Friday 17 November 2017

Harf e Pareshan

वो जो एक हर्फ़ ए परेशान था 
वो जिसका न कोई बयान था
वो जो हर दर्द का सामान था
वो जिसने दरबदर रखा था
वो जिसने रातों को बेक़मर रखा था
वो जिसका दिल में मकां था
वो जिसका कहीं न कोई निशान था
वो जिसने सुबह को नूर बख्शा था
वो जिसने आँखों को सुरूर बख्शा था
वो जो सबसे जुदा था
वो जिसका न कोई खुदा था
वो नादांन बड़ा बुरा था
वो नींद का व्यापारी था
वो आस का भिखारी था
वो ज़ात का शिकारी था
वो क़ायनात पर भारी था ...
मिटा दिया हमने
अब सफ़हा बिल्कुल सादा है
बस एक नुक़्ता है
और बेक़रारी है!
وہ جو اک حرف پریشان تھا 
وہ جس کا نا کوئی بیان تھا 
وہ جو ہر درد کا سامان تھا 
وہ جس نے در بدر رکھا تھا 
وہ جس نے راتوں کو بیقمر رکھا تھا 
وہ جسکا دِل میں مکان تھا 
وہ جسکا کہیں نا کوئی نشان تھا 
وہ جس نے صبحوں کو نور بخشا تھا 
وہ جس نے آنکھوں کو سرور بخشا ہے 
وہ جو سب سے جدا تھا 
وہ جسکا نا کوئی خدا تھا 
وہ نادان بڑا برا تھا 
وہ نیند کا بیوپاری تھا 
وہ آس کا بھکاری تھا 
وہ ذات کا شکاری تھا 
وہ کائنات پر بھری تھا 
مٹا دیا ہم نے . . . . 

اب صفحہ بالکل سادہ ہے 
بس 
اک نقطہ ہے 
!اور بے قراری ہے



Wo jo ek harf e pareshan tha
Wo jis ka na koi bayan tha
Wo jo har dard ka saman tha 
Wo jisne darbadar rakha tha
Wo jisne raato ko beqamar rakha tha
Wo jiska dil me makan tha
Wo jiska kahin na koi nishan tha
Wo jisne subho ko noor bakhsha tha
Wo jisne ankho ko suroor bakhsha hai
Wo jo sabse juda tha 
Wo jiska na koi Khuda tha
Wo nadan bada bura tha
Wo neend ka byopari tha
Wo aas ka bhikari tha
Wo zaat ka shikari tha 
Wo kayenaat par bhari tha
Mita diya humne....

Ab safha bilkul saada hai
Bas  
Ek nukta hai
Aur 
Beqaraari hai! 

Friday 13 October 2017

When NASA Called.....


When I received a call to join NASA jury for an event, I almost fell off my chair (thinking my prayers have been answered, Sociologists worth has finally been realized!) only to be told that it would be at Gwalior (my head still spinning at when did NASA shift to Gwalior?) and finally informed that NASA stands for National Association of Students of Architecture, which helped my head and feet back on the ground.

I received some information about NASA from my SPA student (School of Planning and Architecture) who is the Secretary of the Association, a very busy boy whom I met at the station. NASA has 260 member colleges, conducts six Zonal and one National convention every year and has been in existence as a Students body  since 1957 (older than American NASA!) and as a registered organisation since 1993. With the number of private Architecture colleges going up, it is a cash rich body providing a platform for students of architecture to learn, interact, compete and have fun at these conventions.
Travel : 

The train for Gwalior left New Delhi Railway Station around 6am and I found my coach suddenly full of armed men in military and civil clothes, only to discover that they were guarding Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief, arguably most powerful and one of the most important person in present India.

The attention that he received, all TTs came to say their 'Namaste/Pranams' (one even sported a huge Tilak on his forehead) he got the lady to serve him food and was asked if he would have more tea after breakfast (menu which included tea with biscuits, chhachh, bread/butter, milk/cornflakes, idli/vada and banana!)
Most of the foreigners got off at Agra and I fought a strong urge to go up to him and ask his views on Taj Mahal. Bhagwat hardly smiled at anyone (and I realized that I had been staring at him all this while!). The person sitting beside me had retired from SBI as a Manager and defended government's policies as we discussed Bhagwat and BJP's economic agenda. In three and half hours, we had reached Gwalior.
Gwalior:

 A city which still talks about its Maharaja/ Maharani with reverence. Hotel was just five minutes away from the station and student volunteers were there throughout to guide us.

Zonal NASA was being hosted at ITM College, beautiful campus situated on the outskirts amidst hills and greenery. There were around 1800+ students who had registered and around 60+ speakers/ mentors/ judges who were there (with a poor single Sociologist!) every student had paid Rs. 3000/- and every college pays a fee to NASA. As I heard and discussed about Architecture course fees (minimum around 1 lakh plus for every semester and going up to Five lakh plus at some colleges) and the rich backgrounds that most of these students were coming from who could afford such hefty fees.
Jury Duty: 
We had a job to do and with my fellow jurors , two very senior practicing architects from Gurgaon and Pune, we started looking at the entries which were sent by different colleges from North India (35 in total). We had to look for three aspects based on the brief that was given: Engagement with the Youth, Engagement with Authorities and Environment and lastly, Design Intervention. They were also supposed to submit a video film detailing the process of Engagement.















Most of the students interpreted Youth as children and went about 'educating' children in their nearby slums and did various workshops with them. In the name of authority, we expected them to speak with District Magistrates or Panchayats to understand the policy paralysis aspect. Most interesting was the Design intervention part where they had to suggest ways for improvement!

 Most of these students ended up suggesting "Sydney Opera House type Structures" as community centers or even "Open air theatres"  in the middle of slums as solution for everything (poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, etc etc). We realized the disconnect that these students faced from real situation on the ground. They were young Under Graduate students and the "Other" for them were the people from the slums. A life they could not imagine and came up with their own 'solutions' to the problems. 

The highest points were awarded to a college which had worked in a potter's village and did some constructive work with the community based on the needs of the natives' and not on their 'ideas' on how they could improve the life of the community. 

The idea to get them to 'engage' with the community had worked. Students were willing to learn. Later when we interacted with these students post our judging session, we jurors ended up giving passionate speeches for over one and half hours and even later, students came to us to share their experiences. The spirit to do something constructive needs some more guidance, as we discussed how syllabus can be made more responsive for some sensitization since sensibilities were already there. 


 

For dinner we went to Taj Usha Kiran Palace constructed 137 years back by Scindias in honor of Prince Charles who stayed here only for a day (things Royals did to keep themselves in the good books of the Colonial Masters!), and now was being run by Taj group as a Heritage property. A beautiful palace and some good Nepali-Maharashtrian food based on the lineage of Maharaja/Maharani.

The Royal Thali took almost an hour for them to prepare as everything was made fresh. The shrikhand-puran poli dessert was absolutely delicious as were the kebabs. 


The dinner ended up being a lively session where stories of Charles Correa, Raj Rewal, Rehman and other senior and pioneering Indian architects, personal anecdotes were shared over food as we discussed the architecture of the palace.

NASA gave me a chance to meet some brilliant people, interact with some of the most creative minds and make new friends. 
Thank you NASA! 

Wednesday 27 September 2017

My Wandering Heart

मेर दिल
मेरे मुसाफिर
तूने रखा मुझे
सफ़र में  उम्र  भर
किसी राह  की रही
ना तुझे खबर
ना मुझे खबर
वो जो मंज़िलों के चिराग थे
वो जो सितारों  के सुराग़ थे
वो तमाम शब के रतजगे
जिनकी  सुबह ना कभी जले
तू बादशाह था वक्त का
तू कलंदर अपने बख्त का
मेरी अब जुस्तुजू में मलाल था
तेरी रहबरी का सवाल था
दी सदायें  मैंने इधर उधर
ना चारागर ना नामाबर
फिराया तूने शहर शहर
किया तूने मुझे यूँ दर ब दर
ना रहा कहीं कुछ मोतबर
मेरे अदु की सब मेहरबानियां
तेरे इश्क की सब सरगिरानियाँ
तेरे जुनून की सब कहानियाँ
मेरे साथ सदा सफर में रहीं
सभी इसकी उसकी निशानियां

 میرے دِل 
میرے مسافر 
تونے رکھا مجھے 
سفر میں عمر بھر 
کسی راہ کی رہی 
نا تجھے خبر 
نا مجھے خبر 
وہ جو منزلوں كے چراغ تھے 
وہ جو ستاروں كے سراغ تھے 
  وہ تمام شب کے رتجگے 
جنکی صبح نا کبھی جلے 
تو بادشاہ تھا وقت کا 
تو قلندر اپنے بخت کا 
میری اب جستجو میں ملال تھا 
تیری رہبری کا سوال تھا 
دی صدائیں میں نے ادھر اُدھر 
نا چارہ گر نا نامہ بر 
پھرایا تو نے شہر شہر 
کیا تو نے مجھے یوں دَر با دَر 
نا رہا کہیں کچھ متبعر 
میرے ادو کی سب مہربانیاں 
تیرے عشق کی سب  سرگرانیاں
تیرے جنون کی سب کہانیاں 
میرے ساتھ سدا سفر میں رہی 
سبھی اسکی اسکی نشانیاں

Mere dil
Mere musafir
Tune rakha mujhe
Safar me umar bhar
Kisi raah ki rahi
Na tujhe khabar
Na mujhe khabar
Wo jo manzilon ke chiragh the
Wo jo sitaron ke suragh the
Wo tamam shab k ratjage
Jinki subh na kabhi jale
Tu badshah tha waqt ka
Tu qalandar apne bakht ka
Meri ab justju me malal tha
Teri rehbari ka sawal tha
Di sadayen maine idhar udhar
Na charagar na namabar
Phiraya tu ne shehar shehar
Kiya tu ne mujhe yun dar ba dar
Na raha kahin kuch mo'tabar
Mere adu ki sab meherbaniyan
Tere ishq ki sab sargiraniyan
Tere junoon ki sab kahaniyan
Mere sath sada safar me rahi
Sabhi iski uski  nishaniyan

*With all due respect to Faiz sahab
Bakht-   Kismat
Rehbari- Guidance
Charagar- Healer
Namabar- Messenger
Mo'tabar- Respectable
Adu- Enemy
Sargiraniyan- bundle of troubles

Wednesday 20 September 2017

Waqt

देखा नहीं है
मगर आहटों को  
सुना है  
आस पास ..
क़ैदी नहीं  
मगर करवट करवट
महसूस होता है 
उसकी बेड़ियोँ में 
गुज़रते हर पल का 
साज़ ..
बंदी बनता   
कभी शहंशाह
कभी मज़लूम 
कभी ज़ालिम
खेल को 
खेलता भी 
खिलाता भी
इसकी शह  
इसकी मात ..
हर सांस में 
हर चाप सुनाई देती है
कभी चुपके से 
रस्ते में छोड़ हमको 
आगे निकलता
बे -आवाज़ ..
यूँही कभी  
तुम्हारी उम्र वाली लकीरों को 
लम्हों की उँगलियों और बलिश्तों से नापें 
मुट्ठी में भर सदियां
थाम लें 
वक़्त को  
काश ....!

Dekha nahi hai 
Magar aahaton ko 
 Suna hai 
Aas paas ..
Qaidi nahi 
Magar karvat karvat
Mehsoos hota hai
Uski bairiyon me 
Guzarte har pal ka 
Saaz..
Bandi banta 
Kabhi shahenshah 
Kabhi mazloom
Kabhi zalim
Khel ko
Khelta bhi
Khilata bhi
Iski sheh
Iski maat..
Har saans me
Har chaap sunayi deti hai
Aur kabhi chupke se
Raste me chhod humko
Aage nikalta
Be-awaz..
Yunhi kabhi 
Tumhari umar wali lakeeron ko
Lamho ki ungliyon aur balishton se naapen
Mutthi me bhar sadiyan
Thaam len 
Waqt ko 
Kaash....!
دیکھا نہیں ہے 
مگر آہٹوں کو 
 سنا ہے
...آس پاس  
قیدی نہیں 
مگر  
کروٹ کروٹ محسوس ہوتا ہے 
اسے کی بیریون میں 
گزرتے ہر پل کا 
...ساز  
بندی بناتا  
شاهانشاه کبھی  
کبھی مظلوم 
کبھی ظالم  
کھیل کو 
کھیلتا بھی 
کھلاتا بھی 
  اسکی شہہ 
..اسکی مات 
ہر سانس میں 
ہر چاپ سنائی دیتی ہے 
اور کبھی چپکے سے 
رستے میں چھوڑ ہم کو 
آگے نکلتا  
...بی-اواز  
یونہی کبھی 
تمھارے  عمر والی لکیروں کو 
لمحوں کی انگلیوں اور بالیشتون سے ناپین
مٹھی میں بھر صدیاں 
تھام لیں
وقت کو 
....   کاش

Friday 18 August 2017

Adhoori Tehreer

कितने लम्हों को
ख्याल में पिरो कर
लिखने बैठी थी
साफ़ सादा सफ्हे पर
उतारा ख्याल को क़तरा क़तरा
सतर* दर सतर
लफ्ज़ मगर ....
कुछ अटक गए थे क़तरों में
कुछ भटकते मिले सतरों में
कुछ आवारा घूमने निकल पड़े
कुछ मजबूरिये दिल से वहीँ गिर पड़े  ..
कुछ रोशनाई की दलदल में धंसे थे
कुछ क़लम की नोक में फंसे थे
रंग, बादल, बरखा, बहार सब फीके पड़ गए थे
लफ्ज़ सारे बिखर गए थे
कोई अक्स न बन पाया तस्वीर का
ज़ुबान पर ज़ायक़ा सा रह गया
इक अधूरी सी तहरीर का !
*सतर - लाइन
کتنے لمحوں کو 
خیال میں پرو کر 
لکھنے بیٹھی تھی . . . 
صاف سادہ سفحی پر 
اتارا خیال کو قطرہ قطرہ 
ستر * دَر ستر 
لفظ مگر . . . . 
کچھ اٹک گئے تھے قاترو میں 
کچھ بھٹکتے ملے سترو میں 
کچھ آوارہ گھومنے نکل پڑے 
کچھ مجبوریی دِل سے وہیں گر پڑے 
کچھ روشنائی کی دلدل میں دحنسی تھے 
کچھ قلم کی نوک میں پھنسی تھے 
رنگ ، بَا دَل ، برکھا ، بہار سب پھییکی پڑ گئے تھے 
لفظ سارے بکھر گئے تھے 
کوئی عکس نا بن پایا تصویر کا 
زُبان پر ذائقہ سا رہ گیا 
اک ادھوری سی تحریر کا ! 
* ستر - لائن





Kitne Lamho ko
Khayal me piro kar
Likhne baithi thi  ...
Saaf saada safhe par
Utara khayal ko qatra qatra 
Satar* dar satar 
Lafz magar ....
Kuch atak gaye the qatro me
Kuch bhatakte mile sataro  me
Kuch awara ghoomne nikal pade 
Kuch majbooriye dil se wahin gir pade  
Kuch roshnayi ki daldal me dhanse the
Kuch qalam ki nok me phanse the
Rang, badal, barkha, bahaar sab pheeke pad gaye the
Lafz saare bikhar gaye the
Koi aks na ban paya tasveer ka
Zuban par zayeqa sa reh gaya 
Ik adhoori si tehreer ka!
*Satar - Line
Tehreer - Write-up

Thursday 13 July 2017

Ghazal- Tum ho

देखूं जहाँ जहाँ वहां वहां तुम हो
धोखा है  वहम है साया है के तुम हो
आँखों की बरसात में लफ्ज़ो को भी खो बैठें
रिस्ता है ज़ख्म और, जो चारागर तुम हो
कारवां की गर्द भी अब तो थम गयी थी
हमको गुज़रते रहे गुमान शायद अभी तुम हो
मेरे अक्स को मेरा आइना खो बैठा है
खुदको जी भर देख लें जो सामने तुम हो
लोगों की बातों का जवाब दे सकते थे मगर
खामोश हो गयी जुबां, ज़िक्र में तुम हो
बंद पलकों से तो देखते रहें उसको
खुली आँखों में भी हर सिम्त नज़ारा तुम हो
एक उम्र से भी लम्बी कहानियां कहें
और कभी मुख़्तसर सी दास्ताँ, जब रूबरू तुम हो
दिल को संभालें,नज़र फ़र्शे राह कर दें
हमको लगे हर आहट पर जान ऐ जहाँ तुम हो                                      
                                                                                                             دیکھوں  جہاں  جہاں  وہاں  وہاں  تم  ہو 
دھوکہ  ہے  وہم  ہے  سایا  ہے  ک  تم  ہو 
آنکھوں  کی  برسات  مے  لفظو  کو  بھی  کھو  بیٹھیں 
 رستہ ہے زخم اور جو  چاراگر تم ہو  
   میرے  عکس  کو  میرا  اآئنہ کھو بیٹھا   ہے  
خودکو  جی  بھر  دیکھ  لیں   جو  سامنے   تم  ہو 
کارواں  کی  گرد  بھی  اب  تو  ھتم  گی  تھی 
ہمکو  گزرتے  رہے  گمان  شاید  ابھی  تم  ہو 
لوگو  کی  باتوں  کا  جواب  دے  سکتے  تھے  مگر 
خاموش  ہو  گی  زبان , ذ کر  مے  تم  ہو   
  بند پلکوں  سے  دیکھتے  رہیں  اسکو 
کھلی  انکھو  مے  بھی  ہر  سمت  نظارہ  تم  ہو 
ایک  امر  سے  بھی  لمبی  کہانیاں  کہیں 
اور  کبھی  مختصر  سی  داستان , جب  روبرو  تم  ہو 
دل  کو  سمبھالن ,نظر  فرشے  راہ  کر دین  
ہمکو  لگے  ہر  آہٹ  پر  جان ا ے   جہاں  تم  ہو   

Dekhoon jahan jahan wahan wahan tum ho
Dhoka hai waham hai saaya hai ke tum ho
Ankhon ki barsaat me lafzo ko bhi kho baithen
Rista hai zakhm aur, jo charagar tum ho
Karwan ki gard bhi ab to tham gayi thi
Humko guzarte rahe guman shayad abhi tum ho
Mere aks ko mera aaina kho baitha hai
Khudko jee bhar dekh len jo samne  tum ho
Logo ki baaton ka jawab de sakte the magar
Khamosh ho gayi zubaan, zikr me tum ho
Band palko se to dekhte rahen usko
Khuli ankho me bhi har simt ka nazara tum ho
Ek umar se bhi lambi kahaniyan kahein
Aur kabhi mukhtasir si daastan, jab rubaru tum ho
Dil ko sambhalen,nazar farshe raah kar den
Humko lage har aahat par jaan e jahan tum ho  

Saturday 1 July 2017

Ghazal- Jaan e jana


मुश्किल है यूँ तो हमारा किसी भी बात को आसानी से मान जाना
हाय मगर उस कम्बख्त का कहना प्यार से ऐ जान ऐ जाना

अजब संगीन दौर ऐ दुनिया दिखाया उसने
जिसको हमने दोस्त, अज़ीज़,हमदर्द हमेशा जाना

उस ज़ख्म की दवा क्यूँकर करे कोई
जिस ज़ख्म के हर रेशे से जुड़ा हो क़िस्सा ऐ जाना

सब देख लिया हमने जीना क्यूँकर भला अब
हर नयी सुबह जो लाती है घाव देखा भाला जाना

अजब बेचैनी का आलम है ज़हन में
और इस पर उस सितमगर का इतराये जाना

दर्द सह लेंगे,न करेंगे उफ़, खामोश रह लेंगे मगर
एक ज़रा सी टीस पर उसका पहलु से लगाए जाना

मेरे बचपन की यादों का गवाह था वो
पर अब हर ज़िक्र को उसने शर्मिंदगी का बाइस जाना

एक छोटी सी बात थी दरगुज़र कर सकता था
मगर उसका यूँ मुंह मोड़ कर चले जाना

कोई जाए बतलाये समझाए उसको, हमने तो जान लिया
इश्क़ का तो मतलब है आबरू ऐ दिल का जाना  


مشکل  ہے  یوں  تو  ہمارا  کسی  بھی  بات  کو  آسانی سے  مان جانا 
   ہاے مگر اس کمبخت کا  کہنا پیار سے اے جان اے جانا  

 عجب سنگین دور اے دنیا دکھایا اسنے
 جسکو ہمنے دوست عزیز ہمدرد  ہمیشہ  جانا 

  اس  زخم  کی   دوا  کیوں کر  کرے کوئی 
جس   زخم کے ہر ریشے سے  جوڈا ہو قصّہ اے  جانا 
         
سب دیکھ لیا ہمنے جینا کیونکر  بھلا اب 
  ہر  نیی صبح جو لاتی ہے گھاؤ  دیکھا بھالا جانا 
       

عجب بیچینی  کا  علم  ہے  ذھن  میں 
اور  اسس  پر  اس  ستمگر  کا    اتراے  جانا 

درد  سہ  لینگے  , نہ  کرینگے  اف , خاموش  رہ  لینگے  مگر 
ایک  ذرا  سی  ٹیس  پر  اسکا  پہلو  سے  لگے  جانا 

میرے  بچپن  کی  یادوں  کا   گواہ  تھا  وہ 
پر  اب  ہر  ذکر  کو  اسنے  شرمندگی  کا  بائس  جانا 

ایک  چھوٹی  بات  تھی , درگزر  کر  سکتا  تھا 
مگر  اسکا  یوں  منہ  موڈ  کر  چلے  جانا 

کوئی  جائے  بتلاے , سمجھاے  اسکو  ہمنے  تو  جان  لیا 
عشق کا  تو  مطلب  ہے  ابرو  اے دل  کا  جانا  
mushkil hai yun to hamara kisi bhi baat ko asani se maan jana
haye magar us kambakht ka kehna pyaar se ae jaan e jana

ajab sangeen daur e duniya dikhaya usne
jisko humne dost, azeez, hamdard hamesha jana

us zakhm ki dawa kyun kar kare koi
jis zakhm ke har reshe se jura ho qissa e jana

sab dekh liya humne jeena kyunkar bhala ab
har nayi subah jo lati hai ghaav dekha bhala jana

ajab bechaini ka alam hai zehen me
aur iss par uss sitamgar ka itraaye jana

dard seh lenge, na karenge uff, khamosh reh lenge magar
ek zara si tees par uska pehlu se lagaye jana

mere bachpan ki yaadon ka gawah tha woh
par ab har zikr ko usne sharmindgi ka bais jana

ek chhoti baat thi, darguzar kar sakta tha
magar uska yun munh mod kar chale jana

koi jaaye batlaye, samjhaye usko humne to jaan liya,
ishq ka to matlab hai abru e dil ka jana

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Remains Of The Day

कुछ  तो  बाक़ी  रह  जाता  है  हर  रोज़
रोज़  दिन  के  जलने  से  रात  के  बुझने  तक

कुछ  अधखुले  दरवाज़ों  पर  अनकही  दस्तकें
रोज़  क़दमों  की  आहट की आस
जो न  टूटे  न  बिखरे

कुछ  परिंदो  के  सफर  के अफ़साने
रोज़  परिंदो के सफर न ख़तम हों
न अफ़साने कभी भस्म हों

कुछ तुमको रोज़ भूल कर
रोज़ थोड़ा थोड़ा याद करें
यादों के आईने  की धूल को थोड़ा सा साफ़ करें

कुछ आंसू बिन बहे सिमटे रहें
रोज़ एक नमी सी रहे आँखों में
एक तबस्सुम सा रहे होंठों पे

कुछ मोहब्बतें मिलें हर रोज़
रोज़ कुछ  रुस्वाइयाँ भी
कुछ  मिंली बेहिस सी तन्हाईयाँ भी

कुछ मसले न सुलझें न उलझें
रोज़ एक सपना बुनें
 रोज़ उसे  तोड़ दें

कुछ इरादे करें बहुत से  वादे  भी
रोज़  ज़िन्दगी से  जूझें लड़ें
फिर हत्यार फ़ेंक उसीकी बांहों में सो रहें

कुछ  काम रोज़  शुरू  करें
रोज़  अधूरा  छोड़  दें
फिर  अधूरे सबकी गठरी बांध दरिया में बहा दें

सब कुछ ख़त्म करके भी
कुछ तो बाक़ी रह जाता है हर रोज़
रोज़ दिन के जलने  से  रात  के बुझने तक                                                   
  Kuch to baaqi reh jata hai har roz 
Roz din ke jalne se raat ke bujhne tak

Kuch adhkhule darwazo par ankahi dastaken
Roz reh jaati hain qadmo ki aahatein
Ek aas jo toote na bikhre

Kuch parindo ke safar ke afsane
Roz parindo ke safar na khatam ho
Na afsane kabhi bhasm ho

Kuch ansoo bin bahe simte rahen
Roz ek nami si rahe ankhon me
Ek tabassum rahe hontho pe

Kuch mohabbatein milein har roz
Roz kuch ruswaiyan bhi 
Kuch milin behis si tanhaiyan bhi

Kuch masle na suljhe na uljhe
Roz ek sapna bunen
Har roz usko tod den

Kuch tumko roz bhool kar
Roz thoda thoda yaad karen 
Yaadon ke aaine ki dhool roz
thodasaaf karen 

Kuch iraade karen bahut se waade bhi
Roz zindagi se joojhen laden
Phir hathyar phenk usiki god me so rahen

Kuch kaam roz shuru karen
Roz adhoora chhod den
Phir adhoore sabki gathri bandh darya me baha den

Sab kuch khatam karke bhi
Kuch to baaqi reh jata hai har roz 
Roz din ke jalne se raat ke bujhne tak

p.s. Any similarity of the title with any book (by Kazuo Ishiguro,1989)
Or movie (1993) is purely incidental. 

Untitled

एक  नुक्ता
लकीर कहीं
कुछ छुपा
ज़ाहिर कहीं
बाहर से भरा भरा
अंदर से खाली कहीं
बहुत मैला मन
पर उजला कहीं-कहीं
सब कुछ देकर
बोलै फ़क़ीर कहीं
घने काले अँधेरे में
चमका नूर कहीं
मिला मुझसे
जुदा-जुदा सा कहीं कहीं
शायद था बंदा
शायद ख़ुदा कहीं कहीं!
Ek nukta
lakeer kahin..
kuch chuupa 
zahir kahin
bahar se bhara bhara
andar se khali kahin 
bahut maila mann
par ujla kahin-kahin
sab kuch dekar
bole faqir kahin
ghane kale andhere me
chamka noor kahin
mila mujhse 
juda-juda sa kahin-kahin
shayad tha banda
shayad Khuda kahin-kahin!

Sunday 28 May 2017

My Experiments with 'Desi Nuskhas'


My 'Naaf' went and where and why nobody knew!! 
To tell you from the start, well, I had been unwell since past few days. I had fever, body ache and an unpleasant pain in the stomach (pain is never pleasant, you know!). And, I do not believe in allopathic medicines and only take them when it is absolutely vital as the last option. I think with the usual allopathic/modern medicines you can get better in probably two days and without medicines (or with natural/herbal remedies, no side effects) and rest one can get better in probably three to four days. I had been surviving on simple 'khichdi' the proverbial 'sick food' and a few fruits and resting mostly at my home.  
My dear friend decided to pay me a visit with all her earthy wisdom and 'nuskhas'. She is one of my closest, sweetest, and one of the nicest human species can offer. So, she asked me about my complaints and ailments and checked my tummy. Her diagnosis, my 'naaf' was misplaced. The 'naaf' is the muscle in the tummy which gets affected when you lift something heavy. It is quite common and usually a person recovers in a couple of days. At Old Delhi, we had a neighbourhood uncle who would just rub the webbing between the thumb and the finger and voila! 'Naaf' would be back to its place in no time. Sadly, he was no more now. 

On my own I had tried the ice cold water on tummy therapy which cools down the hot gases and relaxes the tummy. In a steel bowl you put cold water and then place it on the tummy, using a spoon keep moving the water. Quite popular in East India and good for tummy related problems (vomiting, acidity, etc.).   
My dear friend told me she was quite an expert in treating such misplaced muscle things and in the morning next day, she would treat the empty tummy. (Anything which can save me from popping the pills!). To help me sleep at night, she rubbed a towel over me saying it helps with reducing fever, gave me a head-oil massage which relaxed me and made me drowsy and I went off to sleep. I got up a few times with tummy ache in the night but was able to sleep soon after.   
Dear friend got up early, got ready and I trusted her completely, I mean what could go wrong? 
She told me to lie down straight and asked for mustard oil and an old dupatta. Dear friend started with massaging the oil and then what followed was just me shouting all the names of God, "Allah/ hey Bhagwan, oh my Gawwd" interspersed with also remembering my 'Ammi' in pain and agony (I may have also shouted 'sh**' and 'f**k'!). She told me that the knot had reached the top of my rib cage which I could feel too. And she would have to bring it down and it would hurt (and, oh boy, it did hurt!). 
Dear friend clenched, took whatever flab was there to wrestle with my poor tummy till I cried out for her to stop. She was in her "zone", her mission was to cure me and told me the "more it hurts the better", I was shouting so loud, afraid (and hoped!) neighbours would come to intervene (save me and stop this mayhem).
Finally, after a while she had mercy on me and told me that the muscles have come down to an extent and would come to their right place once I eat her aata-halwa. She went to make halwa (for the first time ever in her life which she told me later!). I was supposed to lie still with a dupatta tied very tight around the place where my 'naaf' was. In a while she came back with a plate full of halwa and told me to eat it All, as 'heavy food would send the naaf back to where it belongs'. I had a few spoons, just could not eat, could not even compliment just thanked her for her love. I was eating the halwa sitting in a position with the dupatta tied on my waist tightly and my knees bent and very little support for the back.
I was supposed to take ten steps, lie down back and then take a bath after two hours. 
Doorbell rang and my house-help came, another "very wise lady". 
She greeted my friend and then felt bad that I had not shared with her my condition and rebuked me for eating anything. She showed me a few exercises which she said would put the naaf back on its place. My dear friend told me to lie down again and showed her the knot. Now, the two women discussed and worked on my belly! The house-help forgot all about her exercises and started torturing me with few of her own methods, clenching and twisting my tummy, as she kept saying "bada bura dard hota hai, didi!"(obviously, I KNOW women!). 
Finally, the two 'wise women' decided that next day, on empty tummy another woman expert would bring my naaf back!
By that point after all that jostling and everything, there was a knot between my tummy and rib cage which was hurting constantly and I still did not know where-the-hell-my-naaf-went-and-why!  

To cut the long story short, I survived and am still alive (Hallelujah').
         

(Thankfully, Dear friend does not read my blog and I would never share this post with her ever! I love her and am grateful for All her help and support, in case she accidentally ever reads this!)
Statutory Warning: Do Not Try This At Home. Ever. 

Saturday 20 May 2017

A Box With Your Name On It


कई बार तुमको देना चाहा बहुत कुछ
 कुछ हिकायतें
कुछ रवायतें
कुछ ख्वाइशें
कई अर्ज़ियाँ

बहुत चमकीले धूप के दिन
बहुत स्याह ठंडी रातें
कुछ गहरी शामें
कई बरसातें

बहुत नमकीन से आंसू भी
बहुत मीठी सी मुस्कानें भी
कुछ यादों की तितलियाँ
कई फिल्मों के गाने भी

बहुत सी बातें जो कही नहीं कभी
बहुत से झगड़े जो उलझे हैं अभी
कुछ गुमान
कई शिकायतें

बहुत सी किताबों की कहानियां
बहुत से रिश्तों की निशानियां
कुछ क़समें जो ली ही नहीं
कई वादे जो हुए ही नहीं

सबको बंद करके
एक डब्बे में रख दिया है
और लिख दिया है
उसके ऊपर
नाम तुम्हारा...

Kayi baar Tumko dena chaha bahut kuch 
Kuch hikayatein 
Kuch riwayatein 
Kuch khwaishen  
Kai arziyan
Bahut chamkeele dhoop ke din  
Bahut syaah thandi raatein 
Kuch gehri shaamen
Kai Barsaatein

Bahut namkeen se aansoo bhi
Bahut meethi si muskaanen bhi
Kuch Yaadon ki titliyan
Kai filmo ke gaane bhi

Bahut si baaten jo kahi nahi kabhi
Bahut se jhagde jo uljhe hain abhi
Kuch gumaan
Kai shikayatein

Bahut si kitaabo ki kahaniyan 
Bahut se risho ki nishaniyan
Kuch qasme jo li hi nahi
Kai waade jo hue hi nahi   


Sabko band karke Ek dabbe me rakh diya hai
Aur likh diya hai 
Uske oopar 
Naam tumhara....



Monday 15 May 2017

Ek Ladki Ke Naam..

शांत,मासूम
गहरी सी नदी थी वह लड़की
अपने अंदर  खामोशियों के तूफ़ान  छुपाये
अपने लफ़्ज़ों के तलातुम* में खुद ही उलझ  जाए
कुछ गुमसुम सी
कुछ रूठी सी
उदास आँखों से हंसती
दर्द की एक तस्वीर थी वह लड़की
उसके पाऊँ में ज़ंजीर थी
कुछ समाजो की
कुछ रिवाजो  की
कुछ अपनों की
कुछ परायों की
वह रोज़ एक जंग खुद से लड़ती
और रोज़ हार जाती
शिकस्त के ज़ख़्म थे कुछ
जीत का न तिलक कोई
बस थकन थी
वजूद की ..
और थी
शांत, मासूम गहरी नदी सी लड़की...

Shaant, masoom, 
Gehri si nadi thi woh ladki
Apne andar khamoshiyon ke toofan chhupaye 
Apne lafzon ke talatum* me khud hi ulajh jaaye
Kuch gumsum si
Kuch roothi si
Udaas ankhon se hansti 
Dard ki ek tasveer thi woh ladki
Uske paon me zanjeer thi
Kuch samajo ki
Kuch rivajo ki
Kuch apno ki
Kuch parayon ki
Woh roz ek jang khud se ladti 
Aur roz haar jaati
Shikast ke zakham the kuch
Jeet ka na tilak koi
Bas thakan thi 
Wajood ki..
Aur thi
Shaant masoom gehri nadi si ladki..

*Bhanwar/ भंवर
Dedicated to a Dear Friend

Tuesday 9 May 2017

Nainital & Night At Rampur - 2


 Nainital, is a city around the Naini lake and very interesting rickshaws, good markets and good food. It resembled Sarojini Nagar to my colleague with so many Delhi/Chandigarh people. 
We had our lunch and kept our luggage at a restaurant on the main road before we went on our mission- shopping! 


The huge Tibetan market with the Nainital Jama Masjid at one end, Gurudwara and a temple in the middle and Church a little further, not just enthralls a shopper but a 'Sarva-dharm Sambhav' believer too. 
We had to buy an extra bag for the stuff we bought. I ended up buying socks for everyone- niece/nephew/friends/family.

We had chai and walked up to the other local market of Nainital, the Bara Bazar. I had remembered the local barfi, bought some five years back. The famous barfi (locally known as bal mithai) from Mamu's is really good, we tried from the other shop, same price but not half as good as Mamu!


It was getting late we decided to ask around for taxis around 6pm. We had to pick up our bags from the restaurant too. The taxi driver told us that we would get taxi from the other side. We kept walking, also bought a few squashes and plum chutneys from the main road on the way. We picked up our bags around 7pm only to realize that from evening on wards the traffic around the city gets one-way and taxis are available on the other side only and no rickshaws too! Now, we three with our bags walked as fast as we could around the entire lake city and realized well, the lake was quite big! As my friend remarked, if someone could spot on a satellite three people with huge bags running from one end of the city to the other, they would know it was us (not funny guys!).
Finally found a taxi around 8pm,  driver over-charged and informed us that it takes almost an hour to reach Kathgodam and we will have to take a longer route because of traffic restrictions! Well, nobody warned us about Nainital's traffic restrictions, they do not even have that much traffic!

We were tired (with walking or rather running around the city with our luggage), stressed and the internet network on phones was not working. I called up a friend in Delhi, to ask for available options. He told us about Howrah train which would drop us at Rampur and from there many trains go to Delhi. We still kept praying (and puked from stress!) and hoping that we get our direct train to Delhi. Driver did try (to be fair), but we reached Kathgodam ten minutes late at 8.40pm, and direct train to Delhi had left.
We bought general train tickets to Rampur and found that there is a Ladies Compartment on the Howrah train. We had sometime so at the IRCTC diner, we bought food, ate some with effort, gave away rest and drank all the available options- flavored lassi/milk/ cold coffee/Minute maid etc.

Some policewalas came inside the Ladies dabba which had just two sections of berths, extremely uncomfortable upper berths. We took the single window seats on the side and Amma lied down on the berth. Policewalas clicked photos of all the women and told us scary stories  about women poisoning other women with food and then looting stuff. One policeman sat in the women's section throughout 'for safety'. After a long day, we were all feeling a bit sleepy, but the fear of reaching Howrah 'by mistake' somehow kept us up! As train moved from Kathgodam, at every station, crowd of women with large luggage, boxes, sacks of utensils and children came into the compartment (women do not travel light, check out any ladies compartment!). 
Amma had to get up and share her berth with four women and two kids ('chivalry' is a virtue lost on most women), they just talked or created fuss and fought! If so many women travel in Ladies Compartment, railway authorities should make more seats available. It is just tokenism without any facilities! 
Thankfully, Rampur came soon and we got off Howrah train's women compartment-cum-Murgi-darba!
Rampur station was reasonably crowded. We went to buy the tickets for Delhi and got information that train was late by an hour, and subsequently all trains to Delhi were late. We kept waiting on Platform 3, made a few rounds of the ladies waiting room (quite clean!) to charge our phones, bought more cold drinks. The weather was much better because of the drizzle, just a few mosquitoes and sprawling benches looked quite inviting, and made acquaintance with chaiwalas, coolies, Amul Ice cream and other vendors on the platform. 
Finally, the train came around 2.30am and power went off! It could not have been more dramatic, looked rather than a train to Delhi but to Hogwarts'. The light came back soon and we somehow managed to get in with our stuff, but the crowds- people sleeping on the floor, most spilling from their seats, some just hanging near the door and full AC/Sleeper class with TT nowhere insight, forced us to come out of the train. The same scene was repeated with the next three Delhi trains. We had serious discussions (that is what academics do!) on the bad conditions, Railways needing reforms, etc. Another train was scheduled for 6am and we were promised by an old coolie that he would get us space for Rs. 300/- extra. We had given up on trains by now. Around 4.30am, me and my colleague decided to go out and see what other options were available as it was dawn already, and small towns get up early. We spoke with a few taxi guys, a e-rickshaw wala took us to a taxi stand, sadly it had no taxis! We spotted a few buses and decided to take the bus. The old coolie walked us out of the Rampur station, we took a Volvo to Delhi at 5am and reached Delhi around 10am thankfully! 
After coming back, instead of taking out her policewala danda for the Nainital fiasco, Amma/Umma cooked a nice lunch with kheer as dessert for us :)

Sunday 7 May 2017

To Binsar And Back- 1

Post-finishing our semester, I and my colleague decided to go on a short trip. I spoke with a friend from the hills and decided on a quiet (but far!) place, Binsar. We along with her mother (who was from the first batch of female police personnel from Kerala and more energetic than both of us!) reached Old Delhi Railway station to catch a train to Ramnagar. Since we could not find anything available online on Tatkal, we queued up to get tickets for us.
The Customer Care Service centers do not exist at the Railway stations because they neither care nor provide any service to the customers! 
The person on the window giving tickets was extremely rude and busy with all the other things except giving tickets! As we requested/shouted at him, he just shot back with, "you should have come earlier or booked online"jibe. Anyways, we got the ticket and train which was almost full was standing on the platform. I spoke with TT and he directed us to a few empty berths. As we settled on the births in the sleeper class, lower birth for 'Amma/Umma', middle and top ones for us, a talkative girl on the other lower birth made friendly general inquiries. TT came in a while and we asked him to make our tickets, he charged less and left without giving us a receipt. The girl went after him, shouted and created a huge ruckus, we paid almost three hundred more and got a receipt. It became quite an issue to calm the girl down!

We realized that we were in the Kathgodam train, as the train gets diverted in two different directions, one goes to Kathgodam and other to Ramnagar. We were told that we should get off at Ramnagar (although later we found out that it did not matter!). We needed to change to the other side of the train at Moradabad to reach Ramnagar! TT knew we were going to Ramnagar at the platform itself, but still mislead us to make his money! 
As we cursed the guy and tried to make our way hitting and poking people spilling over from their births only to realize that they close the compartment doors now, so we could only switch by walking through the platform at 2am. We changed our compartment, and after halting at Moradabad for almost one and half hours, train still managed to drop us at Ramnagar at 5am. At Ramnagar station, taxi walas were asking for extra money, they all had big cars or SUVs. We took an auto to bus stop and from there hired a  Alto-taxi for Binsar at reasonable rates. The taxi driver, a young boy was extremely talkative. This was the wedding season around this part as we crossed through many baraats (Monu weds Sonu cars!). He stopped at a dhaba and we saw that around this part there is problem of gas and availability of wood has meant de-forestation and thin jungles, as people still cook on firewood. Our taxi driver told us about the benefits of cooking on firewood and better taste of food and natural water as everybody lives long, healthy lives.


The breakfast for him, was of pakoras with dahi raita (sprinkled with lots of chillies) and aloo sabzi. It was a long five hour drive and both me and my colleague got nauseous with the drive up in the hills. We again stopped at a resort for another round of breakfast at 11am.

We reached Binsar around 1pm and then tried to check with the Kumaon Mandal Guest house which was extremely expensive. We went to Binsar Eco Resort, a three-star nice,clean resort, which we had seen online, got good rates for two rooms.
We had lunch and then slept off the entire afternoon, got up to eat dinner and then slept again! The weather was mildly cold and the view absolutely beautiful.


The plan for the next day, was to go around Binsar. We hired a taxi for the famous 'Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary' heard a few hair raising tales of wild animals at the ticket office, where we paid Rs.150 per person for ticket and Rs. 250 for taxi. The road around the sanctuary was in very good shape, as our talkative taxi driver (again!) explained that the roads that were built by the British were built with engineering insights and research, the Indian authorities now just build the roads without realizing that during rains/snow they get blocked. The roads by the British are all-season roads. He kept complimenting the British engineering, as we kept going up listening to the 90s Bollywood music, till we reached a point where we had to walk up to the Zero point on a walking track. My colleague and I started walking imagining our adventurous encounters with wild animals. She wondered our response if we actually meet a leopard (common here) and me saying nonchalantly that then it would be him, not us who would be doing anything!


We were extremely disappointed to find just butterflies in the name of wildlife, and waste bins lined up on the way! Nothing wild about it, and we had paid around 650/- only for pretty sights! We came back from halfway and on our way back I went back to the ticket guy to ask for a refund and told him that 'human jungles are more scary, and they are looting people here in the name of 'wildlife'.
In response, he said animals do not come out during the day!!

From, here we took a short route to the famous Shiva temple at Jageswar. Weather turned cloudy and the long drive around small villages became enjoyable.

We reached the temple complex around 2pm, had lunch at a dhaba. Food was fresh and good, and as per my habit, I asked for the dessert option, the waiter assured us that they have sweets and brought saunf and cheeni! We laughed our hearts out and went towards the temple complex with 125 small and big temples built between 7th-14th century.


It was quite a peaceful and serene experience. As it started to drizzle we had tea and bun-butter at the same dhaba and started back for our resort. By the time we reached back in time for tea and pakoras the drizzle turned into a downpour as we took a walk around the resort. Binsar had no bazar, no crowds only nature for company. The resort was at a steep slope, all the amenities and food at the resort were good, except for the desserts.



The morning actually starts at 6am in the hills and then onwards its just a long afternoon with strong sun. My fellow travelers were ready for our half day trip to Nainital at 7am. It is not a trip, until you shop, and abiding by that principle, we called a taxi for Nainital, our shopping destination, a five hour journey from Binsar. The route was beautiful as it kept drizzling throughout. The taxi driver had college going daughter, so he kept showing us the colleges and institutes on the way. 

We reached Nainital around 2pm. We were supposed to leave Nainital around 6.30pm for Kathgodam station from where we had a 8.30pm train direct to Delhi. We were told by our taxi wala bhaiya that it was just around half an hour from Nainital.
       To be continued.....

Monday 17 April 2017

Alfaaz


एक दिन सांझ ढले
पास आ बैठे अलफाज़
बेमसरफ* से,
बेमायने से..
हाथ पकड़े घेरा डाला
लगे आगे पीछे घूमने
कुछ हाथ आए 
कुछ पर लगा कर उड़ गए
कुछ अधूरे से
कुछ पूरे से
कहीं किसी दर्द की दासतान का हुआ बयान 
कहीं कोई किस्सा बीच में छूट गया 
कुछ लफज़ सितारों की चमक से ज़्यादा चमकदार 
कुछ रात की सियाही से गहरे काले
कुछ बेरंग से , 
कुछ बेनूर से 
अलफाज़..
कुछ अपने से
कुछ पराए से
कभी पास आकर सर सहलाते
कभी मुंह चिढ़ा कर मजाक  उड़ाते
खुद को पिरोते रहे लमहों में देर तक 
कहीं दूर से सदाएं आती रहीं 
पुराने लफज़ों की.....
अलफाज़ टिके रहे 
दहलीज़ पर 
रात भर 
सुबह को दरवाज़े पर 
राख़ पडी़ थी..
कुछ लफज़ों की
कुछ लमहों की!
**बिना किसी काम

Ek din saanjh dhale
Paas aa baithe Alfaaz
 Be-masraf* se, 
bemayene se
Hath pakde ghera daala
 Lage aage peechhe ghoomne
Kuch haath aaye
Kuch par laga kar udd gaye
Kuch adhoore se
Kuch poore se
Kahin kisi dard ki daastaan ka hua bayaan
Kahin koi qissa beech me chhoot gaya
Kuch lafz sitaron ki chamak se zyada chamakdar
Kuch raat ki syaahi se gehre kale
Kuch be-rang se 
Be-noor se 
Alfaaz..
Kuch apne se 
Kuch paraye se
Kabhi paas aakar sar sehlaate
Kabhi munh chida kar mazaaq udate
Khud ko pirote rahe lamho me der tak 
Kahin door se sadayen aati rahi 
Purane lafzo ki..
Alfaaz tike rahe dehleez par 
Raat bhar
Subah ko darwaze par
Raakh padi thi.. 
Kuch lafzo ki 
Kuch lamho ki.
                                                                                                  

Monday 10 April 2017

The Urdu Bible Woman

Georgie more than 80 years in age, is the youngest (in spirit) and most energetic person I have ever met. She is the caretaker of the Holy Trinity Church and a permanent at the Church Basti gathrings. I have always found her wearing colorful saris, smiling, almost always busy with something or the other but still taking out time to chat with me, whenever I have visited the Church at different points of time. (I always  start with Holy Trinity Church near the Dargah of Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani at Turkman Gate, whenever I take my students or friends' around Shahjahanabad). 

Over the years, we have become good friends. She has spent her entire life at Shahjahanabad and is most comfortable here, and never wants to go anywhere from her Basti. She studied in Urdu medium school, and  is now one of the few people left from the generation who still read their Bible in Urdu. Her Urdu Bible is kept separately from the rest of (mostly Hindi) Bibles. 

Georgie's husband died many years ago, and children are all settled. She lives with her two sons at the Basti. Daughters are married. Younger son is going to be a priest soon, she informs me and invites me for the future feast when it would happen, as she usually does whenever there is a feast at the Basti. 

She is the one who keeps the keys of the church. She told me when she prays mid night, she also prays for me. I thanked her and joked that she is the malik of the place, she can open/close/visit God whenever she wants late night or early morning, with her shy smile she nodded in the affirmative. While others from the Basti have often tried to proselytize and have given me lectures on how Christianity is better than Islam, Georgie mostly just chit chats, general inquires about work, food, etc. 

Once when I was speaking with other people of the basti, a young man whom she told me was of unsound mind started singing loudly. She came, sat protectively around me, shouted at him to 'buzz off', and then told me that it was getting late I should leave and walked me out of the Basti, also telling me to be careful, 'zamana kharab hai' for women.   

Recently, I attended the Lent prayer services. During one of the sermons, the Priest asked, "How many people here have enemies?" Everybody in the audience very proudly just moved their heads to indicate 'no'. Padri Sahab was disappointed. His logic was, "if you have enemies then it means you are doing something good. Jesus had enemies. If you do not have anybody opposing you, means you are not living your life correctly!" This comment sent everybody on a thought spin (including me) on "how to win enemies and live correctly!"  

Georgie, being 'the keeper of the house of God' is an exception and an epitome of those who could never make any enemy and also lived a correct life. Restoring my hope in humanity, may she live a healthy life for hundred more years! Amen.

Monday 13 March 2017

Siyaah Raat Ka Sitara


गहरी सियाह रात में
आँखों को जब
अंधेरे की आदत हो जाए..
तब कभी कभी 
इबारतें* उतरती हैं
वही** की तरह.. 
कभी पास आ बैठती हैं
चुपके से 
सखी की तरह.. 
कोई पुरानी बात याद आए
कुछ जुगनू सा चमक जाए ..
सियाह रात में 
वो नूर का हाला*** था
वो तेरे नाम का
इक सितारा था!


Gehri syaah raat me
ankhon ko jab 
andhere ki aadat ho jaaye ..
tab kabhi kabhi 
ibaratein* utarti hain 
wahi** ki tarah
kabhi paas aa baithein 
chupke se 
sakhi ki tarah..
koi purani baat yaad aaye
kuch jugnu sa chamak jaaye
siyaah raat me
woh noor ka haala tha
woh tere naam ka.. 
ek sitara tha! 

                                                                                                                                    



* Lines
**divine revelations
***circle of light

Thursday 23 February 2017

Ghazal- Hum Dhoondte Hain

याद के चांद में किरन हम ढूँढ़ते हैं
रात के गहरे सायों में रंग हम ढूँढ़ते हैं

मिलना मुकद्दर हुआ था मगर अब
बहाने बिछुड़ने के हम ढूँढ़ते हैं

तेरे करम की रहमतों के साये में
सबब तेरे होने के हम ढूँढ़ते हैं

लब से लिया न नाम तेरा, पलकों से पुकारा था
तेरे बिमार मेरे चारागर*1 तुझको हम ढूँढ़ते हैं 

तुझको देखा भी ,सोचा भी, चाहा भी 
तेरे साथ बैठ कर तुझको हम ढूँढ़ते हैं

दिल की राहों में किसी के कदमों की आहट
बंद दिवार में दर हम ढूँढ़ते हैं

आरज़ू में अजब सांसों का तक़ाज़ा था
बसाकर उसमें, अब अपनी दुनिया को हम ढूँढ़ते हैं

आँखों का मुद्दा कुछ, ज़हन का सवाल और था
खुद में मुंतशिर*2 खुद को हम ढूँढ़ते हैं 

वहम था कि उसकी परछाई थी
अक्स को उसके कु-ब-कु*3 हम ढूँढ़ते हैं 

मिलने का उसके कोई इम्कान*4 कहां लेकिन 
हाथ की लकीरों में उलझे उसको हम ढूँढ़ते हैं 

गुनगुनी धूप ठण्डी पुरवाई मिट्टी की महक
अब मौसमों में फुरसत के रात दिन हम ढूँढ़ते हैं


Yaad ke chand me kiran hum dhoondte hain
 Raat ke gehre saayon me rang hum dhoondte hain
Milna muqaddar hua tha magar ab
Bahane bichhadne ke hum dhoondte hain
Tere karam ki rehmaton ke saaye me
Sabab tere hone ke  hum dhoondte hain
Lab se liya na naam tera, palko se pukara tha
Tere bimar mere chaaraagar*1, tujhko hum dhoondte hain  (*one who cures)
Tujh ko dekha bhi, socha bhi, chaha bhi,
Tere sath baith kar tujhko hi hum dhoondte hain
Dil ki raahon me kisi ke qadmo ki aahat
Band deewar me dar hum dhoondte hain  
Arzoo me ajab saanson ka taqaaza tha
Basakar usme, ab apni dunya ko hum dhoondte hain
Ankhon ka mudda kuch, zehen ka sawal aur tha
Khud me muntashir* khud ko hum dhoondte hain (*scattered)
Waham tha ke uski parchhayi thi
Aks ko uske ku-ba-ku* hum dhoondte hain  (*nook&corner)
Milne ka uske koi imkaan* kahan lekin (*possibility)
Haath ki lakeeron me uljhe, usko hum dhoondte hain
Gunguni dhoop, thandi purvayi, mitti ki mehak
Ab mausamo me, fursat ke raat din hum dhoondte hain

1. chaaraagar*- one who cures
2. Muntashir* scattered
3. Ku-Ba-Ku*- nook&corner
4. Imkaan*- possibility

Thursday 26 January 2017

Shahjahanabad Shooting Diaries- In Search of KabootarBaaz


At Shahjahanabad, 26th Jan is celebrated with Kabootarbaazi competitions/contests/races. I had done a walk by Sohail Hashmi Sahab earlier at Turkman Gate and we had also been a witness to kabootarbaazi contests at Shahrukh Sahab’s house. I contacted Sohail Sahab and helpful as always, he gave me the number with a remark - “Unko bahut zor ka Islam hua hai (he has caught Islam), and has removed his mustache for beard', meaning that he has suddenly turned religious and after calling his number several times, I realized that he probably has also become allergic to mobile phones. I asked Sohail Sahab again for his address and reached Shahjahanabad. Near Kalan Masjid, I asked for Shahrukh Sahab 'Kabootarbaaz' and was directed to go to Gali Nanwa Teli nearby where Shahrukh Kabootarbaaz had his office. I decided to follow the locals’, asked a few more people for directions, (he seemed quite well known) and reached the desired office/karkhana of a much younger Shahrukh Handicraftswala! I asked him if he flies pigeons and he nodded his head, I gave my details and asked for his permission if I could shoot at his terrace. Also, asked about the other Shahrukh Sahab and found out that he has left kabootarbaazi also!

With Shahrukh was his friend/partner Omar who was more talkative of the two and also a kabootarbaaz. I said ‘MashAllah’ as a polite way of encouragement and he took offence, and admitted that Kabootarbaazi is a waste of time and money. His grandfather was a very well known Kabootarbaazi 'Ustad' and now his uncles do it (family hobby!).  It is seen as a bad habit (which is true to an extent). Pigeons, especially competition pigeons' are fed good feed (expensive!) which includes dry fruits, mewa and what not! Good pigeon breeds are bought from many nearby UP towns and range even upto more than Rs.20k. 
At Shahjahanabad, kabootarbaaz are seen as non-serious good-for-nothings who have too much time to waste on the birds. They are also suspected as “non-serious Romeos” or flirts, as being on terrace for long duration gives them enough time to eye the beautiful girls of nearby homes. Many love affairs start and end on terraces of Shahjahanabad. 
I was on phone discussing the logistics, time etc. and then while walking down the bazaar I felt something on my backside. It was a big black dog which tried to bite me (unsuccessfully, thankfully for me!!). I kept walking in the bazar without reacting until I reached my cousin’s place where I checked to see that the dog had only grazed some skin and there was no blood, only some minor discomfort. 
My concerned friends’ told me to get the dog vaccinated and check for some dangerous Sociological/Poetic inclinations!

 Omar had told us to come early morning but our problem was that due to 26th Jan (Republic Day parade traffic restrictions) reaching Shahjahanabad was a struggle. Our Camera team decided to come via Metro, I decided to spend pre-26th night at Shahjahanabad. The prediction for rain on the Republic Day was also a worry for us.

On the morning of 26th we reached the desired place and called Omar, Shahrukh's phone was switched off. He took us to a house whose terrace was on the fifth/sixth floor and we had to make our way through narrow staircases and a room full of around 25-30 goats/sheep (in winters, animals are given a separate room, Shaahjahanabadi kindness!). Terrace had view of Jama Masjid as we tried to spot all the fellow kabootarbaaz, whistling at their pigeons with their crackers going off whenever any group of pigeons won. Omar told us that pigeons' scheduled time was 11am and will not come out before that. He had spoken to a few others who felt that the cameras would distract their pigeons and they may lose the race and thus had refused!
Under the grey,cloudy skies, we decided to interview Omar on camera. There were two young restless boys, Ali and Faisal (Ali with a drum, to whom we had to tell from time to time to keep it quiet) as he proudly shouted at others that he had people "filming" on his terrace.
Omar was enthusiastically sharing kabootarbaazi details until we finished and then (very cutely embarrassed) with concern he disclosed that his family is in the process of  fixing his rishta' (marriage).  If the girls' family see his YouTube video they may find him unsuitable and reject him for being a kabootarbaaz! I suggested  (unsolicited advice) to look for a girl within kabootarbaaz circle so she and her 'family' would understand his passion and also complimented him on his looks'.
   


We spotted a few policemen on a nearby rooftop waving at us to get down and stop filming. It was 26th Jan! Ali the youngest amongst us, started mocking at the policemen with his drums.

By that time it had started drizzling, we wrapped up with a promise from Omar for a sunny day shoot soon.

We ended our not-so-successful morning with breakfast at Shyam Sweets. 

Beedi Peeti Aurat

 बीड़ी पीती औरत   अंकुश लगती है घूरती निगाहों को समाज नकारता है कुढ़ता है उसकी बेईमानी पर   उसके कर्त्तव्य याद दिलाता है   ये उसका हक़ नहीं   इ...