Erotica: A Poetry excercise with Kris

Touch

My hands
open the curtains of your being
clothe you in a further nudity
uncover the bodies of your body
My hands
invent another body for your body
Octavio Paz

I wrote this poem as an excercise in writing erotic or passionate poetry. My first attempt went flat so posting Kris’s correction also. I think it just stones you once the flowery words get trashed. enjoy both the versions . . It’s wonderful when someone goes all the way to help you improve and make you learn the finer aspect of something you are passionate about. My heartfelt thanks to Kris for being such a considerate, caring and excellent teacher.

The curtains rhythmically sway
sunlight streams in,
into the dark chamber
caressing the soft pillow cases and sheets
faintly touching their bodies

drowsy curled honeysuckles,
entwined in sleepy heat
bathed in moist molten bronze
they glisten,

electrified nude sculptures of Khajuraho

A moment suspended in time

Fragrance of passion
wafts through the room
and whirls around them
She stirs, stretches in feline grace

From behind the Dark lashes
emerge deep intense eyes
teasing twinkling with want
tilting her lips
She dared him to play

Temptress

Her twin tulips, tipped crimson
in the refracting sunlight
He felt the rush
Their breath synchronized

feverishly his hand travel
down the smooth arch of her back
her firm breasts crushed against his face
ignited, flamed by fiery passion

Soaked in scintillating sensuous notes of saxophone
intermingled with citrus aromas
his lips, hands and tongue
traced circles, lines and curves
on the canvas of her body
unknown frenzied patterns
brush strokes of splashing exploding colors

liquefied bodies
in the rivulets of steamy sweat
moving in synchronized, frantic fluidity.
A torrential river gushing
to meet the raging deep ocean
swirling like a whirlpool,
gasps, moans, screams
A mystical ride
complete surrender.

Here is Kris’s version, a quick rewrite and a perfect one . Thanks Kris for being the light.

Electrified nude sculptures of Khajuraho
suspended in fragrance

He felt his hand travel
down the arch of her back
her firm breasts crushed against his face

Liquefied bodies intermingled with
unknown frenzied patterns
moving in synchronized whirlpool surrender

making it too hot for her to handle anymore.

The Vagabond : A Story

Considering that the day had been unbearably hot it was a pleasant early evening in summer. I was sitting at my usual roadside tea stall browsing through the Hindi newspaper and sipping the usual boiling hot, strong, sugary tea that is a trademark of all the tea stalls around North India.

Sometimes I just looked up and gazed blankly at the road ahead. Unlike the other busy roads full of noise pollution and vehicular traffic, this one only catered to cycle rickshaws, cyclists and scooter wallas. One could see small children playing cricket there due to the lack of a playing ground.

Right now, it wore an empty bored look just like the people around it.

The vegetable walla and the other vendors were lazily dozing under the big black umbrellas. The cobbler was completely engrossed in his needlework on an old shoe and hardly glanced around.

The man who sold old books and other ancient stuff on a cart near the scooter/cycle stand was busy putting little stones on the flying pages of the books and magazines. I liked his ever-smiling face which stay in constant bliss irrespective of the changes in and around him.

Today there were hardly any people around, only the dogs stretched out in various places enjoying the luxury of space.

Then I saw him. He must be in his thirties. Ruffled jet-black hair, full-grown thick beard and thoughtful deep-set eyes were the first things I noticed. He had some old crumpled pants and shirts thrown carelessly over his right shoulder and a black worn out jacket on the left one.

Although well-built, his broad shoulders drooped a little, maybe because of the weight on them. He wore a long khadi kurta and his dirty denim folded to the knees. Bare feet, he slowly walked towards the “old stuff” stall and started flipping through the yellow pages of a book.

I thought he was an illiterate vagabond but he had something about him that intrigued me.

I watched him for nearly twenty minutes totally engrossed in some book.

Curious, I got up to have a few words with him.

As soon as I approached him and tried to strike a conversation, he smiled and simply walked away.

My gaze followed him until he disappeared on the same road from where he had come.

I turned around to see what had kept him engrossed.

Agony and Ecstasy by Irving Stone

The old man saw the expression on my face and remarked casually,

“I am seeing him today after long time. IIT topper from Bangalore got into drugs etc I think, good educated family, only son. What a waste of life.”

I just looked at him.

Short Story: My Brother Jai

My father went away. My mother had to sell kick knacks at the traffic signals and go from street to street to bring home something to eat for me and my little brother Jai.

We stayed under a gloomy roof and often had nothing to eat but dry bread crusts or left over rice. Mother made it a point to lock us in fearing that we may wander off somewhere on our own. She had lost enough to loose her children now.

We, my little brother Jai and I, often sat near the tiny window that over looked the distant hills and the blue ocean and watched the beauty around us. It was a pleasure and something both of us enjoyed.

We watched the boats sail by and the waves rise and fall perfectly in tune with the cool breeze that kissed our smiling faces now and then. Sometimes some sparrows would come hopping and wash their puffy feathers in the muddles on the road and we would imagine how it would feel to splash around in the water, oblivious to hunger, cold and everything else.

For hours, we would gaze at the soft white clouds drift aimlessly in the blue sky and reach out of the window pretending to touch them. That was our own piece of sky and we were happy for it.

The pigeons would come and huddle together on our window ledge making strange noises that would send Jai rolling on the floor and I would smile at my little brother’s innocent laughter and joy. Watching him smile warmed my heart.

When the rain would fall in thin sheets, we would listen quietly to the melodious beats of raindrops falling on the tin roofs and enjoy the beautiful glistening leaves of the trees around our home. The squirrels would come out and run on the wet grass and the hedges, nibbling on berries or seeds. Sometimes we would share some crumbs from our dry bread and they would come running to pick them with their furry hands.

Jai was petrified of the sound of thunder and would scream and cling to me every time the sky roared and the lighting flashed. I would listen to his quickened heartbeat and try to calm him. Slowly our heartbeats would merge and he would sleep peacefully in my lap.

Spring would bring hundreds of birds and amazing flowers, some would even emerge from the cracks on the roofs of other houses. It would color our world for some time and our eyes would search for butterflies and honeybees.

During the fall, Jai and I would count the dry leaves hanging precariously from the almost barren trees and watch them sail to the ground one by one.

Sometimes a crow or a solitary eagle would land on the high dry branches and sit majestically for long hours. We too would silently gaze at the bird trying to understand how it felt being alone in this big world or did it have a family like us, little children to feed and that brought her out in search of food.

The winter days were difficult to pass. The window had to be kept shut most of the time due to strong winds and chill.

Then one day suddenly we would wake up to a magical morning, with a white carpet of snow on everything from the streets to the hills far away. We loved the snowfall and often stretched our little hands out of the grill of the window to catch a drifting snowflake and watch it melt in our hands. The water would slip through our tiny fingers and fall in drops or slide on our slender arms tingling and making us giggle.

It was one such cold windy winter morning when my life changed forever. It seemed that all the sadness and gloom had descended on earth. The bone chilling wind hissed passed the trees and one could not hear anything except the sound of swaying trees.

I turned ten that year and Jai was four. I would spin stories to keep him involved and to divert his attention from the hunger pangs that made his fragile frame shudder. His eyes would swell up but I always found something to bring the smile back on his face. He was not a very sturdy boy and often fell ill. Unlike me, he was week, weary and thin. I often counted his bones as I rubbed his back to keep him warm.

He was unusually quite that day.

We were huddled together under an old blanket trying to beat the cold when Jai touched my arm and gazed at me with a strange expression in his eyes.

I smiled warmly and drew him close. He quietly kept his head on my lap and smiled softly. Something was not right and tickled him to make him laugh but he kept smiling and gazing at me.

I was frightened and shook him, kissed him and talked to him endlessly but his body was cold as ice and his limbs hung helplessly.

I screamed for help but no one heard me. With tear-filled eyes, I hugged my little brother and waited for mother to return.

Evening came late that day and I finally heard the footfalls on the gravel outside our home. She stood still as her tired eyes absorbed the scene that lay in front of her.

Unable to move she kept muttering, “my baby is dead”, repeatedly. I did not exist for the entire time she was there. Quietly she picked up Jai and wrapped him in some rags, putting him comfortably on the only bed we had. She stood watching him, her eyes dry and vacant, and then she turned and walked out of the door without even glancing at me.

It had begun to rain and maybe she wanted to let all the pain, grief and tears to be washed away.

I watched the swinging door and the wet darkness that lay beyond it and then turned to look at my precious little brother who slept peacefully, undisturbed by the happenings around him.

For the first time I felt the chill and stillness. I was completely alone, lonely and afraid.

Cross-Posting IHM’s blog ‘Not just a pair of Jeans ‘

I always get late for posting every Sunday but good things always come with time .

Introducing today IHM or Indian Home Maker , one of the finest bloggers, my inspiration at many times and a fellow woman writer. She writes about every woman, social issues, our culture, social eveils, daily life and much more. I love the way she raises issues agaist gender bias, girl child discrimination, even about men and the problems they face.

It is worth visiting her blog The Life and Times Of Indian Home Maker, a title I love.

This is one of her favorite posts which even got selected for Tangy Tuesday pick
In her blog post Not just a pair of jeans she says ,

“A man in Haryana beat his wife in the market for wearing jeans while shopping with her parents.
Why was it such an issue?

He said she was wearing jeans.

Do you know what that means?

What was his fear?

Isn’t it clear?

Jeans symbolise more than just what she wore!

Tomorrow she could ask for more?

Ask to keep her girl-child?

Education and a right to work?

This didn’t please the jerk…

CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO THE POST AND READ ON.. you will stop, think and ponder.

Thank you IHM for enriching our lives and touching many others. Cheers to the woman power!!!

Patal Bhubaneshwar: A Gateway to the Belly of Earth

My thirst for travel took me to one of the most amazing ancient creations in the Himalayas. A legendary cave complex is full of natural stalagmites and stalactites which is a must watch for any traveler to this region. The caves are made of limestone.

We were staying in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand when the wanderlust lured us to this beautiful place called Patal Bhubaneshwar situated at the height of 1350meters in Pithoragar district known as “Dev Bhumi” (abode of Gods) and “little Kashmir” for its virgin natural beauty. Its distance from Ranikhet is 115km. and the nearest town is Gangolihat. The drive is awesome as the roads are smooth and the view captivating.

Mesmerizing landscape, exotic flowers, the sweet scent of pine and mighty Oak trees were the first welcoming sights as we maneuvered the twisting, turning, dusty so called road from the main town. We had gathered enough information and were really excited to see the nature’s wonders.

Patal Bhubaneshwar (Patal means Hell) is an ancient cave temple complex, a subterranean shrine of Shiva. The place was retrieved by Adi Shankaracharya in around 8th or 10th Century A.D. It is believed to be the replica of the mythical underworld of Hindu religion. One has to go through a narrow tunnel to view the underground stone carvings. It is about 200steps and straight 90 ft down. The place is said to be abode of thirty-three billion Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

We had to crawl in a single line by holding the protective chains through a very narrow crevice to reach the cave. The lights are feeble and Photography in any form is not allowed inside the cave so one has to see it to believe it.
The whole place is enshrined in mystery and mythology. I was enchanted by the giant birds, serpents, ghostly figures and human forms which looked so seemingly alive. It was a sight I will never forget. We were bare feet as shoes are not allowed and the slippery ribbed floor gave us an eerie feeling. I thanked my stars that we had an ASI guide with us, for the place sure gave me goose bumps. The only drawback of having him around was the constant flow of legends and stories which distracted us from observing the amazing beauty of the place.

The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and one can also see the Narsimh (half lion half human) incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Legends say that Lord Bramha comes to this place with the other gods to worship Lord Shiva who resides in this place. A little ahead is the natural rock formation of Sheshnag holding the heaven, the earth and the world beneath. There is a thin stream of water along the tunnel. One has to go through several small caves to reach the sprawling interiors. Each cave unmasks some deep secret buried in its belly. The lime stone stalagmites that emerge from the walls all over the complex are known as the Jatas (locks) of Lord Shiva.

The sanctum sanatorium gives you the feeling of being at the center of the earth. It is said that the tunnel is the backbone of Sheshnag the mythological serpent God with thousand heads. As we reached the middle of the cave we found a beautiful Ganesh statue. There was a lotus flower engraved on the ceiling right above it and water tricking from the lotus fell directly on Lord Ganesh’s head. The water made different shapes and the legend says that these shapes are that of various Gods and Goddesses from Hindu Mythology.

The cave has the replicas of Badrinath, Kedarnath and other four important religious places and due to this it is highly revered by the Hindus. The place also has some features from the Indian Epic Mahabharata. It is believed that the Pandavas stayed and meditated here during their last journey to the Himalayas.

The priests of this complex, who have been part of the shrine for more than twenty generations, are a treasure-house of legends, folklore, anecdotes and information about this holy place.

Some of the stone carvings of Gods and Goddesses depict them in erotic forms. It sure proved to be a surreal experience. The sheer unspoiled charm of the area that surrounds these wonders is awe inspiring.

After this breathtaking experience we came out to inhale the fresh air fragrant with the scent of incense sticks and flowers. We decided to walk about the place and after going just a little further got a spectacular view of Himalayas stretching over the horizon. It was an enchanting view
of almost 600 km long mountain range stretching end to end from Garhwal to Nepal. Apart from the magnificent mountains our hearts were also captivated by the terraced fields and houses in the valley.

A hike in the Deodar forest revealed tiny caves scattered here and there that were the mini replicas of the big cave. It was a journey worth taking and we enjoyed every moment of it.

The evening sun was in its splendor and we relaxed on the green carpet of soft grass to enjoy the most beautiful sunset we had ever seen. It was also our last one for the trip. Filled with nostalgia and awe we drove back to Ranikhet. Silently watching the dark misty landscape.

The whole experience left unforgettable memories in our hearts.

Witch Hunting : The Dark Indian Reality

Place : A sleepy village in the state of Chattisgarh in the largest democracy of the world, India

Time : Just past midnight

A woman rolls on the floor of her small mud house making vague noises and shaking her head. He hair disheveled and clothes barely covering her body. She shudders in uncontrolled frenzy and the entire household watches her ” playing” in fear and silence.

The village elders are informed and she termed as a “Dayan”witch. All the village folks gather with sticks and stones, beat her to pulp and tear her clothes. Stark naked , wounded both physically and emotionally, she lies like a dead animal at the village square while the villagers gather wood to burn her alive.

This is not mediaeval Indian story. It is reality of modern India where women considered to be witches are brutally tortured, beaten, stripped and killed in the name of witchcraft. These women considered to be bad omen are held responsible for failure of crops, epidemics, diseases,low birth rate, and many other things which bring so called bad luck to the village.

Most of these women are either single, widows, aged women and mainly women who are unprotected and closely related to the accusers. Witch-hunting is one of the most brutal forms of violence against women. Most of them are forever ostracised from the society with terrible consequences.

Witch hunting is prevalent in many of the Indian states like chattisgarh, Assam, Orissa, West Bengal, rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and some of the north- eastern states. Bihar alone accounts for a major chunk of witch hunting cases. Mainly the entire tribal belt of India suffers from the humiliation of this social evil. Acute poverty, little or no access to the most basic health care, education and sanitation are some of the factors leading to witch hunting. In these circumstances, superstition gains a force of its own. Bad crops, death in the family, loss of a child, persistent illness or drying up of wells or any such reason paves the way for this evil–problems are many but the solution remains the same: locate the witch responsible for the problem and punish her.

Socio-economic factors such as land-grabbing, property disputes, personal rivalry and resistance to sexual advances are mainly the reasons for such killings. In the male dominated society if a woman inherits land from her deceased husband is asked to disown the land by her husband’s family or other men. If she resists, they approach the Ojhas (traditional village doctors) and bribe them to brand her a witch.

Apart from this there are some other factors that lead to killing of innocent women by branding them as witches. In some cases women who spurn the sexual advances of the powerful men in the community are labelled and tortured in the name of witchcraft. That’s one way of settling the scores.

I came across Brinda Karant’s article on witch hunting some months ago where she explains the subject at length. Brinda is General secretory of All India Democratic Women’s Association(ADWA) and has worked in the field of women’s rights for a long time.

Some Issues In The Struggle Against Witch-Hunting

Do click the link to read more.

Many women who are strong willed, assertive and speak out their minds are seen as threats. The easiest way to eliminate them is to brand them as witch, humiliate and kill. The options left to such women are little. They are either forced to abandon the family and property and run away, commit suicide or are brutally murdered.

In Jharkhand witch hunting has increased in frightening proportions. Many of the adivasis ( tribals) kill women termed as Dains( witches) by the local village doctor called the “Ojha”. The tribal believe in spirits, ghosts and witches and lack of education forces them to do heinous acts against these women. A sick child dreams of four witches and names them. Village elders search for such women and publically parade them naked, their faces smeared. They are tortured, beaten black and blue and beheaded in full view of the entire village .No one speaks against the crime in the name of faith.

The police records record 984 women being killed in 19 districts since 1991 to 2008. Among them 242 women were killed in Ranchi district, 178 in West Singhbhum, 60 in East Singhbhum, 34 in Saraikela-Kharsawan, 127 in Lohardaga, 100 in Gumla, 39 in Simdega, 60 in Palamu, 18 in Garhwa, 10 in Chatra, 15 in Hazaribagh, 16 in Koderma, 15 in Giridih, 6 in Dhanbad, 12 in Bokaro, 16 in Deoghar, 11 in Dumka, 14 in Sahebganj and 11 women were killed in Godda district (omit). The crime enjoys the social and political patronage in the states of Jharkhand and several parts of Bihar etc as there is as much faith in witch-hunt as there is belief in gods. There are no real statistics because mostly the crimes go unreported.

There is a law against witch hunting in almost 28 states but it too has its drawbacks. There is still no central law against this barbarism. Less than 2 percent of those accused of witch-hunting are actually convicted, according to a study by the Free Legal Aid Committee, a group that works with victims in the state of Jharkhand.Most of the time women are unaware of the law and although there are many NGOs like Free Legal Aid Committee (FLAC) working for the this cause, there is still a long way to go.

Witch hunting leaves children orphaned and in my opinion it is one of the most atrocious crimes against women.

The cause of witch hunting is the patriarchal system and it’s been there for centuries now. To prove the authority of men, they suppress women, who resist against the system.

Men use weapons like witch-hunting to get rid of women they fear. In the Adivasi communities, it is largely women who are considered to have an evil influence and thus capable of being witches.

There are some fundamental questions I want to raise .

why is it that only a woman is a witch and man a witch hunter and spirit healer?

Why there is still lack of basic amenities like health, education and social awakening in remote parts of India?

Why can’t there be a central law or at least a strict law to prevent such acts of barbarism?

For How long women of India going to suffer in the the name of faith and under the pressure of male dominated society?

Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices are integral parts of Indian cooking and hold medicinal properties apart from being taste enhancers. Here are some ways to use them in cooking.

For centuries, Herbs and spices have been acknowledged for their medicinal properties and as culinary enhancers. There are hundreds of herbs which play an important role in our cuisine and as medicines and it is important to know when and how to use them.

Some work best with certain kind of foods and some go well with other specific herbs. Some are very effective cure for various ailments and are beneficial as many of our daily remedies. In AYURVEDA, we have used many of the Indian herbs like Ashvagandha, Boswellia or guggal, Alfalfa, Aloevera and many others to maximum benefits in combination with essential oils, in our cuisine, and as medicines.

Here we will try to see the various combinations of herbs and foods that match perfectly and discuss two of my favorite herbs and their usefulness for our body.

Curry Leaves

Indian cuisine uses the fragrant herbs in abundance. Curry leaf is an essential ingredient of most dishes cooked in South and in other parts of India. Mainly used for flavorings fresh green curry leaf when rubbed between fingers give out a unique aroma. They are slightly bitter in taste. Usually the fresh curry leaves are best for cooking
but dried up leaves can also be used.

The leaves contain a volatile essential oil in a crystalline principle glycoside having anticancer properties. They contain minerals, vitamin A&B and are a rich source of Carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids. Raw leaves cure dysentery and decoction of leaves with bitters cures fever.

The leaves contain a volatile essential oil in a crystalline principle glycoside having anticancer properties. They contain minerals, vitamin A&B and are a rich source of Carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids. Raw leaves cure dysentery and decoction of leaves with bitters cures fever.

It is an excellent hair tonic and prevents premature graying of hair especially when boiled with coconut oil for the greatest benefit in hair treatment. Eating tender curry leaves helps prevent diabetes. The leaves also have weight reducing properties.

Basil

Basil is a wonderful addition to many of our favorite Italian dishes, but it is also an excellent choice as an insect repellent, and for the treatment of bad breath, warts, headaches, and high blood pressure.

Rubbing basil leaves directly on the skin wards off mosquitoes. In India, this is quite common practice. If you do not have the luxury of planting it outside, this plant grows quite nicely in a sunny window planter.

Six compounds found in basil are useful as expectorant and make basil beneficial in ridding the body of mucus and congestion. Basil and black pepper each contain six compounds, which lower the blood pressure.

Basil carries many antiviral compounds.

Herb and Food combinations

Some herbs go very well with specific foods

1. Basil goes best with tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato juice, potato dishes, prawns, meat, chicken and poultry, pasta, rice, egg dishes.

2. Bay leaves make a difference to soups, stews, casseroles, meat and poultry marinades stocks.

3. Chili work best with meat, chicken and poultry, prawns, shellfish, tomato dishes, curries.

4. Chives improve the salads, chicken, soups, cheese dishes, egg dishes, mayonnaise, and vinaigrettes.

5. Coriander enhances all Asian dishes, stir-fries, curries, soups, salads, seafood.

6. Dill is for salads, sauces, and fish, and salad, sour cream, cheese and potato dishes.

7. Fennel can go with stuffing, sauces, seafood.

8. Garlic adds the zest to soups, sauces, pasta, meat, chicken, shellfish, pesto, salad dressings, and bread.

9. Ginger is best with cakes, biscuits, all Asian dishes.

10. Lemongrass can be added to some of the Asian dishes, stir-fries, curries, seafood, soups, and tea.

11. Mint works wonder with drinks, confectionary, meat, chicken, yoghurt, desserts, sauces, vegetable dishes.

12. Oregano is best with cheese dishes, egg dishes, tomato sauce, pizza, meat, stuffing, bread, pasta.

13. Parsley adds the power to egg dishes, pasta, rice dishes, salads, butter, sauces, seafood, vegetable dishes.

14. Sage is for stuffing, tomato dishes, and cheese dishes.

15. Thyme is wonder herb for breads, chicken and poultry, soups, stock, stews, butter, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar.

Herb combinations

Some herbs compliment each other beautifully here is the list of some of my favorites

1. Basil with chives, chili, garlic, oregano

2. Bay leaves with parsley, thyme, garlic, oregano

3. Chili with coriander, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, mint, oregano

4. Chives with basil, garlic

5. Dill with chives, garlic, parsley

6. Garlic with basil, rosemary, sage, fennel, chili, coriander

7. Thyme with bay leaves, parsley, garlic, rosemary

8. Oregano with basil, parsley, chives, thyme, bay, and chili

Food, herb combo information is courtesy Healthy Cooking with Fresh Herbs

Cross Posting Monika’s Blog: What does it takes to stand up?

Today is a day full of mixed emotions as I pray for my mom in CCU trying to cope with her aging unwell heart and cross-post one of my fellow blogger friend’s touching words on patriotism. She had sent me many links but I picked this particular one because it touched a chord somewhere deep inside and made me stand up in pride and honor of my beautiful nation.

What does it take to stand up

She says,“If you have seen a movie in Fame Cinemas, you would be very familiar with the fact that they play National Anthem before starting the movie… I simply love this gesture of theirs… small thing but speaks volume isnt it?

Me for one simply love it… It fills me with pride, a feeling of patriotism takes me over the two minutes that it runs…. the way it is started with the queen of indian singing Lata Mangashekar… the tharkan in the voice of hariharan… the sweetness of S P Balasubrmaniam… the old mature voice of that old lady (bad but I am not sure who she is, someone can help me with this)

Monika is a mother, a working woman , a traveller and a Proud Indian woman who lives to the fullest. I have read many of her posts on her blog Monika’s world and she writes about fitness, her cherub boy, travel, cooking and much more. A must read ..
I wish her best of everything ..

Thanks Monika for providing us with so much to enjoy ..Cheers!!! chak de phatte

Main neer bhari dukh ki badli : Favorite Hindi Poets 2

This is the second post about my favorite Hindi poets and I will be showcasing two more poets who inspired me in some way. Mahadevi Verma , one of the four pillers of Chayavad ( a period of romanticism in India) and a unique romantic poet of her times is an inspiration behind many of my poems. A social reformist, freedom fighter, educationist and woman’s activists, she wrote limited prose and poetry but her works are outstanding. There are many poems I would have loved to shared but Main neer bhari dookh ki badli( I am nimbus cloud of sorrow) is my top pick.

The pain ,sepration from the lover, mysticism have been her themes and this is a beautiful example of it. Enjoy

मैं नीर भरी दुख की बदली!

स्पंदन में चिर निस्पंद बसा,
क्रंदन में आहत विश्व हँसा,
नयनों में दीपक से जलते,
पलकों में निर्झणी मचली!

मेरा पग पग संगीत भरा,
श्वासों में स्वप्न पराग झरा,
नभ के नव रंग बुनते दुकूल,
छाया में मलय बयार पली!

मैं क्षितिज भृकुटि पर घिर धूमिल,
चिंता का भार बनी अविरल,
रज-कण पर जल-कण हो बरसी,
नव जीवन-अंकुर बन निकली!

पथ न मलिन करता आना,
पद चिह्न न दे जाता जाना,
सुधि मेरे आगम की जग में,
सुख की सिहरन हो अंत खिली!

विस्तृत नभ का कोई कोना,
मेरा न कभी अपना होना,
परिचय इतना इतिहास यही,
उमड़ी कल थी मिट आज चली

I read Agyeya as a teenager . His book Kitni Navon Mein Kitni Bar left a deep impression on me. Since then I have read some more work of his online and loved it. One of the finest modern poets Agyeya is worth reading.

है,अभी कुछ जो कहा नहीं गया ।

उठी एक किरण, धायी, क्षितिज को नाप गई,
सुख की स्मिति कसक भरी,निर्धन की नैन-कोरों में काँप गई,
बच्चे ने किलक भरी, माँ की वह नस-नस में व्याप गई।
अधूरी हो पर सहज थी अनुभूति :
मेरी लाज मुझे साज बन ढाँप गई-
फिर मुझ बेसबरे से रहा नहीं गया।
पर कुछ और रहा जो कहा नहीं गया।

निर्विकार मरु तक को सींचा है
तो क्या? नदी-नाले ताल-कुएँ से पानी उलीचा है
तो क्या ? उड़ा हूँ, दौड़ा हूँ, तेरा हूँ, पारंगत हूँ,
इसी अहंकार के मारे
अन्धकार में सागर के किनारे ठिठक गया : नत हूँ
उस विशाल में मुझसे बहा नहीं गया ।
इसलिए जो और रहा, वह कहा नहीं गया ।

शब्द, यह सही है, सब व्यर्थ हैं
पर इसीलिए कि शब्दातीत कुछ अर्थ हैं।
शायद केवल इतना ही : जो दर्द है
वह बड़ा है, मुझसे ही सहा नहीं गया।
तभी तो, जो अभी और रहा, वह कहा नहीं गया ।

सच्चिदानंद हीरानंद वात्स्यायन ‘अज्ञेय’

Hope you enjoyed reading these two poems . The third post in the series willfeature one poet and a traslation by me. Do read and critique

Arun ye madhumay desh hamara … Favorite Hindi Poets 1

I wanted to do this post for a long time but choosing some poets from the wealth of Hindi Poetry was an uphill task. Each poets has a special place in my heart, each poem touches some deeper chord. The reason for this journey is to relive the glorious history of hindi poetry. I will be doing a series of post to accomodate some of my favorite poets and their poems.

I am posting some poems of Jaishankar Prasad, Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ and Sumitra Nandan Pant in this post.

In Aadi Kal and Bhakti kal the language for poetry writing was mainly Braj and Awadhi apart from sanskrit. It was only in the 19th century that Khadi boli came to become the accepted language for poetry writing. Mahavir Prasad Drivedi, Maithili Sharan Gupt who were the forebearers of Khadi boli ( today’s Hindi) and wrote beautiful verses and established the new trend modern Hindi language.

Then came the Golden Era with a bouquet of memorable poetry from Jai Shankar Prasad, Mahadevi Varma, Suryakant Tripathi ‘ Nirala ‘ and Sumitra Nandan Pant. Each of them inspired me in one way or the other. Jai Shankar Prasad remains my all time favorite. ‘Kamayani‘ my most loved poem. There is something in his poetry that draws you and holds you for a long time. This maha Kvya or allegorical epic poem is one of the finest in Hindi literature. It has beautiful interplay of human emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Here is an excerpt from the verse

Chinta 1

हिमगिरि के उत्तुंग शिखर पर,

बैठ शिला की शीतल छाँह

एक पुरुष, भीगे नयनों से

देख रहा था प्रलय प्रवाह |

नीचे जल था ऊपर हिम था,

एक तरल था एक सघन,

एक तत्व की ही प्रधानता

कहो उसे जड़ या चेतन |

Lajja part 1

नयनों की नीलम की घाटी

जिस रस घन से छा जाती हो,

वह कौंध कि जिससे अंतर की

शीतलता ठंडक पाती हो,

हिल्लोल भरा हो ऋतुपति का

गोधूली की सी ममता हो,

जागरण प्रात-सा हँसता हो

जिसमें मध्याह्न निखरता हो,

हो चकित निकल आई

सहसा जो अपने प्राची के घर से,

उस नवल चंद्रिका-से बिछले जो

मानस की लहरों पर-से

I wish I could do the traslation here , may be I will in some other post.

Another poem of Prasad which is worth mentioning is अरुण यह मधुमय देश हमारा . I always loved this particular poem of his. It is a very inspirational poem and gives me goose pimples. Enjoy ..

अरुण यह मधुमय देश हमारा।
जहाँ पहुँच अनजान क्षितिज को मिलता एक सहारा॥
सरल तामरस गर्भ विभा पर, नाच रही तरुशिखा मनोहर।
छिटका जीवन हरियाली पर, मंगल कंकुम सारा॥
लघु सुरधनु से पंख पसारे, शीतल मलय समीर सहारे।
उड़ते खग जिस ओर मुँह किये, समझ नीड़ निज प्यारा॥
बरसाती आँखों के बादल, बनते जहाँ भरे करुणा जल।
लहरें टकरातीं अनन्त की, पाकर जहाँ किनारा॥
हेम कुम्भ ले उषा सवेरे, भरती ढुलकाती सुख मेरे।
मंदिर ऊँघते रहते जब, जगकर रजनी भर तारा॥

Raat Yo Kahne Laga Mujse Gagan ka Chaand by Dinkar is my favorite poem. He was a rebellious poet and mostly wrote in Veer Rs ( Brave mode) but this is a beautiful verse which I would love to share

रात यों कहने लगा मुझसे गगन का चाँद,
आदमी भी क्या अनोखा जीव है ।
उलझनें अपनी बनाकर आप ही फँसता,
और फिर बेचैन हो जगता, न सोता है ।

जानता है तू कि मैं कितना पुराना हूँ?
मैं चुका हूँ देख मनु को जनमते-मरते ।
और लाखों बार तुझ-से पागलों को भी
चाँदनी में बैठ स्वप्नों पर सही करते।

आदमी का स्वप्न? है वह बुलबुला जल का
आज उठता और कल फिर फूट जाता है ।
किन्तु, फिर भी धन्य ठहरा आदमी ही तो
बुलबुलों से खेलता, कविता बनाता है ।

मैं न बोला किन्तु मेरी रागिनी बोली,
देख फिर से चाँद! मुझको जानता है तू?
स्वप्न मेरे बुलबुले हैं? है यही पानी,
आग को भी क्या नहीं पहचानता है तू?

मैं न वह जो स्वप्न पर केवल सही करते,
आग में उसको गला लोहा बनाता हूँ ।
और उस पर नींव रखता हूँ नये घर की,
इस तरह दीवार फौलादी उठाता हूँ ।

मनु नहीं, मनु-पुत्र है यह सामने, जिसकी
कल्पना की जीभ में भी धार होती है ।
वाण ही होते विचारों के नहीं केवल,
स्वप्न के भी हाथ में तलवार होती है।

स्वर्ग के सम्राट को जाकर खबर कर दे
रोज ही आकाश चढ़ते जा रहे हैं वे ।
रोकिये, जैसे बने इन स्वप्नवालों को,
स्वर्ग की ही ओर बढ़ते आ रहे हैं वे।

Sumitra Nandan Pant was my favorite during my teenage days. I loved the way his poetry flowed like a young river and made me smile each time I read it. Vasant is a lovely poem and I hope all of you will enjoy it .

चंचल पग दीपशिखा के धर
गृह, मग़, वन में आया वसंत
सुलगा फागुन का सूनापन
सौन्दर्य शिखाओं में अनंत

सौरभ की शीतल ज्वाला से
फैला उर उर में मधुर दाह
आया वसंत, भर पृथ्वी पर
स्वर्गिक सुंदरता का प्रवाह

पल्लव पल्लव में नवल रूधिर
पत्रों में मांसल रंग खिला
आया नीली पीली लौ से
पुष्पों के चित्रित दीप जला

अधरों की लाली से चुपके
कोमल गुलाब से गाल लजा
आया पंखड़ियों को काले-
पीले धब्बों से सहज सजा

कलि के पलकों में मिलन स्वप्न
अलि के अंतर में प्रणय गान
लेकर आया प्रेमी वसंत
आकुल जड़-चेतन स्नेह प्राण

I am thankful to Kavita Kosh and Prayogshala from where I got to read and copy the poems.