Category: Inspiration

अपनी राह../ My Way

अपनी राह..

राहों को अपनी, मैं खुद ढूंढ लूंगा

बन पथप्रदर्शक तुम, मुझे न उलझाओ||

मेरे उम्मीदों को अब, पर जो लगें है

अपनी आसक्तियों की, न जाल बिछाओ||

कष्टों का पहाड़ सीधे सिर पर सहा है

राह के रोड़ों से तुम, मुझे न डराओ||

सच है जो कड़वा, मैंने खुद चख लिया है

उसपर झूठ की मीठी तुम, परत न चढ़ाओ||

मंज़िल है मुश्किल औ’ लंबा सफर है

जो बीच में हो जाना, शुरू से साथ न आओ||

ज्ञान की दीपक अब जो जली है

अपने आंसुओं से उसे न बुझाओ||

जाना जहाँ है, राहों में कांटे बिछे हैं||

मेरे लिए अभी फूलों की हार न लाओ||

निराश लोगों की लम्बी पंगत लगी है

सांत्वना भरे गीत तुम, उन्हें ही सुनाओ||

नम्रता में मैंने जीवन है जीया

मेरे खुद पे भरोसे को, मेरा अहम् न बताओ||

………..अभय…………

My Way

I will carve out my own way

Don’t pretend to be my guide and confuse me

My aspirations have found its wings

Don’t entrap it by your frail attachment

I have already faced mountainous hardships

Don’t scare me, with the petty pebbles of the road

I have already tasted the bitter truth

Don’t present it to me by coating sugar on it

All my ignorance is burning in the bonfire of Knowledge

Don’t extinguish it with your incessant tears

Destination is distant and path is treacherous

Don’t accompany me, if you are thinking of leaving in midway

There seems to be a long queue of despondent

Don’t console me, go and cheer them up

I have spent my whole life in humility

Don’t term my self-belief, as an act of arrogance

@Ab

Advertisement

बस तेरा इंतज़ार है..

universe_download
Credit: Google Image

धम से गिरे
धरनी पर
शिखर से,
ज़ख्म गहरा हुआ
चोट हरा हुआ
पर गिरने का यह पहला
वाक़या तो न था
कई पहले भी लुढ़के
गिरे गर्त में
वर्षों तक
सिसकते रहे
मरणासन्न रहे
संवेदनहीन रहे
निर्जीव सा गौण रहे
व्योम सा मौन रहे
पर लड़ते रहे
जूझते रहे
झुलसते रहे
आपदाओं में
विपदाओं से
लोगों की विष भरी
बोली से
आलोचकों की अगणित
टोली से
तो तुम जो गिर गए
तो इसमें नया क्या था?
कि अब तुम उठते ही नहीं
कि तन के ज़ख्म भी
जब सूखते हैं
हम उसे कुरेदते नहीं हैं
तो मन के ज़ख्म पर
ये अत्याचार क्यों?
स्मरण रहे कि
जो शिखर पर तुम पहुंचे थे
तब भी पुरुषार्थ लगा था
फिर से पुरुषार्थ लगेगा
कि तुममें जो नैसर्गिक है
वो भला तुमसे कौन लेगा?
कि अब दुर्बलता छोड़ो
कि सब तैयार हैं
हिमालय की
सबसे ऊँची चोटी को
बस तेरा इंतज़ार है

…….अभय …….

कविता का भाव आप लोगों तक पहुंचा हो, तो अपने भाव मुझ तक पहुँचाना न भूलें 🙂

शब्द सहयोग:
गौण: Subordinate, Secondary
व्योम: Sky, Space
नैसर्गिक: Inherent

द्वंद्व

Embed from Getty Images

धूप शीतल
छाँव तप्त
जिसे वर मिला था
वही अभिशप्त

जो दृढ खड़ा था
संदेह में है
अकर्मण्यता से
नेह में है

जो पथप्रदर्शक था
पथभ्रष्ट है वो
शिथिलता से
आकृष्ट है जो

नित्य स्वरूप का उसे
कोई तो स्मरण कराये
इस हनुमान को
कोई जामवंत तक ले जाये

………अभय ……..

Ethics, Morality and a Passenger Train

Last few days were very hectic for me. I traversed across various cities and some villages of Jharkhand and Northern Bihar. Cloud Atlas once told that “Travel far enough, you meet yourself”. I am not sure that I met myself or not but I am pretty sure that, if we are receptive, travelling teaches us many lessons.

In my itinerary, the first leg was from Jamsehdpur to Capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi. One can reach Ranchi through various means such as Cabs, Buses or trains. I always give preference to the train over other mode of transportation provided that I have sufficient time. I was supposed to be accompanied by one of my friend on the whole journey, but when he heard that I will opt for train and that too a passenger train, whose average speed hovers around 30 kmph, he ditched me and preferred to travel via cab. I was also determined. I told him that I will meet him in Ranchi, from there onwards we will move towards in next destination together.

I get into the train in an early morning. Oh!!! Passenger Train!!! It reminded me all the contradictions of our country. Contradiction between rich and poor, rapidity and slowness, high class and low class, cleanliness and filthiness, comfort and uneasiness, talks of bullet trains when we are not even properly running the trains at the speed of 30kmph and many other contradictions were easily perceptible.

Our train was very humble. It stopped at every damn stoppage. It virtually had a halt where even 2-3 persons were standing on the platform. Probably it really meant that it will give service to the last person of the society as our leaders famously claim. As I told you our train was very humble, I did not mentioned it without reason. It gave the way to every other train which was on the same track, at one instance it was stopped so as to allow passing even a goods train!!!

Anyway, despite of all these, I truly enjoyed the trip. The surrounding besides the railways track from Jamshedpur to Ranchi is very natural and very serene. The railway track is flanked by many hills which is part of Ranchi plateau. There were some rivers, rivulets and when the train passed over it made the travelling very relaxing. The day was also cloudy and it made the travelling more pleasant. I virtually travelled by standing near the door and stepped out of the train at every single station.

Everything was smooth until the moment, when the train stopped at an uninhabited area or one can even call it a practical forest. A continuous shrill sound of honking from engine was coming. The continuity of the sound made some people think about the possible reason. Train was stopped there for more than 10 minutes. Everybody has their own interpretation of the stoppage of the train. But suddenly one gentleman’s interpretation changed the atmosphere of the coach entirely. He said “Jharkhand is a Maoist affected area, they might have sabotaged the track and might possibly carry loot in the train”. Now the whole coach became perturbed and so was I. On numerous occasions I have read the stories of sabotaging the railway tracks by maoist or naxalites, but if this was one, it will be a firsthand experience, which probably no body would like to have. Amidst all these, the shrill sound of honking was continuous.

I don’t know from where it came, I stepped down from the coach and moved towards the engine to see what was really the case! When I came near to the Engine, the driver of the train also stepped down. I asked the reason of the stoppage and he pointed his finger towards the railway track.

A calf was sitting on the railways track and despite the continuous honking, it remained unmoved. Then driver along with some other co-passenger tried to move the calf out of the way by freighting the calf with sticks, some even threw small pebbles on him but all efforts remained futile. I was the mute spectator when all these things were happening but my phone camera was making shuttering noise when I was clicking all these events.

Later it was discovered that the calf was injured and hence was unable to move out of the track. Later some people came upfront and collectively helped the calf to move out of the way. The rail coach driver was also among those.

When the calf was moved away from the track everyone was going towards their respective coaches. I went towards the railway driver and shook hand with him and told him “Thank You! You are very compassionate and kind person, only due to you the life of the calf saved today.”

But his response was quite unexpected. He smiled and said “Kindly delete all the pictures you have taken of this event. It is undesirable for me to stop the train without proper signal and it may cost my job. It is considered unethical in our profession”. When I was taking these pictures, I had in my mind that I will use these pictures to substantiate the whole incident of compassion, but as the driver requested me, I deleted all of them without reconsidering. I was happy. The driver smiled back. I was again on the door of the train. Suddenly it started raining, as it happens in any Bollywood movies after happy ending. Train was marching forwards just like a big snake in a forest.

The words of the driver “It is considered unethical in our profession” was reverberating in my mind. I thought, is it unethical to save the life of a dumb creature?

The train was in its peak speed and probably for the first time I got to understand the nuances of Ethics and Morality. The train driver was Morally Correct, but was he Ethically? Well I don’t know.

Being Lakshman

So, when demon Marich came in a disguise of a magnificent golden deer and roamed around the hermit, where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshmana were staying, Sita immediately became magnetized by seeing her beauty. She made a request to Lord Ram that she is so moved by the exquisiteness of that deer that she wants it immediately. Lord Ram, knowing that it may be an illusion, tried to convince Her about its futility and possible consequences but Devi Sita’s was unappeasable. She argued, “I have spent nearly thirteen years of my youthful life in the forest, caves, mountains and away from any form of luxuries without any regret, I never requested anything except your company, this is my only desire that I am extending to You, please accept it.” Lord Ram was touched by Her plea and agreed to chase down and bring that golden deer. He cautioned Lakshman to guard Devi Sita and not to leave the place until He returns.

ram
Credit: Internet

The chase began. The deer was fast and frantic, but it was chased by none other than the Supreme Being. After going deeper in to the forest, by taking appropriate position, Ram shot an arrow and it pierced the heart of the deer. But to the amusement of Lord Ram, the deer suddenly turned in to a Demon and started wailing and calling “Oh! Lakshman Oh! Site!!! Oh Site!!! Oh Lakshman!!!”

Sita and Lakshman who were still in the hermit, heard the excruciating voice in which their name were being called. Sita immediately became anxious, perturbed and thought that Lord must have been fallen in a great danger and hence He is calling for help. She was in tears and asked Lakshman to leave immediately and go for help to his elder brother.

Lakshman was unusually very calm 🙂 and told her to not worry as no one in this three worlds can inflict any pain and danger to Sri Ram. In front of His strength even the demigods would not withstand, what to speak of the species of this planet. But Sita was unmoved by the argument and was constantly thinking that Her husband must be in great danger. She was constantly making request to Lakshman to go for the search of Ram. Lakshman was constantly reminding Her that Lord has told him to not to leave Sita alone, as this can be a trap.

At last Sita became furious and enraged on the arguments of  Lakshman and chastised and labeled atrocious allegations. She rebuked Lakshman “Even after my constant request to go for the help of your elder Brother, who seems to be severe in danger, you are in constant mode of denial. Now I got to know the real purpose why you came with us all along the forest leaving a Royal life. You had an attachment towards me and you must have thought that in forest when Lord Ram will not be there with me, you could enjoy me. Now that time has come. Even you are listening the desperate call of your brother for help, but you are so fallen that you are not willing to leave me!!!You are attracted by my beauty and have lost all your morality ”

I will stop the narration here. Everybody knows the story (at least Indians) what happened after that.

I was just thinking how it would be like “Being Lakshman” in that situation? A devoted brother, who left a royal and luxurious life a prince of a Chakravarti Kingdom, was faced an allegation of moral misconduct and lose character from none other than the lady whom he consider as mother throughout his life. How much pain he would have gone through, when these charges were labeled against him.

I was just thinking that even when we commit mistakes or any offence against other of any kind, and when someone admonishes us we feel so much burdened disheartened. And there in Lakshman, innocent of any crime and an epitome of sacrifice, how he could have tolerated those harsh words.

Ram is real. Ramayan is not out dated. It has several stories and characters which is even more relevant these days, when society is grappling with so many gruesome, atrocious, despicable, heinous, monstrous and abhorrent events. You know what I mean, Don’t you?

If time permits read Ramayan. Listen the Stories of Ramanyan from bonafide source. Discuss it. Deliberate on it.  Things will happen, either good or bad. It’s up to us to be a participant, in either good or bad.

Thank You!

साहस ..

Embed from Getty Images

दो परिस्थितयां हैं …एकदम सीधी सी, सुलझी हुई …पहला, जो साहसी होते हैं वो साहस से भरा कार्य करते हैं और  दूसरा, साहसिक कार्य करने से ही लोग साहसी कहलाते हैं ..तो हम किसी भी परिस्थिति में क्यों न हों, साहसी बनने का बराबर मौका है…

Pass it on..

A good leader is one, who doesn’t always leads from the front, but when the time demands he is ready to operate from the back as well. Those leaders, who are insecure about their position never wants to relinquish his frontal space, as they always have a doubt in back of their mind that if they will give up the position now, then they will never be able to regain it in future. Robert Mugabe, present president of Zimbabwe could fall in this category. He was the one of the chief architect of the independence of Zimbabwe from British Rule. Yet, when England freed Zimbabwe in 1980 to till now, he is holding the office, just as a dictator. I can give the example of “power grip” from Indian domestic politics also, but that would have made this post political. Anyway you all know it, Won’t you?

One more special quality of the bet of the leaders is that they never take credit to the achievements rather they pass it on to those who worked under their guidance. Now I would like to give a very fresh and recent example of this.

India has just secured a spectacular diplomatic achievement by sending its one of the Jurist, Dalveer Bhandari to International Court of Justice (ICJ). The International Court is the prime judicial branch of the United Nations (UN) which settles the legal disputes between the various states. Such as the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. The victory is sweet because India wrestled the seat from one of the P5 member i.e. Britain, who once colonized it for more than 150 years or so.

Social Media was on buzz. Everyone congratulated each other. But what made me feel good is the response of three personality which were directly or indirectly involved in the process. One is Prime Minister, other was the External Affairs Minister and the last  but most important was the Permanent Representative of India at United Nations.

When the result became evident Prime Minister gave credit to the External Affairs Minister and each and every staff to MEA.

Then what did External Affairs minister do, she pass the credit to Syed Akbaruddin by  mentioning special reference of him

And lastly the permanent representative shared a tweet along with his team who tirelessly worked to achieve this feet.

This is how team should be lead where each and every one should feel that they are part of the story.

What Say…?

The Cost of Sunday

Today, it’s neither 15th of August nor 26th of January. Yesterday, India also hasn’t registered any spectacular victory in a Cricket match over its arch rival, western neighbor. More than one year has been passed, when Indian Armed Force conducted a Surgical Strike in terrorists’ safe heaven. Can I discuss something patriotic today?

Good Morning friends, I have asked above question based on my two experiences. One, my experience suggests me that Patriotic zeal in our nation remains/remained full on display on the specific occasions which I have mentioned and on other days it remain lukewarm, if not absent. Two, in recent time whenever someone raises the topic of patriotism there is a tendency in public discourse to label him as Hyper-Nationalist/Ultra-Nationalist. Be it, advocating the position of standing for 52 seconds when national Anthem is played or singing Vande Matram, a song which inspired the generations of freedom fighter. I just don’t want to be dragged in that controversy hence I have asked a simple question, can I discuss something patriotic today?

Since it’s one way traffic, I can’t take the permission from all of you as long as my article will not be published. Hence, I drew the inspiration to publish my view, from article 19(a) from the Indian Constitution but at the same time when it will be in public domain you can let me know your views.

Okay enough of the background now coming directly to the topic.

Do you know Madan Lal Dhingra? Many of you would surely know him, at least the name, isn’t it? I enquired from you just because the name is not so familiar in the echelon of conspicuous Freedom Fighters. This fact is can easily be gauged as we have seldom heard “Madan Lal Dhingra amar rahe”, even on the special occasions which I have discussed earlier.

Embed from Getty Images

Recently, I was reading a book and came across a touching quote from him and from there I drew the inspiration to share it to my WordPress Friends.

Let me very briefly introduce Him, before introducing his quote.

  • Madan Lal Dhingra (8 February 1883 – 17 August 1909) was a revolutionary activist.
  • He assassinated a British Official named Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, in England where he went on to study Mechanical Engineering in University College, London.
  • This was the first revolutionary act of 20th centaury and that too in the home of the colonizer.
  • His father, who was a civil surgeon and Chief Medical Officer of Amritsar at that time, had disowned him for his revolutionary activity and he was so furious of his son’s decision that he went on to advertise this decision in local newspaper.
  • For his act of assassination the British Official, he was sentenced to death by British Court, and on 17th of August 1909 he was hanged.

Now the quote of him which prompted me to write this piece:

“….Neither rich nor able, a poor son like myself can offer nothing but his blood on the altar of mother’s deliverance…may I be reborn of the same mother and may I re-die in the same sacred cause, till my mission is done and she stand free for the good of humanity and to the glory of the God….”

Have a great Sunday Friends, the best day of the week. A day when we can enjoy our FREEDOM most without bothering the price of it, as for the price, it has already been paid by someone else.

 

P.S. – If you have time, It’s my humble request to read Wikipedia page on Madan Lal Dhingra, especially the section where he presented his view point in the Court during his trial, I found it very inspirational. You find appealing, don’t restrict it to yourself, rather share it to others as some story of history needs to be propagated by the citizens as the government in power may have vested interests in writing History.

 

She shines

Who motivates us?

When someone achieves some extraordinary feat, even when they face a lot of hurdles and pains in their way, in my opinion, those persons motivate us. Isn’t it?

But, it is true that this is not the case for all of us, as many claims that they are self motivated. Many argue that no humans can be their motivation as they are only motivated through divine aspect of the nature.

Have you ever been in any situation in your life where you have felt that you are alone amidst the mob? Yes, No.

Anyway, Skip this question and face a new one.

Have you ever been really alone and secluded, where no one is besides you and the closet person are physically situated miles apart from you? I think most us wouldn’t have experienced this kind of situation.

Six girls decided the fate that they are going to place themselves in the same situation and that too willingly. They are Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi , Lieutenant Commander Pratibha Jamwal, Lieutenants P Swathi, Vijaya Devi, Payal Gupta and B Aishwarya.

snk
Credit: Internet

Do you know them? Yes, No. Doesn’t matter, even I were oblivious of them till recently.

I think they are worth knowing. That is why I decided to write about them.

All of them, whose name I have mentioned, are officers of Indian Navy and they have decided to circumnavigate the earth without any assistance of their male counterpart. This means that all women crew, for the first time in the History of India, have decided to have a complete a circle around the earth in a ship called INS Tarini. They have already started the journey and has reached the first leg of it.

 

 

Credit: Internet
Credit: Internet

 

The mission is termed as Navika Sagar Parkirama. This mission was flagged by, first full time female Defence Minister of India, Nirmala Sitaraman.

Few facts about the mission:

  • INSV Tarini is 55 foot sailing vessel built indigenously in India by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Goa.
  • The expedition will be covered in five legs, with stop-overs at 4 ports Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa) for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary.
  • It will circumnavigate globe in approximately 165 days and is expected to return to Goa in April 2018.
  • The ship will promote Make in India, as it is indigenously built.
  • The crew will check and collect the data for marine pollution.

Many of you would be aware that in ancient time, Indians were not supposed to cross over the oceans, because it was termed as inauspicious. That was the day and this is the day, when only women crew has started a voyage to break the shackles of the idea that women are subordinate to men and they can’t venture alone in life. Imagine the journey, it will not be easy. There will be dark nights, and that too in ocean. There may be no humans in their sight for miles. The sound of the ripples of the ocean may be horrific.  Some waves will be huge. They may encounter some pirates in their journey. The ship is not too big and waves and thunderstorm may test their mettle in mid way. But they are prepared for it. They have already faced the waves of prejudice and subjugation by male dominated society, probably their voyage will be easier than the voyage that women has had over the centuries in India. They have decided to lost in joy of the journey, and when they will return back to Indian Coast, probably many Indians will discover a new perspective.

These all  girls inspired me, and I hope they will also inspire you!!!

 

 

Contemplation..

I like sitting silently in any natural setting, contemplating on myriad thoughts. In cities, now there are hardly any pristine locations where one can sit and listen the chirps of the birds and can float in his/her imagination. But, of course, manmade parks come to rescue me at many occasions. If there is no one to disturb, I can sit there, hours and hours mutely. Perhaps, I should say this is my favourite time pass. Someone has rightly said “I am alive because I think and not that I think because I am alive”.

Yesterday, as we all know, was Dewali or Deepawali. The day, when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after conquering Ravana and serving exile for fourteen long and tortuous years. I went on to offer my obeisance to one of the temple of Lord Ram.

IMG_20171019_113549
Ram-Janki-Laxman-Hanuman

I spent nearly an hour or hour an half in temple. Then I decided to return. There is a park nearby that temple. On returning, I was up to my favourite task:-). I sat down and enjoyed the songs of the numerous birds and the frantic movements of the squirrels jumping from one tree to the ground and then to another tree.

I was recalling some of my past Diwali celebrations, and then suddenly a person came and sat beside me, which I usually don’t like when I want to be alone. But, that was a public park and in India, if your are having a seat in any public transportation and even if it is occupied to its maximum capacity, still a new person will come and ask you “please adjust” or “Bhai Thoda adjust kar lo”. So his usurpation was legitimate on that account. 🙂

Soon he opened his bag pack and took out three plastic bags from it. Two of the bags were filled with grains and one with sugar. He started to scatter it in specific locations, as I can see there were some earlier remnants of those grains as if he usually do it. He poured some sugar near by the habitats of ants which was adjacent to the bench where I was sitting. Then he started to disperse the grains in the bottom of the trees and then he was leaving the place.

Did not take his permission while capturing him, but I hope he wouldn’t have minded
The same person whom I have talked

Seeing the generosity of that person towards those animals and birds who can’t speak, cannot demand, cannot assert their share; I asked him “Do you regularly do this generous act?”

His humble answer caught my imagination. He smilingly said “Who am I to do this? What is my capacity? I am in slippers (hawai chappa as he said it)? I am from very humble background. The one, sitting inside that structure (pointing towards temple) does it all, for me and for entire universe.” Before I could have asked any supplementary questions he ran away from the place towards the temple, as if he was in hurry. I remained silent. Even though he went from that place, he left many thoughts in my mind. I am concluding all these in point wise manner:-

  1. There is something about Indian Culture. Since ancient times, people thorough myriad instructions and teaching via scriptures, are told to not to take credit anything done out of generosity and dedicate it to the Lord
  2. If we start taking credit of the act, then it will result in developing ego and ego is one of the root causes of evil.
  3. From the point of views of birds, insects and other species which may have benefitted through the act of that person, in reality they don’t know or will never be able to know about the person who has actually done it. Similarly in our life also, there are many persons which help us but we are not able to recognize their contribution and in turn never able to show our gratitude towards them
  4. Even if the person would not have arranged those stuffs, still those little creatures would have survived. Alternatively we can say that, these species are not dependent on anyone’s generosity. They derive everything necessary for their survival from the Mother Nature, yet the persons act as facilitator. This also has been the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.
  5. Sometime we may not know the mean, but whatever is required for us to survive is being arranged by someone, somehow, somewhere.
  6. Spirituality makes us humble and humbleness is revered as crown jewel of all qualities.
  7. You don’t have to be a millionaire to serve others and to make this place beautiful, what you all need to have a gentle heart.
Squirrels having feast
Sugar poured in Ant’s Colony
Pigeon’s Party

That’s it for the day. I hope you had a memorable and safe Diwali this time and if you are in National Capital, then must have abide by the orders of Honourable Supreme Court,  and for those like me, who are not the resident of that part had Diwali as usual 😀