सबसे ज़रूरी क्या है?

सबसे ज़रूरी क्या है?

भूख का होना

देसी घी की पूड़ियाँ हों

पर भूख से प्यार ऐसा हो

कि सात घंटे राशन की कतार में लग कर

बाप सूखी रोटी के २ हिस्से करके 

खुद भूखे पेट सो जाये

शायद साधन का होना 

कि दस दिन के

मटमैले कपड़ों को

रंगों के निखार के लिए 

फैब्रिक सॉफ्टनर में रगड़ा जाए

या एक छत का होना 

जिसकी दीवारों में सीलन न हो

दरवाज़ा east-facing हो

और गर दिहाड़ी छिन जाए 

और किराया न निकाला जाए 

तो क्या आंधी क्या तूफ़ान 

और wi-fi वगैरह

मुफ्त! 

या अनुशासन का होना

जो सात फुट के डंडे लेकर 

वर्दी वाले गुंडे 

- जिनका गुरुर 

उनके ओहदे से शुरू होता है 

जो immune हैं 

कानून को 

और रखवाले भी हो सकते हैं 

फुर्सत मिले कभी तो -

निकल पड़ते हैं 

आदर्शिता फैलाने

आप ही हैं -

सही समझे हैं!

ठन्डे दिमाग से,

एयर कंडीशनर वाले-

सबसे ज़रूरी है

कि छाती पीटकर

हम कहें

"भारत माता की जय" 

ये गुल्सिताँ हमारा 

हमारा 

सारे जहां से अच्छा जो है..

या आँखें खोलें

तो हो सकता है!

Not Good

There was an uprising, if so we believe, somewhere in December 2012. Intellectuals were in divided opinions, some skeptical - others hopeful. Some backed the "People's Revolution" with not-ignoble facts like awareness, alertness, dutifulness, reaction etc. Some called it a sentiment overflow.. an in-vogue activity, a social media trend, a wave that shall pass.

That was 2012. 2013 was another year. The impact, the repercussions should have been felt in 2013.

There is certainly a different air among the people. When I open up for a discussion, and very very rarely do I, I feel the rage within the people. The anger is there. I have been a witness to a couple, and a part of three  incidents in the last two years itself where this rage has shown, for good.
Only, I pray - more of the former transforms into the latter - discussions to action. Most of the talk has been about what should be done to the culprits, and the blame on the governments. About time we started talking about what we should do. And then act upon it.


This, I don't want to say a word about. Only one thing, either this has to change, or everything will change. Enough said.

Happy New Year. I am not.

WHO AM I ?

I was worried, and it showed on my face. I was taking pains about the most unsavoury versions of life. Stuck up as they say, accompanied with a 'frustrated expression'. Now I knew what a 'miserable feeling' was. Just those times when your mind questions everything, and probably answers none.

I did what I felt would get me out of the situation. I speculated things - WHO AM I?

I am just that other boy in your institution who has long been doing something he never wanted to. But the bigger problem is that he does not know what he wants to. All he can do is struggle, either way. Or maybe I am the very friend of yours who thought he or she IS different. And one day suddenly something blows it off. And there they stand in the crowd of a millions, with same kind of dreams, same fantasies and same kind of lives. It pains, trust me.. it does. Perhaps I am just the girl in your neighborhood, who wraps on a smile whenever situations are adverse, and it works magic. But the other day she incurred, she is just veiling the truth and accumulating the hardships.

I am just the youth sitting by your side in a city bus, who wonders why their parents are blamed for the smallest of their actions, especially when the outcomes are negative. It does not help; just mystifying their mind even more. Also I am the coolest guy in your class who has a question - whats a CAREER anyway? He is chilled up enough to forget it; not smart enough to discover it all on his own, with no one to help. I represent any boy, your acquaintance, who does not want to be a misanthropist, but the world seems darker to him each time questions against his actions are put forth him. I could be a man standing in a local train, who sees more than fifty visible hands, clung tight. And he looks around and finds them all the same. This makes no sense and no conclusions to him. But then the carry-over of his frustrating thoughts overcomes, and it all adds up; with no reason. Or I might be a boy living on the other part of the world, who probably loves a girl he finds the best, but wont ever tell her.He is one of the boys in 20s who love to play with a pair of magnets. They are what he calls made for each other, rest is classified. Because he doubts if all the 'perfect lovers' depicted in those sugary films actually exist. They entertain; anything entertains because it offers an escape, from the reality. Confused, he suppresses his thoughts, and the girl will be unaware of his existence.

I maybe an employee in a multinational, who has been struggling to put forth his opinions but has no even grounds to fight.He was among the ones who loved Final Destination 1,2 and 3, and slept in 3D version of the fourth. Innate quality, every human has opinions, right or wrong depends on the frame of reference. He has no one to disseminate his. His very foundation crumbles each time his mind evelops a new opinion. He is perhaps trying to shut his eyes to the outer world now. I may be the one person who is trying not to be sad about petty mischances. It doesnt all together sound working though.

But speculations work, because now I know.. I am a fighter. I am the brave heart who despite such brainstorming, is marching forward. I am a deer who has always managed to escape the jaws of the lion chasing it. I am the bird who is flying higher and higher even with the gravity working against it. I am me. I am you. I am every person of your age around you. I am my generation, and I haven't lost. My purpose in life, isn't over as yet. Want to test yours? IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, IT ISN'T.

No one is safe, and no one is brave!

Recently, when Pune was hit with terror blasts, I realized that we Indians have developed a habit of living in illusions- We are not worried because we are safe, and we don't give in because we are brave.

We the people need to realize this. Living ignoramus is not the solution to the problem. Not everyone has the courage to fight. But facing the reality is safer. We've got to face the fact that no one is born immune to these terror attacks. Ten died the other day. Our lives didnt change. Theirs were no more left to change. We dont care about them. Face it. We dont have a heart for these incidents. Or we merely have no time to think about the matter. Again because we are not bothered.

As I write this, it has just been a week to the blasts in German Bakery. The news about the matter has already dried out in the local newspapers. We have cricket and budget to focus upon! Newspapers are reflection of the society. They contain what an average Indian wants to read. Yes right, we did mourn. Candle Vigil by a handful of Puneites. Then its all over. I talk on account of any common man. Those whose loved ones were affected, sure do care.

So do we wait for someone close to us to be included in a list of victims? This might sound harsh but do ask yourself this question. I incurred this when I analysed the possibilities of my presence at the scene of the mishap. Not big ones that I could narrate in my 'great escapes' compilation, yet practical. This is what people love to do- Prove their luck! Anyways I am happy, because since I wasn't there, I am alive and unaffected. Thats the horror. The culprits could still be in Pune, but I have already stopped caring.

That's where the other illusion lands in. Heard these words -'Mumbai is brave' and 'Mumbai never stops'? Now thats amazing. Yes the city might not stop. But no one can connect these statements. Face it. A city has a hard running economy of its own. Daily wagers, grocers, office-goers, shopkeepers and business tycoons are all out on the roads, not to show their bravery. Infact they show their disconcern for the matter. And they prove that money is prime.

Someone might scorn and ask -So what do I do? But I would say this is a question lying far from where we stand now. We have been lying to ourselves for years. It will take time to realize the truth and come out of an unknown cowardice. Its in human gene. Our eyes see what we want to. And our mind thinks in the direction we have set it. Open your eyes, widen your mind, then act!

The Truth

'Survival of the fittest'. Long been hearing this nature's practically experimented statement. Be it animals or humans, this theory has been the base of the evolution theory known to this modern world of ours.It is the same theory that relates to the fast-paced, competitive human world.


My question. The Truth. Who is the fittest? The most talented, intelligent and wise people might prove to be inappropriate and inadequate. Its the clever and smart ones.Or clearly stating, the FAKE ones. Or maybe the wise ones with latter's qualities. This world is not hard to survive,but to grow, to flutter one's wings in a desired direction IS. I might sound arrogant when I call the leaders in this race 'fake'. But they would rather themselves give reasons for this in a better way. Being fake is not at all being a criminal. But why is there need of appeasement or flattery in this world? Why isn't having potential and performing simultaneously the sole criteria to grow and succeed?

I am not questioning any law of nature, which in Ayn Rand's words is 'a thing one could not question, alter or implore'. These are the evils in the society creeping out of human greed, fear of loss; which in turn is possibly due to dearth of skills and talent. Worthy or not worthy. Like it or not.


In retrospect, the cleverer and smarter ones in the society had probably instilled this into the procedures pertaining to this society. I find it ironic why I feel least bothered each time a terrorist plants a bomb in a populated area, to kill. I dont intend to prove myself a visionary or smarter than the others. Simple and clear, this is what I felt; What I have known.

Why is there a practical aspect to every existing view in this world? Idealism definitely does not exist beyond God, if He does. But non-practical and ideal are not same in any case. But niether are real and practical. This world has no room for variations. You try to put in your views and ideas and you are proved to be pretentious- or even self-righteous.This is not a pessimistic thought. I would ask you to be 'practical' here.

I had hard time trying to swallow this in. And I am afraid I couldn't. I am talking about being original. Being oneself, the original character. A day I was struggling in the kitchen, when my mother told me simply, you don't put in masala in a plain khichdi, and nor do you prepare a curry without spices. Why cant this world be as simple as that? Why does everything need to be marketed? Rebranded to please? To appease?


Who will change this? I am no revolutionary. No. I don't wanna be. Can I just be me? I write this because I feel something is wrong out here. Many of you might agree with me, with the same questions, baffling your mind. If you dont, you might wonder if I am confused. Let me clear your confusions, I am.

Great men existed in every century. They were great, no doubt. 'Great' within those hundreds of boundations of this fake world. Famous lines- You don't change the system. The system changes you. Ironic, that this line has a potential to be a universal truth. Whoever revolted, either perished or was subdued. I dont wanna change myself. No rebranding. I'm not for sale. I choose to perish. Let me perish; into oblivion.