Preamble: The ALS Performing Arts Face Book Group during a weekly challenge gave us the theme of "Children" for singing a song. I chose a lovely and powerful lyric penned by renowned poet Sahir Ludhyanwi and set to tune by ace music Director Ravi from the Hindi movie "Do Kaliyan". For the benefit of readers who are not familiar with Hindi, I have loosely translated the lines to English.
Little children. truthful in heart and mind
Loved by the entire world
They are sweet little flowers
loved, held close by God
supreme
When they get upset,
They quickly come out
of it too
Become friends again with
one they fought, a minute ago
No dislike for anyone, no one an enemy,
stranger
Their innocence, greets everyone
with open arms…
So long as human is a child, rest
assured
they are clean and true at heart
It’s as they grow in age that
Mind gets tainted with lies
Temper rises, hatred surrounds,
greed enters
In childhood, saved from these
sins
Children live a happy, joyful
life…
Soft in body, beautiful in mind
Children, lot better than adults
They don’t practice false discrimination
Based on caste, colour, creed or
race
No confrontation based on
language
Nor huge walls built on religion
In their eyes, a temple, Masjid, Gurudwara
or church are all one!
