Tuesday 31 January 2017

REMEMBERING THE FATHER OF THE NATION




        Remembering Bapu on the 30th of January


         '' Gandhi is dead,''
           Went the word
           Across the world
           Was he, indeed? 

           If death is the end 
           Of physical existence 
           He did die decades ago.   
    
           Shot at by an assassin's bullets,
           He became a victim of bitter hatred,,
           On that dark January evening
        To the utter shock of the whole world. 

           For his life and work was not confined,
           To his own country or region,
           But extended to the whole mankind,
           Striving for the right to freedom.

            And despite the physical demise,
            His aura couldn't be diminished,
            He wasn't just flesh and blood,
           But a spirit that can never be killed.

             He was not simply a mortal man, 
             But an ideology personified, 
            A philosophy put into practice,
            Acknowledged all over the world.

             Evolved from a simple individual,
             Into an institution of goodwill,
            Spreading non-violence and kindness,
            In the footprints of the great Buddha.

             who practised what he professed,
             And fought unjust oppression,
             With no weapons of  violence,
              But peaceful non-co-operation.

              How then he can ever be dead,  
              Who lives in millions of hearts,
              Still striving to liberate humanity
              From the clutches of selfish tyrants?

                 To ensure that  goodwill pervades,
                 And peace be universal discipline, 
                 Is there any other option in view, 
                 But follow his proven principles?


               
              













              



            



Monday 16 January 2017

IN SALUTATION TO THE MOST RENOWNED MOUNTAIN OF THE WORLD


                         HIMALAYA  ---  THE ABODE OF SNOW
         Hail to you o majestic Himalaya! 

           The king among the mountains,
         Crowned  with  snow-capped peaks, 
     Seated like a mighty monarch on a throne,,                        
     Calmly dominating the landscape beneath.





       Bedecked with heavenly grace,  
       Surrounded by an invisible  aura, 
      A timeless wonder you truly are,
      Holding myriad mysteries within.

         Sitting unmoved and composed,
       Under the  burning sun or thunder,
       Like an austere 'yogi' you  appear,    
        Absorbed in meditation forever.

         You are the one to have witnessed,
         Countless changes on this earth,
         Right from the earliest days till now,
         Happening here through long ages.  

         Seekers of spiritual bliss have found,
           A serene resort in your  portals,
         Men of science from across the world,
         Come here looking for rare minerals.

          And some daredevils do take pride, 
          In scaling your challenging heights,
         Nature lovers are drawn  towards you, 
         By the spell of your pristine grandeur.     
     
          Generations of poets and philosophers,
          Have sung rich hymns in your honour,
          Painters and lensmen  are never tired,
           Of capturing your sublime glamour.

          Though not as rich in form or colour,
          I place at your feet these simple verses,
         Accept, if you please, this  humble offering, 
       And make me proud of my little venture.
 
Picture credit----- Sumit Pant
euttaranchal.com



Saturday 7 January 2017

The clouds and The sun January 7 , 2017

                                                On a dull and dreary day,
                                                When the sky was overcast,
                                                With dark and dismal clouds,
                                                 I felt utterly depressed.

                                                Absence of warmth and  sunshine, 
                                                Slowed down the routine business,
                                                The day seemed  unusually longer,  
                                                As time had stopped somewhere.
                                              
                                                 That made my spirits  sink low,  
                                                 Leaving me inactive and  bored, 
                                                 Afraid if time would go like this,  -
                                                  Devoid of activities and cheer.

                                                 At  this point  my mind and heart,
                                                 Began chiding me  in unison, 
                                              '' How come you be such a pessimist, 
                                                Knowing well the ways of Nature ?''

                                                ''Isn't  each night  followed by a day,
                                                 Each  cold winter with colourful spring,
                                                 Don't clouds give way to the Sun always,
                                                 And showers follow to cool heatwaves?
                                                                            

                                                 '' Aren't  these   parts of Nature's cycle,
                                                   Planned for the  good of  all creatures,
                                                   Why not welcome  each  new  season,
                                                   That Nature brings with such wisdom? "

Monday 2 January 2017

ADIEU ---- 2016



      One more fateful year is,
      On its way to becoming history,
      And the void will soon be filled, 
       With a fresh chain of events

       Unfolding themselves gradually 
       On the stage of the world.
       Days and nights will keep moving
       And so will do the seasons.

       Till they come full circle
      Adding another  chapter 
      To the endless book of drama 
      Set in the library of  nature 
      
      Since  joys and sorrows are,
       But parts of our lives 
      Celebrations here have been aplenty  
      But also loss and sad partings.

       And now, the year is bidding  adieu 
       Leaving behind the unwritten message,
       That life is a mixture of joys and  woes ,
       And will continue to be so forever.








    

Monday 12 December 2016

ONCE IN A WHILE .........


    It's  good to leave your comfort zone,
    Once or more in a while,
    And travel to far  off  regions,
    To witness different spots of Nature.

 It's awesome  to visit new places,
Meet people with varied cultures,
 Hear  unfamiliar  languages,
While moving among strangers.

  Yet pleasant is it to find always,
 The land with its usual features,
The earth, the same beautiful being,
 Calling you from distant corners.

The sky  same shades of blue,
The sun as bright and dazzling,
The moon same placid and calm,
The air as cool and refreshing.

The  sprightly waves of the sea,
 Calling everyone on the shore,,
With promises of untold  pleasure,
And adventure felt never before.

The shouts of joy and  merriment,,
Of those venturing on tides,

Sound similar in  every language,

 As expressions of natural emotions.

 Returning home at the end of the trip,
Though tired, I was feeling refreshed,  
 As the mind was busy enjoying,
 Memories of the pleasant outing.

It's cool to be home after wandering,
 And  seeing Nature's varied forms,
Her amazing charm and magnificence
 Her all-embracing benevolence

























Monday 3 October 2016

Peace ---

                

                      She is  truly  a beauteous being,,
                      With a sweet countenance, 
                     Calm and composed and genial,
                      Assurance of safe existence.

                      With her around, you feel secure,
                      Fearless, comforted and blessed,,
                      God and Nature providing  you all, 
                      To live in full contentment.

                      You may think she is someone,
                      Sought after and loved by all, 
                    As no one can  like to suffer  forever 
                      Choosing a path leading to unrest.

                    It's  strange enough but sadly true, 
                    There are  some who detest her too,
                    Swear to uproot her very existence,
                        By nasty weapons of violence. 

                    But I know this ugly  warfare,
                    Is not going to last for long, 
                    As sensible people across the world
                     Are determined to fight this evil.

                   And surely, will peace  soon prevail,
                   With goodwill as its core  concern, 
                  As  that alone can  save   mankind, 
                   Ensuring its perfect wellbeing.
     

       
        

Sunday 25 September 2016

LET THERE BE PEACE


     

    Here I am to sing a prayer,
    To the gracious God above,
    To bless our beautiful earth 
    With eternal peace and love.

    I pray there be peace  around, 
    In the skies and ethereal space, 
    On the vast lands and deep oceans,
    With their countless creatures.

    May it  be among animals and birds, 
    Trees and herbs and ground creepers, 
    May it pervade the whole universe,
          And help its inmates to survive and flourish. 

            But above all things here mentioned,
            May it   settle deep in the mind of Man,
            Making him aware of its supreme value,
            As fountain-head of true happiness.

            I know,  in these  tumultuous  times
            Songs of peace  would be hardly audible,
            But believe, as well, that love and peace,
            Never can be redundant or undesirable.

           Hence, I am keen to celebrate this day
         Promoting  bonhomie in the whole world
             Join me if you  like this campaign 
                And together shall we carry it on.