IIML Friends

It has hardly been a day, and I have started missing IIML badly. Although the serene and calm faces of my family members sleeping beside me give me comfort, yet I lay awake thinking of the moments that will never ever come again. Feeling of relief and exuberance at the successful completion of  PGDM has given way to this strange feeling, that is making the lump in my throat get bigger. Gone are the assignments, the projects, the classes, the case  studies, the mid-terms, the end-terms, the lectures, the late nights and the early mornings, but also gone away , probably never to meet again in the same situation and circumstances ,are my friends. Gone away too are the professors, the staff, the walls, the buildings and other inanimate objets, to whom no sane person can get attached. But what is it that is happening to me that is making my eyes misted and Why? Is it the Piscean in me who tends to grow emotional at the drop of a hat, or is it something much deeper? I do not know what it is, but all that I can say and wish at this moment is for Life to  grant the very best  to all my friends, and hope that they will keep in touch. Getting on the phone doesn’t take too much. I had read this poem by Charles Hanson Towne long back, and am reproducing it here partly, for all of you to ponder, reflect and act upon ...

Around the corner I have a friend, In this great city that has no end;

Yet days go by, and weeks rush on, And before I know it a year is gone,

And I never see my old friend's face, For life is a swift and terrible race.

He knows I like him just as well, As in the days when I rang his bell

And he rang mine. We were younger then, And now we are busy, tired men:

Tired with playing a foolish game,  Tired with trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow," I say, "I will call on Jim, Just to show I am thinking of him."

But tomorrow comes - and tomorrow goes, And the distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner! - yet miles away . ........................

सारे जग की आँख के तारे...

Having brought up my children the best way I could, these days I often sit and introspect as to what I could have done better. You can't be a parent again and the lessons that one learns in this exciting and arduous journey are immense. Possibly, one may think of applying these lessons as a grandparent, but more often than not, older people end up spoiling their grandchildren because of love. It is difficult for them to practise 'tough love', you see. 

First thing, first. Although the tone of what I am going to write may sound condescending, yet let it be known that the intention is only to share the mistakes that I may have made or observed others making them, and thus help the reader.  

As in the past, parents these days too are so damn busy in earning their livelihood and doing hundred other things that they often end up neglecting one of the most important responsibility of their life. Though there are so many things that parenting involves, I am going to concentrate today primarily on the academic aspect and a little bit on miscellaneous issues.

When I look around at one of the common attributes of successful people, I find that almost all of them have a beautiful handwriting. Barrack Obama, Winston Churchill and some others come to mind. Besides indicating clarity of thought, a good hand helps a lot in getting good marks in school and fetches a better assessment from the examiners when one has to write long subjective answers during the competitive exams. After all, who likes to read a badly scribbled note. There is no harm in picking up those handwriting practice books once again for your 'lakhte-zigar', irrespective of her age. I still insist on it with my children, though lately they have stopped listening to me. Learning calligraphy could also help in this effort.

Mathematics is another area that must be paid attention to.Ideally during the younger age, abacus classes and shortcuts by Shakuntla Devi must be learnt; however, it is never too late to start all this at any age. Get a good tutor for your child who can take regular classes, as practise and habit are important. Leaving the task for the father as a weekend job will not help. He too needs to unwind after a hectic week. RS Agarwal's book on Quantitative Aptitude may be picked up again by students who have finished 12th class.

All work and no play would for sure make Jack a dull boy.Sports are very important in life as they teach you to be humble in victory and graceful in defeat. Life is a battle and this great lesson that one learns helps  overcome the hurdles one faces as an adult.While individual games develop a person's individuality and determination, I personally would advocate team games, as they in addition develop teamwork which is so very essential in today's world. My favourite author Stephen Covey has said that 'inter-dependence is a higher value than independence'. Smart and confident people seek help from others rather than insisting on doing things all by themselves. This is where team sports help.

Reading is a habit that is best developed in childhood. This is best done by the mother at bed-time. Besides improving diction and creating a mother-child bond, it helps in inculcating in the child a deep and abiding passion for reading. Reading to my mind develops a person's faculties like nothing else. It is never too late to start. Although I was very fond of books; yet, in school the habit could not develop because of PCMB. It's only around 21 that I found some free time to indulge in this hobby . One must not restrict only to English, as our regional literature also has phenomenal to offer. 

It is also very important to teach the children to keenly observe nature and the environment around. Most of us do nothing better than sleepwalking all our life. Except for names of a few trees, birds and flowers, our knowledge on life around us is 'zilch'. Keen observation will help the children in understanding our connection with the nature around us.Somehow it is a great stress- buster as well. Appreciating the sweet song of the cuckoo or the zigzag flight of the colourful and glossy butterfly on a sunny day works wonder for our mental well-being.

Appreciation for arts and music will only come if one takes time out to take the children to art shows, museums and music fests.

Teaching children dignity of labour and making them sensitive to the needs of the lesser fortunate are other aspects that must not be lost 

sight of. Regarding the latter, I am often reminded of these lines from a famous author...

"The tallest oak in the forest is the tallest not just because it grew from the hardiest acorn; it is the tallest also because no other trees blocked its sunlight, the soil around it was deep and rich, no rabbit chewed through its bark as a sapling, and no lumberjack cut it down before it matured."

Yeh Dil yeh Pagal dil mera

Another beautiful explanation from the web courtesy Amit...

Masterpiece by a Master of poetry, "Mohsin Naqvi" and Brilliantly emoted by Ghulam Ali Saahab in his inimitable style. I beleive one can really enjoy this Ghazal, if one can relate to it. "Aawargi" is not "Loneliness", and in any case not even closer to it. If one tries hard, one can relate "Aawargi" to "Carefree state of Mind". Supreme form of Leisure. Well, truly speaking, its a state to be felt rather than described!

Ye dil ye paagal dil mera, kyun bujh gayaa awaargi
is dasht mein ek sheher tha, woh kya hua aawaargi..

Kal shab mujhe beshakl ki awaaz ne chaunka diya,
Main ne kaha tu kaun hai, usne kaha aawaargi..

Ik tuu ki sadiyon se mere, hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi,
Ik main ki tere naam se naa aashnaa aawaargi..

Ek ajnabi jhaunke ne jab poocha mere gham ka sabab
sehera ki bheegi ret per, maine likha aawaargi..

Ye dard ki tanhaiyaan, ye dasht kaa viraan safar
hum log to ukta gaye apni suna, aawaargi..

Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum jahaan
ho jurm tanhaa sochnaa, lekin sazaa aawaargi..

Kal raat tanha chaand ko dekha tha maine khwaab mein
“Mohsin” mujhe raas aayegii shaayad sada aawaargi..

Ye dil ye paagal dil mera, kyun bujh gayaa awaargi
is dasht mein ek sheher tha, woh kya hua aawaargi..

Mohsin Sa'ab realizes the Carefree State of Mind in these opening lines. He says, "I do not understand what is wrong with my heart, with what I am feeling. Its totally crazy and out of this world! Until recently there was so much chaos within me( "is dasht mein ek sheher tha", meaning, the chaos within the heart compared to the hustle bustle of a City), but where is that today? Today what I feel is only "Aawargi" !

Kal shab mujhe beshakl ki awaaz ne chaunka diya,
Main ne kaha tu kaun hai, usne kaha aawaargi..

Carrying on with his realization of this state of mind, Poet says, "Kal shab mujhe beshakl ki awaaz ne chaunka diya".

Wonderfully put! "Beshakl" meaning, Not having an Identity(face). He says, that he was alarmed(chaunka diya), on hearing a non familiar voice from within, which had no identity. Meaning to say, the feeling of Wandeness(Aawargi) was a stranger to him. He goes to on say, that when he questioned the stranger about his identity, he said "Aawargi".

What a subtle way of portraying a state of mind!

Ik tuu ki sadiyon se mere, hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi,
Ik main ki tere naam se naa aashnaa aawaargi..

One of the most expressive lines of the Ghazal! Wah!

"Ik tuu ki sadiyon se mere, hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi". You(Aawargi), have always been my companion and my confident(hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi). Here the poet means to say, that he is now realizing how he always found solace in himself. How he never found himself alone, and how he always had someone within to speak his feelings to.

"Ik main ki tere naam se naa aashnaa aawaargi..". But I never realized this that you were always with me. I was so much lost in the worldly matters that I never had time to look within! You were there for me whenever I needed, but its a sad truth that I was so unaware(naa aashnaa)!

How beautifully Mohsin Sa'ab emotes his feelings in the above lines! And How true. We are so much involved with the noise outside of us, that we hardly realize of what we are. What we like, and where would we want to go. It would be wonderful to take time out for ourselves and enjoy that Carefree state of mind where one lets his mind wander! As i said earlier, such a state can not be described but only felt!

Ek ajnabi jhaunke ne jab poocha mere gham ka sabab
sehera ki bheegi ret per, maine likha aawaargi..

A little difficult to interpret, but I will try.

"Ek ajnabi jhaunke ne jab poocha mere gham ka sabab", meaning to say, "A stranger ("ajnabee jhaunke" meaning a stranger wind) asked me the, Reason of my Sorrows (gham ka sabab).

"Sehera ki bheegi ret per, maine likha aawaargi.. On the Wet Sand of the Desert (Sehera ki bheegi ret ), I wrote "Aawargi".

Now for the meaning within. Poet is trying to show how much he is lost into this state of "Aawargi". Now when he has found this state of mind, he is so much in love with it that he is unable to come out of it. He is not liking anything else that is happening around him and perhaps this state of mind is dragging him to a cut-off from the world. This whole state of his thoughts, appear to be a Sorrowful state of mind to an Ajnabee, stranger, who is not able to understand what is going within the poet."Sehera ki bheegi ret per", the wet sand of the desert, meaning to say, he is lamenting, he is crying and these tears are making the sand of the desert wet. Desert here is symbolic of the sufferings of the people and the hardships, and "Aawargi" a balm/solution to them!

Ye dard ki tanhaiyaan, ye dasht kaa viraan safar
hum log to ukta gaye apni suna, aawaargi..

Amazingly put! These two lines need to be interpreted in a casual way.

Now that he is in this state he shares what's happening to him. "Dard ki tanhaiyaan", Pain of Loneliness. and "dasht kaa viraan safar", meaning, The Lonely journey(viraan safar) through the Desert(dasht). This means to say, in the state of Aawargi, the poet has stayed for so long that he is now casually speaking to Aawargi about how he has become lonely due to him. How he is travelling alone in his journey of life amidst the hardships(dasht=desert) that are at offer.

"Hum log to ukta gaye apni suna, aawaargi.." Imagine the poet sitting with the Aawargi, and smilingly asking him, that I am bored of all this now, how about you?

The above lines tend towards giving a feel that the poet has made friends with his Inner Self and is talking to himself. The Supreme state of Mind!

Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum jahaan
ho jurm tanhaa sochnaa, lekin sazaa aawaargi..

These lines have been beautifully sung by Ghulam Ali Saahab. In a way that brings out the meaning of the sher.

"Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum jahaan, ho jurm tanhaa sochnaa, lekin sazaa aawaargi..", meaning, Please tell me how is it possible to live in a place where it is Loneliness is a crime, but the punishment is "Aawargi"!

Wah!!

Making a mockery of the Worldly setup, Poet says, that it is strange that no one respects and understands the "Carefree State of Mind" and people sometimes compare it to state of Madness and call it Crime. Only if you are one among the many and are interacting, everything seems good and valid. Once you enter this state of Aawargi, no one understands you. As a result, everyone leaves you alone. Aloof. (lekin sazaa aawaargi..). Poet says, if you leave someone aloof, lonely, he will do what else if not speak to himself !

So the poet says, he is finding very difficult to stay with this state of mind in this world.(Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum)

Kal raat tanha chaand ko dekha tha maine khwaab mein
“Mohsin” mujhe raas aayegii shaayad sada aawaargi..

The Concluding and the most heartening lines. Beautiful, Simple and Touching.

Poet says, in his dreams the other day, he saw the Moon shining brightly in the sky.(Kal raat tanha(lonely) chaand ko dekha tha maine khwaab(dream) mein). Tanha Chaand, because, in the vast Sky spread, it seemed very lonely. But it was bright. It was shining. It was giving Light to the world. And This made the poet think, "“Mohsin” mujhe raas aayegii shaayad sada aawaargi..". Raas ayegi shaayad sada, meaning - Will Like Always.

Poet speaks to himself, "Mohsin, I think, be whatever, I have found happiness in Aawargi, and I will enjoy being with it forever".

No Words can describe the happiness that this Ghazal leaves you with. It pokes you within and tempts you to delve closer to the Euphoric state of "Aawargi".

Chupke Chupke Raat Din

This is the best explanation of this masterpiece which I got from the web. Beautifully explained by Mr Amit. I have not added or deleted a single word...

Chupke Chupke Raat Din, Aansu Bahana Yaad Hai !

A Landmark Ghazal by Hasrat Mohani.


A very common Ghazal, and by my understanding of the people response, its very under estimated also. Hope this article will dust off any misconceptions, of this gem being a mediocre literal piece!

First the Ghazal in all its opulence,


Chupke chupke raat din aansoon bahaana yaad hai
Hum ko ab tak aashiqui ka woh zamaana yaad hai


Tujh se milte hi woh bebaak ho jaana mera
Aur tera daanton mein woh ungali dabaana yaad hai


Chori chori hum se tum aa kar mile the jis jagaah
Muddatein guzareen par ab tak wo thikaana yaad hai


Khench lenaa wo mera parde ka konaa daffatan
Aur dupatte mein tera woh munh chhupaana yaad hai


Tujh ko jab tanhaa kabhii paana to az raah-e-lihaaz
Haal-e-dil baaton hi baaton mein jataanaa yaad hai


Aa gaya gar vasl ki shab bhi kahin zikr-e-firaaq
Woh tera ro-ro ke bhi mujhko rulaana yaad hai


Dopahar ki dhoop mein mere bulane ke liye
Woh tera kothe pe nangey paaon aana yaad hai

Dekhanaa mujhako jo bargashtaa to sau sau naaz se
Jab manaa lenaa to phir Khud ruuTh jaanaa yaad hai 

BeruKhii ke saath sunaanaa dard-e-dil kii dastaa.N

Aur teraa hatho.n me.n vo ka.ngan ghumaanaa yaad hai

Waqt-e-ruKhsat alvidaa kaa lafz kahane ke liye
Wo tere sukhe labo.n kaa thar-tharaanaa yaad hai

Baah-a-zaaraa.N iztiraab-o-sad-hazaaraa.N ishtiyaaq

Tujhase vo pahale pahal dil kaa lagaanaa yaad hai 

Baavajuud-e-iddaa-e-ittaqaa ‘Hasrat’ mujhe

Aaj tak ahad-e-havas kaa ye fasaanaa yaad hai

Hasrat Saa'ab was very different in his approach compared to his contemporaries. He was very bold in his expressions and very straight-forward in his portrayal. While most of the poets of the era wrote Ghazals about a heart-broken Lover, or his betrayal, Hasrat Saa'ab, chose to write about the small but beautiful aspects of Love. He did not believe in holding back his thoughts and broke the convention of shyness. Unlike others, he never hid the gender of his lover, and also liked to bring to his audience, in a simple way, Love with all its beautiful little emotions!

This ghazal is a landmark ghazal because of its difference to other poetic pieces of the same era. A neat, simple and most importantly a heart touching portrayal of the encounters in Love!

Ghulam Ali Saa'ab has sung this very beautifully. He has selectively sung few verses of the Ghazal, which i think could be keeping the audience in mind and also the 'meter' aspect of the tune in which the ghazal was.

Starting with the translation,

Chupke chupke raat din aansoon bahaana yaad hai
Hum ko ab tak aashiqui ka woh zamaana yaad hai

Simple. Sweet. I still remember those Romantic times, when I used to lament (can be because one is unable to meet his lover, or when love is unable to meet public acceptance).

The poet sits back and gets nostalgic over the times when he was in love!

Tujh se milte hi woh bebaak ho jaana mera
Aur tera daanton mein woh ungali dabaana yaad hai

When i met you, I remember how confident, how bold i would become.

(Bebaak menaing Bold, confident). The poet means to say, that in-front of our loved ones, we are just ourselves. Aur tera daanton mein woh ungali dabaana yaad hai. And I remember on my becoming bold, you always used to shy away. How you used to byte your fingers, how you used to shy away from my advances! 

This is all to imagine rather than write about. A simple situation brought out very beautifully!

Remark: Ghulam Ali Saa'b has added 'kuch' in the intial line of the Sher.
Tujh se milte hi woh kuch bebaak ho jaana mera
 I think it was done to probably set the lyrics to the tune. 


Chori chori hum se tum aa kar mile the jis jagaah
Muddatein guzareen par ab tak wo thikaana yaad hai

Back then, I remember how, we secretly used to meet at "that" place..
And even now, although its been a long time (Muddatein guzareen), I still very much remember that place, very clearly in my thoughts!

Imagine the poet sitting and just flipping back through his memories and as each page passes by, he tries to re-create it and soaks in that nostalgic euphoria that memories weave in front of him! Romance at its best.

Khench lenaa wo mera parde ka konaa daffatan
Aur dupatte mein tera woh munh chhupaana yaad hai

One has to imagine this.. Beautifully expressed.

Poet remembers how she used to suddenly (daffatan) pull the corners of the curtains and then tried to shy away and hide her face in her dupatta/veil.

I fail miserably in describing this, but this is all to be imagined. These are very romantic moments, and these nuances of love have been very well brought out by the poet.

In all these lines poet is just trying to remember how shy his lover used to be. Its like, she was holding herself..

Tujh ko jab tanhaa kabhii paana to az raah-e-lihaaz
Haal-e-dil baaton hi baaton mein jataanaa yaad hai

Poet says, "whenever i got lucky to find you alone(tanha), then I used to, with utmost care(az raah-e-lihaaz), describe my feelings in the veil of a casual talk. 

Just imagine this situation. Both love each other, and both are holding their feelings back, only to let it become evident through these small romantic encounters!

He uses this word here, az raah-e-lihaaz,  meaning, "with utmost care". This is very beautifully used to show the delicate moment. He has found her alone after a long time, and this is his chance to show his emotions and let her know how much he loves her, but he also does not want her to know that he is desperate about her. So, he acts very casual but also makes sure that through what he speaks, she comes to know his love for her! Ah, sweet moment, isn't? Haal-e-dil  (state/condition of the heart) baaton hi baaton mein (casually) jataanaa yaad hai .. 

Aa gaya gar vasl ki shab bhi kahin zikr-e-firaaq
Woh tera ro-ro ke bhi mujhko rulaana yaad hai

Beautiful, yet again!

He says, I remember that if even the mention of taking leave used to come in the evening when we would be together, you used to weep badly, and that in turn, used to bring tears in my eyes..! Aa gaya gar vasl (meeting, time when were together) ki shab (evening) bhi kahin zikr-e-firaaq( mention of seperation)..

Dopahar ki dhoop mein mere bulane ke liye
Woh tera kothe pe nangey paaon aana yaad hai

Again, a very small moment, which poet captures and brings out very beautifully.. Its as if, these moments might be small, but for him they showed how much she loved him, and that used to make that moment the most special one!

He says, It used to be blazing hot, and I remember how you used to come running to the terrace(kothe) to call me, all bare foot. Poet tries to show how he would see her love in these small moments of care. She used to crave to see him, be in his company.. and whenever she got one, she just managed to control her emotions! As in this case, not even the hot sun tamed her emotions.. she ran to call him bare feet, showing that she just could not wait to see him, and this "calling him" was a great excuse she got. She never showed her emotions directly, and always tried to portray a casual demeanor  but that love always spilled over through her mannerisms!

Dekhanaa mujhako jo bargashtaa to sau sau naaz se
Jab manaa lenaa to phir Khud ruuTh jaanaa yaad hai 

Beautiful Thoughts! 
Here poet says, that whenever you saw me upset(bargashtaa meaning upset here) , with all your love(sau sau naaz se), you used to cheer me up. Then as soon, you could see that I was doing fine, you turned upset! As if my turn was over and now it was your turn, and I should cheer you up and pamper you.  (Jab manaa lenaa to phir Khud ruuTh jaanaa yaad hai )

Beautiful, isn't? Moments of love, of care, of simplicity, but so charming and so very well expresses. It just re-instills your faith on the fact that Love is all about these small precious moments of togetherness..!

BeruKhii ke saath sunaanaa dard-e-dil kii dastaa.N

Aur teraa hatho.n me.n vo ka.ngan ghumaanaa yaad hai

Ah! Berukhi meaning indifference. Poet says, when i used to tell you about how difficult it is to live without you, how I wish i could always be with you(sunaanaa dard-e-dil kii dastaa.N) - you always acted as if you are indifferent to it. Fact being - you used to love listening to me, but you never let it be evident from your expressions. To top that - you used to playfully engage yourself in tinkering the ornaments in your hand (Aur teraa hatho.n me.n vo ka.ngan ghumaanaa yaad hai), as if saying - " I don' care what you are saying.." . 

Try to picture these moments. One cannot help but soak in the wonderful emotion that poet weaves here. Simple moments, but so very touching and real!


Waqt-e-ruKhsat alvidaa kaa lafz kahane ke liye
Wo tere sukhe labo.n kaa thar-tharaanaa yaad hai

In the moment-to-depart(Waqt-e-ruKhsat) , when the time to say good bye(alvida) for the day came(alvidaa kaa lafz kahane ke liye) , I still remember, how your lips would get dry (sukhe labo.n kaa meaning dry lips) and would shiver(thar-tharaanaa), as if they just could not utter the word. I still remember how weak you went!

How touching! Mesmerising.. As if you see all this happening in-front of you!

Baah-a-zaaraa.N iztiraab-o-sad-hazaaraa.N ishtiyaaq

Tujhase vo pahale pahal dil kaa lagaanaa yaad hai 

My favourite sher of the ghazal.

Baah  meaning : Lust (positive way).
Zaar  in -a-zaara- meaning : Desire
Iztiraab meaning: Anxiety

Poet says - I still very much remember the times I first felt for you(Tujhase vo pahale pahal dil kaa lagaanaa yaad hai ). It was a feeling fueled by lustful desires and anxiety(Baah-a-zaaraa.N iztiraab). An un-explainable restlessness that overtook everything within. It was a time marked with hundred-thousand(sad-hazaaraa.N) desires and longing( ishtiyaaq) for you!

I don't think anyone can put this feeling in words more beautifully than Hasrat Saa'b has done. Very truly emoted! One must take keen observation that Hasrat Sa'ab was never shy of expressing his feelings through poetry. Here he uses strong words like 'Baah' - which were necessary to emote the truthfulness of the situation.

Baavajuud-e-iddaa-e-ittaqaa ‘Hasrat’ mujhe

Aaj tak ahad-e-havas kaa ye fasaanaa yaad hai

In this 'maqta' of the ghazal, Hasrat Sa'ab again proves his worth. Wonderful sher.

Baavajuud-e-iddaa-e-ittaqaa meaning - In-spite(Baavajuud) of my claims(iddaa) of abstinence.(ittaqaa ). Poet speaks to himself and says- Hasrat, in-spite of all your claims that I do not remember, and I have long forgotten - the fact is that with all sense and sensibility(havas ), I still remember very clearly the promise(ahad) of love that I did then. This tale of love(fasaanaa) is very clearly etched out in my memories, and that, will always remain the truth!


I hope you agree that Hasrat Mohani Sa'ab has truly penned a masterpiece in form of this ghazal. With Ghulam ali singing this - you can easily picture the while tale happening in front of your eyes. 

Oft, in the Stilly Night -Thomas Moore

Oft, in the stilly night,

Ere slumber’s chain has bound me,

Fond memory brings the light

Of other days around me;

The smiles, the tears,

Of boyhood’s years,

The words of love then spoken;

The eyes that shone,

Now dimm’d and gone,

The cheerful hearts now broken!

Thus, in the stilly night,

Ere slumber’s chain hath bound me,

Sad memory brings the light

Of other days around me.

When I remember all

The friends, so link’d together,

I’ve seen around me fall,

Like leaves in wintry weather;

I feel like one

Who treads alone

Some banquet-hall deserted,

Whose lights are fled,

Whose garlands dead,

And all but he departed!

Thus, in the stilly night,

Ere slumber’s chain has bound me,

Sad memory brings the light

Of other days around me.

हम देखेंगे...

हम देखेंगे
लाज़िम है कि हम भी देखेंगे
वो दिन कि जिसका वादा है
जो लोह-ए-अज़ल^[1] में लिखा है
जब ज़ुल्म-ओ-सितम के कोह-ए-गरां ^[2]
रुई की तरह उड़ जाएँगे
हम महकूमों^[3] के पाँव तले
ये धरती धड़-धड़ धड़केगी
और अहल-ए-हकम^[4] के सर ऊपर
जब बिजली कड़-कड़ कड़केगी
जब अर्ज-ए-ख़ुदा के काबे से
सब बुत^[5] उठवाए जाएँगे
हम अहल-ए-सफ़ा^[6], मरदूद-ए-हरम^[7]
मसनद पे बिठाए जाएँगे
सब ताज उछाले जाएँगे
सब तख़्त गिराए जाएँगे

बस नाम रहेगा अल्लाह^[8] का
जो ग़ायब भी है हाज़िर भी
जो मंज़र^[9] भी है नाज़िर^[10] भी
उट्ठेगा अन-अल-हक़^[11] का नारा
जो मैं भी हूँ और तुम भी हो
और राज़ करेगी खुल्क-ए-ख़ुदा^[12]
जो मैं भी हूँ और तुम भी हो

शब्दार्थ

1. विधि के विधान
2. घने पहाड़
3. रियाया या शासित
4.  सताधीश
5.  सत्ताधारियों के प्रतीक पुतले
6. साफ़ सुथरे लोग
7. धर्मस्थल में प्रवेश से वंचित लोग
8. ईश्वर
9. दृश्य
10. देखने वाला
11. मैं ही सत्य हूँ या अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि
12. आम जनता

गुलों में रंग भरे...

गुलों में रंग भरे बाद-ए-नौ-बहार चले

चले भी आओ कि गुलशन का कारोबार चले

क़फ़स उदास है यारो सबा से कुछ तो कहो

कहीं तो बहर-ए-ख़ुदा आज ज़िक्र-ए-यार चले

कभी तो सुब्ह तिरे कुंज-ए-लब से हो आग़ाज़

कभी तो शब सर-ए-काकुल से मुश्क-बार चले

बड़ा है दर्द का रिश्ता ये दिल ग़रीब सही

तुम्हारे नाम पे आएँगे ग़म-गुसार चले

जो हम पे गुज़री सो गुज़री मगर शब-ए-हिज्राँ

हमारे अश्क तिरी आक़िबत सँवार चले

हुज़ूर-ए-यार हुई दफ़्तर-ए-जुनूँ की तलब

गिरह में ले के गरेबाँ का तार तार चले

मक़ाम 'फ़ैज़' कोई राह में जचा ही नहीं

जो कू-ए-यार से निकले तो सू-ए-दार चले

कृष्ण की चेतावनी

वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम,

बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,

सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर,

पांडव आये कुछ और निखर।

सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,

देखें, आगे क्या होता है।

मैत्री की राह बताने को,

सबको सुमार्ग पर लाने को,

दुर्योधन को समझाने को,

भीषण विध्वंस बचाने को,

भगवान् हस्तिनापुर आये,

पांडव का संदेशा लाये।

‘दो न्याय अगर तो आधा दो,

पर, इसमें भी यदि बाधा हो,

तो दे दो केवल पाँच ग्राम,

रक्खो अपनी धरती तमाम।

हम वहीं खुशी से खायेंगे,

परिजन पर असि न उठायेंगे!

दुर्योधन वह भी दे ना सका,

आशीष समाज की ले न सका,

उलटे, हरि को बाँधने चला,

जो था असाध्य, साधने चला।

जब नाश मनुज पर छाता है,

पहले विवेक मर जाता है।

हरि ने भीषण हुंकार किया,

अपना स्वरूप-विस्तार किया,

डगमग-डगमग दिग्गज डोले,

भगवान् कुपित होकर बोले-

‘जंजीर बढ़ा कर साध मुझे,

हाँ, हाँ दुर्योधन! बाँध मुझे।

यह देख, गगन मुझमें लय है,

यह देख, पवन मुझमें लय है,

मुझमें विलीन झंकार सकल,

मुझमें लय है संसार सकल।

अमरत्व फूलता है मुझमें,

संहार झूलता है मुझमें।

‘उदयाचल मेरा दीप्त भाल,

भूमंडल वक्षस्थल विशाल,

भुज परिधि-बन्ध को घेरे हैं,

मैनाक-मेरु पग मेरे हैं।

दिपते जो ग्रह नक्षत्र निकर,

सब हैं मेरे मुख के अन्दर।

‘दृग हों तो दृश्य अकाण्ड देख,

मुझमें सारा ब्रह्माण्ड देख,

चर-अचर जीव, जग, क्षर-अक्षर,

नश्वर मनुष्य सुरजाति अमर।

शत कोटि सूर्य, शत कोटि चन्द्र,

शत कोटि सरित, सर, सिन्धु मन्द्र।

‘शत कोटि विष्णु, ब्रह्मा, महेश,

शत कोटि विष्णु जलपति, धनेश,

शत कोटि रुद्र, शत कोटि काल,

शत कोटि दण्डधर लोकपाल।

जञ्जीर बढ़ाकर साध इन्हें,

हाँ-हाँ दुर्योधन! बाँध इन्हें।

‘भूलोक, अतल, पाताल देख,

गत और अनागत काल देख,

यह देख जगत का आदि-सृजन,

यह देख, महाभारत का रण,

मृतकों से पटी हुई भू है,

पहचान, इसमें कहाँ तू है।

‘अम्बर में कुन्तल-जाल देख,

पद के नीचे पाताल देख,

मुट्ठी में तीनों काल देख,

मेरा स्वरूप विकराल देख।

सब जन्म मुझी से पाते हैं,

फिर लौट मुझी में आते हैं।

‘जिह्वा से कढ़ती ज्वाल सघन,

साँसों में पाता जन्म पवन,

पड़ जाती मेरी दृष्टि जिधर,

हँसने लगती है सृष्टि उधर!

मैं जभी मूँदता हूँ लोचन,

छा जाता चारों ओर मरण।

‘बाँधने मुझे तो आया है,

जंजीर बड़ी क्या लाया है?

यदि मुझे बाँधना चाहे मन,

पहले तो बाँध अनन्त गगन।

सूने को साध न सकता है,

वह मुझे बाँध कब सकता है?

‘हित-वचन नहीं तूने माना,

मैत्री का मूल्य न पहचाना,

तो ले, मैं भी अब जाता हूँ,

अन्तिम संकल्प सुनाता हूँ।

याचना नहीं, अब रण होगा,

जीवन-जय या कि मरण होगा।

‘टकरायेंगे नक्षत्र-निकर,

बरसेगी भू पर वह्नि प्रखर,

फण शेषनाग का डोलेगा,

विकराल काल मुँह खोलेगा।

दुर्योधन! रण ऐसा होगा।

फिर कभी नहीं जैसा होगा।

‘भाई पर भाई टूटेंगे,

विष-बाण बूँद-से छूटेंगे,

वायस-श्रृगाल सुख लूटेंगे,

सौभाग्य मनुज के फूटेंगे।

आखिर तू भूशायी होगा,

हिंसा का पर, दायी होगा।’

थी सभा सन्न, सब लोग डरे,

चुप थे या थे बेहोश पड़े।

केवल दो नर ना अघाते थे,

धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर सुख पाते थे।

कर जोड़ खड़े प्रमुदित,

निर्भय, दोनों पुकारते थे ‘जय-जय’!

The Character of a Happy Life

How happy is he born and taught

That serveth not another's will;

Whose armour is his honest thought,

And simple truth his utmost skill!

Whose passions not his masters are;

Whose soul is still prepared for death,

Untied unto the world by care

Of public fame or private breath;

Who envies none that chance doth raise,

Nor vice; who never understood

How deepest wounds are given by praise;

Nor rules of state, but rules of good;

Who hath his life from rumours freed;

Whose conscience is his strong retreat;

Whose state can neither flatterers feed,

Nor ruin make oppressors great;

Who God doth late and early pray

More of His grace than gifts to lend;

And entertains the harmless day

With a religious book or friend;

—This man is freed from servile bands

Of hope to rise or fear to fall:

Lord of himself, though not of lands,

And having nothing, yet hath all.

-Sir Henry Wotton

सुना है...

सुना है लोग उसे आँख भर के देखते हैं
सो उसके शहर में कुछ दिन ठहर के देखते हैं

सुना है रब्त है उसको ख़राब हालों से
सो अपने आप को बरबाद कर के देखते हैं

सुना है दर्द की गाहक है चश्म-ए-नाज़ उसकी
सो हम भी उसकी गली से गुज़र के देखते हैं

सुना है उसको भी है शेर-ओ-शायरी से शगफ़
सो हम भी मोजज़े अपने हुनर के देखते हैं

सुना है बोले तो बातों से फूल झड़ते हैं
ये बात है तो चलो बात कर के देखते हैं

सुना है रात उसे चाँद तकता रहता है
सितारे बाम-ए-फ़लक से उतर के देखते हैं

सुना है हश्र हैं उसकी ग़ज़ाल सी आँखें
सुना है उस को हिरन दश्त भर के देखते हैं

सुना है दिन को उसे तितलियाँ सताती हैं
सुना है रात को जुगनू ठहर के देखते हैं

सुना है रात से बढ़ कर हैं काकुलें उसकी
सुना है शाम को साये गुज़र के देखते हैं

सुना है उसकी सियाह चश्मगी क़यामत है
सो उसको सुरमाफ़रोश आह भर के देखते हैं

सुना है उसके लबों से गुलाब जलते हैं
सो हम बहार पर इल्ज़ाम धर के देखते हैं

सुना है आईना तमसाल है जबीं उसकी
जो सादा दिल हैं उसे बन सँवर के देखते हैं

सुना है जब से हमाइल हैं उसकी गर्दन में
मिज़ाज और ही लाल-ओ-गौहर के देखते हैं

सुना है चश्म-ए-तसव्वुर से दश्त-ए-इम्काँ में
पलंग ज़ाविए उसकी कमर के देखते हैं

सुना है उसके बदन के तराश ऐसे हैं
के फूल अपनी क़बायेँ कतर के देखते हैं

वो सर-ओ-कद है मगर बे-गुल-ए-मुराद नहीं
के उस शजर पे शगूफ़े समर के देखते हैं

बस एक निगाह से लुटता है क़ाफ़िला दिल का
सो रहर्वान-ए-तमन्ना भी डर के देखते हैं

सुना है उसके शबिस्तान से मुत्तसिल है बहिश्त
मकीन उधर के भी जलवे इधर के देखते हैं

रुके तो गर्दिशें उसका तवाफ़ करती हैं
चले तो उसको ज़माने ठहर के देखते हैं

किसे नसीब के बे-पैरहन उसे देखे
कभी-कभी दर-ओ-दीवार घर के देखते हैं

कहानियाँ हीं सही सब मुबालग़े ही सही
अगर वो ख़्वाब है ताबीर कर के देखते हैं

अब उसके शहर में ठहरें कि कूच कर जायेँ
फ़राज़ आओ सितारे सफ़र के देखते हैं

अभी कुछ और करिश्मे ग़ज़ल के देखते हैं
फ़राज़ अब ज़रा लहजा बदल के देखते हैं

जुदाइयां तो मुक़द्दर हैं फिर भी जाने सफ़र
कुछ और दूर ज़रा साथ चलके देखते हैं

रह-ए-वफ़ा में हरीफ़-ए-खुराम कोई तो हो
सो अपने आप से आगे निकल के देखते हैं

तू सामने है तो फिर क्यों यकीं नहीं आता
यह बार बार जो आँखों को मल के देखते हैं

ये कौन लोग हैं मौजूद तेरी महफिल में
जो लालचों से तुझे, मुझे जल के देखते हैं

यह कुर्ब क्या है कि यकजाँ हुए न दूर रहे
हज़ार इक ही कालिब में ढल के देखते हैं

न तुझको मात हुई न मुझको मात हुई
सो अबके दोनों ही चालें बदल के देखते हैं

यह कौन है सर-ए-साहिल कि डूबने वाले
समन्दरों की तहों से उछल के देखते हैं

अभी तलक तो न कुंदन हुए न राख हुए
हम अपनी आग में हर रोज़ जल के देखते हैं

बहुत दिनों से नहीं है कुछ उसकी ख़ैर ख़बर
चलो फ़राज़ को ऐ यार चल के देखते हैं

-                               ----अहमद फ़राज़

क्यों करें हम...

नया एक रिश्ता पैदा क्यों करें हम
बिछड़ना है तो झगडा क्यों करें हम

ख़ामोशी से अदा हो रस्मे-दूरी
कोई हंगामा बरपा क्यों करें हम

ये काफी है कि हम दुश्मन नहीं हैं
वफादारी का दावा क्यों करें हम

वफ़ा इखलास कुर्बानी मोहब्बत
अब इन लफ़्ज़ों का पीछा क्यों करें हम

हमारी ही तमन्ना क्यों करो तुम
तुम्हारी ही तमन्ना क्यों करें हम

किया था अहद जब लम्हों में हमने
तो सारी उम्र इफा क्यों करें हम

उठा कर क्यों न फेंकें सारी चीज़ें
फकत कमरों में टहला क्यों करें हम

नहीं दुनिया को जब परवाह हमारी
तो दुनिया की परवाह क्यों करें हम

बरहना हैं सरे बाज़ार तो क्या
भला अंधों से परा क्यों करें हम

हैं बाशिंदे इसी बस्ती के हम भी
सो खुद पर भी भरोसा क्यों करें हम

पड़ी रहने दो इंसानों की लाशें
ज़मीं का बोझ हल्का क्यों करें हम

ये बस्ती है मुसलामानों की बस्ती
यहाँ कारे-मसीहा क्यों करें हम

....... जौन एलिया

अब के हम बिछड़े

अब के हम बिछड़े तो शायद कभी ख़्वाबों में मिले

जिस तरह सूखे हुए फूल किताबों में मिले

ढूंढ उजड़े हुए लोगों में वफ़ा के मोती

ये खज़ाने तुझे मुमकिन है ख़राबों में मिले

अब के हम बिछड़े...

तू खुदा है, न मेरा इश्क फरिश्तों जैसा

दोनों इन्सां हैं तो क्यों इतने हिजाबों में मिले

अब के हम बिछड़े...

ग़म-ए-दुनिया भी ग़म-ए-यार में शामिल कर लो

नशा बढ़ता है शराबे जो शराबों में मिले

अब के हम बिछड़े...

अब न मैं हूँ, न तू है, न वो माज़ी है फ़राज़

जैसे दो साये तमन्ना के सराबों में मिले

अब के हम बिछड़े...

Leadership

I found this interesting article on the web on 14 Nov 19. Read on...

Imagine your life as two levels.

Level One: Follow

Level Two: Lead

Leadership can seem as though a person must be born with the wings of an angel. It can seem out of reach, difficult and not worth pursuing. I thought this once too. Becoming a leader was the last thing on my mind. It seemed pointless.

Then, in a moment that resembles the unveiling of a Picasso painting for the very first time, I saw the truth: leadership is obtainable. You don’t have to have any experience or be born with a god-like sense of likability.

I was always a follower in my career. Then, level two became interesting. Was it really that hard? Could a novice play the game and find the secret to winning?

During that Picasso moment, someone I admired told me how they became a leader. It wasn’t what I expected. They became a leader by first understanding this core principle that unlocks everything else about leadership.

That core principle is this: leadership is serving others before yourself.

This principle was somewhat revolutionary to a kid born in the Kangaroo Country of Australia, mate. If that was at the heart of it all, how many people like me were failing to try level two all because they didn’t know this?

My journey of leadership began from here. Now I lead people for a living and also do the same role online as a blogger which has helped me navigate what the basics of leadership are for those who haven’t done it before.

If you haven’t been a leader before, this is what you need to know:

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Role model

Whoever came up with the word ‘leader’ made a mistake. They should have written the meaning of leadership as two words: role model.

That’s what a leader is. Your job is to role model the right behaviors. You do this by the way you talk, the decisions you make, and most of all, how you treat other people — especially those people who don’t directly serve your cause or in some cases are total strangers.

That’s right, your treatment of strangers demonstrates what you stand for.

That JFK moment where he asks the cleaner what he’s doing and he says “I’m helping put a man on the moon” is a perfect example. JFK treats the cleaner with respect and asks his opinions while others with his job title may have chosen to ignore the janitor.

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Anger

Don’t get pissed off in front of everybody.

The myth of a leader is that they never get pissed off most days and seem calm. This is BS.

Leaders know that it’s best not to get angry or say something you’ll regret in public. This doesn’t mean leaders don’t get angry too; it’s just that they understand how to control it rather than let it control them.

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Inspiration

A leaders job is to get people to do stuff.

That’s how it was explained to me when I tried to become a school captain in primary school and asked the former school captain for their advice. Getting stuff done is glorified. Many everyday tasks are not as glamorous as putting a human on the moon yet they still need to be done.

The way a leader does this is by positioning a goal in a way that is inspiring.

That could be something as simple as linking the calling of customers with someone’s career plan to be a championship golfer or using the task of compiling spreadsheets as a step in the process of overcoming a major battle with anxiety.

You inspire people by the way you link what they do to what matters to them.

You use your own stories that people can relate to and focus on how it helped you, instead of how the world is cruel and messed up.

Inspiration is just a pair of glasses you wear. These glasses see the good in everything rather than the other way round.

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Look people in the eye

The power of looking someone in the eye is immensely powerful. It’s the most vulnerable we can be. It’s where all the stories you tell as a leader are communicated from.

Looking someone in the eye and telling them “We’ll do this” or “I got your back” is the place in which trust is built.

Through the whites of your eyes, you can tell people the most difficult things about themselves without shying away from the truth.

Eye contact is honesty.

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Tell stories

Having people follow you requires you to communicate why you’re the person to lead. Stories are the best way to impart wisdom on the people you serve.

People won’t follow you unless they can relate to you and stories create that relationship. Find out what troubles your people and then provide a solution through telling a story about how it has been solved before.

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Genuinely care about people

Show your team you care in the following ways:

• Eat lunch with them
• Play ping pong with them
• Send them a message when they get sick
• Be there for their mothers funeral
• Congratulate them when they have their first child

These are the small ways you can show people you care. When you care about people, they care about you and respect your direction.

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Be clear what you stand for

The whole act of following someone starts with what they stand for.

If you like a leader, but they stand for something that’s not you, you won’t follow them. You can’t stand for everything. What do you want people to know you for?

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Get in the trenches

True leadership is about ditching the overused prison of hierarchy.

People follow you when you show them that you are just like them. That’s why I never ask someone to do something I’m not prepared to do myself. I love spending a day in the life of my team. It shows me their challenges and allows me to be compassionate when things go wrong.

If all you do is preach and never do the hard yards — or it has been years since you’ve done the hard yards — people won’t follow you.

Show people that you don’t believe in hierarchy by doing what they do. As a leader, you’re not better than your team who follow you. What they do, you do.

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Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Just because you’re the leader, it doesn’t mean you have all the answers.

It’s okay to ask for help and that doesn’t make you any less of a leader. Leaders realize that they can’t do their job without the support of people who have the skills they are lacking. Leadership is a team sport. Ask for help.

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Delegate tasks thoughtfully

Some leaders make the mistake of trying to do everything and be everywhere. This leads to overwhelm and burnout. Delegating is part of the job description.

A little hack I’ve learned is to delegate thoughtfully by picking tasks that also support the personal interests of my team.

If someone has a goal to learn negotiation, delegate out your next negotiation or let them join you. Be thoughtful about allocating tasks based on what your people care about. Being thoughtful like this builds an unwavering level of loyalty.

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Be okay with not doing everything well

I suck at spreadsheets. That’s why I shout it from the rooftop.

Nobody can be truly good at everything no matter their education. You have a list of strengths and weaknesses. So do I, so does Elon Musk and so do your team. Don’t forget that.

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Praise but don’t forget to have the hard conversations

Otherwise, you’ll end up being a marshmallow. Overly soft, yummy in small doses, but no good for overall nutrition.

Praising is important and so is having the tough conversations when someone isn’t giving their best. People appreciate when you have the tough conversations with them because that’s where they can draw all their future growth from.

If all you do is praise and high-five everyone, your team will never learn anything.

The best learning is done under pressure or in uncomfortable circumstances which will ultimately lead to hard conversations when the results fall in the not so great category.

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Keep it simple

A few key goals are all you need.

Leaders that say they are going to do it all almost always end up doing not much. People lose faith in people that promise the world and don’t deliver anything tangible.

Delivery as a leader comes from focus. Focus is built, from experience, by having no more than three simple things you want your team to achieve.

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Know there will be a few people who don’t like you

This is not told to you from the start.

As a leader, you’ll have some people that love you, some that don’t love you or hate you and then some people that think everything you do sucks.

Your job as a leader is not to have everyone love you. It is your job, though, to have people respect you regardless if they disagree with what you stand for.

Having said that, you’ll also have some people that don’t even fit into this category and just hate you because their own life sucks and hating you fills some void in them that you could never predict nor should you ever attempt to understand.

Learn to love everybody not just the people who agree with you.

You’ll learn an awful lot from people who disagree or even hate you.

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That’s leadership in a nutshell for those who haven’t done it before.Give level two a go. It’s a whole different ball game.

The world needs more leaders.