Towards an obscure abode! | Koushik Ganesan

Confused, I walk this road;

I'm a ludo token on a chess board,

Where squares change on the fly,

All at the roll of a die!

My lips welded into eternal smile,

Betraying my inner storm and hail;

Cursed, I am with the gift to see,

And yet never be seen;

Naive bout the world, they call me,

Lacking of dubeity and artful taint,

While they remain to conformity,

Chained without any complaint;

After a life of mockery and exploit

My inner world where I reside,

Is pruned to an abandoned home;

As the great Poe once sighed,

All I loved, I only loved alone!

Who am I? I enquire myself,

A sailor lost at sea?

An old novel on the wrong shelf?

Or a caged bird praying to be free?

Alas, I have no retort!

Thus confused, I resume walking this road,

To an obscure abode!

Echoes- Vivian Pegu

Echoes of my heart, filled with illusion.

Mirrors of reason made many illusions,

Life is an illusion filled with insanity.

'Sanity and Insanity' made of "Insanity."

Sucking my logic, out of my heart.

Drifting my Home out of my heart.

Sitting on this graveyard,

I see the 'Mask-men' pass by.

Luring me with their hypnotic songs,

Buy this Mask, buy that Mask.

Made of gold and silver.

Then, suck my blood! for the Mask!

Do, I buy?

Or deny?

or die.....? Putting on this Masks!

बोध | Gaurav Abrol

मन में पलती दुविधाओं से, निर्मित सीमाएं लांघ कर

बैठ उड़न खटोले में साहस के, आज कहीं मै दूर चला

जहाँ ना पाश निराशा का, ना नियमों का कोई बंधन है

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ, बस अवसर भरा समंदर है |

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ, बस अवसर भरा समंदर है ||

विचर रहा था वर्षों से

जिस अनुपम सुख की तृष्णा में

जो मिला न हिम की चोटी पर

ना ताल में पाताल में

है आज उसी का बोध हुआ

अंतर-मन के अवलोकन से

है कहीं नही बस छिपा

यहीं इसी के अंदर है

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ

बस अवसर भरा समंदर है |

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ

बस अवसर भरा समंदर है ||

नत-मस्तक हूँ उस दीपक को

जग-मग जग-मग जो करता है

आलोकित कर वह जग भर को

अन्दर ही अन्दर जलता है

गिरि सम दृढ़ता हो मन में

फिर क्या बदली क्या बवन्डर है?

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ

बस अवसर भरा समंदर है |

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ

बस अवसर भरा समंदर है ||

ना दिन ना ही रात है ना सूखा ना बरसात है

ये सुख -दुख की गाथा भी तो समय -समय की बात है

जो कल था वह आज नहीं , आज है जो वह कल ना होगा

स्वीकार किया ये सत्य वचन तो जीवन कभी विफल ना होगा

परिवर्तन ही इक मात्र है जो निश्चित और निरंतर है l

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ बस अवसर भरा समन्दर है ll

विचलित मन के भावों से , इस चोटिल रूह के घावों से

आसक्त ह्रदय के क्रंदन से और भव विषयों के बंधन से

जो मुक्त हुआ वही माधव है , वही पोरुस वही सिकन्दर है

और जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ बस अवसर भरा समन्दर है l

जिधर नज़र दौड़ाता हूँ बस अवसर भरा समन्दर है ll

फ़िल्म और ज़िन्दगी - Reema Singh

अक्सर हमें लगता है ,

कि फिल्मों की तरह, ज़िन्दगी में भी।

अंत में सब ठीक हो ही जाता है।

हम जो चाहते हैं,

वो हमें मिलने लगता है।

पर कोई ये, सिखाता ही नहीं,

कि ये सब , यूँही तो ठीक नहीं होगा।

कभी-कभी ये ज़िंदगी,

सिर्फ इंतज़ार में ही गुज़र जाती है।

इंतज़ार, उस वक़्त का ,

जब सब ठीक हो जाता हैं ।

या, हो सकता है,

जो अब है, वो ही हमेशा रहे।

ये दिन,

ये रात,

ये वक़्त।

कभी बदले ही ना ?

इसी तरह पल - पल,

वक़्त की आँधी में ,

ज़िंदगी का हर पड़ाव,

यूँही बह जाएँ !

और रह जाए ,

वो आधी ज़िन्दगी !

जो बचा कर रखीं थी ,

उन अधूरे ख़्वाबों के लिए !

पर ठीक है ना ,

शायद, ज़िन्दगी ऐसी ही होती होगी !

जहाँ सब कुछ तो नहीं ,

पर कुछ-कुछ तो मिल ही जाता हैं !

जिसमें आधे-अधूरें ख़्वाबों को ,

साँसें मिल जाती हैं !

- रीमा सिंह

Sad- Aashish Thanki

एक दिन चला जाऊँगा

सफ़ेद चादर ओढ़ के।।

छोड़ जाऊँगा पीछे

बातें

यादें

क़िस्से

कहानियाँ

सब तेरे मेरे।।

रह जाएँगे पीछे

कुछ अल्फ़ाज़

ये ग़ज़ले

मेरे नग़मे

मेरे ये गीत।।

छूट जायेंगी पीछे

मेरी साँसे

मेरी धड़कने

मेरी आवाज़

मेरी सख़्शियत

सब तेरे दिल में।।

एक दिन चला जाऊँगा

वो सब छोड़ के

जो मेरा था ही नहीं

तुम्हें भी छोड़ के

कहीं दूर चला जाऊँगा।।

ले जाऊँगा

ये मेरी सुहानी रूह।।

एक दिन चला जाऊँगा

सफ़ेद चादर ओढ़ के।

इश्क़- Ananya Dixit

यूँ तो कई बार हुआ है यह इश्क़,

पहला स्वयं से,

फिर अपने परिजनों से,

उन नयनों से,

थी जो माया से सुसज्जित,

थी जिनमें मंत्रमुग्ध करने की अपार क्षमता |

उस काया से,

जिसके स्पर्श मात्र से ही सिहरन सी दौड़ जाये,

उन हाथों से,

जो किसी वृक्ष की शाखाओं सी प्रतीत हों,

छलावा देती हों आत्मिक सुकून का,

पाखंड रचती हो अदभुद आनंद के प्राप्ति का,

उन तमाम चीज़ों से जो हो सकती हैं नष्ट,

ऐसा इश्क़ कई बार हुआ है |

ऐसा इश्क़ कई बार हुआ है,

हर उम्र के पडाव पर हुआ है,

अपने अंतर्मन की सीमाओं को लांघने की धृष्टता में,

गर्जना के साथ हुआ है,

ऐसा भ्रमित करने वाला इश्क़,

कई बार हुआ है |

रूठना, मनाना, वायदे, कसमें,

तमाम मसले थे इसमें,

बस, नहीं थी मिठास शहद की,

जो भर देती घड़ा अंतर्मन का |

ऐसे ही ऊहापोह के परिप्रेक्ष्य में तुम आए,

और, जैसे ही तुम आए,

वास्तविक इश्क़ की तृष्णा मिट गई |

अनुभव हुआ असीम सुरक्षा का,

लगा जैसे, गूँज उठी हो हृदय में, मीठी ध्वनि संतूर की,

वह मखमली गोद मिल गई हो,

जिस पर सिर टिकाते ही सांसारिक जटिलताओं से उत्पन्न थकावट लुप्त हो जाए,

शांत हो जाए वह मन के उद्वेलित सागर,

जिसमें बेचैनियों की उमड़ा करती थी लहरें,

इस बार कुछ इस प्रकार का शाश्वत इश्क़ हुआ था |

यू तो तुम्हारे शरीर का स्पर्श न था,

फिर भी मन के तार जुड़े से लगे,

लगा जैसे सदियों और जन्मों का नाता है,अटूट सम्बंध है,

तुम्हारा माथा प्रतीत होता एक चमकते सूर्य सा,

जिसकी किरणों में भरा हो ज्ञान और अनंत प्रेम का भंडार,

तुम्हारे नेत्रों में था एक चुंबकीय आकर्षण,

जो अनायास ही हृदय को खींचता अपनी ओर,

तुम्हारी मुस्कान में थी वो शीतलता, वो आश्वासन,

जिसे देख यह एहसास होता कि तुम मैं हूँ और मैं तुम,

संपूर्णता का था यह एहसास,

एकीकरण का था यह एहसास |

समझने में हूँ आज लेकिन असमर्थ,

कहाँ हो गई त्रुटि,

कहा चूक गया,

क्यूँ चट्टान सा मज़बूत विश्वास, डगमगा गया,

क्या वह पूर्ण मनोयोग से किया गया इश्क़ सच्चा नहीं था,

मन मनाने को कतई तैयार नहीं |

हाँ, परंतु इस इश्क़ की मीठी प्रेरणादायी यादें हैं ज़रूर,

जो करती हैं उत्साहवर्धन निरंतर,

कि तुम्हें पुनः प्राप्त कर सकूं,

तुम्हें दोबारा जान सकूं,

तुममें फिर से हो सकूं तल्लीन,

और कस कर जकड़ सकूं,

बाहुबल से नहीं,

ब्लकि, इश्क़ की दीवानगी से ||

शब्दों से बाज़ार सजा है - Ajit Singh

शब्दों से बाज़ार सजा है

कुछ कोमल कुछ बासी हैं

कुछ महके फूलों जैसे तो

कुछ चेहरे पर लिए उदासी हैं

शब्दों से बाज़ार.........

रूठे हुए कुछ जीभ तले हैं

कुछ मीठे को कान प्यासे हैं

भाव विनम्रता सुगम सरलता

कुछ छल बल लिप्त झाँसे हैं

शब्दों से बाज़ार.........

कुछ बनाते नए रिश्तों को

कुछ बने हुए को ख़त्म करें

कुछ होते घावों पर मरहम जैसे

तो कुछ नित नए नए ज़ख्म करें

कुछ देते शीतलता मन को

तो कुछ जी को बैचेन करें

कुछ स्नेह लेप लगाते पीड़ा को

तो कुछ सब सुख चैन हरे

शब्दों से बाज़ार............

கவிதை வரைத்தேன்- Lakshmi Priya Parthasarathi

நான் விரும்புவதே உலகம் என்றேன்

உலகத்தை விரும்புவதே வாழ்க்கை என்றாய்

காண்பேத்தலாம் உண்மை என்றேன்

காண்பதில் எது உண்மை என்று யோசித்து பார் என்றாய்

நண்பர்கள் வேண்டும் என்று தேடினேன்

நான் என்னக்கு நண்பன் என்பதை உணர்த்தினாய்

தனிமையில் அன்பு இல்லை என்றேன்

அன்பில் இருந்தால் உன்னக்கு தனிமையே இல்லை என்றாய்

இதை புரியவைத்து உன்னக்கு கவிதை ஒன்று எழுதினேன்

அதை மறைத்து மறந்து கடிதமாய் வரைத்தேன்

உன்னை தவிர அனைவருக்கும் கொடுத்தேன்

பதில் எங்கே என்று தேடினேன் எதிர்பார்ப்பில் மிதந்தேன்

இறுதி வரை ஒரு வார்த்தை கூட என் செவிக்கு எட்டவில்லை

புரிதந்து உலகத்தை மறந்தால் உன்னை காணலாம்

உன்னை கண்டால் மகிழ்வைத்தால்

அன்பு என்னும் மழையில் ஒரு துளி என் மேல் விழ

நான் மறந்த கவிதைக்கு உயிர் கொடுத்து

உன்னை நான் சேரும் காலம் வந்துவிட்டதா

From a moving window

As each drop of rain touches the sand,

I feel elated at the aroma that floats through the breeze.

A breeze that makes me nostalgic,

A breeze that suddenly makes me feel everyone is love,

A breeze that provokes romance with life,

A breeze that make me feel an inner bliss.

Thousand great memories cross my mind,

When the raindrop touch my cheeks.

I feel a new energy passes, filling me with happiness and bliss.

The happiness when you see your mother after many years,

The tear of bliss when you experience love in depths of your soul.

I see, feel, and enjoy rain from a moving window,

I enter a dream of reality, and reality in a dream

The girl,she never was- Ayushi Gupta

No one ever teaches us that we cannot turn people into homes..

People are rivers, ever flowing,ever changing , never stay the same..

They disappear with everything you put inside them..

Still.. I am still a person, I have a soul..

My heart also beats..

But people forget that,

I block out their attacks , everyday I do..

Other days it's not enough..

I just want to get rid of all this..

My currents shift each day,

And the way I am right now..

Might not always remain..

For if you are searching for the girl, I used to be..

She was washed away..all the way out to sea..

A Beacon of Hope -Suddhata Limbu

The World plunged into darkness,

Confined to his home, Man felt utterly helpless.

Death was seen striding the winding lanes,

The virus caused immense agony and pain.

Was it a boon or a bane?

The devil could no longer reign.

The flowers blossomed, the sky turned vibrant blue,

The spirit of humanity could not be subdued.

The flowers of love in the family graciously bloomed,

A ripple of unrestrained laughter circled the room.

The flames of animosity were extinguished,

The value of life and time were deeply cherished.

Lessons were taught in a profound way,

A heartfelt prayer was offered everyday.

The language of kindness was spoken frequently,

Reforming the lives of many.

An opportunity was given to rekindle old friendship,

Pursue our passion and hone our skills.

People from all religions were united in prayer,

During this time of anguish and despair.

Experiences in life can be sweet or sometimes bitter,

Helping us to rectify our mistakes and reconsider.

Our life is a gift from God worth living,

It is time for us to appreciate the miraculous blessings!

When I should have a daughter- Vrinda Maheshwari

If I should have a daughter

I will ask her to be raw,

To scream and to shout.

To take up space

And make her own way.

She will be

Whatever she hopes to be.

Be kind yet be fierce.

Have her eyes twinkle with mirth.

She will never doubt herself,

She will always know

She stands tall with men.

Her hands will be soft,

Her actions, strong.

Her voice, melodious.

Her words will command respect.

My daughter will know what love is not.

She will never wonder what her worth is not.

Hearts may break, tears may fall

Yet, My daughter will never cry herself to sleep.

She will always remain an enigma of her own.

When I shall have a daughter,

Compromise is a word she will never know.

My daughter will be what she wants to be.

Never will she simmer down,

Lower her gaze,

Or bow her head

In any way.

My daughter will kick the patriarchy on purpose.

My daughter will break chains her mother could not.

She will break stigmas and be her own person.

My daughter will be a warrior queen

And she will be my proud Bad Beti.

अप्रतिबंध प्रेम- Shehnaz Ahmed

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित:

अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ।

भगवत गीता के दसवीं अध्याय में भगवान श्री कृष्ण पार्थ से कहते हैं,

उनका ठिकाना हर एक जीव की आत्मा में है, वे उनके अंदर ही रहते हैं।

एक जीव के शुरुआत से लेकर अंत तक,

उसके जीवन के पतझड़ से बसंत तक,

भगवान कृष्ण उसकी आत्मा में स्थित है,

10 वीं अध्याय के 20 वे छंद में इसी प्रकार, भगवान के पता का निरूपण उपस्थित है।

लेकिन इस पते पर कैसे पहुंचा जाए, ऐसी कौन सी विधि भला हम अपनाएं,

कि हम सभी को हमारे हरि मिल जाए,

आखिर क्या है इस कठिन दुविधा से निकलने का उपाय,

कौन है जो हमें इसका रास्ता बताएं?

कई विद्वानों ने आश्वस्त, इसका उपाय बताया,

ईश्वर प्राप्ति का निसंदेह मार्ग इन विद्वानों ने दिखाया,

जो थी पूजा-पाठ और अनंत विधियां,

ईश्वर से भेंट के बदले मांगी कुबेर की निधियां।

कई आए और गए, जिन्होंने भगवान का ही सौदा कर डाला,

चलो लुटेरे तो लूट कर चले गए, फिर भी हाथ ना आए गोपाला।

जो उपाय बताने आए थे, वे मतलब निकाल कर निकल पड़े,

जो उपाय मांगने गए थे, वहीं के वहीं रह गए विकल खड़े।

पर उपाय तो वही बता पाएगा ना जिसने स्वयं हरि को पाया है,

जिसने केवल भगवान को ही नहीं भगवान ने भी उसको अपनाया है।

अरे!...ऐसी कोई तो है यथार्थ में, जिनके त्याग और समर्पण ने गोविंद को रिझाया है,

ब्रजरानी राधा के अप्रतिबंध प्रेम की गाथा ने, कृष्ण दर्शन का मूल हमें बहुत पहले ही समझाया है।

कदाचित यह अप्रतिबंध प्रेम ही है जो हमें हरि के समीप लाएगी,

परंतु अप्रतिबंध प्रेम किससे करें? संभव है, पूर्वस्थित 20 वी छंद हमें इसका उत्तर बताएगी।

हर जीव से अप्रतिबंध प्रेम करने का प्रयास ही क्या पता हमें ले जाएं उसके आत्मा में बसे भगवान के पास?

कृष्ण भी तो राधारानी से अप्रतिबंध प्रेम करते है, क्या पता राधा की ही विधि उनको आए रास?

Nocturnal Heartbeat Cycle- Nithyashree V

Every night, when you light the candle,

Oh! My love, how do I handle it?

A strike of lightening we hear,

"Ouch!Honey!", arrives my fear.

"Hey! Chill!", you utter.

You hold my hand;

It feels like the blissful boon by a magic wand.

"Good Night!", you whisper.

We fight.

We cry.

We lie.

We kiss.

We miss.

"Good Night!", you whisper.

The river we drift,

Those surprises you gift,

And your arms that carry me,

Oh! Don't you dare set me free!

We chase mice.

We play dice, feeding each other a bowl of rice;

You arrest my eyes.

"Good Night!", you whisper.

Different doors down,

Towards random rough roads,

On a plenty of parallel planets,

Where it's just you and me.

Oh! That's my love, you see.

"Tring!Tring!", chirped my alarm,

Roaring aloud in the solitaire farm around.

"Hi!", say I. "The guy you love is no longer himself."

"Yes, the beautiful vampire sucked him", the mirror nods.

"So, whom do I love now?", ask I.

"It's his previous version before he abandoned his heart to the vampire...",

"...And transformed himself into another vampire", squeals the mirror.

Oh! Yes! He is like the splendid shining star dancing on my shoulder!

My heart's tyres puncture,

Making me shiver,

Until it overcomes the tremor;

Until, "Good Night!", you whisper.

गौरैया - एक मधुर तराना- Kalpana Gupta

कैसे भूलूं, मैं वह बचपन,

वह गौरैया का चहचहाना,

मेरे घर की मुंङेरी पर,

गाती थी वह मधुर तराना ||

चीं चीं करती मुझे जगाती,

मां भी सहज, आवाज लगातीं,

मेरे घर आंगन में फुदकती,

नन्हीं सी वो गौरैया ||

बंगले के उस नीम पेड़ पर,

कभी फुदकती कभी प्रांगण में,

गर्मी की उस तेज तपन में,

पंख डुबोती थी मटके में ||

पक्षियों के कलरव को सुन,

सुबह सवेरे हम जगते थे,

अपने अन्न ग्रहण से पहले,

दाना जीवों को हम देते थे ||

तुम्हें ना पा, अपने समीप में,

नहीं सहज, हो पाती हूँ,

गुनहगार में तुम्हरी गौरैया,

ऐसा विचार मन में करती हूँ ||

याद मुझे सब आता है,

तुम्हरा चहचहाना आवाज लगाना,

स्कूल से घर जब आती थी,

तुम्हें सहन में पाती थी ||

चावल जब मैं खाती थी,

बन सहेली आती थी,

तुमको जब ना देती थी,

चीं चीं शोर मचाती थी ||

तोता मैना चिड़िया आतीं,

जब आंगन में, मैं पढ़ती थी,

वही सहेली बन जाती थीं,

जब मैं कभी अकेली होती ||

नाराज हो गई अब मुझ से तुम,

नहीं गाना मधुर सुनातीं,

तुमको देख न, पाकर समीप

विचलित हो मन में दुख पाती ||

करूँगी प्रयास बस, आज से ही,

वापस घर ले आऊंगी,

सुंदर घोंसला टांग लिया है,

बस अब तुमको बुलाऊंगी ||

कितने प्यारे मधुर थे दिन,

अब बस बसते, स्मृतियों में,

आओ मिल एक अभियान चलायें,

नन्हीं गौरैया को फिर घर लाएं ||

ऐ! मेरे बचपन की सहेली,

अब जल्दी तुम मिलने आओ,

घोंसला मैंने टाँग लिया है,

मधुर तराना वही सुनाओ ||

The unspoken words-Anshada Khachroo

Walking into a room full of people,

She is looked at through and through.

Embarrassed she looks at herself,

Left, right, middle everywhere she fiddles,

But can’t solve the mystery riddle.

What are they looking at?

She whispers to a friend on the side.

Your clothes are being judged,

And they want you to hide.

But how is it a problem, she asks,

With pain in her eyes and scared heart.

Huh!! The friend smirks and replies,

This is just the start.

Looking at herself in the mirror,

She feels like she is nothing.

Not pretty, not smart,

With tears rolling down breaking her heart.

But then she hears someone call,

Wiping the tears, she moves out tall.

Somehow, she gears up the courage to walk again,

Amongst the people so vain.

Eyes down and heart sinking at every step,

With eyes flooded with tears,

More than anyone can bear.

So, she just walks, not having a clue where to go,

Not knowing where to turn,

She just walks until her insides stop to churn.

Nothing happened is what people feel,

She is strong and made of steel.

But nobody looks at the crying heart,

Waiting to talk from the start.

Sleeping at night, she feels why she exists,

And starts to write down all the flaws list by list.

That crumbled-up paper is never seen,

Filled with the cries and pain of the teen.

From body shaming for being fat,

To scrutinizing every acne on her face.

From being considered too thin,

To being pointed out with no grace.

From judging everything by her color,

And pointing out options to improve.

She spends her whole life,

Just to prove.

To prove that she is worthy,

To prove that she is beautiful.

To prove that she is smart,

To prove that she has a heart.

But nobody cares,

It's just normal is what I hear,

From not only strangers but people near and dear.

Lose some weight and you will look good,

So go easy on all that food.

Apply some makeup to cover those scars,

And don’t let them see your flaws.

Gain some weight to look like a woman,

Huh!! Where is the book with all the laws?

Apply something and you will look fair,

Take this honey, eat it twice and your acne will clear.

Why don’t you hide your scars,

You should look like the bright stars.

You need to be waxed from face to your toes,

And tie your hair with rubber and bows.

Dress, Dress, Dress,

Because all you need to do is impress.

And not with your mind,

But with your front and behind.

Pull up, tuck in and let them pop,

Even if that makes your breathing stop.

Covering such blatant abuse,

With words like grace and pretty shoes.

Women have walked in the society,

Charming, graceful and sad,

Decorated with jewelry, smile and

A mask so bad.

Devoid of emotion, we feel it's okay,

To ignore, be rude and mean.

This is what we humans have started to thrive on,

And these cruelties go unseen.

Society tries to tame us like sheep in a herd,

Walking and talking the same without any unique voice heard.

A branch with a little bend,

A seed that needs a mend.

You have to bloom with everyone else, otherwise, you are an outcast,

Made to run wild into the abyss long and fast.

This is the right way and everything else is wrong,

Builds a sense of disconnect and an unhealthy song.

We all were put on earth to be different,

It was always meant to be.

Otherwise, our fingertips and DNA would be like,

The branches of the same tree.

But each of us is a different flower,

With different personalities and different powers.

Different in every possible way,

But still beautiful in every way.

To every crying heart, I say,

You are beautiful the way you are.

Universe made us all special in ways we don’t understand,

Like the scales on a leaf and each grain of sand.

So, don’t listen to the humans who just want to tear you apart,

Love yourself the way you are and that’s a start.

Helpless- Chetan Bhatnagar

"Time for a break," I say with glee.

I turn on my TV, and flip through the channels,

Until some form of mindless entertainment

Calls out to me.

The latest movie trailer leaps over

The up-and-coming song,

And a seemingly happy man tells me

That everything in my life is wrong.

But then I stop at the news channel,

This is what I was hoping to avoid.

I nestle in my layers of comfort

And hear about the lives destroyed.

Rockets flatten civilian establishments,

A humanitarian disaster brews.

We all sigh and wonder why this happens,

But really - we all always knew.

I say I have avoided the news all this time,

And so do many - they just lie.

But in reality I always keep up.

You can't feign ignorance as thousands die.

And though some keep quiet,

The emotional burden is not their own.

Who cares about YOU keeping up with events,

As thousands lose THEIR homes?

So you keep your distance,

And when you can, you donate.

You hope that sending money

Will not let it all deteriorate.

You march in protests miles away,

As the bombs continue to fall.

You mask yourself, wear unidentifiable clothing,

Lest your mom sees you - and calls.

You can't change it all, though you wish you could.

Switch off the button of war, send the bullets packing,

But you've got three assignments due,

And you find your own power lacking.

You spent a week worrying about deadlines,

And whether your professor thinks you cause trouble,

A lot of people like you spent the week worrying

About digging themselves out of literal rubble.

What did you do to be fortunate enough

To not live under an exploding sky?

But I suppose you never feel fortunate anyway

Or perhaps you know it's all a lie.

You were just born in the "right" place,

And you will never understand why,

Those that are born on the "wrong" side,

Seem to be destined to die.

And so you reflect on your own individual actions

As the weeping child on the news leaves you breathless,

You turn the TV off, turn your music on,

And hope it drowns the screams of the helpless.

Odia- Kailash Chandra Samantaray

---ଓଁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଳେଶ୍ବରାୟ ନମଃ ---

ଜଳ ଯୋଗେ ତିଷ୍ଠିଛି ଆମର ସଂସାର,

ଜଳ ବିନା ଧରା ରେ ଜୀବନ ଅସାର.

ତେଣୁ ଜଳ କୁ ଜୀବନ ବୋଲି କହିଥାନ୍ତି,

ମୃତ୍ତିକା ଗଠନେ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଭାଗ ନେଇଥାନ୍ତି.

ମୃତ୍ତିକା ଗଠନକୁ କଲେ ବିଶ୍ଳେଷଣ,

ଚାରି ଭାଗରୁ ଏକ ଭାଗ ଜଳ ଅଟେ ଜାଣ.

ଜୀବ ଜଗତ ଜଳ ଯୋଗେ ତିଷ୍ଠନ୍ତି ମହୀରେ,

ଜଳର ମହିମା ପୁଣି କିଏ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିପାରେ ?

ମାଟି ମା ଠାରୁ ଜଳ ଓ ପାଇଣ ପୋଷାକ,

ଆକାଶରୁ ଦିବାକର ଦେଲେ ଯେ ଆଲୋକ.

ଭାଶଲେଷଣ ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା ରେ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ହେଲା ଜାତ,

ବୃକ୍ଷ ଖାଇ ବଞ୍ଚାଇଲେ ଏ ପ୍ରାଣୀ ଜଗତ.

ସାଧୁ ପରି କଷ୍ଟ ସହି ହେଲେ ଉପକାରୀ,

ନର ନ ବୁଝିଣ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଦିଅଇ ସଂହାରି.

ବାୟୁମଣ୍ଡଳ ବଦଳେ ଜଳ ଯୋଗେ ଆଜି ,

ତଥାପି ମାନବ ଗଣ ନ ପାରନ୍ତି ହେଜି.

ଇଉରୋପ ର ବହୁ ଦେଶ ମୁଁ ଭ୍ରମଣ କଲି,

ଫ୍ରାନ୍ସ , ଇଟାଲୀ , ସ୍ୱିଜରଲାଣ୍ଡ , ସ୍ପେନ ଦେଖିଲି.

ସୁନ୍ଦର ଫୁଲ ଫଳର ଉଦ୍ୟାନ ଓ ଅଟ୍ଟାଳିକା,

ବିମୋହିତ ହେଲି ଦେଖି ଅଙ୍ଗୁର ବାଟିକା.

ଜଳ ପାଇଁ ରହିଛି ନଦୀ ଓ ସରୋବର,

ପାଖରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅଛି ଭୂମଧ୍ୟ ସାଗର.

ଜଳର ପ୍ରାଚୁର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଭିତରେ ସେମାନେ ରହି ଥାନ୍ତି ,

କିନ୍ତୁ ଜଳର ବ୍ୟବହାର କମ କରି ଥାନ୍ତି .

ଭୋଜନାଳୟ ରେ ହସ୍ତ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ବିଶୋଧକ,

ଜଳ ବିନା ସାନିଟାଇଜର ବ୍ୟବହାର ଯେ ଅଧିକ.

ଜଳ ଓ ସାବୁନ ରେ ହସ୍ତ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି ର ଉପାୟ,

ଜଳ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି ଓ ବ୍ୟବହାର ଶିଖିବା ବିଧେୟ.

ଦୁଇ ଉଦ୍ଜାନ ଓ ଏକ ଅମ୍ଳଜାନ ପରମାଣୁ,

ମିଶାଇ ବିଧାତା କଲେ ଏକ ଜଳ ଅଣୁ.

ଜଳ ବିନ୍ଦୁ ମିଶି ହେଲା ନଦୀ ଓ ସାଗର,

କୃଷି ଓ ନୌ ବାଣିଜ୍ୟ ର ହୋଇଲା ପ୍ରସାର.

ବିଶ୍ୱେଶ୍ୱର ସୃଷ୍ଟି କଲେ କେତେ ଜଳ ପ୍ରପାତ,

ଜଳଜ ବିଦ୍ୟୁତ ତହିଁରୁ ହୋଇଲା ସଂଜାତ.

ଭାରତୀୟ ଅର୍ଥନୀତି ହେଲା ଉଦ୍ଜୀବିତ,

ଭାରତୀୟ ସୁଖରେ କଲେ କାଳାତିପାତ.

ତେଣୁ କୈଳାସ ବିଭୁ ପଦେ କରାଇ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା,

ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ମତେ ଜଳ ଦାନ କର ମହାମନା.

ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ.

- କୈଳାଶ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ସାମନ୍ତରାୟ

A cosmic ocean- Jayashri Patil

Title: A Cosmic Ocean

Meet Jishu, a 19-year-old girl.

One early morning,

She, sitting on her balcony

With a hot cup of tea,

Looking at a white rose

But absorbed in thinking

About relativity theory,

Superstring theory,

Vedic cosmology!

Just after a while,

She saw something magical.

The white rose started shimmering;

Emitting snow-white light.

And slowly slowly

Started taking a form.

And within seconds

Awestruck Jishu saw

A dazzling young woman,

Wearing a rose-gold colored saree,

Warm glowing skin tone,

Vibrant black hair,

Soft-angled thick eyebrows,

Angelic smile,

And her radiant eyes

Like windows to her soul!

Jishu went closer to her

Asked her- who’re you?

The pretty beauty said

I am Yugmadrishti.

A time traveler!

I know what you’re thinking

Come with me

I’ll show you something

Interesting and fascinating

Jishu- But Yug… ah

She held Jishu’s hand

And snapped her fingers

Both disappeared.

While traveling in space,

Jishu asked her-

May I Call you Yashti?

She- Why not!

They reached one place

It was a glass room.

Mystical,

Magical,

Unimaginable,

Full of crystal balls.

Yashti picked one ball

And handed it to Jishu

Due to its vivid light

She closed her eyes

And

Came into a garden.

Yellow, red, purple

Flowers everywhere,

Fragrant breeze

Still pond with lotuses.

While wondering gracefully

Lil butterfly caught her eyes

Half inched,

Crimson red,

Dancing on flowers.

After a while

It saw a unique flower

Funnel-shaped

Standing petal on its tip

Aromatic

Magenta colour

Full of nectar.

The tiny one entered the flower,

The flower closed the petal quickly.

That awful moment,

The helpless one

Lost its life.

Was it a flower?

No

It was a delusive leaf

With a petal-like lid.

A pitcher plant!

Jishu tried to open the lid

Her hands- just passing through the plant

But could not touch it.

She screamed with a fit of anger,

Opened her eyes;

The same bright room

Jishu saw Yashti

Hugged her,

Asked her-

What was that?

Yashti replied-

It was you

In your past life.

Jishu confused

Still curious

She was all ears.

Yashti continued-

You were in the fourth dimension!

Here

You have access to your timeline

You see your past- future,

But can’t change anything!

Jishu uttered- OMG,

It’s horrible!

Yashti asked her-

Wanna see the future?

No no no!

Yashti laughed and said-

Then let’s go,

Snapped her fingers

And swoosh...

Now they arrived in a house

Made of orange marbles.

Jishu saw a girl

Same facial features as her

But with four hands.

She was doing some work

On her palmtop,

Eating with one hand.

And ironing the clothes with other.

With no time

They entered another universe

Here Jishu saw a girl

Same facial features as her

But with four hands

And

Two heads

On the front and back side each.

She was dancing flawlessly

Singing effortlessly

And playing guitar vigorously

With her backsided hands

Everything simultaneously.

Yashti snapped her fingers again,

They entered another universe.

Here Jishu saw airships-

Triangular

Ultrasound operated

Special fans at the base!

Then she saw

One mm thin smartphones-

With astrophotography cameras;

Ultrasonic

Ultra elastic

Simply ‘Roll it, Keep it’ phones.

With each tap sound

Made by Yashti,

Jishu was entering strange realms.

Tap-

Here people are thin

With super laminated

Delicate body;

Living underwater!

Tap-

Here people are lustrous.

With a flexible,

Thermal resistant,

Coppery metal body;

Living at hundred-plus degree celsius!

Tap-

Pinkish sky,

Eleven feet people,

Flying here and there,

Just like the submarine

Dives in water

By varying its density!

Tap-

Strange silence

Wonderful sunset

The honey smell of roses

Jishu holding a cup of tea.

Yeah they are back

In her balcony.

Yashti said-

It’s time to say goodbye!

Jishu asked her-

Your universe?

Yashti-

It’s not a physical plane.

It’s a 33rd-dimensional realm.

Jishu-

What’s there?

Yashti-

Beyond your comprehension.

And she vanished

Right in front of her eyes.

Jishu turned her neck

To the right side

To see the white rose

And heard a booming sound,

She opened her eyes,

The alarm was ringing by her bed!

The puppet who sleeps- Pragnya Rao

I’m talking to you today because this is important.

You see, you are on the evaluation stand,

you are on the brink of a catharsis

You, my dear, are me.

I exist in a different time, probably different dimension, if you may

where I am the perfect version of myself, which is you.

You are going to be tested, everyone will know how much you’ll score

Lucky you are from Earth 2023, you will have grace marks for yourself-

whopping 50 marks passed on over from the previous generations

where there was at least one damned fool like the one with the toothbrush moustache

that contributed to this concession by

making your planet a more difficult place to thrive in,

every time you could count

a country that didn’t have an Independence Day.

You’re lucky- damage loves upgrades

and the new contenders,

The leaders you would come to elect

Seem to have realised this before you will ever do

Come, come. I’m the ghost of your Christmas Past

I need to see what you were up to

When the world began shaping you to what you would be now

I see you standing in the ‘late-line’ of your school

Your head hung down in remorse and shame

Remorse because you could have chewed on your breakfast faster

And the half a mile walk to the school could have been done faster

You think you can fight this intense shame

But you can’t, you came when the prayer was over

When everyone was moving on

Look! Look! You will break into tears while

Still standing like a stone for the National Anthem

You will feel the exponential amount of exposure

That you would not be able to nullify by closing your eyes

So you blink faster, harder- trying to catch a smaller glimpse of

what was to follow

All their eyes on the top-ranking student

Who was standing in the punishment line- somewhere she shouldn’t belong

Oh, I remember this- I was told I would be absolved

of punishments, of consequences of everything that I could have done

Absolved on the account of someone else’s’ sins or the lack thereof,

Absolved only if I reach the top of the pyramid- you were the fittest,

Your parents told you- you would not merely survive but rule the world

Because that was the only hope a generation that was afraid of the future of their inactions

Could pass on to a generation trained to believe they can never make mistakes

You chewed on the eraser of the white Camlin pencil with those pink-green flowers

Every time a necessary mistake felt like a blunder and made you think of

Everything that your mother told you would go wrong with you

The society’s eyes are on you, you are supposed to be the best

-the best self-preservation machine your mother could bring up

And show everyone the ticket to the glorified pawn

that could join the army of the Greater League

Those that carry the eternal flame of their ancestors

In the name of the sacrifices ONLY they made

The army whose eyes burn with the flame-

So much that it makes it so difficult

To see what it took for you to beget this generous spotlight-

The countless forests that were burnt- the homes that were ravaged

Your half-a-mile walk for someone could mean 5 villages

But you were told you are the gifted one, different from the

One in four of your age that would remain out-of-school

Of whom you would never hear from- even in the fictional village of Palampur.

I remember reading chapters in Social Science with blind faith

At which time I first began to see that the world was more grey than it was black or white-

Something I was never taught- it had to be learned through falls

The world never liked extremes, and I was one

The top position, I was told, could only host one person-

that power was not meant to be shared or distributed among

those who didn’t deserve it- the ones safest in the middle of the spectrum-

‘Don’t be an average’ they said.

You will be celebrated- this is a journey that is lonely- but this is your purpose,

my parents would reassure-

every time I first learnt what it meant to cry in desperation,

In the realization of getting the rules of the race wrong-

that all of us were meant to be together

I was lied to- my percentile meant I was better than

99.6121 per cent of children in my country- correction

You need to know your subtraction better

99.6121 minus 68% of children who were never eligible to receive a percentile even

Because they could never make it to completion of mere school.

Open your eyes, do your homework child

Your love for time travel, for science fiction

And you obsessions of what-if’s and could-be’s are telling you something

You are uncomfortable. You have been lied to

You have been lied to

Every time you were made to dream of being a woman

Who would be satisfied

With the thought of marrying a man who could happily eat

pan masala standing on top of his mountain of heritable achievements

- which included you

A trophy wife, a special girl, someone who had access to sanitary pads

The elite 12% of women bleeding in your country

In whose households, 45% of routine harmful waste is generated

On the pretext of reassurance that they were contributing to charity,

Doing the society a favor-

Every time they bought a pack of pads,

Every time they said they would not give a man a rupee

Because they were certain he was going to waste it on alcohol.

I know how you are feeling now though-

Confused, feeling jolts of empathy

On a barren river of monotony

That you are ready to fill up with your tears

Begging for someone to throw in seeds of hopelessness

so you can show the world how you could plant a forest with them when all else is lost

You only do this because you wish that these wild and restless creatures

inside of you somehow will finally find a way home

Home to a spoiler-free world, a planet consumed by FOMO and YOLO

Where you could be a puppet who sleeps on drugs

That would make your anxiety better, your sadness disappear

Because you are still afraid of exponential exposure

To the fight with the strings, not knowing who is pulling them

You want to be an anti-hero so bad because

You would rather be anything else but ‘cringe’ material.

I’m talking to you today because this is important.

You see, you are on the evaluation stand, you are on the brink of a catharsis

I’m glad we had this meeting

This class

Although it could have been a mail

Or better on books

Because it was time for performance feedback

You, my dear, are me.

And you need to hear-

your privilege check just told me

That you have so much more to do for the many more

That are not entitled

That need you to imagine

What if you,

Everyone you love,

Everyone you know,

Everyone you don’t-

Could do better,

Could love better,

Could be unafraid.

Welcome to My Prison- Rupam

I have a place, a secret one,

I have a part of me locked inside it.

Not sure whether it's soul, mind, but definitely important.

Maybe all of me.

Leaving just bones and flesh outside,

to wander off in this world.

To never let anyone know of the secret.

To never let anyone see that every second,

Is like an hour in the inside.

My biggest smile is a cover up of the

Loudest scream from within.

My eyes wide open and dead at the same time

Devoid of the twinkle, the light, the fire

It had in childhood.

But as I started to grow up, so did the noises,

It came from people, friends, strangers, anyone.

Without even knowing when,

I started paying heed to them.

Within no time it spread,

Like Cancer,

Took over the command inside of me,

And I continued cluelessly.

So lost in the outside world, work.

That one day when I finally called out,

There was no voice.

I tried reaching my conscience, my soul,

Nothing came but silence.

So, I set out one day to find in the outer world,

What I had lost inside.

I tried to find it in other people,

Lovers, friends, family, in work.

But every time I felt emptiness eating me,

From inside, like termites in the wood.

And I got weaker and weaker,

Every day, every minute.

So, I tried again,

But this time I went inside,

the coldness scared me.

But I knew no other place held my answers, other than me.

And there I was with me in a dark room,

The kind that makes one tremble

so absolute,

I couldn't get closer because there were bars made of noises,

about my talent, about me being not good enough.

Solidified and cemented by my inferior complexes.

So many of them.

So profound, so stiff and still.

It had gained strength from my surrenders, each time.

Its acuteness represented my own failure to acknowledge,

Of how exposed I was to people and their problem.

Their problem of following, judging everyone else through a lens of perfection, superficiality,

Their beauty standards,

Their inability to see beyond skin and complexion,

Their facade of a perfect rich life.

Yet I had duly collected and turned someone else's problem into my insecurity,

Piles and piles for miles,

Then made my life about overcoming those very things.

It wasn't supposed to be like that,

I should have known better.

Should have laughed it off,

Moved on.

But these bars represented my failure to do so,

The coldness signifying my own inability to see myself, accept as human,

Living, breathing and flawed.

If flawed meant not fitting in, so be it,

If flawed signified being an outcast, so be it,

If flawed is more like an antonym to being chained, then gladly I will be it.

I had tormented my body, my soul, my mind enough.

For something so futile and pointless.

In a desperate attempt to regain my lost old self, I extended my hand and called out,

The only voice and the only thing I heard was "Welcome to your Prison".