Others mistook us for twins
our resemblance too astounding
our age difference only
but one
that nobody knew except
parents and relatives.
We were two naughty cats
at home
played pranks often,
Mom often ‘cane-charging’
us.
We but cried not
silently wiped away our pain
howsoever excruciating it
was.
Outside home we were
two silent cats
mingled with nobody
we heard others whispering
‘see two alley cats’.
Both wore the same dress,
Both wore specks,
Both joined the same class,
Both good at studies,
Hence darlings of teachers.
From kindergarten to school,
School to college
We grew with time
each attained puberty
each became sensuous and
intellectual beauties
the cynosure of all eyes.
While in college
a classmate
he was handsome
trapped my sister by his histrionics
continuously ‘preying’ her.
I warned her of the
lurking dangers behind
such a relationship
but a soft-hearted she
had already fallen for
the guy.
However reluctantly, yes
reluctantly I became her
conscience-keeper
but my heart pounded like drum-beatings
on thinking about the secret.
One day the secret spilled-over
don’t know how
reached the ears of
parents.
My fear proved true,
the matter reached the
ears of parents
and all hell broke loose.
Mom took out the
canes from her collections
locked her inside a room
and
ruthlessly, yes ruthlessly
caned her till she
bled.
Unbearable it was
I too felt the pain
entered my room
lay on the bed
and pressed my face on
the pillow wept, wept
and wept silently.
But my sister had the
last laugh,
Pappa and Mom caved in
before her rock-like love
and succumbed to
her silent pressure.
Despite younger than me
albeit by one year
it was my sister who
first tied the nuptial
knot
the local people, the
gossip-mongers flashing
the news of her selecting
a life-partner from
a lower caste.
It was not a happy
function
Pappa and Mom kept
their pain and agony to
themselves
the house bore a
grave-yard silence.
Soon after they
married me off to a youth of
their choice.
I didn’t say ‘no’,
I am such a type
and
after the marriage
both of us flew abroad
where he was employed.
My sister,
quite unfortunate she was
wrote to me, phoned
me occasionally
about her all calculations
that going awry
about her drunkard, womanizer husband
who had no qualms to
act as a pimp for his wife
about he raining
blows on her each day
demanding dowry, more
dowry more, more dowry.
I saw tears in her
letters
I saw tears in her
weeping voice
her tears were mine too
but both sitting miles apart
under the control of
two men
kind of chained feeling.
Once upon a time
we were two silent cats
others mistook us for twins.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
DESTINATION POINT
Immeasurable are the distances,
Innumerable are the obstacles
obstructions and obfuscations.
Rivers , streams, forests, hills
mountains, forests, deserts
oceans all are to be
covered to reach the
destination.
How long it would take
to reach the other end
of life.
Whether it is possible
or to cut short the journey
midway voluntarily or by fate
all beyond our control.
Still we continue the journey
continue we must
come what may
whether the destination point
is reachable or not.
Innumerable are the obstacles
obstructions and obfuscations.
Rivers , streams, forests, hills
mountains, forests, deserts
oceans all are to be
covered to reach the
destination.
How long it would take
to reach the other end
of life.
Whether it is possible
or to cut short the journey
midway voluntarily or by fate
all beyond our control.
Still we continue the journey
continue we must
come what may
whether the destination point
is reachable or not.
INDIANS AGAINST CORRUPTION
“This is the next struggle for our independence. Even though the British have left, only the colour of the ruler’s skin has changed, nothing else has.” – Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare renowned social activist and a true follower of Gandhian thoughts is on fast unto death since Tuesday. The respected social activist deeply pained and shocked at the extent corruption for the last decade or so finally decided enough is enough and the rampant corruption should be wiped out from the soil of India once and for all. Citizens like you and me were watching in shocking silence at the mountain of corruption the already burdened country is carrying over its shoulders. We sincerely hoped and prayed for the incarnation of a Missiha to take up cudgels against this looming menace. Now that the Missiha in the form 72 year old Anna Hazare has appeared on the scene demanding the formation of Jan Lok Pal Bill. Even before jumping into the fray he had demanded our Prime Minister to do something to erase corruption but the gentleman never cared to listen to saner counsels of Anna Hazare.
Even when he was about to start his fast unto death after all avenues of a solution failed the Prime Minister was adamant. The ‘Yes men and women’ of Mr.Singh and Sonia Gandhi like Manish Tiwari, Jayanti Natarajan and such elements accused Hazare of venturing into a ‘premature’ action and appealed to him to withdraw his fast.
Hazare’s ire and sarcasm against the group of Ministers to chart out a course of action as this group of Ministers consisted of Sharad Pawar who according to Hazare is himself a man of corruption and Kapil Sibal the Tele-communications Minister who went to the extent of justifying that in the 2G Spectrum scam our nation actually didn’t lose a single paise the truth was just the opposite, a massive loss of Rs 1,76000 lakh crore drained off the exchequer. Hazare without waiting for even a second, rejected the aforesaid group of Ministers looking into the matter.
Our Law Minister Veerappa Moily is a man with some sense of humour. He informed Hazare of the loss of the copy of draft Lok Pal Bill and requested Hazare to provide him with a new copy. A fasting Hazarika mocked at Veerappa Moily’s request and sarcastically pointed out the ‘seriousness’ the govt of India had displayed over the matter.
We witnessed a long procession of scams after scams, scandals after scandals like Anna Hazare and we can very well imagine the pain and agony he had undergone watching the scenes sitting on the side-lines. A true Gandhian like Hazare’s heart bled for the country. His voice turned into voice of the nation. Simultaneously the ‘so-called’ Gandhians in the corridors of power enjoyed power and pelf continue to enjoy, amass huge chunks of money without any qualms but preach Gandhism at the top of their voices a daily sight we all witness.
Soon after Hazare started fast at Jantar Mantar hundreds of citizens from various walks of life visit him and along with Hazare one hundred and fifty youth are on fast and to show solidarity with him citizens all over India who are fed up with a corruption-ridden govt are coming out into the streets to extent support for his noble cause.
A cross-section of our citizens for years eagerly waited for somebody to take up the mantle and that moment has reached now for another liberation struggle. As Anna Hazare compared to his movement with Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement of 1975 - his ‘Total Revolution’ and this comparison is apt and perfect.
Let the Jan Lok Pal bill be enacted under pressure from Anna Hazare, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Aravind Kejriwal, Nikhil Dey, Sandip Pandey, Ms. Kiran Bedi IPS with the whole-hearted support of majority of Indians. The need of the hour is vigilance on the part of citizens, some political leaders to capitalize on Hazare’s movement tried to encroach upon the venue at Jantar Mantar like Uma Bharti, Ajith Singh, Om Prakash Chautala and they were prevented from it by Hazare’s people, a welcome step indeed. We know them. We know their history. To keep them out of such a noble venture is also the need of the hour. Otherwise this hallowed movement would be spoilt by all and sundry.
Anna Hazare renowned social activist and a true follower of Gandhian thoughts is on fast unto death since Tuesday. The respected social activist deeply pained and shocked at the extent corruption for the last decade or so finally decided enough is enough and the rampant corruption should be wiped out from the soil of India once and for all. Citizens like you and me were watching in shocking silence at the mountain of corruption the already burdened country is carrying over its shoulders. We sincerely hoped and prayed for the incarnation of a Missiha to take up cudgels against this looming menace. Now that the Missiha in the form 72 year old Anna Hazare has appeared on the scene demanding the formation of Jan Lok Pal Bill. Even before jumping into the fray he had demanded our Prime Minister to do something to erase corruption but the gentleman never cared to listen to saner counsels of Anna Hazare.
Even when he was about to start his fast unto death after all avenues of a solution failed the Prime Minister was adamant. The ‘Yes men and women’ of Mr.Singh and Sonia Gandhi like Manish Tiwari, Jayanti Natarajan and such elements accused Hazare of venturing into a ‘premature’ action and appealed to him to withdraw his fast.
Hazare’s ire and sarcasm against the group of Ministers to chart out a course of action as this group of Ministers consisted of Sharad Pawar who according to Hazare is himself a man of corruption and Kapil Sibal the Tele-communications Minister who went to the extent of justifying that in the 2G Spectrum scam our nation actually didn’t lose a single paise the truth was just the opposite, a massive loss of Rs 1,76000 lakh crore drained off the exchequer. Hazare without waiting for even a second, rejected the aforesaid group of Ministers looking into the matter.
Our Law Minister Veerappa Moily is a man with some sense of humour. He informed Hazare of the loss of the copy of draft Lok Pal Bill and requested Hazare to provide him with a new copy. A fasting Hazarika mocked at Veerappa Moily’s request and sarcastically pointed out the ‘seriousness’ the govt of India had displayed over the matter.
We witnessed a long procession of scams after scams, scandals after scandals like Anna Hazare and we can very well imagine the pain and agony he had undergone watching the scenes sitting on the side-lines. A true Gandhian like Hazare’s heart bled for the country. His voice turned into voice of the nation. Simultaneously the ‘so-called’ Gandhians in the corridors of power enjoyed power and pelf continue to enjoy, amass huge chunks of money without any qualms but preach Gandhism at the top of their voices a daily sight we all witness.
Soon after Hazare started fast at Jantar Mantar hundreds of citizens from various walks of life visit him and along with Hazare one hundred and fifty youth are on fast and to show solidarity with him citizens all over India who are fed up with a corruption-ridden govt are coming out into the streets to extent support for his noble cause.
A cross-section of our citizens for years eagerly waited for somebody to take up the mantle and that moment has reached now for another liberation struggle. As Anna Hazare compared to his movement with Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement of 1975 - his ‘Total Revolution’ and this comparison is apt and perfect.
Let the Jan Lok Pal bill be enacted under pressure from Anna Hazare, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Aravind Kejriwal, Nikhil Dey, Sandip Pandey, Ms. Kiran Bedi IPS with the whole-hearted support of majority of Indians. The need of the hour is vigilance on the part of citizens, some political leaders to capitalize on Hazare’s movement tried to encroach upon the venue at Jantar Mantar like Uma Bharti, Ajith Singh, Om Prakash Chautala and they were prevented from it by Hazare’s people, a welcome step indeed. We know them. We know their history. To keep them out of such a noble venture is also the need of the hour. Otherwise this hallowed movement would be spoilt by all and sundry.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
BLACK HUMOUR
Dark God,
your black humour
is something beyond imagination
something unbearable
you follow no pattern
no rules
no minimum decency and decorum.
You, like
a suicide-bomber
or like a confirmed drunkard
in the driving seat
roll over the young
and old alike
get exploded or mow down
whoever comes your way
everything at your will and
pleasure.
It’s you who draw
red-lines, blood-lines
under the names of
all lives following your
norms.
your black humour
is something beyond imagination
something unbearable
you follow no pattern
no rules
no minimum decency and decorum.
You, like
a suicide-bomber
or like a confirmed drunkard
in the driving seat
roll over the young
and old alike
get exploded or mow down
whoever comes your way
everything at your will and
pleasure.
It’s you who draw
red-lines, blood-lines
under the names of
all lives following your
norms.
FEASTS OF DEATHS
In the ‘Maximum City’
local trains
on a daily basis
do enjoy feasts of deaths.
The maddening crowds
crossing the rail tracks
to reach the next platforms
violating all rules
the overflowing compartments cum reservoirs
all the victims get caught between
the wheels and tracks.
The local trains do enjoy
feasts of deaths
on a daily basis.
Motormen with frozen minds
motormen with detached minds
the blinking motormen
their hands always on
the blaring horns
deafening are the sounds.
While the elongated serpents
Jump over rails
In drunken states.
local trains
on a daily basis
do enjoy feasts of deaths.
The maddening crowds
crossing the rail tracks
to reach the next platforms
violating all rules
the overflowing compartments cum reservoirs
all the victims get caught between
the wheels and tracks.
The local trains do enjoy
feasts of deaths
on a daily basis.
Motormen with frozen minds
motormen with detached minds
the blinking motormen
their hands always on
the blaring horns
deafening are the sounds.
While the elongated serpents
Jump over rails
In drunken states.
THE WITCH
He was lying in a state
of inebriation
in the blond’s lap
forgetting all his worries.
She was bending down
and showering kisses on him aplenty
and
caressing him smoothly, softly
which could raise his hairs
with intoxication.
He happened to notice her manicured nails
growing longer and longer
sharper and sharper
her eyes turning reddish
her face turning dark and hairy
her canine tooth and long tongue
projecting out of her mouth
all within seconds.
With a pounding heart
he tried to gather all his
strength and tried to
flee for life
but no
his strength already
deserted him and with
longer, sharper nails
she pierced his flesh,
her canine tooth and
blood oozing long tongue
tasting his blood
her hand turned already
dark and hairy like that
of a wolf
a sinking feeling
already taken possession of him
all within seconds…….
of inebriation
in the blond’s lap
forgetting all his worries.
She was bending down
and showering kisses on him aplenty
and
caressing him smoothly, softly
which could raise his hairs
with intoxication.
He happened to notice her manicured nails
growing longer and longer
sharper and sharper
her eyes turning reddish
her face turning dark and hairy
her canine tooth and long tongue
projecting out of her mouth
all within seconds.
With a pounding heart
he tried to gather all his
strength and tried to
flee for life
but no
his strength already
deserted him and with
longer, sharper nails
she pierced his flesh,
her canine tooth and
blood oozing long tongue
tasting his blood
her hand turned already
dark and hairy like that
of a wolf
a sinking feeling
already taken possession of him
all within seconds…….
MOHALI ROUND OF CRICKET DIPLOMACY
It seems with the Mohali round of diplomacy all problems between India and Pakistan have been settled. That is the magic of cricket. Actually only the spade-work for further rounds of talks has been laid out in a cordial atmosphere. The bonhomie between the two countries is really worth appreciation.
Indian Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh’s timely invite to Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Sardari, Pak President and their immediate acceptance of the invite in the backdrop of an exciting semi-final paid much dividends and both premiers did discuss various matters affecting both of them. ManMohan Singh’s reference to large-scale poverty, disease and unemployment in both countries did come for talks, similarly the tsunami, earthquake and nuclear tragedy affecting Japan and the sudden development in West Asian countries.
An important matter which became amply clear was that like India, Pakistan too is badly in need of peace and prosperity ,it also wants to free itself from the clutches of terrorism and for that the two nations need to co-operate with vigour and resolve.
The Mumbai carnage of 26/11/08 did come for talks and it was natural and in order to help India to further speed up the process of bringing the culprits to book Pakistan for the first time agreed for a judicial commission to visit Pakistan and conduct an investigation. This decision was an important turning point as far as both nations are concerned.
To a question, whether there was a push from USA, on both nations to negotiate a solution both leaders made it clear that they needn’t have the intervention of a third party and let’s remember that Pakistan for the first time is not insisting the intervention of a third party for further talks on the core issue of Kashmir.
As I had already mentioned the Mohali round of cricket diplomacy to lay the spadework for further negotiations, please note Pakistan-India problems extend upto more than six decades hence several rounds of talks are needed between Foreign Secretary level, Foregin Ministerial level and Prime Ministerial level.
Now that spadework has been laid out Foreign Secretary level talks are certainly expected especially on the core issue of Kashmir.
Since the relationship between the two nations being a delicate matter since forces opposed to an improvement in relations work overtime, the two countries need be vigilant.
As Gilani after arriving in Islamabad said the talks with India was a win-win one and the same must be the response of our Prime Minister also. The same is our response.
Let an atmosphere of peace, calm and cordiality prevail in both countries and let a recurrence of enmities not arise in future especially because of India and Pakistan are two neighbouring nations.
As Pakistan had made it clear, let’s avoid a third party intervention as it clearly displays a weakness on our part.
Similarly both PMs might have had a discussion about hundreds of prisoners languishing in the jails of both countries. Let them be freed by both nations as a step in the right direction.
Indian Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh’s timely invite to Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Sardari, Pak President and their immediate acceptance of the invite in the backdrop of an exciting semi-final paid much dividends and both premiers did discuss various matters affecting both of them. ManMohan Singh’s reference to large-scale poverty, disease and unemployment in both countries did come for talks, similarly the tsunami, earthquake and nuclear tragedy affecting Japan and the sudden development in West Asian countries.
An important matter which became amply clear was that like India, Pakistan too is badly in need of peace and prosperity ,it also wants to free itself from the clutches of terrorism and for that the two nations need to co-operate with vigour and resolve.
The Mumbai carnage of 26/11/08 did come for talks and it was natural and in order to help India to further speed up the process of bringing the culprits to book Pakistan for the first time agreed for a judicial commission to visit Pakistan and conduct an investigation. This decision was an important turning point as far as both nations are concerned.
To a question, whether there was a push from USA, on both nations to negotiate a solution both leaders made it clear that they needn’t have the intervention of a third party and let’s remember that Pakistan for the first time is not insisting the intervention of a third party for further talks on the core issue of Kashmir.
As I had already mentioned the Mohali round of cricket diplomacy to lay the spadework for further negotiations, please note Pakistan-India problems extend upto more than six decades hence several rounds of talks are needed between Foreign Secretary level, Foregin Ministerial level and Prime Ministerial level.
Now that spadework has been laid out Foreign Secretary level talks are certainly expected especially on the core issue of Kashmir.
Since the relationship between the two nations being a delicate matter since forces opposed to an improvement in relations work overtime, the two countries need be vigilant.
As Gilani after arriving in Islamabad said the talks with India was a win-win one and the same must be the response of our Prime Minister also. The same is our response.
Let an atmosphere of peace, calm and cordiality prevail in both countries and let a recurrence of enmities not arise in future especially because of India and Pakistan are two neighbouring nations.
As Pakistan had made it clear, let’s avoid a third party intervention as it clearly displays a weakness on our part.
Similarly both PMs might have had a discussion about hundreds of prisoners languishing in the jails of both countries. Let them be freed by both nations as a step in the right direction.
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