Love Pakistan? Not yet...

The Times of India has started a bold new campaign on the New Year... Love Pakistan. Some arguments and counterarguments are bound to come up there. At the outset, I concede that I am on the side of naysayers. I also dare say, this seems to be a gimmick but one with intent of doing something good.

It actually feels odd to see India, Pakistan and Love in the same sentence. And can anyone be blamed for this? It is not just what we have been fed over the past 60 years of ‘hate propaganda’. Any well meaning individual who feels for the common man and specially for the armed forces will have this odd feeling.

Also, when all previous attempts of extending hands has met only cynicism and counterproductive results like terror attacks, it makes common sense to be wary. The sadhu who keeps on tending the scorpion that bites back may not have to stop tending to the scorpion. But he definitely needs to take care of the sting before taking care of the wound of scorpion.

After all these years of gore and attacks in my country having been propagated by Pakistan, I can easily love the common people, cricketers, singers, etc on the other side of the border. But loving Pakistan... boss... I know better than that. I love the likes of Karkare, Saluskar, Kamte, Nachiketa, Unnikrishnan, Suri and common Indians too much to love the hand that killed them all.

कुमार बिस्वास... कशी यात्रा

कोई दीवाना कहता है..कोई पागल समजता है..
मगर धरती की बैचेनी..को बस बादल समजता है...
तू मुझसे दूर कैसी है मैं तुजसे दूर कैसा हु,
यह मेरा दिल समजता है न तेरा दिल समजता है...

महोबत एक ऐसे रोग की पावन सी कहानी है
कभी कबीरा दीवाना था कभी मीरा दीवानी है..
यहाँ सब लोग कहते है की मेरे आँखों में आंसू है..
जो तू समझे तो मोती है जो न समझे तो पानी है..

बहुत टूटा बहुत बिखरा थपेड़े सह नही पाया..
हवाओं के इशारो पर, मगर मैं बह नही पाया...
अधूरा अनसुना ही रह गया यह प्यार का किस्सा...
कभी तू सुन नही पार्यी कभी मैं कह नही पाया...

भ्रमर कोई कुमदनी पर मचल बैठा तो हंगामा
हमारे दिल में कोई ख्वाब पल बैठा तो हंगामा...
अभी तक लोग सुनते थे किस्सा महोबत का...
मैं किस्से को हकीकत में बादल बैठा तो हंगामा...

समुन्दर पीर का अन्दर है लेकिन रो नही सकता...
यह आंसू प्यार का मोती, इसे मैं खो नही सकता...
मेरी चाहत को तू दुल्हन बना लेना मगर सुनले..
जो मेरा हो नही पाया वोह तेरा हो नही सकता...

स्वयम से दूर हो तुम भी.... स्वयम से दूर है हम भी...
बड़े मशहूर हो तुम भी...बड़े मशहूर है हम भी..
बड़े मगरूर हो तुम भी... बड़े मगरूर हो तुम भी..
आतः बड़े मजबूर हो तुम भी.. बड़े मजबूर है हम भी...

'Never Forget 26/11'

It has been one long year since the brutal attack on the country's most talked about city. This post is an attempt to be a different take than the more commonly viewed angles that keep appearing on National Television. So this is not a commemoration of the attacks but an introspection of what we are as individuals, as a society and as Indians.

Notwithstanding what the attack and its aftereffects were made out to me, let us be brutally honest. The attacks were a 'huge success' from the viewpoint of the attackers. The sophisticated armed men roamed the city striking targets at will, even as media covered all the angles and a mockery of our social security system was made on all the available media.

Three of the best fighters in the establishment who dared to rush in when everyone was rushing out were allowed to lie there in their own blood for 40 bloody minutes before someone could tend to them.

It is said, 26/11 was India's 9/11 (In different date formats, though). While US had the balls to go for an all out war against the perpetrators, we have followed a passive, if not undetermined, approach. However, all said and done 8 years later, the superpower in question has neither been able to win, nor disengage from the war which has been dubbed as the biggest strategic error since the Vietnam War. Face it, Pakistan is no Lebanon or Palestine. How, in the wildest dreams, can someone in his senses suggest that India launch a war against an irresponsible nuclear armed state and assume that we shall live happily ever after? This when 40% of our fellow Indians live without electricity and farmers commit suicide on a weekly basis? Defies logic.

Ok, even if we declare war and annex Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Then what? As if the simmering north east, red belt, Maoists and Naxalites are not enough on the plate.

Coming back to 26/11. Are we not as clueless and as defenseless as we were one year ago? Shows of solidarity are totally relevant and recommended, but they are no good if not followed up by action by government, you and me. I am not competent to make recommendations to the north or south block, but can surely say that it is up to the 'intelligent middle class' to come out of their drawing rooms and start keeping things in line. We already have enough people who don't vote, don't pay taxes, don't follow social etiquette, bribe at the drop of the hat but are never short of advise.

Lastly, salute to the martyrs of the fateful day and all other less talked about events, bravehearts who defy all odds and fight for the nation, so that we can safely go to sleep each night. Let us never forget that there was a 26/11 that changed Mumbai forever. If we forget, we better rest assured there are going to be more.

What is this life, if full of care... We have no time to stand and stare

Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Do you run through each day On the fly?
When you ask How are you? Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores Running through your head?

You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time To call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last..

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away.

Life is not a race. Do take it slower
Hear the music Before the song is over.

Breaking Free... from life

There is a major reason why I am choosing to update this virtually dormant blog on this day. Actually i reckon that if I don't do this today, I may not do this at all.

Well, for the immediate update, I am just back from a very relaxing two day trip to a lovely and secluded beach surprisingly near (4 hr drive) to Mumbai. I surprised myself by realizing that there are so many beauties has to offer that I grew up with, and then somehow got so entangled in this thing that they call fast track life, that I have forgotten when last I enjoyed these things.

Walking in the moonlight, feeling the grass wet with dew with bare feet, getting up to the sounds of koel and mynah in the morning, cool fresh breeze in face and hair, soft waves playing with feet ankle deep in clear sea water, admiring the shapes of tree leaves and patterns on tiny sea shells, listening to nothing but the music of wind through palm trees and the sea waves playfully striking each other on the coast... I could go on and on.

But the most important realization was the fact that there are so many deep rooted thoughts in our minds, buried deep down that clutter of day to day crap that we immerse ourselves in, which keep pleading to surface but are always pushed further down by the sheer weight of our own mind. Sometimes we find these thoughts too unimportant for our time to be spent on them. At other times, we are not ready and willing to confront them. But once the mind gets uncluttered and al this haze clears, we realise that these are the thoughts, feelings and opinions that are actually ours... ones that really matter... ones that ought to shape our lives. Unfortunately, they are reduced to background noise in our daily decision making.

Now, I am afraid that when I wake up tomorrow, I too shall be too caught up, busy, afraid and what not that I will again forget the lesson learnt. Hope things keep happening in my life that makes me unlearn all the dirt around help me follow what really matters.

Signing Off... Yours Truly.

Republic Day Parade

Watching the Republic Day parade on Rajpath is indeed an experience on its own. A showcase of country's military prowess, cultural diversity and development unparallelled in the whole world. France is the only other country that indulges in the self-appraisal and display of glory, that too on a lesser scale and grangeur.

However, what bothers me is the complete detachment of Indians to this exuberant ceremony. The stands seem deserted, commentary on door-darshan medicore and media coverage minimal.

How many people were present to witness Obama take oath? 25,00,000. Does it speak volumes about our 'Patriotism'?