Of Principles and making of "Who I Am"

Desire of portraying oneself unique guides our actions throughout our lives. From the moment we are born, parents try to differentiate us with other kids and instil a feeling of pseudo uniqueness in us. The education system is no better. From early on, there are ranks, grade point averages, percentiles for differentiation. In our actions gradually we start to prove every second that we are different than every person we are with or interact with. "I did this", "I think that" or simply "I am" as conversation starters show our eagerness to prove our unique persona.

However, there is no need to go that long, since, one is unique the minute one is born. There is no second copy of me anywhere anyways. Nature has already taken care of that aspect and made me different than others. I am not even same as my identical twin, if any, even though we may be born seconds apart. Nature has a way of putting its signature on its creation. Nothing that is created by nature is same as another.
Still the ironical part is that from the moment we are born, we spend rest of our life proving that we are different than each other. The "different" soon becomes competitive and starts to mean "better". In the zeal of proving our uniqueness, we mix the part where unique means better. I am better than the next person. This thought takes over rest of our lives. I am different but my different traits are better than someone else.

 We forget that Nature has already provided us with a genetic composition, a DNA signature or my biological identity i.e. my face, finger prints, retina, dental frame etc. Thses are so unique that it is impossible to be replicated. From phone companies to governments using biometrics, everyone is using this uniqueness to differentiate me from others. My uniqueness is my identity. I live my life with this unique identity of my own. My thought process, my logical reasoning, my decision making process and my behaviour, everything takes shape from what nature has given me.

So why is there an innate need to prove at every given point in my life that I am better than the next person? If we overcome this desire than we will overcome many hours of wasteful effort. The time we spend on social media broadcasting ourselves is a classic example. The sheer need to show the world what I did, what I think or what makes me what I am, is the entire premise behind social media publication these days. In that enthusiasm, sometimes people even forget who they really are or were.

One starts with a unique identity to begin with. This may be a normal state of being where one might bear similarities of some of the to others. But in the disguise of proving oneself better than others, people often create a fake persona of themselves and try to portray someone who they are not. Such behaviour can only lead to unhappiness.

One should be at peace with oneself. What you have been from childhood or through your teens is itself a signature to you. There is no need to get influenced by other personalities. Just keep on nurturing what you are and you will be happy with yourself. What makes myself "Me" is already inside me. There is no need to broadcast this and try to become someone who we are not. I am happy with who I am and I am unique.

Foundation of a Country

Countries are formed and the boundaries setup based upon language, geography or based upon its ancient history. But there is a permeating theme that binds it together, something that its founding fathers found so strong that they build either a constitution or a whole set of philosophical as well as practical guidelines surrounding that theme. Every Country is setup on that basic theme which becomes its foundation.
When Europeans sailed for India using the western route, they found America by chance. That chance gave them a unique opportunity to setup themselves differently on how they were in Europe. The boundaries were already there, there was already a legacy and culture. The languages were well defined and they had literary contributions based upon the cultural and social setup. They had rich foundation already. But what about the new generation that was brooding. How could they differentiate themselves? The boundaries are already set, how can they create and invent a new path for themselves? Its true that Europeans were always on the move and finding new colonies. But those colonies were giving a tough resistance since they already had their own foundation and they could not be ruled with any other super-imposition.
When the same Europeans found a new land, thinly populated and largely unorganised, they found a unique opportunity to start fresh with a clean slate. Hence America was born. Some may say, exactly opposite to how Europe, more particularly, Great Britain was setup. The new land, America, propagated free speech, capitalism, democracy and did not have to be bounded by thousands of years of legacy and culture. The theme was simple, the individual was empowered. His efforts were rewarded and individual rights were protected within the greater community. When the foundation is strong, so is the love for country. If country empowers you and like minded people join forces, you want to protect what you have got.
As with anything, over time things do get diluted. Neo thinking starts to appear and newer generations do not connect with the ideas of their forefathers. Much so is happening in USA right now. The democratic liberal thinking that, gives community and the minorities back their rights and treat them over and above generic individual rights, has taken over.
The country then gets divided. People want to uphold the founding father thoughts asserting that they knew better when laying the foundation. The new generation contends changing times and need to change the thinking. Liberal versus Conservative battle rages. Each pulls the country to far left or far right. Whoever gets into power starts to place its own agenda and the country starts to get polarised. Nobody wins. In reality if we look at us as individuals, we are not at any end. We are somewhere in the middle may be with inclination towards left of right. We want the people in power to understand and make issue based choices. If liberals are in power and there is some conservative agenda that makes sense, then why not implement it. But who is there to make the choice or decision on what makes sense.
It is always like, whoever is in power would put their agenda in place without regards to what people actually need. After all you vote only once. Whoever magically wins majority pulls the country in its own direction and the opposition in the other. The tug-of-war is to take the decisions to opposite poles and not compromise.
The entire world is witnessing the same phenomenon. The government and opposition are polarising the people, Middle path is not an option because it tantamount to losing your ground.
When the countries are young, Government comprises of people with the original thought and they know how much to give in to the other side and decisions get taken in general interest. As the countries get older, the original thought or the founding thought gets diluted and it only remains the clash of egos. Nobody really wins in this scenario.
Serious thought is needed as to why there are so many countries in the world. What makes them different? The boundaries are setup because of these differentials. If the citizen of the country do understand why their country came into being and what needs to be defended, then they would love their country more and will defend it at any cost.

About highways and the journey that is LIFE

Having lived in West and East of the globe for considerable time, I can deduce that a lot can be said about people of a region if you just observe closely on how they behave while driving on the road.

The roadways and the traffic is what the people in it make it the way they are. The behaviour does not only stay on the road but it percolates into the daily life or it could be other way round. One thing is for sure that the two are closely related.

What I observed in the West that the traffic is quite organised, it is very predictable and hence they are able to move fast. If one person does something unexpected, the whole system breaks down. The highway accidents tend to be fatal because they are high speed and often people are at loss to handle any exception that is posed to them. If I draw a similarity to the Western way of life, it is similar. People follow predictable path. They rarely struggle with life's basic necessities and the life is quite organised. The trust factor in people is very high as in they expect everyone in their chain of influence to play out their own part. Teacher is supposed to teach, doctor's heal, bankers and lawyers do their own stuff etc. Everything works nicely until one of them doesn't do the job expected out of them. It throws an exception and people get hurt. One rouge banker or a bad doctor can do unimaginable harm to so many people before getting caught.
Not all is bad in the system. Most of the time it works and does not impact the people at large. Like in a highway, people stick to their respective slow or fast lanes and are normally happy with their choices. If someone wants to make a lane change, they indicate by flashing the respective indicator and gradually ease into the new lane, preserving the predictability. The promotions, the advancement and the retirements are hence very predictable and known to people around them. There are exceptions here too, You have someone in the fast car who will criss cross and speed away without concern to others. These are highflier who take advantage of predictability and simplicity of others. These are by far fewer in the system and usually short-lived.
The right of way is to pedestrians. If they see someone on the corner of the road, they slow down and let the person cross the road. So little people get respect. There are more cars on the road than people on foot so easily minority wins here and there is a general consensus to respect little people and preserve that minority.
In US to be in particular one finds congestion and fast lane changes in metros. People are eager to move forward. Midwest and rural areas are very laid back. They respect people on the road and have low desire to make fast lane changes. Their choice of life are also simple and their approach very relaxed.

Now lets turn to East, manly India. The traffic comprises of less roads, more people. The automobile composition is more two-wheelers than four and a combined number of people on foot. So the hierarchy is obvious. People on foot have to give way to two-wheelers who in turn and have to give way to four-six-eight wheelers in that order. The bigger the vehicle, the more weightage. Minority wins here too since the cars and the trucks/buses are in minority compared to people on foot and two-wheelers. Each man to himself, the traffic is not predictable. In order to move ahead, the person at the back can honk and overtake you from anywhere. The person in front can turn left from rightmost lane or vice versa without indicating their choice. The race is on. The resources, namely, the road is less and the journey is the same for everyone. Hence there is a mad dash to be first. Me-First. Well, some wise man said, ''when everyone tries to be fast, everyone arrives late." Guess, the wise-one is still stuck in traffic. The me-first attitude is there everywhere. In queues, in education, in business or any services. People are looking for deals, exceptions or any short-cut so they can win. How can one win when everyone is trying to do the same thing. People trying to talk to their long lost aunt to save a few bucks on blood test. People looking for online coupons for movie tickets to spa services. Talk to anyone in your area of influence and tell them you paid retail price for your shoe and all hell will break loose. People try to give advice on how you could have saved 10% if you had just talked to them about their favourite shop.
The simple thing is to relax and use the available resources wisely. If you move slow, everyone can actually move fast. But how do you really get this message across. The difference between East and West is palpable. In West, people making exception are frowned upon, looked down upon and nobody tries to imitate them. In East, if the exception becomes a norm because it appears that the person making any exception is winning. In the end everyone arrives late.

My Goal here is not to provide a solution. It is something that everyone knows and can solve. It requires individual will and a firm belief that they are part of the solution, part of the chain who can individually make a difference if they follow what they feel is right. Exceptions will always be there. Sometimes they win sometimes they lose but they should remain exceptions.

The Hospital Bed

There was sadness in his eyes

If only someone could look up There

He could always muster a smile

When someone asked how was He

Lying on his bed all by himself

No one  could see that he was Lying

Eyes were the entrance to his souls and beacon of truth

But who had the time to look at them the Eyes

Everyone came and he did laugh with them

Cracked some jokes and made merry withe Everyone

Not before last the smile began to fade

Gloom began to set since time there was Not

Short of breath but something came over him as a thought
Life is precious worth living to the fullest even if Short

Sad eyes then began to come alive and gloom faded

Outside the window the Sun rose and he was no longer Sad

One life is all we get whether spent alone or with all

Journey is what you make of it before merging with the One

Poems Written between 1993-2000 (English)

Mirage

A fool named Lee,

lived by the sprawling sea.

Problem with him was severe,

His income was too meagre.

He did not want to work,

He was strong but a jerk.

Lee tried to add two and two to make five,

But this is not possible in one’s life.

People were fed up with the bully,

He used to rob them and flee.

Once came a wise man in town,

He was a holy man dressed in white gown.

He called up the foolish Lee,

Pointing his hand towards the vast sea.

“There” he said, “where the sky and sea meet”,

“You will find a treasure and plenty to eat.”

Dumb Lee set out for sail,

Nobody has see him since on his lost trail.

Death

Death is ultimate, death is formal,

Death is true, Death makes us mortal.

How can we handle such a thing,

We powerless feeble human beings.

Birth is happiness, birth brings no ill,

Birth is too against our will.

Birth and Death are continuous so why fear,

Live life with happiness and cheer.

Life is a process not so simple,

The world’s so big and time so little.

Dusk

Birds chirp and the flowers close,

Day breaks and the Sun goes.

Stars peeps into the sky,

My thoughts rise high and high.

What is behind all these things,

Who created us human beings.

Is all this World a fake,

Mountain, rivers and lakes.

The end of World seems near,

This haunts me and I fear.

Where will all the creation go,

I am just left with thoughts high and low.

Dawn

Flowers bloom in my lawn,

I face the first light of dawn.

A new day has begun,

A lot of things have to be done.

I forget last night’s fear,

The day is new and very dear.

Everything in this world is for you,

It is full of joy and things anew.

Leave the past and forget the future,

Present is most important for every creature.

Why shouldn’t we enjoy the World so,

And stop the thoughts high and low.

Nature

Wind blows and the trees zoom,

Birds chirp and the flowers bloom.

Glory of morning star is about to fade,

Twilight of East has its wings laid.

Cool breeze evokes a subtle anxiety,

Freshness of morning feels mighty.

Nature has so much to offer,

Men have so much but still suffer.

See the Sun has cast its first ray,

Awake, arise, its mark of a new day.

Poems Written between 1993-2000 (Hindi)

निश्चय

स्वप्न अभी भग्न हुआ है
निशा का तम अभी बिखरा हुआ है।

सूझती नहीं है कोई राह
इस अंधकार की भी नहीं कोई थाह।

दूर एक दीपक टिमटिमाता है
घोर अंधेरे में विश्वास दिलाता है।

दिवा का प्रकाश अब दूर नहीं
मंज़िल है पास यहीं कहीं।

स्वप्न तो स्वप्न है भग्न ही होगा
निराकार था अब साकार होगा।

स्वप्न को स्वप्न ही नहीं रहना है
भग्न कर उसे एक स्वरूप देना है।

 
भावनाएँ

भावनाओं से भरे नेत्र
उन्हें शब्द देने को आतुर ये थरथराते होंठ ।

क्या तुम रोक रही हो उसे
जो अनायास ही छलक आया है इन नयनों से।

या उस आह को
जो बिना पूँछे निकल पड़ी है इन अधरों से।

बह जाने दो इन्हें
आँखी मूल्य कहाँ है इन भावनाओं का।

सूखी आँखे ही जीवंत दिखती हैं
खिले होंठ  ही लुभाते हैं।

भरी  आँखें व थरथराते होंठ
देते हैं बस अवसाद के गहरे क्षण।

बह जाने दो इन्हें मत बहो इनमें
मूल्यहीन हैं ये भावनायें।


 
मँझदार

एक तम्मना थी जीवन में
कुछ बन कर दिखलाऊँगा।

भीड़ में वजूद ना खोकर
अलग ही पहचाना जाऊँगा।

पर भविष्य है विशाल
समेटे अथाह सागर।

पार करनी है लम्बी दूरी
अनिश्चितता का सदा है डर।

कि भँवर कोई ऐसा आए
बीच में ही किश्ती रह जाए।

मैं बस देखता ही रहूँ
मंज़िल पास आकर भी छिटक  जाए।

 
तलाश

ज़िंदगी के सफ़र में हमसफ़र की तलाश है
रहीं तो बहुत मिलीं पर मंज़िल की तलाश है।

वह कौन सी रह है जो
मंज़िल तक ले जाएगी।
दूर करने अंधेरे को
वह सभा कब आएगी।

राहें तो सभी मंज़िल तक ले जाती हैं, दिए की रोशनी भी अंधेरे को भागती है
मुझे मंज़िल दिखाने वाले सूरज की तलाश है।

वह कौन था जो साथ चला था
अब आगे निकल गया।
वह कौन था जो साथ चला था
अब ठोकर खा कर गिर गया।

जो साथ चला था और अब भी साथ है
मुझे उस हमसफ़र की तलाश है।



 
आकाश

नीला आकाश सो रहा है बेख़बर
और नीचे धरती पर
कुछ आत्माएँ जन्म ले रही हैं
कुछ सांसें दम भी तोड़ रही हैं
पर आकाश सोता है बेख़बर।
क्या दिन का उजाला भी नहीं दिखा पता उसे,
अपना बोझ ढोती  मृत आत्माएँ
या ख़ुद से लड़ती बेजान सांसें।

इस आकाश और धरती के बीच कुछ है
यह वायुमंडल, अदृश्य और पारदर्शी।
पर यह भी अब कलुषित है
नहीं भेद पाती इसे सूर्या की आभा
नहीं शीतल करती इसे चाँदनी भी।

तभी तो आकाश अब भी सोता बेख़बर
तब भी, अब भी और हमेशा।


 
मैं

रिमझिम बरखा बरस रही है
आकाश धूल कर साफ़ हुआ जाता है।

पक्षियों का कलरव बढ़ रहा है
सूर्या का तेज़ मंद  हुआ जाता है।

मस्त पवन वृक्षों को झुला  रही है
हृदय प्रसन्न पुलकित हुआ जाता है।

सावन का आगमन है और पपिहे की पुकार
प्रिया से मिलने को चित्त हुआ जाता है।

वर्षा की बूँदे हैं ये नहीं स्वेद के कण
प्रिया का चीर और तन एक हुआ जाता है।

बँधे केश खुल कर लहरा रहे हैं
और मेरा मन विश्वामित्र हुआ जाता है।

 
आदि युग

कैसा था वो आदि युग
जब बिजली धिस सिर्फ़ आकाश में
लोग तारों तले चंद्रमा की रोशनी टोहते थे

कैसा था वो आदि युग
जब घर मिट्टी से बनते थे
भरी दोपहर के तपते सूरज से
बचाती धिस घने पेड़ों की छांव।

कैसा था वो आदि युग
जब दूर दृष्टि के अंत तक थी हरियाली
शीतल लगते थे पवन की झोंके और
ठंडक बरसते थे काले बादल।

कैसा था वो आदि युग
जब हवा थी महकती चंचल चितवन
पर्वत शिकार रहते थे अजेय, अरण्य दुर्गम
सागर भी था अथाह और अंतहीन।

कैसा था वो आदि युग
जब चंद्रा सिर्फ़ था कहानियों
बादलों पार दुनिया बस्ती धिस कल्पनाओं में
ब्रह्मांड भी था आगम अगोचर।

कैसा था वो आदि युग
जब विज्ञान नहीं था उन्नत
जीवन की परिभाषा और लक्षय थे सीधे
क्यों नहीं वह युग आ जाता दोबारा
हो जाए सब वैसा ही जैसा चाहे मन हमारा।

हम नौजवान

दुनिया की हमें परवाह नहीं
दुनिया से हम बेग़ाने भी नहीं।

पुरानी मंज़िलो की हमें आस है
इक नए रास्ते की भी तलाश है।

जलती शमा की परवाने हैं
बुनियादी ज़रूरतों को भी पहचानते हैं।

हम नए युग के जोशिले नौजवान हैं
भूत से निकल कर वर्तमान में भविष्य तलाशते है।

छोटी कविताएँ

1. देवी

यह पर्वतमाला कितनी उच्शृंखल
यह हरियाली भी करती मन को चंचल।

देवी बैठी है गिरी की चोटी पर
मन चाहे पहुँचू वहाँ मैं उड़कर।

रह कठिन है, दुर्गम, पर नहीं असम्भव
उठाकर कष्ट ही मिलता है वैभव।

पुरुषार्थ से कमाया धन ही अर्जन है
सिर्फ़ उड़ने की चाह तो मानसिक पतन है।


2. क्षण

पल पल गिनते समय निकल गया
पल पल गिनते कारवाँ गुज़र गया।
हम थे जहाँ वहीं अब भी हैं
पल पल गिनते मौक़ा ही निकल गया।

३

ज़माने भर का गम हमारे साथ है
फिर भी मुस्कुराते हैं गम पीते जाते हैं।
आख़िर यूँ ही पीने से तो
गम हल्के होते जाते हैं।

४

ऐ दुनिया वालों हमें शिकता नहीं तुमसे
हमें तो सताया है दुनिया बनाने वाले ने।

५

सोचो तो साथ क्या लाए थे
सोचो तो साथ क्या जाएगा।
क्या वजूद है हमारा
यहाँ किया यहीं रह जाएगा।

A Poem this time

One Life

One life is what you get

One life to live and love

One life to follow your dreams

One life to see the flowers bloom

One life to see stars and moon

One life is what you get

One life to smell that first rain

One life to see sunset and sunrise

One life to wake and work

One life to dream, awake and arise

One life is what you get

One life to cross the ocean

One life to scale the mountain peak

One life to soar in the sky

One life to create wonder and magic

One life is all you get

One life of togetherness 

One life of joy and joy in sorrow

One life of celebration

One life of mystique and adventure 

One life is all you get

Heaven and Hell

Pain and Poise

All is here

Life is not a list of opposites

It is just one big ride