Money

Workers Earn It
Spendthrifts Burn It

Bankers Lend It
Women Spend It

Forgers Fake It
Taxes Take It

Dying Leave It
Heirs Receive It

Thrifty Save It
Misers Crave It

Robbers Seize It
Rich Increase It

Gamblers Lose It
I Could Use It

- Richard Armour

Himadri Tung Shring Se

Jaishshankar Prasad

Remember

A timeless piece by Christina Rossetti which I am sure you must have already read. No harm in doing that again.

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

All The World's A Stage

From Shakespeare's As You Like It:

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.

At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.

And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth.

And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.

The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Yours & Yours & Yours

The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours.

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.

- Leo Marks

By Bashir Badra

कभी यूँ भी आ मेरी आँख में कि मेरी नज़र को ख़बर न हो
मुझे एक रात नवाज़ दे, मगर उसके बाद सहर न हो

वो बड़ा रहीम-ओ-करीम है, मुझे ये सिफ़त भी अता करे
तुझे भूलने की दुआ करूँ तो मेरी दुआ में असर न हो

मेरे बाजुओं में थकी-थकी, अभी मह्व-ए-ख़्वाब है चाँदनी
न उठे सितारों की पालकी, अभी आहटों का गुज़र न हो

कभी दिन की धूप में झूम के, कभी शब के फूल को चूम के
यूँ ही साथ-साथ चलें सदा कभी ख़त्म अपना सफ़र न हो

Kaun Thakan Hare Jeevan Ki

A poignant poem by Girija Kumar Mathur.

Lala Ji Ki Tond

Ek Kahani Mein Sarey

A poem for kids.

Akaal

Read this one by Nagarjun in school. Puts up a poignant picture.

Phir Wohi Talash

I think during 1989-1990 or thereabouts, we had this tele-serial called Phir Wahi Talash telecasted at Sunday noons, and directed by legendry Lekh Tandon.

It had basically two love stories - first one a triangle between a subdued Ashwini Kumar, lovely Poonam Rehani nee Sarin, and a young ravishing Himani Shivpuri( this before she picked up weight ). This one was tense, surreptitiouss love story involving strict dad of the girl. Believe me, in case you don't remember, the by-default nasty looks of this dad would have paled our Hindi films villains in comparision.

But we liked the chori-chori set up. It looked so real similar to our own crush stories. My only grouse was the fact how come a lovely dame like Poonam Rehani could have anything to do with that hopless Ashwini Kumar.

The other was the chirpy & lively open romance between Salim miya and Shehnaaz. Don't remember the name of that dashing guy who played the Captain Salim(he was in the DON remake too), but sweet Shehnaz was definitely Nilima Azeem. She was the best friend of Poonam, and his so lovely father was fellow Lucknowite S. M. Zaheer.

Both the stories complimented each other perfectly, but somehow in the end serial lost its control. It had a lovely tital song sung by Chandan Das which I wanted to share.

न जी भर के देखा न कुछ बात की
बड़ी आरज़ू थी मुलाक़ात की

कई साल से कुछ ख़बर ही नही
कहाँ दिन गुज़ारा कहाँ रात की

उजालों कि परियां नहाने लगीं
नदी गुनगुनाये ख़यालात की

मैं चुप था तो चलती हवा रुक गयी
ज़बाँ सब समझते है जज़्बात की

सितारों को शायद खबर ही नही
मुसाफ़िर ने जाने कहाँ रात की

Jhar Gaye Paat

It is such a sad state of affairs that Government had to bring a bill for protection and taking care of our elders. No amount of punishment can be less for such a crime, but just 3 months of imprisonment and Rs 5000/- of fine is definitely way too less.

I hope no parent suffer in such a way, and none of children face this humiliation, but then truth can't be ignored. Lage Raho Munnabhai is one example. People deliberately leaving their clueless elderly parents at Kumbh Melas is so regular. Like I said, no punishment can be less.

Noted poet Balkavi Bairagi has written a wonderful poem - Jhar Gaye Paat - with similar message. Its about how we discard everything which is old, be it people, relationships, belongings, or anything else, whenever we encounter something new.

Now more about the poet. He has been a Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, and a minister in state's Legislative Assembly for Congress. He has written some memorable songs for the films too. Like the lovely "Tu Chanda Main Chaandini" sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the film "Reshma Aur Shera", and "Nafrat Ki Ek Thokar Ne" sung by Manna Dey in the same film.

Interesting thing about him was that his family was so poor during his childhood that they(including him) use to beg for surviving. His father was crippled. He had beg to furnish his studies too. He lost his first child, barely 11 months old, as he could not afford to buy medicines.

Now the poem.

उनके देखे से जो आ जाती है मुँह पे रौनक ...

Vintage Mirza Ghalib.

उनके देखे से जो आ जाती है मुँह पे रौनक
वो समझते हैं कि बीमार का हाल अच्छा है।

देखिए पाते हैं उशशाक़ बुतों से क्या फ़ैज़
इक बराह्मन ने कहा है कि ये साल अच्छा है।

हमको मालूम है जन्नत की हक़ीकत लेकिन
दिल के ख़ुश रखने को ‘ग़ालिब’ ये ख़याल अच्छा है।

Charitraheen

Most of us may remember this serial base on Sharad Chandra Chattopadhya's novel of the same name being telecasted on DD. It had beautiful song sung by one of the leads quite frequently on the harmonium. The song was done by great Salil Chowdhari. Here it is.


शीतल मंजुल कोमल, तेरा आँचल
मेरी सुधियों में लहराया
झल-मल झल-मल
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

हौले, हौले-हौले
पुर्वा ड़ोले, पुर्वा ड़ोले
ढलते दिन की अरुणाई में सपने घोले
सपने घोले, सपने घोले
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

पंछी एक बिचारा, टूटा हारा, टूटा हारा
सुने नभ में उड़ता फ़िरता, मारा-मारा
मारा-मारा
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

शीतल मंजुल कोमल, तेरा आँचल
मेरी सुधियों में लहराया
झल-मल झल-मल
और एक शाम मैंने तेरे नाम लिख दी

After spending a fortnight in Lucknow unscathed, Aryan has taken ill in Pune with high fever, vomits, and stools. Just as Sanguine had feared. However, there is no cough or cold therefore it seems a bout diaohrrea.

Firaq Gorakhpuri

Allahabad is hosting ArdhKumb at Sangam, near Prayag. There was a time when the city hosted a sangam of the some finest poets of their era - who, by stroke of destiny, had descended upon the city to make their living.

These were Sumitra Nandan Pant(orginally from Almora), Surya Kant Tripathi 'Nirala'(from Unnao), Mahadevi Verma(from Farrukhabad), Harivansha Rai 'Bachchan'(from Allahabad itself), and perhaps the most talented and eccentric amongst these - Firaq Gorakhpuri (originally Raghupat Sahai from Gorakhpur).

I don't know why greatness usually comes with eccentricies, perhaps only Nirala might have match with Firaq here, but that's probably because he had become schizophrenic. The popular as he may be, he was a Muhphatt as well. He had no small opinion about his looks, knowledge and poetry.

Like Bachhan senior, he too was an English professor at Allahabad University, and had once remarked - "In this country, only two and half people know English - Me, S Radhakrishnan, and the half one is Nehru." Later he took back the half Nehru from the list. Though I also remember one more comment about S Radhakrishnan, don't know by whom, that - "What Radhakrishnan speaks is English."

Another notorious comment attributed to him was unleashed when Amitabh Bachhan was born. Harivansh Rai Bachhan was a protege of fellow professor Amarnath Jha, and former's wife Teji was very close to Mr. Jha. On Amitabh's birth, at full public view and hearing, Firaq said, tongue in cheek, to Bachchan - " I am not sure whom to congratulate - you or Mr. Jha."

Some call it dry wit.

Ok enough about his oddities and eccentricies, here is a famous Gazhal by Firaq.

ये तो नहीं कि ग़म नहीं
हाँ मेरी आँख नम नहीं।

तुम भी तो तुम नहीं हो आज
हम भी तो आज हम नहीं।

अब ना खुशी की है खुशी
ग़म का भी तो अब ग़म नहीं।

मौत अगर चे मौत है
मौत से ज़ीस्त कम नहीं।

ज़ीस्त is Life.

Kabir Ke Kuchh Aur Dohe

Some may be repeated, but still...

दुःख में सुमिरन सब करे सुख में करै न कोय।
जो सुख में सुमिरन करे दुःख काहे को होय ॥

बडा हुआ तो क्या हुआ जैसे पेड़ खजूर।
पंथी को छाया नही फल लागे अति दूर ॥

साधु ऐसा चाहिए जैसा सूप सुभाय।
सार-सार को गहि रहै थोथा देई उडाय॥

साँई इतना दीजिए जामें कुटुंब समाय ।
मैं भी भूखा ना रहूँ साधु न भुखा जाय॥

जो तोको काँटा बुवै ताहि बोव तू फूल।
तोहि फूल को फूल है वाको है तिरसुल॥

उठा बगुला प्रेम का तिनका चढ़ा अकास।
तिनका तिनके से मिला तिन का तिन के पास॥

सात समंदर की मसि करौं लेखनि सब बनराइ।
धरती सब कागद करौं हरि गुण लिखा न जाइ॥

साधू गाँठ न बाँधई उदर समाता लेय।
आगे पाछे हरी खड़े जब माँगे तब देय॥

चौदह सौ पचपन गये, चंद्रवार, एक ठाट ठये।
जेठ सुदी बरसायत को पूनरमासी प्रकट भये।।

माटी कहे कुम्हार से, तु क्या रौंदे मोय ।
एक दिन ऐसा आएगा, मैं रौंदूगी तोय ॥

माला फेरत जुग भया, फिरा न मन का फेर ।
कर का मन का डार दे, मन का मनका फेर ॥

तिनका कबहुँ ना निंदये, जो पाँव तले होय ।
कबहुँ उड़ आँखो पड़े, पीर घानेरी होय ॥

गुरु गोविंद दोनों खड़े, काके लागूं पाँय ।
बलिहारी गुरु आपनो, गोविंद दियो मिलाय ॥

सुख मे सुमिरन ना किया, दु:ख में करते याद ।
कह कबीर ता दास की, कौन सुने फरियाद ॥

धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय ।
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ॠतु आए फल होय ॥

कबीरा ते नर अँध है, गुरु को कहते और ।
हरि रूठे गुरु ठौर है, गुरु रूठे नहीं ठौर ॥

माया मरी न मन मरा, मर-मर गए शरीर ।
आशा तृष्णा न मरी, कह गए दास कबीर ॥

रात गंवाई सोय के, दिवस गंवाया खाय ।
हीरा जन्म अमोल था, कोड़ी बदले जाय ॥

जैसा भोजन खाइये, तैसा ही मन होय ।
जैसा पानी पीजिये, तैसी बानी सोय ॥

जो तोको काँटा बुवै, ताहि बुवै तू फूल ।
तोहि फूल को फूल है,वाको है तिरशूल ॥

मूरख को समुझावते, ज्ञान गाँठि का जाय ।
कोयला होय न ऊजला, सौ मन साबुन लाय ॥

शब्द सम्हारे बोलिये,शब्द के हाँथ न पाँव ।
एक शब्द औषधि करे, एक शब्द करे घाव ॥

Sabko Saal Mubarak

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

देश में निकला होगा चाँद

The first Gazhal is by Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza - देश में निकला होगा चाँद. I don't remember the whole Gazhal therefore this partial reproduction.

The Nazm it self is heart wrenching stuff, and has used Tatbhav form of Hindi. The theme is my familiar them. I bet, even without melancholy mood, this song will give you the ample reason to cry. Chand, of course, is a metaphor for beloved.

To explain more would be to repeat, because there is nothing to expalin. The song is self expressive, and needless to say - I am missing home.

हम तो हैं परदेस में देस में निकला होगा चाँद
अपनी रात की छत पे कितना तनहा होगा चाँद।

चाँद बिना हर शब यों बीती जैसे युग बीते
मेरे बिना किस हाल में होगा कैसा होगा चाँद।

आ पिया मोरे नैनन में मैं पलक ढाँप तोहे लूँ
ना मैं देखूँ और को, ना तोहे देखन दूँ।

जिन आँखों में काजल बन कर तैरी काली रात
उन आँखों में आँसू का इक कतरा होगा चान्द।

रात ने ऐसा पेंच लगाया टूटी हाथ से डोर
आँगन वाले नीम में जाकर अटका होगा चाँद।

Children Poems

The first one Badhe Chalo is by Dwarika Prasad Maheshwari. This one is from my Class IV Hindi syllabus book called Gyan Bharti. There were five volumes of this book each prescribed from Class I to Class V.

There is a slight mistake at line 10, but still its a nice memory trip.



The next one Paisa Paas Hota is by Nirankar Deo 'Sewak'. I like it for its sheer naughtiness, especially in the last stanza - Daant Toot Jata To Bada Maza Aata .