Quote #45

Let’s understand… Let’s do it…

Quote #44

Changing times…

Hope that this stays forever…

First Rains… 2

The cold winds and the water falling from above,

Gets us drenched with a feeling of oneness and love…

Let us all dance and talk and play in this first rain,

Let us keep aside our inhibitions and brain…

Happy Monsoons…

This is what I had written last year, but the experience this year has been completely different.

Waiting at my window sill,

Watch the water droplets drip,

Dancing as if it is a drill,

Love the drop upon my lip…

I am fine no need of a pill,

The winds blow as they whip,

My life is great, no need of a fill,

Get out and love is the tip…

Am trying to write something in a different way. Maybe the poem might not make sense as a whole, but read the alternate lines and they tell a different story. You will find poem in line 1,3,5 and 7 as well as in line 2,4,6 and 8.

Please drop a message telling me if you liked it or suggesting some other ways to do my poems. Always open for love and criticism.

Limerick – 3

The art of mixing sugar, milk and tea

And the art of washing cups, to see

One to be prepared by you

The other be done by me,

Isn’t that what’s called a happy family?

Just a small state of affairs at all homes during lockdown. The otherwise trifle matter of making tea and washing cups have become a point of discussions with the range from how to wash them and which is the right method to wash the.

Making tea is an art. There are two ways practised in India. One add tea to boiling milk or second add milk to boiling tea. Both have their own different tastes, so I consider making tea an art. Even the Japanese would agree with me!🙃

Regarding washing cups being an art, ask the lady of your house, if you havent understand it till now. No one male would have been left without this experience during the lockdown days.

So just laugh and enjoy your tea!!!

रूद्रावतार…

Representational picture

शिवजी ने तीसरी आँख खोल ली है,

कैलास समेत पृथ्वी अब डोलेगी।

मातृभूमि के वीर जवानों ने कल खेली होली है,

अब चीन ही क्या! सारी दुनिया चरण चूमेगी।।

जागो माँ के सपूतों जागो,

समय बीता अब सोने का।

देश के वीर जवानों ने कल जान की बाझी लगा दी,

अब समय आया, हवन कर, अपनी समिधा का।।

राष्ट्र मांग रहा है आज हमसे,

आओ दें हम भी बलिदान।

एक एक इंच इस जमीन को अरिमुक्त करें,

यही है सिंधु संस्कृति की पहचान।।

अपनी माँ को कोई कैसै आँख दिखाए?

हम उस आँख को नोंच लेंगे।

अब ना कोई हमें शांति सिखाए!

हम अपना रास्ता चून लेंगे।।

Dedicated to the 20 Soldiers who sacrificed their life towards their duty towards Motherland India.

I know it might not sound as a perfect poetry, but at the same time would not like to mince my words so have left it as it is without worrying about its metre.

Jai Hind!!!

Haiku – Series 2 #2

Hope, the sole factor

Keeps a person going strong,

And achieve his goals…

The days of Unlock 1.0 are passing by and we can see people rushing to their jobs not only to earn but a zest and enthusiasm of positivity to survive and live.

Quote #43

I just loved this quote. Apt for these testing times.

Poem #26

Today I want to express my gratitude to all my students, past and present who have cooperated with us during all these times. With you all being there has always kept us young and always in the mode of learning.

My Students…

I dont why but I always wanted to be Teacher,

My parents despised this decision in worry of my future,

The idea of learning, all negativity to withstand,

Is the driving force of my passion, hope all understand…

The smiling face of my kids with questions ready,

Thir opening up with their likes, though slow and steady,

Their dislikes too need to be understood and heard,

So that they do not become the part of the herd…

I just love the days that I spend with my students,

Kids they are, facile, not a hint of fraudulence,

They make me noble and drive out my aggresion

For that’s the reason, that am a teacher by profession…

TYSM KIDS…

Am also a proud father of my son as he is my student too. A dedicated boy of this generation who is a normal child and is moulding me to becoming a better dad and a teacher.

World Environment Day

E – Earth

N – Never

V – Vilifies

I – Instead

R – Radiates

O – Openmindedness and

N – Nourishment,

M – Mentors

E – Empathy and

N – Nobility

T – Till eternity

Just tried to make an acrostic today.

Was thinking of what to write about Environment and also preparing for my lectures of Grammer where I chanced upon this idea of making an acrostic.

Wishing you all a very Happy Environment Day.

Just hope that we care for our environment the way we have cared during the last few months and also for years to come!!!

Poem #25

Never Give Up…

It was a day of tensed emotions,

The danger was coming over the ocean.

But the cyclone never hit the mumbai land,

It just caressed Mumbai with a soft hand.

The spirit and zest of her citizens is well known,

It never wavers nor leaves anyone alone.

They take care of every stray kitten and pup,

As they are indomitable and never give up…

Quote #42

HOPE is what we all are living in. Let’s strengthen it. Believe in oneself and God. We both together can do wonders

Poem #24

UNLOCK 1

Lock or unlock

But please dont flock

Is the appeal from the PM…

Run or walk

But please do not talk

Is the new anthem…

Open shops on one side,

And close all on the other,

Is the new diktat of the CM…

Malls, salons and schools wont open,

But Hotels, Restaurants will reopen,

Let us understand the arrangement…

Food clothing and shelter are always the basic needs,

But we all want to educate and make a plant of our seeds,

We never want to understand the natural system…

Veer Savarkar – 3

A birthday of a giant thinker.

A freedom fighter.

A rationalist Hindu to the core.

A person who has been strict and disciplined with himself for life.

A person who loves his Matrubhumi like anything else and would leave everything for Her.

Have already written about this great personality, none other than Savarkar. A basic introduction which I have already given in my preceding blogs yesterday and day before.

Today, we look at this towering personality as a family man.

Son of Damodar and Radhabhai Savarkar (Tatyarao) had three siblings, Ganesh (Babarao), Narayan and a sister, Maina. All dedicated their lives to India.

The relationship Tatyarao shared with Babarao is a guiding light to all the siblings around India today. Babarao, himself, is a freedom fighter and is caught for organising the youth against the British and sent to Kalaa Paani at the Andaman and Nicobar cellular jail. Vinayak also reaches the same jail in a few years for plotting against the British. After a few months, Vinayak finds out that Babarao is in the same jail, he longs to meet him. My readers may think, if they are in the same jail, how come they didn’t meet? Well, the interns of the jail are not allowed to meet each other. Even during lunch time, they are not allowed to talk to each other. But Vinayak, finds out a way and meets his brother during lunch. A conversation takes place with the help of the eyes, and the two brothers are united after a gap of many years.Narayan, the youngest sibling, has taken upon himself, the responsibility of the family, when both his elder brothers are in jail. He has been through many hardships too. It was during the time when Tatyarao was in jail, that his young son passes away. It is then, that Narayan takes care of his sister-in-law and looks after the family.

The Savarkar Brothers

Tatyarao is married to Yamunabai, through whom he has a child, a baby boy. When he hears about the child’s demise, he is pained and it is said that it is during one of these days, he penned the poem “Ne Majshi Ne Parat Matrubhumila”.

ने मजसी ने परत मातृभूमीला सागरा प्राण तळमळला ॥धृ॥
भूमातेच्या चरणतला तुज धूता मी नित्य पाहिला होता
मज वदलासी अन्य देशि चल जाऊ सृष्टिची विविधता पाहू
तैं जननीहृद् विरहशंकितहि झाले परि तुवां वचन तिज दिधले
मार्गज्ञ स्वये मीच पृष्ठि वाहीन त्वरित या परत आणीन
विश्वसलो या तव वचनी मी जगद्नुभवयोगे बनुनी मी
तव अधिक शक्ती उद्धरणी मी येईन त्वरे कथुनि सोडिले तिजला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
शुक पंजरि वा हरिण शिरावा पाशी ही फसगत झाली तैशी
भूविरह कसा सतत साहु या पुढती दशदिशा तमोमय होती
गुणसुमने मी वेचियली या भावे की तिने सुगंधा घ्यावे
जरि उद्धरणी व्यय न तिच्या हो साचा हा व्यर्थ भार विद्येचा
ती आम्रवृक्षवत्सलता रे नवकुसुमयुता त्या सुलता रे
तो बाल गुलाबहि आता रे फुलबाग मला हाय पारखा झाला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
नभि नक्षत्रे बहुत एक परि प्यारा मज भरतभूमिचा तारा
प्रासाद इथे भव्य परी मज भारी आईची झोपडी प्यारी
तिजवीण नको राज्य मज प्रिया साचा वनवास तिच्या जरि वनिचा
भुलविणे व्यर्थ हे आता रे बहु जिवलग गमते चित्ता रे
तुज सरित्पते जी सरिता रे त्वदविरहाची शपथ घालितो तुजला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला
या फेनमिषें हससि निर्दया कैसा का वचन भंगिसी ऐसा
त्वत्स्वामित्वा सांप्रत जी मिरवीते भिनि का आंग्लभूमीते
मन्मातेला अबला म्हणुनि फसवीसी मज विवासनाते देशी
तरि आंग्लभूमी भयभीता रे अबला न माझि ही माता रे
कथिल हे अगस्तिस आता रे जो आचमनी एक क्षणी तुज प्याला ॥
सागरा प्राण तळमळला

The bond shared by this couple is itself divine. When Tatyarao was jailed, Yamunabai visits him. Tatyarao, at that time too, emphatically explains to her, that his service to the motherland comes first. The lady, not only understands, but also promises to help him in his fight.

Will cite an incident about the bonding between the two. When Tatyarao was in jail at Andaman, he was made to extract oil from the coconuts in a very traditional way, manually. He has to shred the coconuts with bare hands. And then using the manual machine, which he had to pull with all his might, (say so as he is very frail by then), extract oil. A work of bullocks is got done from humans. Truly inhumane! When Yamunabai comes to know of this, she is ready to go through the same pain. She herself everyday goes down on her knees and walks towards the Tulsi plant to water it and circumnavigate around it. Now imagine a lady (cannot imagine a man even) enduting this pain, just to be close to her husband. Hats off to the lady!

It is only through such dedication that Savarkar is what Savarkar is today. Nowhere do I want to belittle his own personality, but he is lucky to get such an understanding family which stands by his actions so strongly.

On his birthday, I bow to this great personality and pray to God to give us the intellect and emotions to understand him better and better!

Jai Hind!

Matrubhumi – 11 (Repeat)

Am writing today’s blog in Hindi as it is my national language. That would be my homage to my country. I hope my readers will accept my decision and give me a feedback. Will surely translate and write the translation at the end of my blog for people who do not understand Hindi. Please forgive my grammatical mistakes, if any.

जहाँ डाल-डाल पर सोने की चिड़िया करती है बसेरा
वो भारत देश है मेरा
जहाँ सत्य, अहिंसा और धर्म का पग-पग लगता डेरा
वो भारत देश है मेरा

ये धरती वो जहाँ ऋषि मुनि जपते प्रभु नाम की माला जहाँ हर बालक एक मोहन है और राधा हर एक बाला जहाँ सूरज सबसे पहले आ कर डाले अपना फेरा

वो भारत देश है मेरा

अलबेलों की इस धरती के त्योहार भी हैं अलबेले कहीं दीवाली की जगमग है कहीं हैं होली के मेले जहाँ राग रंग और हँसी खुशी का चारों ओर है घेरा

वो भारत देश है मेरा

जब आसमान से बातें करते मंदिर और शिवाले जहाँ किसी नगर में किसी द्वार पर कोई न ताला डाले प्रेम की बंसी जहाँ बजाता है ये शाम सवेरा

वो भारत देश है मेरा

— राजेंद्र किशन

आज अपनी इस अंतिम पोस्ट में, मैं सिर्फ भारत पर किए गये उपचारों को याद करना चाहूँगा तथा उन उपकार करनेवालों को नमस्कार करना चाहूँगा।

आज के दिन सब से पहले भगवान को कृतज्ञतापूर्वक नमस्कार करता हुं क्यों कि उन्होंने हमें आजादी दिलाई। आप कहेंगे ऐसा क्यों? भगवान ने कौनसी भूमिका निभाई स्वतंत्रता-संग्राम में? किसीको ऐसा भी लगेगा की आप भारतीय लोग हर बात में भगवान को क्यों बीच में ले आते हो? इसलिए इस बात की स्पष्टता पहले कर लें। हां, हम भगवान को हर बात में ले आते हैं क्यों कि उनके बगैर मेरा, आपका या हमारा अस्तित्व ही नहीं! हमारा क्या, इस सृष्टि का अस्तित्व नहीं! और मैं बौद्धिक तौर पर भी इस बात को कह सकता हुं की भगवान ने हमें स्वतंत्रता दिलाई। यद्यपि यह मेरी जो सोच है, वह पांडुरंग शास्त्रीजी आठवले ने बनाई। द्वितीय महायुद्ध में ब्रिटन और उसके साथी देश विजयी हुए। विन्स्टन चर्चिल, जो उस समय ब्रिटन के प्रधान मंत्री थे, उन्होंने अपने जवानों तथा नागरिकों का मनोबल खुब टिकाया एवं बढ़ाया भी। युद्ध के बाद ब्रिटन में तुरंत चुनाव हुए। स्वाभाविक है जिस व्यक्ति ने आपको युद्ध में जीताया है, वही चुनाव में जीत कर आना चाहिए। अपितु हुआ ऐसा की चर्चिल चुनाव हार गए। एटली की लेबर पार्टी सत्ता में आई। वह भारत तथा अन्य देश, जिन पर ब्रिटीश साम्राज्य था, उन्हें स्वतंत्रता देने के पक्षधर थे। जबकि चर्चिल का दृष्टिकोण भारत के बारे में सर्वविदित है। अब ऐसा क्यों हुआ? लोगों का दिमाग किसने घुमाया? तब मैं मानता हुं की भगवान ने घुमाया। कारण समय अब आ गया था जब भारत स्वतंत्र हो तथा दुनिया का मार्गदर्शन करे। (अब क्या वह कर पाया है? यह एक दुसरा प्रश्न है।) इसलिए प्रथम भगवान को कृतज्ञतापूर्वक नमस्कार।

दुसरा नमस्कार उन सभी लोगों को जिन्होंने इस देश की स्वतंत्रता / देश के लिए अपना सबकुछ, यहां तक की अपना जीवन भी, दांव पर लगा दिया। जिन लोगों ने यह नहीं सोचा की उनका खुदका और उनके परिवार का क्या होगा! वाचक मित्रों, आप जरा सोचिए। लड़ाई किसके साथ थी? एक ऐसे साम्राज्य के साथ जिसके क्षितीज पर सूर्य कभी अस्त नहीं होता था। सफलता मिलेगी या नहीं, कोई हमारे बलिदान को याद करेगा या नहीं, कोई प्रकार की अपेक्षा नहीं। बस, स्वतंत्रता के इस महायज्ञ में झोंक दिया अपने आप को। उपर कविता में कही बातों के लिए ही सिर्फ सोचा और उसी के लिए लडे। एक १६/१७ साल का लड़का, खुदिराम बोस, हंसते हंसते सूली पर चढ गया। एक ६५/७० साल के महामानव, लाला लाजपत राय ने हंसते हंसते अंग्रेजों की लाठी झेली और अपनी जान न्यौछावर कर दी। एक ३०/३५ साल का युवा, स्वातंत्र्यवीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर, परिवार की परवाह किए बगैर आंदामानमें ५० साल की एक नहीं अपितु दो-दो सजा मुस्कराकर स्वीकार लेता है। आज भी भगतसिंह, राजगुरु तथा सुखदेव के बलिदान को याद कर सर ऊंचा उठता है। तात्या टोपे, मंगल पांडे, वसुदेव बलवंत फड़के, चंद्रशेखर आजाद, रामप्रसाद बिस्मिल, असफाकउल्लाह खान, लोकमान्य बाल गंगाधर तिलक, बिपीनचंद्र पाल यह सारे नाम सुनकर सीना अभिमान से फुल जाता है। इस सारी लड़ाई में हमारी माताएं-बहनें कहीं पीछे नहीं थी। रानी लक्ष्मीबाई, कित्तुर रानी चेन्नम्मा, कल्पना दत्त, अरूणा आसफ अली और उन जैसी कई महिलाओं ने भी सक्रिय भूमिका निभाई। कितने नाम याद करें और कितने लिखें, इसलिए यहीं रूक कर सभी को कृतज्ञतापूर्वक नमस्कार करता हूं।

तीसरा नमस्कार उस व्यक्तिमत्त्व को जिसने सारे भारत को एक करने हेतु सारे भारत का भ्रमण कीया। उन्हें लोग आधुनिक भारत का चाणक्य कहते हैं। ५०० से ज्यादा रजवाड़ों को समझाकर, प्यार से भारत में सम्मिलित कर लिया। जो समझाने पर नहीं माने, उनको उनकी ही भाषा में समझाकर सम्मिलित किया। यह व्यक्ति ओर कोई नहीं अपितु महात्मा गांधी की बातों पर अडिग तथा अविचल श्रद्धा रखनेवाले सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल। उस समय की कांग्रेस का संगठन अगर मजबूती से खड़ा था, गांधीजी की कही हर बात को उठाने तैयार था, तो उसमें इस एक व्यक्ति का बड़ा कर्त्तृत्व रहा है। इस महामानव को हम भारत रत्न से नवाजे या नहीं, वह भारत मां के सच्चा रत्न है। आज हम उनको श्रद्धा सुमन अर्पित कर सके ऐसा कोई स्थान या समाधि नहीं है, यह बात मन को दुखी कर देती है। आज की पीढ़ी उस व्यक्ति के बलिदान को समझ भी पाएगी या नहीं यह सवाल मन को सताता है। क्या उनके परिवार को आज कोई पहचानता है, यह यक्ष प्रश्न है। उनके परिवार के साथ किया गया बर्ताव किसी भी सभ्य समाज को सोचने पर मजबूर करेगा कि क्या इसलिए आजादी के लिए वह सब लड़े होंगे? उनको अपेक्षा भले ही न रही हो, पर हम देशवासियों का उनके प्रति कुछ कर्तव्य है या नहीं?

पर आज भारत विश्वगुरु तो ठीक अपने गली (आशिया खंड) का भी गुरु कहलाने लायक है? तकनीकी विकास एवं आर्थिक सुदृढ़ीकरण से ही क्या हम यह कर पायेंगे? एक समय था जब विश्व भारत से आध्यात्मिक चेतना पाता था। स्वामी विवेकानंद तथा गुरू अरविंद उसकी चेतना थे। विनोबाजी तथा रविशंकर महाराज (गुजरात) जैसै समाज की भावनाओं को टिकाने और बढ़ाने वाले निस्वार्थ समाजसेवी थे। भारत की चेतना हमेशा से भावनिक एवं आध्यात्मिक रही है। आज हम कहां हैं? इसका मतलब कोई यह न समझे की मैं तकनीकी विकास के खिलाफ हुं। पर सिर्फ उसी एक अंग की तरफ ध्यान देकर भी नहीं चलेगा। भारत का तथा भारतीयोंका विकास सर्वांगीण होना होगा। तभी वह फिर से सोने की चिड़िया कहलायेगा। और इस दिशा में पूरे समाज ने काम करना होगा। व्यक्ति की सोच में परिवर्तन लाना होगा। शिक्षा में से भारत के लिए प्यार और संवेदना जगानी होगी। तभी जाकर उसका परिणाम थोड़े सालों बाद दिखेगा।

हमारे जीवन में राष्ट्रप्रेम और राष्ट्रिय अस्मिता यह दोनों को जगाने की अत्यावश्यकता है। सही इतिहास पढ़ाना होगा। वामपंथी तथा दक्षिणपंथी विचारधाराओं से ऊपर उठकर सोचना होगा, लिखना होगा तथा जीना होगा।
त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥
(कुल के हितार्थ एक का त्याग करना, गाँव के हितार्थ कुल का, देश के हितार्थ गाँव का और आत्म कल्याण के लिए पृथ्वी का त्याग करना चाहिए ।) हमने सभी ने अपने कुल, गांव, राज्य से ऊपर उठकर सोचना होगा। अपने मान-सम्मान, जय-पराजय, बड़ा-छोटा इन बातों में से निकलकर हर एक व्यक्ति की बात सुननी होगी। किसके मुंह से कौनसी अच्छी बात कब भगवान बुलवा दे, क्या मालूम!

मां भारती के हित को सर्वोपरि मान सब ने साथ मिलकर निर्णय लेने होंगे।हमारी संविधान सभा ने, हम सब अपने मतभेदों के बावजूद, साथ काम कर सकते हैं, इसका उत्तम उदाहरण हमारे सामने रखा है। हर एक व्यक्ति को जब लगेगा की यह देश मेरा है और इसको सही ढंग से चलाना, संभालना, आगे ले जाना यह मेरी जिम्मेदारी है तभी भारत जनतंत्र होगा। जब हरेक व्यक्ति अपनी राष्ट्र के प्रति जिम्मेदारी समझेगा तभी हमें सच्चे अर्थ में स्वतंत्रता प्राप्त होगी।

इसे करने के लिए हमने भारत भ्रमण करना होगा। भारत के कोने-कोने में जाना होगा। लोगों से यत्किंचीत स्वार्थ के बगैर जुड़ना होगा। लोगों में सोयी भावनिकता तथा आध्यात्मिकता को प्यार से जगाना होगा। तभी राष्ट्रीय चेतना का उदय होगा। तभी भारत महान बनेगा।

हम यह सब न कर सकें तो कम से कम जो यह काम कर रहे हैं, उनके प्रयत्नों में उपयोगी बनें। वह भी न कर पायें तो कम से कम उन प्रयत्नों की सराहना करें। और कुछ नहीं तो उनके काम में रोड़े तो न डालें।

मेरे वाचकों से भी नम्र विनंती है की कुछ छोटी छोटी बातें हम भी अपने जीवन में लाने की कोशिश करें तो वह भी बड़ी देशसेवा होगी। जैसे

१ गाड़ी चलाते वक्त सिग्नल न तोड़ना तथा अपने मोबाइल पर बात न करना।

२ अपने आपको निरोगी रखना। स्वस्थ नागरिक राष्ट्र की संपत्ति है।

३ हर साल अपने घर में अथवा आसपास के परिसर में एक पौधा लगाना और उसकी अच्छी तरह से देखभाल करना।

४ अपने घर के आसपास का परिसर साफ व स्वच्छ रखना।

५ प्लास्टिक का उपयोग टालना।

ऐसी ओर कई बातें हो सकती है, जो वाचक खुद तय कर सकते हैं और अपने जीवन में लाने की कोशिश कर सकते हैं। आओ हम सब मिलकर इतना भी कर सकें तो राष्ट्रदेवता जरूर खुश होंगी और हमें अपना बहुमूल्य आशिर्वाद प्रदान करेंगी।

भारत माता की जय।

वन्दे मातरम।

English Translation

Today, in this last post of this series, i would like to remember those who have showered favours on India and express my gratefulness towards them

I first bow down to God as He is the one who got India, Her independence. You, my reader, may ask me, How come God gave India independence? What was His role in it? How come you Indians always get God involved in everything? On the onset let us clarify this point as such. Yes, God is always a part of my writings and our Indian thought cause we believe that we exist because of him. Not only us but the whole creation exists because of Him. And yes I can logically prove that India got independence according to His wishes. Also at this point I should clarify that this thought has been imbibed in me by Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale. The World War II ended on a victorious note for Great Britain and it’s allies. Winston Churchill, the then prime minister, had led his country to victory through one of the toughest wars. It was he who has given the world the sign of Victory as “V”. He had kept up the high morale of the British troops and citizens during the war. The elections were due that same year and after this victory Churchill coming back to power was a foregone conclusion. But the results were surprising. Labour party with Clement Atlee as its head came to power. Labour was of the view of granting independence to British colonies including India. Winston Churchill’s idea and arrogance about India and Indians is well known to us by now. Now how did this happen? How did the electorate change its mind? I feel that God must have changed their minds. God had his own expectations from India, that let Her be free and guide the world over. (Has She been successful in living upto His expectations? is another question). Thus I first bow down to God.

I secondly bow down to the people who left their careers, families and laid down their lives for the independence of our country. My young readers in today’s times, it is difficult for us to imagine the situation or the battle at that time. Whom were we fighting against? A nation on whom the sun never set. Yet these people (freedom fighters) just selflessly offered themselves to the country without expecting. anything in return. Neither success, nor an expectation from Indians to remember their sacrifice. They just jumped into the burning fire of the independence struggle. A 16/17 year kid, Khudiram Bose, went to the gallows with a smile on his face. One 65/70 year man, Lala Lajpat Rai accepted the brunt of the English batons and gave up his life. A youth of an age of 30/35, Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar, accepted a two 50 year sentence in jail with a question “Will British Raj rule India for that much time?”. Our heads are held high even today while taking the names of Bhagatsingh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for their supreme sacrifice. Tatya Tope, Mangalore Pandey, Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Chandrasekhar Azad, Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipinchandra Pal, these and many other names make us feel a sense of pride. Let us also not forget the women power of India. Their participation too was to the fullest. Rani Laxmibai, Kittur Rani Chenamma, Kalpana Dutt, Aruna Asaf Ali and many such brave women participated actively in this fight. We can go on and on with these names, but we will just pause here and now bow down to all the known and unknown freedom fighters.

Thirdly I bow down to the person who unified India, as it exists now, and for that he travelled to every nook and corner of India. He is called the Chanakya of Modern India. He integrated more than 500 big and small kingdoms into India with love and understanding and persuasion. Those which could not be pursuaded through understanding and love were then integrated in the way and language they understood well. The person is none other than, the most ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. If Congress was strong then, ready to listen to and follow the Gandhian way, it was because of Vallabhbhai Patel who went around meeting person to person, village to village, city to city to propogate the ideas and ideals of Congress then. It does not matter whether we honour this great man with Bharat Ratna (the highest civilian honour in India), but he is truly a gem produced by Mother India. It is with utmost sadness, I have to say that we do not have a place or samadhi where we can pay our respects to this great son of India. Will we be able to understand the sacrifices this man has made? is a question that I leave to my reader to ponder over. Does India know the living generations of his family? The behaviour / treatment with the family of this great martyr makes one think, that did we fight for this? He did not have any expectations, agreed. But the question is that do we have any responsibility towards people like Sardar?

But where does Bharat stand today in the world? Are we the torch bearers of humanity for the world? Will only technological development and strong economic policy make us one? There was a time when the world recognised Bharat for its spiritual doctrines and borrowed from them. Swami Vivekanand and Gurudev Aurobind were it’s guiding light. We had selfless social workers in Vinoba Bhave and Ravishankar Maharaj (Gujarat) who tirelessly worked towards the betterment of the society as a whole. Where are we today? Lest someone understand am against technological development, let me clarify that am not. But only technological development is not going us to lead unto overall development. Don’t we feel that we are taking care of just one part of the developmental process and ignoring others? We, Bharatiyas will have to think holistically. That will help us regain our prosperity and respect. We will have to change the way we think. Will have to imbibe love and emotions for our country through our education system. If we do this today, then we will be able to see it’s fruits a few years later, cause change is slow.

Today we need to inculcate one’s love for his country and the pride of being an Bharatiya amongst all of us. We will have to study our true history for this. We will have to come out of the dogmas of left wingers and right wingers and think; write in that manner and live what we write and demonstrate. . त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥ (For the good of many, we will have to leave out one. For the good of the village we will have to leave out many. For the good of our country we will have to leave our village. And for self development and realisation, leave this worldly pleasures) We all have to rise above the narrow mindedness of selfishness, victory and listen to each and every citizen of India. We do not know, who will be guided by the God’s to suggest or speak the truth!

We will have to take all our decisions keeping Bharat and Her greatness in mind. We have done this before. The best example is our constituent assembly consisting of people coming from different areas, thoughts and leanings. Yet, for India, they all discussed, argued, debated and made unanimous decisions. Every person should know that it is his responsibility, our responsibility to run this country in a proper manner. To take care of it and to carry it forward on the path of progress is my responsibility, our responsibility. The day realise this and able to do this, will be the day when we will be democratic and independent in its true sense.

And for this, we will have to reach out to every nook and corner of Bharat. Reach out selflessly to each and every Bharatiya and develop a relationship based on love for our country. Will have to rekindle the fire of Spirituality with love and affection. That will be the rise of true nationalism. From that day onwards, India will again be a true torch bearer of humanity.

My readers, if we are unable to do this, let us all be helpful to people who are into it. If not helpful, let us appreciate the people who are doing it. Atleast let us not be thorn in their paths.

Lastly a small request to all my readers. Let us all try and inculcate some small things in our lives and try to contribute in the development of Bharat. Following are a few suggestions:

1. Not to break a red signal or talk on mobile phone while driving.

2. Keep ourselves healthy. A healthy person is an asset to his country.

3. Plant a small plant every year in your house or in your surroundings and take care of it around the year.

4. Keep your surrounding clean.

5. Avoid using plastic.

These are just a few suggestions. You can add / make yours and try to follow them. Let us all pledge to contribute to Bharat in our own small ways, then our Bharatmata would be happy and would also bless us with Her most valuable blessings.

Bharat Mata ki Jay.

Vande Mataram.

Matrubhumi – 8 (Repeat)

दोग्ध्री धेनुर्वोढानड्वानाशुः सप्तिः

The next part of the mantra asks for milch giving cattle, and cattle which can lift heavy weights. It also asks for fast running horses. Both are very important for an agro-based economy. Indians have very well recognised the importance of these animals long back.

This task of Animal Husbandry and Farming was entrusted to a class of people known as the Vaishyas. As Shreemad Bhagwadgeeta says, “कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम्” (Agriculture, Cattle farming and business are the actions, karma that a Vaishya has to perform).

Rishi Kashyap with the help of such God loving and God centric Vaishyas has taken care of this mother Earth, when Brahmins and Kshatriya’s failed to do so. It is a long story which needs multiple blogs to be told, so if anyone is interested to know about it should read characters of Rishi Kashyap and Parshuram as explained by Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale in his lectures summarised in a book called Rishi Smaran and Dashavataar. Due to the huge work of the Rishi Kashyap and the Vaishyas, our mother Earth is also named as ‘KAASHYAPI‘ and ‘URVI‘.

‘Kaashyapi’ due to the efforts of Rishi Kashyap. He is the Father of the Indian soil. He holds a special place in our lives. During our rituals, Gotra-uccharan (repeating the name of the Gotra one is born in) is of utmost importance. Gotra means lineage or blood line as we call it nowadays. We Indians believe that we all have our common roots and we belong from the lineage of Sapt Rishis, the seven sages, who made a huge contribution towards buildings our civilisation, culture and society. During these many years many of us have forgotten our Gotra’s. Now being an integral part of our life it is a must to know our Gotra. Shouldn’t we know our ancestors and our lineage? Yet if someone forgets, he/she is considered from the Kashyap Gotra and made to say so ‘Kashyap Gotrotapannoham” (कश्यप गोत्रोत्पन्नोहम् – I belong to the lineage of Kashyap) in all the rituals whenever and wherever required. Today, there has been a huge scientific research related to DNA and Chromosomes, and if anyone is interested can research and find it out from the many information already available on the internet.

‘Urvi’ as She has been uplifted by the Vaishyas. In the Purush Sukta, where the Almighty has been described as creator of the Universe, one of the verses describes thus. “राजन्य: कृत: ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखामासीद्वाहू। ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत॥” (“The Brahmins originate from His Mukha (mouth), the Kshatriya’s from His Bahu (shoulder), the Vaishyas from His URU (thighs) and the Shudras from His PAADA (Feet)”. The Vaishyas come from His Uru and thus the name URVI.

While quoting this above shloka there has been a lot of misunderstanding that the caste system originates from this. And the Brahmins have put themselves at the topmost ladder in the hierarchy. But the thing is that while equating every Varna with the different body parts of the Almighty, the important thing is that they belong to the same Almighty.

At this point, the question I like to ask my readers is that whether your mouth is more important than your shoulders or legs? I think it is these different organs that make us an individual. Every part of the body has its own role and significance. Every part is as important as the other. In the same way, every Varna (caste) is distinct and equally important. No one is big or small, more pious or less. Every Varna (caste) is equal.

The fourth pillar of our society is as important as the first. Shudra’s (and not Kshudra) are the people who provide the basic necessities to the whole human race. In today’s world we call them the service providers. And today we all know and accept their importance in our lives. Yes, during the course of our history, the Shudra’s have been trampled upon and subjugated to different types of tortures from the other 3 Varna’s. And the 3 Varna’s need to correct themselves and apologise to them and take due care of each others sentiments.

But, can we imagine a society without cloth makers, shoe makers, jewellers and all such people who not only provide us our basic necessities but also take care of our needs? And if they are so important to us, how can they be outcastes or untouchables? People living in cities, can you imagine your plight when the regular waste/garbage picker does not come to collect your house waste or society waste. We all start cribbing. Then how can he/she be small? Work doesn’t make anyone small or big, does it? Rather I would say that they are the first people, whom we should be grateful to, as they are the ones who clean our houses by taking away the wastes/garbage and helping us create a pollution free environment in our houses and society at large.

After reading my last 3 blogs, my reader might find my writings as a thing of the past or too conservative. But I appeal to you to apply your minds and brain to the things I have shared. We all agree that we don’t want the caste system as it exists today which discriminates amongst humans. But the whole society is made up by its Intelligentsia (Brahmins), Army (Kshatriyas), Economists (Vaishyas) and Service Providers (Shudras). It exists and maybe known to us by different names but it does exist. At the same time, let us understand that every new born has / should have the right to decide, regarding what he/she wants to do.

These four pillars make our country and I bow to each of them for their contributions towards the society.

Next the Rishi asks for पुरन्धिर् .

What does this mean?

A very integral part of our society, the women who can administer, rule and run a kingdom.Coming up tommorrow…

6 word story#9

System rebooted, virus cleared, new world...

After many days, heard of some activity at the national level and a little excited, a little apprehensive. But everyone would be in such circumstances! A whole new world… How the perspective has changed in a few days!…

Mother’s Day – 2

We live in the land of मातृ देवो भव। (my Mother is God).

The land which venerates even the rivers and cows as Mother. “Maa Ganga” and “Gau Mata”. Even “Bharat Mata”. People laugh when they hear this. But its natural to equate them to a mother. As a mother selflessly looks after the well being of her child, so do they. As Bhagwaan Ram says,

जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ।

(My mother, my motherland is greater then even the heavens)

So we Indians consider many things around us as our Mother, but today we celebrate our Mother’s at home.

We celebrate the sacrifices she has made for us.

We celebrate the warmth she has given.

We celebrate the efforts she has taken to keep the family together.

We celebrate the ideal of selfless love and selfless work.

Mother is the one who shapes her child’s future. That does not absolve the fathers of their duty. But Mother is someone with whom the child spends most of the day. She takes care of all the needs, likes-dislikes of her kids and trains then to become better humans. The child needs too understands this. And it is out of this respect and adoration, the child bows down to the mother. We dont need to train our kids, the kids learn by seeing what their elders do. And amongst them; firstly what their mothers do! Again I should clarify that it does not absolve the father from his responsibilities. Both are equally important and play a big role in shaping their child’s life.

But

Mother is a mother,

every other relations seems another…

I would like to share a very personal experience from my childhood days. I very clearly remember that in school, when I was in STD 8th, took part in a tableau competition… Was to play the announcer… Being a Gujarati and studying in a convent has its own problems… Pronunciations play a major part… I still remember my teacher sitting besides me to work on my pronunciations… I was not getting one word right, ‘Mother’… She must have worked on it for hours and got to make me pronounce it right… I was very annoyed at that age. Why is she doing this with me? What difference does it make?… I realised it later when we won and stood first in the competition just by 1/2 a mark and the judges appreciating my pronunciations… That was the material gain… But just a few years back I realised it’s spiritual importance, which cannot be expressed in words.

Even today in these days of the lockdown, the only place open for work is the kitchen. She rules over it royally. Her command over not only the kitchen, but the whole house is something we all need to realise and appreciate.

A house of 4 walls becomes a home due to the mother!

A mother is not only the head of the house, but is the heart of the house

And a mother is the best companion in life!

So on this day we remember the mothers around the world and bow down to them with adoration and respect!

Let us remember, every day is a Mother’s day!

Wishing you all, my readers and your mother’s a very Happy Mother’s Day.Let’s give Her the best She deserves!

PS : pls read my older post on Mother the link to which I provide herewith : https://ameetkothari.wordpress.com/2019/08/29/matrudin/

Indian Forces salute the Corona Warriors…

In an unprecedented move, the tri-forces of the Indian Military Service, saluted the Corona Warriors all over India by showering petals, fly pasts and small gifts. For the first time, the three chiefs of Army, Navy and Airforce went to the Police memorial and paid their respects to the Police personnel who are guarding India, within. A rare moment of history now collected in pitcures…