Time alone will tell

 

Even as I sit down

To write a poem

For the “Across the border” anthology

News is pouring in

Of a breakdown of peace, order

Democracy in our neighbourhood  

 

A return to chaos

Reassertion of the will of the evil

Those of terrorists

Known for subjugation of rights

The freedom of ‘weaker’ sex

Their right to learn, to watch what they wish

To wear what they want

To breathe the fresh air of freedom! 

 

Will the second coming be better

Under closer scrutiny of the comity of nations?

Or will it be a repeat of the dark days

Memories of which not erased, even by 20 years of light?

Some say “Yes” there’s hope- Let’s hope for the best

Others ask ”Can a leopard change its spots?

 Well, time alone will tell…   

NB: (1)This poem was triggered by the incident of breaking down of the democratically elected Government in the state of Afghanistan in August 2021. 

(2)  I recited the poem at the International Poetry Conference organized by  ' Connecting cross Borders" (CAB) 

जिस देश में गंगा बहती है

पचहत्तरवाँ  स्वाधीनता दिवस की शाम को 

 देश भक्ति गीत गाने का आमंत्रण

जब  मिला अपने साहित्यिक संघ से,  

तब मुझे, तुरंत आ गया एक गीत, मन में 

पर उसे  गाने केलिए,  डगमग रहा था दिल !

आज की तारीख में , इस गाना कैसे गाउँ 

अपने आप से पूछ बैठे 

आज देश वासियों के होंटों में सचाई  

और दिल में सफाई है  कहाँ ?  

कैसे कहूँ  कि , मेहमान हमारा   

जान से प्यारा, जब होता है 

विदेशी टूरिस्टों का बलात्कार, 

राजधानी दिल्ली में भी! 

कैसे मानूँ , कि हममें लालच ही नहीं 

जब "शुभ लाभ "  का सिद्धांत छोड़कर, भ्रष्टाचार अपनाकर  

आमीर बनने  केलिए दौड़ते  है देश वासी ,

 संदिग्ध मार्गों  के पीछे!     

क्या आपने आप को "इंसान को पेहचानने वाले " 

"मिल जुलके रहने वाले " इत्यादि कह सकते है, जब 

मार  - पीट, हत्या, हिंसा होती है आज 

धर्म ,जाती के नाम पर?    

आखिर, पद्रह अगस्त को मैं ने 

वही गाना गा ही लिया  , वही  गीत जिस का बोल

दर्शाता है हमारा  सदियों पुराना उसूल 

हज़ारों साल के, सच्चा और पक्का संस्कृति 

कुछ गलतियाँ , भटकावा  इधर उधर होने से, 

न मिटती इस प्राचीन, पुरातन, सच्ची   सभ्यता  

वह  संस्कृति , वह सभ्यता, जो उस  महान देश की है 

जिस देश मैं गंगा बहती है !     

NB:  इस कविता को मै काव्यकौमुदि  मंच पर 29/8/2021 तारिक प्रस्तुत किया था |   

                

Child to Adult: "Growing up" Challenges

It was the year 1979

the year, UNESCO proclaimed 

as the "Year of the Child" 

As college students, in the then Madras

we took to the streets

carrying placards, raising slogans

denouncing 'child labour' 

exhorting its termination!  

Next day, the ritual, optics completed

we were back in college 

and it was business as usual 

four decades later, problem of child labour 

is hardly gone, still very much there!

Going to the basics, is the need of the hour

eliminating child labour possible

only when underlying economic issues are addressed

solutions for "why children are compelled 

to work in the first place"? ....

Today's child has lot more added 

to the list of challenges  

more competition for securing future 

more risks of sexual abuse

more peer pressure to fit in 

more pressure, from a demanding social media... 

Growing up challenges need solid support 

from all quarters- parents, Government, NGOs

mere lip service won't do

there's a need  for awareness and action 

at the grassroots, on the ground! 

NB: This poem was composed  for the special  (August) monthly meet of the Bangalore poetry circle(BPC) in collaboration with Slam Out Loud, an organization working for Child welfare and growth. The featured theme for the evening was "Growing Up'  

Interesting dialogue in a gripping film

The Malayalam movie "Kuruthi" ( Sacrificial lamb/ being) is making waves on Amazon Prime for its realistic portrayal of the ills of society in the present times. I have done a translation of an interesting dialogue spoken by a senior citizen character in the movie on the subject of 'Hatred' in the context of two communities at each other's throat.  

Senior citizen:  Man, ever since he started walking on two legs have been doing only one thing nonstop - Beating up each other and killing one another. 

Another Character:  There is a reason for it...  

Senior citizen:  yes, there is always a reason for it. 

Other Characters:  What ?    

Senior citizen     :   Hatred. Man always wants something or the other to hate. To sustain and retain that hatred, he will always take the stand of "Them" and "Us" .

 Hatred, even a little of it is sufficient to lit the flame which becomes a big fire. Once it has been lit, effort is on to ensure that it is never put out.  We will continue to hate. In the end we will tell ourselves the lie that "we have won" and be destroyed in the same fire.  

 

Post Script:  The funniest part is that the ones engineering the hatred, sitting in power positions and well protected, do not face the brunt of the violence! It is always faced by the bottom level sacrificial lambs...        

Celebrating Independence Day by Sharing my Quote

We are all proud Indians and our independence day is always special! This time I am celebrating the big day with Literoma sharing my quote!

#Literoma Celebrating Independence . A quote by Rajeev Moothedath 

( Click on picture and see it expand ) 

Independence Day to me 

The tricolour flying high 

Pride in our great heritage

Hope and confidence

in a bright dazzling tomorrow

smiling children eating chocolates!  

In the afternoon on 15th August 2021 (75th Indian Independence Day) , Literoma organized a Zoom meeting  for the celebrations, that included the Award ceremony,wherein I recited the above lines that were selected and approved by them for recognition. 

 

സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം - ഓർമകളും ചിന്തകളും

English translation of this patriotic poem pertaining to our independence is given at the bottom

സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം, സ്വാതന്ത്ര ദിനമെന്നു ഓതുമ്പോൾ 

ഓർത്തു പോകുന്നു എൻ പ്രിയ വിദ്യാലയത്തെ 

കേന്ദ്രിയ വിദ്യാലയം, എറണാകുളത്തെ 

ഓർമയിൽ , പഠനത്തിന്റെ,  ഓരൊരു കണത്തിലും 

ദേശഭക്‌തി ഉളവാക്കിയ എൻ  വിദ്യാലയത്തെ  

രണ്ടു വീര രാജാക്കന്മാർ - അശോകന്റെയും ,ശിവാജിയുടെ പേരിലും 

ഒരു ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞൻ, ഒരു മഹാ കവി 

സി വി രാമൻ, ടാഗോറിന്റെ പേരിലുള്ള ഹൗസുകൾ 

പ്രതിദിന പ്രാർത്ഥനയിൽ, പാരമ്പര്യവും  

സംസ്കൃതിയും, ഓർമ പെടുത്തുന്ന വരികളും 

ദേശിയ മഹിമ ഒരു ദിവസമല്ല 

എല്ലാ ദിവസവും ഓർമ പെടുത്തുന്ന

എൻ സ്കൂൾ  കാലങ്ങൾ ...     

കുട്ടി വലുതായി , യുവാവായി , മധ്യ വയസ്കനായി 

വൃദ്ധനാകുന്നതിനുള്ളിൽ, മനസിലാക്കുന്നു 

സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം , അത് എല്ലവർക്കുമില്ല - ചിലർക്ക് മാത്രം 

അവസരങ്ങൾ ഇല്ലാത്ത സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം

അത് എന്ത്  സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം?  

ഒരു വശത്തു നമ്മൾ സ്വതന്ത്രർ , നമ്മൾ സ്വതന്ത്രർ 

ഒന്നാംകിട രാജ്യങ്ങൾക്കു സമം 

എന്ന് കൊട്ടിഘോഷിക്കുമ്പോൾ 

മറു വശത്തു , പാവം പൗരൻ 

സ്വകാര്യ ജീവതത്തിൽ പോലും 

ഒളിഞ്ഞു നോക്കപ്പെടുന്ന അവസ്ഥ!  

ഇതൊക്കെയെങ്കിലും ഭാരതീയന്

തൃരംഗ, പതാകയെന്നാൽ ആവേശം 

ആശകളും , സ്വപ്നങ്ങളും കൈവെടിയാതെ 

താനറിയാതെ , ശരീരം നിവരുന്നു

കൈ പൊന്തി പോകുന്നു 

മാതാവിനെ വന്ദിക്കാൻ 

ഭാരത മാതാവിനെ, വണങ്ങാൻ !  

NB:  1) ഏവർക്കും, മുൻകൂട്ടി, 75 )o , സ്വാതന്ത്ര ദിന ആശംസകൾ  

        2) ഈ കവിത ഞാൻ, ഹെവൻ പൊയറ്റിക് സ്പെക്ട്രം ബഹു ഭാഷ കവിയരങ്ങിൽ, ഓഗസ്റ്റ് ഒന്നിന് അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു.   

English Translation of the poem "Independence: Memories and Thoughts"

When we talk of independence or independence day

first thing that come to mind is my dear school

Kendriya vidyalaya, Ernakulam 

memories of   devotion to motherland  (Desh Bhakti)

evoked by my school, in every tiny aspect  of education 

School houses, in the names of two brave kings 

Ashoka and Shivaji 

and one renowned scientist, one great poet (Mahakavi)  

CV Raman , Rabindranath Tagore 

lines in the daily prayer reminding of our great heritage 

of our world renowned civilization! 

National pride evoked not just, on one day

but every day during those school days! 

The child grew up, moved to stages of youth

middle age and then old age, to realize 

that 'Independence' is not for all, but for a few 

what independence is that independence 

that offer no opportunities for all citizens?  

On the one hand, we proclaim "We are independent, 

we are independent, equal to first world countries! " 

Yet, on the other hand the poor citizen, insecure 

faces surveillance, interference even in personal life! 

With all this, an Indian on seeing the tricolour

can't help becoming passionate, emotional 

his dreams and hopes are evoked again 

unknowingly, his body straightens  

hands go up automatically to salute mother

to pay respect to Bharat Matha! ( Motherland India) 

Right to Breathe

It is the good God who infuses life 

yet, you played 'God' arrogant officer 

when your knees stifled

and denied breath to a defenseless man!

you did it merely because his skin was black 

and not white, like yours! 

You did not even care

to talk to him, listen

to his part of the story

it's almost as if the uniform

and your colour entitled you

to do as you pleased, so long as the atrocity

is directed at a black man! 

Asking 'you' to be ashamed 

would be asking too much! 

let me ask another  question instead 

"Does the leader, leading the nation

at a particular point of time

give you a sense of security, encouragement 

provide guts to play 'Law breaker'

in place of 'Law enforcer'  

the job you are paid to do? "   

NB: (1) This poem was triggered by the murder of George Floyd, a 46 year old  Black man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA by a white  police officer Derek Chauvin.

        (2) This poem was composed  for the Yercaud Poetry Fest and  included in the anthology "Breathe Poetry-Reclaim Life" .

स्वतंत्रता - कुछ विचार

स्वतंत्रता, स्वतंत्रता दिवस, की बात आते ही 

याद आती है, अपना प्रिय विद्यालय 

केंद्रीय विद्यालय , एर्नाकुलम 

जो डाले थे, देश भक्ति के बीज 

पढ़ाई के हर, कण कण में 

दो वीर राजाओं - अशोक और शिवाजी 

तथा एक वैज्ञानिक, एक महाकवि 

सी वी रामन, टैगोर के नामों पर  चार, छात्र समूह 

सवेरे के प्रार्थना में ,संस्कृति एवं परंपरा 

याद दिलाने वाले, पंक्तियाँ 

स्कूल के उस, सुनहरे काल 

उन दिनों, जब देश महिमा की एहसास , एक दिन  नहीं 

हर दिन, हर पल, दिलाते थे, हमें  

लड़का,  बड़ा होते  होते, युवक , मद्य वयस्क 

वृद्ध बनते बनते , समझ में आया 

कि आज़ादी सब केलिए नहीं - सिर्फ कुछ लोगों केलिए  

मौका न मिलनेवाली, आज़ादी 

अवसर  से वंचित ,आज़ादी 

यह,  कौन सी आज़ादी है ? 

एक तरफ, " हम आज़ाद है ! हम आज़ाद है ! 

विकसित देशों के हम  बराबर "  जैसे गर्वीला  नारे  बाज़ी 

दूसरी तरफ, सामान्य नागरिक, असुरक्षित

उसका मोबाइल फ़ोन पर जासूसी 

निजी जीवन पर भी  हमला , हस्तक्षेप! 

यह सब होते हुए  भी , अपने झंडा 

तिरंगा , देखते ही जाग उठता है 

भारतवासी में  प्रेम , उमंग, उत्साह 

फिर से आशाएँ,  सपने देखने की  प्रेरणा  

शरीर सीधा होने लगता है 

हाथ ऊपर उठते है , आप से आप 

माँ को सलाम करने 

भारत माता को अभिवादन करने !  

NB: 1)  सबी देशवासियों को, पूर्वकालीन, पचहत्तरवाँ  स्वतंत्र दिवस  की शुभ कामनाएँ   

        2)  इस कविता को मै काव्यकौमुदि चेतना हिंदी मंच पर 8/8/2021 तारिक प्रस्तुत किया था | 

Oh for that Breath of Fresh Air

Breathing in the outdoors 

in open spaces, amidst nature 

at a quiet corner of Lalbhagh, Cubbon park 

or even feeling and breathing the cool air

as you sit by the window seat

on a long train journey.. 

Ah, all a fantasy in this lock down period! 

Oh, to be back under the blue vast sky

back at the Yercaud poetry fest 

smiling, meeting friends, shaking hands

to breathe in the beauty, the fresh air of the hills

oh, for that breath of fresh air! 

NB: This poem was composed  for the Yercaud Poetry Fest when the entire country was under lock down due to Covid 19.  It has now been included and published in the anthology "Breath Poetry: Reclaim your life" edited by Soul Scribers Society, Salem and printed by Authors Press,New Delhi. 

Oxygen for the depressing times

A time when the whole nation

is gasping for breath

pleading for oxygen cylinders, 

ventilators, medicines 

when family members, friends, close associates

are losing the battle to Covid

or Covid related failures 

A pall of gloom is all pervasive

While some poets also succumbed to the virus

many manage equilibrium, retain a sense of hope

by engaging with muse- either their own

or reading, listening to others on Zoom 

Yes, poetry it is, that's serving as a balm 

providing the life breath of oxygen

in these trying times... 

NB: This poem was composed when Covid 19 was at its peak during the second wave. It has now been included and published in the anthology "Breath Poetry: Reclaim your life" edited by Soul Scribers Society, Salem and printed by Authors Press, New Delhi