Away I want to slip into slumber sweet and deep,
With the wings of goddess of sleep
Never to return but ever to fly.
From horizon to horizon will I flaot like a boat,
And swim like a bird in the world infinite,
And unknown to me yet mostly my own.
Soothed will I be from the hurries and worries,
And fret and fury of mundane,
With no askings, no if’s and but’s of officialdom.
Yes, there, there, there far away into eternity,
Aching I am to pluck and scud away.
Filed under Literature, My Poems
Much dust is raised by the hue and cry of Hindi- loving nation lovers against the use of English. I don’t want to stir Hornet’s nest by saying that I have strong aversion to advocacy of Hindi disparaging English. Equally am I averse to advocacy of English at the cost of Hindi. Let me not be misconstrued as anti- nation and that I am trying to denigrate Hindi for the sake of English. Certainly, both the languages are equally lovable to me. Why only these two ! In fact, I will love to know and speak as many languages as possible to my need and convenience. What I want to convey is that all the languages must be viewed from equidistance and with equal respect. And it is needless to say that next to Hindi comes English being it an international language.
Of course, Hindi must be kept comparatively at the higher pedestal when it comes to learning and teaching of languages as it, more than any other language, reflects the culture and character of our nation. In that way it is a veritable uniting force. But this doesn’t give license to disparage other language that flourishes simultaneously by force of its own nature and magnanimity. In fact, if Hindi has to make a global impression, it is possible through English only. Therefore English is to be encouraged rather than disparaged.
The straitjacketed views regarding the learning and use of particular language is nothing but the narrow and lopsided stance taken by linguistic fundamentalist. I appreciate the idea that Hindi must be given priority but I cannot digest the view that the massive use of English is an impediment in the way. Efforts must be made so that the students in our country learn, write and speak good Hindi. Having done so, the people of this democratic country has the freedom to use the language of their liking. Let us not forget that it is the English literature that has brought international name and fame to the nation. Raja Rao, Anita Desai, RK Narayanan, Khushwant singh, anita Desai are no small figure in English Literature. Tagore might not have got worldly acclaim had he not translated his Geetanjali into English. Arundhati’s God of Small Things, Arvind Adiga’s The white Tiger, Desai’s Inheritance of Loss have proved that literary acumen of Indians is best manifested in English literature.
Even apart from creative literature, Indians have made English their medium to prove their supremacy in other fields like Economics, Biography, History and Science and technology. Aurbindo Ghosh, JL Nehru, MK Gandhi, Amartya Sen, APJ Abul Kalam, Jaswant Singh have made the best of English language.
Language carries with it the social and cultural ethos. To know more languages means to have broader outlook and rich culture. Acceptance and assimilation of language shows the magnanimity of one’s own language. And perhaps herein lies the greatness of English. This is the reason that English has attained the international status as a language.
I don’t doudt the utterances of Bhartendu : Nij bhasha ko unnti hai sab unnti ko mool (The progress of one’s own language is the very base of all progress). But he had never said and meant : Par bhasha ko nindaa hai sab unnti ko mool. (Dispaaging other’s language is at the very base of all progress).
Filed under Literature
When a man takes birth, he is neither Hindu nor Muslim nor Christian nor any other creed and no one shouts allah hu akbar nor had any one said har har mahadev. Above all he is only an addition to the siblings of god. But with the passage of time it is made to understand that one either is Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Baudh or Jain et Seq. And the very truth that basically one is a human being is either forgotten or becomes a secondary thing. What I mean is that as long as we think putting ourselves at a particular point and angle, we won’t be able to appreciate the different views. For this we have to come out of group or organizational thinking when it comes to the question of difference between chalk and cheese, between vice and virtue, between right and wrong. Only an ungagged mind can call spade a spade. They say god could be seen in the temple, mosque, church etc, but if god exists, it exists in the hearts of human beings, in their noble thoughts, in their right actions. Saint Kabir is absolutely on dot when he says:
Moko kahan dhundhe re bande, mein to tere pass Na mandir mein, na maszid mein, na kabe kailas mein.
( Where are you looking for me, man ? I reside inside you. Neither am I in temple nor in mosque nor in the mountains).
Much of fanaticism prevailing in the contemporary society is because we are made to think in an organized way. This organized religion or ideology does not let an individual have his own free and reasonable thinking,. Be it religion or be it politics, one can’t go beyond one’s organizational thinking. Especially in our country, we are led like flock of sheep and we don’t mind if we are led into the ditch. A political minded person will not, in majority of cases, speak against its party though it might have committed the blunder of Himalayan stature. Similarly, no one will like to count the shortcomings of own religion or ideology. Perhaps its human tendency to prove his dog to be the most faithful and nor do I dislike it. I don’t mind people proving that their ideology is the best available in the world. What irks me is that people try to prove that any other religion or ideology or faith apart from theirs is inferior. And herein lies the crux of all human enmity and malignance.
How tragic is it for humanity that many a time patients die due to dirth of blood, but the same blood flows on roads in the name of god ! In fact all religions have taught fatherhood of god and brotherhood of mankind. Even if they had not done so, an unbiased and ungagged individual’s wisdom would say so. If this be not so, there will be total chaos and anarchy and many Indias will be created from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Gujrat to Bengal and there will be a big question mark against the existence of real India. Therefore the following lines have much truth in them:
Khuda walo mujhe masjid mein pine do, Mandir walo mujhe mandir mein pine do, Nahin to aisi jagah batao jahan khuda nahin
(Let me drink in temple or mosque or tell me the place where god doesn’t reside)
Filed under Literature
Notwithstanding the lofty claims of the state government, the scenario regarding qualitative education remains bleak. Apart from some improvement in infrastructure, the SSA has benefited meagrely though the claims have been highflown. In fact, we seem to be moving from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty. And now it’s the turn of the RMSA to play the same role.
On paper, the SSA and the RMSA seems to be panacea for curing our ailing education. But the hard ground realities have a different story to tell. In fact, the problem lies in poor execution, casual monitoring approach, inadequate training, lack of competent RP’s and disregard of teachers’ views and suggestions.
Doing away with the marks-based examination system might be blessing for many, but at the same time has discouraged the spirit of healthy academic competition. Examination is a stress for shirkers not for studious and hardworking children. It cannot be logical to ignore these a few brilliant brains for the sake of shirkers. As is the mentality of the children, they will find no attraction for getting marks. Let me be not misconstrued as being anti-reformsist. Nodoubt, the innovations are welcome but only if they have reasonability keeping in view the ground realities.
The CCE should be only one part of examination, but to lay major emphasis on viva-voce or oral examinations will only degrade the quality of talent of succeeding generation. This can clearly be discerned from the fact that the student of 10+2 or BA standard cannot write a single sentence correctly in English. And the dissemination of knowledge and information is widely done in black and white for which the writing skill is of utmost importance. The excessive emphasis on CCE will undermine the possibility of producing talents of high standard. This means that we would be limiting the scope for the development of creative urge.
Unfortunately, we are operating is such a system wherein new education policy is for the sake of money whereas money should have come for the sake of policy.
The present form of written examinations and evaluation may have its drawbacks, but to shun them completely for the sake of another system, which in its turn is not free from faults, will be like getting out of the frying pan into the fire.
Another sad part the latest policy is that the teachers are being burdened with those activities that do not fall in the ambit of his teaching acumen. They are in catch22 situation and his responsibilities are hanging between teaching and fetching data. He looks at himself more as record keeping babu than a teacher. Becoming frustrated, he takes his responsibilities as completed by just fetching the paper work.
The height of the matter is that even the executing agencies are not clear about the results of the new CCE policies. And the bosses in the government does not seem to be showing real seriousness. The parents also are in a fix to understand the whole drama. To make the new policy a success, a harmonious balance must be established between the written examinations and the CCE. And the related issues should be settled in consultation with the teachers, who are teaching at school level, mot the professors who don’t know the real classroom situations in schools.
Filed under Literature
The time came and passed ! How I not know.
Unnoticed sneaked it away as movement of a cat.
But Memoirs remain and return
As etched they are to my mind.
Indelible they are as the wounds of unrequitted love.
Naieve was the childhood and modest the school.
No hankypanky nursery, no LKG nor the KG,
But straight It was into grade 1st after six.
Brilliant called me my pals, same endorsed the teachers.
Always first I stood but no celebration, no party of today.
Rustic was life, no chocolate, no icecream,
It was only baked cornbread with gurh.
Darned clothes, darned shoes, yet no malice, no worry.
Rains did drench us but no pain, no illness, only play and gay.
Bat Handmade and rags stitched into compact orb,
Thus was cricket with forsaken stump our wickets.
Holiday was the turn to take the cow and bulls to the wood
To return at dusk with the herd retaining the number same.
Such were the days of gaiety and play,
Which I relish to remember and say.
Filed under Literature, My Poems
We, the people of HolIndia do swear in the name of god that:
We will do all the misdeeds after swearing in the name of god. If possible, we will coerce god in helping us in our misdeeds. If he doesn’t condescend, we will stop having faith in him.
If we happen to be politicians, our foremost efforts will be to accumulate as much as possible wealth for ourselves and our kins. We will make life hell for honesty lovers and will do our best to denigrate them by awarding them the sarcastic title of ‘Siblings of Harishchandra’. We will do our best to allure them to join our club of corrupted goons by citing them the examples of people who have flourished by adopting unethical means. If he doesn’t budge, we will not hesitate to eliminate him. We will not feel prick of conscience even if we have to suck the country to the last drop.
We will boast of great forefathers, but will always act in contrivance with the path shown by them. We will appreciate their sacrifices. But in our turn will sacrifice others for own sake and in doing so we will not hesitate to stake the country.
We will love to appreciate Bhagat Singhs if born in the house of neighbours, but won’t love to have one in our house because we believe ‘saints are better dead’. If at all they have to be alive, better to have them so far so near.
If we are at the helm of construction work, we will first carve out our own share. Thereafter, we will eat into the rest of the amount. In doing so, we will not bother about the lives and future of the people and the nation.
If we grab the post of a teacher with the help of some godfather, we will try our best to apply minimum input and get maximum output. For this state’s ‘Maximum’, we will provide our maximum unfair help to the pupils, because after all they are like our sons and daughters when it comes to the examinations or results. Moreover, as parents we will want our ‘Pappu’ pass whatsoever be the modus operandi.
Every day we will pledge to live in cohesion like brothers and sisters. We will boast proudly of our multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious identity of the nation. But at times, we will be ready to butcher our brothers and sisters in an effort to satiate our narrow religio-political zingo. Blood be available or not for the patients will not be our worry, but we will feel proud if same blood flows on roads or whatever be the place.
As administrators or heads of any organisation or institution, we will endeavour to ‘look busy while doing nothing’. We will try to appease and favour our sidekicks. ‘Come tomorrow’ will be our motto.We will look for the word ‘impossible’. Even if it doen’t exist, we will definitely add this to have a dictionary of our own. We will believe in the dictum- If one can do it , let him do it; If none can do it, leave it.
We will find logic in Mahatama Gandhi’s precept of three monkeys if somebody takes cudgels against our apathy and amnesia.
We again swear in the name of god that we will stick like a leech to above mentioned characteristics of ours and will swerve only if some characteristic of utmost self – interest is to be added, And that too by swearing in the name of god.
Filed under Literature
This tops up the food
Wishing you all a sound health on World Health Day !
Eat less, Drink more.
Pick fruit, kick junk.
Clean hands, Shining teeth.
No gluttony, no bulging belly.
Enjoy good health really !
Filed under Uncategorized
Honesty pays though it doesn’t seem to. Even if it doesn’t pay in physical terms, it has its own reward – a solace that is not easy to attain and retain in this wicked world of materialism. People may say that honesty-lovers have to languish in this money minded culture, but an honest man leads a dignified life keeping his head always high.
It so happened that I was to go to Shimla from Kumarsain. Getting no bus from the bus sta, I had to walk to Bhrara Kainchi. Suddenly, a white gypsy stopped just before me and the driver offered to take us to Shimla. Two or three other guys also boarded the gypsy, which the driver told, belonged to some government official.
On the way, I was ruminating as to how much money the fellow was going to extort from me. Meanwhile, some two guys got down the vehicle. They did not give any money to the driver nor did the latter ask for. I took it for that the guys might be known to the driver.
later the driver offered to drop us at the DC’s office at shimla. I happily approved the Idea. He dropped us at the DC’s office. While getting down the gypsy, I took out a hundred-rupee note and pushed it towards the driver. To my surprise the fellow said,” Janab, Muzhe haram ke paise de kar paap na karao.” (” Sir. please don’t allure me to commit a sin by offering me unjustified money.”) Hearing this from him, I was overwhelmed and I saluted him in the heart of my heart. He could have easily mustered about Rs 1,000 on that day, but perhaps his soul was alive. I often am reminded of the incident and it fills me with reverence for that driver and I would salute him as many times as I could.
The other day I was taking my kids along with my wife to the hospital. We boarded a bus to Bharara Kainchi and got there down to get another to the hospital. My wife suddenly realised that the small lovely purse she had got for our little daughter Aparajita, was missing. After a brief husband-wife brawl, the matter was forgotten, On one fine morning an unknown fellow tracked us down and told that he had got the purse that, he thought, was Aprajita’s. My little daughter danced gleefully while my faith in honest way of living further got cemented. I had no reason to think against the thinking- Honesty pays!
Filed under Literature
”What is in name?”—— The cliche of William Shakespeare had never troubled me nor had I ever thought of being at variance with it until recently when I stumbled over a write-up of a blogger on nomenclature associated with this old and well acknowledged adage. How great a connoisseur Shakespeare was as a delineator of human soul, I don’t dare to touch upon the issue. But the very cliche irks me when I see the world going berserk for the sake of coining appropriate names for their newly borns.
Writers have put in huge efforts to publish books containing names. The proud father or mother doesn’t lose any opportunity of publicising among relatives to look for some lovely and appropriate names for their child so that they may choose the best from among the best conveyed to them. Purohita, on his part, does his best to approve the name that would lead the child to fame with that specific name. Whether the child gets name and fame is another issue, but the Purohita gets plenty to make his pocket heavier. How shortsighted Shakespeare was to give such a naught to ‘names’!
In the old time, especially in countryside, people used to name their newly borns by associating them to the month or day of birth – ‘Shukru’ (born on Friday) Manglu ( born on Tuesday) or Fagnhu ( born in the Hindi calender month of Fagun). But now such names are rarely found among new generation, and if at all any exists, it becomes the target t of drollery.
I have another point that makes me go against the Shakespearean adage. In fact, we cannot make do without names. No names means having no proper nouns. Now imagine the language without proper nouns, My god ! A world or language without proper noun ! There will be linguistic anarchy and communicative chaos. So we need names irrespective of what shakespeare said. And if we need them at all, why not have best of them?
Names have great significance. If we are not familiar with somebody, the mere name gives us an idea of the fellow. Suppose we hear of some unknown Ram or Ram lal or Ramu, The very neme ‘Ram’ gives us the idea of a person being sedate fellow like the lord Rama. ‘Ram Lal ‘gives the idea of some ordinary man may be dudhwala. ‘Ramu’ gives a connotation of somebody engaged in house keeping may be my or your servant. Now take my name Jagdish, You can perceive that this fellow seems to be having ordinary stature and reputation. But if it becomes ‘Jagdeesh’, the things get bigger many fold and you can perceive an image of god which I won’t prefer to be, though sometime in my humanly pride, I thank my parents for giving me the name which reminds one of god.
The very names – Bengluru, Chennai, Puducherry, Mumbai – have a cultural and historical sense with them. Just pronouncing these names sends us to the social and cultural milieu related to these places. Now why spare Shakespeare, who, having given this cliche to the world to think over, himself chose the most appropriate names for his characters. Cordelia of King Lear Toby Belch of Twelfth Night, Prospero and Miranda of the Tempest and many more are there which have beauty and significance of their own.
So, dear friends, Shakespeare himself was at variance with himself. Names can be perceived as being good or bad, but people in this excessively busy world of fret and fury have no time to perceive the deeds. Perhaps ‘Rose’ will not smell as sweet as it does with this very name. Therefore. I have every right and reason to believe – A bad name is worse than bad deeds.
Filed under Literature
They don't fail us.
Difficult: It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
Success and Luck: If you succeed, it’s hardwork. If other succeed, it’s luck.
Literature and Journalism: The only difference between literature and journalism is that journalist is unreadable and literature is not read.
College: A place where girls are after facts and boys are after figures.
Books: Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his are not new after all.
Good Books: A good book is opened with expectations and closed with profit.
English: The only advantage of speaking in English is that you can abuse others as much as you like without hurting others’ feelings. The English language is like a woman’s ward-robe full of things she can’t use yet the one thing she needs, but can’t find .
Adopted from Encounters and Clippings by P D Maheshwari
inside out 