Prasad's Excursions

LADY by Lionel Richie

2011-11-20T21:02:00.001+05:30

Lady, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am and I'm yours
My love, there's so many ways I want to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more

There were days when we were close
Just to be ignorant that we chose
All around I kept looking for you
You were there, but I never knew

You have gone and made me such a fool
I'm so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won't you believe in my song?

Lady, for so many years I thought I'd never find you
You have come into my life and, made me whole
Forever let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly in my ear

In my eyes I see no one else but you
There's no other love like our love
Oh yes, I'll always want you near me
I've waited for you for so long

Oh, Lady, your love's the only love I need
And beside me is where I want you to be
'cause,'cos, my love, my love, there's somethin' I want you to know
You're the love of my life, of my life, you're my lady
You're my lady

No sun's too bright for you

2011-11-10T01:23:00.000+05:30

Look above up in the sky

Greater heights there do lie

Bother you not from the dark eye

Never give up but apply

Still are there things to do

No sun's too bright for you

*** ***

hasat raha

2011-09-20T23:52:00.001+05:30

हसत रहा

हातावर हात ठेवून, गुडघ्यावर डोकं ठेवून

मिटलेल्या त्या डोळ्यांच्या, आडून जरा हसत असता

लपलेल्या अश्रूंनी, आणि बंद ओठांनी

आतली ती मूक व्यथा, दबकत सांगत असता

तुला असं वाटतं का, दु:ख असं दाटतं का

कलंडलेल्या बरणीतलं पीठ, जमिनीवर साठतं का

दाटलं तर दाटून दे, साठलं तर साठून दे

उरातला कढ आता, गोठतोय तर गोठून दे

गोठलेल्या कढाचा आपण छान आलेपाक करू

नाहीतर घालून चिंच नि गूळ, त्याचा लालीपाप करू

तरीही जर कललेलं उन्ह, डोळ्यांना तुझ्या सुखवत नाही

पश्चिमेचा थंड वारा, रुसलेली कळी खुलवत नाही

तर, मग मात्र असं कर, कागदाची एक होडी कर

घरातून बाहेर पड पण, होडी जरा जपून धर

चालत रहा चालत रहा, नदीवरच्या पुलाकडे पहा

चालत रहा चालत रहा, पुलावरून नदीकडे पहा

आता पुन्हा चालू लाग, गाठ पुलापलीकडचा भाग

पाण्याकडे पहात पाय-या, घाटावरच्या उतरू लाग

पाण्यामध्ये पाय टाकून, मनाला कसे भिजून दे

आता होडी हातात घे, आणि पाण्यामध्ये सोडून दे

होडी पाण्यात तरंगू लागेल, लाटांमध्ये डुलू लागेल

नव्या मैत्रिणींबरोबर, गुजगोष्टी करू लागेल

मग एक लाट अशी येईल, होडीला बरोबर नेईल

जाणा-या होडीकडे पहात रहा, गालातल्या गालात हसत रहा

*** ***

Leh Ride Route

2011-06-09T12:58:00.002+05:30

View Chandigarh - Leh - Khardung La - Leh in a larger map
Drag the mouse to browse the map. Click on '+' or '-' in order to zoom in or zoom out.

Leh Ride preparations

2011-06-04T23:04:00.009+05:30

There is a news from my side. Bike ride to Leh-Ladhakh region is on cards. As per the latest revision in the travel plan, the ride will begin on 11 June from Delhi. We plan to have three bikes. One Bullet Machismo 2003 model, one Standard Bullet 1986 model and one Bajaj Discover. The bullets were booked at Chennai Central this afternoon for transportation to Delhi . We expect them to be loaded in a suitable train on Sunday. The bikes will reach Delhi (station code - NDLS) by Wednesday. The discover will be sent to NDLS from Aurangabad on Monday, June 6. The discover is kept ready for transportation.

The bullets needed some repair work, which was done at Royal Enfield's factory owned service station in Thiruvanmiyur. The bikes were taken for repairs on 14 May after some ten day's of waiting. The service station returned the bikes, one on June 2 and one on June 3 after a lot of persuasion, cajoling and eventually after applying some pressure from the top. A few issues which were left unnoticed by REL service station were addressed till the morning of June 4, which is the date today. The rim replacements for Standard'86 was completed at 2.30 am this morning and at last both bikes came into our possession, together.

We, Shri Vidyadhar Tagade and myself went for an early morning ride to Mahabalipuram. Total riding of around 100 km was a blessing as we were running short of time. We still found front fork oil leakage on my bike, which we managed to get rectified at REL service station en route Chennai Central. The culprit turned out to be the loosely tightened screw. There was also an effort to tune the Standard'86's carburettor. Thus were over our pre-tour preparations of the bikes. Ideally we would have like to have the bikes repaired at least four days in advance before dispatch so that we could test them enough to have a good confidence level.

Never the less, the day has been fruitful otherwise. The two bikes have been handed over to Railway Parcel Office at Chennai Central. This matches perfectly with our plan. As per the original plan, we were looking for sending them to Chandigarh but found out today that the direct train runs only on Thursdays which wouldn't have suited our schedule. Upon knowing this, unanimously it was decided that the bikes would be sent to NDLS thus adding a few more kilometers to our desired odometer reading! We are only too happy to ride the extra distance.

Sending of the bikes would not be so hassle free without help from Shri Kannan Dhanushkodi and my friend Kumar, both natives of Tamilnadu. Among the two, Kannan will travel with us all along in a utility vehicle which will be hired from Chandigarh. The hiring arrangements are done in advance. But we might end up in getting a friend's Innova after actually reaching Chandigarh.

I have managed to take snaps of Machismo but I could not manage it for Standard'86 due to scarcity of time. Will upload them once we get the bikes in Delhi.

Bullet Machismo 2003

Shri Vidyadhar Tagade and Shri Kannan Dhanushkodi

Veiled Machismo

Veiled Standard'83

Shades of India

2011-05-16T21:16:00.000+05:30

Supermoon and neighbourhood

2011-03-21T15:29:00.003+05:30

'pandhariche bhoot mothe' by Sant Tukaram

2011-02-13T01:06:00.007+05:30

A friend sent me a video link of an abhang recently. It was sung by noted vocalist duo Ranjani and Gayatri. The abhang was composed by much revered poet-saint Sant Tukaram Maharaj (1608-50). Maharaj spent most of time of his life in Dehu at around 25 km from city of Pune in Maharashtra. He along with other contemporary poet-saints like Samarth Ramdas was instrumental in keeping alive the cultural and religious identities of the religion in and around Mahrashtra through the Bhakti Sampradaay's philosophy. It is also known as Warakari Sampradaay and Bhakti Movement. The efforts were praiseworthy in the atmosphere prevailing then in the region. The region was was in great turmoil due to the never ending assaults and oppressions upon the natives thrusted by the Moghul army from the North and sultanates of Nagar, Vijapur (Bijapur) and Bhaganagar (today's Hyderabad). He also attacked the hypocritical behavior of a certain section of priestly class in the Hindu society. He spread the message of equality and devotion to Shri Hari Vitthal through his compositions.

At a later stage of life, Maharaj traveled to South and preached his philosophy, spread his thoughts through numerous compositions, written mostly in Marathi. He also restored a number of temples of Shri Vitthal, built many new temples with the help of local community. In Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, he is still remembered and his compositions are sung by people. I attended a few such programs, kirtan, in Chennai, Kalpakkam and Thenangur wherein the groups performed compositions of Tukaram Maharaj devotedly. Native Tamil singers with no knowledge of Marathi singing those abhangs is the icing on cake. These groups and the artistes like Ranjani and Gayatri are the reasons for Tukaram Maharaj's compositions in South India to survive test of the time.

***

पंढरीचे भूत मोठे
आल्या गेल्या झडपी वाटे

बहु खेचरीचं रान
बघ हे वेडे होय मन

जाऊ नका कोणी, तिथे जाऊ नका कोणी
जे गेले, नाही आले परतोनी

तुका पंढरीसी गेला
पुन्हा जन्मा नाही आला

The abhang 'Pandhariche bhoot moThe' is in the praise of Shri Kshetra Pandharpur , also called as Pandhari, and which is the chosen abode of Shri Vitthal and Devi Rukmini. Some of the characteristics of the place are described by Maharaj in this composition. He has adopted an unusual way while narrating the characteristics. He terms the place as the notorious one and goes on giving his own experience as an example to prove his hypothesis. It may be mentioned here that it is nothing but natural to understand that what he really means is not what his words literally suggest. Maharaj has used a soft humor in instilling a deep belief into the minds of people that the place is special. It is divine. It is the final destination the soul is searching to rest in peace. The abhang also tells us that one can have humor over Gods. The well intentioned one will please Gods and also can become wonderful vehicle for Him to reach the common man. This narration can be likened to descriptions of Mathura or Gokul known for the numerous tales of the naughtiness and deeds of a divine baby named krushna. The arguments put forward by Maharaj go as follows.

पंढरीचे भूत मोठे

आल्या गेल्या झडपी वाटे

Beware people! Pandhari (Pandharpur) is haunted by a dreadful ghost. Be careful when you are passing by this place or visiting it. This ghost nabs every one going near the place. If you are afraid of being possessed by the ghost, change your path or just cancel your plan in the interest of your (so called) well being.

That was literal meaning. In the hindsight, Maharaj wants to suggest exactly the opposite. He hints, if you stay away from the place, you will never have the divine experience which is possible only in the company of Vitthal-Rakhumaai. (Rukmini is referred to as Rakhumaai in Pandharpur and elsewhere by devotees.) And this is possible only if you go to Pandhari. The place will possess you when you will reach this place. You will loose your own self, ego, desires and the earthly beliefs. Thus, in no time, you will experience a closeness to the God.

बहु खेचरीचं रान

बघ हे वेडे होय मन

The land around Pandhari is so fertile, and it is full with green. It is nothing but natural that the animals from all over would rush there for grazing. Hence the land is full with animals of all sorts. The sight will make your mind go crazy if you go even near to Pandhari. (खेचर is a hybrid between horse and donkey.)

The purpose of using this metaphor is not very clear and the metaphor may have different interpretations. I am picking the most logical according to me. It could possibly go like this. Like the land full with grass attracts the cattle, Pandhari being the food - source of energy - attracts mobs of people from all over the world. And when somebody goes there, the ghost does not leave him or her in its original form. This can be applied to the gender, race, caste, religion and species too. Thus forms hybrid minds which is possessed by the divinity.

जाऊ नका कोणी, तिथे जाऊ नका कोणी
जे गेले, नाही आले परतोनी

Maharaj cautions everybody that such a place which you are tempted to visit, a place which hosts a dreadful ghost whose only business is to nab and possess each passerby, should be left at a distance. Every sane person, every one who does not like such possession and the one who wants to escape if possessed, should not go to the place. Because, Maharaj says, no one has returned from this place. What a dangerous place! Even thought of going there should be forbidden.

तुका पंढरीसी गेला
पुन्हा जन्मा नाही आला

Maharaj gives his own example to support his arguments. He says, finally Tuka (Tukaram Maharaj himself) himself went to Pandhari intending to find the truth. Not only that he never returned, but also that he was never ever born again!

While concluding the abhang, Maharaj describes the great centripetal force the sacred place possesses that acts on each visitor and eventually does not let him go away. He goes on to tell us his own experience that underlines the holiness of Pandhari. He suggests that the life cycle of one's soul can completed with the pilgrimage of Pandhari. You attain moksha at sacred place. Actually, Sant Tukaram subtly tells us that he attained moksha after visiting Pandhari by saying that he was never reborn. In reality, numerous folklores exist about his सदेह वैकुंठगमन, the travel to Vaikuntha without shedding his physical form.

***

Story of a ride to Alamparai fort

2010-12-28T00:52:00.007+05:30

(A candid account of the ride on 25th morning to Alamparai Fort in Kadapakkam village near Cheyur in Tamilnadu as told my friend and co-rider, Jam. I am sure you're going to enjoy this lucid narrative. - Prasad)

A superposition of strokes of icy cirrus, splendid and dark heap of cumulus, and the rhythmic rhyme of bell from a nearby church marked the beginning of my Christmas day. The joyous cycle ride from my hostel to the Institute's main gate in cold and crisp air bring in some soothing experience that ended up with a cup of "hot" chips coffee. It was while having my coffee that I self-assessed my health condition - "Should I go for it?". Its only a couple of days back that I caught cold and I have been on medication which had drained all the energy that was left in my body.

"I still can stop all this", I told myself, "by calling Prasad and come up with an excuse". "Sorry yaar, my cycle tyre got punctured...I overslept and just got up...my brother is coming to meet me..."and so many such excuses came to my mind while I aimlessly browsed for an application on my mobile. "Why not I facebook one more time?, or I can check the weather forecast for today", thinking this I opened my application folder from the menu. Something odd caught my eye that time, ya... it was the application I downloaded previous night, but din't install and configure as I slept while the downloading was in progress. What is it? Nimbu or something? No...Nimbuzz. Is it from Google (because it has "buzz" on it)? No! It seems to be a chat application.

Well, its asking me for a tag line! What shall I type here? What's coming in my mind at this moment? Concentrate...Think hard...

I think my inner voice told "Let's do it"! Is this a tag line? Or is there a hidden message that tells me what I should decide upon that moment? Ok...here we go, "Hello Prasad! This is Jam, I just reached main gate. I'll catch bus to Tiruvanmiyur now. I'll call you once I reach the bus stand. Please guide me to reach your place from there on".

No...it's not about visiting my friend's place. Its a different thing. Its a thing that sounds like "motorcycle diaries" of Che. It was decided a week ago that me and my friend Prasad will go on a motorcycle drive in his Bullet to Alamparai Fort and the date was fixed to be on the Christmas day. I didn't ask Santa Claus for a gift, but little did I expect that time that there was indeed a gift awaiting for me to come and pick it up! My confused beginning soon started to evaporate like mist on grass in a sunlight and soon the enthu of the drive overwhelmed me completely. And thus we started our drive, from the periphery of Neelangarai, a drive that will last for a little less than 2 hours with a break in between for breakfast and tea. A drive that would take you to the road that is frequently traveled; the East Coast Road drive to Muttukad and Mahabalipuram; the road with a view of silvery reflection of the rising sun on the tropical waters in front of Nithyakalyana Perumal temple, the road that is used to frequent between Chennai and Pondicherry, the road which is simply used to exploit the pleasure of driving. It requires a different level of enthu to search and find a location such as Alamparai fort through the road that is less traveled by, and such is the enthu my friend Prasad posses, who had frequented to this fort a number of times in the past.

The entrance

Once a magnificent fort, but now its nothing but ruins, Alamparai fort is located in a village called Kadapakkam, about 50km down south from Mamallapuram. The fort was used during war time and also as a port, thus I came to know from the numerous sources on the internet. When I heard the name for the first time, I thought its "Alam (banyan) + Parai (rocks)", meaning the fort with a banyan tree. We did spot some banyan tree rooted on the dilapidated walls which, once upon a time served as the walls of the fort.

Prasad (left) and myself (right) with Prasad's Bullet

Set in a typical village background, the village of Alamparai fort is a scenic beauty with lush greeneries on one side, and backwater fisheries on the other. The people here are found to be either at the fish market bargaining for the catch, or playing cards under a shady banyan tree. We reached the entrance of the fort, parked our Rajdoot in front of a modern day structure that housed a village family, asked them to take care of our helmets while we are on for the venturing. I should mention the hospitality of those village people here, for only they can not only agree to take care of our helmets, but also asked if we were coming on a long drive without having our lunch. In none of my world would I offer a stranger a meal and hospitality that we experienced!

The ruined remains

After taking photos of the ruined fort from various positions, we went on a boating trip to the beach through the backwaters. The view of fort from the backwaters tell us how the fort would have looked like once upon a time. In fact, the highlight of this trip is the boat ride through the backwaters, which has got us two new friends, the boat drivers Ranjith and Kumaran, both localites who survives on fishing and taking the fort visitors on a boating trip.

A portion of ruined fort wall lying on backwaters

It's not the "road less travelled" thing, nor the fort or the backwaters, nor the hospitality shown by the village people, nor the drive on long stretches of the traffic less road on which you could not spot even a single bumpy drive or potholes, nor the scenic beauty on both sides of the drive that highlighted our trip, but a simple and extraordinary experience of having a siesta in a temple premises in some remote village located on the ECR road! The nap refreshed both of us and we both could feel the reborn much needed enthu in us that helped us to complete the trip. As my friend said, "If you aren't enthusiastic enough, you can't enjoy the ride".

Srinivasa Ramanujam aka Jam

***

'Why not study ethnobotany' by Clem Starck

2010-11-06T18:54:00.002+05:30

Poetry by Clem Starck, photo credit by Carla Perry.

“Why not study ethnobotany,
or practice juggling?
I could learn to read Chinese, and start in
on the ten thousand poems extant
of Lou You.
It’s unlikely I’ll take up blacksmithing,
or become a backhoe operator.
For the time being
I think I’ll just concentrate
on finding the words
for the mist that rises from
the fields in the morning,
or the moon
as seen once from Joel’s truck
on the way home from a job in Corvallis.”
- Clem Starck

Weather - Cycle JAL hitting Tamilnadu coast on Sunday evening

2010-11-06T17:41:00.002+05:30

Cyclone JAL will cross Indian coast on Sunday evening. It is expected to hit coastal line around state capital, Chennai, within two to three hours after 11.30 pm on Sunday (07/11/2010). Before reaching the coastline, if it follows the path predicted by IMD, it would have traveled around 500 km of ground distance or 270 knots. The above snapshot shows the predicted path. The cyclone is expected to slow down and shed its severity after travelling a few hundred kilometers in-land.

Google's diplomacy over India's political map

2010-11-04T18:36:00.001+05:30

This is a snapshot of Google Analytics page for this blog. There is has been an increased visitors' activity due to Diwali time. Most visits are coming from the google search for diwali greetings. But real point of this post is a little different. Analytics shows two different maps for India! Map of Southern Asia has India's map in the 'American way' whereas map of India alone (after zooming in) shows the map in 'Indian way' at least from India. I would like to know if it is the same from locations outside India. I will be thankful if somebody stationed abroad can throw some light on this.

Downloadable Diwali Greeting

2010-10-31T23:43:00.001+05:30

Click on the image to download the original (3872 x 2592). Please type additional text on the image and send this Diwali Greeting (Dipavali Greeting) to your loved ones. You are free to crop the watermark on the right side edge with mention of my name. Happy Diwali!

Hi vaat door jaate sung by Asha Bhosale

2010-10-05T23:10:00.000+05:30

A beautiful song written by poetess Shanta Shelake equally beautifully composed by Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar and sung in serene and dreamy voice of ever favorite Asha Bhosale.

ही वाट दूर जाते स्वप्नामधील गांवा

माझ्या मनातला ग तेथे असेल रावा

जेथे मिळे धरेला आभाळ वाकलेले

अस्ताचलास जेथे रविबिंब टेकलेले

जेथे खुळ्या ढगांनी रंगीन साज ल्यावा

माझ्या मनातला ग तेथे असेल रावा

स्वप्नामधील गांवा स्वप्नामधून जावे

स्वप्नातल्या प्रियाला मन मुक्त गीत गावे

स्वप्नातल्या सुखाचा स्वप्नीच वेध घ्यावा

माझ्या मनातला ग तेथे असेल रावा...

*** ***

गीत: शांता शेळके

संगीत: हृदयनाथ मंगेशकर

स्वर: आशा भोसले

*** ***

Musings over law studies

2010-10-03T01:45:00.001+05:30

In last few days I am pondering over my ignorance for law studies I have had in the past. It is such a wonderful domain to study if one prepares himself to make the reading a habit. Although I am fond of reading, Law as the subject of study had never appealed me until very recent. I was always told by my friends in this field that they had to remember innumerable clauses and sub-clauses all the time and reproduce the 'right' clause at any time. Most of their energy was consumed in that activity and many of them were completely possessed by the fear of forgetting a clause or two. It was horrible! By that exclamation, I mean, I felt that the exercise of testing my memory, in case I were in their shoes, could be nothing less than a horrible experience! Whole prospect sounded unattractive. But then, in last few years, as I was growing up (read my brain) and when I read a few pieces in the constitution of India, a realization dawned upon me that studying law was interesting, rather damn interesting exercise. Myself being an ardent science follower, it was not going to be the mainstream activity for me. It will never be in future either. But today I have realized that some basic knowledge of the law and judiciary system is must for me as an element of the society. Similarly, in my opinion, it is necessary for all of us to understand this system.

I feel, studying law will become easier if one considers that law is driven by logic, kind of a rational logic. 'viveka', pronounced as विवेक in Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi and also in probably a few other Sanskrit-derivatives. It will immensely help the student of law if he decides not to be driven by impulses of swaying mind. This impulse, I think, is different from intuitiveness of the mind. Intuition gives the mind a direction, logical and desired during those circumstances, without going through the elaborate process of decision making. In the following paragraphs, I will try to analyze how in normal circumstances decisions are arrived at. I will also try to list the steps in order to elaborate this point. And in the end, I will try to relate the usefulness of being good at decision making to study law.

The process of the brain's decision making follows the course of the steps listed below.

Searching the data in form of information held by the brain,
Collating relevant pieces,
Forming and comparing alternatives,
Applying best of the available criterion, and
Finally making a choice.

The above steps can be elaborated with a more comprehensive structure of sub-steps. I have not ventured into that for the sake of brevity. As I have mentioned earlier, the decisions are not merely taken via this process, but they are arrived at through a carefully formulated methodology. In the present context, we can safely consider this methodology as the logic. Coming back to the intuition, I would like to mention that the intuition can bypass one or more steps in the above list. At times it can lead to the final step straight away. It also helps when none of the bits and pieces of information available is concerned with the circumstances leading to non-existence of the foundation on which the decision is to be arrived at. Intuition leads the mind in such uncertainty. A stable but brave mind can adapt the thought suggested by intuition and also can start following it. But this is where the real danger lies. Such following will yield disastrous results if the path directed by the intuition-led decision turns out to be a wrong one at a later stage. On the other hand, if the intuition-led course is followed with utmost caution and the new circumstances are continuously examined and correctness of the course is verified, we are safely lead to the desired destination more likely than not. Impulsive mind lacks these qualities, caution and the analytical quality of intuitive mind, and often leads to disappointing results.

Student of law can not rely upon intuitive thinking alone. He has to master the decision making process. He will be greatly benefited by intuition of the right kind if the results of the meticulously arrived decision and his intuition coincide. Such occurrence surely has huge potential to boost his confidence. This quality can be of vital importance to the lawyers, judges, law-makers and the law enforcement agencies; not to forget the curious students like you and me.

'viveka' of the law student plays an important role in this process. It helps while working on almost all the steps. It is worth noting here that this quality does not have alternative especially in deciding which of the pieces of information are relevant and also in deciding the criterion for evaluating different alternatives or possibilities found plausible. The student whose mind is occupied with the continuous quest for finding the truth is certain to have this quality. In other words, this quality comes naturally with the desire for the quest for truth.

Having discussed about the basic qualities to study law I will briefly touch upon how law is looked upon in the real world. Law is considered to be a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. Law shapes almost every sphere of life like politics, economics and society in numerous ways. It serves as a primary social mediator of relations between people. I have borrowed this definition of law from wikipedia originally phrased by legal philosopher H.L.A. Hart. This also prompts the student to have fundamental knowledge of the various spheres of life like a few listed above. This is where the mention of first quality, the habit of reading, comes into picture. It also helps in studying various cases and verdicts delivered in the past. Basic element of the society is a human being. Thus being a good observer of people and events also becomes essential for the student of law. Today being up to date about latest happenings has no longer remained difficult due to advanced print and electronic media and also due to widespread world wide web.

To sum the things up, I would like to say that studying law is an interesting and pleasant challenge for any curious intellectual. Events and their repercussions in society are good triggers for invoking interest in law studies. Also these studies have become a necessity for the professionals not as a part of acquiring general knowledge but to actually set up a regulatory framework for various transactions in their own organizations. Thus the student of law, how ever part time his studies could be, need to have a few qualities namely: liking for reading, logical and analytical ability, 'viveka', methodical decision making ability coupled with intuitiveness, hunger for knowledge, an urge to find truth and last but not the least, a lot of patience. Here I will conclude with a hope that every thing that I have tried to tell myself till this word will motivate myself to spend more time studying law.

*** ***

Hum hain raahi pyaar ke by Kishore Kumar

2010-09-30T15:51:00.007+05:30

This is one of my most favorite Kishore songs. Full of meaning.

हम हैं राही प्यार के, हम से कुछ ना बोलिए
जो भी प्यार से मिला, हम उसी के हो लिए ||

दर्द भी हमें कबूल, चैन भी हमें कबूल
हम ने हर तरह के फूल, हार में पिरो लिए ||

धूप थी नसीब में, धूप में लिया हैं दम
चांदनी मिली तो हम, चांदनी में सो लिए ||

दिल पे आसरा किये, हम तो बस यूं ही जिये
एक कदम पे हंस लिए, एक कदम पे रो लिये ||

राह में पड़े हैं हम, कब से आप की कसम
देखिये तो कम से कम, बोलिये ना बोलिये ||

*** ***
चित्रपट: नौ दो ग्याराह (१९५७)
गीत: मजरूह सुलतानपुरी
स्वर: किशोर कुमार
संगीत: सचिन देव बर्मन
*** ***
Nau Do Gyarah, Mahrooh Sultanpuri, Kishore Kumar, Sachin Dev S D Burman

Guru Govind Sinh as remembered by Veer Savarkar

2010-09-27T20:27:00.003+05:30

कोणत्या गोष्टीपासून प्रेरणा घ्यायची, अथवा कोणत्या व्यक्तिच्या जीवन चरित्रामुळे आपल्या मनावर सकारात्मक परिणाम होईल हे मुख्यत: आपल्या त्या त्या वेळच्या परिस्थितीवर व गत अनुभवांवर अवलंबून राहते. इतिहासातील कोणती तरी यशोगाथा एखाद्या व्यक्तीला प्राप्त परिस्थितीशी टक्कर देण्यास प्रवृत्त करेल. परंतु कदाचीत एखाद्या संवेदनशील मनास तीच यशोगाथा निराशेच्या गर्तेतही ढकलून देईल. प्रत्येक व्यक्तीची मानसीकता वेगळी असते, तसेच प्रत्येक व्यक्तीची परिस्थिती वेगळी असते. वीर सावरकर मुंबई मधील डोंगरीच्या कारागृहामध्ये होते. वेळ आहे सन १९१० ची. नुकत्याच त्यांना दोन वेगवेगळ्या खटल्यांसाठी आजन्म कारावासाच्या दोन शिक्षा सुनावल्या गेल्या आहेत. याचा अर्थ असा की सुटका होणार १९६० मध्ये. सावरकरांचा लहानपणापासूनचा एक मानस - एक महाकाव्य लिहीणे. हाताशी ना लेखणी आहे, ना कागदाचा चिटोरा. कारण या गोष्टी कारागृहात बाळगणेही गुन्हा आहे. दुसरा कोणताही मार्ग दृष्टिक्षेपात नाही. आहे तो फक्त पुढील ५० वर्षांमधील दिसणारा अंधार. या परिस्थितीत त्यांना आठवतात ते श्री गुरू गोविंद सिंह. त्यांच्या 'माझी जन्मठेप' या पुस्तकातील संबंधीत उतारा.

गोविंदसिंहाचे चरित्र

... प्रत्यही कमीत कमी दहा ते वीस कविता नव्या रचून आणि जुन्यावर आवृत्ति देऊन पाठ करण्याचा जर प्रघात ठेवला तर एक वा अर्ध लक्ष (ओळींचे) महाकाव्य रचणे संभवनीय आहे तर मग आजच प्रारंभ. प्रथम श्रीगुरूगोविंदसिंहाचे चरित्र गावयाचे.

कारण गोविंदसिंह हुतात्म्यांचा मुकुटमणी होता. थोर यशाने मंडित झालेले थोर पुरुष राजप्रासादांच्या सुवर्णकलशाप्रमाणे तेज:पुंज दिसतातच. पण आज मला त्यांच्या चरित्रवर्णनाने, त्यांची ती यशोगीतें गाईल्याने, तितकी शांति न मिळता उलट माझ्या कपाळी आलेल्या अपयाशाची तीव्रता मात्र अधिक जाचू शकण्याचा संभव आहे. आज मला त्या यशाच्या राजप्रासादाच्या पायाखाली खोल दडपून गेलेल्या अपयशाच्या पायाचे चिंतन हे ध्येय आहे. म्हणून 'चमकोर' दुर्गातून निसटताना ज्याचा संपूर्ण पराभव झालेला आहे, ज्याचे मातापत्नीपुत्र वाताहात होऊन संसाराची राखरांगोळी उडाली आहे, ज्याच्या शिष्यांनीही त्याच्यावर शपथपूर्वक ठेवलेल्या निष्ठेचे त्यागपत्र देऊन आयत्या वेळेस त्यास सोडून त्या पराभवाचे व अपयशाचे खापर त्याच्याच डोक्यावर फोडलेले आहे आणि तरीहि जो सिंह ते अपयशाचे व दु:खाचे हलाहल एकाद्या रुद्रासारखा अवतार धारण करून पचविता झाला, त्या गोविंदसिंहाचे ते अपयशच आज मला गेय आहे! या माझ्या भयंकर दु:खास व अपजयास ते मेरुदंडाप्रमाणे आधार होईल. माझ्या पिढीच्या अपयशाच्या, दु:खाच्या पराजयाच्या खोल पायावर भावी पिढ्यांचे यश:प्रासाद ते उभवील!

भावनांच्या मनो-यावर चढून माझे मन दूरवरची दृश्‍ये पाहण्यात रंगून गेले असता इकडे माझे हात ते काथ्याचे कठीण नाडे व च-हाटे तोडण्यात, कुटण्यात, उकलण्यात गुंतलेले होते. प्रत्यहींच्या म्हणून ठरलेल्या दहा पंधरा आर्या रचून झाल्या, काथ्या उलगडणेहि संपले! पण हातहि सोलून निघाले, फोड उठले, रक्त गळू लागले.

डोंगरीच्या बंदीगृहात, हेगच्या निकालानंतर किती दिवस होतो आठवत नाही. प्रात:काळी उठावे, व्यायामासाठी फिरताना योगसूत्रे मुखोद्गत म्हणावीत त्यावरील एकेकावर अनुक्रमे विचार करावा; मग सक्त श्रमाचे म्हणून कठीण काम दिलेले असेल ते करावे आणि ते करतानाच मनात दहाबारा नवीन कविता रचून व जुन्या पाठ झालेल्या आवृत्ति देऊन संध्याकाळी जेवण झाल्यावर तुरुंग बंद करून सर्व सामसूम झाली असता ध्यानधारणेचा काही अभ्यास साधावा व रात्री नऊ वाजण्याचे आतच निजावे. झोप मात्र गाढ लागे. एकलकोंडीतील हा कार्यक्रम चालला असता कधी कधी 'प्रवृत्तिचिये राजबिंदी | पुढा बोधाचिये प्रतिपदी | विवेकदृश्याची मांदी' (ज्ञानेश्वरी: अध्याय १८: ओव्या १०६९-७०) सारीत राहण्याची अटोकाट खटपट करीत असतानाहि चिंतेची व उद्वेगाची धाड एकाएकी कोसळून जसा काही गळा चेपला जावा, जीव कासावीस होऊ पाहावा. वाटे, आपल्यामागे कार्याचे काय होईल..... जर..... मग हेहि कष्ट..... पण क्षणभरात चमनाचा तोल पुन: संभाळला जावा.

- माझी जन्मठेप, लेखक: विनायक दामोदर सावरकर (१८८३-१९६६)

*** ***

Some misconceptions needing to be clarified

2010-08-08T01:28:00.002+05:30

A friend of mine posted a news article stating Julia Roberts, an actress in the west, started following Hinduism. Well, that was nice. Each one has a right to follow his or her beliefs. There was a mixed response from netizens to Ms Robert's decision. At least that's what it is reported till the date. I read through initial few comments below the articile. I found one interesting query. It was apperant that the author was trying to ridicule Hinduism on some counts. His comment read,

Please, can Julia or someone else tell me what I need to believe to become a Hindu. I am interesed. Also, tell me what caste I will be designated to, which god I should follow, can I marry more women if I chose to follow Krishna, is it possible to please god by giving them sweets...

There was response from others for this comment. And I can't say that it was all kind. Anyway, I thought that this is a person who represents a whole world which is trying to understand Hinduism but is not giving its best shot and, in the end, is getting confused. A confused person can never talk sense however honest his or her intentions be. Effectively, such person points fingers at 'the flaws'. Half baked cookies - I'd rather say half-baked wisdom! The above comment falls precisely in this category. Such a person needs to be taken into confidence and told, re baba, there are things in Hindu way of life which need thinking, which need application of rational thoughts; and at the same time there is a world, which is trying to ridicule Hinduism out of sheer ignorance, and it deserves an explaination.

An explaination which has some simple answers to the questions hurled like those in the above comment. Those simple answers could be the following.

You need to believe that you can think and you can 'think and act' constructively. This religion allows you to think.
Your caste will depend upon which work you will take up as your jeevan dharma hereafter.
You may be asked to follow even your parents as elements of the God. And you may have to do that.
If you choose to follow Krishna, you'll be asked to study his life and deeds. And you yourself will change your mind and will decide to marry only one good woman. Even otherwise, Law won't allow you to marry more than one woman. You're following Krishna; so what?
You may not be able to please God/Gods by giving him/them sweet, nor meat!

Pleasing Gods is not so easy. It doesn't take any doctrine to prove this. Look how this gentleman's harmless but mindful comment has offended many. It makes me think how can he even think of pleasing the God!

*** ***

Shri Gajanan Stotra composed by my Baba

2010-07-29T00:27:00.000+05:30

In early eighties a group of devotees of Shri Gajanan Maharaj approached my father and requested him to compose something about Maharaj. After some research and meditation Baba composed a stotra and a few bhajan in Marathi. Out of that, I am reproducing stotra below. Initial shloka narrate different ways in which Maharaj brought out changes in people around him. Last few shloka tell the reasoning behind the changes in life and the outlook. Maharaj, who was troubled by many earlier, was eventually revered by masses. Today he has literally millions of followers.

श्री गजानन महाराज स्तोत्र

ॐ नमोजी गजानना | गणिगणगणात दयाघना

कृपानिधे, तवचरणा | वंदुनि स्तवन करितसे ||१||

तूचि विठ्ठल, तूचि अनंता | ओंकारेश्वर, परमहंसा

रामदास, अवधूता | विकल्पदहना, सद्गुरो ||२||

माघ वाद्य सप्तमीशी | प्रगटुनि शेगावाशी

अज्ञान तिमिराच्या राशी | नष्ट तूची केल्यास ||३||

भास्कराच्या विहिरीला | स्पर्श जेंव्हा तुझा झाला

जीवनझरा उसळला | सकल जनांच्या तृषेस्तव ||४||

भक्त पितांबराच्यासाठी | झालास तू चैतन्य राशी

वठलेल्या आम्रवृक्षासी | नवपालवी फुटतसे ||५||

पोरांनी जरी मारिले | सारे तुवा सहन केले

प्रेम रसाचे पाट वाहिले | तूचि माउली गजानना ||६||

बंकटलालाच्या मळ्यात | मधमाशांना उठविलेत

कोणी न धावती संकटात | हेच पटविले त्या समयी ||७||

वासूदेवानंद सरस्वती | येता तव आश्रमाप्रती

त्रिमार्गातील मुक्ती | समान हे त्वा दाविले ||८||

माघ-वद्य नवमीला | रामदास तुम्ही बनला

विठ्ठल बनुनी बापुनाला | देवभेटी घडविली ||९||

लोक म्हणती चमत्कार | हे तर कृतियुक्त आचार

भक्ताशी केले साक्षर | अध्यात्माचे मार्गावर ||१०||

जेथे श्रद्धा आणि भक्ती | तेथे येतसे उदात्त शक्ती

सद्भावाची येई प्रचीती | हेच ठसवले गजानने ||११||

ब्रह्मगिरी गोसाव्याला | खरा ज्ञानी तुम्ही केला

कोरड्या त्याच्या पांडित्याला | तुम्ही सश्रद्ध बनविले ||१२||

लोकमान्य टिळकाशी | प्रेरणा दिव्य तूची देशी

कैदेत असता मंडाल्याशी | गीतारहस्य निर्मियले ||१३||

सामान्यासी तू सामान्य | पंडितांना असामान्य

भक्तजनांना तूचि धन्य | धन्य बनविले गजानना ||१४||

दिनांचा तुम्ही आधार | सुशिक्षितांना दिलात धीर

मोक्षमार्गाचा उद्धार | केलात पुन्हा कलियुगी ||१५||

तुमच्या चरित्राचे सार | नाम महिमा अपार

एकचि आहे ईश्वर | रूपे जरी वेगळाली ||१६||

नुसती विद्वत्ता न ये कामी | संपत्ती जरी असे धामी

जनहितास्तव ये जे कामी | त्याच सत्कृति या जगती ||१७||

गजाननाचे आचार | साक्षात असति सदाचार

मुखाने करावा उच्चार | उच्चार तुम्हा तारतील ||१८||

नामभक्तीचा हा ठेवा | सत्कृति आचरणी आणाव्या

तरीच गजानन-मार्गा | आचरण आपले मानावे ||१९||

या स्तोत्राचा पाठ | चालेल ज्याच्या घरात

गजाननाचा वरदहस्त | सदैव पाठीशी राहील ||२०||

एकवीस श्लोकांची ही माला | आदरे अर्पिली गजाननाला

समर्थ बनवील भक्ताला | हीच फलश्रुति नि:संशय ||२१||

||श्री गजाननार्पणमस्तु ||

गजानन महाराज स्तोत्राची ही रचना नामभक्ती बरोबर कुतियुक्त आचरणासाठी गजानन महाराजांनी दिलेली प्रेरणा संप्रेरित करणारी आहे. त्यांच्या सत्कृतीच्या आठवणीतून आपणही कृतीप्रवण होत जावे व कर्तबगार बनावे ह्या अपेक्षा या स्तोत्राच्या नित्य पठणातून साकार होतील.

वि. मो. दुधगांवकर
(प्रस्तावने मधील एक परिच्छेद)

Ha Rusava Sod Sakhe

2010-07-28T00:20:00.000+05:30

रफ़ीचं एक सदाबहार गाणं

हा रुसवा सोड सखे

पुरे हा बहाणा, सोड ना अबोला

झुरतो तुझ्या विना, घडला काय गुन्हा

बनलो निशाणा, सोड ना अबोला |

इश्काची दौलत उधळी तुझा हा नखरा

मुखचंद्रा भवती कितीक फिरती नजरा

फसवा राग तुझा, अलबेला नशीला

करी मदहोश मला

नुरले भान आता, जाहला जीव खुळा

पुरे हा बहाणा, सोड ना अबोला |

तुझे फितूर डोळे, गाती भलत्या गजला

मदनाने केले मुश्कील जगणे मजला

पाहुनी मस्त अदा, फुले अंगार असा

सावरू तोल कसा?

नको छळवाद आता, झालो कुर्बान तुला

पुरे हा बहाणा, सोड ना अबोला |

गीत: वंदना विटणकर

संगीत: श्रीकांत ठाकरे

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Glued eyes

2010-07-07T14:27:00.000+05:30

Courage

2010-05-21T11:07:00.000+05:30

I received this message as a good morning message from my cousin. I couldn't agree with it more!

Courage doesn't always roar.

Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.

Excellent image. But source unknown.

IF

2010-04-27T13:35:00.003+05:30

I found a poem in an email forwarded by Rohan. He also told me that this poem was partly or fully recited by Federar and Nadal in a ceremony at Wimbledon. I started reading it. Soon I realized the weightage of each line. Although it appeared mostly as a verse but its rythm was unmistakable, pleasant with recurring rhyming. It ended, as if it was addressed to a child, as a set of qualities a man should possess in order to be called as a virtuous man. It remained unclear if the eloquence was made by a father or a mother or a guru. A brief search on google told me that the poem was titled 'IF' and was composed by none other than Rudyard Kipling. What a master piece of poetry this poem is!

In this poem, the words 'you'll be a man, my son' make the identity of the audience clear albeit literally. But on a second thought, it also makes us admit that the mantra given in the poem is essentially meant for all men and all women alike - a guide to become a virtuous human being.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream, and not make dreams your master,

If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the will which says to them, "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And, which is more, you'll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)

Naresh - a guy like you and me

2010-03-12T17:55:00.016+05:30

There is this interesting email in circulation for the last couple of years. Truly it is inspirational to all. The mail is not about the lack of certain ability but it is about how Naresh has overcome it. No doubt while achieving this feat his family and friends have stood by him. Naresh is blessed with one of the most wonderful family, comprising of his parents and his sister, one will ever get. You will find their mention in the text of the mail I am going to copy below my thoughts.

As you read the text, you will realize that he would not be what he is physically today if sensitivity towards emergency care was there in place and humanity was alive at the time of his accident. This makes the accident a social disaster out of simple ignorance about the eventualities. The society WAS responsible and we are the society. Then who knows lives of how many people get affected permanantly because they did not get medical aid in that golden hour.

Any way some people from the society are there with Naresh doing something for him which is much less than what ought to have been done when it was needed. Please note that while writing so, I do not have a slightest intention to belittle their contribution and sense of social responsibility. But in my opinion, they have done what was required to be done. Somebody had to do that. I must also say that they have confirmed a fact that humanity is present in the society even though it is not uniformly spread in each dimension. There are several nulls with regard to this quality. Today Naresh is an idependent professional supporting his parents, having seen his sister Sirisha married off happily last year. He is discharging his duties towards his family probably better than many including me! But, without something that was his own. So. Our responsibility is not over yet.

a Guy who got into Google

Naga Naresh Karuturi has just passed out of IIT Madras in Computer Science and has joined Google in Bangalore. You may ask, what's so special about this 21-year-old when there are hundreds of students passing out from various IITs and joining big companies like Google?

Naresh is special. His parents are illiterate. He has no legs and moves around in his powered wheel chair. (In fact, when I could not locate his lab, he told me over the mobile phone, 'I will come and pick you up'. And in no time, he was there to guide me)

Ever smiling, optimistic and full of spirit; that is Naresh. He says, "God has always been planning things for me. That is why I feel I am lucky." Read why Naresh feels he is lucky.

Childhood in a village

I spent the first seven years of my life in Teeparru, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the river Godavari. My father Prasad was a lorry driver and my mother Kumari, a house wife. Though they were illiterate, my parents instilled in me and my elder sister (Sirisha) the importance of studying.

Looking back, one thing that surprises me now is the way my father taught me when I was in the 1st and 2nd standards. My father would ask me questions from the text book, and I would answer them. At that time, I didn't know he could not read or write but to make me happy, he helped me in my studies!

Another memory that doesn't go away is the floods in the village and how I was carried on top of a buffalo by my uncle. I also remember plucking fruits from a tree that was full of thorns.

I used to be very naughty, running around and playing all the time with my friends.. I used to get a lot of scolding for disturbing the elders who slept in the afternoon. The moment they started scolding, I would run away to the fields!

I also remember finishing my school work fast in class and sleeping on the teacher's lap!

January 11, 1993, the fateful day

On the January 11, 1993 when we had the sankranti holidays, my mother took my sister and me to a nearby village for a family function. From there we were to go with our grandmother to our native place. But my grandmother did not come there. As there were no buses that day, my mother took a lift in my father's friend's lorry. As there were many people in the lorry, he made me sit next to him, close to the door.

It was my fault; I fiddled with the door latch and it opened wide throwing me out. As I fell, my legs got cut by the iron rods protruding from the lorry. Nothing happened to me except scratches on my legs.

The accident had happened just in front of a big private hospital but they refused to treat me saying it was an accident case. Then a police constable who was passing by took us to a government hospital.

First I underwent an operation as my small intestine got twisted. The doctors also bandaged my legs. I was there for a week. When the doctors found that gangrene had developed and it had reached up to my knees, they asked my father to take me to a district hospital. There, the doctors scolded my parents a lot for neglecting the wounds and allowing the gangrene to develop. But what could my ignorant parents do?

In no time, both my legs were amputated up to the hips. I remember waking up and asking my mother, where are my legs? I also remember that my mother cried when I asked the question. I was in the hospital for three months.

Life without legs

I don't think my life changed dramatically after I lost both my legs. Because all at home were doting on me, I was enjoying all the attention rather than pitying myself. I was happy that I got a lot of fruits and biscuits.

'I never wallowed in self-pity'

The day I reached my village, my house was flooded with curious people; all of them wanted to know how a boy without legs looked. But I was not bothered; I was happy to see so many of them coming to see me, especially my friends!
All my friends saw to it that I was part of all the games they played; they carried me everywhere.

God's hand

I believe in God. I believe in destiny. I feel he plans everything for you. If not for the accident, we would not have moved from the village to Tanuku, a town. There I joined a missionary school, and my father built a house next to the school. Till the tenth standard, I studied in that school.

If I had continued in Teeparu, I may not have studied after the 10th. I may have started working as a farmer or someone like that after my studies. I am sure God had other plans for me.

My sister, my friend

When the school was about to reopen, my parents moved from Teeparu to Tanuku, a town, and admitted both of us in a Missionary school. They decided to put my sister also in the same class though she is two years older. They thought she could take care of me if both of us were in the same class. My sister never complained.

She would be there for everything. Many of my friends used to tell me, you are so lucky to have such a loving sister. There are many who do not care for their siblings. She carried me in the school for a few years and after a while, my friends took over the task. When I got the tricycle, my sister used to push me around in the school. My life, I would say, was normal, as everyone treated me like a normal kid. I never wallowed in self-pity. I was a happy boy and competed with others to be on top and the others also looked at me as a competitor.

Inspiration

I was inspired by two people when in school; my Maths teacher Pramod Lal who encouraged me to participate in various local talent tests, and a brilliant boy called Chowdhary, who was my senior. When I came to know that he had joined Gowtham Junior College to prepare for IIT-JEE, it became my dream too. I was school first in 10th scoring 542/600. Because I topped in the state exams, Gowtham Junior College waived the fee for me. Pramod Sir's recommendation also helped. The fee was around Rs 50,000 per year, which my parents could never afford.

Living in a residential school was a big change for me because till then my life centred around home and school and I had my parents and sister to take care of all my needs. It was the first time that I was interacting with society. It took one year for me to adjust to the new life.

There, my inspiration was a boy called K K S Bhaskar who was in the top 10 in IIT-JEE exams. He used to come to our school to encourage us. Though my parents didn't know anything about Gowtham Junior School or IIT, they always saw to it that I was encouraged in whatever I wanted to do.. If the results were good, they would praise me to the skies and if bad, they would try to see something good in that. They did not want me to feel bad. They are such wonderful supportive parents.

Life at IIT Madras

Though my overall rank in the IIT-JEE was not that great (992), I was 4th in the physically handicapped category. So, I joined IIT, Madras to study Computer Science. Here, my role model was Karthik who was also my senior in school. I looked up to him during my years at IIT- Madras. He had asked for attached bathrooms for those with special needs before I came here itself. So, when I came here, the room had attached bath. He used to help me and guide me a lot when I was here.

I evolved as a person in these four years, both academically and personally. It has been a great experience studying here. The people I was interacting with were so brilliant that I felt privileged to sit along with them in the class. Just by speaking to my lab mates, I gained a lot..

'There are more good people in society than bad ones'

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to Prof Pandurangan and all my lab mates; all were simply great. I was sent to Boston along with four others for our internship by Prof Pandurangan. It was a great experience.

Joining Google R&D

I did not want to pursue PhD as I wanted my parents to take rest now. Morgan Stanley selected me first but I preferred Google because I wanted to work in pure computer science, algorithms and game theory. I am lucky

Do you know why I say I am lucky?

I get help from total strangers without me asking for it. Once after my second year at IIT, I with some of my friends was travelling in a train for a conference. We met a kind gentleman called Sundar in the train, and he has been taking care of my hostel fees from then on.

I have to mention about Jaipur foot. I had Jaipur foot when I was in 3rd standard. After two years, I stopped using them. As I had almost no stems on my legs, it was very tough to tie them to the body. I found walking with Jaipur foot very, very slow. Sitting also was a problem. I found my tricycle faster because I am one guy who wants to do things faster.

One great thing about the hospital is, they don't think their role ends by just fixing the Jaipur foot; they arrange for livelihood for all. They asked me what help I needed from them. I told them at that time, if I got into an IIT, I needed financial help from them. So, from the day I joined IIT, Madras, my fees were taken care of by them. So, my education at the IIT was never a burden on my parents and they could take care of my sister's Nursing studies.

Surprise awaited me at IIT

After my first year, when I went home, two things happened here at the Institute without my knowledge. I got a letter from my department that they had arranged a lift and ramps at the department for me. It also said that if I came a bit early and checked whether it met with my requirements, it would be good.

Second surprise was, the Dean, Prof Idichandy and our Students General Secretary had located a place that sold powered wheel chairs. The cost was Rs 55,000. What they did was, they did not buy the wheel chair; they gave me the money so that the wheel chair belonged to me and not the institute. My life changed after that. I felt free and independent.

That's why I say I am lucky. God has planned things for me and takes care of me at every step.

The world is full of good people.

Hidden treasure

2010-03-01T11:38:00.011+05:30

Dew drops on the grass blades on the bank of River Panchaganga

Travelling teaches us a number of things. One among them is finding joy in those thing which are at your immediate disposal but you have taken them for granted and have ignored. Sometimes interesting places to travel to are found just next to your neighbourhood. You only have to look for them. When you find and visit these places, you are left spellbound.

Curiously enough, the life too is not much different than this. The things you are searching for a long while are floating around you. And suddenly on one fine morning (or on evening or on, possibly, night), you identify them with their utility to you or a relation which was earlier hidden to you. And realise that that was what you had been looking for since so long! Morale of the paragraph is "look around with curious eyes" and "keep looking".

Solar Eclipse on 15th January 2010

2010-01-15T23:02:00.006+05:30

Photos taken at Ichalkaranji, M.S., INDIA (16°41'21"N, 74°28'14"E)

Sangharsh Bindu

2009-12-29T00:00:00.042+05:30

I found a notebook with my late father's hand writing just two day back. For me it was a lost-treasure-found. I oversaw the content and found many notes. Several of them were elaborate. A particular one was a short story based on a real incident in his life. He has narrated his feelings and general atmosphere around him during those days. I think that the story is a mirror that reflects his mind and also the subtle ways, in which he has reacted to his son's adventures. The story also reflects how he has fought over concern arising out of some risks and has replaced it with a welcoming enthusiasm. It also plays a mirror for his son! I am posting the original Marathi script here.

संघर्षबिंदू
विनायक मोरेश्वर दुधगांवकर

संघर्ष हा कथेचा आत्मा असतो. कथेत निर्माण केलेला प्रश्न व त्याची सोडवणूक यावरच कथेचा गोडवा, औत्सुक्य अवलंबून असते. हे कथेचे तंत्र आणि कथेचा मंत्र. महाभारतातील प्रत्येक प्रसंग आणि संपूर्ण महाभारतच त्याचे सार्थ उदाहरण आहे. पण आपल्या ही छोट्याशा सीमित जीवनातही अनेक प्रसंग येत असतात, घडत असतात. ते मोठे नसतात. पण त्याची कथा मात्र बनू शकते हे निश्चीत.

आमच्या प्रसादने (मुलाने) बुलेट घेतली. घेतली ती मद्रास मध्ये. लहानपणी ल्यूना वर तो बसला, माझ्या पूर्वीच्या लॅंब्रेटा स्कूटरवरून तो पुढे उभा राहूनच फिरला. मग सायकल शिकला. मग घरी M50 आली. ती त्याने चालवली. M80 आली. अवंती (ऑटोगियर) आली. आणि त्याच्या आईने ख़ास त्याच्या साठी त्याच्या मामाची इंड सुझुकी घेवून दिली. तेव्हा तो I.I.T. मध्ये M.Tech. करीत होता. पुढे तो टेल्को मध्ये आल्यावर त्याने सुझुकी घरी पाठवली व नवे सुझुकी फिएरो घेतली. मोठे भारदस्त वाहन. भरपूर वापरले आणि Ph.D. साठी मद्रासला गेल्यावर ते मद्रासला नेलेले इकडे आणले व दिले. सायकल वापरीत होता. पण वाहन न वापरण्याचा उत्साह ओसरला असावा. प्रसादचा एक दिवस फोन.

"बाबा, मी बुलेट घेतोय. आई, ऐकतेयस ना?"
"किंमत किती?" मी.
"एकूण ८० हजार पडतील," प्रसाद.
मी गप्प. फोनवर त्याची आईशी चर्चा. मी गप्पच.
"बाबा बोलत का नाही? गप्प का?" प्रसाद.
मी हसतच सांगितले "कर्ज काढून तू घेतोस, घे. हे धाडस तरूणपणातच शोभते." वगैरे वगैरे.

प्रसादने बुलेट घेतली. तो कुठे कुठे गेला हे फोन वरून कळायचे.

६ फेब्रुवारी २००४. प्रसाद आज मद्रास वरून निघणार असे फोनवर काही दिवस आधी बोलला होता. सकाळ पासून त्याचा फोन असा नव्हताच. मी ही दोन तीन वेळा फोन केला होता पण फोन लागत नव्हता. लागला तेव्हा कळाले, तो मद्रासहून निघाला आहे. सकाळी लवकर. फक्त... बुलेटने निघाला आहे!

वार्ता घरात पसरली. किती मोठे अंतर. नवीन गाडी. एकटा येणार? वगैरे वगैरे. M80 वरून फार तर एका खेपेत मिरज, कवठे, तासगांव, भिलवडी, आष्टे, वडगांव करून परत गंगानगरी आलो की मोठा प्रवास केला असे मानणारे आम्ही. विचारानेच छाती दडपून जावी. झाले! सर्वच अस्वस्थ झालो.

सायंकाळी त्याने चित्रदुर्ग मधल्या एका हॉटेल मध्ये मुक्काम केला. दुसरे दिवशी सकाळी सव्वासहा वाजता मी त्याला फोन करून उठवले. तेथून हुबळी-धारवाड, बेळगांव व निपाणी मार्गे सहा पर्यंत सहजीवनमध्ये, असे त्याचे नियोजन. दुपारी फोन आला की हुबळीत जेवण केले आहे आणि तिथून निघतो आहे.

बेळगांव मध्ये पोचलो असा चार वाजता फोन. पुढचा फोन साडेसहा वाजता. "मी निपाणीजवळ आलो आहे. उशीर झाला आहे. वाटेत छोटासा अपघात झाला होता. मला व गाडीला काही झाले नाही. रस्ता ओलांडणार्‍या गुरांच्या कळपाला ट्रकने धडक दिली होती. आल्यावर सविस्तर सांगतो."

सायंकाळी अप्पा नुली आलेले, मिलिंदही आलेला. प्रथम मीही कशाला हे धाडस केले म्हणणारा. मात्र नंतर मीही पेढे आणले. हार सूर्यवंशी मेस्त्रींनी आणला. आरतीची तयारी केली. कशाला हे धाडस केले हा सर्वांचा सूर मी थांबविला व आता तो इतक्या लांबून येतो आहे, त्याच्या धाडसाचे कौतुक करुया म्हणून सांगितले. प्रसाद तसा उशीरा आला. पण त्याचे उचित स्वागत आम्ही केले. 'नवी बुलेट' हार परिधान करून आमच्या घरात विसावली. आम्हालाही आनंदाचे भरते आले.

प्रसादने प्रवास फार व्यवस्थित केला होता. गती नाही. ६०-७० किलोमीटर नंतर थांबायचे. काहीतरी खायचे असल्यास खायचे. दुपारी थोडी विश्रांती. त्यामुळे तो आला तेंव्हा फारसा कंटाळलेला, थकलेला नव्हता. कशाला धाडस हा संघर्षबिंदू संपला होता. उकल ही झाली होती.

(11/02/2004)

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Sunset at Ganapatipule

2009-11-30T23:41:00.002+05:30

It's not every day we find a clear sky over the western ghats during evenings. In this trip to Ganapatipule (Ratnagiri District, M.S.), I was certainly lucky to be able to click a few nice snaps of the sun just before it set into the sea. Posted below is the outcome of the shooting session.

Honey Bee

2009-11-18T23:00:00.003+05:30

Honeybees busy as ever.

Venue: Gumbaz Garden, Shrirangapattanam (Mysore), Karnataka

Understanding Mahābhārat 1

2009-11-06T22:44:00.015+05:30

The following thoughts are the translated extracts from the chapter on the life of Maharshi Vedavyās by Shri Pandurang Shastri Athavale. His discourses on ten most significant contributors of ancient Indian literature are published in the Marathi book 'Rishi-Smaran'. I am going to make an effort to update this 'Understanding Mahābhārat' series with the thoughts of various thinkers and historians about this great epic in subsequent episodes. Given the nature of this portal, I will not be able keep the posts in this series continuous. So I have created a link to this series from where all the articles will be accessible to the reader along with the course of publishing the posts. The link is put on the side column.

Maharshi Vedavyās wrote purān and Mahābhārat. But unlike purān, Mahābhārat is a historical document. The vast document and its events have mesmerised the whole world. Dr. Winternids says, "No literature produced in this world is a match for Mahābhārat." If I state the same, you will say that a brahmin will certainly endorse another brahmin. Here it is not me but it is a statement by Dr. Winternids. He says, "We will not find any event in the history of universe that will match the enormity of Mahābhārat."

The history documented by Vedavyās has positivity and spontaneity. Take a case of Bhishma, or of Krishna or even Draupadi. None retracts from his or her chosen path. Every one is strong willed. In this document, the author has chronicled the lives of people who have not lost balance even when their life is in enormous danger. Nobody's mind sways in difficult situations nor anybody dishonors his or her word. Incredible! Mahābhārat is full of lives spent while enduring pains and sorrows. Maharshi Vālmiki's Rāmāyan too has pain and sorrow in it. But his portrayal is more divine or godly. It sounds less human. Whereas, the depiction of pain and sorrow by Vedavyās in Mahābhārat is human.

Flock of Black-headed Ibis

2009-11-05T23:46:00.005+05:30

Tracking a flock of Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) with the camera in the riverside Ichalkaranji.

Sunset photographs

2009-10-24T23:12:00.003+05:30

Sunset over the River Panchaganga at Ichalkaranji

Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe by Mukesh

2009-10-24T18:53:00.004+05:30

My all time favorite song...

MUKESH - Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe

(Kisiki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar
Kisika dard mil sake to le udhaar
Kisike waaste ho tere dil mein pyaar
Jeena issi ka naam hai) -2

(Maana apni jeb se fakeer hain
Phir bhi yaaron dil ke ham ameer hain) -2
Mitte jo pyaar ke liye woh zindagi
Jale bahaar ke liye woh zindagi
Kisi ko ho na ho hamein to aitbaar
Jeena issi kaa naam hai

(Rishta dil se dil ke aitbaar ka
Zinda hai hameen se naam pyaar ka) -2
Ke mar ke bhi kisi ko yaad aayenge
Kisi ke aansuon mein muskuraayenge
Kahega phool har kali se baar baar
Jeena issi kaa naam hai
Kisiki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar..

Source

Diwali greetings

2009-10-17T12:01:00.001+05:30

As I am living through the morning of Diwali (Deepavali), I can't help but remember again and again the conversation I had with my father on the Diwali eve three years ago. While discussing about the festivals and their possible origins, he also talked about the Diwali. He said, "Like a little lamp lightens its little surroundings, a row of little lamps lightens a larger surroundings. Similarly an human being can lighten his surroundings; whereas an organised act - metaphor to numerous lamps organised in rows - can enlighten the universe." I couldn't agree less! I spent almost a week with him, a complete one without any other disturbance. What I mean by disturbance is that I was left with little energy to leave home, mainly to meet friends or for aimless wandering, due to high fever. The week later turned out to be my last acquaintance with him. All the while during Diwali I was cursing the fever. After that Diwali, I could only thank that 'untimely' fever which left me with my father's company!

I probably got deviated from what I really wanted to write. I logged in in order to wish all a happy, prosperous and safe Diwali. :-) I clicked the photograph in the greeting, which I have posted below, last evening after we placed lamps in front of our house at Ichalkaranji. The lamp is put on the back of a little earthen camel beautifully decorated with silk clothing, strings and a tiny bell around its neck. I hope the readers will like it. I have borrowed the message from the greeting sent by my friend Shri Jayant Pethe. I thank him for the greeting.

With this thought and also with the thought of a lamp spreading light to its surroundings, I sign off.

How men and women think

2009-10-08T22:13:00.024+05:30

Today afternoon I received this mail from a friend asking me about my opinion about what a gift to her friend's fiance could be. The question and answers got to an interesting level and I decided to post this exchange here after seeking permission from her. This is how the conversation proceeded.

My friend:

"One of my friends is going to meet her fiance. He is of your age. She needs ideas of what to gift him. He is sober and likes traditional things like you. As far as what she has told me, his nature matches with yours. So tell me your ideas of any gift you would like to receive. :D

It's very urgent. So please tell me by tonight as per Indian time.

Cheers."

Prasad:

What's his nationality? Since you are sitting at across seven seas, I get this doubt! :D
Anyway, for sake of a quick answer I assume your friend is in India and her fiance is Indian. :-)
Let her not buy an expensive gift.
It can be something which he can keep with him or on the work table. e.g. pen, pen-set, pen stand, a photo frame (without photo or with a photo of his parents/family). Frame without photo will give him a subtle hint. He will invariably put her photo there. :D
A greeting - handmade - does wonders.
I also think of a ready made greeting with a personal message. Without a personal message, it may become mere a formality. Bigger the message more the positive impact!
Let me not confuse you with too many options. So I conclude. Wish your friend all the best on my behalf.

Warm regards"

My friend:

"wowwwwwwwwwwwwww :D

Sure. Thanks a lot.
By the way, just curious... why not an expensive gift? I told her get an expensive leather wallet for him. :D"

Prasad:

"Buying an expensive gift might give the guy impression that the girl is trying to show off her wealth, especially when the girl's family is better off financially than the guy's family. It will be a big turn off. I mean at least for me if I am pushed in such situation. Any way, the intentions, innocent or otherwise, become very clear by seeing how the girl presents the gift. :-) If the guy is convinced that there is no hidden purpose behind the expensive gift, he will accept it gleefully; he'll accept rather anything that comes for free. But I guess it is very subjective. :-)

Wallet itself is not a very expensive thing. Then wallet is not a gift I am very much fond of. Though I gladly received it when my sister gifted one to me.:D See, guys can be like that too!

Before that she had found my wallet in a weathered condition and had not sifted through it, thankfully so.

PS: This is becoming an interesting piece of article. Can I post it on my blog?"

My friend:

"Yes, yes! Sure!! :D Actually I have some more doubts since this very much reveals how men and women think.

For our subject, the guy lives in Delhi but is damn rich. My friend is from middle class. She says that she doesn't want to impress him an all, but gift him something which he will cherish for a long time. He also has told her, it seems, that he likes old things, like antique stuff. She is also thinking of a hand watch pretty much like the one Gandhiji used to have. But I influenced her with my wallet ideas. She is also thinking of the photo frame now. :D Her Mom suggests a shirt. :D Poor girl! But yes, you can write a blog post about this.

It's interesting to know how men and women think and also to know how men from different age group think. I guess you are from the next generation to me and my generation guys have different tastes as much as I see."

Prasad:

"Correction: I belong to a previous generation than that of yours. :D

Given the relatively humbler economical background of the girl, I believe she should not at all buy anything that is expensive for him. For once, the idea of an expensive gift for a rich is too much to afford for a middle class girl. Something like Rs 5999 for an Italian leather wallet! Middle class person will think of it as an obscene price. But given the situation of the girl, she will not find it that high and will try to stretch her finances and will end up in buying. Will that impress the guy? I am not sure. I believe a gift with a very personal touch, a gift which the girl has actually spent time with will be most valuable to the guy. The guy will remember it and preserve it for its shear simplicity.

Shirt is a common gift. There is a purpose behind gifting cloths to the would-be son-in-law which is to offer something that is utterly essential and also is very intimate. Cloths fulfill the purpose by fitting close to the body and also covering them. A kind of abstract idea. It is a very good one but is a common one. Well off guys have a lot of shirts, Ts, jeans at their disposal and they don't care for more unlike girls, who will be swept off their feet if they are presented with a sari or a beautiful dress. I don't want to label any of such inclinations good or bad, but this difference exists for sure. The shirt with other dress material can always be presented to the guy after the marriage."

My friend:

"Agreed. :D Perfect! :)"

I must thank my friend for allowing me to post this conversation here, which I have done before posting this and also am doing it here. Thank you! :-)

eka mulaachi goshT

2009-09-25T18:09:00.074+05:30

गेले अनेक दिवस डोक्यात एक कल्पना घोळत होती. ती म्हणजे दुसरी तिसरीत असताना अभ्यास न करणे, व्रात्यपणा करणे आणि त्याचा परिणाम म्हणून बाईंकडून किंवा सरांकडून रागावून घेणे अथवा छड्या खाणे, ही नित्याचीच बाब असते. हो, हो! माझा स्वत:चाही अनुभव कमी अधीक प्रमाणात असाच काहीतरी आहे. मान्य करायला काय हरकत आहे! तुमचा काय वेगळा होता काय? असो. तर मी म्हणत होतो की असे असताना शाळेबद्दल थोडीशी संमिश्र भावना लहानपणी असायची. त्याबद्दल दोन ओळी लिहायच्या असा विचार मनात घोळत होता. काल रात्री त्याला मूर्त स्वरुप द्यायचे ठरवले आणि त्या 'दोन ओळी' लिहून पूर्ण केल्या. त्या अशा...

एका मुलाची गोष्ट

ती पाहताच माझी शाळा
हृदयी जो धडका भरला
जणू बांधची वाटे फुटला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

कारण की आठवते मजला
काही घोटाळाची झाला
गणिती पाठची दिधला
बाईंनी सोडविण्याला

खेळ-बाहुल्ल्या मधुनी
करण्याचा राहूनी गेला
नाही कारण द्यायायाला
काही उपाय नाही उरला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

तो इतिहासाचा तास
तिथे सनावळी अनेक
पण स्मरणी नसेची एक
पडे प्रसंग समोर बाका
वर्गी गनिमाचाची धोका
हुरहूर वाटे मजला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

दिले व्याकरणाचे पाठ
म्हणी घोका हा गृहपाठ
दिसे गुरुजींची छडी ताठ
म्हणती डोके हे की माठ?
आता तिच्याशी माझी गाठ
कसे उत्तर द्यावे त्यांला
प्रश्न भलता अवघड बनला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

तोवर मज आठवली
ती देशपांड्यांची मनुली
अन वळलेली पाऊले
अलगद अशी थबकली

थांबूनी तेथे क्षणभर
शाळेकडेची वळली
तशी छडीची नी बाईंची
आठवण मागे सरली

पण हाय घातची झाला
वर्गाच्या दाराशीच
गुरुजींची पडली गाठ
ते पटकन झाले पुसते
अभ्यास करितशी का रे?
का हालवितो मुंडी नुसते?
का मुखीचा चंबू झाला?
मग मार असाची मिळाला
वाटे नकोची कळो कुणाला!

पण मनात मनुची गोष्ट
करी छडीचा घावही मस्त
असे म्हणून आत मी शिरलो
नकळत बाईंशीची भिडलो
मग क्रुद्ध बाईंनी केला
माझ्या पितरांचा उद्धार
समोर दिसला मजला
दिवसाचा भागाकार

कोप-याकडे मी वळता
सभोवार नजर ती फिरली
नजरेसच नाही पडली
ती देशपांड्यांची मनुली
कुठूनी बुद्धी सुचली
आणि शाळेवर मी आलो
झाला मोठा पश्चाताप
वर मनुचा राग अमाप

धरता धरता अंगठे
अश्रूंचा झाला पात
बैठका ही काढीवल्या
अहो मोजूनी त्याही सात
सारी पोरं फिदीफिदी हसली
इथे आमची स्वारी रुसली

मनु होती काल म्हणाली
आणीन हलवा उद्या डब्यातूनी
आणि ताईनी दिली तर
दोन मोरपिसे वहीतूनी

आज ती आलेली नाही
हलवान पिसे ही नाही
वर होई कानांची अन्
तळहातांची लाही लाही

थोड्या अवधी नंतरी
बाकावरी मोर्चा आमचा बसला
तिथे पिटपाट जनू फुदकला
कानी लागोनी हळुची म्हणाला
छकुली पहा ती लेल्यांची
बोलाविती आहे तुजला

तोवरी छोट्या सुट्टीची
घंटा ती घणघणली
आज डब्यात जम्मत आहे
धावत येता म्हणाली छकुली

ती अन् मी अन् जनू
बाहेर पाणी प्याया निघालो
भागाकारातील बाकी
नकळत विसरून गेलो
नकळत विसरून गेलो

***

Lessons from Purana

2009-07-16T19:46:00.008+05:30

Purāna are the holy scriptures in the Hindu philosophy. They are collections of numerous stories about lives of different people or Gods. Each of them suggests one or more lessons about the life. Each mortal being is expected to keep these lessons in mind at ever juncture of his life. But if one asks what exactly is the sum total or the gist of all the lessons from Purāna, then he can be told that:

अष्टादशपुराणानां सारं व्यासेन कीर्तितम्।
परोपकार: पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम्॥

अर्थात्
महर्षी व्यासांनी सर्वांपर्यंत पोहोचविलेल्या सर्व अठरा पुराणांचं सार केवळ दोनं तत्वात सामावलं आहे.
दुस-याला मदत करणं हे पुण्य आणि दुस-याच्या पीडेचे कारण बनणं हे पाप.

In English,

Only two sentences can sum up the eighteen Purāna by Maharshee Vyās.
To help others is the divine deed. To be the source of trouble for others is the sin.

My portrait photography

2009-06-06T17:46:00.004+05:30

I have uploaded some portrait photographs in the album on picasaweb. These photos are taken by various cameras ranging from the basic VGA camera phones to the digital SLRs over a period of a few years. I have tried to catch the expressions of the people around me as candidly as possible. I have not tried to set any particular criterion. But certainly these are the photos where I have applied an extra thought while clicking. You can watch the photos as a slide show by clicking on the thumbnail given below. I will keep uploading newer portraits in future.

khel khel mein thaa ek raajaa

2009-05-29T19:10:00.032+05:30

Shri Mangesh Padgaonkar is one of the most celebrated contemporary poet in Marathi Literature. His poems usually have a touch of humor and a philosophy towards life; that is of living it well and to its fullest. He also has composed some serious poems and his भातुकलीच्या खेळामधली is one among the top. This poem is immensely popular among youths and veterans alike. This poem was immortalized by the voice of Shri Arun Date and the music by Shri Yashwant Deo. Many of us grew listening to this Arun Date's song, as we referred to this poem, without much pondering over its intense meaning. Since when I have understood the meaning of this melodious song, I have felt the desire to translate it to either English or Hindi language. In the evening, when I almost decided to take up the task, I realized that, with my present mood, I had preferred Hindi over English for this particular poem. I felt that I would convey the feelings in the poem more easily in Hindi. While doing so, I have taken the liberty of using different expressions than those used in the original poem. But I have kept the theme same as the original every where in the poem. As I conclude my preface, I hope to have given justice to the poem to the best of my ability.

खेल खेल में था एक राजा और एक उस की रानी,
अधूरा रह गया खेल रह गयी अधूरी एक कहानी

राजा कहता 'मैं तो हूँ तेरे प्रेम का प्यासा भूखा
जुड़ी हुयी है मेरे भाग्य से तेरे हाथ की रेखा'
यह सुन के क्यों आया रानी के नयनो में पानी?

रानी सोचके कहती देखते दूर दूर का तारा
'नहीं है मैंने सोचा हो कल दूजे नगर का फेरा'
किंतु राजा देर से समझा गूढ़ अटल यह बानी!

राजा पूछे उससे 'क्यों दो जीव मिलते हैं?
खिलने से पहले ही क्यों कुछ फूल बिखर जातें हैं?'
इन प्रश्नों का कोई उत्तर दे नहीं पायी रानी

क्या रानी ने छलके आंसू जाते नगर से कुछ दूर?
क्या राजा सह पाया सदमा देखके सपने चूर?
समय के साथ हवा में फहली एक उदास विरानी

खेल खेल में था इक राजा और एक उस की रानी,
अधूरा रह गया खेल रह गयी अधूरी एक कहानी

*** ***
राग : वृंदावनी सारंग (नादवेध)
मूल मराठी कविता के संगीत के आधार पर गायी जा सकती है |
*** ***
bhatukalichya khela madhali English translation interpretation
मंगेश पाडगांवकर

ChoTese jeevan - Madhushala

2009-05-23T12:24:00.007+05:30

'Chotese jeevan' from madhuṣālā by Harivansh Rai Bachchan

सुमुखी तुम्हारा सुंदर मुख ही मुझको कंचन का प्याला
छलक रही है जिसमें माणिक रूप मधुर मादक हाला,
मैं ही साकी बनता मैं ही पीने वाला बनता हूँ
जहाँ कहीं मिल बैठे हम तुम वहीं गयी हो मधुशाला |
***
छोटेसे जीवन में कितना प्यार करूँ, पी लूँ हाला,
आने के ही साथ जगत में कहलाया 'जानेवाला',
स्वागत के ही साथ विदा की होती देखी तैयारी,
बंद लगी होने खुलते ही मेरी जीवनमधुशाला |
***
कवी हरिवंशराय बच्चन (मधुशाला)

Sarvātmakā Sarveshwarā - English interpretation

2009-05-18T21:39:00.011+05:30

'Sarvātmakā Sarveshwarā' was written by noted Marathi poet V. V. Shirwadkar alias Kusumāgraj. This poem is a prayer which urges the supreme being for the enlightenment and upliftment of one's self and it is rendered by Kach, the son of Bruhaspati, on behalf of Devayāni in the play "Yayāti āNi Devayāni" (1966). The play is based on a famous tale from Mahābhārata. This prayer is a fallout of an incident as portrayed in the climax of the play; when Yayātee, having lost his youth and vitality due to a curse by Devayāni, is lying weak and pale on the ground. Kach urges Devayāni to reconcile her anger and in turn makes her agree to forgive Yayāti and to give him back his youth. Kach prays:

सर्वात्मका सर्वेश्वरा
गंगाधरा शिवसुंदरा
जे जे जगी जगते तया
माझे म्हणा, करूणा करा ||

आदित्य या तिमिरात व्हा
ऋग्वेद या हृदयात व्हा
सृजनत्व द्या, द्या आर्यता
अनुदारिता, दुरिताहरा ||

The prayer is an invocation and in the play it is rendered as the sanjeevani mantra. I have tried to interpret the poem in English prosaic form as it is the best I could arrive at. I am aware that it is difficult to call the lines typed below as verses. Never the less I have made every effort to be as conforming as possible to the original meaning of 'Sarvātmakā'.

Oh, you the one, who is infinitely wise
One, whom each mortal being worships
One, who bears holy Ganga upon his head
Oh my magnificent and divine Shiva, I pray to you.

I am a small element living in this universe
This universe is your kingdom and you are the ruler
You are the one who owns all its living creatures
I pray to you to look at them, have mercy at them
They may be doing good, they may be doing bad
Own them, and their ignorance, and save them.

Today the darkness has surrounded this universe
Oh Shiva, how can you see such sorrow and the plight?
I pray to you to be the Sun to show me the light
Enlighten me by teaching the principles and values of life
By the way of reinstating them in my heart
Give me the ability to do good and see good
Give me the courage, the strength and the power
And in turn make me a virtuous living being.

Oh, you the one who has conquered the evil
And the irrationals and the selfish and the cruel
Oh, you the one who has always sided with the good over the bad
I pray to you.

*** ***

शब्द: वि. वा. शिरवाडकर (कवी कुसुमाग्रज)
संगीत व स्वर: पं. जितेंद्र अभिषेकी
राग: भैरवी
नाटक: ययाति आणि देवयानी (१९६६)

*** ***

yeh dil yeh paagal dil meraa by Ghulam Ali

2009-05-09T11:13:00.015+05:30

This beautiful Urdu gazal has some words which have kept me guessing about what they stand for and also have made me wonder if I have spelled them correctly. I have highlighted them with red colour. I will be grateful if someone tells me the significance and the correct spelling of these words through the comment box displayed below the post.

ये दिल ये पागल दिल मेरा
क्यों बूझ गया? आवारगी ...
इस दश्त में इक शहर था
वो क्या हुआ? आवारगी ... ||१||

कल शब मुझे बेशक्ल की
आवाज ने चौंका दिया
मैंने कहा, 'तू कौन है?'
उसने कहा, 'आवारगी' ... ||२||

इक तू कि सदियों से मेरे
हमराह भी, हमराज भी
इक मैं कि तेरे नाम से
लायाश ना, आवारगी ... ||३||

ये दर्द की तन्हाईयाँ
ये दश्त का वीरां सफर
हम लोग तो उकता गए
अपनी सुना, आवारगी ... ||४||

लोगों भला ऊस शहर में
कैसे जियेंगे हम
जहाँ, हो जुर्म तन्हा सोचना
लेकिन सजा, आवारगी ... ||५||

इक अजनबी झौंके ने जब
पूछा मेरे ग़म का सबब
सेहरा की भीगी रेत पर
मैंने लिखा, आवारगी ... ||६||

कल रात तन्हा चाँद को
देखा था मैंने ख़्वाब में
मुहसीन मुझे रास आयेगी
शायद सदा, आवारगी ... ||७||

ये दिल ये पागल दिल मेरा
क्यों बूझ गया? आवारगी ...
इस दश्त में इक शहर था
वो क्या हुआ? आवारगी ... ||

*** ***

स्वर : गुलाम अली

*** ***

*** ***
ye dil ye pagal dil mera

bhatukalichya-khelaa-madhali

2009-05-09T10:12:00.008+05:30

भातुकलीच्या खेळामधली राजा आणिक राणी
अर्ध्यावरती डाव मोडला, अधुरी एक कहाणी

राजा वदला, 'मला समजली, शब्दावाचून भाषा
माझ्या नशिबासवे बोलती तुझ्या हातच्या रेषा'
का राणीच्या डोळा तेव्हा दाटुनि आले पाणी?

राणी वदली बघत एकटक दूरदूरचा तारा
'उद्या पहाटे दुस-या वाटा, दुज्या गावचा वारा'
पण राजाला उशिरा कळली गूढ अटळ ही वाणी!

तिला विचारी राजा,'का हे जीव असे जोडावे?
का दैवाने फुलण्याआधी, फूल असे तोडावे ?'
या प्रश्नाला उत्तर नव्हते, राणी केविलवाणी

का राणीने मिटले डोळे दूर दूर जाताना ?
का राजाचा श्वास कोंडला गीत तिचे गाताना ?
वा-यावरती विरून गेली एक उदास विराणी

भातुकलीच्या खेळामधली राजा आणिक राणी
अर्ध्यावरती डाव मोडला, अधुरी एक कहाणी

*** ***

शब्द : मंगेश पाडगावकर
संगीत : यशवंत देव
स्वर : अरुण दाते
राग : वृंदावनी सारंग (नादवेध)

*** ***

*** ***
bhaatukalichyaa, Mangesh Padgaonkar, Padgavkar, Yashawant Dev, Deo, Arun Date
*** ***
I have translated this song in Hindi.
Click here to read the translation.

Chennai Flowershow 2009

2009-05-03T00:07:00.005+05:30

Flower exhibition at YMCA Grounds, Royapetta, Chennai

mujhse biChad ke - Jagjit Singh

2009-04-26T00:07:00.003+05:30

मुझ से बिछड के खुश रहते हो
मेरी तरह तुम भी झूठे हो

इक टहनी पे चाँद टिका था
मैं यह समझा तुम बैठे हो

उजले उजले फूल खिले थे
बिल्कुल जैसे तुम हसते हो

तुम तनहा दुनिया से लडोगे
बच्चों सी बातें करते हो

मुझ से बिछड के खुश रहते हो ...

*** ***

स्वर: जगजीत सिंह (सहेर)

*** ***

*** ***
saher

yeh daulat bhi le lo - Jagjit Singh

2009-04-25T23:31:00.010+05:30

यह दौलत भी ले लो, यह शौहरत भी ले लो
भले छीन लो मुझ से मेरी जवानी
मगर मुझ को लौटा दो बचपन का सावन
वह कागज़ की कश्ती, वह बारीश का पानी

मुहल्ले की सब से पुरानी निशानी
वह बुढिया जिसे बच्चे कहते थे नानी
वह नानी की बातों में परियों का डेरा
वह चेहरे की झुरियों में सदियों का फेरा
भुलाएँ नहीं भूल सकता है कोई
वह छोटी सी रातें, वह लंबी कहानी

कडी धूप में अपने घर से निकलना
वह चिडिया, वह बुलबूल, वह तितली पकडना
वह गुडिया की शादी पे लडना झगडना
वह झूलों से गिरना, वह गिर के संभलना
वह पीतल के छल्लों के प्यारे से तोहफे
वह टूटी हुयी चूडियों की निशानी

कभी रेत के ऊँचे टीलों पे जाना
घरौंदे बनाना, बनाकर मिटाना
वह मासूम चाहत की तसवीर अपनी
वह ख्वाबों खिलौनों की जागीर अपनी
ना दुनिया का गम था, न रिश्तों के बंधन
बडी खूबसूरत थी वह जिंदगानी

यह दौलत भी ले लो, यह शौहरत भी ले लो
भले छीन लो मुझ से मेरी जवानी
मगर मुझ को लौटा दो बचपन का सावन
वह कागज़ की कश्ती, वह बारीश का पानी

*** ***
स्वर: जगजीत सिंह

*** ***

*** ***
वो कागज की कश्ती, yeh doulat bhi le lo

hum tere shahar mein aaye hain - Ghulam Ali

2009-04-25T22:51:00.010+05:30

हम तेरे शहर में आयें हैं मुसाफिर की तरह
सिर्फ़ इक बार मुलाक़ात का मौका दे दे ...

मेरी मंजील है कहाँ, मेरा ठिकाना है कहाँ?
सूबह तक तूझ से बिछड कर मुझे जाना है कहाँ?
सोचने के लिए इक रात का मौका दे दे ...

अपनी आंखों में छूपा रखे हैं जुगनू मैंने
अपनी पलकों पे सजा रखे हैं आंसू मैंने
मेरी आंखों को भी बरसात का मौका दे दे ...

आज की रात मेरा दर्द-ऐ-मुहब्बत सुन ले
कपकपाते हुए होठों की शिकायत सुन ले
आज इज़हार-ऐ-ख़यालात का मौका दे दे ...

भूलना था तो ये इकरार किया ही क्यों था?
बेवफा तू ने मुझे प्यार किया ही क्यों था?
सिर्फ़ दो चार सवालात का मौका दे दे ...

हम तेरे शहर में आयें हैं मुसाफिर की तरह
सिर्फ़ इक बार मुलाक़ात का मौका दे दे ...

*** ***

गीत: कैसर उल जाफरी
स्वर: गुलाम अली

*** ***

*** ***
Ghulam Ali, Qaiser Ul Jafri, hum tere shahar mein aaye hain musafir ki tarah

saanga kasa jagaayach - Mangesh Padgaonkar

2009-04-11T19:46:00.008+05:30

सांगा कसं जगायचं?
कण्हत कण्हत की गाणं म्हणत
तुम्हीच ठरवा!

डोळे भरून तुमची आठवण
कोणीतरी काढतंच ना?
ऊन ऊन दोन घास
तुमच्यासाठी वाढतंच ना?
शाप देत बसायचं की दुवा देत हसायचं
तुम्हीच ठरवा!

काळ्याकुट्ट काळोखात
जेंव्हा काही दिसत नसतं
तुमच्यासाठी कोणीतरी
दिवा घेऊन ऊभं असतं
काळोखात कुढायचं की प्रकाशात उडायचं
तुम्हीच ठरवा!

पायात काटे रुतून बसतात
हे अगदी खरं असतं,
आणि फुलं फुलून येतात
हे काय खरं नसतं?
काट्यांसारखं सलायचं की फुलांसारखं फुलायचं
तुम्हीच ठरवा!

पेला अर्धा सरला आहे
असं सुद्धा म्हणता येतं
पेला अर्धा भरला आहे
असं सुद्धा म्हणता येतं
सरला आहे म्हणायचं की भरला आहे म्हणायचं
तुम्हीच ठरवा!

सांगा कसं जगायचं?
कण्हत कण्हत की गाणं म्हणत
तुम्हीच ठरवा!

*** ***
शब्द: मंगेश पाडगांवकर

bebasi jurm hai - lyrics

2009-04-11T16:53:00.004+05:30

बेबसी जुर्म है, हौसला जुर्म है
जिंदगी तेरी इक इक अदा जुर्म है ॥

ऐ सनम तेरे बारे में कुछ सोचकर
अपनी बारे में कुछ सोचना जुर्म है ॥

याद रखना तूझे मेरा इक जुर्म था
भूल जाना तूझे दूसरा जुर्म है ॥

क्या सितम हैं कि तेरे हसीं शहर में
हर तरफ गौर से देखना जुर्म है ॥

*** ***
शायर:
स्वर: जगजीत सिंह
अल्बम: In Search

*** ***

konas thauk kasa

2009-04-05T03:09:00.011+05:30

कोणास ठाऊक कसा पण सिनेमात गेला ससा
सश्याने हलविले कान, घेतली सुंदर तान ... सा नि ध प म ग रे, सा रे ग म प sss
दिग्दर्शक म्हणाला "वा वा", ससा म्हणाला "चहा हवा!"

कोणास ठाऊक कसा पण सर्कशीत गेला ससा
सश्याने मारली उडी, भर भर चढला शिडी
विदूषक म्हणाला "छान छान", ससा म्हणाला "काढ पान!"

कोणास ठाऊक कसा पण शाळेत गेला ससा
सश्याने म्हंटले पाढे ... बे एकं बे बे दोनी चार बे त्रिक सहा, बे चौक आsssठ
सश्याने म्हंटले पाढे घडघड वाचले धडे
गुरूजी म्हणाले "शाब्बास", ससा म्हणाला "करा पास!"

कोणास ठाऊक कसा पण शाळेत गेला ससा

*** ***
गीत: राजा मंगळवेढेकर
स्वर: शमा खडे
संगीत: पं. श्रीनिवास खळे

*** ***

music @ dhingana.com

*** ***

to kya baat ho...

2009-04-01T21:39:00.021+05:30

बेहोश पडे हम सोचते हैं कि
इक सपना दिख जाये तो क्या बात हो ...

फूलों के संग इक खिलता चेहरा
जो मुस्कराये तो क्या बात हो ... ||

वो नाजूक हथेली आँगन हमारे
मेंहदी भर आये तो क्या बात हो ...

बाँहों पर सजे खिलखिलाते कंगन
गुनगुनायें इधर भी तो क्या बात हो ... ||

परदानशीन का हटकर वो परदा
चाँद दिख जाये तो क्या बात हो ...

जालिम ये नजर इस प्यासे दिल के
पार हो जाये तो क्या बात हो ... ||

हाय... ये घने लहेराते गेसू
तनिक छाँव दिलाये तो क्या बात हो ...

इन लब्जों का झरना सुनसान बगीचा
जन्नत बनाए तो क्या बात हो ... ||

बल खाती जवानी सपने में मुझ को
हसीं सफर ले जाये तो क्या बात हो ...

ऐ माशूका तेरे ज़ानों पे आखरी
बीत जाये दो लम्हें तो क्या बात हो ... ||

पल भर का सपना पल भर के लिए
उनके सपने में आये तो क्या बात हो ...

पल भर की कहानी पल भर में कोई
उनको सुनाये तो क्या बात हो ... ||

*** ***

tere khushaboo mein base khat by Jagjit Singh

2009-03-21T00:10:00.011+05:30

तेरे खुशबू में बसे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे?
प्यार में डूबे हुये ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे?
तेरे हाथों के लिखे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे?

जिन को दुनिया की निगाहों से छुपाये रखा,
जिन को इक ऊम्र कलेजे से लगाए रखा,
दिन जिन को जिन्हें इमान बनाए रखा ...

जिन का हर लब्ज मुझे याद पानी की तरह,
याद थे मुझ को जो पैगाम-ए-जुबानी की तरह,
मुझ को प्यारे थे जो अनमोल निशानी की तरह ...

तूने दुनिया की निगाहों से जो बचकर लिखे,
साल-हा-साल मेरे नाम बराबर लिखे,
कभी दिन में तो कभी रात को उठकर लिखे ...

तेरे खुशबू में बसे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे ...
प्यार में डूबे हुये ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे ...
तेरे हाथों के लिखे ख़त मैं जलाता कैसे ...
तेरे ख़त आज मैं गंगा में बहा आया हूँ,
आग बहते हुये पानी में लगा आया हूँ।।

*** ***
शायर :
स्वर : जगजीत सिंह

*** ***

*** ***
ग़ज़ल, नज्म, Revival With Jagjit Singh, 1993

kuchh na kuchh to jaroor honaa hai - by jagjit singh

2009-03-18T18:34:00.005+05:30

कुछ ना कुछ तो जरूर होना है,
सामना आज उनसे होना है।

तोडो फेंको रखो, करो कुछ भी,
दिल हमारा है क्या खिलौना है?

जिंदगी और मौत का मतलब,
तुमको पाना है तुमको खोना है ।

इतना डरना भी क्या है दुनिया से,
जो भी होना है, वो तो होना है।

उठ के महफ़िल से मत चले जाना,
तुमसे रोशन ये कोना कोना है।

शायर:
स्वर: जगजीत सिंह

Click here to play this song

***
Jagjit Singh

charag-o-aftab gum badi haseen raat thi - gazal by Jagjit Singh

2009-03-18T17:53:00.012+05:30

चराग-ओ-आफताब गूम, बड़ी हसीन रात थी,
शबाब की नकाब गूम, बड़ी हसीन रात थी।

मुझे पिला रहे थे वो कि ख़ुद ही शम्मा बुझ गयी,
गिलास गूम शराब गूम, बड़ी हसीन रात थी।

लिखा था जिस किताब में कि इश्क तो हराम है,
हुई वही किताब गूम, बड़ी हसीन रात थी।

लबों से लब जो मिल गए, लबों से लब ही सिल गए,
सवाल गूम जवाब गूम, बड़ी हसीन रात थी।

चराग-ओ-आफताब गूम बड़ी हसीन रात थी,
शबाब की नकाब गूम बड़ी हसीन रात थी॥

शायर: सुदर्शन फ़ाकिर
स्वर: जगजीत सिंह

Click here to play this song

***

Jagjit Singh, Gulzar

mud mud ke na dekh - Shree 420

2009-03-02T16:17:00.006+05:30

I like this song for its magnificent set, for its orchestration, its picturization and choreography. I like this song for initial glimpse of beautiful Nargis, beautiful and elegant Nadira and the handsome Raj Kapoor. I like this song for its change in rhythm and change in the mood halfway through the song. I like this song for the way it is written and also for its meaningfulness. I like this song for its place in the film. The film would be incomplete if this song was not there.

मुड़ मुड़ के ना देख मुड़ मुड़ के
जिंदगानी के सफर में
तू अकेला ही नहीं है
हम भी तेरे हमसफ़र हैं

आए गए मंजिलों के निशाँ
लहरा के झूमा झूका आसमाँ
लेकिन रुकेगा न ये कारवां

नैनो से नैना जो मिला के देखे
मौसम के साथ मुस्कूरा के देखे
दुनिया उसी की है जो आगे देखे

दुनिया के साथ जो बदलता जाए
जो इसके सांचे में जो ढलता जाए
दुनिया उसी की है जो चलता जाए

मुड़ मुड़ के ना देख मुड़ मुड़ के...

***
गीत : शैलेन्द्र
संगीत : शंकर - जयकिशन
स्वर : आशा भोसले, मन्ना डे
चित्रपट : श्री ४२० (१९५५)

BHONSLE, MANNA DE, RAJ KAPOOR , NARGIS , NADIRA , LALITA PAWAR , IFTEKHAR

*** ***

Sunset at Halasuroo Lake

2009-02-25T23:20:00.006+05:30

I spent a quiet evening at Halasuroo Lake in the heart of Bengaluru in the ever pleasant company of my cousin Amar Dada. I could unleash my photographic instinct after a long gap as the scene before our eyes changed from late afternoon hues to the dark nightfall. Before the evening I suffered from infection in throat and severe cold for more than two days. I also was suffering from a more than usual tiredness on the account of my day long ride from Ichalkaranji to Bangalore. It proved to be a good change from two-three day's of the compulsory rest. Halasuroo Lake visit cheered me just at the right time.

A day long excursion in the Kolhapur region

2009-02-01T23:16:00.004+05:30

Fine morning on Miraj Kolhapur State Highway earlier in the day.

Statue of Bajiprabhu Deshpande at Fort Panhala. Photo taken in the evening.
Exposure: 30 sec, f5.6, ISO400

Exposure: 30 sec, f5.6, ISO400
Note my blurred face! Late to arrive at the position.

Chennai MRTS

2009-01-17T11:47:00.000+05:30

Makar Sankranti

2009-01-14T12:13:00.002+05:30

Dear friends,

uttarāyana (उत्तरायण) is the six month period between Makar Sankranti around January 14 and Karka Sankranti around July 14, when the sun travels towards north on the celestial sphere. The period from July 14 to January 14 is known is dakshināyana (दक्षिणायन). The starting of uttarayana is celebrated as Makara Sankranti throughout India, which is declared as National festival by Government of India.

Makara Sankranti (a sanskrit term) is the harvest festival of India. Sankranti means transmigration of Sun from one rāshi (zodiac in Indian astrology) to the other. Hence there are 12 such Sankrantis in all. But the transition of Sun from 'Dhanu' Rāshi (Sagittarius) to 'Makara' Rāshi (Capricorn) marks the starting of Uttarayana which means northern movement of Sun. This is particularly significant for us living in the northern hemisphere of the earth as it means the beginning of the warmer season after the rains and the cold of the winter. Since uttarayana is considered as the auspicious time, Makara Sankranti is celebrated as the beginning of that period. Diversified India has got diversified ways to celebrate this festival.

o Punjab - Lohri
o Uttarakhand - Uttarayani
o Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andra Pradesh and Kerala - Makar Sankranti
o Assam - Bhogali Bihu
o Gujarat and Rajastan - Uttarayan (Kite flying festival)
o In Tamilnadu and Tamils in Sri Lanka - Pongal

In most places, more prominently in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, people fly colourful kites in skies changing the skyscape entirely and bringing in a cheerful atmosphere of an important festival.

One can easily make out that this festival signifies the importance of a celestial phenomenon of the cycles within the solar system straight into our culture. It is due to this that the festival, a truly secular one, is an unique festival which falls on 14th of January each year. Naturally the celebrations too go beyond the races and religions.

I wish you all a Happy Makar Sankranti.
***
(with inputs from Piyush Kapopara and WWW)

Chennai skies

2009-01-10T18:38:00.000+05:30

Skyscapes from the terrace of our appartment in Velachery

A walk along Marine Drive of Puducherry

2009-01-07T20:03:00.001+05:30

apni marzi se kahan apne - Jagjit Singh

2009-01-02T17:37:00.004+05:30

अपनी मर्जी से कहाँ अपने सफर के हम हैं,
रुख हवाओं का जिधर का है, उधर के हम हैं ||

पहले हर चीज थी अपनी मगर अब लगता है,
अपने ही घर में किसी दूसरे घर के हम हैं ||

वक्त के साथ मिट्टी का सफर सदियों से,
किस को मालूम कहाँ के हैं, किधर के हम हैं ||

चलते रहते हैं कि चलना है मुसाफिर का नसीब,
सोचते रहते हैं, किस राह गुजर के हम हैं |

(रुख हवाओं का जिधर का है, उधर के हम हैं,
अपनी मर्जी से कहाँ अपने सफर के हम हैं ...)

***

गीत : शायर निदा फाजली
स्वर, संगीत : जगजीत सिंह

***

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***

Nida Fazli

jeevan ke din - bade dilwala

2008-12-12T12:40:00.001+05:30

जीवन के दिन छोटे सही, हम भी बड़े दिलवाले
कल की हमें फुरसत कहाँ, सोचें जो हम मतवाले ||

जीने का रंगीन मौसम, ये खूबसूरत ज़माना
अपने यही चार पल हैं, आगे है क्या किस ने जाना |
जीना जिसे आता है वो, इन मे ही मौज मना ले
कल की हमें फुरसत कहाँ, सोचें जो हम मतवाले ||

ये जिंदगी दर्द भी है, ये जिंदगी है दवां भी
दिल तोड़ना ही न जाने, जाने ये दिल जोड़ना भी |
इस जिंदगी का शुक्रिया, सद के मैं ऊपरवाले
कल की हमें फुरसत कहाँ, सोचें जो हम मतवाले ||

***

गीत : मजरूह सुल्तानपुरी
संगीत : राहुलदेव बर्मन
स्वर : किशोर कुमार
चित्रपट : बडे दिलवाला (१९८२)

***

***
"Bade Dilwala", Rahul Dev Burman, R D Burman, Kishore Kumar, Majarooh Sultanpuri, Rishi Kapoor, Tina Munim, Sarika
***

sunya sunya maiphileet majhyaa

2008-12-02T10:45:00.000+05:30

सुन्यासुन्या मैफिलीत माझ्या तुझेच मी गीत गात आहे,
अजूनही वाटते मला की, अजूनही चांदरात आहे ||

उगीच स्वप्नात सावल्यांची कशास केलीस आर्जवे तू,
दिलेस का प्रेम तू कुणाला तुझ्याच जे अंतरात आहे ||

कळे न मी पाहते कुणाला, कळे न हा चेहरा कुणाचा,
पुन्हा पुन्हा भास होत आहे तुझे हसू आरशात आहे ||

उगाच देऊ नकोस हाका, कुणी इथे थांबणार नाही
गडे, पुन्हा दूरचा प्रवासी कुठेतरी दूर जात आहे ||

सख्या तुला भेटतील माझे तुझ्या घरी सूर ओळखीचे,
उभा तुझ्या अंगणी स्वरांचा अबोल हा पारिजात आहे ||

***

गीत - सुरेश भट
संगीत - पं. हृदयनाथ मंगेशकर
स्वर - लता मंगेशकर
चित्रपट - उंबरठा (१९८१)
राग - पटदीप (नादवेध)

***

***
"sunya sunya maiphileet majhya", "sunyaa sunyaa" from Umbaratha, Suresh Bhat, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar, Smita Patil, Girish Karnad
***

ganjalyaa othaas maajhyaa

2008-11-27T16:37:00.003+05:30

गंजल्या ओठास माझ्या धार वज्राची मिळू दे,
आंधळ्या आत्म्यात माझ्या सूर्य सत्याचा जळू दे ||

पांगळा बंदिस्त माझा जन्म आकाशून जावो,
वादळी आवेग माझा चार भिंतींना कळू दे ||

सारखे सौंदर्य माझ्या कोरड्या गात्री खळाळो,
सारखे अस्तित्व माझे पेटताना दरवळू दे ||

लाभु दे लाचार छाया मोठमोठ्यांना परंतू,
तापल्या मातीत माझा घाम मानाने गळू दे ||

आणु दे गा वंचकांना क्रूस छ्द्माचा दयाळा,
रक्त येशूचे परी डोळ्यांत माझ्या साकळू दे ||

***

गीत - सुरेश भट
संगीत - पं. हृदयनाथ मंगेशकर
स्वर - रवींद्र साठे
चित्रपट - उंबरठा (१९८१)

***

***
"ganjalyaa othaas maajhyaa", "ganjalya othas majhya" from Umbaratha, Suresh Bhat, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Ravindra Sathe, Smita Patil
***

Mumbai and India will bounce back

2008-11-27T13:05:00.002+05:30

In the wake of the ongoing terrorist attack in Mumbai, the most dastardly attack in India so far, it is clear that it is a tough time we, the Indians, are going through. My heart goes to all those innocent souls, Indians and foreign nationals, brave cops and commandos who've lost their life and those who have sustained life threatening injuries. But I feel that this tough time will pass and it is inevitable that Mumbai and India will brave this terror attack. And Mumbai and India will bounce back.

The whole world is condemning this attack on India and is showing solidarity to India's war on terror. We must be grateful for this gesture of the world community but I must state that this is our war and we have to fight our war with or without any support from others.

In response to the breaking news of the terror attacks in Mumbai on New York Times' website, I found the following noteworthy comment which I consider as a representative of world community's feelings towards the terrorism and its unfortunate impact on India, the largest democracy in the world.

32. November 26, 2008 5:04 pm, Link

For too long, this war on terrorism has been used in the US as a bludgeon to advocate a specific set of policies disproportionate to its risk and more in-line with the long-term interests of the Bush administration. It's not that, here in the US, we should not have been scared after 9/11, but maybe we were too scared, and gave up too much, to the point of hysteria. That overreaction lent itself to manipulation by those with disingenuous motives, and risked the sincere support of America's friends and allies.

Now India is being hit by terrorist attacks matched in drama and fear, if not yet in scale, to 9/11. India froze the assets of foreign terrorists suspects for the US after we were attacked 7 years ago. We responded with a weak and unfocused policy in the region, which included propping up a destabilizing dictatorship with India's tensest foreign relationship.

It's time America did right by India, and issued a statement of solidarity in light these attacks. It should not include a plan of action that the US takes, but instead a commitment of resources to help India investigate or go after the groups that perpetrate these crimes. The mandate should be qualified to free us from obligation to be involved or support unilateral activity on the part of India in territory it disputes with Pakistan, so that we're not rattling any cages. But in any case, it's time this war on terrorism meant something more than a cash hole, long lines at airports, and the Bush administration projecting its idea of force onto the 21st century. And it's time America meant something more to a country like India than an entity only slightly more troubling and dangerous as an enemy than as a friend.
— Pierce, Atlanta

Such comments also indicate a change of the perception of the world community towards India and in other words the realization of the ground facts about ground facts about the active involvement of India's neighbors in the terrorist activities withing India and also around the globe. India should realize that it is time to capitalize upon these positive sentiments.

Our democracy and the political system is like an elephant. An elephant walks slowly, changes its course slowly. But it is an intelligent animal too. The elephant becomes unstoppable for the wildest animals on the earth when it starts running with a motto and a mission in mind. I am sure that our system will become wiser with each such experience and start acting firmly and proactively to counter each of such attempts, to destabilize the integrity of the nation, and even to go further to eliminate this menace in its roots. Sooner is better.

Celebration of Life - 'nahi punyachi mojani'

2008-11-24T17:13:00.012+05:30

There are many ways in which the existence of the human being, or of any other creature for that matter, can be described. Each one of these ways has some uniqueness in its description. Well known Marathi poet B. B. Borkar described this existence as a sublime physical entity where upon a duty to undergo the cycle of life is entrusted by The Creator, Brahma as per the Hindu philosophy and beliefs. As per this philosophy, each of the creatures has a certain brahma-tatva inside him. The brahma-tatva can be best defined as the elemental extract of The Creator himself. This idea is not much different than the amber eyes inherited by the son from his father or the blond hairs inherited by the daughter from her mother. This brahma-tatva leads us to follow a certain destiny as per the philosophy. Poet Borkar has presented this philosophy in a metaphorical manner in the Marathi poem, ‘náhi puNnyáchi mojaNie’. The metaphors he has presented are simple but the message that his poem conveys is in sound conformation with the Hindu philosophy. In this article, I have made an effort to interpret the poem to the best of my ability and to present the same poem in English even though it is next to impossible for me to match the precision and economy of Poet Borkar. If the English version conveys the message even partly, I will consider it as a great achievement for my limited literary ability.

Celebration of Life

We don’t count any good deed
To no guilt we need to pay heed
Like the sacred waters of Ganga
Caressing the bed of rocks with a great speed.

We don’t involve us, nor do we indulge
No fear of disappointment, nor any grudge
Like the pollens traveling from flower to flower
Riding on the wind created by His power.

We’ve no form, no name, but the trance
Like the sky and its vast expanse
Incense stick to the blue fragrance
Filling His space with its pleasing advance.

We see us as the flowers offered to Him
Flowers celebrating their life at His feet
With a leap into the sacred water
Then in the womb of the Mother Earth, they enter
Till His next call, they will get sooner or later.

***
Original Marathi Poem

नाही पुण्याची मोजणी
नाही पापाची बोचणी
जिणे गंगौघाचे पाणी

कशाचा न लागभाग
कशाचा न पाठलाग
आम्ही हो फुलांचे पराग

आम्हा नाही नाम-रूप
आम्ही आकाश स्वरूप
जसा निळा निळा धूप

पुजेतल्या पानाफुला
मृत्यू सर्वांग सोहळा
धन्य निर्माल्याची कळा

***

गीत : बा. भ. बोरकर
संगीत : पं. जितेंद्र अभिषेकी

***

Musical rendering of the poem by Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki

The Feline Family

2008-11-21T23:51:00.004+05:30

This family stays nearby my residence. These photos were taken a
couple of months back when the kittens were young.

justaju jiski thee - gazal

2008-11-16T01:00:00.000+05:30

कि बिछडे हैं तो अब, किस से मिलाती है हमें
जिंदगी देख ये क्या रंग दिखाती है हमें ...
... गर्दिश-ए-वक्त को कितना बड़ा एहसाँ है कि आज
ये जमीं चाँद से बेहतर नजर आती है हमें

...

जुस्तजू जिस की थी उस को तो न पाया हम ने |
इस बहाने से मगर देख ली दुनिया हम ने ||

तुझ को रुसवा ना किया, ख़ुद भी पशेमाँ ना हुए |
इश्क की रस्म को, इस तरह निभाया हम ने ||

कब मिली थी, कहाँ बिछडी थी, हमें याद नहीं |
जिंदगी तुझ को तो बस ख्वाब मे देखा हम ने ||

ऐ अदा और सुनाये भी तो क्या हाल अपना |
उम्र का लंबा सफर, तय किया तनहा हम ने ||

जुस्तजू जिस की थी उस को तो न पाया हम ने |
इस बहाने से मगर देख ली दुनिया हम ने ||

शायर: शहरयार
गायिका: आशा भोसले
संगीतकार: खय्याम
चित्रपट: उमराव जान (१९८९)

MIP Lands on the Moon Surface

2008-11-14T23:27:00.004+05:30

The first impression of Indian expedition is made on the moon by the successful landing of the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) over the moon surface at 8.31 pm. The probe was dropped from the Chandrayaan-I traveling in the moon orbit from a distance of approximately 100 km. During twenty two minutes descent towards the surface, MIP, with its four sides painted with tricolour, has taken pictures of the moon which will be made available on Saturday. I join all my fellow Indian citizens in the eagerness to see some of those pictures. It is also said that the landing and the subsequent tests taken up by MIP will help validate the landing systems which are being developed by ISRO. With the successful landing of MIP, India joins the USA, the erstwhile USSR and European Union to achieve this success. It is such a proud moment for our country and our scientist fraternity.

The following pictures are published by ISRO those are sent by MIP during its descent towards moon surface.

Footprints

2008-11-14T11:00:00.000+05:30

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the
beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand;
one belonging to him,
and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed
before him, he looked back at the
footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the
path of his life there was only one set
of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned
the Lord about it.
'Lord, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is only
one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed
you the most you would leave me.'
The Lord replied, 'My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
during your times of trial and suffering, when
you see only one set of footprints in the sand
it was then that I carried you.'

Trivia:

Ella H. Scharring-Hausen, Princeton Educator and Sunday School Teacher wrote the Footprints in the Sand poem June 6, 1922 at the age of 22. Its first line read 'One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.' Ella H. Scharring-Hausens poem is now public domain property according to the copyright law of 1909. The Footprints in the Sand poem was later rewritten with permission of its owner in April Passion Week 1963 by Ella H. Scharring-Hausen's great niece, Carolyn Joyce Carty, a six year old child prodigy.

The Footprints poem famous first line then became, 'One night a man had a dream.' This first line was written by Robert Louis Scharring-Hausen. Carolyn Joyce Carty revised the complete text into its present form, which has become known as the more popular version of the Footprints poem.

Well, this is just one version. The story of this famous poem doesn't end here. A little more search takes me to two more versions, with the similar meaning and message. One of them is penned by Mary Stevenson in 1936 and the other by Margaret Fishback Powers in 1964. It is also found that there is also one Burrell Webb who claims to have authored this poem in 1958 while he was distressed as his girlfriend left him.

Follow the blog through Follower's Widget

2008-11-11T16:30:00.001+05:30

Blogger.com team has come up with one good widget. It enables you to follow new posts on my blog. This way it will save some of my energy to tell you that "hey, only recently I've updated my blog!". It also will help me to know about you. All that you have to do is to click on the "Follow this blog" on a small widget present in the sidebar and follow the instructions. If you're a blogger or have your own website, then you can expect some visitors jumping to your blog from the list of followers. Just in case you don't want to reveal your identity and still want to get updates about my blog, you can follow my posts anonymously.

I recently came across two very interesting and funny but insightful images while browsing web. The first one speaks volumes about the cricket mania prevailing in Indian subcontinent. The action of a protester hurling a stone is akin to a furious fast bowler and it seems as if the policeman is trying to punish the 'bowler' by sending his 'delivery' across the fence.

Image courtesy: eSakal.com

The second one is more about our addiction to the internet and it emphasizes the need to give internet a break once in a while.

Source unknown

awara hun - lyrics

2008-11-08T15:43:00.005+05:30

आवारा हूँ, आवारा हूँ
या गर्दिश में हूँ
आसमान का तारा हूँ
आवारा हूँ ...

घरबार नहीं संसार नहीं
मुझ से किसी को प्यार नहीं
उस पार किसे से मिलने का इकरार नहीं
मुझ से किसी को प्यार नहीं
सुनसान नगर अनजान डगर का प्यारा हूँ
आवारा हूँ ...

आबाद नहीं बरबाद सही
गाता हूँ खुशी के गीत मगर
जख्मों से भरा सीना है मेरा
हसती है मगर ये मस्त नजर
दुनिया, दुनिया मैं तेरे तीर का
या तक़दीर का मारा हूँ
आवारा हूँ ...

गीतकार: शैलेन्द्र
गायक: मुकेश
संगीतकार: शंकर जयकिशन
चित्रपट: आवारा (१९५१)

hoyto tumari jonno - Manna Dey

2008-10-10T23:13:00.008+05:30

I liked this song from Bengali movie 'Teen Bhubner Parey' the moment I first listened to it. Then I watched the video and to my delight it was picturised on Tanuja, one of my favorite actresses. Actually it is a love song where Soumitra, veteran Bengali actor, expresses his feelings to Tanuja on screen. Based on the western beats, the solo song is a silent and melodious affair. And should I tell how Manna Dey has sung this song? This song easily fits into some of the best songs Mannada has ever sung. The camera steadily moves and shows expressions of the pair beautifully. Picturisation itself is worth many accolades. I could not understand the meaning of the song word by word. I could not wait till my friend sent the literal translation of the song though I could find the lyrics, transliterated in English script, from internet. From the translation I can say that the song has very intensely expressed the state of the hero's mind. Now with help of the friend, I have corrected the lyrics and put them into Devanagari script. I have taken maximum possible care to produce the correct pronunciation of words. But errors are bound to be present and I am open to the suggestions.

हॉयतो तोमारी जंनो
होयेछी प्रेमे जे बाँनो
जानी तुमी अनोंनो
आशार हाथ बढाय

जोदी कोखॉनो एकांते
चेयेछी तोमाय जांते
शुरू थेके शेष प्रांते
छूटे छूटे गेछीताय

आमी जे निजेई मत्तो
जानी ना तोमार शर्तो
जोदी बा घोटे अनोर्थो
तोबूओ तुमाये चाय

हॉयतो तोमारी जंनो ...

हाहा... आ हां... आहां... हं हं हं ... आ आ आ ... आ...

आमी जे दुरंतो
दुचोखे अनंतो
झॉडेर दिगांतो जुडेइ श्वोप्नो छोडाय

(तुमी तॉ बॉलॉनी मंदों
तोबू केनो प्रतिबोंधो) (२)
एखोना मोनेर दंधो
शब छेडे चोलो जाय

हॉयतो तोमारी जंनो
होयेछी प्रेमे जे बाँनो
जानी तुमी अनोंनो
आशार हाथ बढाय

जोदी कोखॉनो एकांते
चेयेछी तोमाय जांते
शुरू थेके शेष प्रांते
छुते छुते गेछीताय
... ...

jeevan

2008-09-29T01:43:00.007+05:30

एका मित्राचा ओर्कुट वर स्क्रॅप आला. ती एक कविता होती. त्यामध्ये जीवनावर टिप्पणी होती. तशी काहीशी नकारात्मकच. सहज वाटले की त्यात थोडी भर घालावी. पण लवकरच लक्षात आले की मी त्यात असमर्थ आहे. तरीही मनात काही विचार आले जे माझ्या प्रत्येक बाबीमध्ये सौंदर्य शोधणार्‍या वृत्तीशी साजेसे होते. ते विचार मी कागदावर उतरवायला सुरूवात केली. त्यातून या ओळी निर्माण झाल्या. या कवितेचे शीर्षक ठरवताना मी मुळच्या शिर्षकामध्ये थोडा बदल केला. साहजीकच तो बदल म्हणजे "सुंदर" या शब्दाची भर आहे.
*** *** ***

जीवन एक सुंदर गाणं असतं
गाणार्‍याचा सूर लागायचा अवकाश की
सुखातील व दु:खानंतरच्या सुखातील अनुभूतीच्या
तंद्रीत घटकाभर हरवून जाणं असतं |

जीवन एक सुंदर गाणं असतं
कधी तलत मेहमूदचे अंतरंगी भिडणारे आर्त सूर
कधी किशोर रफीचं धुंद प्रीतकथन
अशा हिंदोळणार्‍या बहराचं येणं जाणं असतं |

जीवन एक सुंदर गाणं असतं
नुसतंच ऐकावं की तुम्ही खुलून गावं
हा तुमचा संभ्रम टाळण्यासाठी बनलेलं
शोलेमधल्या अमिताभचं गंमतशीर नाणं असतं |

जीवन एक सुंदर गाणं असतं |

***

pahile quiz (first quiz)

2008-08-22T18:50:00.004+05:30

नुकतच आमच्या इथल्या मुलांसाठी चाचणी परिक्षा - क्वीझ - घेण्यात आली. बहुतेक जणांना याची सवय असते पण पहिल्या वर्षातील मुलांना हा अनुभव पहिलाच असतो. आणि हा अनुभव मनात थोडी धाकधूक, थोडी उत्कंठा निर्माण करणारा असतो. या अनुभवावर विचार करता करता काही ओळी सुचल्या. त्यामध्ये नंतर थोडी भर पडली आणि एकूण या प्रकाराने एका नादकाव्याचे रूप घेतले. ते इथे सादर करीत आहे.

पहिलं क्वीझ
आकाशात वीज
पावसात भीज
खाटेवर नीज

पहिलं क्वीझ
भीतीचे बीज
घोकम्पट्टी
वर्षाचे लीज

पहिलं क्वीझ *
मरतोय मीच
मनीच होई
कष्टाचं चीज

पहिलं क्वीझ #
उगाच झीज
जुन्या ब्रेडला
नवीन चीज

पहिलं क्वीझ
मेंदूची झीज
कशास करशी
उगाच टीज

पहिलं क्वीझ
समोर चंगीझ
आणि वर म्हणे
बी ऍट इझ

पहिलं क्वीझ
प्रश्न सोळा
फोड भोपळा
इति चंगीझ

पहिलं क्वीझ
मोकळं रान
मोडे मान
फुटे काळीज

पहिलं क्वीझ *
प्रश्न मीच
धडपडतोय अजून
दूर क्षितीज

पहिलं क्वीझ
कड कड टप टप
तड तड ठप ठप
सांडे वीज

पहिलं क्वीझ
यस यस नो नो
यस यस नो नो
यस इट इज!

पहिलं क्वीझ
आकाशात वीज
पावसात भीज
खाटेवर नीज

***

* सहाय्य : अभिजीत कुलकर्णी
# सहाय्य: गिरीश कुलकर्णी

***

kabhi khamosh baithoge - Jagjit Singh

2008-08-22T15:40:00.002+05:30

कभी खामोश बैठोगे कभी कुछ गुनगुनाओगे
मैं उतना याद आऊँगा मुझे जितना भुलाओगे

कोई पूछ बैठेगा खामोशी का सबब तुम से
बहोत समाझाना चाहोगे मगर समझा ना पाओगे

कभी दुनिया मुकम्मल बन के आयेगी निगाहो में
कभी मेरी कमी दुनिया की हर इक शय में पाओगे

कही पर भी रहे हम तो मोहब्बत फिर मोहब्बत है
तुम्हे हम याद आएंगे हमे तुम याद आओगे

स्वर : जगजीत सिंह
"Love is Blind"

maajha bolaNa maajha chaalaN - Sandeep Khare

2008-07-27T02:24:00.001+05:30

माझ बोलण, माझ चालण, माझ हसण, माझ वागण (३)
उन सावलीच्या परी, कधी नकोस हवस (२)
तुम्ही म्हणाल तस, हो हो तुम्ही म्हणाल तस, ह ह तुम्ही म्हणाल तस, हो हो तुम्ही म्हणाल तस

(कधी वाटते म्हणावे, गीत केवळ आजचे
आणि डोळ्यांच्या तळ्यात, दीप सोडावे कालचे) (२)
कुणी वाहती तळ्यात, कुणी हळव्या डोळ्यात (२)
तुम्ही कासावीस, हो हो तुम्ही कासावीस, ह ह तुम्ही म्हणाल तस, हो तुम्ही म्हणाल तस

(दिसभर आसावलो, एका कवड्याश्यासाठी
सांज ढळता ढळता, ऊन पोचल दाराशी) (२)
आता सावलीच्या ओठी, येड्या ऊनाची बासरी (२)
गाण येडपिस, हो हो गाण येडपिस, हो हो तुम्ही म्हणाल तस, हो हो तुम्ही म्हणाल तस

(पैलतीर गाठताना, आले ध्यानी गेला धीर
पार पोचताच झाला, पैलतीर ऐलतीर) (२)
(जीव कोणत्या काठचा, कुण्या नाहीश्या गावचा) (२)
आता म्हणाल तस, हो हो आता म्हणाल तस, हो हो तुम्ही म्हणाल तस, हा हा तुम्ही म्हणाल तस

माझ बोलण ...

शब्द: संदीप खरे
"दिवस असे की"

man talyaat malyaat - Sandeep Khare

2008-07-27T01:11:00.002+05:30

मन तळ्यात मळ्यात, जाईच्या कळ्यात (२)
मन नाजुकशी मोतिमाळ (२) तुझ्या नाजुकश्या गळ्यात
मन तळ्यात ...

पुरी चाहुलींचे मृ गजळ (३)
वाजे पाचोळा मृ गी कश्यात ||१||
मन तळ्यात ...

इथे वार्‍या ला सांगतो गाणी, माझे राणी
इथे वार्‍या ला सांगतो गाणी
आणि झुळूक तुझ्या मनात ||२||
मन तळ्यात ...

भिडू लागे रात्र अंगाला गे, हो ... हो!
भिडू लागे रात्र अंगाला गे
तुझ्या नखाची कोर नभात ||३||
मन तळ्यात ...

माझ्या नयनी नक्षत्र तारा (३)
अन चांद तुझ्या डोळ्यात ||४||
मन तळ्यात मळ्यात, जाईच्या कळ्यात

शब्द: संदीप खरे
"दिवस असे की"

MRTS

2008-07-08T16:21:00.000+05:30

Mass Rapid Transit System

A panned photograph of a local train leaving Velachery Station traveling towards North Chennai caught while we were experimenting with new camera Santosh had acquired recently.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel XT (350 D)
Exposure: 1/15 s, f/5.6, ISO 100

man vadhaay vadhaay - sant bahiNaabaai

2008-07-03T22:41:00.004+05:30

मन वढाय वढाय
उभ्या पीकातलं ढोर
किती हाकला हाकला
फिरी येतं पिकांवर || १ ||

मन मोकाट मोकाट
याच्या ठाई ठाई वाटा
जशा वाऱ्यानं चालल्या
पान्यावऱ्हल्या रे लाटा || २ ||

मन लहरी लहरी
त्याले हाती धरे कोन ?
उंडारलं उंडारलं
जसं वारा वहादनं || ३ ||

मन पाखरू पाखरू
याची काय सांगू मात ?
आता व्हतं भुईवर
आता गेलं आभायात || ४ ||

मन जह्यरी जह्यरी
याचं न्यारं रे तंतर
अरे इचू - साप बरा
त्याले उतारे मंतर! || ५ ||

मन चपय चपय
त्याले नही जरा धीर
तठे व्हयीसनी ईज
आलं आलं धरीवर || ६ ||

मन येवढं येवढं
जसा खाकसंचा दाना
मन केवढं केवढं ?
आभायात बी मायेना || ७ ||

देवा, कसं देलं मन
आसं नही दुनियांत!
आसा कसा रे तू योगी
काय तुझी करामात! || ८ ||

देवा आसं कसं मन ?
आसं कसं रे घडलं ?
कुठे जागेपनी तूले
असं सपनं पडलं! || ९ ||

- संत बहिणाबाई

या कवितेमध्ये बहिणाबाईंनी मनाच्या आंदोलनांचे नितांत सुंदर वर्णन केले आहे. आपल्या सर्वांना या कवितेत वर्णन केल्याप्रमाणे मनाच्या चंचलतेचा अनुभव अनेक वेळा आला असेल. ही कविता आम्हाला शाळेच्या अभ्यासक्रमात होती. या कवितेला मानिनी या चित्रपटात १९६१ मध्ये गाण्याच्या स्वरूपात स्थान ही मिळाले. हे गाणे आशा भोसले यांनी गायले होते. या चित्रपटाला संगीत वसंत पवार यांचे होते.

Weekend ride to Mahabalipuram

2008-06-21T02:09:00.001+05:30

Santosh has recorded this video of one of the weekend rides to Mahabalipuram on Royal Enfield Machismo on May 13, 2007 with his Nokia N72 camera phone. The road is the famous East Coast Road (ECR). I suddenly thought that I should share it here.

At the same time I am getting inspired about going on a early morning ride. :) Let me see if I can manage to go.

raahi

2008-06-12T10:50:00.009+05:30

राही...

आज फिर मौसम सर्द है,
फैला हुआ कोहरा है,
दिल का वह पहचाना सा दर्द,
आज भी गहरा है।

फिर गुजर रहा हूँ, उन गलियों से,
दिला रही हैं याद, जो मुझे,
वे चंद पल,
जिन में खो दिया था मैं ने ख़ुद को,
वह डगर जहाँ से, देखी थी मैं ने झांकी,
एक उजले सूरज की।

अब पहूँच गया हूँ,
गली के उस पार जहाँ मौजूद है,
अभी तक एक गवाह,
इस बरगद की छाँव में,
आसमान छूती शाखाओं तले,
हुआ था मुझे, एक धुंधला एहसास।
मिल गयी थी वह मंजील,
थी जिस की, कब से तलाश।

आज चलते हुए जब मैं,
गुजर चुका हूँ, उस बरगद के पास से
क्यों लगता हैं, कि कोई पुकार रहा है।
और मुझे पूछ रहा है,
'क्या यह वही जिंदगी है?
जो हुआ करती थी पहले,
जब लगते थे दिल में
हर पल उम्मीद के मेले?
और तब जब तूम इस दर्द से
थे अनजान, और अकेले ...'

तभी सुनाई दे रही है,
कही से एक आवाज,
जो बता रही है मुझे कि
वह तो बात थी अतीत की,
तूम तो कर रहे थे सफर।
राही का गुमराह होना,
यह दोष नहीं तेरा है,
दिला दे ख़ुद को, यह एहसास अब,
आज भी, यह सफर अधूरा है।

दोपहर की धूप में भटकता हुआ,
शाम से पहले,
पहूँच पाऊं अपनी मंजील तक,
यही हौसला मेरा है।
पर मुझे पता है,
दिल का वह पहचाना सा दर्द
आज भी गहरा है।

***

Divinity in Disguise

2008-06-05T23:39:00.005+05:30

From Picnic to Ann...

One day I found myself alongside an Eagle,
There with ordinary creatures he was to mingle.

Soon I found that the spite had not touched him,
Nor his gleaming eyes had become pale and dim.

He had to share 'the small world' with so many others.
But he asked me to click my device and squeaked, "Who bothers!"

I soon noticed that he had managed to keep his grace.
He was the divinity in disguise, and nothing else!

***