REMEMBERING THE FATHER OF THE NATION

        Remembering Bapu on the 30th of January

         '' Gandhi is dead,''

           The word  flashed

           Across the continents 
           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  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?

               
              













              



            

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

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? "

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.