Eid - It's not just about Briyani and Firni!

I love festivals. I love India. Well, we all do. But, have you ever thought the reason why we all love festivals? Most of Indians would say, "It's a holiday!" 

True. 

I remember, last year, we had off on Eid-ul-Fitr. But this year we are working. This year, while travelling, from my home to office, I was just wondering that why do certain private sector refuse to recognize Eid as one of the major festival of India? In fact, there are various other festivals, which gets ignored by private sectors. 

Opinions vary. Some feel that by giving holiday on festivals like Eid, the production will suffer. Some feel, that being a Hindu state, why recognize Eid as a major festival? Some even keep it as "optional" holidays for Muslim employees. But, aren't we secular? I am confused with this new definition of secularism in our country.   If private sectors can include Christmas as official holiday, then why mark Eid as "optional" holiday?

As a journalist, I used to never get any of these public holidays. Times of India, like any other dailies had only five holidays in a year. Republic Day, Holi, Independence Day, Diwali and Gandhi Jayanti. So, personally speaking, working on public holidays have never been my issue. 

I think, holidays in Mumbai are the days to rest. People long for such midweek breaks, so that they can sum up more energy and work harder for survival. The journey of 'aam janta' in this city is traumatic. They beat the crowd, beat the traffic, beat the heat, beat the beggars, beat the political rallies, beat the recession, beat all sorts of odds, and finally reach office. Work hard, (not all days though) and then retire for the day. 

These public holidays are like bonus for people who work hard throughout the year, We must respect their emotions. 

Keeping aside the emotional side of the story, logically, we must give Eid-ul-Fitr as the status of compulsory holiday, because in our country we have sizable population of Muslims, and they are very much part of our culture and heritage. Mughals have ruled us for years, gave us culture, cuisine, music, art, gems and literature. Like the way, we have incorporated British culture and it's language, we must also take the positive aspects from the Mughals. I think, every religion has it's positive and negative aspect. You need to be rational enough to judge the best. 

Eid, reminds me of my early days of journalism. I started my career as a full time journalist with The Asian Age, Kolkata. Farah Choudhury, who used to head the features department, was probably the first Muslim personality, with whom I had proper interaction on religion. My knowledge about Muslims were restricted to Ghazaals, Briyani and Firni. 

But after interacting with Farah, my idea changed. In high school, my first Muslim friend was Parvez Imam. He officially introduced me to Holy Quran. I read the English version of the Holy Book. I remember, that he asked me to wash my feet and hand, (wazoo) and then sat on a carpet, placed the book on a wooden stand and then read the book. He wanted me to know that facts about Allah and the fictions which actually distorts the piousness of the book.
After High School, he decided to move back to Christchurch (NZ) and we remained as "pen friends" for years. Later on, I guess, we both became busy and lost the connect. I searched him on various social networking sites, tried to get his number through common friends. But all in vain. It's been almost ten years that we have lost touch. But, I am sure, the day we meet, we will be able to connect. His family was so humble, educated and caring. In our letters we used to share our thoughts about Hindu and Islam religion. The good and the bad, the fun and ugly. He would share his reservations, I would speak my mind.
Later, I came across various other friends, colleagues and actors who are Muslims. They have shown me the brighter side of this religion. It's true that some of them do practice violence, terrorism and anti-national activities, but then, you cannot categorize them. Like Muslim fanatics, we do have Hindu counterpart too. It's people, who makes the difference. Hatred is a state of mind, and certainly not the mind of any State.
Respect, is the core word for any religion. I have learnt that from Parvez, Farah and even my driver Amjad.
R.

Hindi Poem - Namkeen Khwab

नमकीन ख्वाब 

संजीदा का निकाह हो गया. 

खुशियों से रुक्सत हुई 

एक नयी ज़िन्दगी की तलाश में.

मेहँदी की ताज़ी खुशबू 

हवा में घुलती जाती,

सपनो की पालकी में सवार,

दूर किसी अनजान शेहेर में

गाँव से दूर, 

पीपल की छाओं से दूर 

अम्मी की प्यार से परे
भाई के शरारतों से दूर!
एक बहोत बड़ी शेहेर में, 
बस, ट्रेन और तूफानों से तेज़ गाडिओं के बीच, 
बम्बई आ पौछी, संजीदा.
लोगों के भीर में, 
आपने ख्वाबों को ढूँढती,
एक लड़की. 


शरमाई सी, नयी कदम
नया जीवन की तलाश,
किसी पराये घर को, आपना बनाने का ख्वाब!
खुली आस्मां, खुली साँसे
बंध दरवाज़े के बीच

छोटे छोटे स्वप्नों की मोमबत्ती

सजाई.

एक ख्वाब, एक सपना,
दिल में छुपाइये. 
"मुझे समुन्दर देखना है," 
संजीदा ने आपनी शौहर को कहा, 
यह थी उसकी पहेली इल्तजा  
"पहेले तुम माँ बन जाओ, फिर हम सब मिलके चलेंगे,"

दुल्हे का दिया हुआ वादा, झूठा वादा. 

वादा पुरे नहीं हुए, 
घर की उम्बर्था को लांघे हुए
बर्षों बीत गए. संजीदा की अरमान,
बिखरे परे है, उन फर्शों पर 
पिघलते हुए,
उस रात की तरह 
अपने अरमानों की, मोमबत्ती की
सेंज की तरह! 

फीके होते गए, ख्वाबों के रंग,

ठीक उसके हाथों की मेहँदी की तरह. 

काम तो आज भी वही है
नल से पानी भरना,
सुबह श्याम नमाज़ पड़ना,
शौहर के लिए नाश्ता बनाना,
सास, ससुर, देवर का ख्याल रखना, 
बच्चों को सम्हालना.
गाँव की वो लड़की,
आज भी आपने सपनो को तलाश रही है!
शेहेर के खुली सोच से दूर, किसी शेहेर की गल्ली में.
घर तोह उससे मिल गया था,
चार दीवारों के बीच,
चार खिड़की, चार-पाई
और एक उम्बर्था.
लांघने की ताक़त
आज भी नहीं जुटा पाई!


बुरखे में, वोह लड़की जो आज
आप के नज़रों के सामने से गुज़र जाती,
सप्नों को आपने सिने में दबाये,
चार बच्चों की अम्मी,
संजीदा! आज भी आपनी ख़ुशीयों को
खोज रही है,
समुन्दर की घेराई, बिखेरती हुई लहरें,
सरख्ती हुई रेतियों की तस्वीर,
आज भी उसे देखना है.
घासलेट की कतार में,
बर्तन के ढेर में,
चूले की फूक में,
सब्जी की छौक में,
भूली नहीं वोह अपनी ख्वाबों को.


आज, बारिश के पानी को, 
बाल्टी में जमा करके रखती है, संजीदा.
सब की नज़रों से छुपाके,
आपने पैरों पे, भरी हुई बाल्टी
को उलट देती है.
महसूस करती है
समुन्दर की लहरें, पानी की नमकीन छीटें!
दिल को चीर, संसार की डोर को चीर
चल पड़ी, तेज़, बहुत तेज़,
जहाँ कोई झूठे वादे नहीं है,
जहाँ कर्त्तव्य की बेरी नहीं है,
जहाँ संसार की पावंदी नहीं है,
जहाँ सिर्फ समुन्दर की सौन्दी खुशबू,
आखों को भिगोती है!
जहाँ सिर्फ खुला आस्मां,
चीखती हुई कहती है,
ख्वाबों की उड़ान. 
संजीदा, आज भी जी लेती है,
सपनों में ही सही, 
उम्बर्था लांघने की
हिम्मत जुटा लेती है!


- राम कमल मुख़र्जी 


- Please pardon my grammatical errors. I am sure there are some. It's the thought, that I am trying to share, with whatever little Hindi I know.
Thanks.

Bengali poem - Klanti

ক্লান্তি 

ক্লান্ত আমার চোখের পাতা 

হাজার বছরের ঘুম,

তোমার স্নিগ্ধ কোল, ঠিক যেন 

গাছের পাতার ছায়া,

ঝরে পড়া কুড়ির বিছানা. 

ঘুম ভাঙবার খেলা. 

নকশাল বাড়ি, সিঙ্গুর, মাওবাদীর 

গোলাবারুদ, অসমাপ্ত প্রেমের যবনিকা!

অস্বস্তি, আমার চোখের পাতায় 

স্বপ্ন গুলি এলোমেলো, 

চড়িয়ে ছিটিয়ে রাখা, কোন এক তাসের দেশ!

এক গ্রাম ঘুম, এক চিলতে সুখ. 

ক্লান্ত আমার পায়ের পাতা,

ঠাই দাও, নিজের ছায়ার আড়ালে!

বন্ধুকবাজ, গুলিবিদ্ধ আমার অসহায় ঘুম!

ভালবাসা নয়, আজ তুমি নাটোরের বনলতা 

অন্য কবির, এঠো প্রেম.

পরিবর্তনের খোলসে, ঝলসানো মুখোশ. 

সাদা পোশাকের পুলিশ, আমার রক্তের রং লাল,

তোমার? সবুজ! 

ঠান্ডা, শীতল, ভাবলেশহীন. 

কালনাগিনী তোমার প্রতিশ্রুতি 

লখিন্দরের শুকনো লাশের,

গন্ধ! তোমার গায়ের মধ্যে.

মরণ ঘুম, আজ আমার চোখের কনে 

বারুদের তোষকে মোড়া, 

বিছানা! 

ঘাসের উপর আজ আমি আর শুই না. 
কাঁটার মত, তীক্ষ্ণ 
সবুজ ঘাস. 
রক্ত মাখানো আমার ঘুম 
খোলা বাতাসের তলায়,
ক্লান্তি আমার চোখের পাতায় 
শহস্র পতাকায় মোড়া,
আমার স্বপ্নের লাশ! 

Being Hero

Nothing is permanent. Everything that you see now, will perish tomorrow. Every moment, is dying, every other moment. We are constantly chasing ourselves. The fight, which apparently seems to be external, is actually internal. Every one of us, are constantly fighting to upgrade our own standard, standard of life, love, work or even living. We are unhappy by nature.
It's no harm, it's no fault. Excelling in your own capacity is the best way to nurture your human hormones. I have seen, many people, across the nation, trying to grab their share of limelight. Everyone wants to be famous. Each seconds of fame, matters in today's time. Media happily, plays to the gallery.
Remember Raj Kapoor's dialogue from Mera Naam Joker. "The show must go on!" But I think, he couldn't foresee what people would do, just to get their share of fame, in today's time.
Have you ever noticed those faces on TV screen? Even during Anna Hazaare coverage, I can clearly see those faces who are waving their hands, smiling at the camera, doing weird faces - just to grab one second of footage. They don't even know how to speak, what to speak and where to speak. But all of them are fighting to get hold of the boom which the television reporter is holding.
Most of the time, you will find them either smiling or chatting away happily standing in the crowd. It could be veteran actor Shammi Kapoor death procession or Anna Hazaare's hunger strike, the same kind of unknown faceless faces are seen always on TV screen. Some even wear weird clothes, have weird hair-dos, to seek attention from the camera.
They have understood, that once you are seen on camera, you become famous. Cheap stunts, are the best way to grab attention of people. The tenure of 'celebrityhood' is becoming lesser by the day. People are so used to surfing channels, that they want to find new heroes. If Sonia Gandhi's secretive operation becomes that talk of the town on Friday, then Sunday channels got engaged with Shammi Kapoor's death. By the beginning of the week, they have Anna Hazaare to take care of the rest.
We don't realize that "one minute fame" is not the easy way to become famous. I call them, " BFF- by fluke famous"! If you want to be remembered, just do one honest deed in your whole life. Just try and make difference to any one person, who doesn't matter to you. Hero doesn't mean, millions of followers. Hero means someone who is worshiped by someone somewhere.
Flashbulbs, magazine covers, interviews, hoardings, money, endorsements... these are the parameters which might judge the level of popularity of a celebrity, but when you are honest towards what you are doing, such things become inconsequential. Mother Teresa never thought of becoming an international figure, she dedicated her life for people. Florence Nightingale could have been chosen to be famous, but she didn't. Swami Vivekanada or Ramakrishna Paramhansa could have thrived on publicity, but they didnt. People remember them for what they have done for humankind.
If you are making money, bagging awards for your deeds, you will be cheered by your fans. But they will stop worshiping you, the moment they get someone better or bigger that you. But, if you are serving people, directly, then those many people will hero worship you.
In that case, you preserve every moment of your good deed. Nothing is perishable. You are remembered for what you have done. You are remembered for changing people's life. I feel, that everyone can become famous, but only one in a million can win the heart.
Love the dialogue from Jodha Akbar, where Jodha tell Emperor Akbar (who was definitely much famous than any living or dead celebrities of our time) that, "Jahapana, aap ne shiasat pe raj karna seekha hai, dilon pe raj karna nahin!" (You have learnt the art of ruling the nation, not the heart!) That changed war loving Akbar to humane Akbar.
We all need to see that in ourselves. We all need to do, just one good deed. Honestly. I truly belive that everyone of us, have the capability to become heroes. Let's not make fool of ourselves, or just fool ourselves with such silly BFF moments.
R.

Bengali poem - Tanaporen

টানাপড়েন 

সত্য তুমি আজ আমার হাথের নাগালে 

ভ্রম, তোমার এই অহংকার 

নিত্য দ্বন্ধ, তোমার আমার, 

প্রতিদিন, প্রতি মুহূর্ত. 

সত্য তুমি কি সত্তি?

নাকি রাংতায় মোড়া 

এক দুরন্ত মিথ্যা?

চিনতে তোমাকে ভুল করিনি আমি 

অন্তর্নিহিত, আমার নিশ্বাসে প্রশ্বাসে 

শৃঙ্খলবদ্ধ, তোমার চতুরতায় 

ছুটে পালাতে চাই আমি,

নিজের থেকে নিজেকে লুকিয়ে, 

ঝাচক্চকে মিথ্যের আড়ালে 

পালাতে চাই! 

কেন পারিনা তোমাকে এড়াতে 

চুম্বকের মত তোমার, মায়াজাল 

তোমাকে হারিয়ে ফেলতে চাই,

সব সময়ের জন্য.

রেখে গেলাম আমার নতুন ঠিকানা 

দেখা হবে জানি,

মিথ্যের চৌরাস্তায় 

তোমার অপেক্ষায়, আমি

থাকব দাড়িয়ে!

Hindi Poem - Pal

पल 

पल जो मेरे साथ है

हर समय 

एक नयी चेतावनी 

एक नया दस्तक 

दे जाती है.

याद दिलाती है, हमेशा 

अंत होने की टोक 

समापन की ध्वनि, 

भयभीत जीवन की

सुचना!

एक प्रश्न, एक सत्य, 

जो मुझे अनंतकाल से 

दुविधा में झंझोर के रखा है,

जो पल, मैंने खोया 

जो सांसे मैंने गवाएं 

हिसाब में मंगू  किस से?

सफ़ेद पन्हो पे,

एक नयी रंग की,

अपेक्षा. 

एक नयी भाषा की,
परिभाषा. 

खर्च कर दिए मैंने,

जमी हुई पलों की पूंजी. 

मेहेत्वाकंषा की नीव 

हल्का महसूस कर रहा हूँ, आज.

दबना नहीं चाहता हूँ 

अपने सपनों के बोझ तले.

दम घुटा है मेरा,

पलों के हिसाब से,

मुक्ति!

अंतहीन, एक यात्रा, 

एक नयी रास्ता.

समापन उस पल का,

आज होने दो, 

हर दिन एक नयी नीव

एक नया सवेरा 

एक नया पल. 

होने दो, होने दो!


 - रामकमल मुख़र्जी 

Faith is God

Good morning!

Today is Janmastami. This day reminds me of many such incidents of life. The day, reminds me of my Ma, who used to prepare special delicacies and do her puja. She would take me, along with her to Shyamsundar mandir, closer to our house. She would decorate the "palna" with Bal Gopal. Would buy those fancy dresses for Krishna. It was almost like a ritual. Much celebrated one. Some how, Krishna has been my companion since childhood. My dad, bought me the first Krishna idol, which is still there in my Kolkata house. Later, I got various gifts from people, in forms of pendent, idols, portraits and calenders. During my school days, a dear friend of mine Animesh Barik gifted me yet another idol of Krishna, made from plaster of Paris. It's still with me, in my native town. My connection with Krishna has been eternal. I believe He is around. For me, for all of us.

When I landed in Mumbai almost ten years ago, I didn't carry any image of Krishna. Somehow, it didn't happen. But, strangely, a very dear friend of mine Shashank Samant (used to work with me in Stardust magazine) gifted me a small idol of Krishna. There was no occasion, he just felt like gifting me one. He had picked it up from Siddhivinayak Temple. Since then, that idol has been a part of my temple.

Much later, on one of my birthday, my driver gifted me the idol of Bal Gopal and Radha Krishna. Incidentally, he happens to me a Muslim. I was so touched with the gesture. They got place in my puja room. Few years later when I got married, one of my closest pal - Anupam Pratihary, who is almost like a family now, gifted me and my wife Sarbani a lovely idol of Radha and Krishna. The idol looks pristine, made of rose wood, it's one of the finest idols I have seen in recent times. He took special interest in finding the perfect idol for the newly wed couple.

Just a year ago, my mother-in-law went to Darjeeling, and on her way back, she picked up a lovely idol of Krishna, made of teak wood. Even that one has made its place in my room. One of my wife's cousin sister, also gifted us Bal Gopal, That's made of plastic, which has become a showpiece in my Kolkata house.

One of the idol of Krishna which I loved the most was at B M Birla Heart Research Institute, in Kolkata. Saw it for the first time, when I admitted my father for bypass surgery, almost a decade ago. The life size idol would remind me of Krishna from Vrindavan and Iskcon temples. Each time, I prayed, my prayer was heard. Barring once, the last time, two years ago, when I lost my dad. I just hated the same idol, for taking away my Baba. But, slowly, I came to terms that He wanted to relief Baba from the pain he was going through. As humans, we don't like to accept the truth. We treat God like humans. We bathe them, dress them, feed them,  celebrate their birthdays, we love them, we talk with them, we sing for them, we cry, laugh, smile and even fight with them. The reason, why we get offended, upset and hurt when we are dejected. When our prayers go unheard.

Krishna, is there. Amongst all of us. He is guiding, everyone. He is taking test. He knows you the best, so he puts you through tests, which you will be able to overcome. Post, my dad's death, I went through real tough time. Personally and professionally, it was the toughest time. I thought, for a moment, I won't be worshiping any deity. I was loosing faith in any sort of supreme power. But, each time, I would decide to drift from Krishna, He would follow me. He would chase me, would make me realize my mistakes. I have realized that He is no magician. He is a healer. His smile is infectious. He will be with you, even when you don't need him.
We fall in love with god, we fall out of love. But, then he never leaves you alone. Even when you abandon Him, accuse Him, doubt His presence, He still cares for you. He is the 'dasa' of every 'bhakt'. He is the 'atma' and considers His 'bhakt' as param (supreme). Final unison of Krshna and his Bhakt, forms the eternal combination of 'Paramatma'.

Have faith, that's all you can offer Him, while He can offer you everything under the sky!

"Krishnaye Vasudevae Govindai Namah!"