VOLCANO

POEM

With fire in his eyes

tears ran down his cheeks

like red-hot lava of anger and agony

flowing down and spreading around

like the eruption of a volcano

just like frequent thunders breakout

after years of fretting and fuming.

On noticing his red eyes

and tears like red-hot

lava flowing around

we were frightened

and to escape from his sight

we ran away and hid

behind giant trees and tall walls

when will we escape from

his intimidating looks

and remain calm, quiet and serene?

No idea…..

THE SEA-SHORE

POEM

In the evening 

after the sunset

the shining stars 

blinking and smiling

appear up above.

Listening to the roaring

music of the violent sea 

I lie flat on the sea-shore

glancing the stars

except during

the raining season

with dark clouds hovering above

engulfing the entire

land in the dusk.

Waves followed by waves

vehemently lash against the rocks

like somebody hitting his/her

head on solid-rock

out of despair, anger and frustration

I lie on the sands of

the sea-shore

with the waves washing my

legs for hours together.

Listening to the rock music

of the  tumultuous sea

until I gradually slip

into drowsiness

I wake up from the sea-shore

and go home awaiting

the next evening…..

THUS THEY CLAIM

POEM

In these days of

biting hunger and poverty

they claim  we are

free from harsh times

and are living in prosperous times.

In these days of women

being treated like slaves

they boast about the

empowerment of women

being on the rise and

draw applause from across

the spectrum.

In these days of children

begging for alms with bowls in hands

they don’t have any reluctance

to assert about the oft-repeated

claims that our children

are climbing the ladder of education.

In these days of the nation

moving to the ditch of debt-trap,

they claim about the

growth trajectory achieved by the nation.

In these days of widening

gap between the haves and have-nots

with the haves sky-rocketing

and the have-nots even without

a square-meal a day

they derive pleasure and

satisfaction when mulling

over the number of millionaires

and billionaires increasing by light years.

In these days of corruption,

nepotism, communalism,

parochialism and underworld

thugs and terrorism climbing atop

the mountain posing a

threat to the very existence

of the life of billions

they remain diffident

and detachment…. 

THE HERMIT

POEM   

Keeping my head high

I walk down the path.

Shedding my inhibitions and prejudices

without fear or pain

I walk down the path.

Though it is two years plus

since I stepped down in this city

I don’t have even a single friend

though it was painful and boring

to be an alien in this city in the early days

now I am impervious

to all sad feelings

I don’t need a friend or companion here

am happy to be a city-man who leads a

lonely existence.

I am accustomed with

my life in the city 

and lead the life of a hermit.

I know one day I will have to leave this city

like a plant being uprooted

and re-planted somewhere else which

too like this city might be strange to me….    

SINNERS

POEM

What purpose it would serve

in keeping your hands clean

washing away the stains in your hands

as long as the stains continue to stick on to your

conscience?

Even if you emerge clean

washing away all the stains

if you indulge in your sins the next moment

what purpose it would serve?

In a sinful world like this

but for a few

all remain sinners

much water is essential

to wash away all the stains of our sins.  

It remains an impossible and difficult task.

IRONY

POEM

Under the speeding ceiling fan

I lie tired

right from the noon.

The exhausted fan 

working overtime wreaks its 

anger and vengeance

spitting fire on me

making me restless 

and extinguishes

my flame of desire to have a sound sleep.

The windows are

kept open

let in heat waves

of the searing summer Sun make me

thirsty, keep my mouth dry

despite drinking profusely since hours. 

The intensity with which

the needles of summer Sun

penetrates me and I convulse

with excruciating pain.

Now I pray for the Rain-God

to bless me with torrential rains

and the fun is that

each monsoon drives me angry

and sad after raining non-stop 

disturbing my peace of mind and patience. 

WHERE STANDS SYRIA NOW? – APATHY OF WORLD MEDIA IN IGNORING FOLLOW-UPS REGARDING HOT ISSUES

ARTICLE

Whenever a new issue breaks out in the international arena, the media world seize the day - the old one however prominent is relegated to the background to the surprise and embarrassment of the news watchers. With the advent of Jasmine Revolution, rebellion broke out in Tunisia in the year 2011 citizens across the world over watched it with curiosity and apprehension. Close on the heels of Jasmine Revolution it spread as a catalyst to other Arab countries like Libya, Egypt, Yemen and a few other nations ruled by malevolent dictators, and citizens across those countries drawing inspiration from the Tunisian victory determinedly fought against those dictators like Col.Mohammed Qaddafi, Hosni Mobarak and Ali Abdul Saleh  were dethroned and new dispensations took charge for a while, yes for a while. After ousting Col.Qaddafi, Hosni Mobarak, Ali Abdul Saleh and other dictators Libya fell into the hands of anarchists, Egypt fell into the hands of leaders of Egyptian Brotherhood and ruler of Yemen Ali Abdul Saleh. Barring Yemen and Tunisia Libyan atmosphere turned into a shambles due to hundreds of tribes who fought against each other and by this time militant outfits like Al-Queida, Al-Shabab and other terror outfits. After Hosni Mobarak was forced to abdicate power after three decades in the saddle, imprisoned and underwent trial by the government led by Mohammed Morsi, leader of Egyptian Brotherhood. With him catapulted to power he turned audacious and arrogant and the demands of lakhs and lakhs of citizens to conduct democratic elections, he rejected their demands outright. Egyptian politics once again fell into a quagmire and citizens across the nation gathered at Tahrir Square protested and repeatedly demanded him to conduct elections thereby welcoming a democratic country. The army took the side of the citizens and warned Mr.Morzi to step down or face the consequences. Morzi was adamant and defiant. An exasperated military led by Al-Ataf Al-Sisi staged a coup and forcibly ousted Morzi and incarcerated him. In a sense the former army head after resigning from the post of army head assumed power as President of the country which means authoritarianism still prevails in Egypt. If and when a democratic election is conducted Egypt knows no peace.

Though the scent of Jasmine Revolution spread to Bahrain its rulers with the help of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia its authoritarian rulers ‘erased’ the hilarious smell of Jasmines in the beginning itself. Saudi Arabian rulers too apprehended the wrath of Jasmine Revolution and to prevent it the govt doled out millions of dollars as bonanza to its citizens as well as skilled and unskilled persons from abroad to gratify them, thereby plucked and destroyed the plants of Arab Spring and flowers at the earliest.

Likewise the citizens of Syria derived inspiration from the victory of Jasmine Revolution in certain countries took the plunge to oust its authoritarian ruler Dr.Bashar-Al-Azad tried to suppress the rebellion but the citizens were determined to force him out. The more Dr.Azad remained adamant the more the citizens stuck to their stand and intensified the struggle. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of United Nations was entrusted by UN with the task of playing the role of mediator to prevail upon Dr.Azad and the leaders of the Opposition to reach an amicable settlement. Although Mr.Annan tried his level best to bring about a rapprochement between the two warring sides he miserably failed in his attempts and bowed out of the role of the mediator. In between these developments millions of innocents were murdered by the army and as many were displaced bringing the country into a mess. After Kofi Annan bowed out of his role, UN appointed Mr.Lakdhar Brahmi, the renowned mediator to intervene and appeal both the ruling junta and Free Syrian Army the opposition and despite his ceaseless efforts to avert the blood-shed too came a cropper.

Gradually Syria plunged into oblivion and nowadays we are not at all hearing anything about Syrian struggle.

In its place new developments were born like the Islamic State (IS) led by Aboobaker-Al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed Islamic State leader and he himself appointed as Caliph. US with the intention of wiping away the ruthless militant organization from the face of the earth started bombing and killing innocents as well as militants. Unfortunately the Islamic State remains still defiant.

Similarly in Russia developed crisis after crisis after Crimea was annexed by Russia with majority voting in Russia’s favour in the referendum held by Pro-Russian citizens. Then came Ukraine and there too clashes between pro-Russians and pro-govt citizens with the Ukraine govt led by Petro Porshenko, the iron-fisted chocolate king thereby reaching a collision course between the Ukraine govt and Russia. The western powers took sides with Porshenko and imposed somewhat ‘crippling’ sanctions against Russia and G 8 countries expelled Russia resulting in G 7 countries.

And in Pakistan terrorists belonging to Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan stormed into an army school at Peshawar and killed a number of children which invited the wrath of entire world.

Last week in Nigeria, Boko-Haram, a hard-core militant outfit, gunned down 2000 citizens and in the history of Nigeria these mammoth numbers are first of its kind.

With Syrian issue relegated to the background more and more developments all blood-chilling and blood-curdling are the order of the day in certain countries.

What I am driving home is the apathy of the world media to forge ahead ignoring to hold a follow up as to where stands Syria now where the civil war broke out in 2011. Similarly many other prominent issues nagging the world are aplenty which are thrown to oblivion like garbage.

FIRE FLIES

POEM

In the grip of the civil war

the nation burns.

Thousands and thousands

killed like fire flies to the fire.

Thousands and thousands flee

to the nearby country as refugees

and set up tents.

Many died of

diseases with none to

look after them.

Mediators after

mediators appeared on

the  scene to plead for a cease fire

by inviting the leaders

of the ruling side

and the leaders of opposition

but to no avail.

When will the carnage

and mayhem end

all peace lovers

look above and

pray to God to rescue

them out of the towering inferno.

SHORT CUT

POEM

This is an easy path to the city.

The path is but narrow

with potholes and littered with waste

thrown by those living on both sides

of the path.

Yet numerous

people choose to walk along

this narrow, nauseating path 

with their faces covered by towels.

It takes less than five minutes

to reach the noisy street.

Those who

detest the narrow path

littered with pollutants and potholes

walk down the main

road to reach the city

though it takes more

than fifteen minutes.

With none to lodge

complaint to concerned authorities

or unwilling to take the initiative

the narrow path evolves into

a heap of nauseating pollutants.

Still, for many the narrow path is dear…..           

KHAP PANCHAYATS AND ‘HONOUR KILLINGS’- A BANE OF INDIA

ARTICLE

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister of Haryana was alleged to be a prominent advocate of Khap Panchayat which claimed hundreds of innocent lives, both young men and ladies, who fell in love and fled their native land to escape a certain death by the hands of their close relatives or the members of Khap Panchayats. This kind of blood-chilling killings are named ‘honour killings’. Khap Panchayats and ‘honour killings’ are prevalent in Northern States, the epic centre which is supposed to be Haryana. The gentleman Mr.Bhupinder Singh Hooda who belongs to Indian National Congress strongly supported Khap Panchayats with a view to canvass votes thereby capturing power in the State. In the last Assembly elections however his party had to bite the dust at the hands of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

If a girl belonging to a rich family falls in love with a poor boy and run away to a distant place and get married and settle somewhere as man and wife, the heads of Khap  Panchayats or the parents or siblings of the boy and girl get angry and are on a chase to fish them out at last succeeding in their search. They plead the boy and girl to return to their native place promising them to marry them off infront of a holy place at an auspicious time and the vulnerable boy and girl go with them to their land and are brought before the Heads of Khap Panchayat. After a namesake trial they sentence both to death and kill them either by hanging in a public place or beheading them that too before the larger public or stoning them to death before the very eyes of a big crowd with an intention to sow the seeds of terror.

Despite the media or human rights organizations give vent to their anger, anguish and protest the so-called Khap Panchayats – kind of primitive organization – go on with their cruel deeds and hundreds of youth – both ladies and young men are done to death ruthlessly.

The other day there was a report from Musafarpur, Uttar Pradesh, a girl from a rich background being stoned to death by the father and her brother for fleeing her house with her lover who is from a poor family and caught red-handed. The girl was done to death by throwing bricks in the name of ‘honour killing’.

As a citizen of India I would appeal to our Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi to ban the Khap Panchayats which is tantamount to a primitive institution and let those young men and ladies fall in love and get married. Mr.Modi should ensure that at least spare sometime to look after the well-being of those at the bottom ladder of society like he caters to the industrial development and Foreign Direct Investment. By leaving the poor in the lurch and concentrating all energies for the welfare of the ‘big fish’ our nation has no chance to prosper. And it is certain that National Democratic Alliance will have to tread the path of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) under Dr.ManMohan Singh.           

    

WILTING FLOWERS

POEM

Ever since you entered my life

I had had a notion that 

‘now that we are

part  and parcel of

a delightful

and cheerful life

from the very day

our life

together is here to last until we

do depart from this life.’

The euphoria but didn’t

last long

and with each day passing

we  sensed a gradual

moment towards a point

of no return.

Like a flower wilting

in the evening of its life

our flower of a life

too were wilting even before the evening

and our relationship

drifted apart and we got separated.

In these days, unfortunately,

the days of living together

as man and wife

are turning a thing of an old story

a sad story

and a never to

return to the old days of

loving and caring.  

PROTECTOR

POEM

I am safe and happy

in your hands.

In you I find a protector.

When demons are about

to surround me

courtesy your invisible power

drive away the demons to faraway lands.

Wish you could wipe away

all the evil spirits

from the very face of the earth

to protect us the mankind

and other living beings

and turn the Earth into a

different planet. 

THE PLUNGE

POEM

Emboldened by his words of courage

shedding the last

remnants of fears and apprehensions

I took the plunge and

went straight to confront the enemy

who had already

girded up his loins to

fight against anyone

whoever he was.

Upon seeing me summoning

courage walking straight in his direction

to take on him

he roared  like

a lion upon seeing a lesser enemy.

Still sticking on to

the words of my guide

I went and jumped closer to the enemy

and he who was

audacious and arrogant

turned into a deflated balloon

just by a sharp needle of boldness.

If at all I am indebted to anyone

he is the one who imparted words of

courage and blessed me with victory…

ROOTS

POEM

It was like a ritual.

Once in a year

he along with family

made it a point to

visit his parents

and spent pleasurable moments

with his father and mother 

and his children with

their grandpa and grandma.

 His wife persuaded her

mother-in-law to take

rest and in the place of her  mother-in-law 

she took up household chores.

Children’s presence made their

grandpa and grandma

quite cheerful and they played 

hide and seek games
and made merry.
After spending two weeks

he along with her and

children ensured their

presence in her family

and made it lively by

playing pranks on each other

their grandpa and grandma including.

Those were happier days

and after spending

one month both in his

and her houses

it was time to bid goodbye

and all shed tears down their

cheeks caressing and embracing each other.

And with grandma and grandpa

leaving the earth to

their heavenly abode for good

both his house and her house

turned ‘orphanages’ and

they sold the properties

belonging to them

and their connection with

their houses on the land got snapped

forever.

The annual ritual of

visiting their parents

came to the inevitable end. 

IDENTITY CRISIS

POEM

Wearing jeans and top,

with her hair shampooed and leveled

and high-heeled sandals

like a young man

she was walking down

the footpath of the

metro watching

both sides of road

lined up with shops, banks, saloons,

hotels and crowds walking along

vehicles speeding to and fro

tooting and hooting.

If she were in a village

she would have been

the cynosure of the villagers.

But in a metro

where hundreds of both

genders walking along

clad in modern  dresses 

including top and jeans

nobody could spare time

to notice her

and for that matter

many other blondes

while the unfortunate

truth pained a few

for lack of identity

a few drew happiness and pleasure for not

anyone unable to

distinguish them.