Cold 'n' Hot

Overhead lights, in the fifth floor ladies' washroom, in the NDTV building

Pashemaani / A Sense of Regret

Main ye soch kar uske dar se uttha tha
Ki woh rok legi, manaa legi mujhko,

Hawaaon mein lehraata aata tha daaman
Ki daaman pakaD kar bittha legi mujhko,

Kadam aise andaaz se utth rahe thay
Ki aawaaz dekar bula legi mujhko,

Magar usne roka na mujhko manaaya
Na daaman hi pakDa na mujhko bitthaaya,

Na aawaaz hi di, na waapas bulaaya
Main aahista-aahista baDhta hi aaya,

Yahaan tak ki usse juda ho gaya main.

- Kaifi Azmi

Hausla / Courage

Tu khursheed hai, baadalon mein na chhup
Tu mehtaab hai, jagmagaana na chhoD

Tu shokhi hai shokhi, riaayat na kar
Tu bijli hai bijli, jalaana na chhoD

Abhi ishq ne haar maani nahin
Abhi ishq ko aazmaana na chhoD

- Kaifi Azmi


You are the sun, don't hide in the clouds
You are the moon, continue to shine.

You are mischievous seduction, don't let it subside
You are the lightning, continue to strike.

Love has not yet admitted defeat
Continue to test it, as much as you like.

Translation by Pavan K. Varma

Taj Mahal

In the wake of the recent mania concerning making The Taj part of the new Seven Wonders of the World - and, the fact that all Indian television and radio channels, and mobile phone operators are making tonnes of money with this - here's something from Sahir Ludhianvi:

taaj tere liye ik mazahar-e-ulfat hi sahi
tum ko is vaadi-e-rangeen se aqeedat hi sahi

[mazahar-e-ulfat = symbol of love; vaadi-e-rangeen = beautiful spot; aqeedat = respect/preference]

mere mehboob kaheen aur mila kar mujh se!

bazm-e-shaahi mein gareebon ka guzar kya maanee
sabt jis raah pe ho.n satavat-e-shaahi ke nishaan
us pe ulfat bhari ruuho.n kaa safar kya maani

[bazm-e-shaahi = royal court; sabt = etched]
[satavat-e-shaahi = royal grandeur; ulfat bhari ruuh = lovers]

meri mehboob pas-e-pardaa-e-tashheer-e-vafaa
tu ne satavat ke nishaano.n ko to dekha hota
murdaa shaaho.n ke maqaabir se bahalevaalee
apne taareek makaano.n ko to dekhaa hotaa

[pas-e-pardaa-e-tashheer-e-vafaa = behind the veil of this advertisement of faith/love] [satavat = wealth/grandeur; maqaabir (maqabaraa) = tomb; taareek = dark]

anaginat logo.n ne duniya mein mohabbat ki hai
kaun kehta hai ki saadiq na the jazbe un ke
lekin un ke liye tashheer ka saamaan nahin
kyun ke vo log bhi apni hi tarah mufalis the

[saadiq = true; tashheer = advertisement; mufalis = poor]

ye imaaraat-o-maqaabir ye faseele.n, ye hisaar
mutal-qulhukm shehenshaaho.n ki azamat ke sutuu.n
daaman-e-dahar pe us rang ki gulakaari hai
jis mein shaamil hai tere aur mere ajadaad kaa khoon

[hisaar = forts; mutal-qulhukm = unthinking/arrogant; azamat = greatness; sutuu.n = symbol]
[daaman-e-dahar = on the face of this world; gulakaari = flowers and vines; ajadaad = ancestors]

meri mehboob! unhein bhi to mohabbat hogi
jinki sannai ne bakhshi hai ise shakl-e-jameel
un ke pyaaron ke maqaabir rahe benaam-o-namuud
aaj tak un pe jalaayi na kisi ne qandeel

[sannai = artistry; shakl-e-jameel = beautiful form]
[benaam-o-namuud = without name or even a trace; qandeel = candle]

ye chamanzaar ye jamuna ka kinara ye mahal
ye munaqqash dar-o-deevaar, ye meheraab ye taaq
ik shehenshaah ne daulat ka sahara le kar
ham gareebo.n ki mohabbat ka udaayaa hai mazaak

[chamanzaar = garden; munaqqash = picturesque]

mere mehaboob kahin aur mila kar mujhse!

A new start...

...again.

Though, today's the 26th day of the new start.

Whether Flowers Bloom or Not

Whether flowers bloom or not

it’s spring today

On the paved footpath

with feet dipped in stone

a rather wooden tree

laughs out loud

chest bursting with fresh green leaves

Whether flowers bloom or not

it’s spring today.

The days of masking the sun

and then unmasking it

of laying people down in the lap of death

of picking them up again

those days that have passed this way

let them not return

That lad of many voices

who for a coin or two

would chirp like a koel down the street

in the ceremonial yellow of twilight

— those days have taken him away

With the sky like a red and yellow wedding invitation

on her head

clasping the railing to her breast

a dark and ugly unwed girl down this alley

played with such idle thoughts

Right then

there fluttered in, shamelessly, right onto her body,

oh damnation! A stupid, awful, foolish butterfly!*

Then the sound of a door slamming shut.

Hiding his face in the dark

that sinewy tree

was still laughing.

- Subhas Mukhopadhyay

Together

"Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source of human offspring." - John Milton

"Marriage is like pi - natural, irrational, and very important." - Lisa Hoffman

"A wedding is a start of togetherness... of walks in the rain, basking in the sunshine, shared meals, caring for one another, and sensing the love that a marriage carries." - Unknown

new, new! :)

Shall put up better pictures of the new house when it's all pretty, and ready to be photographed. :)

Ranjan Yumnam?

My blog counter tells me that one of the Top 40 keywords used was Ranjan Yumnam.
I wonder if this is the same Mr. Yumnam...

aur aur apna

jis'e paakar lag'e
ki apne ko paa liya
samajhna wo apna hai.
aur jis'e paakar
lag'e ki apne ko
kho diya,
samajhna wo aur bhi
apna hai.

Here's to you, sweetie. :)
...just another 27 days to go.

:)

One very, very nice poem here.

Photos

On the Beach in Puri

Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Fireflower Tree

India Gate

Aao Ki Koi Khwaab Bunein... - Sahir Ludhianvi

aao ki koi khhwaab bunein kal ke vaaste
varnaa ye raat aaj ke sangeen daur ki
Das legi jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil
ta'umr phir na koi haseen khwaab bun sakein

[bunein = to weave; sangeen daur = difficult times]
[Das legi = will bite; ta'umr = entire life]

go hum se bhaagti rahi ye tez-gaam umr
khwaabon ke aasare pe kaTi hai tamaam umr

[tez-gaam = fleet-footed]

zulfon ke khwaab, honThon ke khwaab, aur badan ke khwaab
meraaj-e-fan ke khwaab, kamaal-e-sukhan ke khwaab

[meraaj-e-fan = (to reach) summit of art; kamaal-e-sukhan = perfection in poetry]

tehzeeb-e-zindagi ke, farog-e-vatan ke khwaab
zindaan ke khwaab, kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan ke khwaab

[tehzeeb-e-zindagi = civilized life; farog-e-vatan = nation's upliftment]
[zindaan = prison; kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan = road leading to the gallows]

ye khwaab hi to apni jawaani ke paas thay
ye khwaab hi to apne amal ke asaas thay
ye khwaab mar gaye hain to be-rang hai hayaat
yoon hai ki jaise dast-e-tah-e-sang hai hayaat

[amal = work; asaas = foundation; hayaat = life]
[dast-e-tah-e-sang = hands crushed under a stone/helpless]

aao ki koi khwaab bunein kal ke vaaste
varna ye raat aaj ke sangeen daur ki
Das legi jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil
ta'umr phir na koi haseen khwaab bun sakein

Meri Teri Nigaah Mein... - Faiz Ahmed Faiz

meri teri nigaah mein jo laakh intezaar hain
jo mere tere tan badan mein laakh dil fiGaar hain
jo meri teri ungaliyon ki behisii se sab qalam nazaar hain
jo mere tere sheher ki har ik gali mein mere tere naqsh-e-paaa ke be-nishaan mazaar hain
jo meri teri raat ke sitaare zakhm zakhm hain
jo meri teri subah ke gulaab chaak chaak hain
ye zakhm saare be-davaa ye chaak saare be-rafuu
kisi pe raakh chaand ki kisi pe os ka lahu
ye hain bhi yaa nahin bataa
ye hai ki mehez jaal hai
mere tumhaare ankabuut-e-vehem ka buna hua
jo hai to is ka kya karein
nahin hai to bhi kya karein
bataa, bataa, bataa, bataa

Another perspective...

...heard a better one?

Kalia naag
dwaapar mein hi
amreeka migrate kar gaye
aur khol baithe
Coke aur Pepsi naam se
do dukaan…

Kalyug mein lagey
duniya bhar mein bechney
apna samaan...

Kahin botal mein
toh kaheen cans mein
ek nashey saa
ghul chalaa
zahreeli gas
aur shakkar kaa
paani mein
uthta hua unmaad prem jwaar…

Kitnaa bhi manaa
karein daaktar,
bhalaa bachhey
bhi maanaa kartey hainge
baDon ki sunkar?

Aur Sachin Shahrukh
Kareena ki sunenge
Ya aapki??!!
Unkey aagey naa chali
kisi ke baap ki…

Kaliyaa khush…
ab batlaao
Kishan maharaaj
tum kabhi gandhi
kabhi Mandela aur
Martin Luther King
bankar
in firangiyon ko
sunaaogey
Bhagvad Geeta
ka chakkar?

Mama Kamsa inka
nanha sa
munna sa
masoom sa
poorvaj tha

Kitney nadaan ho tum
usse markar
khud ko
khuda samajh baithey

Mujhe bhagakar
Radha par lota paani lekar
chardh baithe!!!

Ab meri khoob chalti
hai yahaan
khoob baandha hai
gopiyon ne samaa

Tumney diya tha
vardaan
so kabhi
maharshi to kabhi bankar
bhagwaan
kabhi Atlanta to kabhi Oregon
khoob kartaa hoon tumharey
bakwaas ka bakhaan…

Itnaa baDaa hai
inke paap ki fehrist
kaa naap
ki kai Mahabharat
gyan dete reh jaayenge aap

Aur abhi kal hi
ki baat hai
merey products mein
zahar ki maatra kuchh
baRdh si gayee
tum toh jaantey ho
dhande mein yeh koi
bhalaa baat hai nayi?

So saara maal
Mahim ke paikhaanon mein
diya daal
aur socha saara paap tumharey
sir mardh kar
mukhya mantri ban
bhaashan doonga
kisi manch par chardhkar
kahoonga prakritik aapda hai
jissey nibatney ko hum hain
kab se tayyaar
aakhir humein jantaaa se jo hai pyaar…

Lekin dekho toh hindustaniyon kaa khel !
Kattar Hindu mandirwaadi
aur lashkar ke aatankiyon mein
fauran ho gayaa mel!!

Meetha ho gayaa hai
samudra kaa jal,
tumharey karishmon ke kya kehney
tum ab samudra mein bankar jal
Mumbaikaron ke bankar hal
lagey ho Mahim ke gutter mein bahne!!
Dhanya ho tum…Allah ho akbar!

Aur Khushi se jhoom uthey hain
Siddhi vinayaayak
agar Mahim kaa garal ban saktaa hai jal
to kyon naa dhoodh peeyein wo
Kya hua agar karordon bachhon ko
nahin hai doodh naseeb
Mahim creek to hai bilkul nazdeek
Ek nadee see bhi bahti hai wahaan
dekho to vidambnaa
ya yoon kahein kaal kaa
yaani tumharaa hi khel
naam hai nadee kaa Mitthi…
baardh mein bhi kal
jismein beh rahee thee laashein
mootra aur mal !!!

BaRe prem se diyaa tha tumney
mujhe desh nikaala...
par dekar mujhhey abhishapt jeevan se mukti
lautaa kar mera swabhimaan
arey madhavkantji
aap mere sar per chardh kar naache
phir bhar diyaa mujhmein vish...

Yugon tak chalega ye khel
kaun kisko nikaaltaa hai
kaun kar saktaa hai tai

Tumhein khushfahmi ki
tum ho savera

Mujhe koi gurez nahin
bankar naapaak raaton ka andheraa

Kaliya hoon main
koi saadhaaran saanp nahin
mere kuchley huye
sahasra phunon ka
har kshan denaa hai hisaab…

Avtaar bankar kabhi kabhi aaooge,
aur mere moh se iss qaynaat ko
bachaaogey?

Kitney nadaan ho tum balgopal
maraa karein duryodhan dusaashan
agar tum pavitra savera ho
aur chalaa kartey ho daal daal
chalta hoon paat paat main bhi
bankar kamsin randee si raat

Waqt hain hum, bhai
main Kaliya hoon
tum Krishna
agar hum mil jaatey
to inn goron par raaj kar paatey...
par hum to satya aur asatya bankar
aadhyatam kaa bakhaan kartey hain
ek haath se daan detey hain
doosrey se rishwat letey hain

Chalo chhordo bahut kos liya tumko
sir par chardh kar mere
naachey jo thay tum
bhagwaan ho jaankar bhi
ek adnaa se saanp ko jeet kar
khushi manaana theek nahin...

Shaam ko ghar aao
sunahree Scotch piyenge
kaali Coke yaa pepsi nahin
tai karenge raasta aagey kaa

Jaan lo ki jab aadhi duniya jaagegi
to aadhee hi soyegi

Naag hoon main Kanha
Kalia Naag...
dansh meri pravritti hai,
dansh meri prakriti hai
dansh mujhmein hai tumhara hi ansh…
to kyon nahin saath jeete...

Tum Krishnaang sukarmavaadi
main kaliya naag
paryaay kukarmon kaa...
kaaley to hum donon hain
phir bair kaisa
aapas mein baant lenge
tumhaara hi dikhayaa huaa karmaphal
in goron ko akrmanya banaa kar
sabhyata ke koordey daan mein daalkar
aao naa wo waqt laayein
jismein naa ujaala ho daag daag
naa raaton kaa koi kamsin jashna
kisi firangi rudheevadee
sangeen ke darr se
tham jaaye…

- Nilendu Sen

"La vita e bella; la vita e amore"

"I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes - and the stars through his soul." - Victor Hugo

"Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly." - Rose Franken

"Love is my religion - I could die for that." - John Keats

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Lucy Van Pelt

"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be." - Robert Browning

"People who are sensible about love are incapable of it." - Douglas Yates

15th of August, 2006 - "the step before the next"

My true-love hath my heart, and I have his,
By just exchange one for another given:
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,
There never was a better bargain driven:
My true-love hath my heart, and I have his.

His heart in me keeps him and me in one,
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:
He loves my heart, for once it was his own,
I cherish his because in me it bides:
My true-love hath my heart, and I have his.

- Sir Philip Sidney

Of Gulzar and a few of my favourite songs...

Got work to do, and can think of nothing else to write...
Hence, some random lyrics...
All three, my favourites...
All three, written by Gulzar...

1)
Tum Pukar Lo Tumhara Intezaar Hai...
Film: Khamoshi

Tum pukar lo, tumhara intezaar hai, tum pukar lo...
Khwaab chun rahi hai raat, beqarar hai...
Tumhara intezaar hai, tum pukar lo...

(Honth pe liye hue dil ki baat ham...
Jaagte rahenge aur kitni raat ham...) -2
Muqtasar si baat hai tum se pyaar hai...
Tumhara intezaar hai, tum pukar lo...

(Dil bahal to jaayega is khayal se...
Haal mil gaya tumhara apne haal se...) -2
Raat ye qaraar ki beqarar hai...
Tumhara intezaar hai...


2)
Humne Dekhi Hai Unn Aankhon Ki...
Film: Khamoshi

Hamne dekhi hai, unn aankhon ki mahakati khushboo...
Haath se chhuke ise, rishton ka ilzaam na do...
Sirf ehasaas hai ye,  rooh se mehsoos karo...
Pyaar ko pyaar hi rehene do, koi naam na do...

Hamne dekhi hai, unn aankhon ki mahakati khushboo...
Haath se chhuke ise, rishton ka ilzaam na do...
Hamne dekhi hai...

Pyaar koi bol nahin, pyaar aawaaz nahin...
Ek khamoshi hai, sunti hain kaha karti hai...
Na ye bujhti hai, na rukti hai, n thehari hai kahin...
Noor ki boond hai, sadiyon se bahaa karti hai...

Sirf ehasaas hai ye,  rooh se mehsoos karo...
Pyaar ko pyaar hi rehene do, koi naam na do...

Hamne dekhi hai, unn aankhon ki mahakati khushboo...
Haath se chhuke ise, rishton ka ilzaam na do...
Hamne dekhi hai...

Muskurahat si khili rehti hai aankhon mein kahin...
Aur palakon pe ujaale se jhuke rehte hain...
Honthh kuchh kehte nahin, kaanpate honthhon pe magar...
Itne khamosh se afsaane ruke rehte hain...

Sirf ehasaas hai ye,  rooh se mehsoos karo...
Pyaar ko pyaar hi rehene do, koi naam na do...

Hamne dekhi hai, unn aankhon ki mahakati khushboo...
Haath se chhuke ise, rishton ka ilzaam na do...
Hamne dekhi hai...


3)
Meri Jaan Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho...
Film: Anubhav

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan...
Meri jaan, meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan...
meri jaan, meri jaan...

(Jaan na kaho anjaan mujhe...
jaan kahaan rehti hai sadaa...) - 2
Anjaane, kya jaane...
Jaan ke jaaye kaun bhala...

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan...
Meri jaan, meri jaan...

(Sookhe saawan baras gaye...
Kitni baar in aankhon se...) - 2
Do boondein na barse...
In bheegi palkon se...

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan...
Meri jaan, meri jaan...

(Honth jhuke jab honthon par...
Saans uljhi ho saanson mein...) - 2
Do judwaan honthon ki...
Baat kaho aankhon se...

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan...
Meri jaan, meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan...
Meri jaan, meri jaan...

...Aaa-nd, we're back!

:)
See you soon.

I Believe in You - Don Williams

I don't believe in superstars,
Organic food and foreign cars.
I don't believe the price of gold;
The certainty of growing old.
That right is right and left is wrong,
That north and south can't get along.
That east is east and west is west.
And being first is always best.

But I believe in love.
I believe in babies.
I believe in Mom and Dad.
And I believe in you.

Well, I don't believe that heaven waits,
For only those who congregate.
I like to think of God as love:
He's down below, He's up above.
He's watching people everywhere.
He knows who does and doesn't care.
And I'm an ordinary man,
Sometimes I wonder who I am.

But I believe in love.
I believe in music.
I believe in magic.
And I believe in you.

Well, I know with all my certainty,
What's going on with you and me,
Is a good thing.
It's true, I believe in you.

I don't believe virginity,
Is as common as it used to be.
In working days and sleeping nights,
That black is black and white is white.
That Superman and Robin Hood,
Are still alive in Hollywood.
That gasoline's in short supply,
The rising cost of getting by.

But I believe in love.
I believe in old folks.
I believe in children.
I believe in you.

But I believe in love.
I believe in babies.
I believe in Mom and Dad.
And I believe in you.