Let him bee...

Let me tell you a sweet story about bees and bears.. Bees are the one who gather pollen from thousands of flowers, fly across miles, deposit their booty in their comb and make honey. They keep on working their life long, keep making honey, construct new colonies and die working tirelessly.

Compare them to bears. Bears eat and eat. They sleep, my pardon.. they hibernate, i.e. they can sleep for months.. for sleeping such long times, they need loads of energy and food. Guess from where they get this enormous energy of supply for their glutton appetite ? From honey combs.. same honey which bees gather. Honey that has been gathered over a full season can be eaten by a bear in minutes..

Now let's talk about the public perception of bees and bears. Bears are cute.. you get toys called teddy bears for kids and young girls to cuddle. Same people run away from bees because they sting. No one gets a bee toy and bees rank lowest in cuteness index. No one remember their contribution while passing judgement on them.

So in case you feel treated like bees that someone else takes all fruits of your hard labor and you are seen as the one who stings.. while the one plundering your credit gets hugs and cuddles and is called cute. Don't blame anyone, all you have to do is to fly to greener pastures in search of valley of flowers and continue doing work. In case you wait for the same treatment which bears get, let me tell you, your wait is going to last till eternity. And in case you are the bear, thank your stars. Though it is not in your nature to be thankful, but knowing the reality helps sometimes.

Even in human generations, there are two three 'Bee' generation and then one generation comes which is a 'Bear'. This bear generation eats all the honey, destroys the colony and coming generations doesn't have any choice be bees again. That's the eternal cycle that goes on in almost every sphere of life. So next time you find a boring non descript person, keeping to himself, bad at making pleasant conversation and who often stings if you cut his path, let him be.. May be he is the bee working for bears like you. It's better for whole system to exist. Let him bee.. 

जय तिरंगा।।।

आप ब्रिगेडियर सूर्यदेव सिंह की तरह अपने जीवन की ओर बढ़ रहे हर न्यूक्लियर मिसाइल की फ्यूज कंडक्टर निकाल फेंके। आपको शिवाजी राव वागले जैसा थोड़ा सनकी लेकिन सच्चा हमसफर मिले जिससे आप प्रलय नाथ गेंडा स्वामी की गर्दन की माप लेते रहें। आपके बेटे संजय चौहान की तरह देश के काम आयें और आपकी बेटियां रसिकनाथ जैसे लड़कों से दूर रहें। आपके जीवन से हर जीवनलाल टंडेल का नाश हो । और जीवन की हर शाम आप अपने दोस्तों के साथ पीले पीले ओ मेरे राजा पीले पीले ओ मेरे जानी गाते रहें, झूमते रहें, नाचते रहें। आप अपने दोस्तों के साथ हमेशा उसी तरह हॉटलाइन से जुड़े रहें जैसे ब्रिगेडियर साब गृह मंत्री से जुड़े रहते थे। बाक़ी हर खबर पर खबरी लाल की तरह पैनी नजर तो मैं बनाए ही रखूंगा, उसकी चिंता भी आप ना करें।

इस गणतंत्र दिवस की शुभकामनाएं। जय भारत।। जय तिरंगा।।

a confession and apology..

25th January 2021 is not like a typical Monday where my calendar is usually filled with meetings and calls. 25th January is sandwiched between a weekend and a national holiday. So my client offfice is almost deserted as many people have taken off today to make it a long weekend.

A chilly and lonely day at office,  I decided to take a walk in sun around my client office which is situated in Central Delhi. While I am  taking the walk in winter sun, I see a person carrying a long cane with a political party flag tied to it. Kind of flag you see at rallies carried by volunteers of political parties. Now this person is carrying the flag of a political party whose policies I don't like much, especially during recent times. 

This person is also wearing a long loose cheap kurta with his party symbol. He is wearing a badge with pic of his leader nas some slogans written. The badge shows that he has come for some political event. And he is also carrying a poster hanging on his back.

He comes to me and says that he wants food. I don't know why but I start talking to him in a bit sarcastic tone . I ask him why he is asking for food from me , didn't the political party whose flag he is carrying fed him.

The person says he has come from Madhya Pradesh in a language which can be described as half verbal and half gestures. He shows me his badge where it is written that he has come from Madhya Pradesh.

He tells me in incoherent words that he knows or has come to meet that particular leader. His badge shows that he has come from Madhya Pradesh. While telling all this he also gestures for food atleast thrice. 

I again say that he should ask for food from that political party. He keeps on whispering and talking incoherent sentences.  This continues for around two minutes and I just walk away from him.

All this is happening at a service road near a T-point. Just after walking for hardly a minute towards my office, a thought struck me.. My God.. That person was asking for food . He was not from Delhi and may be not fully mentally sound . And I made fun of him, talked to him sarcastically just because he was carrying flag of a particular political party and didn't give him food.

After this chilling thought, I got restless. I simply ran back but as I said, all this happened near a T point. By the time, I decided to go and look for him, it was bit too late. The man was no where to be seen and had disappeared from my sight. I was not even sure which way from that T-point he actually went.

I started searching for him , I asked for almost everyone if they had seen that person with a flag. Unfortunately no one gave any affirmative answer.

And I was sinking in pool of my own guilty. How come a mere sight of a flag held by that person, overcame the basic rule of giving food to a person when I can afford to.

I searched for that person for next 30-40 mins, almost ran on streets with a he hope that he shouldn't have gone too far. I searched for him with a hope that I will find him and feed that poor soul. Who was, may be at his worst, cheated by people who brought him to Delhi from his hometown, didn't bother to give him food or shelter in this chilly Delhi winter.

I couldn't find him even after searching for him for around 40 mins. He had simply vanished. He was no where to be found. I never felt this bad atleast in my recent past. What if he was just a person sent by God to test me ? What added to this  constant lingering thought, were the circumstances in which he disappeared in just a minute. He couldn't have taken any bus or auto as all this occured on a service road. I don't think he had even money to hire any rickshaw. Given the attire he had, he was unlikely to get any lift either. How come a person can disappear in thin air and no body around seem to have a clue while the clothes and attire that person was simply unmissable.

I ask for forgiveness from that unnamed soul for the behaviour, I showed upon him. Talking to him sarcastically while he was hungry and helpless. I promise to myself never repeat this sin again. It was a moment of human weakness which overshadowed my judgement.

 A chance to a good deed is a privilege God gives us, never waste  such a chance. Else you will left with nothing but self-guilt and regret. Forgive me dear ( whoever you were) if you can. 

Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jate hain jo mukam.. woh phir nahin aate.. woh phir nahin aate..

फुलौरी बिना चटनी कैसे बनी?

कैसे बनी ? कैसे बनी? फुलौरी बिना चटनी कैसे बनी?

यह वाक्य भूतकाल में है अगर एक खड़ी बोली बोलने वाला व्यक्ति बोल रहा है। वही भोजपुरी बोलने वाले के लिए यही वाक्य भविष्य काल में है। गौर से देखें तो भोजपुरी व्यक्ति यह मानने को तैयार नहीं कि फुलौरी के बिना चटनी बन सकती है, जबकि खड़ी बोली वाला व्यक्ति यह मान कर कि चटनी बन चुकी है, थोड़ा आश्चर्यचकित हो मानो सिर्फ रेसिपी पूछ रहा है।

एक और बात, भोजपुरी बोलने वाला खाने वाली चटनी की बात ही नहीं कर रहा । और फूलौरी शब्द में फूल समान प्रेमिका की व्यंजना हुई है। जबकि खड़ी बोली वाला इसको अभिधात्मक रूप में बोल रहा है। भोजपुरिया जनता फुलौरी और चटनी के बंहाने कुछ और ही बोल रही है, वहीं गाजियाबाद वाला व्यक्ति शायद समोसे के साथ वाली हरी चटनी और मोमो के साथ वाली लाल चटनी की बात सोच रहा है।

और तो और, पूरे भारत के लोग यह सोच भी नहीं सकते, कि यह वाक्य किसी अंग्रेज़ी गाने का मुखड़ा हो सकता है, ऐसा काम सिर्फ भोजपुरिया जनता ही कर सकती है। लंबार्गीनी और मर्सिडीज कार खरीद के लड़की का प्यार पाने की कोशिश कौन से बड़ी बात है, लड़की के बाप से थप्पड़ खा के भी खुद पर हसते हुए गाना गा कर रिंकी का प्यार पाने वाला ही असली भोजपुरी हो सकता है।

बाक़ी जो है ऊ त हइए है। 

Ramayana Serial : A quick take on its re-telecast

Don't judge Ramayana serial by its poor graphics, loud acting and somewhat slow pace. The soaring popularity and viewership of it only reminds us of following.

1) Honesty and simplicity never goes out of fashion. Ramanand Sagar's serial is nothing but a simple and honest effort to tell an epic everyone loves and knows about. To tell the same story on a entirely new medium is very tough. To tell it simply, is unimaginably tough.

2) Emotions are not overrated. Emotions control everything. People liking Ramayana is like Anton Ego loving Ratatouille dish because it reminded him of his mother's cooking. Once emotions get involved, hardly anything else matters. Hence it is a double edged sword. Once you invoke negative emotions, very tough to turn it around.

3) Content is winner. If writing is good, you don't need actors with chiseled bodies and six packs. You can be a winner with paunched actors with bad makeup. Only thing matters, is that they speak sense. And unlike today's TV, there is more action and reactions.

4) Power of goodness is way beyond imagination. One good act overshadows hundreds of bad acts. Arun Govil and Deepika may not be the greatest actors around, but will always be remembered. So will Ramanand Sagar as a director. It like having Joginder Sharma's last over or Laxman's 281, all your sins are forgotten.

5) Power and influence of Ram is unimaginable. Sometimes I wonder what kind of person in real he was. No other personality has such power and influence in India. You can't claim to know India and Indians without knowing Ram.

6) TV is not the idiots box it has become in recent years. It can still revive. Bring good content and sanitize the viewers affected from Splitsvilla and Bigg Boss. And thats where the magic starts.

Neha Kakkar Vs Tim Paine

Why Tim Paine is still captain of Australia? Because here is what Australian selectors think of other candidates..

Warner : Abe agar kisi Tiktok wale ko hi captain banana hai to Neha Kakkar ko na bana dein..

Smith: Abe agar kisi Rotdu ko hi captain banana hai to Neha Kakkar ko na bana dein..

Labuschange: Abe agar kisi drama queen ko hi banana hai to Neha Kakkar ko na bana dein..

Lyon: Abe agar kisi gareeb per daya hi karni hai to Neha Kakkar ko na bana dein..

Pat Cummins: Abe agar kisi funny suggestive surname wale ko hi captain banana hai to Neha Kakkar ko na bana dein.. 

Tim Paine : Yeh hamara star hai.. Isko caption banayenge.. 

Others : Yeh star hai? Akmal isse achchi keeping karta tha..

Selectors: Tum samjhe nahin.. Yeh Tim-Tim karta hai na, isiliye hamara star hai.. Yahi banega captain. #IndVsAus 

#AUSvIND 

सौंदर्य की उत्पत्ति

सौंदर्य प्रकृति का एक सामान्य सर्वसुलभ लक्षण नहीं है। सामान्यतया प्रकृति अपने साधारण रूप में ही रहती है, सौंदर्य की उत्पत्ति अप्रत्याशित यादृच्छिक घटना है जिसे आप English में unpredictable random event कह सकते हैं। मतलब यह कि कोई ऐसा निश्चित तरीका नहीं है जिससे सौंदर्य की उत्पत्ति सुनिश्चित हो सके।

सौंदर्य की उत्पत्ति और इसके साथ जुड़ा अनिश्चितता के भाव को हम जीवन के हर रूप में देख सकते हैं। साहित्य को ही लें, संत कवि तुलसी दास ने पूरा रामचरितमानस लिखा, राम के जीवन चरित के हर पहलू पर एक से एक दोहे लिखे , छंद लिखे, कोई किसी से कम नहीं। लेकिन को प्रसिद्धि " रघुकुल रीति सदा चली आई, प्राण जाय पर वचन न जाई" को मिली , किसी और दोहे को नहीं मिली। यही सौंदर्य है, यही इसकी उत्पत्ति है। क्या यह दोहा तुलसी का सर्वश्रेष्ठ दोहा है? शायद नहीं, लेकिन इसमें एक सौंदर्य है कि यह सबकी जुबान पर है। दिनकर का वीर रस पूरित और ओजपूर्ण साहित्य एक तरफ है, और "जब नाश मनुज पर छाता है पहले विवेक मर जाता है" वाली पंक्ति एक तरफ। इसीलिए शायद कहते हैं कवि लिखता तो बहुत है, रचना कभी कभी ही बनती है। रचना का बनना ही सौंदर्य की उत्पत्ति है।

मानव क्या ईश्वर भी इस नियम से परे नहीं है। प्रकृति ने खरबों मानवों की निर्माण किया, लेकिन मानव सौंदर्य भी इस नियम से परे नहीं है। वही दो आंखें, एक नाक , दो ओंठ का मेल किसी किसी को सुंदर बना देता है और बाकी साधारण रह जाते हैं। चश्मा दुनिया में अरबों लोग पहनते हैं, लेकिन सौंदर्य रजनीकांत के चश्मा पहनने में दिखता है। भौतिकी में हजारों सूत्र हैं लेकिन e =mc2 वाला सौंदर्य किसी और सूत्र है। आइंस्टीन के इस समीकरण एक खूबसूरत समीकरण माना जाता है।

मतलब यह कि सौंदर्य की उत्पति प्रयास से नहीं हो सकती। कोई भी रचनाकार यह नहीं कह सकता कि मेरी यह कृति सबसे सुंदर होगी। दा विंची को कतई यह पूर्वाभास नहीं रहा होगा कि उसकी तूलिका से उकेरी गई मोनालिसा की मुस्कान का सौन्दर्य उसे और उसकी कृति दोनों को अमर कर देगी।

इसका अर्थ क्या यह है कि चूंकि सौंदर्य की उत्पति का पूर्वानुमान कठिन है, इसका प्रयास ही ना किया जाय। बिल्कुल भी नहीं, सौंदर्य के लिए आवश्यक है साधारण का अनवरत उत्पादन। जब प्रकृति भी हजारों टन कोयला बनाने के बाद एक हीरा बना पाती है, तो मानव मात्र की बात ही क्या है। साधारण कोयले के निर्माण की प्रक्रिया से ही हीरा भी बनता है, इसीलिए आवश्यक है कि कोयला बनाने के लिए जो संयम, दाब और बल प्रकृति लगाती रहती है, उसी प्रकार हम अपना प्रयास करते रहें, और सौंदर्य की उत्पति का काम प्रकृति और नियति पर छोड़ दें।  शायद कर्मण्येाधिकारस्ते का गीता संदेश भी इसी ओर इशारा करता है कि हम सिर्फ कर्म के भागी है, फल किसी और के हाथ में है।

साधारण और सामान्य काम करते रहने का अनवरत प्रयास कभी कभी आर्डिनरी आउटपुट को एक्स्ट्रा आर्डिनरी आउटपुट बना देता है। यह एक्स्ट्रा शायद अथक प्रयासों का एक पुरस्कार है। सचिन तेंदुलकर ने अपने क्रिकेट जीवन में कितने सुंदर शॉट खेले, लेकिन साउथ अफ्रीका में शोएब अख्तर को सक्वेयर कट से थर्ड मैन के उपर लगाया गया छक्का  सौंदर्य उत्पत्ति का उदाहरण है। आवश्यक है कि हम सौंदर्य की प्रत्याशा रखें, प्राप्ति पर विनयता पूर्वक धन्यवाद कहें लेकिन गर्व रहित हो अपने आप को सामान्य और साधारण मान कर अपने सामान्य कार्य में लगे रहें। सौंदर्य और विशेष और यादगार क्षणों की प्राप्ति का मार्ग यही है। 

Shaadi mein jaroor aana remakes

I just saw movie "Shaadi mein jaroor aana" after I listened to and liked the song Jogi. Movie has an interesting plot, a guy gets rejected by a girl because she gets a PCS job on wedding night. She runs away from the wedding because the boy is an ordinary clerk. Rejected boy wants revenge and works hard to become an IAS officer. Now girl realizes her mistake and woos the boy back. This movie plot about PCS and IAS is too much UP Bihar centric, but since it is an interesting plot it can be remade in different languages with some modifications.

Punjabi version:

Girl runs away on wedding night because she gets her Canada visa and boy still has a blank Indian passport. Boy works hard and gets UK citizenship and opens a restaurant at Southall, London. Now girl realizes her mistake and woos the boy back.

Title: Shaadi mein jaroor aana, Brit citizenship le jaana

Gujarati version:

Girl runs away on wedding night because she gets a marriage offer from a big share market broker called Mehta while boy is still a petrol pump guy. Guy works hard and opens an oil refinery. Girl realizes mistake after Mehta loses his money in sensex crash one day and woos the boy back.

Title: maro dhandho ko chhoto na samajhna..

Shaadi mein jaroor aana

Marathi version:

Girl runs away on wedding night because she gets an offer from other guy who takes oath as CM on same night by doing some setting with the governor. The dejected boy who has only one third MLAs required to be the CM, forms an alliance with his archrivals and gets the majority to become the CM. Boy after becoming CM, orders demolition of her illegal flat that he only had gifted her during courtship period. Girl realizes her mistake and woos the boy back.

Title: majhya lagnat swagat aahe

Me ata mukhyamantri aahe.

Hollywood version ( directed by Tarantino): Girl had to run away on wedding night because psycho goons kills the groom at the altar. Girl trains in Japanese sword martial arts for revenge. But when she returns she realizes that killer of her groom is actually a bounty hunter and has become filthy rich after the massacre at her wedding as her groom was a wanted outlaw. Girl realizes her mistake and woos the bounty hunter for marriage.

Title: The hateful bounty hunter wedding.

Bong version: Girl Bela Bose ditches Anirban Chaudhary by running away from wedding. She marries a guy named Sondipan Guha and hence becomes Bela Bose Guha. Meanwhile Anirban is dejected but forgets her soon as it's pooja time in Kolkata. Meanwhile Bela feels bad about her  new short name as everyone calls her biwi ji ( BBG). Frustrated with her new short name, She comes back and woos Anirban and  becomes Bela Bose Choudhary ( BBC)