MOTHERHOOD

           These days I am engrossed with nature’s play of regeneration. A brown coloured bird, maina, had laid five eggs, in the ventilator of my toilet. The mother always took me as intruder and raised alarm each time I entered the toilet. I was not lesser happy than the mother, when one after another, five small featherless birds came out of the eggs. Their arrival has made the environment colourful. At every slightest sound they happily chirp raising their heads, opening their tiny yellow coloured beaks wide and stretching their necks, as long as they can. Their eyes are still close their bodies are growing golden feathers, slowly golden colour is converted in to grey but their wings are still like small arms though each day the feathers on them are denser. Their mother brings food for them which, mostly consists of insects and larvae. They rejoice her arrival by shouting. She breaks the food into pieces and distributes it to everyone, evenly. I silently watch the show of love and affection as inside being dark it’s not possible for the mother to see me, Thanks to wire-mesh fitted in the ventilator. I can have closer look of the nest kept in five feet some inches high ventilator. Whenever i enter the toilet the small bird shout thinking me to be their mother but mother isn’t relying on me she makes noise to keep me away, if she caches me ‘red handed’ perhaps she has doubts on my intentions. I wonder how a mother protects and cares for her children for their security she doesn’t trust anyone. Motherhood is a gift which God has bestowed only on females, males of all species can be envious of it. But I salute you motherhood.

Power of Imagination

          Power of imagination is unlimited. Where human civilisation has reached, is only due to imagination. I recently witnessed a show of powerful imagination. It was in Swaminarayan temple, Gandhinagar, a laser show on the screen of water fountains. ‘Sat-chit-anand’ BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Puroshattam Sanstha) has named it so meaning existence, consciousness, and bliss respectively. It is a spectacular show which is held in every evening, barring Monday, after sun set. The show has been produced by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in Creative and Technical collaboration with ECA2, a world-renowned creative agency from France. With a 130-feet wide and 70-feet high water screen, around 4,000 nozzles, 2,000 lights, over 100 pumps, 160-feet long sea-of-fire, it becomes enchanting. The concept is beautifully crafted. The presentation is a story from Upnishada which runs around a debate between a nine year old boy, Nachiketa and Yama, the god of death. The show claims to be first spiritual show of its kind. The white screen becomes colourful and lively when laser beams fall over it. I was wondering if Yamdoots and Yama would scare the kids but they are so lightly and funnily presented so as not to make them scary. Impressed by the child’s courage and truthfulness Yama asks him to express his three wishes which he promises to fulfil. Everything was fine till Yama answered third wish of the lad.... here it looked like the show was ended abruptly. But if you visit Gandhinagar don’t miss to witness this spectacular show and the power of imagination.

अनमोल वचन

      Some times some things catch our attention, this happened to me recently while orkuting. I was reading some jokes in a community and I found this interesting collection, the post was created by one Mr Mittal. I tried to thank him for the post but he had set privacy for his scrap book so I do it here, nice collection Mr Mittal.

मित्र से उधार लेने के पहले सोचिये कि आपको किसकी जरूरत ज्यादा है - मित्र की या धन की ?
मृत्यु आनुवांशिक बीमारी है।
तन्दुरुस्ती वह चीज है जिससे आपको यह मालूम होता है कि साल का यही बेहतरीन वक्त है।
कुछ फिल्मी सुन्दरियां मन्दिर में भी धूप का चश्मा पहनकर जाती हैं; उन्हें डर लगा रहता है कि कहीं भगवान उन्हें पहचान कर ऑटोग्राफ न मांग बैठें।
गरीबी अमीरों लिये एक पहेली है; समझ में नहीं आता कि लोगों को खाना चाहिये तो वे घण्टी क्यों नहीं बजा देते।
आर्टस्कूल वह जगह है जहां लड़कियां हाईस्कूल और शादी के बीच का वक्त गुजारती हैं।
अनुभव हमारे ज्ञान को बढ़ा देता है लेकिन हमारी बेवकूफियों को कम नहीं करता।
खुदा बेवकूफों को महफूज रखे, उन्हें खत्म न हो जाने दे; क्योंकि अगर वो न रहे तो समझदारों की रोजी मुश्किल हो जायेगी।
अपनी आमदनी के अन्दर खर्च करो चाहे इसके लिये तुम्हें कर्ज ही क्यों न लेना पड़े।
नाश्ते से पहले कुछ काम न करो; अगर नाश्ते से पहले कुछ करना ही पड़े, तो पहले नाश्ता करो।
गरीबों को याद रखो, इसमें कुछ खर्चा नहीं होता।
कई बीवियां रखने में एक फायदा है; वे अपने पति से लड़ने की बजाय आपस में ही लड़ती रहती हैं।
 खूबसूरत औरत आंखों के लिये स्वर्ग है, आत्मा के लिये नरक है, और जेब के लिये दिवाला है।
आदमी की आधी जिंदगी उसके माता-पिता बिगाड़ देते हैं, बाकी आधी उसके बच्चे।
बाबा आदम के जमाने से ही बेवकूफ बहुमत में रहते आये हैं।
हर औरत को शादी करनी चाहिये- पर मर्द को हरगिज नहीं।
दुनिया में तीन चीजें हैं जिन्हें औरतें नहीं समझतीं - आजादी, बराबरी और भाईचारा।
मानवजाति का अन्त यह होगा कि आखिर एक रोज वह सभ्यता से घुट मरेगी।
अगर बुरे लोग न होते, तो अच्छे वकील न मिलते।
कुछ लोगों को खुश करने का एक ही तरीका है - आप फिसल कर गिर पड़ें।
दुनिया में शायद ही कोई ऐसी सक्षम लड़की हो जो अपने को घर का काम करने में समर्थ समझती हो।
सच्चा प्रेम भूत की तरह है - चर्चा उसकी सब करते हैं, देखा किसी ने नहीं।
अगर ईश्वर न भी हो तो उसका आविष्कार कर लेना जरूरी है।
कायर के एक लिये एक साहसिक कार्य खुला हुआ है और वह है - शादी।
किसी ऐसे काम को कभी कल पर नहीं टालना चाहिये, जिसे आप परसों कर सकें।
दुनिया में दो ही ट्रेजडी हैं : एक आप इच्छित वस्तु को पा न सकें; दूसरी उसे पा जायें।
पत्ते अच्छे हों तो आदमी ईमानदारी से खेलना पसंद करता है।

रैंचो का स्कूल

          लेह में बादल फटा परिणामस्वरूप आयी बाढ़ ने भीषण तबाही मचाई ! काफी लोग मारे गए और कई गुना बेघर हो गए ! मनुष्य बहुत जुझारू प्राणी है! जिन्दा रहने की जबरदस्त चाह उसे फिर से खड़ा होने लायक कर देती है ! हुआ भी यही ! कुछ राहत कार्य और थोड़ा सा सरकारी मरहम, ये लीजिये आ गयी जिंदगी की गाड़ी फिर से पटरी पर ! इस बीच अखबारों में ख़बरें भी काफी आयीं, टीवी वालों ने भी पूरे मसाले डाल कर संवाददाताओं की आवाज़ में रहस्य और रोष के मिश्रण के साथ संवेदनहीन होते जा रहे श्रोताओं की आत्मा को झकझोरने की कोशिश की ! एक खबर और थी, जो कभी-कभी इस विपदा से भी बड़ी बना कर पेश की गयी वो थी 'रैंचो का स्कूल बहा' ! सैंकड़ों मकान पानी में बह गए थे, स्कूल की वो इमारत, जिसे 3इडियट्स फिल्म में रैंचो के स्कूल के रूप में दिखाया गया था, भी उन में से एक थी ! मुझे भी इस खबर में आम ख़बरों से ज्यादा रूचि तो थी पर इतनी तवज्जो मैंने नहीं दी कि इस पर एक पोस्ट ही लिख डालूँ ! बहरहाल आज सुबह एक नर्सरी स्कूल के सामने से गुजर रहा था तो मैंने देखा कि सुबह कि प्रार्थना में तीन से दस साल के बच्चों को लाइन में खड़ा कर के प्रिंसिपल साहिबा कुछ बड़ी-बड़ी बातें समझा रहीं थीं ! वो बातें समझने के लिए मुझे भी कुछ देर रुकना पड़ा ! मुझे नहीं लगा कि बच्चों के पल्ले कुछ पड़ा होगा ! छोटे बच्चों के स्कूल में सुबह की प्रार्थना में बच्चों को लाइन में लगा कर भाषणबाजी करना मुझे कभी समझ नहीं आया ! पता नहीं क्यूँ बच्चों को हम उन कि भाषा में न समझा कर वही घिसे पिटे तरीकों में फसें हुए हैं ! पढाई को रुचिकर बनाने की बजाय उबाऊ बनाने का काम हम बचपन में ही शुरू कर देते हैं ! और सब से ज्यादा बुरा हाल तो पब्लिक स्कूलों का है ! ये लोग अभिभावकों से पैसा एंठने में तो सदा ही तत्पर रहते हैं पर पढ़ाने के नाम पर इन के पास अक्सर अप्रशिक्षित या अल्प प्रशिक्षित अध्यापक होते हैं ! जो किताबों के बोझ तले बच्चों को दबाये रखते हैं पर पढ़ाई के नाम पर शून्य ! ये समझने की जरूरत न जाने कब महसूस की जाएगी की छोटे बच्चों के लिए बाल-मनोविज्ञान में भली भांति प्रशिक्षित अध्यापक रखे जाएँ जो बच्चों को रट्टू तोता बनाने की बजाय उन में मौजूद विधाओं को निखारें ! 

        प्रिंसिपल साहिबा का रुचिकर भाषण मुझे उबाऊ लगा और मेरे कदम आगे की ओर  बढ़ गए ! मुझे अफ़सोस है कि रैंचो का स्कूल बह गया !

CONVERSION

        This will not be the first time when eyebrows will be raised over my views. I don’t believe in making sensations but few people sometimes feel uneasy on my views.

        Other day I had a debate with a net-friend of mine over conversion. She is from St. Lucia which is a beautiful island country in the Caribbeans and some of the matches of recently concluded T-20 world cup were held there. As per a survey the people of St. Lucia are the happiest in the world. My friend seemed very much worried about the condition of Dalits in India. She asked me why we do not improve it. I asked her if what her sources of information were. She said that she heard some missionaries talking about this. I told her the cause of worry, nowadays, is not untouchablity but the missionaries. I told her how so many Christian missionaries are indulged in the conversion on large scale on the pretext of education and social service. She made her point that wat’s wrong in spreading one’s religion. And I wanted to convey her, wat’s wrong in a social service with out conversion. Finally she gave up after a long discussion. I don’t know if she was convinced, dint want to pull it further or she dint have any more point to debate.

        I believe all religions are equal. And, I think, there is only one religion, humanity, and rest all are reforms. We name them any thing but the conclusion is, they want to say almost same thing. Still there is a race to pull more and more people under their banner by some religions.

        The question is why only poor and backward people are mostly converted? And answer is very simple! So called messengers of God penetrate deep into these people, ofcourse they serve them, educate them, provide medical facilities but wat’s the cost! They make them to embrace their religion. This is a social service or the service for conversion; is it very difficult to conclude! And there have been many incidents where people have been lured to convert. Why a social service can not be done without disturbing ones religious orientation? This can not be disputed that these conversions have disturbed social harmony in many parts of India.

        Other day I happened to meet a guy, who does the job of a sweeper and has old acquaintance with me. I saw a cross round his neck and I asked if he had converted. He confirmed, I saw a sort of contempt in his eyes. I asked if he found some change. He didn’t have answer. I didn’t find any change in his condition. He still was wearing same type of clothes; his complexion was still tanned, his teeth were still stained with gutkha and he still was doing the same job, of a sweeper. I am sure, he never read Gita and nor Bible and one who converted him was not bothered to do so. He just added one more ‘disciple of true faith’. That’s the achievement! Wat’s the use! Religion means morality. And it has become rare, be it any religion. I am yet to find a person who did lot of studies in his original religion and in that he converted into. I would certainly appreciate the person.

        The condition of Dalits has indeed been bad. But the things have changed a lot and are still changing. I have many Dalit friends who never converted and nor they have contempt in their eyes. Is the key to improve a poor’s condition is conversion? Why do not these missionaries serve people without the greed of converting them? Why, after all, one should convert a person to improve his condition? Do not these conversions result in to a separate class of people? Why is human society so willing to create divide rather than to unite. Take Hinduism so many offshoots like Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhs, Shaivites, Vaishnavas etc, Muslims as Shias, Sunnis, Ahmedias, Alawite, Ismailis, Bohras, Druze and so on, Christians like Catholics, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants, Restorationists etc, Sikhs like Khalsas, Ramgarias, Nirankaris, Nam-Dharis and more. So many faiths, so many conversions. Great personalities take birth to cleanse society, not to create divide. But their followers fail to understand this fact and they take on the path of division, establish themselves as a separate faith. And then begins the race of conversion.
        Now tell me, religion unites or breaks!

UNDISCIPLINED DISCIPLINE

         Two weeks back I was travelling by a train in general compartment. The compartment was full as usual. Some CRPF personnel, in uniform, were also there. One of these police man was drunk. He was not letting sit, any one, on the berth meant for five persons and usually 7-8 passengers, accommodate there. I tried to sit there but he pushed me aside. I saw, cops carried arms with them. I thought may be for the safety of the arms they were not allowing any one. Another passenger, incidentally an army man, sitting on the side seat, accommodated me. After some time I discovered from the fallow passengers that he was misbehaving with everyone. His fellow police men tried to calm him down but he would listen none. There after he was boosting himself that he is not scared if someone goes to even home minister, and he would go his own way. His behaviour was utterly disgusting.

         I don’t know how many of these policemen and their top brass realise that the biggest challenge before security forces, today, is neither terrorism nor naxalism but to win the trust of public, be it Lalgarh or the streets of Srinagar, sooner we realise and take required steps; lesser we take time to solve problems at domestic fronts. The incidents like this certainly diminish the image of an organisation which largely works between people. A misdeed by a man in uniform brings a black spot to the organisation, he belongs to. Two days after the incident, I read about the killing of a few CRPF personnel by Maoists and I realised that I dint feel the pain as strongly as I used to feel earlier.

भोर नहीं क्यों हुआ आज

                     भोर नहीं क्यों हुआ आज, भानु नहीं क्या उठा आज !

नहीं चमकी क्यों रेशमी किरणें, हरे-हरे पत्तो से छन कर !
नहीं निकले पंक्ति बद्ध पक्षी, मेरी छत के ऊपर से !
नहीं चली है पवन भी ठंडी, मेरे तन को छू कर के !
नहीं चमकी क्यों ओस की बूँदें इन्द्रधनुषी रंगों से आज !
                    भोर नहीं क्यों हुआ आज, भानु नहीं क्या उठा आज !

मीठे बोल कानों से हो कर साँसों में क्यों नहीं घुले !
जागो उठो मुझे कहने को सुन्दर होठ भी नहीं हिले !
भूल गएँ हैं शायद ये भी, नए फूल जो नहीं खिले !
वहाँ झाड़ियों के झुरमुट में मोर नहीं क्यूँ ठुमका आज !
                   भोर नहीं क्यों हुआ आज, भानु नहीं क्या उठा आज !

कोयल न कूकी, मुर्गा न बोला, चिड़िया भी चहचाई नहीं !
टन-टन करती धवल गायें, नहीं गयी जंगल की ओर !
सूनी-सूनी लगती बस्ती, नहीं मचा पनघट पर शोर !
इकलौती बुलबुल बस बोली भोर नहीं क्यूँ हुआ आज !
                  भोर नहीं क्यों हुआ आज, भानु नहीं क्या उठा आज !