लगाव

मुझे तेरी नाक से मुहब्बत है, तुझे शायद आँख का शुबहा है
रौशनी तो मेरी कब की छिन चुकी, अब तो बस खुशबु का मजा है 

चल

चला चल, चला चल, चला चल-चला चल
ये मंजिल हैं तेरी तू राही बना चल 

!! कृति !!

जिसकी कृति तू, जिसका चन्दन !
ओ कृतिके उसको अभिनन्दन !!

महक उठे वसुधा, जब भौंरा करे है गुंजन !
अनिल-पूज्य की कृति को बारम्बार निमंत्रण !!

बरखा चले, पुष्प महके, रवि पहुंचे जन-जन !
कृति निराली हो अपनी, करते हम कृत-कृत वंदन !!

अभी राम थोड़ा व्याकुल है, अभी भरत पर हावी लक्ष्मन !
परशुराम से जाकर कहदे, कृति के सम्मुख करे समर्पण !!

अभी बाजियों में चीते हैं, अभी गजों को कहाँ निराशा, अभी कहाँ काली का क्रंदन !
अभी कर्ण ने कवच दिया है, उज्जवल हो सर्वस्व दिया है, अभी कहाँ कृति का स्पंदन !!

हे कृतिके तुझको अभिनन्दन !!!

भूल

तू याद से भुलाना मुझे
मैं तुझे भूल से याद आऊंगा 

तू कैसी मीरा है..................

चुप्पी भी है तुझमे, शरारत सी भी है
गोरा है रंग तेरा, जरा काली सी भी है
चलती तो ठीक ठाक है,  हाँ इठलाती भी है
चेहरे पे रुबाई है , पर मन पर पहरा है
सीधी तरह बता दे, ये राज जो गहरा है
तू कैसी मीरा है..................

अमरबेल पे ज्यों झूलों से, नयन तेरे बरकस फूलों से
चिक्की जैसा गाल पे तिल है, नाक तेरी नखराई है
हँसे तो मानो मोती बिखरें, मधुकर सी छवि पायी है
ता पर भी तू सोच करे है, अंधियारे में ध्यान धरे है
मीत न समझे,  मोल ना जाने, पास सवेरा है
तू कैसी मीरा है..................


टुकड़े टुकड़े दिन बीता है, तेरे बिना ये जग रीता है
मोती बिना हंस ना होवे, मृग कस्तूरी को जीता है
जुगनू करे रौशनी रातों, पपीहा सावन को तरसे है
जैसे भी हो जितना भी हो अम्बर से ही रस बरसे है
बात मान जा, हठ रहने दे, सब कुछ तेरा है
तू कैसी मीरा है.............

मौन धरा अबके उसने है अबके उसने पीड़ा गायी
अबके उसने चटक चाँद से दूध भरी स्याही मंगवाई
कुंए में हैं नीर गिराए नदिया को दे दी परछाई
पायलिया जोगी को दे दी कोयल को बोली भिजवाई
अबके उसने दिखा दिया वो भी जगनीरा है
वो कैसी मीरा है..............................

सांकल लगा भले लेटी हो, मन की कुंडी खटक रही है
संगत जमा भले बैठी हो, मन की रंगत घुमड़ रही है
स्वाति-बूँद चातक को तजकर छिटक पड़ी भूमि पर जब से
तब से बुझी हुई करसी में चिनगी जैसे रमक रही है
कस्तूरी अंचल में बंधी है वो ढूंढे है गली-गली में
वो ऐसी मीरा है................

अंदर का बच्चा

तेरे अंदर का शरारती है, मेरे अंदर का बग़ावती
फर्क, बस इत्ता है, अंदर के बच्चे में, तिरे और मिरे!!

सिलसिला.....

बादस्तूर ज़ारी है, मेरे लडख़ड़ाने का सिलसिला
बस एक तू है, जो, गिरने नहीं देता !!

O Seat!

I am lost somewhere for the past few days. I am reading my material without understanding, I look at the time mocking its speed, I am just thinking without thinking. All this is happening at a place which I call ''Library". I visit a library to turn my dreams into reality. Usually I come here early in the morning and choose a seat randomly. So the seat keeps on changing. I never sit on a particular seat for consecutive days. There is a strong reason for it. Whenever I choose a particular seat for more than three-four days, it always backfires. Initially it produce good results, make my concentration deeper, motivates me, make me happy and smile but this charm lasts only few days. Afterwards attraction elope and boundation appear. The continuation of that 'one' seat make me impulsive of surroundings of that seat. The moment I sit on a particular seat for quite some time, it gives birth to attachment, which may prove disastrous for my objectives.  I am facing the exact situation right now. 

The situation is like a funambulist trying to make the balance on a rope whose two ends are heart and mind.  The situation demands compromise on my part, it tests my perseverance, my passion, my struggle for my quest. It tests my sacrifice for the ultimate goal vis-a-vis a small, attractive but short lived uncertain gain. Amidst this, the ultimate goal i.e., happiness delays infinitely. The shorter objective compels the larger one to wait. Every time, when this happens, I am mindful that this is happening to me but I can't resist it. I know that I can't afford one more day for the same seat, but I can't help myself. In the condition of such helplessness, I look outside. Thanks to the people around me who wake me up at the spur of the moment. 

This time I was awakened by one friend who inquired me about the seat opposite to me. I was awaken as if I were sleeping for a long time. Thanks, O friend! for this unintentional but important inquiry. Thanks for telling me that I should sleep but open eyes. Thanks for teaching that I shall not stuck at one seat if I have to progress. Thanks for the wisdom that, I shall be thankful to this seat and cherish the memories of this seat for good. 

Now, I shall sacrifice the charm of this seat for some new one. O beloved seat! I am thankful to you! I am thankful that you gave me some moments of happiness. I shall always smile whenever I glance at you in the future. Thank you, O seat! I have learnt a lot from you, I have learnt the power of silence from you, O my seat! I have learnt more sincerity from you. I am thankful to you, for giving me a chance to interact to the beautiful seat opposite to you. You are the best seat I have ever got here in this library, but now I shall bid adieu to you to learn some new lessons from some new seats and meet them warmly....................................

(Dedicated to those who sit one a particular seat on a daily basis)

When 'Material Things' matter

                         

"Material things hardly matter", a humble and noble phrase; humans have been using it since time immemorial. It gives us a path to lead a life full of exuberance, simple living and high thinking. Nevertheless, sometimes, while applying this mantra in our lives we unknowingly, become bias and unjust. The literal meaning of phrase give precedence to some other kind of end.The most seemingly reason behind this is vulnerable human nature and psyche. Also, our affection for our beloved ones, our desire to express ourselves, our compassion towards others and our self-interest play vital role in it. This is something on which a being doesn't have effective control. It is hard to win over this good enemy. Following is one such case.

Arunab, Sonit and Rishab were very good friends. The trio was sensible, unite and harmonious. They all were mature as they were studying at the post-graduation level. They were studying in same college and living in a common hostel. A incident happened during college time which, left Arunab stunned & aloof and caused him pain deep in his heart. It made him believe that he was lacking behind in the due course of friendship. The incident that bothered him was a special moment when Sonit along with some other classmates returned after three months from a foreign study trip sponsored by the college. This was a matter of happiness for the trio as they were meeting after a long time. When encountered, they met happily and hugged each other. Sonit shared his odyssey with Arunab and Rishab. After a few days he gifted a chocolate to Arunab which he brought from the foreign country. Arunab was happy that his friend brought something for him; after all for the first time in his life he got a gift that traveled across seven oceans. Though, Sonit gifted the same chocolate to others including Rishab, it hardly bothered Arunab as his principle was,"they got theirs, I got mine". The value of his gift didn't diminish despite the fact that he brought it for others also. It significantly diminished and faded off after a couple of days when he met Rishab.

Arunab went to Rishab's room for some work after a couple of days. Rishab offered him his chocolate which he got as a gift from Sonit. He was very enthusiastic and happy; suddenly he threw a stall (muffler) over Arunab. The stall was made of fine fabric and was an artistic piece of design. Rishab asked Arunab to judge the article. Having been failed on both the aspects, Rishab took the stall from Arunab and wrapped it round his neck and revealed in a proud manner that he got it from Mr. Chocolate as a special gift. That was a shocking moment for Arunab. He felt a blank inside. 

Arunab came back to his room and fell down in bed. He didn't attend the classes for the next day for he had to unsuccessfully appease his soul that 'material things hardly matter'. All tactics proved to be futile and no argument came to his rescue.

Years after when Arunab discussed it with Sonit in some different context, the latter narrated the same lines to Arunab, 'material things hardly matter'. "Material things do matter", "you can't adopt double standard in words and deed" replied the Arunab.  

Sonit may be kind enough to accept the phrase 'material things hardly matters' while applying it in his own life. He wouldn't have felt bad if he were there instead of Arunab. He would be satisfied with the chocolate only and won't bother about that materialistic stall, that is one explanation of the phrase. Now look at the flip side. If material things hardly mattered to him then why did he gift that stall to someone to whom he gifted the chocolate already? From where he developed the feeling that he should purchase that stall in addition to chocolates for Rishab? Why couldn't he stop his mind and hands from purchasing that stall? Why didn't he recognize the phrase 'material things hardly matter' while purchasing something materialistic? wasn't he biased while doing so? wasn't it showed his comparative love and compassion for the two? If he was not biased while purchasing that stall for Rishab then only Arunab would have been mistaken. Arunab didn't expect him to bring any special gift for him; he was happy enough with his small gift until he got to know that Rishab has got a special gift along with the usual gift.

That is one aspect where human tendency works. That is why we are called humans. We are not machines, we do have feeling; we do feel bad; we do love someone more than others. It is something which we can't escape. That is the human nature. That is why the great Gautam Buddha was great while saying ,"Life is Suffering". That is why he said that attachment is the cause of all sufferings. Perhaps, that is why it is very difficult to be 'The Buddha'.

(The thoughts expressed here are personal; the writer can be contacted at ujjwal.knsl@gmail.com)