जले ये मशाल तो जले...

चलो मिलकर साथ चले, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

अन्धकार की राह में, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

अश्को की चिंगारी को, हमदर्दी के अंगारों को,

एक मंज़िल एक दिशा देती, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

 

सब्र करना सहन करना एक चूक होगी,

सहम के डर डर के जीना एक भूल होगी,

जवाब छुपा है कहीं, उन दबी आवाज़ों के तले,

लहलहाती आवाज़ों के साथ, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

 

हौसले बुलंद हो और आग में अमन हो,

लो कसम के ना किसी का अब दमन हो,

जन्नत सी इस ज़मीन पे अपनो का प्यार पले,

इंसानियत को रोशन करती, जले ये मशाल तो जले...

समझौतों का सिलसिला चलता रहा...

ज़िन्दगी य़ू ही चलती रही, यादों का शमा बंधता रहा,

कभी आने वालों का कभी जाने वालों का मेला लगता रहा,

ख़्वाबों में सजायी थी, खुशियों से भरी कायनात मैंने,

हकीक़त के पन्ने उलटते रहे, अनजान सा सफ़र चलता रहा,

समझौतों का सिलसिला चलता रहा...

वो कहते है, थके न तू रुके न तू, गति में कभी झुके न तू,

मेले के बीच गुमनामियों में, खुद को पत्थर बना न तू,

रुका नहीं थका नहीं ये तन, ना कम हुई माथे से कभी ये शिकन

लहरों को चीरता हवाओं को मोड़ता, बेबाक ये कारवां चलता रहा,

समझौतों का सिलसिला चलता रहा...

शिकवे शिकायत सुनाने को, दो पल ठहरने को दिल कराहता रहा,

खुद में खुद को ढूँढने का वक़्त, ये ज़हन तलाशता रहा,

कभी हम तो कभी वो ना थे, सुनने सुनाने वाले कभी मंज़र ना थे,

फिर भी इंतज़ार के धुंध में, बहारो का पुलिंदा बनता रहा,

समझौतों का सिलसिला चलता रहा...

नूर ए जहाँ...

नूर ए जहाँ कहाँ है तेरा आशिया,

आँखें ढूंढती है तेरी परछाईया,

ख्वाबो में रहती है तू महफूज़,

हकीक़त में करता हूँ तुमको महसूस,

ना होने की बेबसी कैसे इज़हार करूँ,

उंघती खुशियों का कैसे इश्तेहार करूँ,

जुड़ने से तेरी जुड़ी एक नायाब दास्ता,

दो पल की ज़िन्दगी, मस्ताना ये कारवां

Aiming Low Is a Crime

That is what former president and renowned scientist Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam said once. The words resounded in my ears so many times that I could not resist but post my few cents on the subject. It is needless to say that I would be hardly able to do justice to words of one of the greatest living legend, but still worth a try. After all, aiming low is a crime.

THEY say ‘don’t rise so high that it pains badly once fallen’. But then, what is the point in rising little, falling little, learning little and giving little in descending order of scheme? YOU and I are little objects in the context of universe and then if YOU and I do not dare, do not dream big, do not bring positive revolution, then who will. Imagine, Thomas Alva Edison thinking on these lines. Don’t YOU or I get the feeling that if he was not, he was committing a crime?

The point lies not in creating name or fame for self. YOU and I would do fair bit of that in entire span of 70-80 odd years – easier said than done though. The point is in answering a question on YOUR or MY deathbed – how had I inherited this beautiful world from my ancestors, what did I make of it and how have I shaped it up – shaped for the generations who are about to take over? If YOU and I dream low, aim low and try low, how would YOU or I answer this question?

Once again, THEY irritate YOU and ME and say, apprehension does not allow dreaming higher and aiming higher. Apprehension – apprehension of what? Only truth is free of fear as Gurudev Tagore conveyed craftily in one of his famous poems. Being true to the cause, motive and means is all it takes. Truth is in aiming high, striving high and not settling even once irrespective of outcomes – flat or enriching. Don’t settle, rather rejoice and relieve YOUR and MY spirits before taking off again.

THEY are around everywhere and they need YOU and ME. YOU and I truly can definitely aim high – high enough to converge THEIR and OUR efforts. Imagine the ‘Luminous Sparks’ that the ‘Ignited Minds’ (YOU, I and THEY) can generate with the ‘Wings of Fire’. His ‘Envisioning an empowered nation’ can never be an incomplete dream then! In context of this post ‘Envisioning an empowered universe’!

Come back soon, Yuvraj! We miss you!

Champions create the destiny for themselves and they do not need the so called ‘luck’ factor in order to stamp their supremacy during small or big battles in life. They more often than not make us believe that champions cannot be made – they are just born to be champs. They are the ones who inspire the whole generation; they are the ones who cross the barrier of generations due to their longevity and endurance.

This post is a tribute to one such champion who is the prince of millions of Indian hearts. The Real Yuvraj. Yuvraj Singh has once again resumed extensive training on his road back to Indian cricket team. Looking at his will power, it is hard to believe why he will not make it and why he won’t be the same. Over the course of past decade, destiny has always tested him and he had overcome all the tantrums that destiny threw at him. Life threatening cancer being the most recent and most unfortunate tantrum.

Cricket lovers would vouch for his cricketing prowess blindly and the impact that he creates in the field. More than anything else, it is his fighting spirit and the greatest of competitiveness that sets him apart in the presence of so many greats around him. It would not be exaggeration to say that Indian cricket owes so many moments of glory only to his self-belief and game changing performances. Yes, countless performances when the chips were down and a billion hopes hinged onto his shoulders.

The “pie-chucker” has revealed that he did not want to see the doctors during the world cup in 2011 when the cancer was in benign stage. All for the dreams of a billion crazy fans! The prince had revealed that he wanted to win the world cup for our little master – Sachin. All for Sachin’s kitty which somehow would not have been complete forever! I had predicted that India would win 2011 world cup. Deep within my heart I knew, ONLY IF, Yuvraj is 75% in form. They say it is a team game but in the hindsight, it is and it was hard to imagine India lifting the world cup without Yuvraj in the side.

For a true cricket lover, cricket won’t be the same without Yuvraj Singh, though the statistics may not be by his side. The sport can’t afford to loose him like that. I wish and hope that Yuvraj makes his way back to the national side soon and once again clobbers Stuart Broad for six half-dozens in as many deliveries in upcoming T20 world cup in September.

Take a bow, Yuvi. You are truly special.

The oasis of peace

In the modern world, the lifestyle seems to advance to the next level ceaselessly. This obviously leads to more prosperous and comfortable life. It does also lead to change in the way society responds to inter-personal needs – sometimes for good and sometimes for bad and finally settling for what suits it best. However, what does not change is the very basic instinct of human being of being social, being approachable and being loved.

To be social, to be approachable and to be loved isn’t an easy one for one has to be social, one has to approach and one has to love. In the middle of demanding work-life, it is all the more difficult to control fleeting thoughts. Fleeting because the world has become closer than ever. Difficult because most of the time, thoughts are pre-occupied. In the middle so much of flutters, not only one suffers mentally and emotionally, but also physically - the last being the most unfortunate.

Mental and emotional losses can get compensated over medium to long term, but how about physical loss! All those years of slogging your mind and body can take a toll which can never be cured. Physical gains need consistent intake of fresh air and activities that challenge the body progressively. Instead of being confined to the bed over long weekends (I hope I can reach out to people who burn their calories sleeping till late afternoons), one must look towards investing time in health and fitness. For instance, how about early morning walk on super Sunday, how about couple of hours sweating at a badminton court, how about skipping for few minutes!

Engaging in physical activity does not take much of efforts. It just requires will power to test your physical abilities which would ultimately result into peace of mind in the long run. Alas, it only sounds easy and comforts takes over the will power for many of us! So, if you desire for peace of mind, start testing your muscles and bones!