Partner for Life

Turn over the leaf of Life’s book

And there will you find me live

I bet and dare you flip it through

And there will you relive the truth.

Strive removing the dust off this book

The misty cover that grew pale with times without you,

You will discover me there,

Waiting for you to lay me bare.

I live and grow in you, conscious of what you do,

I long back assumed a stable place in you,

No matter what your wishes be, I’m still in control of you,

Sometimes weak but often strong, I am, still possessing you!

I am a part of everything in you,

Big or small, witty or naive

I exist in your emotions, in your likes and dislikes,

I am a partner never willing to part.

I challenge you’ll never leave your Self

Neither will you be able to deceive me ever

I will by no means depart from your existence

Ah, take my word, I'll never forsake you, my dear!

I'll be by your side when you lie down next to the other

I'll be by your bosom, when you advance to make love

I’ll occupy your thoughts when you will rest

I'll be all over, the moment you look to escape.

Promising you respite the moment I’m let loose

The day I’m spared the false human pride

Bringing you release and pain, both my love

Yet, liberating you of the twinge you feel deep inside.

I am your Past, a story often untold

Concealed but decked up, away from the human race.

The world is nasty, mean and judging everyone like you and me

But I’m a partner for life, indispensible and agile.

Poetry by Me, August 10, 2013

The New in Me

New is my sun, new is my moon

New is the world I'm entering soon

New is the sky with seasons change

New are the thoughts in me today.

New are the wishes and my dreams

New is the madness I feel in me

New are the desires of this heart

New urges take over it each night.

New vision marrying new horizon

New are the nascent aspirations

New are the paths and new milestones

For this newly found longing soul.

                                                           

New are the challenges ahead of me

Of the new life burning in me

Amid restlessness and insecurities

A voice resounds and rekindles me...

Pushing to keep moving on

Unhindered and unrestrained

Intimate, cozy and uninhibited

To live out all of that was so far self denied.

Poetry by Me, August 3, 2013

Etched in my memory is this Peace Activist

This article is dedicated to Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, “The man of God”, a theologian, secularism and communal harmony activist, R.L. Laureate (Alternative Nobel Prize) and Pioneer of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, who breathed his last on 14 May 2013.

Man Made Disasters and Religious Minorities was the topic for his session, on 14 December 2011, in Delhi, when he was invited as a guest speaker to the consultation on, 'Addressing Caste Based Discrimination in humanitarian Response', organized by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights.  I coordinated his participation from Geneva and during the course of coordination, in an initial email; I addressed him as “Mr”. A.A. Engineer, instead of “Dr”. A. A. Engineer. It was at this very first instance that Dr. Asghar’s humility struck me. He replied back with utmost humbleness and simplicity, enquiring about his travel and lodging. For him, the substance of consultation and the theme of his presentation were over and above that “not so important” issue of how he was being addressed.

I had the good fortune of hearing from Dr. Asghar about the communal strands of Indian politics and reason behind maintaining the status quo of communal disintegration in the country. Judgements pronounced over the Ramjanam Bhumi / Babri Masjid case and Gujarat riots have been the cases which I've keenly followed, and hearing Dr. Asghar’s personal account simply moved me. While he explained the intricacies of communcal and ethnic violence in India, The country has witnessed bloodshed not only when the religious minorities are targeted by fascist  powers, but these powers have also used the trick of mobilizing Adivasis against Dalits and vice versa, and caste minorities against religious minorities, something that unfolded during the Kandhamal riots in Odisha. He expressed his disappointment over the right wing objection to the Anti Communal and Targeted Violence Bill at its introduction in the Parliament.

After this consultation, my virtual association with Dr. Engineer continued in the area of understanding truth behind certain myths and ill-practices occurring under the garb of religious sanctions/norms of Islam. Owing to my curiosity, I clarified several issues located in the contemporary and traditional view of Islam, from Dr. Asghar over emails. It was such that my queries sought the most logical responses rooted in historical and scientific facts and reasons. I remember my last acknowledgement to him was for a reasoned out and contextual response to “Why (legal) adoption of child was prohibited in Islam?”, whereby, having cited the story behind such a mention in Qur’an, he maintained that no where adoption was banned, but the jurists drew this conclusion from an event and concluded from Qur’anic statement that 'Your adopted son is not like biological son'.

His views always influenced me, empowered me, ameliorated and elevated my views about Islam, with which most people on this planet suffer and love to live with. Thanks to media, international politics, the Big Brother, the religious leaders/clerics, restrained freedom of inquiry, dialogue and dissent on the subject, general insensitivity among the people, even within elite Muslims, let alone the marginalized majority.

What makes me revere him even more is the thought of how he must have worked for this nearly impossible mission of communal harmony, being assaulted by his own people, own community, at every step! I always feel that it is much easier to conquer the outside world but overcoming internal challenges, those within us and in our own families and communities is the foremost and greatest challenge for anyone. He was the one who stood by his faith and belief of Humanity and Equality, and acted out in true faith. He followed an approach by which he could stand up firmly before his community and enlighten them on the progressive aspects of Islam, a religion (among others) shunned for extremism penetrated by its followers in power positions.

His way of agitation was peaceful, on the vehicle of “Hidden knowledge” of his faith. Seldom have I found the most influential of figures use such approach and wisdom, because of which, I see the bridge leading to the marginalised communities, shaky or broken.  Many have abandoned their faith in pursuit of excellence, and numerous taken to liberal criticism of it, but few take pain to research and study well the subject of their criticism.

Dr. Asghar has certainly left his imprints on my mind which will continue to influence my zest to learn, love, expand and harmonise. His loss is certainly a huge loss for me personally. May his  legacy of rich knowledge and compassion for communal harmony continue to be inherited and guide the like-minded people, to have a place where all can unite and exist amidst diversity.

May his soul rest in peace

Jazbaat-the unsaid

Jazbaat-the unsaid

Some times in Life and most times in relationships, we tend to miss out on many things we'd like our loved ones to know about. It is only when we have lost these precious pearls that we are forced to live with the life long regret of having held back our feelings from them. Yet, why to bury them in you, better to pen them and express. For sure, somewhere, some day, they'll reach the people they are meant for, if we really want them to reach them, in some form or the other, and in some way or the other. 

Just redirect your cursor to the page "Jazbaat-the unsaid" on this blog to experience such feelings and emotions that I believe many have undergone from time to time, like me, for no one is untouched by LOVE, the most mesmerising feeling to human existence.

Hope to rekindle and strike the chords of your heart and soul with these expressions of LOVE. :) 

Keep loving...

With love,

Invest in Making, don’t think of Breaking…

In a fast paced life of today, everyday changing ideas, ideologies and societal processes, amidst worries and anxieties occupying most of one’s consciousness, seldom we feel the need to halt and introspect. Never do we realize the need have a reality check on our ever changing (sometimes, unconscious) behaviors and attitude towards our cherished relationships/loved ones. In this frenzy for material ‘comforts’, we have lost out on true, invaluably precious jewels, i.e. Relationships. If there is something that sobs silently and suffers the most in the midst of worldly progress, it’s the human relationship and bonding!

I have suffered a relationship breakdown, and lost my love owing to my carelessness and callousness. This realization dawned on me only too late when situation had become irreparable. Believe me, I've not been able to overcome the separation with my beloved, an epitome of love and life, a perfect being for me and otherwise! Not a day passes when he is not remembered, and love has only increased for him despite all that’s happened. There is no closure, nor will there be, to this relationship that is now between two souls.

We tend to ignore the needs and rights of our close ones, which only we can fulfill in different capacities, as companions, just as we look up to them for fulfilling our social, emotional and intellectual needs.  While we carry everyone else’s cross on our shoulders, we keep drifting away from the legitimate demands and aspirations of our loved ones. Our discourses will entail the issues of world, corruption, human rights violations, price hike, global trends of development, violence and what not, but never do we spare (adequate) time for ourselves with our loved ones. And now I know what is feels to be lonely even when surrounded by people, and being loveless, when our well wishers and family are still there to love and support us. For no one can substitute for that very special person who made me feel good and confident about myself, loved and special.

These days, it disturbs me to the core when I hear young (married) couples, mention about ‘Divorce’ ‘Separation’, and ‘Break-up’, so casually and spontaneously, as if these are mere empty words. These words have impacted me to such insurmountable extent that a chill runs down my spine, when I hear them. These are satanic words, indeed, not to be uttered for ‘fun- sake’, please!

I seldom hear about or observe keenness among couples to work upon the relationships, and God knows how many times they pronounce ‘divorce’ to each other, in fraction of moments, agitated, in fury. But often, things are easier said than done, but we just take everything for granted. I’m sure issues can be resolved with mutual dialogue and loving/respectable communication, which we never instantly will opt for. Sadly, couples want easy solutions to their (marital or prospective marriage) issues, and I have lived through this phase.

Change is the only phenomenon that is constant, and every individual transforms with each passing day, sometime consciously and sometimes unknowingly, with a variety of external and internal factors. Everyone needs to accept this truth and work towards retaining and revitalizing the relationship, togetherness, instead of uttering separation and break up. No one is perfect, and can never be, and when two unique individuals come to share their lives with one another, despite differences, then why even think of giving up at any stage, atleast not in cases where Love rests on both parts.

Yes, Love calls for patience and endurance, hope and faith in the partner/companion, and the relationship itself. Self exploration is an unending voyage, and nurturing Loving everyone, regardless of difficulties and differences, is my sole mission for existence. I just feel that this alone could be a perfect way of keeping my love and relationship alive. My only prayer day and night is for my Love to be happy again, healed at heart, wherever he be. I also hope we gain wisdom and sensitivity towards preserving our relationships, and not sacrificing them and losing them for ill-founded considerations and apprehension. I have failed, resultantly I'm alone, but don't want you to be in this situation. So, beware and just Love!