The Whispers Of My Heart

Feb14, 2019 would be remembered as a black day in the Indian history due to the cowardly attack by the terrorists on the convoy of our valiant CRPF personnel. My sincere, heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of martyrs. Very sadly I have been observing that apart from merely paying lip service, successive governments have done nothing worthwhile for the sentinels of our nation. Do you know that a trooper in the wilderness, in extreme temperatures earns less, has much less facilities, holidays and privileges than even a petty clerk in civil administration. Often food packets and other essentials have to be air dropped as our soldiers are stationed in most inaccessible regions for the protection of our Motherland. They remain vigilant 24X7, generally with obsolete weapons like carbines, so that we may sleep without fear, party with friends. To make matters worse, the civil administration is utterly callous towards the hardships of soldiers. It tries it's best to scutt...

To become popular, to be accepted by the society, is the dream cherished by almost all. One can go to any length to please his counterparts, mates, even at the cost of risking one's life. I often read in the newspapers how people tumbled down from the hilltops or get drowned in turbulent rivers while taking "awesome" selfies. To dye one's hair is such a cumbersome task, even then large number of potbellied, middle aged want their hair to be jet black so that they be "accepted" by their herds. It's incongruous, highly amusing to see the "brown" or "black" haired elderly with wobbly gait, sans teeth. So that they might be counted among the elite, huge loans are taken by the people to buy expensive, often unnecessary gadgets. Whether needed or not, SUVs are bought to show the flashy lifestyles. Very often many of these car "owners" land in jails when they fail to repay the hefty loans. Writers, musicians, painters were loo...

As expected, a friend of mine has asked, apropos of my last post, (a) "Why is there a need to stop the thought process?" (b) "What is your way to attain the bliss?" I'm of the opinion that one's thoughts, without fail, bring either anguishes or anxieties. You see,  one's thinking is either in the past or about the future. Even if one's past is laden with pleasant memories, still one recollects it sadly, with misty eyes! Thinking about the future means planning which invariably brings perturbation. Don't feel exuberant if ever any of your petty plans succeeds. Trust me, it will eventually bring only distress to you. All your planning is deleterious, a big fiasco. Every woman aspires to remain a married woman. Even then, there is no dearth of hapless young widows, ruthlessly deserted by their own kin, living miserably in the holy town of Vrindavan(Uttar Pradesh). A small spice trader from Junagadh(Gujarat), Dhirubhai Ambani, had never thoug...

"Sleeping is my favorite sport" declares one of my friends. For most of us, holiday means extra hours of sleep. Do you know why our thirst for sleep never ends? In the deep sleep, the agitating mind stops functioning, temporarily. I have found that the "tishnagee"(longings) arise only in a tumultuous mind. The more distraught a person is, the more ambitious he becomes! In a slumber, all cravings take a break. In the deep sleep, devoid of dreams, one also becomes oblivious of one's body, gender and status. One is thus unconsciously situated in one's real self.  You see, the real self or "atma"(soul) neither aspires for anything nor has any gender. So deep sleep gives bliss. However extreme of it causes lassitude. One can have a glimpse of the same bliss during the climax of sexual intercourse. But then after the coitus, one is drained and experiences enervation. Meditation, is the best way to experience perpetual ecstasy, in a conscious sta...

Sometimes my pen behaves in a rather quirky manner. It just refuses my subjugation, wants to have it's own way. My "qalam" has now decided to explore me, portray me. It has written the following composition, exclusively for me. Want to share it with my friends. All those abused, kept aloof and apart. These very people form the core of your heart. They break or play with your heart, you never whine. Embracing your tormentors is an old habit of thine. When some intrepid, naive sparks try to rise high. You apprise them of the gales, hiding nearby. Quietly you listen to the counsels, given all the time. Invariably you do whatever your heart considers fine. ~ Sanjay Gargish ~

Apropos of my last post, my friends want me to explain the doctrine of "Aparigraha". Well, I have mentioned in my last post that "Aparigraha" means "non-possessiveness". Our sages were of the view that we must shun material possessions as they undoubtedly bring miseries. Don't try to pluck and possess a beautiful flower. You will not only shorten it's life, you will be able to enjoy it's fragrance for only a short while. An animated flower in the garden, on the other hand, provides delight to many, for more days. While pondering over "Vivekachudamani" by Adi Shankaracharya, the renowned Indian thinker, I have discovered that principle of non attachment is also firmly embedded in the doctrine of "Aparigraha". I am of the opinion that in the contemporary times, there is no need to reject material possessions outrightly. If lady luck is blessing you with copious money, retain some for your essentials and use the major p...

Though most of our needs can easily be met by working for few hours per day, still we are rushing like mads, toiling hard. We, human beings, have degraded ourselves to "money making beings". We are tyrannizing our bodies and brains to make money... more money. Why, What for? Majority of us just ape. They see others "working hard" from dawn to dusk, chasing success. They start monkeying them, so that they may not miss the, yet to be seen, bus. Disregarding our health, we slog like bullocks in the fields to acquire luxuries of life, amass wealth for our progeny, to accomplish our exorbitant desires. Erroneously we think that fulfilment of desires brings happiness. Though a satiated craving brings temporary "relief", it gives birth to more intense yearnings. This foolish pursuit of quenching desires brings only restlessness and discontentment, nothing else. Vainly we are trying to extinguish the fire of desires by pouring more and more ghee(clarified bu...

Though it lasts for very few days, "Basant" or Spring is an eagerly awaited season. Spring teaches us that instead of pursuing a long life, we must aim for a full, lively life. Traditionally, Spring is associated with romance, new life and vigour. In India, "Basant Panchami" is celebrated every year to welcome the arrival of "King" of all the seasons. During this festival, there used to be much fun and frolic in rural Punjab. We flew colourful kites and enjoyed delicacies like "desi ghee halwa", "besan barfi". People enjoyed themselves to the hilt at the "melas" (fairs) where folk singers and "bhands" (comedians) regaled all. Bright yellow "sarson" (mustard) and marigold flowers were seen all around in the fields. To show their camaraderie with the generous Mother Nature, people also wore yellow colored clothes, turbans. Life was simple then but people had hearts of gold. Much has changed now. Sadly, t...

Strange is the tenacity of some wounds. They just cling to the body and become vital organs, albeit painful. The pain, however, intensifies and becomes unbearable when someone tries to put "marham" (ointment) on them. Your soothing, beatific smile alone would heal these wounds of my heart, my beloved! Well, I am presenting my new composition to my endearing friends. Blood gushes through my veins at your sight My heart misses a beat when you are beside. For a lover, life and death live side by side. Lovers are dumb o friend of mine. Furtively I gaze at her for a while. Shyly she gives her verdict in a smile. When you smile, your patient recovers soon. With your smile disperses, the mist of gloom. From my deep wounds, fragrant verses bloom. ~ Sanjay Gargish ~

Last week, I went to a restaurant to have a small meal. The waiter there, a young boy, spoke fluent English and seemed well informed. I made him sit beside me and asked about his qualifications and family. I was shocked and felt pity when he told me that he was a first class graduate from a college in Baijnath(Himachal Pradesh). He worked in the restaurant from 8am to10pm, seven days a week, for Rs 10,000 per month so that he could feed his handicapped parents and two siblings. The central as well as the state governments are looking after the interests of only public sector employees. They conveniently ignore the well being of workers in the private sector, especially in small shops and firms, as if they are aliens. These workers are not entitled to any sort of financial assistance or pension when they become unfit to work. It is sheer injustice to provide very handsome salaries, life long pension, free medical treatment and innumerable holidays to highly inefficient and generally ...