Bahut Kathin hai dagar panghat ki – kaise mai bhar laun madva se matki (Amir Khusro)

Everytime I hear sufi music sung, it has a soothing affect on me. The simple yet truthful poetry about love touches me immensely.

Am listening to Rashid Khan singing Amir Khusro and Raaz Barelvi in Naina Piya Se right now and all my stress seems to have vanished 🙂

Naina more tuk raah takat hai
aiho aiho kab tum baalam

birha ki ratiyan kaise katen ab
garwa lagio kab tum baalam

preet mein tori yeah rat bhai hai
sudh budh birsri dekho murari

aas mori ab tum he se laagi
poori kariho kab tum baalam

Continue reading Bahut Kathin hai dagar panghat ki – kaise mai bhar laun madva se matki (Amir Khusro)

Meri Mehboob kahin aur mila kar Mujhse

Many poets have described Tajmahal as a monument of love, have sung praises about its enchanting beauty and grandeur. People across the world see Tajmahal as a symbol of eternal love

Shaqueel Badayuni wrote:
EK Shahenshah ne banwake hasin taj mahal sari dunia ko muhabbat ki nishani de di
(An emperor buit Taj Mahal and gave the world an eternal symbol of love)

But here is a verse with a contrary view – the poet says “In building the Taj Mahal, an emperor has made a mockery of the love of all the poor lovers of the world”


Taj tere liye ek mazar-e-ulfat hi sahi
tujhko is vaadi-e-rangi.n se aqidat hi sahi
meri mehboob kahi.n aur mila kar mujhse

bazm-e-shaahi me garibo.n ka gujar kya maani.
Naqsh jis raah pe ho.n satvat-e-shaahi ke nishaa.n
us pe ulfat bhari rooho.n ka safar kya maani

Ye chamanzar, ye Jamna ka Kinara, ye mahal
Ye munaqqash dar – o – deewar, Ye mehrab, ye taq,
Ek Shahenshah ne daulat Ka sahara le kar,
Hum gharibon ki muhabbat, Ka Udaya hai mazaq

Mere Mehboob Kahin aur Mila Kar Mujhse.

(Sahir Ludhianvi)

I have tried to translate the verse here though, I must say, it is far more poetic when read in Urdu.

The poet urges his sweetheart that they meet at some other place – not Tajmahal.

(I agree) Tajmahal is the monument of love for you,
you have (a lovers) faith in its beautiful gardens (you believe our love will blossom here)
but my love, meet me elsewhere – not here.

In the congregation of royals, the impoverished have no meaning
Of what meaning is the lives of impoverished to the congregation of royals?
The road which is marked with the signs of imperial cruelty
the travails of lovers soul have no meaning

These gardens, the bank of river Jamuna, this palace
these intricate carvings on the doors, walls, arches and alcoves
An emperor, on crutches of wealth
has ridiculed the love of us commoners.

My love, meet me some other place (not here)

Such is life

It is strange… tests show things inside me are normal, yet i dont feel normal I dont feel healthy.
In any case, since nothing major seems to be wrong with me, I have decided to give it a good fight. I intend to be back to my two and half hour excersise routine tomorrow onwards- Hopefully a rush of adrenalin will also take away my depression.
And then if nothing helps – well atleast i will have the satisfaction that I tried my best !!

I wonder how many women out there live with more than 50% symptoms listed here (without consulting a doctor)
checklist here Feedbacks anyone?

Forever hopeful – Diary of 1998

Yeh raat beet jayegi, sawera ayega
apna dil bhee kanhi basera payega

Khushk labon pe phir nami chaa jayegi
pyar ka dariya dil tar batar kar jayega

Sawan ke baadal jhoom jhoom phir barsenge
palak palak, phool phool phir moti dhalkenge

phir deep jalenge aangan me, chaand sitare chamkenge
phir dil dulhan ban jaega, phir naya sawera aayega

(June 16, 1998)

What is this world coming to?

enlightened me on this Powell to take up Indo-Pak issue after Iraq
Fears of my son and coming true?
Somehow I feel we as a country are bigger and can hold US and its allies from doing this to us – we have also learnt our lessons from history, but bombs are not the only weapons of war. India has to be very careful. How much our politicians understand it is anybody’s guess.

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself – Khalil Gibran

A while ago, I was watching news on TV with Aasim

Aasim: Mom, when will the war get over?
Me: I dont know, Son.
Aasim: I know, it will get over when the US gets defeated
Me: The US might not get defeated, Son.
Aasim: Why?
Me: Because their army is big
Aasim: Then why doesnt India help Iraq? – If US wins the war on Iraq it will take all the petrol there and then come to India and attack us.

This is what a child of 5 thinks. Aasim is very aware of things happening around the world and I am sure, so are other 5 year olds today.. …

Quack!! Quake III

Sat on Aasims machine today – started playing Quake III JLT only to find both the boys telling me over my shoulders what to do… “Mamma, that’s not the way to play, look up look up look up, shoot shoot kill him KILL HIM”
“sweetheart, look straight, press the trigger, run straight…. ”
I could sit there for barely 5 minutes before Aasim took over and started playing at a much higher level (hurt me plenty) and in the supposedly a much more difficult arena (in the longest yard) than i was… My boy plays the game real well and says mom you *have* to learn !! (just like i was telling him 15 minutes back you *have* to learn maths)
His father is mighty pleased i must say.. 🙂