Meaningful Change

Ever imagined running a race looking towards the start point?Competent athletes always run looking towards the finish line to increase their probabilities of wining. Meaningful changes are those which are aimed towards something desirable rather than being focused on away from something undesirable. When we plan a change away from something, we don't actually plan to get anywhere. Our prime goal at neurological levels is to just get away from where we are. Now our brain works on a funny principle of 'least effort' and thus, it gets a sense of achievement as soon as the prime target is achieved. It doesn't that's why strive to do anything further. This is exactly what happens when we change a job for reasons such as a bad boss or monotony, or say take up a promising and rewarding educational course so that we can get rid of the age old family poverty. This is also true in case of nations. If we look at our freedom struggle, it was always a case of wanting freedom from the British. Once that was achieved, we had no idea what to do with it. (I guess we still don't). No matter how noble the objective is, if we are moving away from, we are either negating the possibility of success or delaying it. This belief was fortified when I was analyzing a few new year resolutions of some friends. Most of them who were struggling with their goals were the ones who said, "I'll quit drinking/smoking/etc. this year", "I'll shed 15 kilos this year", "I'll not be late to office this year" and the likes. We can bring in meaningful changes into our lives the moment we start moving towards something positive. I do not in anyway intend to say that this alone is enough to get the job done, but is a good starting point nevertheless!Visit

छत 

सन्नाटों में सिसकियाँ भी गूँजती हैं 

भीड़ में चीख़ छिप जाती हैं 

कहते हैं जाड़ो में आवाज़ दूर तक जाती हैं ।। 

सुलगते अरमानों की बस राख़ हैं 

हसरतों की रेत हाथों से फ़िसल जाती हैं 

कहते हैं जाड़ो में आवाज़ दूर तक जाती हैं ।। 

हौसलें का पेड़ भी खोकला हो जाए 

वक़्त की जब उसे दीमक लग जाती हैं 

कहते हैं जाड़ो में आवाज़ दूर तक जाती हैं ।। 

दुनियाभर के नज़ारों से छत मेरी दिलचस्प हैं 

खोयी तस्वीर भी उभर आती हैं 

कहते हैं जाड़ो में आवाज़ दूर तक जाती हैं ।। 

हथेलियों में ठिठुरता लुत्फ़ हैं कही 

कोई माँ अपनी चादर बच्चे को ओढ़ाती हैं 

कहते हैं जाड़ो में आवाज़ दूर तक जाती हैं ।। 

-o-

पूरे चाँद की वो रात थी

हवाओं में कुछ और बात थी। 

पत्थर की रगों में दौड़ता रजत था 

मेरी मुझसे ही मुलाक़ात थी॥ 

गर्मसी ज़मीन पर मैं रीढ़ सेकता रहा 

तारों की चादर में जाने क्या देखता रहा। 

बाहर शोर तो भीतर कोलाहल था 

यादों की गठड़ी को दूर फेंकता रह॥ 

उतने में कंधों पर एक निर्जीवसा स्पर्श हुआ 

मूर्दा, पाषाण, ठंडासा घर्ष हुआ। 

आँखें, उसकी आहट, चीखकर गवाही देती 

जीवनसे उसका ये कैसा संघर्ष हुआ॥ 

अनुमान मेरा सही था, इसकी न कोई ख़ुशी थी 

बात विचार, विमर्श और विवेकसे बाहर जा चुकी थी। 

मौन का अद्भूत संगीत, शब्द जहा अवरोध थे

क्षीण उसकी आत्मा मुझमें प्रविश्ट हो चुकी थी॥ 

थोड़ी देर में आँसू आये 

वो पिघल रहा था। 

निराशा, दरिद्र, मुदीत, अपमान 

बस घूँट घूँट निगल रहा था॥ 

जानता मैं किसीको था जो छिपे ख़ज़ानों का अच्छा मोल देता 

हो सकता हैं इस युवक कि किस्मत खोल देता। 

इंद्रियों को रखकर तराज़ू में 

ऐवज में शायद जीवन तोल देता॥ 

इंद्रियों को बेच दू, कैसी बात करते हो 

इनका क्या मोल हैं, पागल हुए जाते हो। 

अनमोल चीज़ तुम्हारे पास हैं 

पागल मुझेही ठहरातें हो॥ 

             ------

Solitude!!!

I was running down the pages of history of mankind to find out what are the beautiful creations of a mob or a crowd. And to my surprise, there weren't any! No poetry, no music, no painting, no great piece of art or a fabulous creation has ever happened in a crowd. It is ironical that more the amount of individuals in the crowd less is the amount of individualism in the crowd. Crowd is never individualistic. The characteristics of every individual are dissolved in the crowd. We tend to forget that individually we aren't what the crowd wants us to be. Have we ever realised that in a mob, we clap when the mob claps, we laugh when the mob laughs, and we also recite the slogans as the mob does. Individually the same statement may not evoke the same kind of response from us but in a crowd we tend to do what the crowd does. Hitler writes in ‘Mein Kampf’ he had just 15 – 20 people to support him in the beginning. How is it that he went on to create an empire? He would ask these 15 – 20 people to disperse in the crowd when he would speak. They would exactly know when to clap or when to recite a slogan. The crowd would join in!

Let us come down from crowd to a group or team. We all talk about team work or group dynamics. We all say man is a social animal. We are all taking it too far. Groups, crowds or teams are the biggest hindrances in an individual’s inner growth. Be it our friends, families or peer groups, they all work against our inner growth. Have you ever wondered, while walking on the road, you are one person when the road is totally empty. The moment you see somebody walking along on the same road, you become a different person. We all make faces, sing or dance in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Even elderly people become child like when they are alone in a room. It is that individual that couldn’t come out of the closet in the presence of others.

Yet, we all have a phobia of being alone. It is a misconception that aloneness is loneliness. Those 30 mins or so everyday just for ourselves is our right, we all deserve it. At the same time, we should respect the fact that even others around us need it. It is often looked at in negative light when somebody says ‘I want to be alone for a while’. We all tend to think, there is definitely something wrong with him. It is not true. Everything could be going well and we could still need to be alone for a while. It is not without a reason that Abraham Maslow puts ‘Self Actualisation’ at the top of his needs pyramid. We all need some time for introspection, to go beyond the shackles of civilised living. Have you ever seen a nomad going to a psychiatrist? More civilised we are and higher the chances of needing a psychiatrist. No wonder why so many of these non sense self help books are the best sellers in developed nations. We take care of ourselves and the rest will take care of itself.

Let us all celebrate solitude!

ग़मगी

शाम जब ढलने लगी 

देखते ही देखते सूरज डूबने लगा ।

आर्जूओ  के समंदर में 

धीरे धीरे समाने लगा ।।

रौशनी के ख्वाबों में था 

हकीक़त से अंजाना ।

होश जब आया मुझे 

दिल बैठ सा ज़ाने लगा ।।

आँखें मूंदी सोचा वहम हैं 

तस्सल्ली दी फिजूल ।

ऐसा नहीं हो सकता 

दिल को मनाने लगा ।।

वहम जो होता तो 

छट जाता आँखें मूंदते ही ।

हो न हो ये सच हैं 

एहसास एक सताने लगा ।।

सन्नाटें गहराते गयें 

तनहा था मैं चाँद सा ।

गुजरतें हुए हर झोंके से पूछा 

क्या सूरज का कोई ठिकाना लगा ।।

बड़ी लंबी कटी रात दर्दनाक 

छत पर गढ़ें हर एक लम्हें के निशान ।

फिर आखिर सवेरा हुआ 

सूरज झरोंखों से मुस्कुराने लगा ।।

पूछा जब कहा थे रातभर 

तो कहा यहीं था कही न गया ।

अन्धेरें के कारण तुम्ही न देख पाएं होंगे 

दलिले मेरी ही झूट्लाने लगा ।।

----o----

Satyagraha!!! Really?

Dear Friends,

I was away for a pretty long time from this paradise of expression! But some recent turn of events have got me back here. After studying the various ongoing movements under the banner of 'India Against Corruption' or Baba Ramdev's agitation for nearly a year in context to India's history, I have certain learnings which I would like to share with you. 

In the first place, I find the word 'Satyagraha' to be pretty hollow or baseless. To break it up, 'Satya' means 'Truth' and 'Agraha' means 'Insistence'. I really don't think truth needs insistence. Truth cannot be insisted upon. Infact it is exactly opposite. What is not true needs to be insisted! That is why it is a common scene to see the politicians make a big noise of their agendas or any thing for that matter. Truth often goes unnoticed!

None other than the great soul Mahatma Gandhi launched several non violent agitations against the British regime. Millions of Indians joined the movements with unconditional support and Bapu's stature rose to what we know. Something similar is happening today with Sri Anna Hazareji and Baba Ramdevji's movements. Lot of our fellow Indians have joined the movement or have started support campaigns 'I am Anna'. This is typical of a crowd since crowd does not have a thinking mind of its own. It does not question. It takes herculean courage to question the crowd.  We are not to be blamed either. A helpless and moderately thinking individual tends to go to the crowd and join hands since he feels secure there and is able to hide is weaknesses. We all join hands in any movement that seems to bring a revolution. We don't even ask ourselves what is revolution. Living conditions change after a revolution, not necessarily for better, they simply change! After our revolution for  independence, things have changed in India, not necessarily for better, they have changed.

We don't for one moment ask ourselves is this non violent movement really a non violent movement? Sitting outside somebody's residence or office and threatening to starve or die fasting, is it really non violent? Does really hitting some one black and blue or until he bleeds  mean violence? Does inflicting agony mentally not qualify as violence? 

We don't know if this movement will stand the test of times. What happens on a day when all the political party workers decide to launch a non violent movement against them who hold them by the sword? The nation will come to a stand still. Are we setting a right example for our generations to follow? We don't want our children to fast unto death if we don't get them the bike of their dreams, do we? I know the magnitude of the example is far different than the movement, but I am talking about the fundamental principle.

Let us come to the meaning of non violence. We think of it to be the opposite of violence. Come to think of it, you would find that non violence is a very impotent word and is not the opposite of violence. Opposite of violence is love. Let me explain. When we do an act of violence, we inflict pain. In an act of non violence, we make it a point that we do not hurt somebody. But does it really ensure that we are giving joy to others, not really. If violence was inflicting pain, opposite could only be giving happiness, joy. Only love can do that, not non violence. Non violence could at best avoid pain or sorrow but doesn't guarantee joy!

What I urge through this medium to my friends is to question their own self before making a choice to support or go against somebody. What we need in today's times is a real ground level movement. A movement that would drive us to change our being, our thinking, our civic sense. And that cannot happen starting from Delhi downwards but from villages to Delhi upwards. What I would also like to add is more women should join and lead the movements because noblest of men could reach till as far as non violence but only women can cross over to love. The greats like Mahatma Gandhi, Mahavira, Gautam Buddha and some others could at best be non violent but could not scale the territories of love. And love is what our society needs badly!  

!!!Till the next time, love to all!!!

!!! The Aftermath !!!

A bomb goes off at a particular place in some city of our country, generally a place of tourist attraction or of strategic importance… Convoys of police, security forces, medical help, bomb squads, anti terrorist squads start running helter skelter… Media people rushing to the spot, traffic chaos, phone calls running through everywhere, confusion and panic mounting to the helm… None of the above have any clue of what has hit them… This has more or less become a common occurrence in our country… Something that happens at regular intervals, and happens without fail… When such a disaster strikes, law and order going for a toss is quite obvious… There is nothing embarrassing about it since such things happen in some of the most developed nations of the world too!!!
What is really shameful is the intent and thought process behind the panic… It is saddening to see media people rushing to the spot in a manner athletes run towards the finish line… The one who covers the story first and telecasts the blast first is the front runner in the run up to the TRP Bonanza... Police! It would be better if we don’t get there... Finally, we, the people... Being the citizens of the largest democracy, we take freedom quite literally!!! We don’t seem to understand that with rights come responsibilities... How does medical help, or for that matter, any help reach the spot and the victims? We have vehicles almost (why almost?) brushing each other... Two wheelers make use of every possible inch on the road, footpaths, dividers, if push comes to shove, they don’t mind changing over to the wrong side... Such is the state we are living in!!! And then one by one we start taking positions on the game field to kick off our favourite game... Yes, none other than BLAMEGAME!!!
We start blaming the local authorities, they in turn blame the centre, centre blames opposition and vice versa... Then we all collectively blame the neighbouring nation... Even before the blame ball has reached them, they throw it into the terrorist organisation court... Some terror outfits own up but not before they pass the ball to us for the atrocities their so called sects are subjected to... Where have we come? Back to square one may be...
More important question here is where are we going? We have elected a political system to take care of those nitty gritties that might be out of our scope to handle on a day to day basis... It is really shocking to see the speed of reaction from the authorities, the scapegoating between the ruling party and the opposition, the forums for discussions, unnecessary debates and never ending list of promises and advices... If this is all they are capable of doing, we might as well do it ourselves... Our home minister gets a pat on the back from the senior leaders including Hon. Prime Minister, reason being, there has been no attacks since he has taken over... What kind of twisted illogical rubbish is that? It’s a given that attacks shouldn’t happen... Now if we start praising our people for doing this bare minimum, days aren’t far away when we might start celebrating days when there have been no attacks... As much as I don’t like saying this, but our security is so porous and fragile that at some stage terrorists might drop a bomb for a photograph!!! The only piece of advice after every such blast is to not panic, avoid public places and do not touch unattended objects... Is this all? Could someone please carve out a slice of wisdom and tell us how do we avoid more such tragedies of this magnitude? How do we reassure our loved ones of their safety in the first place and that we would come back home safely too? How do we feel safe in public places?
We are standing agonisingly close to the doors of death, all of us... In such times, these so called leaders of ours are the ones we look up to, in vain... I think it’s high time we stop looking up to someone and start looking into ourselves... Yes, it is a time consuming and cumbersome task, but that investment is worth it... Let us ask ourselves how can we contribute to this cause? For instance, the technically educated people of our society can group together and help us get rid of the primitive security devices and methods... The judiciary sections put their heads together for a stronger (and let’s not forget fairer) law and order system which doesn’t crumble in difficult times... If we have an opinion let us come forward and voice it...