Happy Father's Day

"Oh dad, I love you", and Arun hugged his father tight. The father's eyes filled with tears, after all what more could an old relic ask for at this stage but to be loved by his only son. Arun took out a brand new I phone from his pocket and handed over to his dad. "Son, I do not need this". "Oh come on papa, you live alone here and this will be a good time pass". The father reluctantly accepted the gift. "Arun, it's been long since I met my daughter in lay and grand son, why don't you bring them here some day", the father pleaded. "Papa!! Not again, I have told you so many times they hardly get time". If Arun could read it, his father's eyes spelled dejection and disappointment. "Ok beta don't worry. As long as you all are happy I am fine. I have enough memories of your mother to help me survive".

Arun spent around an hour with his dad constantly looking at his watch. The doting father urged his son to go ahead and meet his important schedule. "Nothing much papa, but I promised rashi I will take go with her to meet her dad. I will take your leave, we are getting late". With this Arun marched off hurriedly to the compound of Jeevan Sandhya old age home where his car was parked and drove off. The father kept waving till the time the car did not vanish from his sight. He looked at the phone and it came ringing back to him "Happy Father's Day. 

Heart's way out

It was her first day in the Corporate World. She had so far led a very sheltered life with her parents in a small sleepy town with a few close friends. Suddenly her world was expanding and at a furious pace.

She entered the office, a small white room with just one desktop in the name of equipments. The room was cold or so she felt. The color of walls did nothing to warm her up. Her Boss sat next door. That did not loosen her up either. The only induction she received was the way to the mess and timings. She had her first meeting with her Boss in the next 10 minutes.

Grey hair and warm eyes were the first things she noticed in him. He talked to her about the job profile, expectations of the company and candidly enough the troubles she should anticipate in the corporate corridors. It lasted for around 30 minutes where she thought it wise to just use her ears well. Later during the day, she decided to introduce herself to everyone around. Sure enough, she could already feel the chill in the hot month of June. Within minutes she realized she was the youngest on board with a portfolio as wide as any of the seasoned players around. Wherever she went she was welcomed with cold shoulders, smoldering eyes and open sneers.

"There begins my ordeal", she thought to herself, "they will not be able to break me". And then on it became a daily ritual, silly allegations, petty conflicts and deriding remarks, till one fine day she could take it no more. She barged into her Boss's office. "I am surprised, you stood tall for longer than I thought". Tears welled up in her eyes and she could not control them. He got up from his seat, enveloped her in one Big Bear Hug which lasted long enough for her worries to drift apart. "I wanted you to learn walking first, now that you are already sprinting I shall run with you". And true to his words, since then he was always there to defend her. She was strong, all she needed was a pillar to fall back on. She came out with flying colors. For the first time people actually started noticing her, praising her.

And from there on, they developed a special bond. Sharing, discussing... a very platonic thing. Both found solace with each other in the corrupt power equations. They would often discuss people, tactics, strategies over endless cups of tea within or outside the confines of white walls. People talked, but who cared. They were floating closer in oblivion or probably it was a conscious disregard of the mortal ties. She enjoyed when he discussed work with her and asked her out for continuing the lengthy conversations. He was a man who wielded power at the right moment and that endeared him to her. The fact that he was concerned about her personal life, her relationships, her career placed him in high regards. She liked to believe there was more to what was going on. She yearned for those bear hugs. And so time moved with her growing stronger and confident in the role and in person.  Suddenly it was time for her to move to the next assignment. How she was torn between him and career progression. He urged her to choose the latter. Move, she made, with them staying in close touch for months to come. From regular to rare, their meetings turned sporadic and so did the calls. Before either of them realized it had stopped all together.

Today while sitting in front of him after a span of 15 long years, she realized nothing has changed. It was the same grey hair, warm eyes and above all the same bear hug. She was still in awe of him and it brought back a rush of memories. He, however, had moved on.

What was it.....a fatherly comfort that she needed the most then or something more intimate which she still longed for.

100 ग्राम उम्मीद

 

तलाश और  बस और  गहरी तलाश।  यही तो करती रहती थी उसकी आँखें, हर वक़्त उस एक शख्स की तलाश जो उसके साथ उसके कदम बाँट सके, उसकी उम्मीदे नाप सके ओर उसके ख्वाब जी सके। 

इतनी भी उमर नही हुई थी  उसकी जितनी लोगो ने बातें  बना डाली थी. दोस्तो से ले कर अजनबियों तक हर कोई उसे यही समझाता था की अब उसे शादी कर लेनी चाहिए|  वो अक्सर हंस कर टाल देती कि  लड़का ला दो कर लूँगी।  लोग कहते थे की उसे अपनी उम्मीदे कम करनी होगी, कही ना कही तो कॉंप्रमाइज़ करना पड़ेगा।  आख़िर शादी का मतलब ही यही है ओर सब करते है. उसे हमेशा से ये सोच नागवार थी, बस बात ही यही थी की उसे कोई अपेक्षा ही तो नही थी।  उसे सिर्फ़ एक सुलझा हुआ इंसान चाहिए था जो उसकी भागती ज़िंदगी मे थोड़ा ठहराव ला सके,  पर शायद ये क़ौम धरती से रुखसत हो चुकी थी. जहा देखती पैसा, दिखावा, ढोंग भरा होता. विचारो की गहराई ओर ज़िंदगी की समझ 21वी सदी के लिए थी ही नही.

कमी थी भी तो क्या उसे. माता पिता की इकलौती संतान थी।  मल्टिनॅशनल कंपनी मे ऊँचे पद पर कार्यरत थी।  ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा कमाती थी और अपने साथ साथ अपने माँ बाप के शौक भी पूरे करती थी।  पर उसके माँ बाप को भी दुनिया की तरह एक ही चिंता खाए जाती थी।  कई बार वो समझ नही पाती थी की ये चिंता ज़्यादा है या बोझ कम करने की कोशिश। 

 

एक दिन वो यूही दफ़्तर मे कही उलझी थी की चपरासी ने आकर बताया की एक नामी बॅंक के वाइस प्रेसीडेंट उसे मिलने आए है।  यूं भी बिज़नेस टाई अप के चक्कर मे बॅंक से अधिकारियो का आना जाना लगा रहता था।  वो गयी, उन्हे नमस्कार किया ओर बैठ गयी उनकी बात सुनने के लिए।  बातो बातो मे बात निकली ओर बिज़नेस से निकल कर व्यक्तिगत जीवन पर मूड गयी। काफ़ी सुलझा हुआ व्यक्तित्व था उनका।  लिखने पड़ने का शौक फरमाते थे, दीं दुनिया से जुड़ी खबरो मे विशेष रूचि रखते थे और धरम देश के बंधनो की खुल कर आलोचना करते थे। समाज और समाज से जुड़े ढकोसलो को वे सिरे से खारिज कर जाते।  दुनियादारी पर उन दोनो के विचार काफ़ी मिलते जुलते थे। काफ़ी दिलचस्पिया पैदा हो गयी दोनो के बीच ओर कहाँ वक़्त निकल गया पता ही नही चला। इसी बीच उसने जाना की वो शहर मे नये आए है और  रहने के लिए मकान ढूँढ रहे है जिसमे उन्हे बहुत परेशानी का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। कारण पूछने पर उन्होने बताया की इस शहर मे अविवाहित लोगो को कोई किराया देना पसंद नही करता।  ना जाने क्यूँ उनकी इस परेशानी से उसे एक अजीब सा सुकून मिला. काफ़ी देर तक गुपशुप चलती रही, आख़िर उन्होंने  उससे विदा ली ओर निकल गये। घर आकर वो बहुत देर तक उनके बारे मे सोचती रही। 

उसकी उम्र तक आते आते प्यार की जगह तजुर्बे ओर समझ ने ले ली थी। वो जानती थी की ज़िंदगी जीने के लिए जज़्बात मिलना ज़रूरी है, प्यार तो फिर हुमराह होने पर हो ही जाता है।  उन जनाब की बातो ने काफ़ी रात तक उसे जगाए रखा। इन्ही बातो मे खोई हुई वो कब नींद के आगोश मे चली गयी उसे पता ही नही चला। 

दूसरे दिन दफ़्तर मे जाकर वो काम मे ऐसी मशगूल हुई की इस मुलाकात के बारे मे भूल गयी।  शाम को उसके मोबाइल पर मेसेज आया जिसमे उसे बिज़नेस प्रपोज़ल के बारे मे पूछा था।  वो समझ गयी की ये उन्ही का मेसेज होगा।  और फिर मेसेजस का दौर शुरू हुआ।  दोनो ने एक कप कॉफी पर इस प्रपोज़ल को आगे बढ़ाने की ठानी।  कॉफी शॉप मे एक दूसरे को देखते ही दोनो के चेहरे पर गहरी मुस्कान आ गयी।  एक दूसरे मे उनकी ये विशेष रूचि अब उन दोनो पर भी ज़ाहिर हो चुकी थी सो खुल कर बातें बह निकली।  बिज़नेस प्रपोजल ने एक दूसरा ही मोड़ पकड़ लिया था।  कॉफी से कब डिनर तक पहुचे, ये तंद्रा वेटर ने भंग की ये कह कर की होटेल बंद होने का समय हो गया है।  बिल दे कर बाहर निकले ओर काफ़ी दूर तक चलते रहे।  फिर उसी ने पहेल करी ये कह के की वो उसे अपना बिज़नेस कार्ड देना तो भूल ही गया।  उसने जेब से कार्ड निकाला ओर उसकी ओर बड़ाया।  कार्ड देखते ही उसका हाथ वही थम गया - फारूक  कुरैशी!!

धर्म से उसे इतनी नफ़रत क्यूँ थी ये वजह शायद आज पहली बार इतनी जातिय तौर पर उसे समझ आई थी।  उसके थमे हुए हाथ और उसकी ठहरी हुई नज़र से फ़ारूक़ को भी ये अंदाज़ा हो गया था।  उसने दो घड़ी रुक कर उसकी आँखों को टटोला।  उम्मीद का वज़न बड़ी तेज़ी से गिरता देख उसने अपना कार्ड वापिस जेब मे रखा ओर एक आख़िरी बार उससे नज़रे मिला कर अपने कदम उल्टी दिशा मे बड़ा दिए। 

बचपन में सुना एक गाना उसे याद आ गया था … 

“तू हिंदू बनेगा ना मुसलमान बनेगा, इंसान की औलाद है इंसान बनेगा”

66th Republic Day - An unprecedented diplomatic honour

Dear Mr. President

Let me first congratulate ourselves on how proud we are to host the First ever US President for our Republic day celebrations.  It is a matter of unique pride and diplomatic achievement for a country like India where almost every Indian dreams of visiting US once in his lifetime and where the most expensive trips by travel companies are to US cashing in on the popularity of your nation.

Believe me when I say, my whole country is abuzz with news of your arrival and how all of a sudden your trip to India has become the most talked about subject surpassing the critical issue of elections in the capital city of Delhi. Yeah, we go for elections every year whilst your trip is once in a lifetime affair though we can just hope we get more chances to witness such maddening furor.

Let me tell you, I was a little upset when you denied VISA to our very own India bred man of steel Narendra Modi and post that the diplomatic uproar over Devyani Khobragade.  But guess we were to live with it because soon we were going to have the most incredible victory on the International political scene, the visit of the most powerful man on the face of Earth, the President of USA.  It will be wrong to say I am not looking forward to this visit because of the distance that INDO US relations have travelled since the times of “the undiplomatic disaster” that was Nehru’s meeting with Truman. Thankfully I am getting to read better stuff in my morning newspapers than the same old stories of rape, terrorism, political unrest etc. It makes me feel good how you have progressed towards the safety and security of life in your country that there are at least 90,000 security personnel to guard you on your visit to India. Now this Mr. President might be the total number of Police constables in India to guard our ever increasing population of multibillions. The 500 men strong US Secret service agent entourage coming with you might put our very own RAW to shame since the total number of RAW Agents working in India will fall short of that number.

Your trip will also teach us some excellent lessons in the age old “Mezbani” and “mehmaan navazi” that we have been famous for. Coming as a State guest and travelling in your own Cadillac instead of Pranabda”s S600…we are already ashamed of not being able to provide you with better options. We were also apparently asked to declare NO FLY ZONE over Rashtrapati bhavan while you are here and I heard we declined. No…not at all stately. You are our guest, so what if that would have meant putting a comma to our age old traditions. We could have always resumed back next year. It is good that you have also cautioned Pakistan against terror activity in India during your visit. We have been tired of yelling but their shelling does not stop. May be, no no, I am assured they will pay a heed to you. They don’t want an end to monies funding their artillery. Besides the per person life cost in US is 100 folds higher than in India. I understand that it is mainly because Dollar is stronger than rupee and in those terms Pakistan will end up paying more than they usually do in India.  We of course give them freebies too now and then.  

So all in all your visit has me perked up and all set for some diplomatic action. It is good that your people have invaded our Maurya Sheraton and left nothing to the details of Indian security forces because we struggle with protection of our civilians and women. Having plugged in all loopholes there is one left I presume, please have Air force 1 to stock up on 20,000 gallons of breathable air since Delhi air is polluted and might pose a serious threat to POTUS. Rest it is wise enough that AIR FORCE 1 will not be switched off during the time you tour India. It should be a major boost to Indian economy with the fuel prices being in pretty good shape and what with you guys paying in Dollars. So to sum it up in one word

WELCOME Mr. President

 

टूटे सपनो का सच

बूढ़ा टपरा, टूटा छप्पर और उस पर बरसातें सच,
उसने कैसे काटी होंगी, लंबी-लंबी रातें सच।

लफ़्जों की दुनियादारी में आँखों की सच्चाई क्या?
मेरे सच्चे मोती झूठे, उसकी झूठी बातें, सच।

कच्चे रिश्ते, बासी चाहत, और अधूरा अपनापन,
मेरे हिस्से में आई हैं ऐसी भी सौग़ातें, सच।

जाने क्यों मेरी नींदों के हाथ नहीं पीले होते,
पलकों से लौटी हैं कितने सपनों की बारातें, सच।

धोका खूब दिया है खुद को झूठे मूठे किस्सों से,
याद मगर जब करने बैठे याद आई हैं बातें सच।

Where the mind is NOT without fear

My mind has been ringing with all the territorial and religious violence news that everyone around is privy to. It is definitely disturbing to see the destruction around that we have subjected ourselves to in the name of what was supposed to be a layout for better administration and a refined path to achieve the Supreme.

 

All of a sudden it seems the world is plagued in its entirety with some or the other form of communalism and religious divide. Where it isn't strictly religious it has acquired the ugly shape of human lines of control to gain command over humans themselves. Rousseau had famously said, "Man is born free..." but he failed to visualize that man will generate his own bondage. From the inhuman atrocities of ISIS in Syria to the Nuke threats between India Pakistan to the extreme Islamic militancy propagated by the Boko Haram, where are we headed and what will be our future. My future can not be isolated and restricted to my nearest locality. That will be a very myopic view of existence. Because even if I shrink my horizons and just peep out of the box peace still eludes me. When I talk to people, I end up debating. People are so full of religion that they just look through humanity. For them it is more important that they prove their supremacy over the next minor race. Terror is a state of mind and terrorism a means of existence. How close can I look if not beyond my town, my neighborhood. I just have to travel 20 kms. from my heaven to experience the freshest cases of communal violence. Close eh!! How close is my question. No one is willing to forgive, no one wants to let go, everyone is holding on. There is no exit. And no, education has not been able to salvage the situation. I sit in the company of well educated top brass. I feel left out for my secular views. We want Kashmir but we want to park our thoughts on peaceful co existence.

 

Kashmir reminds me of recently watched Haider. Marvelous, Achingly beautiful. What struck me was not the artistic rivalry between Tabbu, Shahid and KK neither the vast expanse of ice covered Anantnag but the plight of Kashmiris. Half widows, Distraught old parents, Clueless kids. "To be or not to be", how beautifully the issue has been raised. And these issues have been continuing since Kashmir was formed.

 

I have now come to think that these issues of regional and religious violence are beyond solutions. They will live as long as the human race itself. There is no solution in sight. And yes, they hold only humans. Javed Akhtar voiced straight from the heart

"Panchi Nadiya Pawan ke Jhonke

Koi sarhad na inhe roke"

 

 

One world was just a wistful thought of some philosopher who failed to come out of the reverie. For all the rest of us are wide awake.

 

शहर से थोड़ा आगे जाकर दाये मुड़ो तो सरहद दिखेगी
वही सरहद जिसके उस पार पाकिस्तान है ओर इस पार हिन्दुस्तान

 

वही सरहद जिसके दोनो तरफ सियासते है जो खेलती है
मासूमो के दिल से, दिमाग़ से

 

सुना कल रात सरहद पर फिर गोलियाँ चली, लहू बहा
वही सरहद जिसके उस पार भी लहू का रंग लाल था ओर इस पार भी||

 



 

 

 

To my Launch Pads, I like to call them TEACHERS.

But, teacher, I never will forget

A look you gave to me;

I saw reflected in your eyes

The somebody I could be.

 



 

Every individual's life is usually a perfect division of two - Student life and thereafter. Over the years, I have come to believe that there are no Good Students. There are only Good Teachers who are capable of bringing out the best in their pupils.

The relation between a teacher and student descends beyond classrooms, subjects, activities, schools and all things temporary. We usually tend to remember teachers who have had a long lasting impact on us. This, not in terms of academic curriculum but more in light of evolution and development. Good teachers usually affect eternity. Their influence lasting as long as life. It is way above the awe struck infatuations that grip the students and involve trivia like dress, speech, walk and other sensory parameters.

 

There are teachers who command and then there are those who master. One particular incident I remember very well from my college life which distinguishes the two. There was an inter college debate competition and my college had not received any participation. I was walking down the corridor when this teacher crosses me.

" Why have you not given your name for the competition"?

" The subject does not interests me".

" I am sending your name, prepare well".

 

While I like to believe they needed me because I was probably one of the best, ,my ego was definitely bruised at being commanded. I said an outright No and moved out. Next day I was approached by another faculty who took me aside and said she was confident of me winning the title for our college and I should go ahead for the institute's sake. Whoa!! She won and next day I won too. Not for the college but for her. Moreover I received a beautiful souvenir from her which I still hold dear.  Now when I look back, my ego was definitely ill placed but there lies the art, knowing the students inside out and making the difference. I imbibed that as a fine theory of people management. No one wishes to be dominated over and every one needs incentive to go on.

 

I was fortunate enough to be educated in a public school during my early childhood. The best lessons in brotherhood and secularism were taught there. I had some of the best role models in community service and peaceful co existence. There were daily lessons from every religion. There was no punishment only positive reinforcement. Consequently every student was aware of self discipline not because it was a pre requisite in school but more because it was good to be in discipline.  The school had no ideology, every teacher was a champion in their own league and that as such made those years some of the best learnings of my life.

 

The curriculum today, as I see it, is so competitive that it almost over rules moral values. I fail to understand why is it becoming so difficult to teach lessons for life these days. When I see students befriending teachers on social platforms it amazes me. Despite of having some of my very good friends as former teachers it is sheer respect that draws me to them still. While it is good to have teachers as friends, the respect is fast diminishing.  The relation is becoming very shallow and superficial. The teachings very bookish and business like. Is it more because teaching is fast becoming one of the best business and probably the easiest alternative in killing time for some, unlike old times when people chose to be academicians. Or because parents have stopped empowering teachers to rear ladies and gentlemen. Or because schools have just become another example of socio economic divide engulfing the country.   Whatever it is, needs to change drastically. There can be no learning without action. It is merely churning out huge lots of educated uncivilized citizens who may earn well but will never be able to take the nation anywhere.