाई, है खाई मात, ये हवा भी तो सुहानी है,
आगे बैठे है इन दो जिस्मो की भूख अलग सी लगती है,
पिछे उन बड़ी इमारतो में सौदो की भूख अलग ही रहती है,
बचपन की याद तसवीरो सी आसमान पे दिखती है,
मेरी तीन-पहिया साइकल के पीछे, मा खाना ले चलती है,
लहराते इन बालों को देख याद आते है, मेरा गाँव, गेहू के खेत,
जहा कभी तुम ताने घूँघट लाती थी, झुंका के संग भाखर को सेक,
फिर एक मौसम बरसात ना आई, फिर एक मौसम बरबादी थी ,
जिस रोज़ आया था यहा पे कमाने में, तब छोटि की भी शादी थी,
अब कोई साथ नही है, अब खुशी वाली कोई भी बात नही है,
भूख है, और भूख के बाद, याद नही अब कुछ है,
थोड़े से जो पैसे मिलते, तुमको भेजा करता हू,
फिर कभी सागर के आगे ढलते सूरज संग ढलता हू,
वो देखो,
सूरज डूब रहा है, गोल रोटी सा दूधिया पानी में,
भूख की आग लगी है जैसे बुढ़ापा हो जवानी में,
उसपे भी ये बात, कल कुछ लोगो ने बतलाई
मुझेचोरी की है रोटी ये जो आज यहा में ख़ाता हू,
वो कहते है ये मेरा देश नही, वो कहते है, में यहा क्यों आया हू,
वो कहते है मेरी वजह से कुछ लोग यहा पे भूखे है,
वो कहते है में यहा रुकु तो , खून के नाले छूटेंगे,
क्या बताउ उनको, मुझको उनकी बात का डर नही,
तुम मारो या मरु में भूख से, वापस नही में जाऊँगा,
जब तक हू यहाँ, जब तक हू ज़िंदा, ये भूख मेरे घर
नहीतुम सियासत के पाले हो तुम भूख की बातें क्या जानो ,
यहा आओ , बैठो मेरे पास, देखो,
सूरज डूब रहा है, गोल रोटी सा दूधिया पानी में,

The Band's Visit- Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (2007)

We watch movies to learn a new story. I love movies with strong story line. The Band's visit scraps this thing right from the first scene. It is about a story that can be told in 2 lines. So its not about the story.

Let me summarize the story here "A Police band from Egypt who is visiting Israel for a performance in the culture center, loses its way to end up in an unknown town with few of the local characters. Next day they take the bus to their culture center."

It is a story about common people and these common people share the same problems whether it be Egypt or Israel. Arabs and Israelis - However different with their animosities on the world political stage has a common thread of humanism in between them. A story about Arabs and Jews hence has a context and that context is something that the movie tries to negate.

The narrative of this movie and the visual style of presentation is quite unlike other things that I have scene. The pictures don't give you the characters and emotions first, it just gives you an empty frame, with the background that would be for the next scene. It stays on those houses or desert or buildings for a moment longer than what you expect. It gives a very different feel to the movie. It makes you belong to the places it sees. For example, you see this huge house, and the trees around - still silent. You wait someone would come out of it. A moment passes, you suddenly start enjoying looking at the house, a man walks in front of the house slowly, its that man you follow in the next scene. The whole idea was to show a set of people lost in a Foreign land in between foreign people and this simple techinique goes a long way to give you that feel. Consider this, the first scene of the movie too, there is this car that stands at the airport. A man comes out puts something in the back of the van, comes ahead, it takes a second longer than you expect, and then the car moves, as you expect to follow that van, but what you see is, on the other side of the van stands 8 men dressed in bright bluish uniform, standing in an impeccable queue, lead by a general.

Simple things like accent, dressing that makes human different are beautifully portrayed, and more beautifully portrayed are those human emotions that make people across the world similar. It shows the feeling of loneliness that binds Tawfeeq Zackaria (The General) and Dina (The rude restauant owner). It shows the emotion of love for children and usual fights with wife, that binds the other 2 characters. It shows how a casanova-ish Arab teaches a clue less Israeli how to get the girl. 3 of the band memebers living with a family, binds over a song on the dinner table. Simple things yet impactful. Music too weaves the movie beautifully. Especially the scene where the second in command talks about his composition and the practice that the 3 of the band memebers do in the silence of the night and the last performance. Interesting perspectives make this movie special.

There are a few really good scenes that lingers on your mind after the movie. One that I remember right away is when one of the band memeber is waiting for Egyptian Embassy's call at a phone booth, and on the same phone another Israeli is waiting for a call from his girlfriend and the phone rings, both wants to pick up but the courtsey in them wantst the other to pick the phone first. The ring goes on, you expect something dramatic like the phone ring gets over, but just at the last moment the one who is lost and waiting for his embassy's call picks it up. Simple scene but beautiful. Another one is when Tawfeeq tells Dina how "Music is not important" these days and also on a bench when he tells her about "Fishing" being the best thing to do in life. You sit, you listen to the waters and the bird chirp in Symphony. He says he likes fishing but never gets fishes and if he gets he lets them go back in water. The whole point of enjoying the act more than the result, makes life interesting. Dina, a rash woman with a messed up life, appreciates that. She always felt liek a loser, and a small nod from a dignified Tawfeeq, who tells her that "you are a good woman", makes her feel special.

Actors in the movie are first rate and are very believable. Sasson Gabai as Tawfeeq and Ronit Elkabetz as Dina were exceptional inin my point of view. But its the other departments that make the movie special. The art direction (Nikolai Yosifov), the cinematography (Shai Goldman) and the direction (Eran Kolirin) gives this fairly low-budget movie a real good look. A special mention needs to be given to the film editor (Aric Leibovitch) who adds those extra-moments in the prelude scenes of the symphonic sequences that follows.

All in all , do watch it if you get time, its about simple things that make life and bonding with others special.
You might find this movie being played on UTV world movies sometimes.
The Band's Visit- Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (2007)
Language : Arabic / English / HebrewRunning
Time : 87 Minutes
Writer / Director : Eran Kolirin

A Tribute one of my favourite : કસુંબીનો રંગ

Every culture has a literary hero that comes once in an age. We may term Munshi Premchand to be one for Hindi, Shakespeare to be one for English. Zaverchand Meghani in my view is one such literary hero for Gujarat. His works, his life time has had no parallel in Gujarati literature (he was hence coferred the title of "National Poet" by Bapu). And there is one poetry that he wrote in his life time that is close to my heart since my child hood. Its called "Kasumbi no Rang".

Kasumbo - has multiple meanings. Though primarily its a flower that gives the saffron color. "Kasumbi no Rang" - The color of Kasumbi is hence Saffron. A hindi parallel for it would be "Basanti". So like Basanti throughout Gujarati literature Kasumbi color is used to depict patriotism. Saffron is also used as a color of religious fervor.

So "Kasumbi no Rang" happens to be the only Gujarati patriotic Song from the preindependence era, that has touched hearts and lifes of many Gujaratis. And Zaverchand Meghani who wrote the same and was flagbearer of Gujarati literature all his life was a person who dreamt of a better India like all his contemporaries. There is a lot we have done to realize that dream and there is a lot that we have messed up. Here is a tribute to the Great Poem Kasumbi no Rang from my side. I am not sure if I will be able to translate this.

Here is my Tribute to the Great Poem :
કસુંબી નો રંગ

ભાઈ અમે બોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
મેઘાણી અમે બોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

શહીદો ની અગન થી ને લીલા બલિદાનો થી, તે જે ચોળ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ,
ભીતર ની ભૂખ ને, બે પલ ના સુખ કાજ, બિસ્મિલ અમે હોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

..... મેઘાણી અમે...

ગિરનારી મનસા લઈ ભીષણ રાત્રીઑ મા થી તે જે કાઢ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
હુલ્લડ તોફાનો ને, રક્ત ભરી તલવારો પર અમે ઍ રોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

... મેઘાણી અમે...

બૅની ના હાલારડા ઑ ને, માતા ના ધાવણ મા તે જે ભાળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
નરોડા ના ચોગે છુપાઈ કસૂંબા ના છોગે નિર્વસ્ત્ર અમે બાળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

... મેઘાણી અમે...

લીન ભક્તો ના તંબૂરે ને રંગીન કવિઓ ના સુરે, જે તે સાંભળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
પશ્ચિમ ની તાલે, ભરેલા મદિરા ના પ્યાલે, બેફીકર અમે ઘોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ.

.. મેઘાણી અમે...

સોરઠ ના પાણી, કુરબાની ઑ ની રવિન્દ્ર વાણી મા તે જે માણ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
સંતો ના ભૂખ્યાફારસે ને, નેતાઑ ના શિયાળી ભાષણે મચ્કોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

... મેઘાણી અમે....

નવા જવેર નવા સરદાર ને નવા મોહન ની વાટે છે હવે સળવળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
નવલી ધરતી, નવા ઉદાહરણ કાજ મુક્તિ ના દ્વારે અરજે છે વળ્ગયો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

.... મેઘાણી અમે ....

ભાઈ અમે બોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,
મેઘાણી અમે બોળ્યો કસુંબી નો રંગ,

There are a few things that I need to make a footnote of here for all who can read this poem. "Sorath Tara Vehta Paani" is one of the best thing to happen to Gujarati prose. Zaverchand Meghani had started writing with a translation of Ravindranath Tagore's works in 1922 in the book - "Kurbaani-ni-Kathao" (Stories of Martyrdom).

The Original Poem by Zaverchand Meghani which is to Guajrati what Bismil's "Rang de basanti chola" is to Hindi goes as :

લાગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ -
રાજ, મને લાગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ !

જનનીના હૈયામાં પોઢંતા પોઢંતા પીધો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
ધોળાં ધાવણ કેરી ધારાએ ધારાએ પામ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ. - રાજ..

બહેનીને કંઠે નીતરતાં હાલરડાંમાં ઘોળ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
ભીષણ રાત્રિ કેરા પહાડોની ત્રાડોએ ચોળ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ. - રાજ..

દુનિયાના વીરોનાં લીલાં બલિદાનોમાં ભભક્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
સાગરને પાળે સ્વાધીનતાની કબરોમાં મહેક્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ. - રાજ..

ભક્તોના તંબૂરથી ટપકેલો મસ્તીભર ચાખ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
વહાલી દિલદારાના પગની મેંદી પરથી ચૂમ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ - રાજ..

નવલી દુનિયા કેરાં સ્વપ્નોમાં કવિઓએ ગાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
મુક્તિને ક્યારે નિજ રક્તો રેડણહારે પાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ. - રાજ…

પિડિતની આંસુડાધારે - હાહાકારે રેલ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
શહીદોના ધગધગતા નિઃશ્વાસે નિઃશ્વાસે સળગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ. - રાજ

ધરતીનાં ભૂખ્યાં કંગાલોને ગાલે છલકાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
બિસ્મિલ બેટાઓની માતાને ભાલે મલકાયો કસુંબીનો રંગ. - રાજ…

ઘોળી ઘોળી પ્યાલા ભરિયા : રંગીલા હો ! પીજો કસુંબીનો રંગ;
દોરંગાં દેખીને ડરિયાં : ટેકીલા તમે! હોંશિલા તમે ! રંગીલા તમે લેજો કસુંબીનો રંગ!

રાજ, મને લાગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ -
લાગ્યો કસુંબીનો રંગ !

A Romantic Poem After A long Time :अब तुम अपनी कहोना क्या जानो

एक काँच पे ठहरे कोहरे से, हम नाम तुम्हारा लिखते थे,
धूप की पहली किरनो में तुम खुद को खोना क्या जानो,

तुम आओगी सोच मन ही मन सौ बातें तुमसे करते थे,
बेफ़िज़ूल इंतेज़ार में बैठ कलम पे फूल पिरोना क्या जानो,

एक चेहरा सा बन जाताथा, हररात तारों के जुड़ जाने से,
तुम बिना चाँद की रातों में, वो आँगन में सोना क्या जानो,

बेफिकर कॉलेज की छत पे, जब चाइ की चुस्की चलती थी,
कानो को छुते मेरे हाथों में,थी ज़ुल्फ खिलोना क्या जानो,

बारिश की बूंदे बालोसे निकल जब गालो पे रुक सी जाती थी
एक छाते में सुखी बाज़ू पे, खुद को तुमसे भिगोना क्या

जानोइतनी सारी मेरी यादो में, तुम ना होके भी होना क्या जानो,
मेरी बातें जान के सारी, अब तुम अपनी कहोना क्या जानो

Poem : What is life if not this moment?

What Is Life If Not This Moment?

-Jaykumar Shah

Is life like an old coin of a pai?
Obscure, rare, definitely invaluable,
Or is it like a bird flying high?
Looks small; songs sound like babble;
A small child with his gummy grin,
An old man, a child he had been,
A young girl flaunting her new pink Tee,
Only a mother now, Lot she wished to be,
Look at them, they all have a life of own,
But is life this moment, or all moments gone?
The smooth blue sky etched white with clouds,
Or the Rough terrace concrete, with no shrouds,
The inkless pen lying in the old little school bags,
Or music of a rupee coin on the bowl that begs,
Noise of a hundred cars in the mindless traffic's flurry,
Or a wordless kiss first, less tender but a lot in a hurry,
Is life like those things that I know not how to define?
Or is it as simple as carrom, my mom, and sunshine?
Is life like an old Rafi song, with lyrics forgotten?
Or like a Relay race you cant run without a baton?
Is it like a long shot pic of an intended close-up?
Is it the airport lounge, to take the next flight up?

Who knows and who would know what life is?
Live every moment, as one of it death won't miss.

Bachho Ki Kahani Bado Ka Sach - Poem

हररोज़ नये है करतब उसके, हररोज़ नयी कहानी है,
परिओ को है देखा उसने, राजा-रानी की बातें ज़ुबानी है
बस कल की थी ये बात जब उसको सुन शिवाजी के किस्से,
छोटी काग़ज़ की तलवारों से, मुगलो के जा करने थे हिस्से,
फिर एक रोज़ बन हनुमान उसे सीता माता को बचाना था,
और दूसरे ही दिन नटखट क्रिश्न बन, वृंदावन को जाना था,
एक दिन पूछ रहा था, "माँ, तुम झाँसी की रानी क्यों नहीहो ?"
"क्योकि तेरी मा हू" बोलू उससे पहले , खो गया सपनो में वो,
फिर कभी उड़ना चाहा, टीवी में एक सुपेरमेन को देख कर,
जान गयी,स्पाइडरमेन के जाले बनेंगे मच्छरदानी फैक कर,
कभी दिल को रख लेता मेरे, कह में अल्लादीन की जीनी हू,
कभी कहे फिर, अलिफ लैला से आयामें सींदबाद सेनानी हू,



उसके लिए इस दुनिया में, कहानी के सच से आगे कुछ भी नही,
उसको देख ये सीखा है, मानो तो सब है, ना मानो तो कुछ भी नही



फिर कभी अकेले में जब सोचती हू उसकीसारी बातों पे कहानी पे,
लगता है बड़े होते होते उसने, खुद की दुनिया को ही नही जानी है,
सूरज से दादा का रिस्ता और चंदा मामा की बातें कब सच्ची थी,
पर मुझको भी यही झूठ पिलाया गया था, जब में भी बच्ची थी,
मुजसे भी तो परिओ ने की थी बातें, कभी मैं भी तो सिंडरेला थी,
कभी तारों से, कभी बुढ़िया जैसे चाँद से, माँ कहानिया थी ले आती,
इन कहानीओ से आगे की दुनिया, नयी बातें ज़िंदगी दिखलाती है,
उन बातों में परीया नही, जिन नही, ये बातें कोई बेसुरे सा गाती है,



ना सींदबाद, ना बीरबल , ना सिंडरेला ईन नन्हे बच्चों को जीना सिखाएगी,
हम माँए क्या इस दुनिया में, कभी ज़िंदगी की कहानियाँ ही ना सुनाएगी?

Poem - 23rd March 1931

A friend's blog inspired this poem.

23rd March 1931
उँची उँची दीवारो के पार, जैल में आज़ादी जन्मी थी,
शहीदो की शाम थी वो, फाँसी से मोहब्बत जन्मी थी,
सह्याद्रि के पर्बत चुप थे, सतलज भी धीरे बह रही थी,
"एक और होता तो वो भी तेरे नाम" माँए कह रही थी,
बिस्मिल के शब्दों को गा, साथ हिन्दुस्तान सारा लेकर
आख़िरी बार चले थे फिर वो, "इंक़लाब" का नारा लेकर

एक भगत था, एक गुरु था, एक देवो का था शुख,
जयघोष उठे थे गलियारो से, आज़ादी को था रुख़,
वो क्रॉस भी हुक्मरानों का, उस दिन बसंती रंगा था,
ना सिंह ना राज थे, वो रंग थे, उनसे बना तिरंगा था,
एक जलते सपने के संग, खौलते खून का पारा लेकर,
आख़िरी बार चले थे फिर वो, "इंक़लाब" का नारा लेकर

Death Of The Chairman - A long long poem I loved writing

Death Of The Chairman
A Poem By Jaykumar Shah

Part 1 - DOTC
There was an excitement, palpable in air,
A new board meeting, something to bare,
Is he planning to sell his stocks to market?,
Or is it about the new acquisition target ?
For employees here are consumers too,
And the top management they look up to,

In the WORLD’s company there is lot to prod,

And they worship with heart chairman GOD,

Today, it seems, he has a new story to share,

A new board meeting, has something to bare,

Chairman was working overtime in his room,

Everyone else waited in the big board room,

A man thin and feeble, Chairman’s close ally,

Entered the dais, came from backstage alley,

“Virtue, why do you look so shocked and sad?”

“Folks, I just found that our chairman is dead!”

“For GOD’s sake, he cannot die you are lying!”

A short pudgy man, a police, then came flying,

“Gentleman and ladies,” said the pudgy man,“

You chairman is dead, it is all going insane,

I doubt treason, a cold blooded kill it looks,

Clues we search here, in corners and nooks,

Murderer we suspect, from this group he hailed

We need to find the one whose morality failed”

______________________________________________

Part 2 - DOTC

The board, some employees and a competitor,
were all to be questioned by the interrogator,
All aghast knew not what in the WORLD to believe,
All feared worst, “Oh GOD, do they think it’s me?”

The short pudgy man had evidences few,
Guesses and trick he had to use here new,
He went to visit the scene of the big crime,
Saw, a paper, a pen and half-glass of lime,

The hands had the cuts with blood flowing,
On paper it ran, with paper clarity blowing,
In between the red, “Dear D....”read blue,
The letter, he knew, would give a big clue,
The pen was cheap and wasn’t of a rich men,
The doors and windows were unusually open,

There was a knife in GOD’s heart, stabbed plain,
Someone killed GOD, It’s an act of out-of –brain,
GOD was lying with his eyes closed and face calm,
Pudgy man felt bad, to pray he brought up his palm,
The best in the business of hearing prayers was dead,
Confused he paused and saw the wound had not bled,
Saw a few muddy footsteps of local shoe on the floor,
To and fro it ran, between GOD’s chair and open door
For questioning he knew he was now better equipped,
He checked the CCTV footage, real time it had blipped,
The fingerprints on all objects he had to analyze,
He got the list of men who met GOD since sunrise.

______________________________________________

Part 3 - DOTC
He went back to a room for interrogation,
Called one by one, everyone for a question,
He knew he had to find a good motive to kill,
In the WORLD had to measure GOD’s goodwill,

First came in a man, with a typical colorful look,
“I am religion” he started , as the hands shook,
“Not just a boss, a good friend he always had been”,
Pudgy noticed his Saffron tie and the glasses green,
He stared Religion and asked a question straight,
“Did you kill him? On his death supremacy you get!”
“Oh surely he hated me for bringing me on board,”
His reply started like a sincere but out-of-tune bard,
“People, the employees and the consumer all alike,
Followed me blindly, as I was his face and his mic,”
Pudgy got the point that rivalry they both could have had,
But religion overpowered GOD, and did not find him bad,
“Tell me Frankly Mr.Religion, will the followers miss him?”
“Not at all, they never followed him”, he said with a grin
Pudgy did not like him, he thought better to follow reason,
He checked his shoes, asked for the pen, and his liaison

______________________________________________

Part 4 - DOTC

Then came a man in his red suit and fiery red eyes,

Pudgy could hear his mind let out a few scary cries,

“How come a competitor is here, without his will?”

He brought out his ugly hands from red, “I, DEVIL” ,

His smiling teeth were brown or were it blood red,
His smell paralyzed pudgy as the questioning he led,
“you want to ask why I am where I should not be?”“
Answer is simple, I had to be here, as he called me,”
“Why? I know is what you would be your question next,
because my daughters work here, would put it to rest.”
Money, Love, gluttony and knowledge, all work here,
When they will grow unbarred, they will join me there,
I understand it wasn’t them he wanted to discuss with me,

It was some silly chap “Human”, that was supposed to be,
More I know not, but I want to assure you a thing one,
I could not have killed him, Never I will kill that person,
For he was the reason I exist, he completed me to core,
Frankly, if he is dead, I want this WORLD of his no more.”
Silent Pudgy got a chance to speak, “Sir,” with respect,
“We had got a letter from the place that we did inspect”
It said, “Dear D…. and a few words that we are yet to read,
Is it by any chance a mention for us, which to you can lead?
“Oh My GOD!”, “If it is for me, I feel sorry now for the word,
“Dear”?! He said relishing the after taste of the GOD’s word,
“Let me be straight, I will,

It is not me, who did kill,
If it were me, aloud I would have said,
As, the only one above me is now laid.”

______________________________________________

Part 5 - DOTC

Something told Pudgy that the man was sincere,
But to trust him would be the last thing to fear,
“Bring in his daughters,” asked pudgy in a thought,
The four beautiful damsels were slowly brought,

Love invoked in him desires through her skin dark,
Money sweet, made his heart, miss a beating mark,
Gluttony was fat, but he knew she had her skills,
Fourth was smart, like a dame from Boons and mills,

“Sisters!”, pudgy found it difficult to speak that word,
“Who amongst you could have idea of the killing bird?”
Innocent they looked as they made those dovey eyes,
“Not us” was their elaborate answer made concise,
“I came in today morning to meet the chairman”
Money said, “we were attended by the barman”
“As I reported, I took a cup of tea, he his usual lime,
I could not have thought that there would be crime
There was also to discuss a matter personal,
I don’t want to share, it had nothing criminal,”
Pudgy did not say a word to press the bell,
he knew what was it that she did not tell,
The letter that the GOD was writing was decoded,
And the Human in doubt was now to be recorded
“Ladies,” he said, with a softness not known,
“Thank you for the time and interest shown”

______________________________________________

Part 6 - DOTC
The simple employee, the Human, was called in blunt,
“Welcome sir, you are the last but the most important”
The man in his ragged clothes, bearded, looked so hungry,
He did all asked by GOD and his board, few things sundry,
“You have any idea about the death of the Chariman?”
“I have but I fear you would say that I killed my man!”
“No, don’t worry”, is how he assured the poor chap,
“I know you can’t kill, you loved him, it’s a mishap.”

“I had met him in the morning, after the rains stopped,
I had come here to submit my resignation but flopped,
With his head on the table I saw him on my visit short,
No cross but with a cut on his arms and stab in his heart,
I felt I am losing all the faith that I had in life,
My GOD was dead taking in a wound of knife,
“Trust me I did not kill him, How could I have,
All I have, All I ever had, all is all that he gave,”
“Why did you want to resign?” Human did not see it coming,
“That was for reasons personal,” it reminded Pudgy something,
“And I guess you would not like that to share” smiling said he,
“Yes you are right, I would not like that” was the reply to be.
“Thank you Human, for being a Man
For telling your part of the story then”
______________________________________________

Part 7 - DOTC
Now as Pudgy sat, opposite the dead body of the great,
He thought of the evidences from the people he had met,
He closed his eyes and thought of the great GOD’s morning,
He saw him get off his car, and enter the building, singing,
He thought of him making usual errands, and a special call,
Then he saw him taking up a paper and to write the pen-ball,
“Dear DEVIL,” He must have wrote, for the invitee he had got,
“This is about my man who loves your daughter,” he wrote,
He then thought of Money entering the office in time,
And as she reported, barman brought a tea and a lime,
He did not finish the lime as he talked, the cup of tea was taken,
The one who came next would have been in rage and little shaken,
What happened in between he did see clearly now,
And he went to the room to tell it to the others in row,

“Friends, it would be good if you can tell me,
If anyone was involved in killing the Big G.
If You don’t, I know the story in total,
About a love story and hate full throttle”

__________________________________________

Part 8 - DOTC

“I don’t want to be embarrassed”, said the Human coming forward,
I went there to kill him, but someone already had, in day light broad,
I was bought in by the DEVIL for my love for his eldest daughter money”,
He then turned to her to say, “I really, really, really loved you honey”

But she had a different grin on her face, For him a look full of disgust,
Pudgy looked at Human with sympathy, ‘She was not worth your trust’
“Well before you went and after the usual calls, Money was called to GOD,
Money would you like to take the tea and the lime story a little forward?"

“Yes, I know you have found it for all to see,
In his lime there was poison added by - me,
Human loved me, though I used him for joy
Look at him, he cries for me like a silly boy ”
The money thought of the good man dead,
But her blood of DEVIL’s was not that well bred,
“Beautiful, you will be shocked to know it wasn’t you
And Mr. Religion, It wasn’t the knife that You used too”

“Oh GOD! You knew I was the one to stab said him,
“Chances of anyone else doing it in rage was slim”
“In hurry you did not notice those cuts on GOD’s hands,
And also not the blood that ran on the letter bands,
you did not notice that there was poison in his glass,
Not even that without him you hardly have any class
I wish I could have arrested you for killing the GOD,
But I could not in name of duty, kill this GODless rot,
He saw his man, dear Human, you, giving him up for money,
He saw his girls, born out of DEVIL working for him act funny,
He saw the DEVIL working on GOD’s blood with his own,
He wanted to give away the WORLD, to paths he had shown,
He wanted to keep you away religion, out of the mess,
But it was you who kept hitting the already dead dress,
He could not see his WORLD, taking a moral slide,
For you all, he left the WORLD committing a suicide”

______________________________________________

"ही काय पद्धति आहे"

एक आम दिन, खुश होने, त्योहार मनाने,
खुशियाँ बाटने, कुछ झूठी मुस्कान लुटाने,
शॉपिंग की इच्छा से,
निकले अपनी बजाज पे,
श्रीमती जी भी साथ थी,
उनको गहनो की आस थी,
गाँधी रोड जाएँगे,
पैसे भी उड़ाएंगे,
कॉलेज की लड़कियो सा बैठ बोली, "चलेंगे?
"मैं समज गया इस दसेरे पे दीवाली मनाएँगे,
ट्रॅफिक खूब था पतीओ की गाड़ी से,
रिझाना चाहे सब बीवी को सारी से,
इसी कशमकश में,
अपनी श्रीमती जी के वश में,
सोचते सोचते जा रहा था रोड पे,
भूल गया में एक सिग्नल था मोड़ पे,
ट्रॅफिक पोलीस ने सिटी मारी,
कहा साइड आओ बांके बिहारी,
बोले "रोड क्या तेरे बाप की है"
में डर गया, बोला "मेरी नही आप की है"
उसको समज में आया ये परदेसी है,
बीवी बोली इंग्लीश में जैसे विदेशी है,
वो घुर्राया, चिल्लाया, उसका नया सा अब ठाट था,
"तुम्ही पाहिजे तसा चलवता पाहिजे तसा थाम्बता"
हम समज नही पाए,
"ही काय पद्धति आहे?"
"सॉरी सर, नही दिखा सिग्नल,"
श्रीमती जी शांत थी में था जैसे क्रिमिनल,
"पावती फटेगी ५०० की", बोला हो के लाल पीला,
लो भाई फिर हो गया, कंगाली में आटा गीला,
में नादान भाव तोल का कच्चा हू,
वो बोला PUC दू तो ही अच्छा हू,
"PUC तो साथ नही लाए,
बोला फिर, "ही काय पद्धति आहे"
तभी बड़ी एक कार में, छोटा सा एक राजकुमार,
सिग्नल तोड़ता पकड़ा गया, गाड़ी करली एक पार,
बिना निकले, ५०० निकाले,
बोला, " खाओ, जाने दो साले"
"देखा, ऐसे जल्दी निकल जाते है,
इतना सारा नही बतियाते है,
५० दे और चलता बन इस से,
या गाड़ी ले जाना ओफिस से,"
में बोला "पावती दो,पैसे में ५०० दूँगा"
"ठीक है गाड़ी भी में कल ही दूँगा"
में क्या कर सकता था, दबा डरा सोच रहा था,
"तुम पैसो के पुजारी, सारी शर्म छोड़ चुके हो,"
यही सोच गुस्साया, कोई चोरी की हो लक्ष्मानरेखा,
मेंने इसके बाद, श्रीमती जी की और डर के देखा,
अब वो घुर्रा रही थी, उसका नया ठाट था,
बस ले घर जाना था, में ना साहबलाट था,
घर पहुच सोचा किया आज रावण दहन,
और श्रीमती जी थी अब भी एक गुस्सा पहन
,"सॉरी" बोला धीरे से, और मन में कुछ और बात थी,
"थॅंक यू" हवलदार सब, ५०० की पावती के साथ भी,
आपने मुजको जो पावती चिपकाई,
उसने १०००० की शॉपिंग ५०० में निपटाई

I Can

I was backstage, standing straight for my dress to fit,
I was nervous, Indian before German, Swiss and Brit,
Walk when they call your country’s name, I was told,
Keep your chin up, smile, move straight slow, be bold,
The clicks and razzmatazz, would blind you for a while,
Walk the Ramp, own the world, and don’t forget smile,
I remembered all that I had gone through to be here ,
It wasn’t just a ramp, just a title, nor the money mere,
It wasn’t about the cheers and nor about nation’s pride,
It wasn’t about saving the world, no not about limo ride,
It was about what the world said I cannot, don’t dream,
It was about a walk of pride, a tear of joy, loud scream,
It was about the dreams of those girls in towns like mine,
It was for one to hit it hard and thousand more shall shine

I thought of the orange temple next to the mosque lane,
I remembered how we ran across it on seeing the plane,
I remember how the potter’s clay smelled when it rain,
Her daughters studies were curtailed for brother’s gain,
I thought of those kites and those marbles, more like us,
Each had a color and a spark, radiance of each one pious,
They always told me don’t do it, as no one there ever did,
Lack of precedence, example, killed the dreams indeed,
If I don’t do this, it would take a few more years for them,
To come out and dream, and achieve out of it, least some,
I walk out on the ramp, see I do like the world’s very best,
Don’t tell them , “It’s impossible, put your dream to rest”
See how I smile, I walk, I answer with élan, hear my voice,
It goes a thousand miles through to the place of my choice,
Let them be inspired with this crown that you want to give,
Let there be more from my little place to bloom and believe.

A Blue Dot and A Red - An Engine Driver and A Chef

What is that blue dot over leaves green?
A flower! Yesterday, that had not been,
What is that red dot over my rail-track,
Is that Blood! Yesterday it had not been
Is that the new paint that the tea stall got?
Is that a cat, river under-bridge has caught?
So many new things my way sees everyday,
I cant stop though, nothing to them I can say
I rush without a pause, to the station last,
And reaching it, it becomes my new start
My room to run train, is full of coal grime,
Am I the engine driver or the passing time.

What is that blue dot over leaves green?
An ink drop I see, why was it left unclean,
What is that red dot over the white napkin?
Lipstick of that dame, is also left unclean,
How did they like the starters, was it hot?
And the macroni, the pudding and tea pot?
I cant stop though, while the waiters serve,
I rush to make another, with same verve,
I wish I get to serve them, with food pile,
Satsfactorily fed I wish to see their smile,
Variety, colors, tastes, all on my shelf,
Am I a chef, or the beautiful nature itself.

I Bay On A Holiday - On Independece Day

May we make ourselves deserving enough for the freedom we have got.

I BAY ON A HOLIDAY
- Jaykumar Shah

I got up to the sound of Lata's sweet melody today,
"Zara aankh mein bharlo pani", it said on a holiday,

I thought my TV was loud, I saw my geyser shout,
I saw a huge electricity bill, it was time to get it out,
I stood up, took the Baggry's Muesli, have to plan,
A movie, some friends, a few drinks down with elan,

My mom says, we got to go for society's flag hoisting,
People gulping samosas with tea, hypocricy foisting,
A thought passed me, and a tv talk played back,
Inflation, Infrastructure, Ingenuity, power outblack;

I curse the government, I curse the administration,
They care for themselves alone, no common ration,
I curse as I move out to bring the tickets for the show,
See the beggars on road, see the dirty paan spit flow,

If this is the life I am going to get for my taxes and pain,
I am going to use my first chance to get back to Britain,
There the life is good, the roads are fine, scotch is nice,
And here people fight for a shelter and a bowl of rice,

I get the tickets, thank god I was on time, I glow,
Coming back, I see the slums, the dirty water flow,
The samosas and tea are over and its time for the flag,
Befor the anthem, I rush back to them throwing my bag,

As I bring my hands above my head, a rising salute,
What fills my heart with pride? anthem sings the flute,
"Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak Jaye hai" flows out,
I think what the poet then must have thought about,

O ruler of mind, O the writer of destiny, O god same,
Vindhya Himachal and from Ganga we chant your name,
We pray, he must have thought for a nation victorious,
Jai hai, Jai Hai he said, as we sing that prespostorous,

We never understood what he had to say but we sang,
I stand there, thought of it, and the thought hit me bang,
He wrote of a country whose Jay-gatha coud be sung,
He wrote of a country whose victories be in all rung,

I thought of the government I cursed and the beggar,
I saw others singing with a pride and ignorance bigger,
All walk out of this, Samosas making them fuller,
If others dont work, we would go back to our ruler,

Yes I too am singing my anthem feeling all pride,
But did I groom my self well for this poet's bride,
Did I live up to the become bharat's bhagya vidhata,
Did I stop when they fought being gujarat-maratha,
"No" Came the answer from deep with in me,
How could I curse others when true I couldnt be,
With hypocricy, with guilt, with sadness I bay,
Jay hai jay hai jay hai jay jay jay jay hai.

Beauty Is Skin Deep

Beauty is just skin deep they say. They are right. But it is our love for the fairer, the good looking that makes us keep the one who are not deprived. We have in our mind, a block against the less beautiful, less charming, less smart and less outgoing. We have a prejudice. This poem is for all of them whom I think are equally beautiful and many a times a lot more beautiful than the ones who get undue importance for their looks. Lets shed our prejudices.

Beauty Is Skin Deep

Jaykumar Shah

We were siblings, she was my sister,

Twins we were, but she was fairer,

Her eyes were blue, features sharp,

Her voice was mellow, She liked lark,

She was beautiful without a blot,

And she was all that I was not

All loved her, ugly me had dearth,

My Grandma exclaimed at our birth,

"What a beautiful child I have got!"

I knew since then,

She was beautiful and I was not.

Together we grew, we shared a life,

She was the fork, and I the knife,

Everyone kissed her, gave me a hug,

She grew smarter, I a silent bug,

In family and pals, to fame she shot,

I knew since then,

She was beatuiful and I was not.

To schools we went and colleges too,

For her, to me, the boys came to,

All of them wanted to take her out,

For me no bloke, my life was in rout,

For the dates, new clothes she bought,

I knew since then,

She was beautiful and I was not.

There was a boy, who liked us both,

Like me he liked the tomato broth,

All three of us were friends best,

I knew, he is her, and I am the rest,

I knew one day, he would ask me for her,

One day he will say, I love your sister,

The month was January and it was fourth,

I remember, to both of us, he came forth,

"Life is long, life needs a partner,

To share the joy, to share laughter",

We knew he was now making expected move,

She looked him in eye, and I in shoe,

"I would be happy and life full of glee,"

He turned to me, "will you marry me?"

I could not react, not even a smile,

To reply with zest, I waited a while,

I thought disheartened she would be,

The man she loved, I knew was he,

I looked at her, a big smile she had got,

I knew since then,

She was beautiful and I was not.

I am A Clown - A Poem

I AM A CLOWN
-Jaykumar Shah
The bells rang, the theatre is set,
The audience is here and I am dressed,
For today I am the clown sans fret,
And yesterday I was the boy supressed.

I act, leaving my self in the green room,
I close myself in a trunk and turn puppet,
Or am I a puppet when I dont clown around,
Dancing on the tunes, that the others set.

I jump from the horse, I run after dwarfs,
Falling from the sky I catch girls' scarfs,
They laugh at me, the hero takes it all,
I have to be ready tomorrow for another fall

They go, enjoying my failed clowing flight,
My rags they might not and not even my plight,
I am back in to the room, a place I dont own,
I take myself out, wearing down the clown,
I dont belong to my life, to its tune neither,
I am an actor, I am a clown, I prefer either,

I love to live my life, leaving my self away,
I love to see them smile and ridicule my way,
I love to be on stage, as that is my game ball,
Still I wish, I wish I am not the one to fall.

Tribute to Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi

These days I have been hearing a lot of Gazals from Ghalib. Was so inspired by it that I have tried extending one of the most famous of his gazals by two verses of my own. My tribute to the greatest poet of all time in Urdu.

हज़ारों ख्वाहिशें ऐसी के हर ख्वाहिश पे दम निकले,
बहुत निकले मेरे अरमान लेकिन फिर भी कम निकले.

मुझे उस राह-ए-मज़ाज़ी ना था जाना कभी लेकिन,
चला जब में तो मुझसे मेरे मुनकीर कदम निकले

(Raah-e-mazazi : way of the materialistic, munkir : atheist / one who doesnt believe)

घुटन इस बज़म-ए-कुश मे नामंज़ूर हमें फिर भी
ना हम जा सके ना उनसे मुदब्बिर रहम निकले

(Bazm-e-Kush : Happy crowd, mudabbir - Judicious)

P.S. have tried writing this in urdu which isnt first , second or third language to me. I have tried using minimum vocab and dictionary to best suit the poetry for my thought. Apologies if I have used it incorrectly, please feel free to correct me.

One Gujarati Poem - Jeevan to vistar "Tu"

પ્રેમ તૂ, ને છે પારાવાર તૂ,
મુજ મા મુજ થી સાકાર તૂ,
વિસ્તાર જીવન નો બસ 'તૂ',
મારા બ્રહ્માંડ નો આકાર તૂ;

રમી જગત થી ભાગતો રહુ,
ઘર મા વસતો છે કરાર તૂ,
તૂ સંત-વાણી ને સંસાર તૂ,
તૂ ભોમયો ને ભૂલ્યો દ્વાર તૂ;

તારા કને સહુ માંગતા રહ્યા,
સહુનો લેતો નથી આભાર તૂ,
ક્યારેક દરિયા ની અંધાધુંધી,
તરસ્યા નળ મા જળધાર તૂ;

પૂજસ્થાન પર પૂજતા રહ્યા,
ગીતા નો ક્યારેક કથા-સાર તૂ
મંદિરો ની પ્રસાદી મા ક્યા હતો,
ભૂખ્યા લોકો નો હતો આહાર તૂ;

Sach Ka Saamna - My views on TV

Let us start if you can face your moment of truth oopsie , sach ka samna, (this might reflect my views on television, NOM to them though),

Q1. Do you secretly like watching Fashion TV and Zee Trends?
(this is cheating you cannot ask an embarassing one to start with)
Ans. Yes
TRUE
Q2. Do you consider Aaj tak and India TV to be cheap entertainment of third grade?
(Yes, this one is better)
Ans. Yes
TRUE
Q3. Even when you make fun of your wife, you like watching Bandini along with her ?
(Don't do that to me! I should not have started the show)
Ans . Yes
TRUE
Q4. You feel that Raghu (Roadies fame) is cool and he should be given a whip to flog the mindless participants having no idea / direction of life?
(Oh my god, I should have not put this on Blog, it might hurt)
Ans. : Yes
TRUE
Q5. You think that Archana Puran Singh has done an implantation ? Of her vocal chords?
(Uff, these people seem to have profiled me for my viewing habits)
Ans : Yes
TRUE
Ek aur sawaaal aur 1 lakh Rupyee aapke.

Q6. The Moment we ask this question and the music is played for getting in to an embarassing break, you will not switch the channel waiting for the "Manforce" Ads
(Dhan tan dhen dhan tan dhen. Break. Aage dekhiye kya wo ye ad dekhenge?)
Ans. (An embarassed and "had a good break" expression) Yes
TRUE

You have won 1 lakh rupees. Kya aap aage badhna chahenge, 5 our question aur aap jeet sakte hai 5 lakhs. You are playing it well, par questions aur personal hote jayenge.

Q7. You liked Star movies in your school days more than the star movies now, you also liked TB6 ?
(OMG, they remember this. Hope My mom doesnt know what these channel showed)
Ans. Yes.
TRUE
Q8. You told your friends that you love National Geographic and Discovery channel programs more than silk stalking on AXN, even when it was wrong?
(I know they too told me the same things. I dont mind answering this. But why does he seem obsessed with S*X)
Ans : Yes
TRUE
Q9. You secretly wish that you can extend the lovescenes that appear in English movie. You would appreciate an interactive Dish feature on it?
(see here he goes again. It seems some teenager has framed the questions)
Ans: Yes
TRUE
Q10. You feel that your wife ditched you on your first date feigning sickness to watch Karan-Gouri 's marriage in Kyunki saas bhi kabhi Bahu thi?
Ans. Yes
TRUE

One More question aur 5 lakh rupye aapke.

Q11. Your wife bought that 20K saaree last year that looked like Kumkum. What did you feel like putting on fire – Your wife or her Saree?

Wife Presses the buzzer, she would not be able to handle it. He says that this is an answer your wife doesn’t want to listen. Ab doosra sawal, isse difficult bhi ho sakta hai. For 5 lakh rupees. If you cant speak the truth you take nothing.

Q11. Have you lost any of your wife’s money on Udyan Mukherjee’s suggestion?
(Dhan tan dhen dhan tan dhen. Break. Contestant rushes to the TV screen)
Ans. Yes.
TRUE

You win 5 lakh rupees. Wife has a tear in her eye; she also had abuses on her mind that not all could read. “Saree or me? My Money?****”
Too Much Has already been exposed, would you like to continue.
I feel I should sit here as long as I can, don’t want to go home after those questions anyways.
Aage sawaal aur bhi difficult hoge, kya aap tayiar hai ?
Turning to wife, he seems to be investing a lot of money in stock markets.
“Yes”
So what does he watches the most on TV
“CNBC-TV18, he is one of those intellectual sorts”

Q12.Though your wife seems to be impressed with your intellectual viewing, you watch CNBC TV 18 waiting for Shireen Bhan?
People might think I am going to get divorced after this show, I feel I am going to be kicked everyday now.
Ans, Yes
TRUE

I avoid looking at wife.

Now we come to the danger number 13. You answer this and you move ahead towards 10 lakhs, you don’t and you lose your 5 lakhs.
Wife, what kind of girls did he like before you got married?
Classy, Stylish, speaking impressive English, Simple, You see, just like me.
Q13. You watch ten minutes of “Jyoti” waiting for Rakhi ka swayamwar , do you love the show?
(Ofcourse I don’t , how can anyone love Rakhi and her stupidity, this is too simple)
Ans. No
Ye Jawab, Sach ……….. Nahi hai …. This answer is FALSE.
My wife breaks down, I find it weird. Do I really like watching her swayamwar?!!!

P.S. : Did you watch the Manmohan Episode?! Hlarious. I think she will marry Elesh.

A Few People Whom I Met

{Inspired from real life}

Us lodge ki deemak khati lakdi
se bani wo dining table
Aur waha pe rehte pandeyji,
Ek dhoti pehankar
Amiro ke dukh sehankar
Muchho ko taav dete
Khane ki baat karte
"Khana achha bana hai"
Aisa kaha kisi ne baju ki table se,
Pandeyji muskurate,
Thehthehate,
Baat karte, haste,
Paani bhar rahe the pital ke glass mein wo,
Tab poocha maine,
"Pandeyji, kaha se ho?"
Mein utsuk tha, kaha se hoge wo,
Kaun si jagah pe khusia,
Rukti nahi hai tute darwazo mein,
Kaun si jagah pe baatein
Khilti hai ek rasoi ghar mein,
Unki hasi waisi hi thi,
Kaha usi andaaz se,
Ke wo hai,
"Hindustan se"

*******************************************************

Mumbai ki bheegti baarish mein,
Ek chhoti si chhat wala bus-stand tha,
Woh tha ucchi imaarato ke saamne,
Par waha ke raaste, basti se bhi aate the,
Mein kuch logo ke saath,
Waaha khada bus ke intezar mein,
Thoda sa bheeg raaha tha ki tab,
Ek chhoti bachhi haath mein fati gudiya leke,
Ayi kaha "Kuch dedo Sahab"
Meine socha jeb mein pade chhute do rupiyo ka,
Phir Socha, iska baap inhi se daaru piyega,
Isko shayad pitega, ya usse bhi kharab,
Meine usko dekha, socha ki kaise madad karu,
Bus aa gayi, mein katar mein dheere dheere door gaya usse,
Bus mein aage ki seat mein baitha tha wo,
Jisne khidki se is ladki ko dekha,
Paas bulaya, aur khidki se apna aadha khaya,
Burger usko de dia.
Mein soch raha tha, kya ye itna mushkil tha?

*****************************************************

Mein aya tha waha tumhe milne ke lie,
Paise hote nahi the hotel mein rehne ke lie,
TO us lodge mein jaha mein ruka tha,
Jaha Pandeyji khana banate the,
Meine kamra share kia tha kisi ke saath,
Wo keh raha tha mein kerela se hu,
Mera beta school mein doosri class mein hai,
Biwi silai bunai kar leti hai, hum gareeb nahi hai,
Salesman ki job mein jab aise bahar aata hu,
Roz ka paanch sau rupiye extra paata hu,
Usne phir baatein kari thi apne gaaon ki,
Apne logo ki jinki haalat kharab hai,
Maine sab ki kahani sochi thi,
Kitne alag aur dilchasp the wo log,
Jinse mila bhi nahi tha mein,
Aaj yaaha baithke dekhta hu,
Chai pine aur baaton mein nipatane ke,
Din ke Paanch sau rupiye lete log,
Rote rehte hai paiso ki kami pe,
Sabki Kahani ek hai,
Sabki baatein ek si,
Kaash maine uska pata poocha hota,
Inko bhejta un dilchasp logo ke paas,
Dekhte ki paisa kam hai agar paisa
Paiso ke lie ho to
Aur paisa paryapt hai agar wo,
Biwi ke kangan aur School ke baste ke lie ho.

Kaminey Music Review

Would Request you to read my review online on Planet Bollywood website. Here is the link for the same : http://planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=m071609062011

Here comes the baap of albums that have come this year. This for sure is the one everyone had waited for and this for sure is the one that would not disappoint. It has experimented with both Music and lyrics. Even if this album is not played often and remembered for long, this would be one of my favourite for this year and for the time being for sure. It makes me feel elated.

Especially Lyrics by Gulzar are awesome. I dont know who else could write a poetic song on AIDS or a Poetry using the word "Kaminey". Vishal Bhardwaj reserves his best music for Gulzar's films and Gulzar reserves his best lyrics for Vishal's.

The Album starts with a very upbeat "Dhan te Nan". The song starts with a solo trumpet and then the beats carry it into a beautiful flow, the moment when they sing "Dhan Te Nan" you feel like smiling. It is sung beautifully by Vishal Dadlani and Sukhvinder sing. Its wonderful how both of them complement each other, like another song where Kailash Kher does the same.
Aaja Aaaja Dil Nichode,
Raat Ki matki phode,
Koi Goodluck nikale,
koi gullak to phode.

No one could have used English and Hindi in such a nice sync. Its evident also in his thoughts when he says life is like a "one way" and there is only one chance. Also in the second stanza(3:50)there is one thing that I liked. "Kai Kabre hai, Kai Khabrein Hai...". This song is a blast for sure.

Next on the list is "Fatak". Just like the song before, you can see how Kailash Kher's voice can mix into Sukhvinder's voice, at times I forgot who is singing what. It has a beautiful sound of the whip "Fatak" and solid drums playing in the back ground. It is what makes Vishal Bhardwaj's Music so special and so earthy.

Bhanwara Bhanwara aya re, (the way sukhvinder extends the "re" makes it typically beautiful)

Gun Gun Karta Aya re ....

And the Bhanwara here refers to AIDS. I could not think of any other lyricist who could have turned message on AIDS in to such a poetic song. Especially listen to Sukhvinder (around 2:20) followed by Kailash kher,
"Jitna bhi jhooth bole thoda hai,
Keedo ki basti ka makoda hai .... "

And at the end Gulzaar saab tells us what Bhanwara is through the most famous sher " Ye ishq nahi aasan, AIDS ka khatra hai ..."

Message : Ke Naiya Dube na, ye Bhanwara Kaate na.

Then comes the GO Charlie Go theme and I assume that this would merge well with the story for "Fahid Kapur's" acts. It sounds a little like a background score of a thriller / mystery movie. Midway it starts with the "Dhan Te Nan" extension and it sounds very much like the 80s thriller after that. This would look better after the movie is released.

Then is one of the most beautiful compositions - The Title track.
Kya kare zindagi, isko hum jo mile,
Iski Jaan Kha Gaye, Raat Din ke gile, .... Raat din gile,
Meri Aarzooooo , Kamini,
Mere khwaaab bhiiiiiiiiii, Kaminey,
EK Dil se dosti thi, ye huzoor bhi Kaminey.

(Vishal Bhardwaj's vocal suits Kaminey in a very poetically painful way here. It somehow reminded me of No Smoking songs).

I wish he could have composed one more of similar track with his own voice. The lyrics are beautifully done. This is the best one from Gulzaar saab in this album. A few very-Gulzaar touches

"Kabhi zindagi se maanga,pinjare mein chaand laado,
Kabhi laal Ten deke, kaha aasman pe taango,
Jeene Ke sab Karine, The Hamesha se Kaminey"

Poetry generally is written with two lines rhyming and impact in the second half of the second line. But I like Gulzaarsaab who uses the third line with the word "Kaminey" and it makes it beautifully poetic. I just cant stop myself typing these lyrics, and just before these lines is a beautifully composed symphony :

"Jiska bhi chehra chila, Andar se aur bhi nikala,
Masoom sa Kabootar, Nacha to Mor Nikala,
Kabhi hum Kaminey nikale, Kabhi doosre ..... Kaminey"

Hail Gulazaar saab, Hail Vishal for not just composing this beautifully but singing it in such an intoxicating way. It is not full of pathos, but its full of feeling of pain and betrayal that can come from heart and can make the word soothing.

Next comes something for the slow song fans, the Mohit Chauhan club. I like this song though it isnt something that is out of the league. It is very much the usually beautifully romantic song in between an extraordinary album.
"Dil Ne kaisi Harkat Ki hai, Pehli baar mohabbat ki hai, Aakhiri baar Mohabbat ki hai" .

Vishal uses the background score to make the song linger in your minds and the voice of Mohit chahuhan seems apt for the song. I am sure this song would look good on screen with Shahid kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. Pick of the lyrics in this song would be

"Tujhe Gudgudana, satana, yunhi sote hue,
Gaal pe Tipana, Michna, bewajah be sabab.....
yaad hai, pipal ke jiske ghane saaye the,
Hamne Gilhari ke jhoothe Matar Khaye the,
Ye Barkat un Hazrat ki hai...... Pehli baar Mohabbat ki hai..."

Last song in the series would be "Raat Ke Dhai Baje" which looks like a celebration mix for Pehli baar Mohabbat. It is sung by a number of singers (Kunal Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan, Rekha Bhardwaj, Suresh Wadkar, Earl) and is a typical song that is going to be played in celebrations and discs alike along with "Dhan Te Nan". Singing in this song isnt too impressive but the way the song is composed its great. I liked the following lyrics in the song :

Ishq mein jalte hue, saans Tezaabi lage,
Chikne Chikne Lachhe hai, Reshami se phande,
Chupdi Chupdi Baaton mein Bhole bhale bande,
Tanhai ne fursat di hai.... pehli baar mohabbat ki hai..."

Vishal Bhardwaj happens to be one of my favourite personalities in the world of cinema, and I await his work in all faculties. It is like listening to someone, who worships the medium. And Kaminey just makes you feel so much better about him. You might compare these tracks with his earlier works "Omkara", "U Me aur Hum" or even "No Smoking" and "Maachis" but all his works stand out in the crowd on their own. They are like different human beings. You cannot say one is better than the other. Songs I am sure apart from the beauty they show now are also situational and would make the movie a lot better.

Its a Vishal Bhardwaj- Gulzaar Album, with their classic flavors, so we dont need a review to grab this one. Its sure to please you.

I am not qualified to rate this but on my liking scale it is 8.5 out of 10.

Aaj Bhi Zindagi Gaati Hai

I think I have become more poem friendly post Happy's birth. Will get back to the written word soon. Here is one more poem.

Inspiration : A girl I had a chat with yesterday, Vishal Bhardwaj's voice in Kaminey title track, Women in my life forward in the morning, The daughter I dont have, the sister i craved for, Too much of Gulzaar and Prasoon joshi songs, and life ofcourse.

Zindagi Gaati Hai
-Jaykumar Shah

Zindagi gaati hai, chillati hai,
Khamoshi mein, chupke se,
Koi Awaaz nahi hoti phir bhi
Zindagi gaati hai khamoshi mein.

Un dino jab aangan bade the,
Gudiya tasveer banati thi,
Kabhi suraj ko lal kar deti wo,
Kabhi meri moochein banati thi,
Kabhi maa ko chudi pehnati thi,
Kabhi deewaro pe likh jaati thi,
Uske banaye lal suraj mein,
Un hari hari si chhudiyon mein,
Aaj bhi,
Zindagi gaati hai Khamoshi mein.

Tumse mulakat hui thi sapno mein,
Phir college ke un raasto pe,
Din tumhari parchai se the,
Ghazalein meri baaton si,
Chandi bana kya tha wo jhumka
Jo khelta tha un gaalo pe?
Wo Jhumke ke khel ki khanak,
Tumne nahi suni hogi par ,
Aaj bhi,
Zindagi gaati hai khamoshi mein.

Nanhe nanhe do haathon mein,
Wo Enak pakad leti thi mere,
Aankhen kam kholti thi lekin,
Soye soye baatein karti thi,
Papa mein jab badi houngi,
Aapsi baatein karungi,
Wo baatein jo sochi maine,
Bekhbar usne kari thi jo,
Aaj bhi,
Zindagi gaati hai khamoshi mein

Dhalti shaam, Gudiya ka lal suraj,
Tumhara Jhumka, Maaki Choodi,
Mera Enak, Nanhi ki baatein,
Bandh bakse se, Guzre waqt sa,
Nikalke roz mujhse milta hai,
Kuch thi baatein kuch awaaze,
Kuch nahi thi wo bhi yaadein,
Aaj bhi,
Zindagi Gaati hai khamoshi mein.

Purpose of my life

God, or a lack of him, is something I never knew,
I thought of no dark hell nor of the heavens new,
Death, I expected not to get a surprise like this,
Here as I stand to be judged, they both do exist.

There you come with a book of my rights and wrong,
List of my rights look small and the wrong’s is long,
“My son”, you say, “play by rules and see your life’s task”,
“What are the rules what would I be judged on”, I ask.

“Purpose of your life”, you say with an eerie confidence,
“What’s that” I retort, the thing to me made no sense,
“Everyone has a purpose and life needs to fulfill the same,
Finding it and finishing is what makes you win the game”.

Young I was my purpose was to abide my parent’s law,
I did also the same at school, when I started to grow,
I did, like everyone else, live for my parents and to achieve,
All was fun as I won the run, there was nothing to grieve

I grew in to a fine teenager and I was a youth wild,
Lady love smiling at me, my purpose was to play mild,
She was so happy with my mild game, she married me,
To be with her, was the purpose of living, I thought so it be.
It was the time I was searching for what you had in plan,
You gave us a gift for a life time, as I added to my clan,
Such nice and cute was he as he lay small in my arms,
Happiness of my desire came with him, a lot in swarms.

I thought that my purpose of life was to be his best mentor,
I went on to live and grow along with him as life’s center,
He lived for me, became a teenager and I forgot the strife,
He too had left his parent’s nest to be in his lady’s life.

I thought my purpose of life was ended by the time he left,
My partner dead, my parents with you, no purpose would raft,
“Without them what would be the meaning of my life”, I ask,
I see you smile now and say, “That’s ok, but what about my task”

“My son”, he said, “where did you find them and for what ?”
“Your purpose was set before you the life that you got”
“My son,” he said, “Your purpose was never your own”
“I wished for you a life of hero, you made yourself a pawn”

“How do I now judge you for the deeds that you did not do”
“Your purpose was for you to find, by knowing the real you”
“You are not a son, a brother, a lover and a father alone,
“Son, the bit of me in you, in your life unexplored it had gone”

“I gave you the world you created others and the pain”
I ask as I understand now, “Can I live my life again?”

Son, Be My Dreams - A poem for Happy

I was young and I knew not how to talk,
My dad held me and taught to run and walk,
He looked at me with eyes full of tears,
I, he thought would be a cure of his fears,
He looked at me and hold me close to his heart,
Son, you will be close to me always, never part,
He brought his little one near and told to me,
Son, be a doctor, be all I ever wanted to be.
Son, grow up to win all riches and love of life,
Son, may you see the world and get a caring wife,
Son, grow up to make us all proud of you,
Son, have all the best of life and challenges few,

It has been years since I heard that wish of dad,
I had my dreams but that did not make him sad,
I went my way, and no doctor could I be,
I wanted to be a singer, this clerk is not me,
I have a wife who is caring, and a few riches too,
I made him proud and his eyes I still shine through,
I have a son, so cute, so little, so young is he,
I see him and here I hold him so close to me,
Son, grow up to make us all proud of thee,
Son, be a singer, be all I ever wanted to be.

I got a special Birthday gift this year – Though it arrived a week late

(I guess it’s not entirely co-incidental that this post of mine comes right after my post for my valentine. I promise I am going to keep this post very simple, I have heard that my days of fame are gone, someone is replacing me with better blogs, more on it in the post)

28 years - too early for a mid-life crisis
28 years is a long time and that is the time I have spent since I was born. This birthday was nothing extraordinary, nothing very special per se. My parents are here, and they were very excited about my birthday, just the way they were when I was 8. My wife was also excited, but I was not feeling good. I had an issue with life getting spent. I want to remain young, I want to go back to my age of carelessness. The whole week I kept on thinking about it. One more 27th April gone, and for the entire week after that I was contemplating philosophically about my life at 28, was almost in the middle of a mid-life crisis.

The Silent Run
And then it turns out that the Monday after my 28th birthday, exactly a week later, would become the happiest day of my life. Morning Abha had complained about some small issues she had with herself and grudgingly I thought of taking half a day leave and going with her to the doctor. As I was driving from my house to the hospital I realized that everyone was very bubbly for the first 2 kilometers and all of them slept of for the rest 15 kms. Not very unexpected though.

What is a good pain?

But what came next was unexpected. Doctor checked Abha and she said, “Aaj Admit hona padega”. Abha was so happy listening to this, that even doctor got a little tensed. Very happily running to the lift to get admitted on the third floor, my wife entered the hospital building that she was not going to leave for next 1 week. It was about 11 when she got admitted, and she would have never thought that those smiles would turn in to painful shouts soon. About 1:30 in the noon, after a few medications, there she was lying there on that bed, not able to take the pain, as the doctors entered, checking her saying “Good Pains”!! If my mom would not have been there, I know what she would have told the doctors but she restricted the prefixes to say “Pain is no good”. As per the hospital norms only my mom was allowed by her side in the room. Me and my dad waited outside in the waiting room. It was about 2, when I started strolling, and It was about 4 when I stopped, and I swear on the collection of audio cassettes, that those were the longest 2 hours of my life. Waiting for the doctor to tell me what happened. I remembered how Abha was joking in between her shouts just 2 hours before that and no doctor in there would have imagined that at 4.

Life Changed at 4:01 PM
It was 4:10 when the guard called us (my mom was also with us by then) to the room, and there came a young little lady doctor, with a small bundle in her hand, a white cloth covered young life.

“It’s a baby boy”

Doesn’t matter, that I had been expecting a baby girl for last 8 long months and had also finalized a name for her, the baby boy was fantastic. He was so cute and pink. His eyes weren’t opening completely, he was powdered, his small face had a pair of eyes, a nose, a mouth, 2 ears, all in the small area smaller than my fingers. Then came the question that scared me,

“You are the father? Hold him?”

How can I with my rough hands, which so careless that I never drank a cup of tea without spoiling my shirt, hold this beautiful young life, new to this world, so delicate, so fragile. But she did not give me time to respond. And he was given right in my hands. My little angel.

The moment I took him in my hands, the lights went off, I could not see him for 3-4 seconds. I remember he moved his legs inside the cloth, I felt it. And then the lights were back, and I saw him closing his eyes, which were open when no one saw. And then he did something with his face to throw a lot of gurgling saliva out on my face which was so near to his. My angel littered my face with his new found love of slosh. Never did I think anything cuter happened to me before.
I thought of my wife, who was so much like a young (won’t use the word little, as pregnancy hardly makes one look little) girl, who went in laughing giggling and smiling -telling me not to worry. We stayed in the hospital for 5 days after that till Saturday and the doctors who came to visit her everyday would joke with her about how she harassed them. Center of attraction in my family was clear, with all four of us now concentrated all the time around a small cradle. We would watch him sleeping, we would wait and feel so happy when he opened his eyes, we loved watching him smile in his sleep, moments that were so simple and yet so very emotional.

[And this little boy of mine blogs. check him out on http://happykehappythoughts.blogspot.com . Yesterday, a friend told me that he blogs better than me, and that makes me a little jealous. But its actually quite difficult to compete with this young infant enthusiasm and curiosity. I am writing this blog to make mine look better than his. I hope mine is a good effort. ]

Everyday there is some first of his which makes us excited about the day. Suddenly we are 5-6 people in my house and no one is having time, whether its day or night.

There are a few things that I would like to write about which might not be as interesting as the blog but which I think I need to acknowledge.

Abha, I love you; and I am so very proud of you. I could closely see in her, what motherhood means to a female. And I have started loving my mom all the more after this. I don’t think any man on this earth can give what a mother gives a child – life. I know he is our son, but I for my life would never claim that he is as much mine as he is yours. He is more of yours for ever and I will win him over to make him mine over the coming years.
My parents are my family’s biggest support system. We would be nothing without you. Though I know that I am no more your rock star, you have got a new one.

I would like to thank the hospital staff and the doctors, who made the dream that we saw for years come true. If you are in Pune, and if you are thinking which hospital should you be going to, if your wife is pregnant, I recommend Jehangir Hospital (Dr. Manjiri Kulkarni). They are very helpful, very patient and very understanding. Thank you Jehangir.

Well now I bet, my blog is better than Happy’s.

Happy who?
You Haven’t Met happy yet?
Though It would be wrong to confess here, I like both happy and his blog more than me and my blog. Meet him now.

This one is for you - my valentine

There are a few things in life that changes you as a person, I was a changed man (well I used to smile at myself not calling boy anmore).

I had saved some 400 rupees by washing and ironing my clothes for the last 2 months. 150 of it I had already planned to spend on flowers. I could get 30 roses 5 zarberas for that money back then. I wished giving one rose to everyone I thought I knew fairly in my class. And the 5 zarberas were special. The day before, for the entire day I had been trying to optimize the other hard saved 250 rs.. Her favourite shop was “My Fair Lady” and it was fairly costly for my meager means. I bought a jewellery set or something that could be called so for 100rs. The ring was beautiful. It was my first valentine and a ring, however cheap in value, I thought was must. Whole day long I had been dreaming of going on my knees with a yellow zarbera and a ring, making her feel the most loved valentine of all time. I can still remember that excitement and elation of the thought of holding her hand in mine and sliding that beautiful diamond ring in her finger, kissing her hands (the diamond part was only for the thoughts).

The day started beautifully with me giving those roses to my classmates. I remember that odd jerk getting surprised at the fact that someone gave him a flower. I could hardly hide my anticipation for the evening with blushing and smiling alternatively. I know not if she noticed me blushing from the bench behind mine. The classes took excruciatingly longer time that day as I waited for the evening. Whole day we talked in whispers as our friends teased us through the day. Well it was a rare day and I got ready in the evening for a date, my first one. I walked down the road from my rented apartment to hers, in my hand-washed and ironed clothes. I met 2 of my friends who gave very encouraging smiles (unlike these days, back then we were the only “couple” in my class). And down she came from those stairs in her white silk dress and sea green dupatta. She had looks of a young lady and she smiled like a child. As we walked that road to the restaurant, we talked of all things that made us feel special.

Valentine’s day was not a big concept back then in that small place, so we were not expecting any waiting time at the restaurant so early. We sat there on the table opposite to each other, trying to fake our just-another-date looks. There were so many differences that existed between us but not on that day, that day we were young Man and Woman almost touching our twenties, trying to be our best for the one we thought we want to be with all our life. I know it’s quite amateurish to talk of life at 20 but it’s in the age of innocence that ignorance enlightens our actions. You learn in youth the things you understand when you are old. I wanted to take out that ring from my pocket and put it on her hands, and wanted to tell her about all those romantic promises that I had thought of. I knew she too was waiting for me to talk things that she never liked listening to in books and movies. It was a state of nervous chaos, as 3 glasses of water disappeared and I was worried that it can create trouble at the right time. A usual bowl of sweet corn soup also disappeared as soft music was being played on the dim lit table of the restaurant.

I was about to utter something that I had practiced all day, when I saw head of our engineering department enter the restaurant, taking the table next to ours. He was notoriously known for not accepting students getting romantic. I swear nervousness for romance and fear of a call to parents is not a good cocktail. She too was afraid of the whole situation. But someone said to get what you never had, you need to do that you never did. In my nervous moments I took her hand, looked into her eyes and said, “I love you” (softly enough not to be heard by the devil on the next table). As I slid that ring in her right hand and hold her hand in mine, I learned things about youth and love that I now understand.

{To put the facts clearly on table, I could not kiss her hand. She now prefers spinach soup to my sweet corn soup after our marriage. She now wears a delicate diamond ring and she still laughs like a child.}

A quarter full of movies

It has been long time that I had been away from my blog, I am not sure if I will be able to continue it the way I intend to but I surely will strive coming back and writing as much as I want. So to make up for not posting any movie review blog for more than 3 months, here goes my list of movies that I watched over last 2 months. (Thanks to Bigflix). I am sure I would not have the liberty to write a long review the way I generally do but would try and breif the entire movie watching experience in a line or two. I watch most of these movies at home and hence the choice of movie for half the time is mine and for the other half its my wife's, so few of the movies listed here, would not have made it to the list if not her:)

Movies I watched In Theatre

There are a lot of movies, that are in queue and I have not watched it, but 2 I could catch up with. Utter nonsensical though as both of them were, I enjoyed it for the same reason. The two movies that I could catchup were....

I know you might ask me to shoot myself for not catching the great acts of Vinay Pathak, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Aamir Khan and so on. But unfortunately these were the only 2 movies that I could watch and man, both of it have one thing in common - sparks of humor few and ok throughout the movie. Dostana was a good watch because of Kiron Kher's track and for Boman Irani too. Few dialogues in the movie are really humorous, I liked the "Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Bum" :) one. Bobby Deol is a certified bore. Abhishek, John does ok and so does Priyanka chopra. Spirit of Karan Johar will always live in this movie. Similarly RNBDJ would have meant little without the character of Surinder Sahani - the rest of the movie with SRK flaunting his pink, orange, red, yellow wardrobe was irritating. End credits werer really interesting. Salim Sulaiman did good in their first big break but the choreographer disappointed (I mean how could you create steps which cannot be tried by common people on lines like "Jaise suia saat se barah" or "zara kamar ko aise hilana, jaise hawa mein aath banana). Not more than 2* for each of it.

Movies at Home

Well there is a list of it , but I would divide these movies in "His Movies" and "Her Movies" Category for the obvious reasons.

His Movies

Taxi Driver : The idea of being lonely, and feeling disconnected with everything around is so beautifully played by Robert De Niro, that makes this movie favourite of many. You try and see the world from perspective of a man who finds the usual - absurd. I liked the way Martin Scorsese has used the camera in the movie. The movie is intensly metaphorical with each thing from a porn movie to a crumpled note, having potential to be interpreted in a 100 ways. He wants to save the world, a world that he does not understand. He thinks the scum needs to be cleaned but who would allow him to? The movie could have had a stronger story line and a better score. I would have loved a darker ending. Dialogues and direction are beautiful. 3.5* for the movie.


Charlie Wilson’s war : A good Man with some character flaws is what Tom Hanks gives us with his role of Charlie Wilson. The movie not only relates the history to the character of wilson well, but also touches human aspect of a real person. At times though the movie gets a little boring. The movie has got great acting from the 3 lead characters - Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Hoffman. 3* for the movie for its actors.



The Queen : The problem with the rulers of the world is that no one sees them as mortal beings. The Queen depicts the same very well. Every public figure has a different relationship with public very differently defined then the one they have in personal life. Same was the case with Diana. The movie takes us through the Queen's point of view on events after Lady Diana's death. The idea of her rule being questioned for her not overtly showing remorse, making her years of dedication to public futile is so beautifully acted out by Helen Mirren. Special mention to Michael Sheen for his portrayal of Tony Blair. 4*.



Kundun: Another great movie by Martin Scorsese, a biography of Dalai Lama. The whole process of Dalai Lama being chosen as Kundun and then followed is shown with a third person point of view, even Dalai Lama sees it that way. No value judgement is made on anything except China. Dialogues are beautiful. I loved the interaction that Dalai Lama has with Mao Zedong where the latter says "Religion is a poison. Your people are infected by it and so they are inferior. we are better becaue we want development" The cinematography is breath taking. 4* .

The Dark Knight: Well a lot has been said about this movie and a lot will be said in times to come. Its not a super-hero movie, its a super villain movie. If I start on it I think it will take a lot of time but still would like to put a couple of lines on the movie. The best thing that the movie gave I thought was the fact that both Joker and Batman are outcast, they are so similar and yet so different. I loved the scene when Joker in interrogated by Batman in the cell. The dialogues are simply marvelous, especially in the second part of the film. Special affects well and aptly done. The movie is so layered that it requires multiple viewings and thoughts to keep on discussing on the same. Though I would say that I was underwhelmed by the movie after a great great hype which preceded the DVD release. Any day a 4* and more I guess, had I watched it one the first day. Heath Ledger, you gave us a gift of your life time. Nolan and Bale team is good as before.


Iron Man : Its a very typical super hero movie. Usual genius getting the bad guys down single handedly. 2 things could have made this movie as good as the dark knight, layered dialogues and prodding characterization. The characters almost are black and white and has no depth, dialogues too are just ok. The fact that Ironman was a creation to destroy the harmful affects of his earlier creation could have been beautifully done but alas its a mass-pleasing take. Robert Downey Jr. is a fabulous actor and he shows it why. Iron man would havenot got 3* if not for him.

Hancock : One more good idea wasted. A superhero with PR crisis. Well the movie is silly at many times and the end, the fact that love makes him human, was really heavy to digest. Will Smith and Charlize Theron ofcoure are charming, but the movie is just average. 2*


Wanted : Ok, this is not the best of action movies that one would watch, but it was good. Infact, it was far better than what I expected out of it. John Mcvoy has been doing such a variety of role and all too well. Angelina Jolie, looks old and Morgan Freeman shows why is he one of the best. The whole concept of fraternity and loom of fate is interesting but does not appear to be ground breaking. The movie too doesnot involve the scale that we are used to see in such movies. It is about the characters and finishes just at them. 2.5* for this not so bad one.

Her Movies

Road side Romeo : I have never found dogs to be cute, and that was the problem with Roadside Romeo, everyone was a dog, trying to look good. It did not work for me as far as cuteness quotient is concerned. But I think I was absolutely floored by 2 people whom I would credit the entire movie to, Jugal Hansraj and Javed Jaffery. One with great sense of humor for dialogue writing and another with a great delivery of it. A definite 3* movie, first animation movie for adults from our Bollywood teams.

Thoda pyaar thoda magic, is both avoidable and unpardonably silly. Director woudl have done better if he had known the target audience, i thought it was made for children till the time I saw a Amisha Patel shedding her clothes!!! Utterly nonsensical, this movie is the worst I watched in last 3 months, 0.5* for the kids who look good onscreen.

Wall-E : Wall-E was very very cute. The way he calls "Eva...", the way he is mighty impressed by his love and travels across the universe to get her, the way the human race moves to a flabby, lazy lot, is all funny, satirical and serious at the same time. Andrew Stanton comes up with a very original story and a great direction. Special mention for the magic of music created by Thomas Newman - most of the scenes are without dialogues and still takes the story forward beautifully with music. A definite 4* for a beautiful treat.

Kung Fu Panda : This was hilarious, I almost related myself comletely to PO's character. The movie had very well etched characters. I liked the way it turned out to be, though I thought that the movie could have been longer. Animation and Music are really good, though i feel that the dialogues lacked punches. 3.5* for Kungfu Panda.

Definitely, Maybe : was it Bachna E haseeno or Kuch Kuch hota hai that was inspired by this movie?! or is it viceversa. The movie is funny and interesting, i liked the plot where the girl listens to a story of his dad talking about his love affairs, as she tries to find out which amongst them is her mother. All the actors especially Abigail Breslin have done well. (3*)
Mamma Mia! : The only musical on this list, this actually surprised me, very good music, great acting makes a charming fairy tale of a movie. A girl trying to find out who her father is, who can give her away to the man she is getting married to. Pierce Brosnan is charming and you might fall in love with Meryl Streep. I personally liked the movie, but thought that screenplay and story could have been better developed along with the characters. (3*)
Bedazzled : I like movies with multiple stories in it. Bedazzled is quite a fairy tale, rather a devil tale, that would make you laugh in pieces, some of the episodes though are brief and boring. Brendan Frazer fits the role very well and would have liked if someone more sexy and innocent might have played the devil. (2 *)
Never Been Kissed : I like Drew Barrymore and that might make me a little biased for this movie. Imagining her playing an ugly duckling, after watching other movies of her first was not possible for me:). The story is silly and reminds me of another horror-Main hoon na. All the actos could have acted better.(2* for the okie dokie stuff). Baby Mama : This movie is a bore apart from the character played by Tina Fey. Its funny in parts but mostly just another movie. 1.5* for Baby Mama (I did not like the title).
Erin Brokovich : This is a fantastic movie, you relate to everything that Erin Brokovich is. The dialogues are very well placed and Julia roberts is a great actress. Steven Soderbergh has researched the case well and has put it in a way that everyone understands. 4* and I am going to watch this movie again. Thomas Newman needs a special mention for his music here too.

Woking Girl : Watching Harrison Ford in a romantic movie and almost like a sidekick role was quite amusing. The movie is a feel-good romantic movie where signey weaver steals the show from both ford and Mellanie Griffith. A better editing and better dialogues would have made this movie a lot more entertaining though. 2.5* from my side.
License to wed : Its a Robin Williams movie- no other reason you should watch this movie for. Reverend Frank has his rules for giving the license to wed. A good humorous base, with a light hearted plot makes the movie enjoyable but not good. 2* for Robin Williams and the 2 bald dalls used in the movie.

Other Movies that I watched

There were a few more movies that I watched but would not like to review it now, following is a list of them and my ratings for the same.
The Darjleeng Limited (2*, director has no idea about India)
300 (4*, you feel like a spartan watching this one)
Ramchand Pakistani (3*, it could have been more engaging but the cause of the movie is worth it)
Platoon (3*, people say its a classic, but I could not relate to it)
Rock on (3.5*, superb effort by Farhan Akhtar and Shankar Ehsaan Loy to create a desi version of Rock music that is more relatable)
In Love and War (3* , inspried by true story of Ernest Hemingway, well acted by Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnel )
The Butterfly Effect (2.5*, thought I was watching pieces of other movies)
Yella (A german Film 2*, its about a young accountant)
1920 (Silly stupid and pointles 0*, watchout the end -exorcism by Hanuman Chalisa)
Train to Pakistan (1.5* , read the book instead)
Bachna - E - Haseeno (Typical bollywood Masala, 2*, but entertaining.)
Shakespeare Classic - Macbeath (2*, well acted by James Mcvoy, the story is a little boring, rather watch Maqbool)
Back to the Future (3.5*, I love this movie, have watched it 5 times till date)
The Prestige (4*, Superb movie, well acted, well made, nice dialogues)
Ahista Ahista (3*, Abhay Deol is a versatile actor)
Terminal (3.5*, watch this along with charlie wilson's war and Forest gump, and Tom Hanks will be your favourite actor)

{Ratings Here are no value judgement on the content of the film, take it only as my way trying to give my readers a prioritizing tool, if they have yet to watch this movies}