भूख उम्र नहीं देखती ॥

लोकल के सफर में दिलचस्प दृश्य देखा आज एक
शाम हो चुकी थी, छुट्टी का दिन था सो भीड़ भी कुछ ख़ास नहीं
मज़ाक मत समझना, वेस्टर्न लाइन पे सीट भी मिली ।

एक टुनटुना वाला कुछ बेसुरे तान टटोल रहा था PVC पाइप के टुकड़े पर
उसका सूरज ढल तो कबका चुका था, बेचारा अंधा जो था।
बेटी भी थी साथ में, यही कुछ 4-5 बरख की, हाथ फैलाये चिल्लर बटोर रही थी
किसी ने एक टका, तो कुछ ने दो के नए वाले सिक्के भी दिए।

विडम्बना तो देखो, टूनटूने पे 'सारे जहाँ से अच्छा ……' बजा रहा वो पगला
मासूम बेटी का चेहरा काला पड़ गया था सूखे आँसुओं की पपड़ी से
दीवाली का समय है इसलिए बदन ढकने के कपडे भी थे आज
कोई दानी अमीर सुबह मंदिर पे बाँट गया होगा शायद ।

भावी होकर मैंने जेब से दस का एक नोट निकाला
उस बच्ची ने मुँह उठाके दो बार ताका
नन्ही हथेली पे पच्चीस जो जमा हो गए थे
आज पाव के साथ वडा और चटनी भी नसीब में हो शायद।

मन विचलित हुआ कि उस बच्ची का यूँ पैसे माँगना सही था कि नहीं
भूख आखिर child labor के कानून जो नहीं जानती
अगर पता होता तो शायद ऐसे बच्चों को बक्श देती
पर भूख उम्र और जात-पात नहीं देखती ना ।

डिब्बे में कुछ चालीस लोग रहे होंगे , सिर्फ 8-9 ने उस टुनटुने के फटे सुरों को सुना
बाकी तो मोबाइल वाले थे, इयरफोन से कान बंद किये हुए थे
आँखें किससे बंद थी ये समझ नहीं आया
अब आतिफ और अरिजीत के सामने ये टुनटुना वाला क्या ही था।

उस पगले टुनटुने वाले को कौन समझाए
ये best services at cheapest price का युग है
ईअरफ़ोन पे गाने फ्री में जो मिलते हैं
उत्तर गया वो अगले स्टेशन पे अगली लोकल के इंतज़ार में ।

शाकाहारी मुर्गा !

हाँ हम शाकाहारी हैं पर मुर्गा भी खाते हैं
छाती के साथ साथ टंगरी भी खूब चबाते हैं
आजन्म जनेउधारी रहने का प्रण अवश्य लिया है
पर आलू और मुर्गे में भेदभाव नहीं कर पाते हैं ।
हाँ हम शाकाहारी हैं पर मुर्गा भी खाते हैं ।

जब एक किलो पनीर के दाम में दो हष्ट-पुष्ट तंदरुस्त मुर्गे आ जाये
तो महापंडित जी आप ही बताएं हम चिकन लौलीपॉप क्यों न खाएं
ये मुर्गे बड़े गुणकारी हैं पेट की भूख बढाते हैं
भोजन-आनंद के बाद पाचन क्रिया को भी संतुलित करवाते हैं ।

अब भिन्डी 10 और मटर 12 में मुट्ठी भर ही आ पाते हैं
इसलिए मुर्गे के अभाव में हम अंडे से काम चलाते हैं
आमलेट, अंडा करी और सेहतमंद उबले अंडे जब पास बुलाते हैं
तो मैगी खाने वाले भी दौड़ दौड़ के आते हैं ।

मुर्गा खाने वालो को दुत्कारने वालो सुन लो
हाँ हम शाकाहारी हैं पर मुर्गा भी खाते हैं ।

The ‘Apology’ Paradox

With so much to regret in such a short time frame, I often wonder what constitutes a perfect apology or to say it simply how to get the ‘wrongs’ right.  Some arbit dictionary defines it as --
 “An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense, a statement that excuses or defends something, such as a past action or a policy”, definitely a literature definition, can't expect to be more useful than a discussion report we submit in our labs.

Some people are actually very smart, rather than a regret expression, playing with a few words makes an apology turn into a win-win situation. For instance, consider this apology “I am sorry if I behaved in some way that offended you and you think I should apologize but believe me, I didn't do anything wrong.” So, from 0-1 down you are actually 2-1 up, because not only did you apologize but rested your case in your favor.  It’s like saying “I’m sorry that you are stupid :p "

Sometimes it’s the other way out, when you really regret and want to make amends to what you had earlier done in the wrong intent or result and you turn up to the ‘offended person’ realizing your mistake and put it simply “I am sorry, it was my fault, how do I correct it” and the other person (in most cases the fairer sex, P.S. I’m not a sexist) gets a ‘Brahmashtra’ he/she would save your apology in the memory bank and since he/she is 1-0 up, he/she gets a license first to do anything to you, to offend you and then get released without the ‘apology’ bail.

So, this is what confuses me, if Apology is nothing more than a tool to set scores right, then how does one actually feel sorry and communicate it to the other end? If the two ends of the apologetic channel are not on the same page in the definition of apology, how do you actually expect error free transmission? L

(suggestions definitely needed)

Gender Selection: The difference between ‘quality’ and ‘Equality’

Gender Selection: The difference between ‘quality’ and ‘Equality’

“It’s the cool spring season of blossoms and flowers, I can’t see much but hear my mum n papa talk that march is approaching and I will be 3 months soon, I can’t wait to see the b’ful world through my own tiny sparkling eyes. I hear people congratulating my mum, they are expecting me in some time, the future plans are on the cards though it’s not yet final, papa still insisting for me to be a doc while mum is adamant on a cricketer. Everyone is excited and me too. I can hear it all through these tubes, the soft belly of my mum keeping me safe till I am ready for this world………
There’s a lull today, I don’t understand why. We visited the doc, couldn’t understand what he said, everyone was quite. Grandma was home too, I don’t like her. She was cursing my sweet mum. Heard a few slaps too, felt like something’s really wrong. Don’t know what it means but she said I am just a mistake again, the unwanted…….
We are visiting the doc again, mum is crying, I don’t want that. Is it me? The doc says it will take just an hour and everything will be ok, I don’t understand what’s wrong. I can feel a needle poking me, it pains a lot. I feel exhausted, drenched out. Are they taking me out in the real world, but it’s not the right time I guess and why is it paining so much. I am losing senses, I hope when I am out of this heavenly womb, I bring a smile on some faces, faces which will watch me grow and bloom and one day be made proud. Oh no, it’s killing me, doc please no………. “
An excerpt from the diary of a blessed fetus

Sentiments aside, are we living in a state of democracy that symbolizes equality and liberty and rights. Well, did the historians, the draft committee members of the constitution fail to mention a basic fundamental right, the Right to Life. Oh yes, I am sorry, I forgot about the ‘Medical Termination of pregnancy act’ and something like a ‘Prenatal Diagnostic Technique act’. It’s a crime on paper to kill a female feticide and some harsh punishments been listed. The truth is as I put it blank paper with no signatory to take the blame.

Bit I am confused, boggled actually. I hear everyone calling female feticide an evil, from the dark corners to the enlightened ones; everyone seems to be encouraging the girl child. Who’s the culprit then? The falling sex ratios in most parts, the demographics of states like Haryana, Bihar, UP and many more speak a lot.

It seems to be a question of equality versus quality, is the masculine gender better in quality and thus it’s preferred, the carrier of one’s genes; is it always the son, what’s wrong if the daughter can carry your name ahead too. Who decides that the soft child in the womb will serve his parents and this nation better only if it’s a XY chromosome?
YOU??????

Hope is a good thing !

“Hope is a good thing perhaps the best of all good things and no good thing ever dies”. This monologue from the great ’94 scene of Shawshank Redemption symbolizes more than just an ideology. It gives a concept to live with a hope, a reason that the future awaits you in a pleasant mood and promises more than what you could ever expect.

But the movie fails when it comes to the Indian minds, the story of a prison-break might not be so appealing to the local audience here, still we live with a hope and of course the credit must go to our greatest religion, the one we all follow without any barriers of caste, creed, religion or race, CRICKET. To those who disagree, mind you Cricket more than just a sport, it’s the harbinger of cheers and hope in a dull and gloomy ambience when the path looks tough and victory doesn’t seem to be in light, it’s the game of cricket that teaches you something deeper, the hope is left till the eleventh man rather the last ball.

The victory against Zimbabwe in ’83 world cup teaches you the reason to hope. When you have lost half of your side with less than 20 runs on the board, obviously it doesn’t look good. But this gentleman (Kapil Dev) goes out and plays his greatest innings, 175 not out, and finally goes on to win the cup. The first edition of T20 world championship starts on a gloomy note for the Indians. First match washed out, second bowl out and finally an all out against the proteas. But then comes up a heroic act of a 6-6-6-6-6-6 through the bats of our beloved Yuvi and we start craving for the cup and we did win again.

 Its a miraculous game and we do expect miracles. Its not about dogmatic beliefs but the faith that we have engrossed in our hearts and the respect for the game that makes us believe that even Laxmipathi Balaji can hit a Six on the last ball and win us the game. We learn to hope the strangest of things to happen and when they do, our faith wins. The 2002 natwest final stands just another example to the list of many others.

But, what makes me hope again so much for cricket. I lost all interest in the game with the diminishing form of the GOD (10dulkar) during the last few months. Still when I read about the 300 ball per hour net sessions followed by a marvelous Ranji century, my dil mange more of Sachinista effect. The upcoming Ind-Eng bout might be the last time we would ever see the legend on crease again, but the hopes are high and the GOD will deliver !

In the service of corruption

IIT kharagpur ke 58^thconvocation ki sham hai, kuch mast chahal pehal dikh rahi hai charo taraf, raat bhar daru sutta ganja marne ke baad 2.2 ki shobha badhaye hue hain. Khair wo to apne hi aadmi hain, par nazar atak jati hai kal ki mehmaan mandali dekhke, rashtrapati se leke governor tak sabhi aa rahe hain, mana kgp bada hai, par iska arth ye to nahi ki parliament ko yahi shift karne ki yojana banai jaye. Ab ye to bade vidwan logo ki batein hain hame samajh me nahi aane wali isliye iss vichaar pe comma lagake kahin aur mann lagane ka dil kiya fir ehsaas hua ki wo din door nahi jab hame bhi degree inhi mahapurusho ke hathon milegi, manan chintan me doob jane ka man karta hai ki hamne aise kya paap kiye jo itne kukhyat ucchstariya akhand bhrasht praniyon ko izazat di jaye hamari 4-5 saal ki mehnat se kamai hui degree pe stamp maarne ki. Akhir kyu?

Dil kuchh bhi kahe dimaag bada hoshiyar hai hamara, usne to seedhe seedhe bol dia bhai tu kaun sa dhoodh ka dhula hua hai, aaj yahan se degree le raha hai kal inhi me shamil hone ki poori ichcha pala hua hai, jo avsar inhe prapt hua hai param tapasya ke baad wo din dugni raat chowguni chori ka avsar hame kyu na prapt ho :P

Aur dimaag to sab janta hi hai, jin rajnetao ko aaj dil hi dil gaali di ja rahi hai, yad karo wo din jab khud raajniti khelke khud ko bada wala stud samajh rahe the, are han bhul gaye wo elections wale din, hall ke secy se leke insti ke VP tak ke chunav me jo raita failaya tha, mazza to khoob aaya tha. Mujhe ye avsar jyada mil nahi paya nahi to bhagwan se prarthana to roz sirf itni rehti hai ki kaash hame bhi kisi hall, society, fest ityadi ka Gsec type bana dete, lakhon ka budget banake hazaron khane me burai hi kya hai, saal bhar me 1-2 I-phone aur bike ka intezaam to ho jata, arre nahi itna jyada bhagwan se mangte hue sharam bhi aati hai, par room me lagane ko 5.1 speakers aur personal printer me kya burai hai. Itni chori to chalti hai, akhir aage jake Coalgate aur CWG wale scam karne ke liye practice to abhi se chaiye, kuch hall ke happa gan to ye tak soch hi jate hain ki apna candi jitane ke liye jo masshakat ki thi gymkhana elections me, itni rashtriya star pe karte to hum khud hi parampoojya manmohan ji ki jagah baith jate, aur mujhe to vishwas hai ki apne andar ke bhrasht vanmanush ko ujagar karne ke jitney avsar yahan milenge, utne me to desh ko bechne layak ban hi jayenge.

Bas yahin kuchh khyal the jo baar baar yaad dila rahe hain ki ae dost abhi do saal baki hain, himmat na haar mauke aur bhi aayenge cali aajmane ke J

I am not sexist !

I am a bit confused, a bit annoyed. Probably you all can help me get the answers I search for. Here’s a short story.

An adventurous man quite fun-loving once decided to visit a nearby wildlife sanctuary at night, at the gate he was warned of wild beasts inside but he ignored and went in, had a bit fun, roamed around enjoyed the sparkling moonlight waterfalls, on his way back he was attacked by a big wild devilish beast and before the officials could take situation in control, he was severely injured, down to his knees fighting his survival and he did manage to survive. Even years after this incidence, that man curses every other creature apart the homo sapiens especially the whole bunch of wild animal kingdom for his sufferings. On being asked why so, he in a frustapa mode curses every animal especially the wild ones for his miseries. He has all rights to enter the sanctuary at night and enjoy and the beast that attacked him had no right morally or ethically to sabotage him thus every beast of his kind must be punished.

Now my mind stops working, it’s full of arguing thoughts. Where is the fault in the system, was it the gatekeeper’s fault that he couldn’t stop him from entering the sanctuary at night or it was the man’s fault himself to ignore the warning. Definitely the beast deserves no mercy, it had sinned going out its limits and attacking an innocent man, but could it have been avoided, the man paid no attention to the issued warning and was victimized. And should the victim treat every other beast as a criminal or harbinger of his sorry fate?????

Now, why does an undergrad at kgp worrying so much of this story? Well, some of you might have guessed the context too ( http://shikhasinghiitkgp.blogspot.in/2012/07/to-men.html) .
 Just replace the man with a sweet girl and the wildlife sanctuary by a night bar and the beast with a heavily drunk bully of the same kind. The girl enters the bar, is issued a warning too that it’s not safe inside, still she enters not wanting to cancel her fun plans and is victimized by a misbehavior by the drunk bully. Seems a similar story, just the characters have changed. Now the girl curses the whole male community for her sorry fate that does include me too.

Wait a minute, in what universe did the billions of XY-chromosomed people declare that bully as our representative, hum maante hain ki aisa karne wala kutta hai, he behaved as a bloody motherfucker and has sinned heavily and must be punished but dear madam, where does the question of sexism rise. What the hell other billions of males have done to you, we support your cause and sympathize and if needed stand for you against that bully. But, you can’t blame me or anyone of my kind for your miseries. Yeah, I do agree, eve-teasing or other forms are shameful but common and that’s why the society on its own tries to have a control system and as a result of that, you did receive a warning too which you ignored for whatsoever reason. The beast was in the bar waiting to haunt you and succeeded thanks to your ignorance.

The first rule in driving is ‘drive slow’ although you are an expert in driving, the reason being others might not be good drivers and hit you hard really hard, it’s not your fault but you will be hurt for sure. Same principle applies here too. Follow the rules of the system. Now, some of my female friends argue that the system is sexist in itself where all the rules are favored to the male side, but it ever occur to you that the number of wild male beasts is way above the number of wild female beasts (yes, some are there), so the rules have been designed to protect our sisters and mothers.

Some black curses in the society can’t be removed at one go, that’s why we create a control system to act as a buffer while we work on eliminating those wild beasts. So, let’s work together to control it rather than fight among ourselves. And yes, this post isn’t sexist.