Saturday, June 30, 2007

Ek Aur Raat (Intezaar Mein)


Isi intezaar mein baitha hoon
ki kab yeh shaam dhale
aur raat ka aanchal odh,
Mere khwabon ko mehkane
teri yaadein aayein

Bahut din hue tera deedar hokar
meri nazar ko paak hue
Bahut din hue dil mein bechaini lekar
raaton ko barbaad hue

Tere ehsaas ki hasrat mein
raatein gujarti rehti hain
Tere hoton ka tabassum,
Teri aankhon ka noor,
Sadiyon se lambi bhi yeh raatein hoti
to aitraaz na tha.
Main kaat leta, tere bahane tere sahare.

Teri zulf ki woh lat
jo tere rukhsaar ko chukar jhoom leti hai
Yeh hawayein, jo tere chehre ko choom leti hain
Kya naseeb hai inka, aur tere aanchal ka
ki yeh tere saath hain, har ju har lamha
Par fir main bhi akela nahi
yeh raat jo hai

Is raat mein teri khushboo hai
Teri hansi ki awaaz
Is raat ke sannate cheer deti hai,
Is raat mein teri yaadein hain,
Meri tanhayi teri yaadon mein bat jaati hai
aur raat yun hi kat jaati hai
Teri yaadon mein doobe hue
Teri yaadon mein khoye hue.

Picture courtesy : http://www.thegrantgallery.com/Art_work/Mist_evening.JPG

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Seeing by Jose Saramago

I finished reading Master's masterpiece a few days back. Here are as a part of habit, the collected quotes from the book.

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The genetic code of what, somewhat unthinkingly, we have been content to call human nature, cannot be reduced to the organic helix of deoxyribonucleic acid, or dna, there is much more to be said about it and it has much more to tell us, but human nature is, figuratively speaking, the complementary spiral that we have not yet managed to prise out of kindergarten despite the multitudes of psychologists and analysts from the most diverse schools and with the most diverse abilities who have broken their nails trying to draw its bolts.

Hope is like salt, there’s no nourishment in it, but it gives the bread its savor, for hours and hours.

Human beings are known universally as the only animals capable of lying, and while it is true that they sometime lie out of fear and sometimes out of self-interest, they also occasionally lie because they realize, just in time, that this is the only means available to them of defending the truth.

It is interesting to observe how the meanings of the words change without our noticing, how we often use them to mean precisely the opposite of what they used to mean and which, in a way, like a fading echo, they still continue to mean.

There is nothing like a good argument to release accumulated tension.

Experience has also taught us that when the time comes for them to be acted upon even the most perfect and polished of ideas can fail, whether because of some last minute hiccup, or because of a gap between expectation and reality, or because, at some critical point, the situation got out of control, or because of a thousand other possible reasons that it is not worth our while going into right now and for which we would not have time, it is therefore vital always to have at the ready a replacement or complementary idea, which would prevent, as might well happen in this case, the emergence of a power vacuum, or to use another more alarming expression, of street power, either of which would have disastrous consequences.

Caution and chicken soup never hurt anyone, in good health or bad.

The most common occurrence in this world of ours, in these days of stumbling blindly forward, is to come across men and women mature in years and ripe in prosperity, who, at eighteen, were not just beaming beacons of style, but also, and perhaps above all, bold revolutionaries determined to bring down the system supported by their parents and to replace it, at last, with a fraternal paradise, which, having warmed up and flexed their muscles on any of the many available versions of moderate conservatism, become, in time, pure egotism of the most obscene and reactionary kind. Put less respectfully, these men and these women, standing before the mirror of their life, spit every day in the face of what they were with the sputum of what they are.

Its odd how we spend everyday of our life saying goodbye, saying and hearing others say see you tomorrow, when inevitably, on one of those days, which will be someone’s last, either the person we said it to will no longer be here, or who said it will not.

As my cat would have said, all hours are good for sleeping.

Unknown soldiers do not need the names that they used in life in order to be showered with the right and proper honors, and that’s fine, if that’s what we agree to do, but if these dead, most of them unrecognizable, and two or three of them still unidentified, want anything, it is to be left in peace.

One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.

Why do you grovel before my rough boots? / Why do you loosened your perfumed hairs / and treacherously open your soft arms? / I am nothing but a man with coarse hands / and a cold heart / and if, in order to pass, / I had to trample you underfoot / then, as you well know, I would trample you underfoot.

Changing the position of words often changes their meaning, but they, the words, when weighed one by one, continue physically to be exactly what they were.

People get upset and lose their temper and end up saying things they didn’t intend to or hadn’t even thought.

One precaution guarantees the other.

The safest way of categorizing is not by dividing them up into the stupid and the clever, but into the clever and the too clever, with the stupid we can do what we like, with the clever the trick is to get them on our side, whereas the too clever, even when they’re on our side, are still intrinsically dangerous, they cant help it, the oddest thing is that in everything they do, they are constantly warning us to be wary of them, but, generally speaking, we pay no attentions to the warnings and then have to face the consequences.

Sometimes being too close to the centers of decision-making brings on myopia, makes you short sighted.

If you want to be respected, don’t encourage familiarity.

When the birds are quiet, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re on their nests, it’s the calm that conceals the storm, not the other way round, the same thing happens with human conspiracies, the fact that no one mentions them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Knowledge on its own isn’t always enough, whereas with luck and time you can achieve almost anything.

A moment’s folly can ruin a whole career.

He that knows nothing sees nothing.

In a matter of moment the amount of sand in the upper part of the hour-glass had dwindled dramatically, the tiny grains were rushing through the opening, each grain more eager to leave than the last, time is just like people, sometimes it’s all it can do to drag itself along, but at others, it runs like a deer and leaps like a young goat.

Languages are conservative, they always carry their archives with them and hate having to be updated.

You can’t be too careful with thoughts, some present themselves to us with a cloying air of false innocence and then, when it’s too late, reveal their true wicked selves.

Dreaming is cheap, it doesn’t cost any money.

When we are born, when we enter this world, it is as if we signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a day may come when we will ask ourselves Who signed this on my behalf, well, I asked myself that question.

Some people manage to stay standing even when they have been knocked down, and you’re one of them.

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

Aren't My Girl

You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Your colors and canvas
lost in the cloud,
in someone else's kohl;
You know, you aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

The bed sheet linen
and muddied pillow covers,
these curtains still lie unfurled;
You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Light a candle
let's say cheers,
to all the tears that turned pearl;
You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Written in my books
words and phrases you trace,
all so delicate, pages paled;
You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Amongst the paces, fast and slow
lost in the path without care,
show more caution and don't trample;
You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Seen in the glass
diluted by the dizzy light,
in the wake of her trail;
You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Insane, glad that I'm mad
in love, singing a song so sad,
holding moments, in success I fail;
You aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway

Doesn't really matter how's your face,
that you move with amazing grace,
'I love You a lot',
Those words you need not say;
Cos' you aren't my girl
But I'd love you anyway.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Trip To Maa Poornagiri



This was during my first visit to India after coming to US, back in December, '05. A trip to Poornagiri devi was our regular ritual while we were in Khatima. Thus me and my cousin brother, who still works there, started on a fine morning to the glorious temple where they say all your wishes come true :)

On our way, we stopped at the Chakrapur Temple and also the Bhoom Temple which stands by the bank of river Sharda. The overall trek, which once used to be 11 Km, is now only 5 Km, but still a challenge and yet a fulfilling experience.

About Maa Poornagiri temple : At a height of 3000 mts. above sea level, Purnagiri is 20 kms. from Tanakpur, 171 kms. from Pithoragarh and 92 kms. from Champawat. Purnagiri temple is visited throughout the year by devotees from all parts of the country, who come here in large numbers, particularly during Chaitra Navratri in the month of March - April. The surrounding valleys echo with the holy chantings of the devotees climbing up to the top for darshan, creating an atmosphere of spirituality. From Purnagiri, also known as Punyagiri, the river Kali descends into the plains and is known as Sharda. For visiting this shrine one can go upto Thuligaarh by vehicle. From this place one has to trek (the road is under construction upto Tunyas ). After the ascent of Bans ki Charhai comes Awalakhan (the new name is Hanuman Chatti).The south - western part of 'Punya Parvat' can be seen from this place. Another ascent ends at the TRC of Tanki. The region of temporary shops and residential huts start from this place upto Tunyas. From the highest point (the temple) of Purnagiri hill the pilgrim can see the expanse of Kali, its islands, the township of Tanakpur and a few Nepali villages. The old Buram Deo Mandi is very close to Purnagiri. From Tanakpur or Purnagiri it is possible to trek to Tamli and even to Jhulaghat along the Kali river.

My Sweet Lord


My sweet lord
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you lord
But it takes so long, my lord

My sweet lord
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you lord
That it won't take long, my lord (hallelujah)

My sweet lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My sweet lord (hallelujah)

I really want to see you
Really want to see you
Really want to see you, lord
Really want to see you, lord
But it takes so long, my lord (hallelujah)

My sweet lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my lord (hallelujah)

I really want to know you (hallelujah)
Really want to go with you (hallelujah)
Really want to show you lord (aaah)
That it won't take long, my lord (hallelujah)

Hmm (hallelujah)
My sweet lord (hallelujah)
My, my, lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my lord (hare krishna)
My, my, my lord (hare krishna)
Oh hm, my sweet lord (krishna, krishna)
Oh-uuh-uh (hare hare)

Now, I really want to see you (hare rama)
Really want to be with you (hare rama)
Really want to see you lord (aaah)
But it takes so long, my lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my lord (hare krishna)
My sweet lord (hare krishna)
My sweet lord (krishna krishna)
My lord (hare hare)
Hm, hm (Gurur Brahma)
Hm, hm (Gurur Vishnu)
Hm, hm (Gurur Devo)
Hm, hm (Maheshwara)
My sweet lord (Gurur Sakshaat)
My sweet lord (Parabrahma)
My, my, my lord (Tasmayi Shree)
My, my, my, my lord (Guruve Namah)
My sweet lord (Hare Rama)

[fade:]

(hare krishna)
My sweet lord (hare krishna)
My sweet lord (krishna krishna)
My lord (hare hare)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Nostalgia


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OK let me get back to the routine :)
and be immersed in some nostalgia.

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Woh shikayato ke din yaad aate hain

Har shaam ka roothna manana
Raaton ke sapno mein savere bitana
Routine ka romance, jabardasti ki taareefein
Ajeeb si chuppi aur fizul ki muskarahate
Woh baaton ki baaton mein
Na jaane kitne jahan simat jaate hain
Woh shikayato ke din yaad aate hain

Awara kasmo ke hisaab khaate
aur behisaab aahein
Chakkaro ka silsila
the jo kabhi yunhi
tere ghar ke lagaye
Barbad hui un dopahariyon ki garmiyan
Canteen mein thandi hoti chai ki chuskiyan
Umr ke us daur se
yeh daur gujre jaate hain
Woh shikayato ke din yaad aate hain

Na jaane kitne email
Din bhar mein kai baar
Har ek mein likhi hui
Bas yahi ek baat
Aaj jab padhta hoon
un khato ko kabhi kabhar
to uljalool un khato mein
sanware woh shabd bhikar jaate hain
Woh shikayato ke din yaad aate hain

Zamane the yeh kaun se
Jo bakso mein band maun se
Peele hue un panno par ikhtiyar
Taazuub kabhi un par
Kabhi dastako ke zor par
bina italla diye
woh jab yunhi chale aate hain
Main seenchta hoon aansoon se
un kitaabo ko kabhi jab
un peele panno mein rakhe
Sookhe phool muskarate hain
Woh shikayato ke din yaad aate hain

Woh shikayato ke din yaad aate hain.


Image courtesy : http://www.landingpartygallery.com/orig_trad_fig/images/Nostalgia.jpg

Saturday, June 09, 2007

just a few rambles (all in smalls)

nothing lifts your mood than a few good songs, so after my dose of 'mujhko dafna kar woh jab wapas jaayenge' and other such Attaullah Khan songs that have been running continuously since last night, I shifted gears to the lovey dovey sound of QSQT. 'Gajab ka hai din socho zara', hmmm socho man, isnt it magic that nothing seems to be right in life and yet there's light, there's life :).

'Kya karoon mera yeh haal hai, raat din tumhara khayal hai', but that doesnt help much either, does it. Oh BTW, the 'all in small' clause has been broken quite a bit already, 12 times to be precise, like everything else even this didnt work out as per the plan.

But who cares, 'Akele hain to kya gam hai :) '.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Aboard the Ship of Mixed Emotions


A circle red and a circle black
Past, present they all are back.
Face it now and you'll regret
Days of the Sun that never set.
But for whose fight, whose cause
Pain that's peeling the sad remorse.
Understand the implications, future's holding in hand
Compromise is compromise, your losses cannot be your gains.
So feel the tremor beneath your feet
As its vital than the heart beat.

Remember,
there's always a circle we want to trace
on which lies the point where all ends met
and Yet,
we could end up being on a line
there's a one for you and there's one mine.

Wrote these lines while I was alone on the Hartford airport earlier this week. There wasn't a soul on the terminal as there were no US Airways flight during nights. The terminal was damn cold and with inadequate clothing, sleep was impossible. So I thought I should pass my time reading 'Seeing' by Saramago, which indeed was terrific, but the night seemingly was much longer than the novel itself and finally I ended up writing this one in the early hours of the morning.

Image courtesy : http://www.artshole.co.uk/arts/artists/Craig%20Griffin/'Forloin-Ship-under-Moonlig.jpg

Sunday, June 03, 2007

The Ugly, The Bad and The Sad

Chhup

Ek chhup ki jisko sabhi se chhupana
Ek chhup jisko chhupa ke batana

Ek chhup ke chhupane mein sadiyon ka fera
Fir milne milane tak dhhup andehra

Jo charchon aur jikron mein khoja bahut tha
Woh chhup khamosh gumsum magar tha

Woh raat ki syah mein mil to gaya tha
Saayon se lekin ghabra raha tha

Jo maine yeh poocha ki kya hai irada
Woh chupchap maun baitha raha tha

Kohre ki parte lapete hue woh
Na jaane kis or chala jaa raha tha

Na hathon, na pairon, na aankhen hi thi woh
Alag sa hi kuch woh bana ja raha tha

Pehchan uski na koi mayne hain
Kya shakal hogi kisko khabar hai

Woh khoya na jaane kis shab mein jaake
Ki us shab ki jaane fir kab sahar hai

Us chhup ko hai lekin kai raaz haasil
Kisi ki jubaa ke to hoga woh kaabil

Kabhi to aa saamne dhamkayega woh
Kabhi tak khud hi ko chupa paayega woh

Ek chhup ko chhupana chahte bahut hain
Ek chhup magar yun kab tak chhupega

Ek chhup ke hain dushman kai log lekin
Ek chhup yun chhup par ban na sakega

Ek chhup jo kisi se darega nahi
Jo ehtraam kisi ka karega nahi

Na jaane kab us chhup se parda hatega
Kab woh chhup ek chhup na rahega.