My morning walk!

Concretization of cities is not limited to physical infrastructure but tends to encroach upon human organs like heart, that were hitherto made of flesh and blood. Besides that it has many less philosophical effects also. What is difficult to find in large cities are open spaces and time. And both of these are needed for what was once called 'Morning walk'! Though the younger generation in cities may not be familiar with the term but the references can be found in older literature and heads of older people. I think older people lost it with their hair.

The other day a kid asked me 'what is nature?' I looked around in my office for something to show him, then walked out in the crowded corridor that has now been covered and then to a place in between two buildings and pointed towards the small hiatus between the tops of the two buildings. "So sky is nature!", he concluded. I thought for a while and looked around. Our hospital was built in British era as a small building that was surrounded by large open spaces. Gradually, as we 'progressed', more buildings cropped up in the open spaces. As the stressed-out poor population had no other means of, and time for entertainment, the population increased further. That lead to increasing pressure in the hospitals and more 'infrastructure' was developed. Infrastructure: structure that makes life inferior! Lately, as trees were not allowed to be cut, architects got a chance to be more creative and we see tree trunks and branches in corridors and offices. Essentially, its only the physical Xylem and Phloem that remain, as if the nature is alive on a ventilator.

I brought the kid back to my office, and chided him for not knowing the difference between 'sky' and 'nature'. I immediately asked him to sit in front of my desktop and googled "nature" and voila! There the nature was!!

 "See, there is even a Journal by that name, one of the best Journals and you should dream of getting published in that one day!", I told him. To educate him further, I showed him 'Nature' on wikipedia also.

But these days children don't read and he just looked at the pictures and said, "Wow! so waterfall and lightening are nature. But is 'Nature' found only in Australia? Can we go there to see nature!" 'Another excuse for travelling abroad', I muttered!

................................................................................

There is still an inconspicuous and neglected piece of land in our hospital campus. There are trees, not so dense but good enough to keep the area shaded. As it is an 'unmaintained' area, there are lot of fallen leaves and flowers, small dried twigs and half-eaten fruits that can be seen on the ground. The ground has grass at places and  barren clay at others. There are many small shrubs. There is a trail that goes through it as people try to find shorter routes to reach faster, but not many walk through it as one may 'contaminate' one's shoes with mud here. This trail is my morning walk, my tete-e-tete with nature!! After parking my car, I use this 'mud-path', 'pagdandi', to remain in touch with nature. As I walk through this, my pace gets slower, I forget that there are people jostling in the OPD for their turn! I hear sounds of certain birds, that I can not see. I see glimpses of certain others who would not sit on a branch steady. However, a small deep shiny blue bird keeps fluttering her wings in air as if to model for me. There are squirrels racing to find a juicy seed of a flower. There is an odd butterfly and a wasp, both oblivious of the nearby mortuary. Leaves, are the kindest, and fall as an artistic diver dives from the springboard, twisting and twirling and gliding smoothly onto the bottom. There are small palm trees sprawling their leaves. Suddenly, a fleshy Semal (Shalmali) flower falls with a 'chhap' on the parched leaves. As one looks up to see the source, one sees branches of the tree with plenty of flowers that still look barren as they have no leaves. One tree harbours a nest, high up there, while another one has a large beehive. Rays of Sun beam through the branches as wind makes them play hide and seek. For those few moments, I am soaked in nature! I come out rejuvenated with curves on my forehead descending onto my lips, a happier person.

"Why are you hiding in between the trees?", my friend asked me the other morning as he saw me coming out. I said, "No, I was just coming through them". "Arrey! There is such a broad and clean road and even a fragmented footpath alongside, why do you have to come through that 'muck'? See! even your shoes have got all muddied!" I lifted my right foot to look at my shoe, indeed it was all covered in light brown dust. "Oh! right you are!", I said smiling. 'My small daily dose of nature', I thought, still smiling!!😄😄

Fall of Nalanda

ACT I
Somewhere in Medieval India.
Tutor - Shungya
Pupil - Astvavardhan

Pupil:
"O great monk!
But for that I have been taught to speak fair
in the last six years that I have studied here
in this great university in the sense of the word so true!
But for that you have taught me
to have a questioning attitude,
I wouldn't have asked this question to you!
Such is your repute
that though you don't agree,
you are seen as a seer,
whose every word is a prophecy!
But what you advise me
contradicts itself,
and who is better than you
to answer a question
that is because of yourself!

So here I go, if I may
and this is what I have to say,
The epitome of academics,
that has grown over half a millenium,
where a score of courses
are pursued by half a thousand pupil each,
where the best are taught by the supreme!
Even many outstanding talents,
consider it out of reach,
and where the masters from around the world
are not one or two
but thousands into two,
where has accumulated the world's largest repertoire
of books and essays
for anybody to even imagine to acquire !
Also, you tell me
that I am a prodigy

then what other place is suited better for me 

than this that is almost angelic,
I have been a sincere student here
why can't I teach,
what I have learned from where?

You tell me
that soon all shall end,
and all the greatness
would not be able to fend,
just a few horsemen
when in their mad frenzy they descend!
and you tell me to go
to go elsewhere
and save myself,
even if such is to happen,
why shouldn't I
give my self
in protecting my alma mater
rather than being a wimp
and may be I pay my due
and we can save it,
all the wise men here
and me and you,
and in the first place
I can not see reason
that a giant great,
would in no time
few sinners would decimate,
Then all that I have learned
seems to be untrue
something you tell me
please would you!!"

Tutor:
"In the same way that I have taught,
some stories I may narrate
as you are so distraught!
That I tell you to go, it is not to save you
it is to save that spark of greatness
that dwells in you,
So you may light the flame again,
It was not to save Manu
that he was saved from The Great Rain!
It was so that the element of life
may not perish in deluge,
at the height of Himalayas
he was offered the refuge!
And that is why I tell you to go,
I wish you to be the globe,
that protects the flame,
not only the flame of knowledge
but that of the true spirit,
that should form the scaffolding,
provide the knowledge with the correct frame!

You ask why shouldn't you stay back
to save this great university
that has been such a generous mother to you,
and why can't I and you and all the great monks
stop this disaster
and that is because the time
when occurs this deathly strike
till that time, neither me
nor you may survive,

And I do see, but am not a seer,
as I do not see future,
but it is the present that is so clear!
It is not whether men on horses from the far west,
or small men in boats from the far east
who shall deliver the final blow,
rather, like White Ants do
it is being eaten from within
so that they may grow!
Like the dried leaf falls from the branch
so shall this great place
without having a strong wind to blow!

And your question would be
why don't I stop this calamity
and that is because I can't,
all of my tenacity
is not good enough
how much may I want!

Your teacher I am and to further make you understand
few more stories I tell you, for you to comprehend!
There was a man called Oedipus
who killed his father and violated his mother,
and there was a king called Yayati
who stole his son's youth for his own pleasure!

This University was started by a King,
God had blessed him with something beyond everything,
that was an eye to recognize great masters
and an urge to nurture the talent
and a vision that that is how would prosper his state!

It was good to be here,
as the master's empyrean goal
was to hone the skills,
A great centre of learning it became
and besides knowledge
great values were drilled!

When the pupils went out
and achieved fame,
they showcased that most arduous tasks
were easy as a game,
with that came the recognition
a great centre of teaching it became!
A tool to achieve ambition
and not only for the disciples
but so for the tutor!
And thus were born the masters
who taught the word
but the spirit was nowhere,
and gradually these debauch masters
became the chief heirs!

Though it may be difficult to discern

but they are Oedipus and Yayati rolled into one!

Their father like masters, they spiritually killed

and rape this Institution that fed them with it's breast-milk!

And once in power, perpetuity they yearn

with their narcissistic motives all young talent they spurn!

And that is how they alveolate the bedrock of this place

like termites bring a wooden castle to utter disgrace

as it may look magnanimous but crumbles with a tweak

and thus a havoc into this great place, they wreak!

And now they are so many
and almost all of them
they know the art of guise so well
you won't know them
such perfect is their guile!
So only to leave is what can be done,
with your torch, go far, before all is vanquished
and start a flame that with all means
can not be extinguished."

Pupil:
"If I am to be the Manu,
then O Prajapti, let me know
upon this journey before I embark,
What all it is, that I should carry
with me on my Ark"

Tutor:
"The spirit of this place
only in books it is left,
so you must carry them with you
or the world is bereft,
and I know the Chief won't let you take them
but still you can take them and how to
in a way only you can,
that I tell you........."



ACT II
Few years later. In the office of Chief.
Chief - Bhaldutt
Tutor - Shungya

Chief:
"An improper man,
a warrior from Kshirgram,
Who couldn't get admitted
in his own clan,
You tell me
that to prove to his Sultan,
He has a devious plan!
With his two dozen accomplices,
he would attack
on this great knowledge fountain!
but the wealth that he looks for,
ain't here,
so what's he going to gain!

And then our patron is the King himself,
of the greatest state on this earth ever,
With his able army
what is it that we should fear!

In fact, the moment he lands
on this noble soil,
he would be cleansed,
the reasons would be changed forever
for which he toils
and he too would be unprofane!"

Tutor (to audience):
"Indeed! true it is as a principle
but alas false is the premise
as the purity of the land has been defiled
and you can't even recognize
how the magic of the soil has retired!"


ACT III
Few months later.
Chief - Bhaldutt
Pupil 2 - Nrehik (Pupil of Chief)

Pupil 2:
"When the army from west attacked,
 killed our king and our state was ravaged,
though passed within few kilometers
but didn't even look at us
and we thought we had escaped,
as they didn't consider us of matter,
But we knew not that soon
from another quarter
someone would come
and clobber and batter!

Has been reduced to ashes,
all the knowledge acquired over centuries!
For months the smoke continues to rise,
Never has history seen such a gloom
and never it will
such dark are the skies!
Lacs of books with treatise on all,
and its not the texts
but as if the subject dies,
and silently thousands of masters
have succumbed to death
no whimper, no cries!
Its not the present that has wasted
but our labour of past
and our future that putrefies!

But what makes me wonder
that an uneducated man,
hungry for material and power,
With sheer brute force,
how could he understand,
that to really finish us
our knowledge he needed to devour?
To squelch us, all that was written
and the minds that could,
both he destroyed just within few hours?

Is it true what I have heard,
that in return
so that forever you may live,
With no compunction
how could you give,
not only your men
but almost the whole mankind
how could you bereave?"

Chief:
"All has been spoken
and can't stand anymore!
Once wished to be the greatest
but felt smallest of the yore,
when that man entered my cell
like no one before,
his eyes were indifferent
neither respect, nor rancor,
with heavy feet
and a blood stained saber,
and I knew that in a flash of a second
my head would fall without a dither,
my life-long ambitions
twirled in my head like a spinning door,
and spontaneously I started to speak in Kharoshti
that I had learned many years before,
I lied that a mere servant I am,
begged to leave me and more to procure,
and told him of my concocted lineage
silently beckoned him to atheneum and more,
and before I blinked he was gone,
was I alive, wasn't sure!

And only after the catastrophe
I realize why Shungya used to implore,
that all books must be made into copies,
and wanted to convert lacs into crores,
so that they could never be detroyed
but I would always abhor!
Alas! That couldn't be done,
and I gauged Astvavardhan as a mere sophomore!
I can't take the burden
such grave is my remorse,
and I have poisoned myself!
But a dying man beseeches you
never to disclose,
answer my prayer in lieu of
all my discourse"

Pupil 2:
"How could you become the greatest
by doing what is so small?
And what you did to live forever
is not letting you live at all,
and when you should have lived
to resurrect what has been plundered,
you have chosen to die
I wish you could have wondered!
Even as a dying man,
you do what you did in your life,
you ask for a return
in the time of such strife!

But as your student
I have to give you that,
and never in history
anybody would know or tell,
how it happened
but nobody would know of you as well!

And few more words may I tell you
so that you can die with ease,
that there is still hope
and that is what gives me the peace!
Astvavardhan, as he made a try
for your consent to copy the books
and with all your swollen pride
you denied, didn't even bother to ask him why!
With his extraordinary assets,
thousands of books, he learned them by rote
and it is him that today I dote,
and I anticipate that after having left from here
he writes them down somewhere,
and one day,
the cache of knowledge that has been ruined,
to his acclaim,
at least in part, he recapitulates it
Is able to reclaim!"
...................................................................................................................................................................

काला सूरज

मैं ढलता सूरज हूँ,
अब न मुझमें आग सही,
पर अभ भी मुझमें लाली है!

मेरी कलम में  न ताकत सही
पर मुहँ में अब भी गाली है!

 और एक इशारे पर मेरे
भोंकने लगेगी वो टोली
जो मैंने पाली है!

तुम मेरा कुछ भी
बिगाड़ पायोगे,
ये पुलाव तो
ख़ालिस ख्याली है!

मेरा काम फरेब था
पर ज़्यादा हंसों मत,
तुम्हारा तो भविष्य भी
जाली है!

मैंने झूठ को ही था पकड़ा
और उसकी ही लकीरें हैं हाथों में
पर तुम तो बेमायने हो
तुम्हारी तो अब भी
मुट्ठी खाली है!

तुम्हारे आकाश में सदा
अन्धकार रहेगा,
क्योंकि सूरज सभी मुझसे होंगे,
हमने अपनी जगह बना ली है!

तुम सूरज हो सकने की
कभी सोचोगे नहीं
और चिरागों के लिए
आसमान नहीं,
होती केवल थाली है!

The mythology reconnect!!

My mother was a student, lifelong! She wanted to know more and more. Her area of interest was Hindu religion. I think that started as a part of her piety but evolved into a quest. It may be common with many hindus as they age. Her quest for knowledge was such that she would listen to my stories ardently, as I would share my new-found information as there was hardly any other taker. Now I realize that it is not that she did not know the stories but she liked the perspective and finer nuances that were added. She even labelled me as "Kapil Muni". I think this she got from her father. I have heard that her father, my grandfather, was an avid reader. Though he spent very little on his living but when it came to books, he would even have many copies of the same book so that he could read them where ever he was. He is said to have had equal interest in scriptures as well as academics.

I have also yearned to know about our Puranas but time has kept it far lower in priority. I wanted, if somebody could briefly tell me everything, the story of our past, as per our religion. I have felt Muslims followed by Sikhs know their religious stories very well, probably because they consider it necessary to preserve their identity. Somehow Hindus are in their comfort zone in India and do not have time for the vast past that is written, or consider it 'mithya' and thus useless!

Recenntly, when I was gifted books on interpretation of Hindu mythology, it seemed to be just the thing that I needed. The books very briefly narrate the story and give a succinct interpretation of each episode with various equivalents as would be understood by today's man. Paradoxically, one understands the perpetuity of perceptions. One fathoms that a human-being would always need the same teachings - why we must accept good as right!

Every page evokes so many thoughts that I feel like writing something as soon as I complete a part. Here I would break to write rather than continuing to write about writing..... 

आज का नारायण!

जा चुका अब समय तर्क-वितर्क का,
न होगा हल अब वाद-विवाद से,
अब तो फिर से एक बार करना होगा समुन्द्र-मंथन
गर निकलना है इस सामाजिक अवसाद से!

फिर असुरों के हाथ में सत्ता है,
और साध-जनों से तो न हिलता पत्ता है,
अच्छाई की सारी ताकत का क्षय हो चुका है
और अपदूतों के मन से हर भय खो चुका है!

मंथन कर सामर्थ्य का अमृत निकालना होगा,
और खुद ही मोहिनी बन असुरों को टालना होगा,
आतताइयों का कदाचित अधिक बल होगा
इसीलिए करना अच्छाई को अब छल होगा !

अब तुम्हें ही मंदराचल बनना है, और तुम्हें ही वासुकि
तुम्हें ही कच्छप लेना है अवतार और तुम्हें ही मोहिनी,
न आ जाये कोई स्वरभानु,  भानु को खा जाने को
तुम्हें ही रोकना होगा उसका देवों  में आ जाने को,
तुम्हें ही पहचानना होगा कि किसे करना है सशक्त
और किसका करना है नाश
नहीं तो सदा झेलना होगा ग्रहण का पाश!
अब तुम्हें ही शंकर बन प्रलय लानी होगी
और तुम्हें ही मीन बन सृष्टि बचानी होगी,
ये प्रलय आसमान से नहीं आएगी
तुम्हारे वराह प्रयत्नों से ही
ये डूबती धरती बच पायेगी
हिरण्याक्षों का अंत करना होगा
और ये काम तुरंत करना होगा
वर्ना ये स्थिति सदा बनी रहेगी,
अब तुम्हें ही ये काम अनंत करना होगा!!

स्वयं ही नारायण बनो
और लो सभी अवतार
नहीं और कोई कल्कि आएगा
तुम्हें ही करना है
जग का उद्धार!!