जो बीत गई सो बात गई

Something to remember and remind oneself again and again! :)
जीवन में एक सितारा था,
जीवन में एक सितारा था,
माना वह बेहद प्यारा था
वह डूब गया तो डूब गया
अंबर के आंगन को देखो
कितने इसके तारे टूटे
कितने इसके प्यारे छूटे
जो छूट गए फ़िर कहाँ मिले
पर बोलो टूटे तारों पर
कब अंबर शोक मनाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई

जीवन में वह था एक कुसुम
थे उस पर नित्य निछावर तुम
वह सूख गया तो सूख गया
मधुबन की छाती को देखो
सूखी कितनी इसकी कलियाँ
मुरझाईं कितनी वल्लरियाँ
जो मुरझाईं फ़िर कहाँ खिलीं
पर बोलो सूखे फूलों पर
कब मधुबन शोर मचाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई

जीवन में मधु का प्याला था
तुमने तन मन दे डाला था
वह टूट गया तो टूट गया
मदिरालय का आंगन देखो
कितने प्याले हिल जाते हैं
गिर मिट्टी में मिल जाते हैं
जो गिरते हैं कब उठते हैं
पर बोलो टूटे प्यालों पर
कब मदिरालय पछताता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई

मृदु मिट्टी के बने हुए हैं
मधु घट फूटा ही करते हैं
लघु जीवन ले कर आए हैं
प्याले टूटा ही करते हैं
फ़िर भी मदिरालय के अन्दर
मधु के घट हैं,मधु प्याले हैं
जो मादकता के मारे हैं
वे मधु लूटा ही करते हैं
वह कच्चा पीने वाला है
जिसकी ममता घट प्यालों पर
जो सच्चे मधु से जला हुआ
कब रोता है चिल्लाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई

- हरिवंशराय बच्चन

Great going, atta girl, Priyanka!

Wronged girl has beau arrested
Priyanka’s boyfriend lands in custody

BANGALORE: Priyanka and her supporters breathed a sigh of relief after her ex-boyfriend Anand, who married another woman on Friday, was arrested by the city police on Saturday evening. Priyanka had lodged a complaint with Nandini Layout police on November 29 and the police had allegedly called Anand and counselled both.
Police said that Anand had then told the police that he and Priyanka were just friends and did not have any other relationship.
However, fearing Priyanka’s intervention in his wedding, Anand had a registered marriage on November 2 with another girl. Priyanka along with his sisters had crashed into the wedding hall with a futile attempt of stopping the wedding, where she was assaulted by the groom’s parents. A case was registered with the Rajajinagar police.
Commissioner Shankar Bidari said that the police had no powers to stop a wedding but legally action would be taken.
Alleging that the police did not come for her rescue and it was due to their ignorance that she was facing the brunt, Priyanka and scores of members from various organisations staged a protest before the Nandini Layout police station on Saturday morning. Later, DCP North Revanna convinced the mob and said that legal action would be taken in the case in 24 hours.
As per the promise on Saturday evening, Anand was arrested and was being interrogated. Meanwhile, the Congress Yuva and Mahila wing also requested the Commissioner to take strict action and get Priyanka justice. However, police said that Anand who had initially refused to have had any intimate relationship with Priyanka has later confessed to have had a four-year-long courtship. Police are interrogating Anand and awaiting medical reports on Priyanka’s of being pregnant.

I feel quite happy that the gusty but wronged girl has got some justice at last. Women have always got short end of the stick in south Asian countries especially India. My anger is targeted not only towards the guy who are so coward that they are unable to raise their voice above their family but that doesn't stop them from not going ahead with any relationships which they cannot support! My protest is also against greedy families and especially Mothers who can only think of dowry as the decision factor for choosing a girl for their sons. Its indeed sickening to know that many a times the mother's love is the poison indeed which make the son a complete coward.
Great step taken by Priyanka of Bangalore. I appreciate her courage and strength of character that she was not scared by typical orthodox society but came forward to right the wrong which has been done to her.

Dates in the calendar are closer than you think!

This is what I keep telling myself every now and then. No its not about some project deadline but impending vacation! yippee :)
It is indeed sort of yearly vacation but this year has been unusually boring and counter-productive in a way that I am hoping it ends soon and brings in the new year with newer cheer and anticipation. The tenth year of the new century. Wonder what it has in store for me? I just hope its peace and quiet. I can make do without the heart-breaks and disappointments. Well, I sound down and out; No I am not! Just a bit wary. In search of excitement I have only found irritating frustrations thus I am making a choice to hope for only peace and quiet in my life. Oh God, do give away the happiness, cheer, fun, laughter to whom so ever be in need of that; not me! Oh but sure please please do not send here sadness, bitterness or frustrations; just normal life in peace and quiet :) :D Peace be with you !

Child labor & torture

Nothing irks me more than common cases of child labor especially in the urban society and more is typical apathy towards taking responsibility. It so common that if one just lists a dozen of your friends, relations or neighbors, you'd come across one instance of child labor.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=15&contentid=200911022009110203333440624e48067
Many people hide behind reasoning that the little work done by the child give the child a chance for better life. I ask, better life at what cost? Cost of child's self respect? It would be better if the child was left to the child's predicament instead of getting it into the labor. First of all its extremely rare that a child gets formal school education when employed as a maid/household help; secondly even if it happens, its rare the kind of importance is given to studies as needed. The stunted emotional growth leads to child developing into another 'ramu' or 'Bahadur'! So much so for 'better life' !!!
There is something though which I am just not able to understand. The level of cruelty people can stoop to just because they have a child under their control! How can one's conscience even let one think of harming a little child's fingers or any other part of body! Surely the existence of conscience is questionable!
I remember coming across an instance of child labor in my friend's home. I tried my best to make them understand but sadly they never let go of that child woman nor ever educated her. Their excuse that she was at the least safe in their home and she herself was not interested in studying! I also realized the only reason the family kept her was their apathy to her future and of course heart being really small to not have ability to accommodate a child's welfare from a holistic manner. They wanted the labor to pay for her safety! My heart bleeds to know the price the child paid for her safety, wasn't just labor she did; she paid with her capability and possibilities and was left with a life of misery with no hope in the future. Well, the family claims to have done her good by marrying her to another of their servants! [ Side track: Well, In India anyways it does seem the logical culmination of girls destiny is supposed to be marriage ! ]
I also didn't have courage to report to any NGO since this was in their village/town and not a metropolitan. I regret it today but I have promised myself that the next instance I come across, I will indeed take all the required steps. I encourage all readers of this blog to do the same.

Thodi si zamin Thoda aasmaan

thodeesee jameen, thodaa aasamaan
tinakon kaa bas yek aashiyaan

maangaa hain jo tum se wo jyaadaa to naheen hai
dene ko to jaan de de, waadaa to naheen hai
koee tere waadon pe jeetaa hain kahaa

mere ghar ke aangan me, chhotaa saa zoolaa ho
saundhee saundhee mittee hogee, lepaa huaa choolhaa ho
thodee thodee aag hogee, thodaa saa dhuwaan

raat kat jaayegee to kaise din bitaayenge
baajare ke kheton mein kauae udayenge
baajare ke sitton jaise, bete ho jawaan

thodeesee jameen, thodaa aasamaan
tinakon kaa bas yek aashiyaan

Gulzar in Movie Sitara