कौन कहता है !!

कौन कहता है  कि कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती;

लक्ष्य से पहले रुकने के लिए खुद की  खुद से तकरार नहीं होती;

यक़ीनन होती है पर वो फिर भी चलते हैं क्यूंकि उन्हें है यकीं ;

कि हार, हर बार नहीं होती.

कौन कहता है की कोशिश करने वालों की राह में ठोकर  नहीं होती; 

मंजिल आने से पहले पैरों की गड्ढों  से समर  नहीं होती  ;

यक़ीनन होती है पर वो फिर भी चलते हैं क्यूंकि उनका जूनून कहता है;

कि ठोकर के बिना कोई राह राह नहीं होती .

कोशिश करने वाले भी हारते  हैं  पर फिर भी सपनो की दौड़ में भागते हैं; 

क्यूंकि  उन निराशा के  पलों में जब सभी जीते जीते मरते हैं;

कोशिश करने वाले मरते मरते भी जीवन के पलों को छीन लेते हैं ;

और फिर  कहते हैं कि कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती. 

वो .............न हो

वो विश्वास ही क्या जो मुश्किल  की घडी में साथ न हो

वो उम्मीद ही क्या जिससे  अँधेरे में  रौशनी की आस न हो

पल दो पल के सपने तो सभी देखते हैं  

वो सपना ही क्या जिसकी उम्र जिंदगी की उम्र से समरास न हो 

वो सब्र ही क्या जो बेसब्री में पास न हो

वो हौंसला ही क्या जिससे टूटती  साँसों में पार  न हो 

जीत के सिलसिले लगें हो तो कायर भी जीत  जाते हैं

वो जीत ही क्या जिसके आने के पहले कई बार हार न हो 

वो ऊंचाई ही क्या जहाँ पहुंचकर अपने साथ न हो 

वो दौलत ही क्या जो जरूरतमंद की जरूरत का प्रभाष  न हो 

मुश्किलें समझाने से तो सभी समझ जाते हैं 

वो दोस्त ही क्या जिन्हें इन शब्दों के अन्दर छुपें दर्द का आभाष  न हो 

तो यकीं रखों

रेत की दीवार नहीं जो हवा के झोंके से गिर जाएँगे

पत्ते की पतवार नहीं जो पानी में बह जाएंगे

आजमाने की गलती न करना अगर  इरादा  कर बैठे

तो यकीं रखो  पानी  का बहना और हवा का उड़ना भी रोक जाएँगे 

खाई खोद कर चाहे राह ही मिटा दो

मुश्किलों के चाहे कितने घने बादल चढ़ा लो

अगर ये सोचते हो की मुश्किलें के बादल हमें डरा देंगे  

तो यकीं रखों हम वो राही हैं जो इस सोच को ही मिटा देंगे 

मानते हैं  संघर्ष की इस राह पर कई बार कदम रुकेंगे

तेज़ दौड़ने से पहले कुछ कदम धीरे भी चलेंगे

मगर इस पड़ाव को यदि हमारी मंजिल समझ बैठे

तो यकीं रखो इस  मंजिल पर पहुँचने से पहले अगले मुकाम का पता भी बता देंगे 

कबीर ने नहीं कहा तो क्या मै तो कहता हूँ

कबीर ने नहीं कहा तो क्या  मै तो कहता हूँ

दर्द होता है जब किसान की खेती को भेडिए को खाते पाता हूँ

बुखमरी मिटाने की बड़ी संगोष्ठियों के नाम पर लाखों लुटाए जाते हैं

वहां मेरे किसान के बच्चे फिर भी भूखे रह जाते हैं

बातें तो लोग बड़ी बड़ी करते हैं पर बातों के आगे कुछ  कर नहीं पाते हैं

दिल रोता है तब जब कुछ लोग कुछ करने जाते हैं वो भी अपना हाथ बंधा पाते हैं 

कबीर ने नहीं कहा तो क्या  मै तो कहता हूँ

दर्द थोडा ज्यादा होता है जब किसान  की खेती को  इंसानी  भेडिए को खाते पाता हूँ

सरकारी फाइलों में सारी योजनाएं समाप्त हो जाती हैं

और फिर एक गैर सरकारी संस्था की टीम इम्पेक्ट  असेसमेंट के नाम पर पैसा बनाती है

गरीब बस उनके सवालों का जवाब देकर रह जाता है

दिल रोता है तब  जब सब सवालों के जवाब देने के बाद भी उसके खेत पर पानी नहीं पहुँच पाता है 

कबीर ने नहीं कहा तो क्या मै तो कहता हूँ

दर्द असहनीय हो जाता है जब किसान  की खेती को सरकारी और गैर सरकारी कागजों में ही उगता पाता हूँ 

ये कुछ नया नहीं जो मै कहता हूँ हर चाय की दुकान पर सुनता हूँ 

भगतसिंह , सुभाष  जैसे लोगों के होने पर समाज कितना अच्छा होता है 

पर दिल रोता है तब  जब कोई अपने घर से सुभाष, भेजने पर झिझकता है 

और उम्मीद करता है  पडोसी के घर से ही कोई  सुभाष बनता तो ज्यादा अच्छा होता है 

कबीर ने नहीं कहा तो क्या  मै तो कहता हूँ

दर्द की वेदना का तब  भान ही नहीं रहता जब यह  पढने के बाद भी आँखों में समाज-कर्त्तव्य के भावों को मुर्दा पाता हूँ 

पर फिर याद आता है

मुश्किलों से घिर जाने पर हारने का मन भी करता है कभी 

इतने थपेड़ों में टूट कर गिर जाने का मन भी करता है कभी 

पर फिर याद आता है हार तो वो माने जो खुद के जीने के लिए लड़ते  है 

यहाँ तो हमारी लड़ाई खुदा लड़ता है हम तो उसके बन्दों के लिए लड़ते हैं 

गिरने पर वापस न उठने का मन भी करता है कभी 

कदम रुकने पर ठहर जाने का मन भी करता है कभी 

पर फिर याद आता हैं कदम तो उनके रुकें जो खुद के लिए चलते हैं 

यहाँ तो हमारे लिए खुदा चलता है हम तो उसके बन्दों के लिए चलते हैं 

ख्वाबों के अधूरे रह जाने पर  खुदा पर  चिल्लाने का मन भी  करता है कभी

मनचाही चीज़ न मिलने पर किस्मत पर आरोप लगाने का मन भी करता है कभी

पर फिर याद आता है खुदा पर वो चिल्लाएं जिनके ख्वाब खुद के लिए हों 

यहाँ तो हमारे ख्वाब खुदा इस तरह बुनता है जैसे बुना हुआ ख्वाब खुद खुदा के लिए हो

11 Legged Understanding

Long vacation about to end, leaving in the afternoon for Delhi.

This time when I had started for my home from Gurgaon, I was highly apprehensive. Fear was obvious, I had to keep myself ready for numerous expected questions & explanations which earlier I had clarified to my parents were now supposed to be shot from my relatives  and sample of questions :) ranging  from "why u didn't rejoin corporate after masters when u had such deep interest in automobiles", "we thought after master's u would be earning more but why do u earn less when your peer group who did graduation along with u is earning more" "why r u wasting ur time on this work" .............. [at times i feel as i hv done a really bad deed that i need to explain myself everytim...may be even a murderer would not be questioned by so many people for his act :( ]

After passing out of IRMA, I had two visits back home but I didn't step out of my home, didn;t meet any of the  relatives, "intentionally". Possibly the fear of explanations stopped me!! . But we being social creatures cannot escape "eternally" from them, though "momentarily" its possible and Now this "momentarily" escaping was over.

Reached home on 19th and 22nd was my cousin's marriage and so meeting the relatives was imperative. For a moment I thought let me not share what I am doing and either remain silent or tell a lie which will avoid all that apparent embarrassment emanating from explaining everything, to some who will understand and to many who won't.

 On the way to Jabalpur where marriage of my cousin was scheduled I was accompanied by one of my distant cousin whom I met possibly first time. She is studying in kindergartern. To hide my anxiety, I started chatting with her and asked what all she  learnt in "nursery" and what's new in "KG-1" and like a parrot she narrated everything. And then among the numerous questions on alphabets and numbers which I bombarded on her, one was how many legs we have and came a stunning reply- "11". I was kind of shocked, I tried to explain her, its not 11 but 2. She replied see my miss told me when we put "1" on the side of "1" it becomes "11" and our legs are like that, in Nursery it was like 1 and 1 make 2 but now in KG-1 "1" and "1" make "11". My goodness, she was right in her own way, but our age-old mathematical and conventional mindset can never accept this fact that we have 11 legs instead of 2 and so I continued the argument. She like a valiant fighter stood firm on her view. Discussion which followed must have appeared very childish except for the fact when she said " See  my miss told that 11 is bigger than 2, if one leg has pain or is removed, we will have to walk on support of stick or someone's shoulder and if our legs were only 2, removing one should not make walking so tough but since we have 11 legs removing 1 makes us "budha" (old), ". 

I was speechless, who else other than me knows how i spent last two and half years with those recurrent acute leg cramps, when Suman, Shashank, Sajid, Rajat and many other friends used to shoulder me. I accepted her argument and so as reader u also better accept "we have 11 legs" :) or else she might complain to her miss!!!.

This "11 legs" saga gave a big lesson. She in her own logic knew she was right. She was convinced with her current understanding and there was nothing wrong in the way she viewed the numbers, she might later on contradict herself but that would be her own new "experiment" and a new joy of learning ( or Unlearn in word's of Prof. Raju). My lost faith on my convincing skills got resurrected and I decided to face the questions and answer everything to the best of my "11 legged" understanding and today when I am leaving home, I am happy, leaving few, most of the relatives are now convinced with the decision and some even intend to support the cause.

तेरे सपनों कि उडान अभी बाक़ी है
अभी तो केवल हार हुई है, जीत का असली मुकाम अभी बाकी है


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PS: For those awaiting news on personal front, Its "almost" final, in a few days from now when "almost" gets removed and only final remains will share the news with everyone!!.

जिंदगी की दौड़

परिश्थितियां सदा  किसी के लिए एक सी न थीं न कभी होंगी

जिंदगी की दौड़ में कभी धूप कभी छाँव लगी होंगी 

छाँव के पलों में तो सभी दौड़ जाएँगे 

बात तो तब होगी जब भरी धूप में भी कदम नहीं रुकने पाएँगे

जंग कोई हारता नहीं बस कुछ लोग मैदान जल्दी छोड़ जाते हैं

परिश्थितियों  के लड़खड़ाते हांथों को देखने से पहले हथियार छोड़ जाते हैं

परिश्थितियां सदा  किसी के लिए एक सी न थीं न कभी होंगी

जिंदगी की दौड़ में कभी धूप कभी छाँव लगी होंगी 

क्या लगता है भगत सिंह या मदर टेरेसा कभी मुश्किलों में पड़े नहीं

या आइन्स्टीन की खोजों में असमंजस्य के बादल पड़े नहीं

अरे इंसान क्या राम और यीशु का भी बुरा वक़्त आया

परिस्थितियों ने उनका भी विश्वास आजमाया  

परिश्थितियां सदा  किसी के लिए एक सी न थीं न कभी होंगी

जिंदगी की दौड़ में कभी धूप कभी छाँव लगी होंगी 

उनकी जीत के किस्से इसलिए सुनते हो क्यूंकि वो मुश्किल छड़ों में रुके नहीं

असमंजस्य के घने बादलों तले झुके नहीं

यदि ये सब  जानकर भी तुम  हार मानना चाहते हो तो  मानो

पर फिर ये न कहना की खुद को हराने वाले लोगों के किस्से तुमने सुने नहीं 

परिश्थितियां सदा  किसी के लिए एक सी न थीं न कभी होंगी

जिंदगी की दौड़ में कभी धूप कभी छाँव लगी होंगी 

15 million

Here is an excerpt from the article written by Mr. GopalKrishna Gandhi in HT*


"here is one intersection of life in metropolitan India where ‘life’ indeed goes on. It flows in a ribbon of continuous movement that is required, every now and then, to take pause at what are called ‘traffic junctions’ or ‘traffic signals’...........Some months ago, in Chennai, my three-wheeler had stopped at one of these junctions. In that throbbing wait of no more than a few seconds, a little girl wove her way into the road, twisting her tiny frame in between lorry, tempo, taxi, three-wheeler, two-wheeler, cart and limo. I was about to shout ‘Watch it, kid!’ when she fell flat onto the steaming tarmac. I thought she had fainted in the heat but no, she was up in a trice doing, in the narrowest of spaces between the traffic, a perfect somersault. I realised that this blithe girl with limbs of rubber was a street acrobat....I could see she wore a thin coat of make-up that is not to be expected in a girl of her age. I shuddered at the thought of what the future held for her. Perhaps the ‘future’ had already taken hold of her. Perhaps the traffic signal had already signalled another ‘traffick’ for her? On the other hand, who knows, she could become an Anna Pavlova. But Pavlova was not born to the street...............................But the sheer numbers — estimates put the number of streetchildren in India at 15 million, the world’s highest, at a 15 per cent of the global count of streetchildren — make the challenge mind-numbing." 

And this is not something new, which will surprise anyone of us. Daily while commuting to our offices we come across these kids either begging or picking rags. It would sound hard to say but have we become so insensitive that it no longer bothers us?? If in place of those unknown kids, our siblings were there on the street,, would our response be the same !! If not, then Are we waiting for someone from heaven to come and assist them live a better life ?? 

I don't have an answer, but it really pains from within. The number "15 million" is just a misnomer, m sure it would certainly more than that.

What's the way out. My limited cognizance shows  two ways...one is preventive other curative. People in villages have meager income generation opportunities and so they come down to cities in search of work and then how these kids come down to street to earn(beg !!) petty sum is not a story which needs an intellectual explanation. Preventive solution is to create income generation opportunities right at the village level which ensures sufficient money to live a decent life, provide education to children, meet their medical expenses etc. The experiment of Mayurbhanj is a small step in this direction. As is emerging in Disha it will take not just months but years to set a sustainable process (cooperative) of income generation for the people within the villages (and that too in just 100 villages of one district of one state !!!)) , preventive solution will take time to  reverse this process of migration of unskilled (less skilled) people to cities. By the time preventive solution starts delivering its results , Curative solution possibly should be brought in to provide immediate assistance to the one's whom Mr. GK Gandhi termed as "Anna Pavlova" who are already on street. As I see, it will not be possible for everyone to put many many years of life and take on with the preventive solution but Are we willing to take start work with atleast curative solution

 My experiment started with the curative solution in Orphanage of Baroda on weekends while working in GM. And believe me its not so hard, all it would need is forming a small group of friends, spare few hours of weekends for these kids instead of malls and movies...who knows this small support can help those kids "relive their life".

Are we ready to take the baton or will keep blaming the systems around?

*Full article can be read at http://www.hindustantimes.com/Walking-a-tightrope/Article1-554056.aspx

Small Piece of Paper

Normally we never remember each day of the calender, but there are some dates, which never fade away from memory and even when year column changes in calender, the date "flashes back" in mind.

3 years back,31st May, I just signed a "small piece of paper", looked at my workstation and with a heavy heart proceeded towards HR section. HR Section was possibly not more than 50-60 steps from my seat, but with each step  that piece of paper was becoming heavier.

For a moment I stopped and questioned myself. Am I taking a right decision? This apparently "small piece of paper" was going to change the course of my life. Automotive sector, possibly the most glamorous field of mechanical engineering was about to get away from me. Submission of that paper would move me out of "corporate world" and very vividly reduce down the numbers which appear at the end of every month in my bank account. More than reducing the incoming numbers in the bank, there would be a strong debit in the form of education loan emi. Journey after this would be in a totally unknown territory and that added more to worries.
I stopped, was about to turn back. This was perhaps the first and last time when I questioned my own decision of moving to rural development field, decision which was not acceptable to my parents then, not acceptable to many of friends and well wishers. All the arguments which my parents gave for opposing this decision of leaving GM and moving to IRMA, came fore-front. My friends comments that you are not just leaving  GM but you are also losing something more than that. They added one is very lucky to get project of one's choice, department of one;s choice and over and above that Boss (Atri Sir) who is more than a friend and I had all three.

But it seems, there are moments when rationality looses all its importance and that was the same moment.

Prof. Channiwala's (my mentor) words which he said while convincing my father on phone about 10 days back before I was supposed to submit my resignation that "I need 10 years of life of your son. Its May 2007, we will talk back in May, 2017 and I am sure that this decision  will make both of us feel proud".
I took a deep breath and decided to follow my heart.

3 years have passed by, 2 very worthy years at IRMA, which have literally transformed me and now with Disha Cooperative evolving in much better way than I dreamt, have a feel that something positive will start appearing soon in the lives of people of Mayurbhanj.
Seven years at hand when Prof. Channiwala will be back on phone, speaking to my father. Let time disclose what it has in its next chapters of my life

ना  हार  से  ना  जीत  से
बस  केवल  एक  उम्मीद  से
वक़्त के पन्नों पर कुछ लिखता मिटाता हूँ
गीत नया गाता हूँ 

The Unintended Consequences-7th Experiment-Rekindling the Dreams

One corner of Chattisgarh is under shade of Naxal attack on CRPF and we are at the other corner of the State to do a benefit-mapping excercise of the village-Ranidehra in Kawardha which was electrified by us.

As discussed in one of the earlier posts-"The Wall", inspite of best efforts; much alike other development interventions,  project has created more opportunities for some compared to others in the village due to earlier socio-economic basing of people there. "The Wall" shared the relatively larger increase in income for the Shop owner with electrification in the village. This is very much understandable "if the development intervention can link to the livelihood opportunities it will lead to a better outcome"

This benefit mapping excercise is revealing some other learnings. Some people shared that now their children are able to study after sun-set, some children among them above 3rd class are attending the computer class within the village, some people who collect minor forest produce are able to stay for a longer period in the forest as processing work, they can now do even after sun-set under light, saving in getting their rice-dehusked in the power plant instead of going to block dehusking machine ......Most of them want to get light for more number of hours, but as shared earlier due to low productivity of Jatropha seeds (almost 10% of what was scientifically claimed when we started the project!!), its not possible to extract higher quantity of Jatropha oil and run the power plant for  more number of hours.

However some are sceptical that due to this renewable energy based light, grid light is not coming to the village, so they see this as a hinderance. Grid lines have been laid in this village and other neighbouring villages since last 2 years, but due different reasons none of the villages are getting power supply from Grid, so people in this village attribute it to the renewable energy based light as a reason. But when our team asked further that if this was the reason then other villages nearby must have got the power supply as there we have not done this renewable energy based electrification and there they realize that yes this village is lucky atleast it has got light continuoously without distruption since last 3 years, even if its for a limited duration.

One startling observation was in the social space. Tribals see, taking dowry equivalent to begging. So bridegroom's family never asks for dowry but willingly bride's family gives some consumer durables. Earlier before electrfication it used to be utensils, bicycle etc and recent marriages in this village, saw marriage gifts in terms of television, cd player etc.  Design of project would have possibly never had this in its agenda.

The Unintended consequences!!!!

In anycase "Bane-Bane" (Vernacular equivalent of "All is Well")

And he Said

I was sitting idly, bit sad and as a natural humane reaction, started complaining to self about all problems which have engulfed my life. Someone stopped by to listen

"I have so many problems all around, I don't have big bungalow , I don't have a car................... and the list went on"

He listened to all my complaints very patiently

And He said "I fully agree with you, can I take 10 minutes from your busy life to tell you something"

I didn't want to talk to this stranger but somehow agreed

And he said "While we discuss this can u keep a pen, a notebook, a calculator and if possible a PC with internet"

Amused by the things he asked me to keep for conversation specially the last one, I said "ok done..all things ready"

And he said " U have so caring parents, so affectionate sisters, so supportive cousins and other relatives with you, who share all your pain and discomfort, more often even by sacrificing their own happiness because they want to see you happy"

I said "Yes, This is true, So what, everyone in the world has this"

And he said "Can you google it, how many children in the world are born who never see either their mother or father or both? I don;t need the statistics, you can write down the same in your notebook."

I quickly browsed through some pages on internet and the number's I must admit made me "shocked"

Looking at me he said "So what value u can assign to this wealth which you have"

I immediately asked "Which currency your want Rupee, Dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen...."

And he said "Hold on, If i tell you to choose one currency it will limit our discussion in the boundary of one or other man-made nationality. Let value be just value, just give some value which comes to your mind"

After thinking for a while I said ok let me put 10 million.

And he said "Ok then, we move ahead. You have got all body parts intact, you need not depend upon other's for performing your basic chores. You have an average brain to help you read, write and think. You went to school, did graduation from some good college at surat, did master's from another good institute in anand. So now you are a postgraduate"

I said "Yes, This is true, So what everyone in the world gets this"

And he said "Can you google it, how many children in the world are born able bodied. How many among them who are able bodies get even primary education leave graduation post graduation from some good college?  I don;t need the statistics, you can write down the same in your notebook."

I quickly browsed through some pages on internet and the number's which i saw I must admit again made me "shocked"

Looking at me he said "So what value u can assign to this wealth which you have"

I brainstormed did all cost-benefit analysis and said let me put 7 million

And he said "You have got a roof overhead, even if its a rented one room, you have got some money in your bank account which helps you meet all your basic needs and you are born in a free country with relatively responsible government which has arranged some form of  public transport which helps you move around"

I said "Yes, This is true, So what everyone in the world gets that"

And he said "Can you google it, how many people in the world have shelter in a minimal form which can save them from heat, cold and rain. How many of them have this "little money" in their bank account which helps them meet their basic needs? How many of them are born in the "civil or cross country war torn country" How many of them get this public transport to reach in time to a hospital in case of medical emergency.?  I don;t need the statistics, you can write down the same in your notebook."

I quickly browsed through some pages and the number's I must admit again  made me "shocked"

Looking at me he said "So what value u can assign to this wealth which you have"

I thought for a while and just wrote some random number 999
..
........
...................................

The discussion went on and by the time 10 minutes were about to end

He looked at his watchsaid " Ok,here we stop... this discussion can go on for many years to come, but since I took only 10 min permission from you, let me stop now. Can u just add upon the numbers which you have assigned"

I took out the calculator and quickly added up (as if I was sitting in my mathematics quiz)..

I said " This sums upto 99 million" and added "See I am not a billionare.."

He said "You know why you are left 1 million short of billion. Its just to ensure that your know that how every million counts in your life. Once you get this realization the remaining 1 million comes as "satisfaction" and that makes you billionaire. Ensure you value all this wealth you have, because everyone in the world is not blessed with such richness"

I had no words.

Sensing my state of mind he said "You know all the while i was trying to listen to your complaint and let you understand your wealth, I missed to bless few people with this Million richness. One such kid is born in a "civil war torn country" in Sub-Saharan Africa, in a minority community , in a low caste family which lives what you people call as "below poverty line", kid is a girl child and unfortunately with limbs crippled from birth. Oh see another kid in naxal affected village of Jharkhand....another in"

Seeing the clearly evident worry which I had on my face about the future  life of the kids..

He said " Don't  worry. Your worrying will not help me. You know why I gave you so many millions of wealth. It's just to ensure that you will share some of this wealth through your care, concern and a genuine support to those whom inpiste of my best efforts I could not bless  with one or other form of this million wealth. Will you do me this favor? Can you atleast reach out that Kid in Sub-Saharan Africa or in the village of Jharkhand who  are left unblessed from this wealth, while I was busy listening you"

Though hesitant but still I said "Yes, I will try my best. But who are you, which place you belong............"

 He smiled and said "Let me not tell my name or else you people will again label me as Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jew, Christian etc.... or make me an Indian, Japanese, Izraeli, Iraqi etc,,or thinking that I gave you some enlightenment, some people might start a new religion on my name and again start fighting against each other."

Before I could thank him.

He left a note on my notebook which read "God Bless".and he left

When odds are one in million, you could still be that one

There would be time when situation's will shake you up

But don't allow them to break you up

At times chances of winning would be bleak

Still don't allow hopelessness to speak

Because When odds are one in million, you could still be that one

There would be time when hurdles will encroach your path

But don't allow them to poach you  to sabbath

At times you will be all alone

Still don't allow loneliness make you drone

Because When odds are one in million, you could still be that one

In all those times if you remain that one in million

Its for sure that every hard moment will take the pillion

Glory and Success will follow your path

The path which has name of just one in million

तो याद रखना

गर गिरे तो याद रखना  तू शीशा नहीं जो गिरने से बिखर जाएगा
गर हारे तो याद रखना तू मोम नहीं जो जरा सी हार से पिघल जाएगा
इतिहास गवाह है बुरा वक़्त भी वक़्त के साथ गुजर जाएगा
आँखों में ललक हो सीने में धड़क हो
रुकें न कदम चाहे अनजानी सड़क हो

गर साथ न मिले कोई तो याद रखना  तू भेड़ नहीं जो भीड़ के बिना चल न पाएगा
गर हाथ न मिले कोई तो याद रखना तू तिनका नहीं जो लहरों में बह जाएगा
इतिहास गवाह है कोई हो न हो अपनेआपको को सदा अपने साथ पाएगा
आँखों में ललक हो सीने में धड़क हो
रुकें न कदम चाहे अनजानी सड़क हो


गर तू ये भूल गया अपने सपनो से डोल गया
तो याद रखना तेरा सपनो का महल सपनो में बुनकर रह जाएगा
फिर इतिहास तेरे सपनो का गवाह बनकर कैसे ये कह पाएगा
आँखों में ललक हो सीने में धड़क हो
रुकें न कदम चाहे अनजानी सड़क हो

Lost Relations !!

In the morning as a part of my daily habit, I open up my orkut account to convey best wishes to people who have their Birthday.

But today, while I was about to type down "Many happy returns of the day" as we do subconsciously, a shrill went within, my bad memory recalled back that this batch-mate of mine from Surat whom I was about to convey my wishes had passed away 5 months back.

I didn't know what to do, so left his scrapbook as such without writing anything.

We normally tend to take our close friends and relatives for-granted and miss them when they are not near to us or when Almighty takes them away from us.

Earlier people used to keep in touch through those Inland letters and postcards which used to take their own usual "Indian standard time". Don;t know but few known-one's from my grandfather's generation tell that they used to care more, kept in touch with everyone inspite of absence of these mobiles and internet. Now with advent in IT, we hv instant messengers, email and other social networking mediums- the chances of communication have improved- but somehow this "extra" busyness of "something" stops us? Is that true with u also ?

I didn't want this post to sound philosophical, but some questions definitely are worth giving a thought

* There must some 5-6 people in everyone;s life who would be very close to heart. Have we spoken to them in near past? If not, should v not have a word with them may be for a minute today?or R v under an impression that life will surely give another chance tomorrow?

*There might be some 2-3 people who would have inspired us in someway or the other. Did we express our gratitude to them or we r under the pretext that they will understand our unspoken words? May be they are waiting to hear !!!

*Inspite of claims of we being adult, all of us have a child hidden within us, which in moments of distress wants to cry by putting head on someone's shoulder. R v still in touch with those close buddies who shared our moments of sorrow? Over the period, hv our relations becomes formal with them also or do we still share same fondness and can buzz over them to cry out our emotions?

* Have we answered back to all unreplied mails, telephone calls or messages received over cellphone/instant messangers? Or r v presuming that the people who wanted to communicate us when we were busy will never mind our non-reply? Would be a dangerous assumption!!

Let's value them if not more than our work atleast equal to that or else very soon they will become our "Lost Relations"!!!

जिंदगी

सूरज के साफ़ उजाले की तरह जिंदगी के हर पल उजले नहीं होंगे
कभी राहें नहीं होगी तो कभी हमराही नहीं होंगे
कर्त्तव्य का दीपक जलाए रखना साथी
क्यूंकि हर वक़्त आंधी नहीं होगी हर पल तूफान नहीं होंगे

जिंदगी की राह में पत्थर भी मिलेंगे कांटे भी मिलेंगे
कांटे और पत्थर क्या, दोस्त बन कर कुछ लोग गिराने वाले भी मिलेंगे
गिरने पर भी उठ खड़े होना साथी
क्यूंकि हर वक़्त ठोकरें नहीं होंगी हर पल गिराने वाले नहीं होंगे

मुश्किलें तो हवा का झोंका है आएंगी और जाएंगी
हिम्मत मत हारना साथी बुझती लौ ही नए दीपक को जलाएँगी
पर तू जो ठोकर से टूट गया या कर्त्तव्य से छूट गया
तो फिर तेरी जीत के किस्से नहीं होंगे तेरी कब्र पर पर रोने वाले नहीं होंगे

उम्मीद

ना  हार  से  ना  जीत  से
बस  केवल  एक  उम्मीद  से
वक़्त के पन्नों पर कुछ लिखता मिटाता हूँ
गीत नया गाता हूँ 

हार  तो   कई  बार  हुई  और  ना  जाने  फिर  कितनी  बार  होगी

हर  लक्ष्य  के  समीप  एक  नयी  दीवार  खड़ी  होगी

पर  यकीं  है  कि हर  हार  की  फिर  हार  होगी

क्योंकि  ना  हार  से  ना  जीत  से

बस  केवल  एक  उम्मीद  से

वक़्त के पन्नों पर कुछ लिखता मिटाता हूँ

गीत नया गाता हूँ

जानता  हूँ  कई  बार  राह  नज़र  नहीं  आएगी

नज़र  भी  आई  तो   परिस्थितियों  के  थपेड़ों  में  मिट  जायेगी

पर  यकीं  है  हर  मिटी  राह  पर  एक  नयी  राह  बन  जाएगी

क्योंकि  ना  हार  से  ना  जीत  से

बस  केवल  एक  उम्मीद  से

वक़्त के पन्नों पर कुछ लिखता मिटाता हूँ

गीत नया गाता हूँ

यकीं  है  हर  कठिनाई   से  लड़  जाऊंगा

मौत  भी आई  तो  शहीद  ही  कहलाऊंगा

डर  है  तो  केवल  इस  उम्मीद  के  चोरी  हो  जाने  का

क्योंकि  ना  हार  से  ना  जीत  से

बस  केवल  एक  उम्मीद  से

वक़्त के पन्नों पर कुछ लिखता मिटाता हूँ

गीत नया गाता  हूँ

Rekindling the Dreams.. New Vistas

Seems like new vistas will open in our endeavor towards creation of self-reliant rural economy with rural energy access as entry point.


Last week was in Ranidhera, the village we have electrified using jatropha and village committee is managing it on their own since last 32 months. (Details: http://shardagautam.blogspot.com/2009/08/7th-experiment-rekindling-dreams.html )


Some experiments on field r in planning phase with respect to using byproducts of jatropha seed,  if successful will lead to increase in farm fertility of the village and would provide improved and cheaper cooking fuel. 


Mostly from Jan 2010 we will begin this experiment..Lets keep the fingers crossed !!!

Stockholm to Copenhegan: Where the "Common man" stands !

Much fuss has been created over these 37 years and more is yet to follow. Leaving all jargons aside, the game is all about meeting fundamental needs of 6+ billion current population and simultaneously  ensuring that future generation is also able to meet their basic needs.

Irrespective of the result of Copenhegan summit, it remains a responsibility of each of us to contribute our bit as cognizant and sincere universal citizen (assumption true as u hv still not left reading this post after first line)  . This "contribution of bit" doesn't call for attending 2009 COP or fund raising or taking a banner and making a rally for awareness (!!), but it simply calls for some simple questions

Do V avoid use of polythene when v go for buying fruits and vegetables? Do V avoid personal vehicle where public transport is available easily? Do V use carpool for going to office instead of individual cars (I know my colleagues in automotive sector would be angry as this will reduce hamper their car sale targets but still!!)? Do V attempt to purchase articles of daily use from non-plastic make? Do V make alternate use of household stuff before dumping them as trash? Do V avoid unnecessary lighting (remember grid power is from coal, so howsoever one rich is to pay the electricity bills, one is not rich enough to compensate Carbon emission)? R V willing to replace our our high power consuming equipments like geyser with say solar water heater?............................

As iterated earlier, for ensuring well being of everyone across the world, V can never be sure what governments and world leaders will do but V can always be sure what V "the common man" can always do and lets pledge to do it, after-all at the end its the common man who is going to face the wrath of nature!!!

Father to his son

Moments will come, moments will go 
With some sweet and some bitter songs at your bow

There will be time when it will be  heavy rain

Promise me you won’t let it wash your aim

There will be time when sun will be at  top

Promise me you won’t let it your fight stop

Moments will come, moments will go

With some sweet and some bitter songs at your bow

There will be people to say your chances of winning are remote

Promise me you will still keep up hope

There will be friends who will leave you in the battle

Promise me you will still prove your mettle

Moments will come, moments will go

With some sweet and some bitter songs at your bow

There will be time when I will also move away

Promise me you will still keep on with the way

In the end it will not matter even if I am not there

Because this promise will make me alive with every success you achieve as my successor


Moments will come, moments will go 

With some sweet and some bitter songs at your bow

(Poem based on  feelings which my father expressed, when I met him after demise of my beloved grandffather)

Happy Bday

Innumerable people come in our lives, stay for some period and then physically leave the place but some of them still continue to live in us because they belong to the esteemed class of teachers. Among those "Architects of my Life", there was one such person, whose Birthday is today but i can't wish him, because physically he left this world five months back. He has been a teacher, a friend, a moral builder, a spiritual awakener............ everything for me. If he would not have been in my life, specially in the early years of childhood, possibly I would also have been running in the rat-race of earning money ignoring the stark deprivation which people around us in different parts of the world are facing. Prof. Channiwala was not wrong when he asked my parents that he often wondered that there must be some other great teacher also behind this student of mine . Channiwala sir wanted to him, but then it couldn't happen....

My vocabulary doesn't have words for expressing my gratitude to the enlightened soul.
Down the years in my life, If I will be able to do something worthwhile for the suffering masses across the world, it would be my greatest guru-dakshina to  this "Architect of my Life" who has in one way or the other made me realize the essence of life.
Happy Bday Nanaji