Blog Ahoy!

I have been a very occasional blogger for the past 2 years, but suddenly, the blog bug biteth!

And I have made my mid-May resolution that I am going to be regular on blogosphere from now.

Hope it works better than new year resolutions!

Halt the madness!

Black Friday - the song sums it all!

are ruk ja are thum ja
are ruk ja re bandhe are thum ja re bandhe ki kudrat has padegi ho

are neendein hai jakhmi
are sapne hai bhooke
ki karvat phat padegi ho
are ruk ja re bandhe are thum ja re bandhe ki kudrat has padegi ho

are mandir ye chup hai are masjid ye gumsum
ibadat thak padegi ho
samay ki lal aandhi kabristan ke raaste
are latpath chalegi ho

are ruk ja re bandhe are thum ja re bandhe ki kudrat has padegi ho

kise kafir kahega kise kayar kahega
teri kab tak chalegi ho
kise kafir kahega kise kayar kahega
teri kab tak chalegi ho

are ruk ja re bandhe are thum ja re bandhe ki kudrat has padegi ho

are mandir ye chup hai are masjid hai gumsum
ibadat thak padegi ho
samay ki lal aandhi kabristan ye raste
are latpath chalegi ho

are ruk ja re bandhe are thum ja re bandhe ki kudrat has padegi ho

are neendein hai jakhmi are sapne hai bhooke
ki karvat phat padegi ho

yeh andhi chot teri Kabhi ki sukh jaati
magar ab pak chalegi

Independent Thoughts!

15th August, 2005

Today is India's Indpendence Day. For the 59th time, we remember all those who played a part in sending the British back home.

Or, what the hell, we just have a long weekend! Sadly, a dry one, unless you plan in advance! And some people make money selling flags!

Well, the scrawny plastic flags say something, I feel. We have plastic flags, 2-sided, but not stuck or moulded together completely, and a used straw holding it. Of all the ways in which flags could be made, this is easily our most typical!

I had the good fortune of watching Mangal Pandey, the Rising, today. The same old melodrama, song and dance, love story, independence story, social reform story, everything rolled into one Bollywood-make 70mm cigarette paper! Heady!


But one train of thought wouldn't go away..

Generations of Indians gave blood and life to see our self-respect restored. They gave their loyalty, land, blood and sweat to the British, and got poverty, disrespect, tears in return, as Mangal proclaims.

Look today. Is there any difference? I don't think so. The ruling class is doing the exact same thing. We pay taxes, obey rules, donate for flood victims and these buggers swallow it all, besides legislating more and more privileges to serve their own ends.

And slowly, the top 5% of India in terms of schooling (I will refrain from using "education") and resources wants to protect itself in a coccoon from the rest. Devil take the hindmost!

At a time when national boundaries are melting (and its in our interest), the concept of nation state is being questioned - we need to redefine independence.

We need economic independence for the people, we need cultural independence (well, culture seems to be difficult to preserve if the stomachs are crying).

If Mangal Pandey was as thick skinned as say Laloo, we would still have been chewing cow fat cartridges, instead of at least getting to cow fat oil for our lousy, unhealthy 'large French Fries' at FcDonalds (Seriously!).

For god's sake, let us refuse this holiday, go to work without pay! That is the least we can do!

Call of the Sea

There he is, my excellent, old friend
By a sandy beach – the Arabian Sea!

My stories of joy & romance he penned
On the crest of a wave he set me.

And always his ear he freely did lend
Whenever the tide was ‘gainst me.

But for your presence my heavenly send
What would I have turned out to be?

Someone with a body that’s really vast
That’s the image of you they keep.

Until, when they realize at last,
That your soul, in fact, is so deep.

So vast, you are that in that majesty
No one can stop to feel how deep.

So strong in body, yet deeper in mind
That’s how I too would like to be!

But for your majesty my heavenly send
What would I have turned out to be?

To me, your surface of vastness and calm
Cannot hide the life, the vitality.

To meditate, to levitate, they say: think of you,
So, in the mind, you are all they see.

In those moments, when they are able to be
Even in mortal existence, closest to Thee!

Just like you to become I intend
Still as a statue, abuzz as a bee.

But for your peace my heavenly send
What would I have turned out to be?

The richness of life in you is so striking
Whence cometh such color and beauty?

The largest, the smallest, the most venomous
Most colorful, most weird – goodness me!

The corals, the pearls, the cucumbers, the plankton
The turtles, the whales – everyone’s from the sea!


Yet, when thy water breaks onto the rocks,
Now and ever, your wrath do we see.

“Rape of the rock” it may justly be called
Did He who made the calm sea make thee?

But for your enigma my heavenly send
What would I have turned out to be?

Often thoughtful, contemplative, troubled, joyless
What a pain to you we must be!

Cribbing and crying, pouring tales of woe,
Are humans like an oil slick to thee?

Or maybe, on my cheek, like does meet like
Salt from the eyes meets salt from the sea.

Happiness or sorrow, if you hadn’t been close,
I would have been completely at sea.

But for your presence, my heavenly send
What would I have turned out to be?

Other than your shores, my unfailing friend
Where would I ever desire to be?