Monday, February 7, 2011
My Last post
This is perhaps my last post under this blog. Past 20 months has been the time that brought biggest changes in my personality. I have learned so much from the people around me that no school or university could have possibly taught me.
To learn from the life, you need to live a life. That is what I did.
I do regret that there has been some unfinished desires that I wished I would have exercised. For about three years, an idea has been creeping in mind, of going into the unknown world, without any means of security, money, cell phone, just all alone. See people, talk to them leisurely, make momentarily friends, share thoughts. Just me, no companion, no baggage, no fear, nothing. I wish I could experience the nakedness that a baby experience just after birth. No fear of judgement, no expectations, no insecurities. I want to tell people about myself, listen to their lives - anecdotes, pains, mundane things. Connecting at the very, very basic level.
I think I have forgotten the meaning of being alive. When a baby is born, he experience pain, hunger, suffocation, And then relief. The relief is what makes the life worth living. I don't remember when was the last time I had to suppress my hunger or thirst for more than 1 hour. I don't remember when I toiled in sun selflessly for anyone unknown. I don't remember last time when I had laughed carelessly, without getting self-conscious.
Another thing I really want to do is to go to a Farm and make a living of my own as a framer. Performing, perhaps the oldest job known to human kind. Away from knocking of metals coming from the industrial objects. Away from complicated, demeaning, logic driven businesses. Away from a society who relentlessly torture nature for their own illusive comforts.
I wish I could contribute to something that is the basic requirement for sustaining life.
Monday, May 3, 2010
My Obsessions - Bulleh's Wisdom, Abida's Passion and Punjabi
There are no limits in Bulleh Shah's eccentric way of expression. He understood before anyone that to stop the brutal communal violence in Punjab, he has to spread the message of Love in the most radical and passionate way possible. He understood the fact that every religion teaches only one lesson, just the ways are different. He also made efforts through his writings, to bring down the supremacy of Religious authorities by educating people that Religion divides. Perhaps, the most radical verse he wrote, for which people threw stones at him, goes as :
Par kisi da dil na dhain, Rab dilan vich rehnda..
tadoon bhul gaye mandar maseeteay(masjid).
One verse that is one of my personal favorite is :
Chal Bulleya Chal Othe Chaliye Jithe Saare Anneh(blind)
Naa Koi Sadi Zaat Pechaaneh Naa Koi Sanu Manneh(worship)
I wish I could put all of his compositions as my interpretations. Perhaps my small Punjabi scripted diary is better place for that.
Now, when I have ample time to explore the mystic revelations of Bulleh Shah's verses, I could not resist myself in delving into Punjabi language. Punjabi in written form, can be seen in either GuruMukhi (popular on east side, India) and ShahMukhi( on the west side, pakistan). Gurumukhi is derived from devnagri script, while Shahmukhi is from arabic/persian script. To me the obvious choice was the former one, as it was somewhat familiar and potentially easy to grasp. It was not at all hard in the beginning, or may be the zeal for learning was so strong that everything looked effortless. In just 2 days (a weekend) of rigorous cramming of letters and practice, I was able to read and write with acceptable amount of errors. A few websites helped me a lot in learning it fast, and a small chart that I made to map Devnagri-Gurumukhi letters, really made things simple.
My obsession for Punjabi is at peak these days. One of my wish is to read the Punjabi novel Pinjar, by Amrita Pritam, in its original form. The movie based on the same name deeply inspired me to get an original copy 2 years back. Now when I have learned Punjabi and residing in Punjabi dominant region (Haryana was previously part of Punjab) I could not find a copy at an y shop, mall or library in this city. Not even on internet I could locate one.
Another writer that caught my attention is Shiv Kumar 'Batalvi'. Though his compositions that I have heard are quite different from the themes of Bulleh Shah or Amrita Pritam, they are quite rich and highly symbolic where a feeling/experience is occasionally objectified to give more creative space to the author.
I don't know what changed me so much since past few years, I don't know if it is for better or worse, but I know for sure that I feel more energetic, exuberant and passionate about a lot of things which were not at all part of my life. I think this might be a form of "Happyness" that I always looked out for.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
My Consolation
mit jaye zidd jadon apnaan di
There are two possible ways to approach this beautiful, yet dubious saying in Punjabi.
The first interpretation is quite straightforward, though it seem somewhat difficult to experience or imagine for most of the people. To me it means that love for you filled me with so much of love for every one, that now I see you everywhere. I see your smile on every face, I listen to your giggle in every sound, I see your compassion in all deeds, I see your passion in every whim. I am smitten with all you have given to me. Now, when I feel near to God why do I need a physical self of yours?
Some people say that this proverb is written as a consolation for the lovers who failed in achieving their love. I don't know if it has helped me anyway, but a few things I am really sure of - I always want to see her happy. I want to take care of her, even when she doesn't belong to me and not given me the right to do so.
Others think that this should be interpreted as :
mit jaye, zidd jadon apnaan di
Saturday, February 27, 2010
My Stupidity
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
My Answers
Sunday, January 31, 2010
My Friends
Thursday, January 21, 2010
My Dilemma
Life is without absolutes these days. As if there is nothing negative nothing positive. No happiness no sorrow, no love no hate, no like no dislike, no anger no sympathy, no life no death. It is not that I am loosing senses. It seems that there is nothing left that can shake my inner self.
One thing does bother me these days, a haunting thought of someone. She is great with people, full of life, always energetic, childish, more or less opposite personality to me. I have no idea why I am not able to get her out of my mind.
I don’t believe, and care in what people have to say. True desire doesn’t see any hurdles. My problem is that I don’t know my desire, for sure. I can only guess, it is to know her more, spend more time with her. I don’t know. I am not sure.
She is engaged, I believe. I have all the reasons to understand that and let go all this hysteria in mind. I am afraid I can’t control my mind. I am getting all sorts of bad and guilt full thoughts. Sometimes, I wish that good-for-nothing lucky bastard would die or they get a break up. Sometimes I get inspired from Namaste London where the guy keeps on l**ing the girl despite of the known facts. Dan in real life’s quote “L*** is not a feeling, it is an ability” also brings stupid ideas into my mind. Makes me to masquerade this anxiety by L*** and inspires for a huge gesture, which is again undoubtedly stupid.
But I want to give it a chance. I am going to let her know about how helpless I am. I don’t want to live rest of my life without knowing what would have happened if I had expressed myself. I think this is a right thing for me. I don’t care much about the awkward silences, or the avoidance of eye contact that may follow for a few weeks. My only fear is that I care so much for her that I don’t want to put her into any kind of emotional anxiety, even for a while.