The Wish & The Battle Inside

मेरी बातों से मुझे अच्छा मत समझना तुम मैं थोड़ा सरफिरा, थोड़ा जुनूनी हूँ किसी का दिल तोड़ के आया हूँ किसी के इश्क़ का मैं खुनी हूँ || मुझे तो कुछ और ही करना था अपने सपने के लिए लड़ना था खुद से भाग रहा हूँ मैं मगर एक अंतर्द्वंद से जूझ रहा क्यों करता हूँ ये सब पूछ रहा || ये जो खुशियाँ मैंने पायी हैं उसकी रहमत उस ही की भलाई हैं क्यों कदम कदम हैं वो साथ मेरे क्यों रखता हैं सर पर हाथ मेरे मैं मंदिर मज्सिद से दूर बड़ा इंसानियत ही हैं सिर्फ धर्म मेरा ||

तेरे इश्क़ में जो मर जाते तेरे इश्क़ में जो मर जाते तो हम मजनू कहलाते यह हम तो जी गए हैं तो अपने नाम से भी गए हैं

वो अपनी आँखों से सपने देखते हैं, वो मेरी आँखों से भी अपने सपने देखते हैं और मैं सबके सपने को अपनी आँखों में जगह देता हूँ | दर्द बस इतना हैं ऐ ज़िन्दगी, दर्द बस इतना सा ही तो हैं ज़िन्दगी कि... मैंने भी आँखों में एक अपना सपना सजा के रखा था जो चुप-चाप से अश्क़ बन कर बहता हैं कही वो मेरी आँखों में मेरा एक सपना ही तो हैं, जो रहता हैं दबा-सा, छुपा-सा कही, एक सपना हैं मेरा अपना जो कोई मेरी आँखों में नहीं देखता |

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |  मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: || The heart-wrenching inhumanity of people being brutally killed across the globe has deeply affected me. I have witnessed the power of solidarity as individuals of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions unite in empathy and opposition to these heinous acts. However, a small faction exists that misuses religion as a cover to propagate hatred and animosity against humankind, and it is to these individuals that I wish to address my thoughts. First and foremost, the same God who created one person is responsible for creating all . If you believe in and follow the path of a single divine entity, it follows that every human being, regardless of caste, color, creed, or religion, is a child of this one Supreme God. This belief leaves no room for taking another life in the name of religious or ideological differences. No God grants the authority to extinguish a life simply becaus...

कुछ बनने की चाह में मौसम यूँ गुजर गए हम हम रह गए और ज़िन्दगी फ़ना हो गई | ~ . ~ ना सुबह की लालिमा देखी, ना रात की चांदनी मैं जब जागा तो तपती धूप से मेरा सामना हो गया | ~ . ~ हर पल में जीना चाहा हर पल में ना जिया सही और गलत की बंदिशों से जूझते वो लम्हा खो गया | ~ . ~ दौलत की चमक आज घर के कोने कोने में हैं लोग कहते है मुझे मेरी मंज़िल मिल गयी पर वो ये नहीं जानते की मेरा दिल खो गया | ~ . ~

Nov 16, 2014.  After what felt like an eternity, I finally met Vyom again. I inquired about his absence, to which he casually replied, "Glad to be back." "So, what brings you here today?" I pressed. "I was searching for answers, and to find them, I needed to ask the right questions of the right person." "Did you find the right person?" "Yes, I did. My quest was a success." "What were your questions?" "There was one in particular: How can we continue to have faith in a world that increasingly challenges the belief in a God who created it?" "And the answer..." "'You must still keep faith,'" Vyom said. I expected him to elaborate, but he didn't. "Tell me everything," I urged. "That's all there is," he replied. "I don't understand. I'm missing the connection here," I said, growing impatient. He stood up and began walking. I followed, puzzled. ...

Tomorrow the result of the elections of World's largest democracy is to be announced. I've read that the celebration and the preparation has already begun in one camp NDA and the other camp UPA is seeking solace in oblivion. Far from the politics and the two camps, this election saw the rise of the unlikely common man (Aam Aadmi), the mute spectator who for once rose from the silence and decided to break the shackles which has kept him bound for years. Six decades over but things remain the same from being tormented and looted by the outsiders now the country is been tormented and looted by the insiders. The last decade has been the threshold. What worse could have happened to this country that didn't happen in the last decade? Terrorism, gang-rapes, riots, mega-scams, farmer suicides, all are the milestones of the last decade. Will the coming years bring any change? Somewhere in the heart this country does believe that "acche din aane wale hai". This e...

This morning, social media and news outlets were buzzing with debates comparing Modi and Arvind. Kiran Bedi added fuel to the fire by openly endorsing Modi on Twitter, despite her previous claims of wanting to remain apolitical. While I still respect Bedi, I cannot comprehend her reasoning behind this statement. Both Modi and Arvind share a goal of curbing corruption and working towards the betterment of India. Their ultimate aim may be the same, but they are walking entirely different paths. I encourage everyone to research and make an informed decision before supporting a political figure. This is not about idolizing individuals, but rather about the future of our nation, for which we all bear responsibility. While Modi has welcomed controversial figures like Yeddyurappa and shared platforms with the likes of Bangaru Laxman, it's difficult to trust the BJP's promises. Examples of their leaders going back on pre-election commitments or being involved in corruption only raise m...

http://indiagestao.blogspot.in/2013/07/feminismo.html - I regularly follow a blog that serves as a reflection of the India I inhabit. It acts as a mirror, constantly challenging me: am I doing enough? Each day, I begin with prayers and the recitation of sacred mantras in search of tranquility. However, most days my prayers seem to go unanswered. Today, I was confronted with the news of IAS Durga Shakti Nagpal's suspension – the courageous woman who stood against land and sand mafias. An influential politician boasted about orchestrating her suspension within forty minutes under the guise of protecting secularism and religious harmony. The manner in which religion is exploited by the corrupt deeply troubles me, as it reveals the extent to which immoral actions can be justified in the name of God. Moreover, another recent incident saw all political parties uniting against the Supreme Court's ruling to ban criminals from politics. Not one politician or political party has supp...

It took years of injustice and innumerable cases of rape for one incident to finally capture the public's attention. This time, people didn't need a leader to awaken them from their slumber; their repressed anger demanded an outlet. The voices that had been silenced for years coalesced into a collective outcry that could no longer be ignored or suppressed. This led to changes in the outdated laws on sexual offenses. The Justice Verma Panel identified "failure of governance" as the root cause of sexual crime, criticizing the government, police, and the public's apathy. It recommended significant changes. While many recommendations are commendable, the panel's stance on rapists remains too lenient. The key points of contention include: Rape offenders will face rigorous imprisonment of no less than seven years, potentially extending to life imprisonment. Punishment for causing death or a persistent vegetative state will be rigorous imprisonment of no less than 20...

My friend Rajush was approaching the prime age for marriage, and his parents were diligently searching for a suitable bride. I met him a week ago, and since then, I've been meaning to write this blog. This piece is not about a person, a family, or a tradition, but rather the society we live in. As I spoke with Rajush, I couldn't help but ponder the plight of a girl child in India. This plight is not limited to the girl child but extends to the entire society. Even in the context of marriage, a wonderful institution, some of the practices and traditions we've adopted or perpetuated over the ages are not just questionable but downright absurd. Rajush was entering into an arranged marriage, and as simple as it sounds, it is indeed ARRANGED from the very beginning. Everything in this arrangement is taken into account. Every arrangement involves its own set of negotiations, and Rajush, being rather naive in these matters, felt disheartened by his experiences thus far. The most s...

On November 12th, 2012, at 11:57 PM, Vyom's phone rang. He had gone upstairs to get some sleep, as he always made it a point to be home for Diwali, the most popular festival for many Indians. Some view it as the festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of good over evil, while others see it as a time to please Goddess Laxmi and seek a prosperous year. For Vyom, it was a time to reconnect with friends and family. By the time he reached the phone, the ringing had stopped. He picked it up and was heading back to his room when it rang again. It was Gautam, a dear friend of his. Vyom wondered if Gautam was planning a prank for Diwali eve, but it seemed unlikely. He answered the call, and the urgency in Gautam's voice caught his attention. Gautam asked for Vyom's blood type, explaining that his friend's grandfather was critically ill and in need of blood. Vyom agreed to donate at 7 AM the next morning. Within a minute, Gautam's friend, Manish, called Vyom and asked if ...

ये मेरा आखिरी मुकाम नहीं आगे की राह आसान नहीं लेकिन जीने की परवाह जो करते नहीं मौत से जो डरते नहीं उनके लिए कहा कोई सफ़र नामुमकिन रहा है मैंने तो ना हटाकर मुमकिन को चुना है अपने लिए तो जी ही रहा हूँ एक दिन देश के लिए जीना है दाग लगे है माँ के आँचल पर उससे अपने लहूँ से धोना है...

आज फिर तेरे दर पर खड़ा मैं मन्नतें हज़ार ले कर लेकिन तुझसे कुछ भी मांग न पाया दी तुने ज़िन्दगी मुझे मुझको तुने इंसान बनाया धरती की गोद में पला बड़ा में तेरी सृष्टि की रक्षा कर न पाया आज फिर तेरे दर पर खड़ा मैं हाथ जोड़े शीश झुकाए क्षमा प्रार्थी हूँ मैं लेकिन तुझसे क्षमा भी मांग न पाया 22-Sep-2012 @ Shirdi

इस दुनिया को समझते समझते में बहुत चकरा गया अपनों ने पराया कर दिया, परयो ने अपना लिया.. देखता हूँ की दुनिया कहा जा रही है, एक मोह जाल में फसे जा रही है| पैसे वालों की इस दुनिया में भगवान भी  बिकता है, मंदिरों में भी vip का बोल-बाला चलता है| मूरख है वो जो सबका मालिक एक समझता है, अपनों से गले लगता है और गैरो से दूर से मिलता है| वो गैर ही कभी इतना अपनापन दे जाते है, जिस प्यार को अपने पैसो में तोल आते है, जिस प्यार को अपने पैसो में तोल आते है... Life is turning out to be a battle and right now I am scarred badly but then it too offers a night and the breeze that brings comfort to my burning scars. Love and affection are the most scarce things in this practical world, and love and affection is what I get unexpectedly from people who barely know me. I often wondered when something bad happened to me, that what have I done to deserve such fate but to that I had an answer too. To something which I never had an answer was what is there in me that the people love me for, what hav...

क्या हो गया है मुझे जो इस दुनिया में मुझे भगवान नहीं दिखता त्यौहार मनाता हूँ लेकिन पूजता हूँ जिसे वो भगवान नहीं दिखता घमंड दिखता है, अहम् दिखता है, लालच और लोभ दिखता है झूठ दिखता है, बुराई दिखती है, क्रोध और काम में डूबा शैतान दिखता है सच दिखता है, अच्छाई दिखती है, दया और दान करता इंसान दिखता है क्या हो गया है मुझे जो इस दुनिया में मुझे सब दिखता है पर भगवान नहीं दिखता कभी धुप से झुलसता, कभी ठण्ड से ठिठुरता, कही बाढ़ में बहता, कही सूखे का मारा जीवन दिखता है तम दिखता है, सितम दिखता है, आम इंसान का दर्द दिखता है भूख से बिलखिलाता बचपन दिखता है, सड़क पर भटकता योवन दिखता है क्या हो गया है मुझे जो इस दुनिया में मुझे सब दिखता है पर भगवान नहीं दिखता कहते है की भगवान मन में है लेकिन जब मन देखता हूँ तो.... सब दिखता है, सब दिखता है लेकिन भगवान नहीं दिखता...

23rd March, 2012 There was a bustling atmosphere at the station; Mumbai is a city where everyone seems to be in a perpetual rush, and Vyom was no exception that day. He needed to catch a train to return home for a festival celebration. Just in the nick of time, he boarded the train and discovered someone had already occupied his reserved berth. An untidy man, likely a laborer, was sitting there, probably intending to enjoy the sleeper class luxury tonight at Vyom's expense. "Excuse me, ye meri berth hai, S1 17", said Vyom. "Par TC ne to bola 17 par baith jao, 100 rupaye bhi liye", the man said. "Hmmm TC se check karna padega" said Vyom and he went looking for the TC in the other compartment. "Sir ye S1 17 is my berth par waha koi baitha hai, bol raha hai ki aapne berth usse allocate kar diya". "Nahi nahi kaun hai, usko bolo 18 par baithe, 18 khali hai", said the TC. "Ok" said Vyom and went back to his berth to an...

रिश्ते है नए ज़माने के ये छूटने लगे है अहम् की दीवारों से टकराकर टूटने लगे है झगडके गले लगना, ये बचपन के रिवाज़ थे आजकल तो दिलों में शिकवे बेहिसाब है अपनों को अपना कहने वाले पल में पराया कर देते है ज़िन्दगी में कई रिश्ते हम यू ही ज़ाया कर देते है सहेज के तो घर में कांच के बर्तन रखते है रिश्ते तो वो ताकत है जिसकी हम लोहे से तुलना करते है लोहा भी मिलावटी टूट के बिखरने लगा है आजकल तो गैरों से ज्यादा अपनों से डर लगने लगा है

रंगों से परहेज नहीं लेकिन रंगों को सहेज कर रखा है क्यूंकि इन रंगों में रंग अभी कुछ और भरना बाकी है  What Dad said after reading my post :) रंगों से परहेज नहीं रंगों को सहेज कर रखा है हमने बेरंग हो रही दुनिया में कुछ रंग ख़ुशी के भरना है    pic clicked at CST Teminal Bombay on 2nd Feb 2012

I've been down before but this time it was like surrendering. Some parallel events placed me in dirt zone. I was all in for the sin. Righteousness was getting me nowhere, I was criticized and demoralized. At work, my efforts seemed to be going down the drain yet again and the same old story of crooks being rewarded was about to be repeated. I fought, decided to quit and let the work suffer. At home, my family was cheated in business and I was ready to retaliate. But He... I have Him in many forms, I find him in my friend and I find Him in my love. My friend is agnostic and my love is believer. He never let's me down and I don't know how it works, but His magic works for me. I do things and He corrects them for me. When I lose hope, He inspires me.  I just fight and He shields me. When I am alone, He accompanies me. He’d be the one who’s by my side before the night is over and He'd be the one who'll hold me back before I let my soul die...