गुस्सा

ऐसा नहीं  कि लोगों को पता नहीं
कि सिगार्रेट पीना हानिकर है
फिर भी छोड़ नहीं पाते, आदत से
संस्कार जो  बन चुका   है!

गुस्से की कहानी भी कुछ वैसे ही है
सब  जानते है कि गुस्सा से
हानि ज़्यादा, फायदा कम
फिर भी छोड़ने की मुश्किल में, तड़पते रहते है

गुस्सा की शुरू है चिड़चिड़ाहट से
जब कोई, अपनी बात नहीं मानती
जब सब चीज़ अपनी इचानुसार नहीं होती
तो समझते है कि गुस्सा करना  स्वाभाविक है!

बहुतों का यह है, विश्वास
कि काम कराना है,तो चाहिए गुस्सा
कोई  बदलाव होगा तो  सिर्फ गुस्सा से
आखिर बदलाव लाना है विश्वास में हमारा
कि "नकारात्मक ऊर्जा से होगी सकारात्मक हल!"

अल्प काल. कुछ समय केलिए, गुस्सा
काम करने लगता है
पर लंबी काल में वह
स्थापित  होता निष्प्रभाव!

हमेशा  गुस्सा करने वालों को
अवज्ञा  करने लगते है, या स्वसुरक्षा
बचाव का लोग, तरीखे ढूंढ लेते है
क्रोध का अंतिम  परिणाम
है सिर्फ दरार,नाराज़गी
गलत फहमी और विरोध!  

जहाँ प्रेम और आदर हो सब का
काम से ज़्यादा प्रधानता, मनुष्यों का
वहाँ होता है काम अनायास
सब खुद करते है, प्यार से काम
निरिक्षण का सवाल ही नहीं उठता!

NB: यह कविता बीके ( ब्रह्मकुमारीs)  की  पढाई से प्रेरित है। 

The Critic's Loss

In music, poetry, even a game of cricket

so much pleasure, enjoyment is lost

on slipping into the garb of hard core critic

whether by choice or playing designated role

Knowingly or unknowingly, you slip from

Soul consciousness to body consciousness

losing spontaneity, forfeiting

the sheer pleasure of unbridled appreciation!

Captivating Lines from Here and There-14

• Do not ask life "Why me?". Instead say "Try me!"
• The mindset of yesterday's manager ( accepting compromise, keeping things tidy), bred complacency.Tomorrow's leaders must raise issues, debate them and resolve them. They must rally around a vision of what business can become- Jack Welch, Former CEO, GE 
• Forgiveness of the present is even more important than forgiveness of the past.If you forgive every moment, allow it to be as it is then there will be no accumulation of resentment that needs to be forgiven at some later time- From "Power of Now"By Eckhart Tolle.
• A leader has to be a  cultivator rather than a manufacturer. He has to provide the overall climate and the environment in which the seed can grow. One wants permissive individuals who do not have a compelling need to reassure themselves that they are leaders- Vikram Sarabhai, Scientist, ISRO
• Transformation is sustained change and it is achieved through practice- BKS Iyengar, Yoga Guru
• While communicating, speak not in response to what they say but to what they are thinking; addressing what you think they are thinking rather than what they are saying- Blair Singer, Sales consultant.
• Whatever the religion, it is sufficient if the person improves- SreeNarayana Guru, Social reformer
• Performance management is a continuous process spread throughout the year, where the approach is both developmental and rewards. The individual employee's weaknesses, training needs, feedback and concerns are addressed- Ralph Christensen, Author "Road map to Strategic HR"     
• One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is they are not trying to impress other birds and horses- Dale Carnegie
• We need to soften the strategic focus at the top so that we can generate new possibilities from within the organization- Andy Grove, Former CEO, Intel.

शिकायत

आज के ज़माने में  शिकायत ही शिकायत  है
पति  को  पत्नी से   शिकायत
पत्नी को पति से  शिकायत
अधिकारियों को कर्मचारियों से शिकायत
और  कर्मचारियों का है अधिकारियों से  शिकायत

सब  समझते है दोष दुसरे का है
खुद  तो है, सही हमेशा
कोई कहते है
"आज के बच्चे बिगड़ गए  है "
तो कोई मानते है कि  "मेरे पिता
न मुझे या  बदली दुनिया को  समझता"

लेकिन इन शिकायोतों से क्या फायदा
एक दुसरे को न समझना
कलह होना  स्वाभाविक है,
कलयुग में जो  हम रहते है !
शिकायत,और ज़्यादा शिकायतों से
बात बढ़ती है, होती ख़राब!

इस संकट का निवारण हो सकता
सिर्फ प्रेम और सहन  शक्तियों से
शिकायत का जवाब प्रेम से
कड़वे  बोलों के जवाब मीठे बोलों से

पहला  कदम उठाने से
थोड़ा सहन शक्ति भी दिखाने  से
मिट जायेगा शिकायत,
अपना, और दूसरों का
और  संबंधों रहे  सदा बहार !

NB: यह कविता बीके  ( ब्रह्मकुमारीज)  की  पढाई से प्रेरित है। 

Acceptance

Husband feels "my wife, my partner

should know my needs, thoughts aspirations

and keep me happy at all times... "

Wife feels the same and wants her

prince in shining Armour

to be always courteous, kind and loving

with never a frown or harsh word

escaping his lips...

It’s a matter of time

that disillusionment sets in

for humans, mere mortals

falls short in the game

of mind reading and satisfying…

each time, every time!

It's the supreme and supreme alone

who can shower peace, contentment

and happiness long time...

practical way then, is to  accept partner

physically and emotionally

exactly as they are, with warts and all

and look to the supreme guidance

for happiness and peace, long time…

Celebrating Today

Hold it, feel it, love it
make the most of it
quickly before it becomes yesterday

Check the bank account
for the days gone by
how many yesterdays
spent in sleep,gossip, routine
just going through the motions,,?

How about a quick shift
from existing to living
from complaining to doing
from reminiscing, day dreaming

to celebrating the only day-
you truly have...Today!
yes, how about celebrating today
like there is no tomorrow!


The poem is inspired by the indispire edition 146 

My Heart Goes Out....

My heart goes out
to my countrymen
who are so tolerant
even when manipulated
used and abused for years...

By foreigners at one time
later, and now by those
supposedly their own -

By leaders of all hues, from right to left
in various fields, whether politics
industry, labour unions, hospitals
police or schools...

Just look at them currently
patiently waiting, in long queues
accepting, not complaining
earnestly believing that all this
is worth it for a better tomorrow...

Oh how could anyone
betray, let down
such simple folks
as my countrymen?

yes, my heart goes out
to my countrymen
so simple, tolerant
patient and trusting....

Eye Contact

Amaravati Poetic Prism 2016 ( International Multilingual poetic Meet) was organized by the cultural centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati on 13th & 14th November 2016 at Vijayawada. This poem was recited by me on the occasion.


Oh what do I need to do

to get you to look at me

when I speak….

Eye contact while conversing

less and less over the years

the competitors for me changed from the TV

to the PC, with today the smart phone

becoming the chief villain!

A point to note dear

is the difference in the nature

of me and my competitors

they being inanimate

are not vulnerable like me

They don’t care

whether you do multiple jobs

while interacting with them

as for me it’s a cut

at the very root of my self esteem

when even the life partner

has no time to make eye contact

while conversing with me…

Oh what do I need to do

to get you to look at me

when I speak?

Home Work

A child not doing his home work
could land himself in trouble
may find he is unable to follow class
could face teacher's wrath and punishment

when adults don't do home work
not one. but many could be affected
whether relocating at the drop of a hat
marrying consequent to, love at first sight
or buying flat on a sudden whim..

And if Governments don't do their home work?.. ...

"We Want You Both"

Amaravati poetic prism 2016 (International Multilingual poetic meet) was organized by the Cultural centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati on 13th & 14th November 2016 at Vijayawada. I recited the following poem in Malayalam which was inspired by Supreme court judgement of Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Robinton Nariman conveying court’s dismay and alarm at how family splits psychologically affect children and its impact on society.

  
A translation of the same in English is given at the bottom


രണ്ടു് പേരും വേണം


“മൂത്തവൻ നിനക്ക്

ഇളയവൾ  എനിക്ക്‌”

കൂടെ വാശിയും, വൈരാഗ്യവും പങ്കിടുമ്പോൾ

അറിയുന്നോ നിങ്ങൾ

റൊട്ടി   കഷ്ണത്തിൻ ഇടയിൽ

പിടയും പിഞ്ചു പൈതലുകളിൻ അവസ്ഥ … …

വേദന,  ആഘാതം ഏകാന്തത

പിന്നീട് അപകർഷ ബോധം
പേറിയുള്ള ജീവിതം

ഒരു ആയുഷ് കാലം വരെ….

നില്കു,ചിന്തിക്കു,, , പരിഗണിക്കു

എടുത്തു ചാടും മുന്പ്, ഒരു നിമിഷം

"ഇത് നിങ്ങളുടെ മാത്റം കഥയല്ല

ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് രണ്ട് പേരും വേണം…."

Randu Perum Venam ( We want you both )

"The elder one for you
younger one for me"
while sharing them, other goods. property
as also anger and revengeful  feelings
are you aware of  the plight
of the struggling,  helpless  ones caught
as in between two pieces of bread...?

pain, shock and loneliness
and later. an inferiority complex
ridden life for
an entire life span... 

Stop, think. consider
for a minute
before you take the leap
"this is not your story alone
we want you both...."

In India Today

Extortion in today's India
whether a crime or not
depends on who
or which group is doing it

After all theft
when engaged in by the privileged
is described in soft, sanitized terms
as embezzlement.... 

Missed Opportunity

Money begets money
health begets health
stink begets stink
are sayings of universal truth...

No wonder then
people spit on the footpath
on Indian roads, soon after
the foul smell from garbage
and urine hit their nostrils....

The 'broken window theory' helped
to  solve Graffiti problem of New York
similar attempts have been  made
in pockets, here and there in India
to draw pics of Gods/Goddesses
on the  walls near footpaths
to stop urination and littering...

It's human nature to litter
a place that's already littered,
reluctant as people  are to dirty
clean sparkling places

The mission 'Swatch Bharat' needs
lot more thought, creativity and action
to address root causes of problem
to ensure  long time permanent solutions
if not, it may fizzle out
as another missed opportunity
that began and ended
as mere photo Opportunities ...



Note: The broken windows theory is a criminological theory which seek to maintain and monitor urban environments to prevent small crimes such as vandalism, public drinking, and toll-jumping so as to create an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, thereby preventing more serious crimes from happening.

Disciplined Celebration

Deepavali, the festival of lights
brings a lot of happiness,
bonding, feasting  and fun
unique, exciting part of celebration
are the fireworks- colour and sound
of which some just can't have enough!

The very fireworks
that give so much pleasure
if handled carelessly, unsupervised
or in excess...
could be source of tragedy and sadness
with little ones losing an eye
a limb or sustaining 30% burns...

Similarly, the social media
can be real fun
a source of pleasure and bonding
yet, if handled wrongly
carelessly and in excess...
could also result in tragedy

The likes, comments,emoticons
that gave so much pleasure & thrill
could cause sadness and depression
when they suddenly slow down or disappear...

The happy exchanges with strangers
exciting and fun filled
could lose its charm, become nightmare
when trolled, pursued
vilified, blackmailed....

The trick then is discipline
enjoyment in moderation
be it fireworks or the social media
keeping it on a leash, in  control
not allowing it to turn Frankenstein!              

Captivating Lines from Here and There-13

• 
• We need to realize that missions are always bigger than organizations, just as organizations are always bigger than the individuals who run them- Dr Abdul Kalam in “Ignited Minds”
• In the holistic model, the cause of any disease is understood in terms of the whole person and not in terms of a particular organ or tissue- From the book “Healthy Mind, Healthy body”  
• The concept of knowledge management is based on the value of the individual expertise and experience which need to be harnessed and used for the benefit of the organization rather than being ignored by overconfident and unwise managers.
• Sometimes we spend so much time in a formal education that we feel that we must stick to the rules of that education to give it credence. We hate to think that we went through all of that trouble for nothing and for that reason may be reluctant to accept new ideas- Mark.S. Kearns, Author
• Concern yourself with the world inside you and you will have little to concern you in the world outside you- Edgar Cayce, Mystic & author
• There are sound practical reasons for taking account of employee views before making significant decisions. When compared with a manager who may be relatively new, skilled experienced employees having knowledge of specific processes, may be aware of the implications that are invisible to the manager.
• There is more to life than the petty pace at which most of us live our lives today- From the book “End the struggle and advance with life” by Susan Jeffers 
• There are only two things I do in every company. One is I make sure I get the business running by itself and the second is I always have a word of mouth system in place- A successful entrepreneur with chain of companies.
• All chronic diseases are due to miscommunication of messages between and within cells. Diabetes is a disease of nutrition and it is the science of nutrition that must treat it- Dr Joseph Mercola, Alternative medicine advocate
• The definition of ‘Forgiveness’ is “Giving as you gave before the hurt occurred”- in the book “Tools of the spirit” by Ditts and McDonald