The Whispers Of My Heart

Contrary to the common perception, writers are not lonely. They are always surrounded by their constant companions--misfortunes  and miseries. In fact a writer ceases to be a writer without the blessings of these bosom friends. Pleasant and soothing music emerges only from the hearts of most turbulent rivers! A bona fide wordsmith is also highly superstitious. He keeps his loyal companions away from the public gaze so that someone may not cast an evil eye (buri nazar) upon them. Very cleverly a writer camouflages and embellishes his sufferings. He then presents them in the form of poems and fictions. Though his writings provide succour to many, his own life largely remains desolate and wretched. My new composition salutes my kindred souls and takes a peek at the other side of the coin. My words may appeal much to you. My words also conceal much from you. My words create such a veil around me. Through which you can't see the real me. To have a look at my real being. Rai

Proferring advice, especially unsolicited, has become a big pastime. You can find all sorts of "advisors" in every nook and cranny. You see, I'm not against counseling,  but I seriously doubt the credibility of some counselors. I know some who detested learning, passed various exams by getting rock-bottom score or grace marks. Even then, these dimwits have strangely  metamorphosed into handsomely paid teachers. I can bet that these "luminaries" still can't tell the difference between "lion" and "loin". I have unearthed, to my dismay, that the majority of the civil servants, politicians calling themselves our "रहनुमा" (leaders or guides) are not only heartless but also utterly inept. No wonder, this country is going to the dogs. A twice divorced acquaintance of mine has recently started out as a "marriage and family therapist"! "कभी कभी यूं भी हमने अपने दिल को बहलाया है जिन बातों को खुद नही समझे, औरों को सम

In Hindu scriptures, the words "Lila" and "Maya"(illusions) have been used frequently. "Lila" loosely means a "divine play". I have gathered that this world is nothing but a Great Play, directed and scripted by the Supreme. Through His powerful "Maya", He creates the necessary actors and villains from "droplets" so that the plot can proceed as per His design and desire. Can you bring a drop of liquid to life? Impossible. However, in this drama of the Almighty, a droplet (of semen) not only transmutes into a full fledged human being but also performs the predetermined role in His play, by hook or by crook. Still one comes across many morons who foolishly boast," We're self-made persons." It's really amusing for an enlightened soul to see the temerity of such halfwits. Trust me, everything happens according to His "razaa"(wish). In accordance with His whim, even though the coconut trees in the coa

Apropos of my last post, a friend has asked, "Apart from the emotions, what else changes. Why change happens at all in this world?" Well, not only do the emotions alter but too much obsession with them unfailingly brings in agonies. Excessive attachment, love for material goods and relations only engenders disappointments, disillusionment. Harbouring hatred, jealously and anger not only makes one sadistic but also prone to various dreaded maladies. Everything is in flux in this fleeting world, my friend. Every sunshine has a sunset. Friends transform into foes and vice versa. Even one's own body transmogrifies perfidiously. Howsoever one pampers one's body with the nutritious and delicious food and cleanses it thoroughly with the most fragrant, costly soaps, it ungratefully, ultimately mingles with the dust. Behind the mask of youth, my dear, old age peeps and awaits eagerly. A politician, an opulent industrialist or anybody who has become "somebody" fin

Emotions are like the weather of Sonmarg(Kashmir)...highly unpredictable. In Sonmarg, you never know when balmy sunshine, sieving through the majestic pine and chinar trees, gives way to dark, low-lying, monstrous clouds. Emotions also alter, all of a sudden. Believe me, loathing and love are just the opposite sides of the same coin. In fact various emotions are merely the different forms of the same underlying energy. I have seen bitter enemies becoming bosom friends in due course of time, the vice versa also holds true. Hatred, when it reaches its zenith, often transforms into love. Still, we hold fast our animosities like a child clinging to the trifling toys! Sometimes the weather changes rather dramatically. This usually happens during one's middle age. Whether one admits/likes it or not, the "weather change" catches one unawares. The "mausam" is now transfiguring amazingly and becoming "chanchal and baimaan". With the spring in my step and

Though a teacher of Economics, I feel it's part of my job to acquaint my students about "life" and it's various hues so that they can turn out assets for the nation. My students' knowledge should not be limited to such concepts as "Stock Markets" or "Economic Policies". With regard to my last post, a student of mine has asked ," Sir, my dietitian warns me of protein deficiency and related complications if I forego non veg products. What should I do?" Well, I have spent a substantial part of my childhood and youth in a remote rural area("pind"). Back then, our mothers were unlettered about vitamins, proteins, omega3 foods and all such nonsense. Our breakfast consisted mainly of missi or makki rotis (gram or corn flour chapattis) with dollops of butter and a glassful of lassi (butter milk). Freshly uprooted radishes, turnips and carrots from the fields, sprinkled with salt, comprised our lunch. We roasted potatoes and fre

Why do I profess and practise vegetarianism? Majority of the people think this is simply because brahmins are invariably vegetarians, abhor flesh-eating. I'm afraid, they are highly mistaken. Bengali and Oriya brahmins are essentially meat eaters. Kashmiri pandits simply relish their "wazwan". I have plausible reasons for opting vegetarianism. (a) I'm a writer and writers are usually tender-hearted. It's really traumatic for a creative person to see others in distress. It's against my grain to even think of "murdering" other beings for short--lived sense gratification. Also it is a misplaced notion that meat is inherently delicious. Can you eat raw flesh? It is only by adding vegetarian items like spices, onion, oil and herbs can the carcass be made palatable! (b) Being a staunch believer in rebirth, I opine that every living being has the right to perform good "karmas" or deeds so that it can upgrade itself to higher form of life. A

Apropos of my last post, my friends have raised some questions : (a) What should be done so as to expedite the meeting of "atma" with "Parmatma" (b) What is the guarantee that the "journey" will cease with the meeting (c) Is there any proof of reincarnation Well, if you remember, I have mentioned in one of my posts, the real purpose of meditation. With meditation, one can acquire some of the traits of the Supreme. I have encountered "yogis" who have become god like, through intense meditation. It is quite easy to blend two pieces of gold. We can't marry gold with mud. Compatability is imperative for the effective and effortless merging to take place, my dear. With regard to the second question, I would like to share an interesting fact. All the rivers babble and flow ceaselessly with one and the same objective--to merge with the serene sea. No brook or  turbulent river can ever emerge out of the vast ocean! I hope you have got your a

Through my spiritual introspection, I have come to realize that nothing in this world can be destroyed. Everything remains in this universe though in changed forms. Take for instance a piece of paper. It can't be annihilated, wiped out. We can only transmute it's form by tearing it up into small bits. Similarly by burning it, we get another modified form or ash. If we can't even obliterate a small, inanimate piece of paper, can living beings be effaced? Being a strong votary of reincarnation, I am convinced that "jeeva" or soul("atma") is indestructible. Based on one's "Karmas", it only changes its form from human being to animal, insect. It can even take the shape of a tree! The journey continues till it merges with "Parmatma". This meeting of "atma" and "Parmatma" is called "Yog"(Union). The following composition is somewhat an elegy by me, for me. I want it to be sung at the "opportun

In this post, I have tried to address two pertinent questions confronted by most of my acquaintances: (a) What is the importance of various places of worship? (b) Why should we worship at all? Well, let me be very frank at the very onset. I have no special affinity with the places of worship as I believe that when He is present in each and every "zarra"(atom), there is no need to build special buildings, "prisons" for Him. Can a parent remain happy in His palatial palace when millions of His children are poverty-stricken, homeless? Any picturesque, quite place, where I can introspect and realize that a "rowdy river" can attain composure, infiniteness only by mingling with the "boundless, serene sea", is a place of worship for me. For majority of the people, worshipping means "doing business" with the God. Instead of being grateful, they want the "Master" to be servile to them, to fulfill their "Manokamna" ( s

In our society, a belle is not supposed to converse openly with a stranger. It is, however, considered perfectly fine if she is married off to an entirely unfamiliar person. How bemusing! The deranged "custodians" of our culture have created many hindrances or dos and dont's that obstruct socializing between opposite sexes. Go to any "satsanga", place of worship, you will invariably find separate lanes for males and females. Even in so called "co-educational" academic institutions, boys and girls are made to sit separately. Such an arrangement provides congenial environment for the "curious minds" to proliferate who commit such heinous crimes as rapes. Encourage opposite sex friendships. It's high time to shut down all boys schools and "Kanya Mahavidyalayas". The preparatory schools should take measures to infuse valour, hardihood among the girls. Instil some compassion, empathy among the boys. Let each human be an "