Earning or Learning?

Connaught place is a very well known place for all the Delhiites and for people from other states as well. Located in central Delhi and probably the most well planned place in the capital of India, Connaught place is like heart of this city. The symbol of sacrifice and national integrity India gate, parliament of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan and many such structures are located inside or around C.P. The inner circle is famous for all the restaurants, cafes, shops, places to hang out and obviously not to forget, our very own Palika Bazar and Central Park. Huge numbers of people visit the place everyday and this place certainly represents the culture of Delhi in number of ways.

These two kids were so excited while telling me that they know the meaning of an English word which was taught to them by a stranger 'DIDI'

And from there it all started..we need your suggestions to do something for them :)

If you have visited the place, I am sure that you must have seen a contrasting picture too. Among all the people from different backgrounds and cultures, we also see dozens of little children begging on the roads. Perhaps, a lot of us chose to ignore them. However, two well aware and responsible citizens, who are also students of Delhi University, chose not to ignore this situation. Instead, they decided to take out time and gather more information about this.

On 16th February 2014, on my request Karan Kakkar and Vandana Khosla went to C.P., not to hang out but to do a little research about these kids. They were overwhelmed with the experience and managed to jot down a few points.

They interviewed a street kid (pen seller), a police constable and a security guard. The kid’s name, as he told them, was Abdul. He belonged to ‘Narela’ in Delhi and came to C.P. everyday along with his mother and friends. They all travel from their village in a train. They usually start from their places at 4:00 in the morning. He told them that his father is an auto driver and so he comes home only once in a couple of months. When asked about studies, he said that his mother wanted him to attend a regular school and get a proper education. However, he chose to sell pens because this way he earns 250-300 Rs. Everyday and he can support his family. Nevertheless, after persuading him to talk more and share his feelings, he agreed that he would join a school if all the other children did the same.

The constable also talked about his limitations and problems when asked about it. He was although happy about the fact that someone wanted to hear his or her perspective about the whole situation. Speaking about NGOs, he said that these organisations were somewhere promoting these activities by being over protective for these people. He also shared a personal incident, where he talked about how everything backfired when he decided to take an action. He told that once he tried to admit a beggar in rehabilitation centre. He was dragging that person to his van from outside the famous Hanuman temple and the beggar hurt himself intentionally as he was high on drugs. The NGOs took notice of this incident and he had to face an enquiry because of the whole incident.

He also talked to us about all the different ways or tactics used by these kids to get money from people. He also shared that sometimes these kids steal mobile phones and wallets whenever they get a chance. He raised a very important point about the ignorance of youth towards all these problems. He said that if the people stopped giving money to these beggars, then why they would continue to beg here. This is a very simple thing to do but still the picture does not change.

There are hundreds of organisations working for street kids, but the impact seems rather negligible in C.P. In addition, RTE is failing too. Both these young people invite the whole student fraternity to join hands and do something for this cause. 

अंध श्रद्धा

अंध श्रद्धा में सब चले जा रहे हैं,
भस्म भभूत माथे मले जा रहे हैं,
कोई बाबा, कोई स्वामी, कोई गुरु है बन कर बैठा,
भगवान के नाम पर सब छले जा रहे हैं।

सिंहासन पर बैठे वो उपदेश दे रहा है,
तोड़-मरोड़ कर धर्म सन्देश दे रहा है,
हाथ जोड़े, सर झुकाए, बैठे हैं सब कतार में,
गीता-कुरान के पन्ने गले जा रहे हैं।

छोटी सी बात है, सत्य है, यथार्थ है,
माया का खेल है, अवश्य कोई स्वार्थ है,
दरबारों पर चढ़ी है सोने कि चादर,
सड़कों पर बच्चे भूखे पेट पले जा रहे हैं। 

Hazaro Aine Hai..

Hazaro aaine hain,
mujhme kahi..

Har aine ka apna rang,
apna roop..

ek hi mere mann ke,
hazaro pratibimb..

In pratibimbo me,
kho gaya mera aap..

Wo bachpan ki galiyo me,
daudta khelta mera aap..

Dosto ki dosti me ghuli,
masoomiyat ka mera aap..

Wo sardi ki dhoop,
wo garmi ki chhao..

Wo dukh me rota aur,
khushi me hasta mera aap..

Har guzarte waqt ke sath,
khatte meethe anubhav ke baad,
judte rehte hain,
kitne aaine..

Jawani ke darwaze par khada,
zimmedariyo ka aina..

Samajhdari ki chadar me lipta,
sandeho ka aina..

Aina jab tootega to,
dard to hoga..

par iss bhool bhulaiya me,
umr bhar ke bhatakne se..

Nissandeh sweekar hai,
is dard ko sehna..

Hazaro aine hain,
mujhme kahi..

Waqt Purane!

Beet gaye jo dilkash pal, chhod ke yaadon ki hulchul,

Har pal jo bhula na paenge, phir se jo lautega na kal!

Sardi ki wo thandi raaton me jab jaam uthaya karte the,

Har baat pe hasna zoro se, wo khoob hasaya karte the!

Wo ladna jhagadna yaaron ka, lad ke jo manaya karte the,

Har chhoti chhoti khushi me jo, mil jashn manaya karte the!

Khatm hua wo safar suhana, jo chhoot gayi bas yaaden hain,

Hotho pe hai baithi hasi magar, sab jashn lage ab aadhe hain!

Dekho ki wo bandhan toot gaye, pakdo ki wo saathi chhoot gaye,

Ab palko pe hai nami bahut, wo khoob rulaya karte hain!!

Karnataka

Time Travel

Ever thought about possessing a time machine of sorts?.  Travelling back to the time when you were young and stupid. The most hankered of all is the time we spent in college. This is the time when we were neither too young, that we had to ask for everything we wanted to do. Nor we were grown enough to realize our responsibilities and think about our future in a very serious way. It was like a bridge connecting two opposite sides of our life, teenage and adulthood.

Recently, I got a golden chance to go back and live those precious moments of my life once again, albeit with a different set of people. Having been away from Delhi for about 16 months, I had lost contacts with college and almost all the juniors, except a few of them. Now that I was back in the town, I was invited to come back and help them with street play. Without thinking twice, I just grabbed the opportunity. Initially, it was weird to be a around people who looked at you and treated you like you were quite old. It was hard to digest so much respect, but it was also overwhelming at the same time. The practice sessions, the activities, the discussions, everything about it was so much fun. Slowly and gradually, I started turning into a friend from being a senior. The whole episode of being a part of ‘Abhivyakti’ was ecstatic. I was able to give back to the society which gave me a lot; which helped me becoming confident and shaped a whole new person out of me. Watching all my juniors cum friends was like looking into a mirror,  how you were a couple of years back. Throughout this course of time, I started to adore all of them. Also, I am thankful to them, that they gave me this opportunity to be a part of their group. I don’t know if I was able to give them anything or they learnt something from me or not, but I have definitely learned a lot from them.

This episode was then extended further. A junior, and more than that a very good friend of mine asked me to help him with the college festival. Now this took me back to being a student once again. Doing all the crazy stuff, we used to do in college. Again I was in touch with my teachers, my old friends and lovely new juniors. It was like I was back in time and living all those moments again. The same sleepless nights, never ending phone calls, tons of fun and not to forget, being silly again. All the hard work, pressure, staying out of home was worth it, because I was getting something so incredible in return, which nobody can even imagine.

Now that the event is over and so is my role, I might not be going back to that place again. I felt so sullen throughout the day. It was like I again graduated from college, leaving behind people I love. It is time to come back to the present from the past. But, this time travelling was a million dollar experience for me. Love to all those who were a part of this and all the new friends I made.

*ignore the errors. 

The Coward!

Mr Mehta picked up two crimson apples, polished so well that they shined under the light of setting sun. The sky, above him, was inundated with soothing amber and mauve. A cool breeze was caressing his hairs. He felt the same amount of serenity and tranquility insinuating his conscience. He asked the fruit vendor, for the price of apples and paid the amount to him without bargaining for a few rupees. For the first time, in years, he felt contended with life. He chose not to take a rickshaw home like everyday. But today it was not to save the extra money, but to enjoy the walk home. There were no regrets of the past and fears of the future. A very subtle feeling of happiness flowed inside his heart. He kept on smiling while looking at the people and their love for each other while they talked or walked hands in hands. Arrival of a new goon as a political leader was a hot topic discussed among the elders. For him, there were no expectations about future. “All this time I was wasting my time and energy on all these things; these stupid ideologies, verbal brawls and intellectual masturbation”, he contemplated. How feeble and futile these things seemed to him today. Looking at the innocent faces of kids, glowing under the streetlight, while they played, brought a smile on his face. “How ignorance can prove to be a pure bliss sometimes”, he thought.

After reaching home, he turned on the television, and put his favourite movie on. It took him to the memories of his past, when he used to sit and enjoy his evenings with his wife, and release all the tiredness of the day. He took out a pen and a paper from his bag and wrote a letter to his wife; something he wanted to do since long but could not gather enough strength. His heart was flooded with immense grief and he started crying profusely. With trembling hands, he finished his letter, folded it and put it aside. The pain evaporated swiftly and he was calm once again. It did not matter how she would react to that letter or if she is going to believe him or not.

His concentration shifted back to the movie. He ordered his favorite cuisine from one of the most expensive restaurants in town. Money was not a problem anymore. He stuffed himself in his cozy sofa, picked up the phone and dialed a number. After a few seconds, a sharp voice said “Hello”.

It was overwhelming for him to talk with his best friend after a long time. He felt a sudden conflict of emotions while he talked. They both talked for hours, about college and old memories; how their lives turned and things changed. His friend asked if they could meet up sometime but Mehta told him that he was getting transferred to a different location for some work. They ended the conversation with gentle smiles on their faces and promises of staying in touch. He went back to his ruminations, thinking how precious these memories of the times spent with his friends are. How he had obliviously annexed so many things to cherish and be thankful for.

He was grateful for all the things and all those people, he never realized were an important part of his life. Suddenly, he felt appreciative about little gestures and acts of affection people had bestowed upon him in time. He yearned for a single chance to just thank them and tell them how special they are to him.

Love, life, friendship, they all seemed so meaningless at this point of time. It all seized to make any sense. They were not the things to be understood. It was something which sprouted in the soul and grew without any control. Hatred, jealousy, anger never affected the other person. It was affecting him in the worst manner. It was peculiar to know that people always saw him or perceived him, the way they wanted to or the way they could. Perhaps, nobody ever saw him or regarded him in a way in which he thought he deserved. It was an eerie feeling to know that nobody ever understood him perfectly the way he was and how he wasted enormous time in impressing others, trying to achieve a formidable task.

The doorbell rang and he was snapped out of his ruminations with a jerk. He shrugged and stood up. It was as if all the strength was sucked out of his knees and the whole weight of his body was transferred to his head. He reached the door, bobbing and wobbling. A boy in his teens was standing at the door, carrying a permanently painted smile on his face. He paid for the food and went back to his sofa, carefully locking the door.

The food smelt like heaven but his appetite had come to a naught because of the weariness. “Eating a lot was not a good option before going on a long journey” he said to himself and giggles. He put the food aside and took out the apples he had purchased on his way home.

He brought the sharpest knife from kitchen and very slowly and gently cut the apples into small pieces. With the same attention, he picked up the pieces and put them in his mouth, one by one. Carefully observing and enjoying the savory taste of the fruit, in order to calm down and relax his mind again.

He then sat down with the knife in his right hand and his left hand stretched out, resting on his left thigh. His head hung low and heart beating faster than ever. A series of events from his past kept flashing in his mind. He gasped, blew out with force. He then looked up, closed his eyes and cut himself swiftly. Blood poured out of his left wrist. His eyes were blinded and he fell back on the couch. The journey, for which he was preparing himself, began.

It took a lot of courage for him to become a coward.

A note was found in his pocket, soaked in blood. It read, “I am not quitting, neither have I lost the will to persevere. I just believe that I have done all I could wish to do in life, I don’t need no more. I chose death over life, happily and peacefully.”

Nawalgarh Diaries!!!

Having been born and brought up in Delhi, I never thought that I will get a chance to experience living in a village. After completing my graduation, I was confused about what I wanted to do next. Glad that I did not opt for an MBA or CA, but ended up being a part of an organisation which introduced me to this place called Nawalgarh. Talking about the small town situated in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan state. Yes, even I had not heard about Jhunjhunu until I got placed there. Coming from a metro and working in a village was an incredible experience. It was as if my whole life had flipped. A lot of things changed. Some really beautiful changes like sleeping under the stars, breathing fresh air, sipping tea on roadside stall, and nonetheless squat toilet. But it did not take much time to adjust with village life because of its simplicity.

After working there for 16 long months and enjoying every aspect of living as a villager, the journey ended before time and I came back to my birth place. Not after very long, I visited the place again. After travelling all night, I reached there at 5.00 in the morning. The mildly cold breeze took away all the tiredness of the journey in a moment. I picked my bag up and started walking. It was a strong feeling of home coming. I did not feel the same when I came to Delhi after 16 months that I had when I went back to Nawalgarh after 16 days. There is no comparison between massive, intimidating flyovers and the small village roads. Even the roads, the streets, made me feel connected. The most amazing attribute of a small town is that you get to know each and every nook and corner of the place. The one and only movie theatre, where I saw some really good movies with only my friends present in the entire hall. Never mind the torn and broken seats, tobacco spit and poor sound quality; the place still managed to score more points than any luxurious multiplex of Delhi. None of those facilities can surpass the comfort of sitting in that hall. Not to forget the most exciting part of village life; sitting at a tea stall, chatting, eating samosa and obviously sipping tea. CCD, Barista and Starbucks; they all are amazing, but sipping tea during sunset complimented by the slow village life, where everything shuts down after 8, is just out of the world. As I mentioned, how even the streets or roads extend a feeling of belongingness; there is no doubt about how the innocent and simple people make you feel. It seems, even the nature resides there in its pure form, unlike cities, where even the sunlight, the rain, early morning breeze also appear fabricated.

If you want to know the true meaning of hospitality, you should definitely visit an Indian village. Their face exhibits, how true and honest their hospitality and love is. I will definitely miss having tea and ‘chhachh’ forcibly, whenever we were invited to someone’s place. This place has given me so much that I will never be able to pay it back. Innumerable memories, beautiful relations, and huge amount of love and affection have been showered on me. Before this episode, if someone asked me about my native village, I would say I don’t have one. But now, I will very elatedly say that I have a native village; my second home, and that is Nawalgarh. I might get many chances to visit multiple other villages but the amount of affection that I have annexed for this place will always be on the top.

A heartfelt gratitude for all those people who introduced me to this place, who walked beside me in this journey and all those people I met in Nawalgarh. I am overwhelmed. J