(yet another 20th and I just simply could not keep the timeline…. late by more than a day! Things were somehow beyond control. These new scribblings are prompted by this harshest picture of 2022. It represents predation in ultimate form – the young baboon appears holding her mother’s belly, not knowing that her mother has passed away and has become a prey among the fangs of the predatory beast. The photo was taken by Basque photographer Egor Altuna, and the London Museum of Natural History chose it as the most exciting photo of the year 2022)

Has Jantar Mantar failed,
in gaining empathy with
What wrestlers acclaimed
Is it always an elusive take,
Despite the predicament
of the victims at stake
and then some would claim
That victim card was played

If the allegations are true
Does it amount to exploitation
or is the universe again helpless
In this raw ruthless predation!

So are humans any better?
Perhaps at their worst
The animals kill for survival
For humans its thrill n trial
…Or hardly any difference…
When it comes to oppression
The Dominant eats the weak
and hunts for the Prey
Despite how well he prays!

Just to fulfil voracious greed
The authoritarian doesn’t care,
about mutual existence
robs him of the right to life
and ill-treats his subsistence!

Is exploitation a moral notion
or a mutually beneficial lotion
Does it mean unfair advantage
to the exploiter, and harm to the vulnerable exploited,
Even if it benefits the victim,
Should an exploiter be awarded!!

Do I sound a bit cynical?
The issue is not just clinical
It has surgical dimensions
from the ability to prolong life,
to kill with unparalleled efficiency
…killing instincts & inventions

In this life drama of deeds
Where do you really stand!
Are you just a Prey or
a settled Predatory beast?
A hard hitting question indeed!
Is it difficult to realise….
you are on a role reversal
swiftly changing over sides
simply to be safe and thrive!

(yet another 20th and here is my new set of scribblings… This time on आत्म मंथन, the self introspection …. About my own usual constant struggle with myself! I could hardly spend three hours finishing this self assigned task of talking to myself, that I continue doing every month at a fixed periodicity. My sincere thanks to Suman ma’am for the last minute brushes. Gratitude in advance for spending precious time and energy on these raw pieces of mine time and again)

This December, I realise that
My truth is simply half baked
Hope you have one….
That is fully baked
My truth is a bit of disillusion
Hope you have an inclusion
My truth is a limited edition
And Hopefully…..
You have a better proposition

Well at this juncture of life
I should be rather sorted
But I find myself in a maze
What could be the cause of
An ever increasing gaze?
Are you also going through
the mix of age, cage & rage!

Do you feel something but
express something else
Do you mean something but
gesture something else
Or you have learnt the art of
saying nothing in a way that
It leaves nothing unsaid!

Do you believe in the change
by changing the face
Or practice facing the change
Do you behave as a mirror
that displays your real image
Or deflect to an ordinary mirror
to build pseudo dignified image

I sincerely assume that there
is at least one among you all
Who despite his life drama
is absolute action, than words
Who walks all his talks….
and at the end of everything
At least owns up his own truth
that’s staring stark!….

If none of you can claim….
to have a fully baked cake
Then I am happy with all
my undisguised straws…..
of temerity yet basic empathy
of ambiguity yet raw integrity
of rigid spine yet huge humility
of in-sensibility yet sensitivity
of raw ideas yet own creativity
of insecurity yet bare gravity
of errors yet ‘to own-up’ capacity

But do I need to draw inspiration
from this contrarian view
Or should I be eternally myself
And not emulate others’ lives
….to take a role cue
That’s how I can evolve and learn
…continue earning love and bun
Let past be a place of reference
…not a place of living residence Let me look at life as an attempt to experiment with truths to cook Rajeev, the partially baked cake!

(yet another 20th, but I had been occupied throughout the day. Could barely scribble this beautiful creature “Snail” my accidental inspiration, in the last few hours. Hope you find it palatable enough! My thanks to Aornab for the inspiration and Suman ma’am for polishing the act. Would love to have your valuable comments)

Its about the story of God’s invite
to a dinner for all the animals
But Snail remained a bit tight
and preferred staying at home
God couldn’t swallow his pride
and cursed the snail in a bite!

“Wherever you shall go,
your house will follow”
And that’s how even till day
she carries her imposed burden
On her delicate yet firm spine
For what’s done can’t be undone
and is futile to sob n pine!

One day I crossed her path…
accidentally stepping on her….
She miraculously survived mass
Coz that ‘curse’ turned out to be rather a boon divine
Providing a safety net to her to not only live but shine!

This led me to reflect…
On the flaws and defects
We humans have been speckled
with so many shining assets
For they are ‘gifts’
we know not then
Until one day…….
those very defects prove
otherwise to be life saviours
and perhaps our best bets!

This prompted an abstraction
Don’t we all have this snail inside us: a question for God
Why bestow us with a flaw!
Not realising the flaw at times is our greatest claw
To keep us safe and fortified even in its own jaw!

So trust the Lord….
And keep your swaying emotions
safe within a shell, like a snail
Snail takes a little longer
to trust its surroundings
And come out of its shell case
Because there are predators….
to have a bite on her mullascus
Not just simply to hurt her,
but wipe out the entire trail!

We too need to tread with care
Lest in a hurry to impress n win
We entangle and burst our
shell within, as we dare!

Be a snail,
Soft inside but with hard elevation
Be a snail,
Think deep but express with caution
Be a snail,
And live a life with studied passion!!!

“शिकायत”

समय का ये कैसा मोड़ है
रात दिन दौड़ ही दौड़ है।
खुश रहने का समय नहीं,
बस दिखने की ही होड़ है।

स्वचित्र ही जब हो मात्र ख्वाहिश
तो ख्वाहिश का क्या मोल है
सिर्फ दिखावे भर की मुस्कराहट
मेरे दोस्त! बाकी सब गोल है।

शिकायतें अपनों से क्या राजीव!
जीवन का तरीका हैं वो
वाजिब?
हमारे सभी दुखों की जड़ क्यूं न हों
आर्थिक हों, चाहे अर्थहीन क्यूं न हों।

जिंदगी की आधी शिकायतें
ऐसे ही ठीक हो जायें शायद,
अगर उन के बारे में “बोलने”
की जगह, मैं उनसे “बोलना”
सीख जाऊं, जैसे एक कवायद।

आपको शिकायत है कि समय
बहरा है, किसी की नहीं सुनता
पर चिंता न कर, वो अंधा नहीं है,
देखता सबको, और कर्म बुनता।

मेरी शिकायत है बेबस लोगों से
जो कभी अन्यथा झूठे नहीं होते,
पर दुसरों को तकल़ीफ ना हो…
इसलिए सच भी नहीं कह पाते।

उन्हें शिकायत है कि जरा सी बात
क्या हुई, अर्थ भी अनर्थ हो गए
उंगली उठी तो नापाक कहलाए
अंगूठा उठा तो हो गए लाजबाब
यही है जिंदगी का फलसफा…
तेरा गणित हो या मेरा हिसाब।

दिल के करीब हों, या हों वो गैर
शब्दों के राजा हों या धन से अमीर
दर्द ही न महसूस करें तो हैं गरीब
जख्म न दिखाए तूं, तो हैं अजीज
हक न जताय तूं, तो हैं करीब
और गर बेवजह लगाई बंदिशे तुने
तो तूं जीते हुए भी है निर्जीव।

इस कदर, जिंदगी आसान की मैंने…
ख्वाइशों को भी अनाम सा कर दिया
जो मेरे अपने हैं, रहेंगे वो अपने ही
तो रुठों को भी मनाना छोड़ दिया
अगर मुस्कराहट से ही है जीवन तो
दिखावे हेतु मुस्कुराना ही छोड़ दिया!

“Adoption”

(Yet another 20th and here is my small offering on the D Day! It draws inspiration from an adopted child, which eventually translates into an analogy that I draw to the idea and technology. I sincerely hope that the new creation will be palatable for you. Thanks in advance for your love and appreciation that you have been showering every month for the last four years plus now)

Is it weird to even visualise…
What if we all are unisex
capable of being in labour
Irrespective of our gender,
what if we all can give birth,
And babies we can deliver!

Babies are our biggest hope
amidst the chaos and despair
That we nurture for 09 months
despite anxiety, pain and fear
To get that sense of fulfillment
with the creation that we bear!

But there will always be a case when we are not productive
to be blessed with baby’s grace
Or we have decided otherwise not to create one in belly base
So we adopt, as we alternate!

Adopt a baby, idea or technology
It will always remain a debate
No one can lose or win, I bet
as to which is the better option
To create or adopt, to escalate!

If it’s our own idea or techno
per-se, no matter a still birth
We may adopt initially and yet blame it on Rio for an escape
But for our own baby, there is no self-flagellation or blame
Accept her flaws in algorithm
and act with maturity & behave!

Whereas on the other hand…..
Adopted ideas are a bit freezed
you can’t modify, but embrace
As with our adopted children
whose identity shouldn’t deface!

Aim should be to generate….
humans, ideas and technology with honour, dignity & integrity
To imbibe a value system to….
adopt, own and facilitate them with excellence and empathy!

“FRIENDS ARE FOREVER”

(Yet another 20th and here is the new set of my scribblings – dedicated to my friends from childhood, school, college, IAF and other orgs as well as my  neighborhoods in the distant and immediate past. And that includes my students who were always friends and continue to be so. Despite long physical distances, I continue to grow with you all yet a few have been taken away by the winds. No matter how hard I try to reach out to you, at times I am unable to meet in person. But believe me, I do relate with each one of you all guys and gals! Hope you like this piece and are able to relate in your own life.)

As I developed the cold feet
there was need of some heat
So I soaked them within those
warm sands of the soft beach
The feeling was of huge comfort
but suddenly this question simply
baffled me as I met our cohort!

Aren’t friends like that warm sand?
who support us during turbulent times,
as they extend help & lend their hand
Waves keep arriving in succession
and take away sand below our feet
but sure enough, nature fills the void
while it brings the fresh sand, as if to
make new friends, join us and greet!

Old friends get settled within the Oysters
and without applying brains get harvested
to eventually transform into the Pearls
Then we dive in the ocean of memories
to recover them as those lost treasures!

Despite standing quietly beside the beach,
nothing was quiet, as the ocean sent roars
Those deep and loud sounds appeared
as if they were our childhood clash throes
I could even hear the overwhelming laughs,
and whisperings of my friends in teens
our carefree shouts in the college canteen!

As the Sun was heading towards twilight
I peeped into the dark to grab the light
Though the feet were getting cold again,
yet ocean vapour mist got clear, bringing
leading clarity to this ever churning mind
‘True friend’ is neither really a myth, nor
an assurance to follow as concept blind!

A friend is simply a normal human soul
Like sand on a beach, stable when wet
accommodating yet slippery while dry
Soul touching when it’s welcoming n cool
Unable to touch when scalding in its heat!
At times judgemental, at others he trolls
Maybe at times upset, envious, doubtful
but is always there for you at one call!

Like sand, they may play hide and seek
but in essence as the sand on a beach
they forget all differences and mould to
stand strong for you or simply preach
They can sniff whenever you’re in trouble
and rush to rescue you even from rubble
Never wish you to be in pain or fear
Deep down they love you and care!

Even after having the power to chop
off the head at the first abuse itself,
If one can be patient to hear another 99,
then it is no one but our Sri Krishna!

Even after possessing a weapon like
Sudarshan, if one prefers a flute instead
and he pipes it effortlessly despite all
the commitments, including times of war
And simply never gives up what he loves
then it is our loving master lord Krishna!

Even after excelling the glory of Dwarka,
If Sudama continues to be his buddy
and he believes and practices that if,
There is a motive, there is no friendship
then it is one and only generous Krishna!

Even after being on the hood of death,
if one continues to be fearless and can
think of dancing on head of SheshNag,
not only to create an assertion among
devotees but also a feeling of selfless
and unconditional love, then its Krishna!

Even after being all mighty and powerful,
if he has become a charioteer of Arjuna,
And reflected himself – an astute strategist
Did break the rules to counter unfairness
yet valued elders teachers, he is Krishna!

Even in unpleasant and difficult situations,
One who can remain not only duty-diligent
but also has the power of remaining calm
He who highlights the power of Karma
He who reflects that no job is big or small
He who says everything happens for a reason
And that it is always for the best….
That ‘Surrender to God’ is the ultimate key, Then he is none but You n Me as Krishna

“क्या यही प्यार है?”

“क्या यही प्यार है???” (My dear friends! Now onwards my all Hindi poetry will emerge randomly irrespective of the dedicated English scribblings on the 20th of every month. This new piece is on an introspection of the real meaning of the word “Love” we often use in our emotions, sometimes too loosely especially amongst lovers, partners, live-ins, spouses, etc. I sincerely hope that you like the context and content. Will eagerly wait for your valuable comments and inputs. Gratitude!!)

अर्थ है या ये अर्थ हीन?
शब्द है या शब्द विहीन
मौसम है या सिर्फ बरसात
या सिर्फ हैं ये उलझे जज़्बात
आग और… फिर सब शान्त!

कभी लगे ये दौड़ता रक्त
और कभी मात्र भाव फकत
अनमोल है या सूक्ष्म मोल?
या सिर्फ ये इक अदद बोल
क्यों लगता कभी मोहमाया
और कभी धूप कभी छाया!

शरीर का उफान है क्या?
यानि सिर्फ एक है तूफ़ान
जो गरजता है बईमान सा
और तृप्त हो कर भी रहे
कुछ परेशान और वीरान
क्या इसे कहूं सिर्फ़ हसरतें
और बल खाते हुए अरमान
क्यों नहीं ये लालच से रहित
बल्कि सिर्फ संवेदनाओं सहित
कभी दिखाता आईना मुझे
और कभी सिखाता है तुझे!

सत्य होना चाहिए था इसे
पर क्यों है यह अर्धसत्य?
कभी अपेक्षाओं का तांता
कभी परीक्षाओं की गाथा
क्या यह मात्र भ्रम है ईश्वर!
या फिर हमराज हमबिस्तर
मौन हो या एक अभिव्यक्ति
हमेशा विद्यमान रहती विरक्ति

क्यों सब कुछ अधूरा सा?
क्यों नहीं होता ये पूरा सा
वक्त है या सिर्फ इक पैमाना
या है फिर एक पैगाम बेगाना
क्यों लाता है डर का ही संदेश
न कि जीवन का सच्चा उपदेश
काश होता प्रेरक हर प्राणी के लिए
अपितु बदलता ही रहता ये वेश

क्यों नहीं पढ़ पाता अनकही?
और कह भी दो तो बेबजही
महसूस करवाता अपना वजूद
और अपने नाम में ही मगरुर
कभी लगे, कुछ तो दम होगा!
चूंकि चढ़ने लगे, तो इतना सरूर
फिर अचानक से ख्याल आया…
कुछ तो है दोस्त! सच से दूर??
क्यों लगने लगा है, सिर्फ शब्द!
प्यार है, या स्वयं पर प्रतिबंध!

क्या ये सब सिर्फ मेरी है व्यथा?
या फ़िर तुम सब की है यही कथा
क्या यह प्यार है, या आकर्षण!!
आकर्षण कहूं तो कैसी व्यवस्था?
शारीरिक, मानसिक या दार्शनिक?
या इन तीनों की ही मिश्रित सी प्रथा

भगवान शिव ने पार्वती से कहा…
अन्नपूर्णा से कामाख्या जैसा “भोग”
गौरी से दुर्गा “शक्ति” का हृदय नियोग
और काली से सरस्वती “दर्शन” रूपी
मस्तिष्क का समागम व पूर्ण सहयोग

मुझे कुछ ऐसा प्रतीत होता है दोस्त!
“आकर्षण” से “प्यार” का ये सफर….
जो तय कर गया उसे न हुआ वियोग
संबंधों की परिभाषा में वो परम् योग
जो फंस गया भंवर में, ये सिर्फ प्रयोग
और निकल ही न पाया, तो है ये रोग।

Yet another 20th and this time it coincided with my birthday itself. Interestingly I crossed my 59th milestone, and moved on to my journey of the Diamond Year. A mixed feeling for 60th innings that will roll me over to the senior citizen status on 20 July 23. This belated (than usual) scribbling today is about some of the reflections I had on my D Day! Hope you will like it. I have again switched over from Hindi to English after six months as far as my own commitment to 20th is concerned. But I would continue to write in Hindi on a random basis. Thanks for all the appreciation you have always been showering.

Yet another year starts
This time not so routine
Yet another resolve calls
This time not really lean
Yet another 20th and…
This time rather serene
Not only it completes an
annual cycle of my birth
But has few baked beans
Unlike a few years earlier
I am excited and keen!

I am entering a new season
Am not interested in giving
any justification or a reason!
It’s my turn to give any way!
I’ve had my lessons enough
Diligently I did my homework though at times it was tough!
I overcame fears pretty much
Trust and faith kept me going
And did never really give up!

As this Diamond Year starts
I am all ideas that kick-starts
To explore not just myself
but the world in a significant way
I am getting as naughty or more
As I was not even in my forties
A bit of anxiety of being ‘Sixty’
To be bracketed a senior citizen
……yet another one year……….
But the energy n youth in me
Let me feel like coining it ‘Sexty!’

Life seems to be filled with learnings and contemplation
There are plenty of patterns
that emerges from reflections
Asking me connect the dots
And accept souls around
As inescapable connects and
Events experienced as shots!

So that life’s lessons act
as reminder to the 59 milestone
That only yesterday I crossed
The years of irking behaviour
self created ‘saviour’ syndrome
That finally dissolved in a personality check out!!!

Did I really live?…..
In each part of myself…
Nail by Nail….
Hair by Hair…
Tissue by Tissue…
That my physical body
Either got changed or died!
But something didn’t change…
Neither it lied to me ever
Nor was it dry and cried!
It remained intact and godly
Same since my teenage!
Was it my inner voice or
The ‘soul’ as an inner mate

The mute question daunts…
Did it always act as source?
Or else…….
‘Sink’ for all the evil in me
And all brightness as ‘Source’
Importantly did I transcend?
I think not, and if so……
Is there any potential…
in the incoming Diamond year
To become fine from the coarse!