Aasmaan ke, paar shaayad
aur koi aasmaan hoga...
main hawaa,
ke paron,
pe kahaan,
jaa rahaa hoon kahaan...
Trying the to capture the various shades of the sky here , these are some of the pics that I took during my stay in Infy, Mysore.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
La-Whore!
"Lahore—the ancient whore, the handmaiden of dimly remembered Hindu kings, the courtesan of Moghul Emperors, bedecked and bejeweled, savaged by marauding hordes. Healed by the caressing hands of successive lovers. A little shoddy... like an attractive but ageing concubine, ready to bestow surprising delights on those who cared to court her—proudly displaying Royal gifts," writes Bapsi Sidhwa in her introduction, quoting from one of her earlier books, "A Pakistani Bride" in her latest anhotlogy on the city, "City of Sin and Splendour: Writings on Lahore".
Having always been fascinated by the city and brought up on a generous diet of stories, movies and tid-bits of factoids about the city, I've always wanted to visit it as it is. My first brushes with this city was through an Indian "tale of two cities" which was aired once a week on National TV called "Buniyaad", then came Chugtai and Manto, "Garam Hawa" and "Tamas" and ofcourse the cricket matches with camera panning to capture "honey shots" of stunning women wearing shades. Probably I have a fixation with Pakistani women, I don't know.
The city's discussion can't be complete without it's domes, minarets, Kinnaird College , gardens and it' s red light area, Hira Mandi (and the eating place there, Cuckoo's).
The City has bled, turning the waters of the Raavi red but has endured the gashes and stabs to have come out scarred and mellowed. There probably is something about Lahore like Lucknow and Delhi which is dying but ... isn't that a part of the continual evolution? Probably I can sometime visit the city which is like a "bitch in heat on a sultry summer afternoon" before the cycle of evolution moves over...
Having always been fascinated by the city and brought up on a generous diet of stories, movies and tid-bits of factoids about the city, I've always wanted to visit it as it is. My first brushes with this city was through an Indian "tale of two cities" which was aired once a week on National TV called "Buniyaad", then came Chugtai and Manto, "Garam Hawa" and "Tamas" and ofcourse the cricket matches with camera panning to capture "honey shots" of stunning women wearing shades. Probably I have a fixation with Pakistani women, I don't know.
The city's discussion can't be complete without it's domes, minarets, Kinnaird College , gardens and it' s red light area, Hira Mandi (and the eating place there, Cuckoo's).
The City has bled, turning the waters of the Raavi red but has endured the gashes and stabs to have come out scarred and mellowed. There probably is something about Lahore like Lucknow and Delhi which is dying but ... isn't that a part of the continual evolution? Probably I can sometime visit the city which is like a "bitch in heat on a sultry summer afternoon" before the cycle of evolution moves over...
Monday, November 14, 2005
Infy Rabbits
Here they are the two infy rabbits,
but they have very stark habits,
one sleeps early the other late,
one is timely the other procrastinate,
one promptly has breakfast, the other misses,
one rumbles and the other hisses,
but yes, they are friends all the way through,
one is Singh and the other is Zhu...
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Raina
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Nainon mein kal oas giri thi,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Prem ki agni bujhti nahin hai,
Bahati nadiya rukti nahin hai,
Saagar tat bahate do naina,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Rooh ke bandhan khulte nahin hain,
Daagh hai dil ke dhulte nahin hain,
Karvat karvat baanti raina,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Nainon mein kal oas giri thi,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina ...
~from Leela
Nainon mein kal oas giri thi,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Prem ki agni bujhti nahin hai,
Bahati nadiya rukti nahin hai,
Saagar tat bahate do naina,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Rooh ke bandhan khulte nahin hain,
Daagh hai dil ke dhulte nahin hain,
Karvat karvat baanti raina,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina,
Nainon mein kal oas giri thi,
Jaag ke kaati saari raina ...
~from Leela
Jabse qareeb ho ke chale
Jabse qareeb ho ke chale, zindagi se hum,
Khud apne aaine ko lage ajnabi se hum,
Jabse qareeb ho ke chale, zindagi se hum,
Woh kaun hai jo paas bhi hai aur door bhi,
Har lamha maangte hain kisi ko kisise bhi,
Jabse qareeb ho ke chale, zindagi se hum,
Ehsaas ye bhi kam nahin jeene ke waaste,
Har dard jee rahe hain tumhaari khushi se hum,
Kuch door chalke raaste sab ek se lage,
Mil lega kisi se milaaye kisi se hum,
Kis mod par haiyaat ne pahoncha diya hamein,
Naaraaz hain ghamon se na khush hai khushi se hum...
Khud apne aaine ko lage ajnabi se hum,
Jabse qareeb ho ke chale, zindagi se hum,
Woh kaun hai jo paas bhi hai aur door bhi,
Har lamha maangte hain kisi ko kisise bhi,
Jabse qareeb ho ke chale, zindagi se hum,
Ehsaas ye bhi kam nahin jeene ke waaste,
Har dard jee rahe hain tumhaari khushi se hum,
Kuch door chalke raaste sab ek se lage,
Mil lega kisi se milaaye kisi se hum,
Kis mod par haiyaat ne pahoncha diya hamein,
Naaraaz hain ghamon se na khush hai khushi se hum...
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Karim's
Delhi is the place for the incorrigible "foodie" to be in. And "Karim's" is among the brightest of the stars in the galaxy of many and often gives "Bukhara", Maurya Sheraton's restaurant a good run for it's money. Just beside Jama Masjid with its old world charm, it was set up by the cooks in the Mughal kitchen, and every bite makes you feel so. The street outside though, is a desecration of its past. And probably the mughalai cuisine here is the best that you can ever get.
Gugs introduced me to this place and the rest is, as they always say, history. Infact she has been my partner in crime in raiding the eating joints of Delhi, and we kept discovering things as we went about our food sojourns. And "Karim's" just happened to be our first target folllowed by Naivaidyam, Village Cafe and other hapless ones. The softness of the kababs, the aroma, the charm and to top it all, the taste , it's sheer bliss. It's waiters dressed in pathan suits; the ones in khaki serve water and the ones in maroon, who probably are higher up in the "organizational heirarchy" take orders. Soon after you've placed your order the food arrives in trademark china deep dishes accompanied by a small steel dish which stumped me the first time. Only later did Gugs tell me that it was for the bones!
I've almost made a habit out of telling people about this amazing place, and still more, I love bringing them here. Infact "Karim's" has always been a special place ever since I came here first. The rides in the Metro with Gugs, hitting the "Chor Bazaar" with bhai and the gang at 7 am and later gorging ourselves over Chicken Burra, Bobby's treat and walking bare feet in the grand dilapidation of the Jama Masjid ... how I wish , I could turn back time...
Gugs introduced me to this place and the rest is, as they always say, history. Infact she has been my partner in crime in raiding the eating joints of Delhi, and we kept discovering things as we went about our food sojourns. And "Karim's" just happened to be our first target folllowed by Naivaidyam, Village Cafe and other hapless ones. The softness of the kababs, the aroma, the charm and to top it all, the taste , it's sheer bliss. It's waiters dressed in pathan suits; the ones in khaki serve water and the ones in maroon, who probably are higher up in the "organizational heirarchy" take orders. Soon after you've placed your order the food arrives in trademark china deep dishes accompanied by a small steel dish which stumped me the first time. Only later did Gugs tell me that it was for the bones!
I've almost made a habit out of telling people about this amazing place, and still more, I love bringing them here. Infact "Karim's" has always been a special place ever since I came here first. The rides in the Metro with Gugs, hitting the "Chor Bazaar" with bhai and the gang at 7 am and later gorging ourselves over Chicken Burra, Bobby's treat and walking bare feet in the grand dilapidation of the Jama Masjid ... how I wish , I could turn back time...
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Baavraa Mann
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavre se mann ki dekho baavari hai baatein,
Baavari sii dhadkane hain baavari hai saansein,
Baavari sii karvaton se nindiaa kyon bhaage,
Baavre se nain chaahein baavre jharokhon se,
Bavare nazaro ko taknaa,
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavre se is jahaan mein baavraa ek saath ho,
Is sayaani bheed mein bas haathon mein teraa haath ho,
Baavri si dhun ho koi baavra ek raag ho,
Baavre se pair chaahein, baavre taraano ke
Baavre se bolon pe thhirakna
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavraa saa ho andhera, baavri khamoshiaan,
Thartharaati lau maddham, baavri Mudhoshiaan,
Baavraa ek ghunghtaa chaahe, haule haule bin bataye
Baavre se mukhde se saraknaa
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa
~ from Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavre se mann ki dekho baavari hai baatein,
Baavari sii dhadkane hain baavari hai saansein,
Baavari sii karvaton se nindiaa kyon bhaage,
Baavre se nain chaahein baavre jharokhon se,
Bavare nazaro ko taknaa,
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavre se is jahaan mein baavraa ek saath ho,
Is sayaani bheed mein bas haathon mein teraa haath ho,
Baavri si dhun ho koi baavra ek raag ho,
Baavre se pair chaahein, baavre taraano ke
Baavre se bolon pe thhirakna
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa,
Baavraa saa ho andhera, baavri khamoshiaan,
Thartharaati lau maddham, baavri Mudhoshiaan,
Baavraa ek ghunghtaa chaahe, haule haule bin bataye
Baavre se mukhde se saraknaa
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa
Baavraa mann dekhne chala ek sapnaa
~ from Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
The Virgin
"...When I moved into your bed I was not alone-there were two of us A married woman and a virgin. To sleep with you I had to offer the virgin in me, I did so. This slaughter is permissible in law, not the indignity of it. And I bore the onslaught of the insult. The next morning I looked at my blood stained hands. I washed my hands, but the moment I stood before the mirror I found her standing there, the one whom I thought I had slaughtered last night. Was it too dark in your bed, I had to kill one and I killed the other ?..."
~Amrita Pritam (translated from the original Punjabi by Kartar Singh Duggal )
~Amrita Pritam (translated from the original Punjabi by Kartar Singh Duggal )
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Tumhari Amrita...
Ajj akhan Waris Shah nu,
kittey qabran wichon bol
te bol kitab ishq da, koi agla warqa khol
Ik roi si dhee Punjab di,
te tu likh likh mare wain,
ajj lakhan dhiaan rondian,
teinu Waris Shah nu kehan,
uth dard wanda - bedardiaa,
uth tak apna Punjab,
ajj belay lashan wichhian,
te lahu di bhari Chinaab,
ajj sabhey kaido ban geye,
a husn, ishq te Chor
ajj kithun liaye labh ke
ik Waris Shah ik hor
Ajj akhan Waris Shah nu..
~Amrita Pritam (1919-2005)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Translation)
Today, I call Waris Shah, “Speak from inside your grave”
And turn, today, the book of love’s next affectionate page
Once, one daughter of Punjab cried; you wrote a wailing saga
Today, a million daughters, cry to you, Waris Shah
Rise! O’ narrator of the grieving; rise! look at your Punjab
Today, fields are lined with corpses, and blood fills the Chenab
Someone has mixed poison in the five rivers’ flow
Their deadly water is, now, irrigating our lands galore
This fertile land is sprouting, venom from every pore
The sky is turning red from endless cries of gore
The toxic forest wind, screams from inside its wake
Turning each flute’s bamboo-shoot, into a deadly snake
With the first snake-bite; charmers lost their spell
The second bite turned all and sundry, into snakes, as well
Drinking from this deadly stream, filling the land with bane
Slowly, Punjab’s limbs have turned black and blue, with pain
The street-songs have been silenced; cotton threads are snapped
Girls have left their playgroups; the spinning wheels are cracked
Our wedding beds are boats, their logs have cast away
Our hanging swing, the Pipal tree has broken in disarray
Lost is the flute, which once, blew sounds of the heart
Ranjha’s brothers, today, no longer know this art
Blood rained on our shrines; drenching them to the core
Damsels of amour, today, sit crying at their door
Today everyone is, ‘Qaido;’ thieves of beauty and ardor
Where can we find, today, another Warish Shah, once more
Today, I call Waris Shah, “Speak from inside your grave”
And turn, today, the book of love’s next affectionate page
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Noted author Amrita Pritam passes away
[ Monday, October 31, 2005 07:55:43 pmIANS ]
NEW DELHI: Well-known Punjabi literary figure Amrita Pritam died Monday. She was 86. ..."
Thus reported Hindustan Times of the demise of one of the greatest proponents of the pen. The light has gone out of our lives, no wonder it was raining like there's no tomorrow here in Mysore on Diwali night, even the sky was mourning. But amidst the TV channels dedicating hours of "on air" time celebrating Aishwarya Rai's and SRK's birthdays on 1st and 2nd november respectively, I know there'd be a few for whom the pain will linger on.
There'd be many who like me owe her for the facets of man that she has showcased. I owe her for the gloomy afternoons spent pouring over "Rasidi Ticket", "Ek thi Anita" and the rest. Especially "Rasidi Ticket" for showing what a relationship can be and not. Sahir and Amrita ... the melancholy of unrequited love.There'd be still many who must have weeped through the night, after she exorcised memories that they had buried deep within.
Thanks Anu, for letting me read all these books that you brought, for I can't think about Amrita without thinking about you. The light has sure gone out, but the iridiscence will stay forever...
kittey qabran wichon bol
te bol kitab ishq da, koi agla warqa khol
Ik roi si dhee Punjab di,
te tu likh likh mare wain,
ajj lakhan dhiaan rondian,
teinu Waris Shah nu kehan,
uth dard wanda - bedardiaa,
uth tak apna Punjab,
ajj belay lashan wichhian,
te lahu di bhari Chinaab,
ajj sabhey kaido ban geye,
a husn, ishq te Chor
ajj kithun liaye labh ke
ik Waris Shah ik hor
Ajj akhan Waris Shah nu..
~Amrita Pritam (1919-2005)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Translation)
Today, I call Waris Shah, “Speak from inside your grave”
And turn, today, the book of love’s next affectionate page
Once, one daughter of Punjab cried; you wrote a wailing saga
Today, a million daughters, cry to you, Waris Shah
Rise! O’ narrator of the grieving; rise! look at your Punjab
Today, fields are lined with corpses, and blood fills the Chenab
Someone has mixed poison in the five rivers’ flow
Their deadly water is, now, irrigating our lands galore
This fertile land is sprouting, venom from every pore
The sky is turning red from endless cries of gore
The toxic forest wind, screams from inside its wake
Turning each flute’s bamboo-shoot, into a deadly snake
With the first snake-bite; charmers lost their spell
The second bite turned all and sundry, into snakes, as well
Drinking from this deadly stream, filling the land with bane
Slowly, Punjab’s limbs have turned black and blue, with pain
The street-songs have been silenced; cotton threads are snapped
Girls have left their playgroups; the spinning wheels are cracked
Our wedding beds are boats, their logs have cast away
Our hanging swing, the Pipal tree has broken in disarray
Lost is the flute, which once, blew sounds of the heart
Ranjha’s brothers, today, no longer know this art
Blood rained on our shrines; drenching them to the core
Damsels of amour, today, sit crying at their door
Today everyone is, ‘Qaido;’ thieves of beauty and ardor
Where can we find, today, another Warish Shah, once more
Today, I call Waris Shah, “Speak from inside your grave”
And turn, today, the book of love’s next affectionate page
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Noted author Amrita Pritam passes away
[ Monday, October 31, 2005 07:55:43 pmIANS ]
NEW DELHI: Well-known Punjabi literary figure Amrita Pritam died Monday. She was 86. ..."
Thus reported Hindustan Times of the demise of one of the greatest proponents of the pen. The light has gone out of our lives, no wonder it was raining like there's no tomorrow here in Mysore on Diwali night, even the sky was mourning. But amidst the TV channels dedicating hours of "on air" time celebrating Aishwarya Rai's and SRK's birthdays on 1st and 2nd november respectively, I know there'd be a few for whom the pain will linger on.
There'd be many who like me owe her for the facets of man that she has showcased. I owe her for the gloomy afternoons spent pouring over "Rasidi Ticket", "Ek thi Anita" and the rest. Especially "Rasidi Ticket" for showing what a relationship can be and not. Sahir and Amrita ... the melancholy of unrequited love.There'd be still many who must have weeped through the night, after she exorcised memories that they had buried deep within.
Thanks Anu, for letting me read all these books that you brought, for I can't think about Amrita without thinking about you. The light has sure gone out, but the iridiscence will stay forever...
Friday, October 28, 2005
Frivolous...
Of late , a lot of my attention had been brought to something as quaint as milk. Me hating "curd" (milk's manifestation) all these years an now relishingly "rediscovering" it. A chinese friend who relishes Lassi and dares to go alone to a shanty "dhaba" to savour it. My ma, pestering me to have the white liquid more often on phone from across thousands of kilometers.
It also brings to my mind how I mentioned it in the finals of personality contest metaphorically, the audience couldn't get the drift and i blew it up all. Makes me hum a very jazzy jingle from one of my favourite ads "peeyo glassful doodh ..."(KK sung that!) for the operation flood. It brings back memories of my days spent interning for an NGO in a quaint Orissa tribal village where a friend and the Project co-ordinator told me anecdotes of now the orissa government tried to replicate operation flood there and it failed miserably, because the tribals consider it a prerogative of the calf. So much for the common sense, eh!
And when I am criticizing the Indian Cricket team's performance , somewhere Veeru (arrey apna Sehwag) retorts "Doodh shoodh peena padta hai...".Heated discussions refuting "manekas"(gandhi) claims that milk is non vegetarian and can put the very existance of mankind at peril. Ho hum ....
"The Cow is of the bovine ilk,
At one end, moo, at the other milk"
~Ogden Nash
PS: only the quote is by Nash, duffer!
It also brings to my mind how I mentioned it in the finals of personality contest metaphorically, the audience couldn't get the drift and i blew it up all. Makes me hum a very jazzy jingle from one of my favourite ads "peeyo glassful doodh ..."(KK sung that!) for the operation flood. It brings back memories of my days spent interning for an NGO in a quaint Orissa tribal village where a friend and the Project co-ordinator told me anecdotes of now the orissa government tried to replicate operation flood there and it failed miserably, because the tribals consider it a prerogative of the calf. So much for the common sense, eh!
And when I am criticizing the Indian Cricket team's performance , somewhere Veeru (arrey apna Sehwag) retorts "Doodh shoodh peena padta hai...".Heated discussions refuting "manekas"(gandhi) claims that milk is non vegetarian and can put the very existance of mankind at peril. Ho hum ....
"The Cow is of the bovine ilk,
At one end, moo, at the other milk"
~Ogden Nash
PS: only the quote is by Nash, duffer!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Siyaahi
yeh aasmaan mein siyaahii bikher di kisne,
hamein thaa shauq bahut is mein rang bharane kaa....
~Faiz
hamein thaa shauq bahut is mein rang bharane kaa....
~Faiz
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Hasrat
Saalon se hai ik hasrat si,
jaaney kya hai ye ghaflat si,
ki tanhaayee mein bheeg jaayein palkein,
sondhe aansuon se ye samaa mehkey,
aur aaye "koi" is veeraane mein paas,
lagaa de in palkon par koi marham khaas,
de apni baahon ka bistar,
chun le is dil ke nashtar,
par, khud se hi shaayad ye guft-a-goo si hai,
chhoti sii yeh ik aarzoo si hai,
jaane kyon poori nahin hoti,
jo saalon se hai ye ik hasrat si,
jaaney kya hai ye ghaflat si ...
~maanu
jaaney kya hai ye ghaflat si,
ki tanhaayee mein bheeg jaayein palkein,
sondhe aansuon se ye samaa mehkey,
aur aaye "koi" is veeraane mein paas,
lagaa de in palkon par koi marham khaas,
de apni baahon ka bistar,
chun le is dil ke nashtar,
par, khud se hi shaayad ye guft-a-goo si hai,
chhoti sii yeh ik aarzoo si hai,
jaane kyon poori nahin hoti,
jo saalon se hai ye ik hasrat si,
jaaney kya hai ye ghaflat si ...
~maanu
Monday, October 17, 2005
Ek kudi
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabbat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl, whose name is love, simple, dainty a lovely sight)
Gum gum hai, gum hai, gumm hai, Gum hai, gumm hai
(she is Lost.. Lost.. Lost.. She is lost)
Soorat usdi paarian wargi, Seerat di oh Marium lagdi
(Her face a fairy's likeness, temper a picture of Mother Mary)
has di hai taa fullne chad te, tordi hai ta gazal hai lagdi
(When she laughs the petals fall, When she walks a melody plays)
lam se lam saru kad di, umar ache hai par ke agdi, par naina di gal samajhdi
(Her Years are still of nascence, but the language of eyes, she comprehends)
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl, whose name is love simple, dainty a lovely sight)
Gum gum hai, gum hai, gumm hai, Gum hai, gumm hai
(she is Lost.. Lost.. Lost.. She is lost)
Gumian janam janam ne hove, yun lagde jiven kal di gal hai,
(She is lost from many births ago, though it seems an affair of yesterday)
Iyun lagde jiven aaj di gal hai, iyun lagde jiven hun di gal hai…
(Why,It seems an affair of today... Why,It seems this moment affair)
Hun te mere kaun khadi si, Hun te mere bol rahi hai
(Just now she stood by my side,talking to me...and now she has vanished)
eh ki chaal hai, eh ki bhatkan, soch meri hairan badi hai
(What trick, what chase in this, my senses they are mystified)
aande jaande har raste te, meri nazar ohnoo tol rahi hai…..
(My eyes search for that girl on every passing street)
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl, whose name is love simple, dainty a lovely sight)
Us kudi noon meri sohn hai, Us kudi noon apni sohn hai
(I call out to that girl in my name, I call out to that girl on her name)
Us kudi noon sab di sohn hai, us kudi noon rab di sohn hai…
(I call out that girl in the name of all, I call out to her in name of god)
us kudi noon jag di sohn hai
(I call out that girl in the name of the entire creation)….
Check da paki surti hovay, Junede javo par rai hovey
(If she reads or hear this, If she be alive or dying)
Ek vaari aa ke mil jave, Vafa meri nu dak lave
(Come and meet me once, Do not sully my devotion)
Naita mein nu jiya na janda, Geet koi likhya na janda
(Lest i can't live, Nor write a song anymore)
Naita mein nu jiya na janda
(Lest i can't live)
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl,Whose name is love simple,dainty a lovely sight)
Gum hai, gum hai, gumm hai, Gum hai, gumm hai....
(she is Lost.. Lost.. Lost.. She is lost)
~Shiv Kumar Batalvi
(Sung by who else but Rabbi!)
(A Girl, whose name is love, simple, dainty a lovely sight)
Gum gum hai, gum hai, gumm hai, Gum hai, gumm hai
(she is Lost.. Lost.. Lost.. She is lost)
Soorat usdi paarian wargi, Seerat di oh Marium lagdi
(Her face a fairy's likeness, temper a picture of Mother Mary)
has di hai taa fullne chad te, tordi hai ta gazal hai lagdi
(When she laughs the petals fall, When she walks a melody plays)
lam se lam saru kad di, umar ache hai par ke agdi, par naina di gal samajhdi
(Her Years are still of nascence, but the language of eyes, she comprehends)
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl, whose name is love simple, dainty a lovely sight)
Gum gum hai, gum hai, gumm hai, Gum hai, gumm hai
(she is Lost.. Lost.. Lost.. She is lost)
Gumian janam janam ne hove, yun lagde jiven kal di gal hai,
(She is lost from many births ago, though it seems an affair of yesterday)
Iyun lagde jiven aaj di gal hai, iyun lagde jiven hun di gal hai…
(Why,It seems an affair of today... Why,It seems this moment affair)
Hun te mere kaun khadi si, Hun te mere bol rahi hai
(Just now she stood by my side,talking to me...and now she has vanished)
eh ki chaal hai, eh ki bhatkan, soch meri hairan badi hai
(What trick, what chase in this, my senses they are mystified)
aande jaande har raste te, meri nazar ohnoo tol rahi hai…..
(My eyes search for that girl on every passing street)
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl, whose name is love simple, dainty a lovely sight)
Us kudi noon meri sohn hai, Us kudi noon apni sohn hai
(I call out to that girl in my name, I call out to that girl on her name)
Us kudi noon sab di sohn hai, us kudi noon rab di sohn hai…
(I call out that girl in the name of all, I call out to her in name of god)
us kudi noon jag di sohn hai
(I call out that girl in the name of the entire creation)….
Check da paki surti hovay, Junede javo par rai hovey
(If she reads or hear this, If she be alive or dying)
Ek vaari aa ke mil jave, Vafa meri nu dak lave
(Come and meet me once, Do not sully my devotion)
Naita mein nu jiya na janda, Geet koi likhya na janda
(Lest i can't live, Nor write a song anymore)
Naita mein nu jiya na janda
(Lest i can't live)
Ek kudi jeda naam mohabat, saaaand murati soni fabat
(A Girl,Whose name is love simple,dainty a lovely sight)
Gum hai, gum hai, gumm hai, Gum hai, gumm hai....
(she is Lost.. Lost.. Lost.. She is lost)
~Shiv Kumar Batalvi
(Sung by who else but Rabbi!)
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Peeli Dhoop
Peeli dhoop mein chhui-mui si nahayee hui, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
peeli mehndi liye hathelion mein ithlayee hui si, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
peeli khushq zameeen par girti gungunee boondon si, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
aansuon se dhuli peeli maazi ki yaadon mein, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
dil mein putee hui rogan si, tum
jaaney kyon seel gayeen in deewaaron mein, tum
kyon zamaney ke sang badrang ho gayeen, tum
sochta hoon fir bhi aaj main,
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye...
~
Maanu
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
peeli mehndi liye hathelion mein ithlayee hui si, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
peeli khushq zameeen par girti gungunee boondon si, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
aansuon se dhuli peeli maazi ki yaadon mein, tum
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye,
dil mein putee hui rogan si, tum
jaaney kyon seel gayeen in deewaaron mein, tum
kyon zamaney ke sang badrang ho gayeen, tum
sochta hoon fir bhi aaj main,
aur kaun sa rang dhoondoo main tumhare liye...
~
Maanu
Tere khushboo mein basey khat
Tere khushboo mein basey khat main jalaataa kaise
pyaar mein doobey huye khat main jalaata kaise
tere haathon ke likhe khat main jalaata kaise
jin ko duniyaa ki nigaahon se chhupaaye rakhaa
jin ko ik umr kaleje se lagaaye rakhaa
deen jin ko, jinhein imaan banaaye rakhaa
jin kaa har lafz mujhe yaad thaa paani ki tarah
yaad thhe mujh ko jo paigaam-e-zubaani ki tarah
mujh ko pyaare thhe jo anmol nishaani ki tarah
toone duniyaa ki nigaahon se jo bachakar likhe
saalahaa-saal mere naam baraabar likhe
kabhii din mein to kabhii raat mein uthakar likhe
tere khushboo mein basey khat main jalaataa kaise
pyaar mein doobey huye khat main jalaata kaise
tere haathon ke likhe khat main jalaata kaise
tere khat aaj main gangaa mein bahaa aayaa hoon
aag bahate huye paani mein lagaa aayaa hoon...
~Rajendranath Rahbar
pyaar mein doobey huye khat main jalaata kaise
tere haathon ke likhe khat main jalaata kaise
jin ko duniyaa ki nigaahon se chhupaaye rakhaa
jin ko ik umr kaleje se lagaaye rakhaa
deen jin ko, jinhein imaan banaaye rakhaa
jin kaa har lafz mujhe yaad thaa paani ki tarah
yaad thhe mujh ko jo paigaam-e-zubaani ki tarah
mujh ko pyaare thhe jo anmol nishaani ki tarah
toone duniyaa ki nigaahon se jo bachakar likhe
saalahaa-saal mere naam baraabar likhe
kabhii din mein to kabhii raat mein uthakar likhe
tere khushboo mein basey khat main jalaataa kaise
pyaar mein doobey huye khat main jalaata kaise
tere haathon ke likhe khat main jalaata kaise
tere khat aaj main gangaa mein bahaa aayaa hoon
aag bahate huye paani mein lagaa aayaa hoon...
~Rajendranath Rahbar
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Tere Bin
Tere bin / besides you
sanu sohnia / my love
koi hor nahio labhna / i shan't find another
jo deve / who'll give
rooh nu sakoon / peace to my soul
chukke jo nakhra mera / and indulge me
ve main sare khumm ke vekhya / i have gone and seen it all
amrika , roos, malaysia / america, russia, malaysia
na kittey vi koi fark si / there wasn't any difference
har kise di koi shart si / they all had some condition
koi mangda mera si sama / some asked for my time
koi honda surat te fida / some were fascinated with my face
koi mangda meri si vafa / some demanded my fidelity
na koi mangda merian bala / none wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / my love
mangni merian bala / i shan't find another
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
karni dhup vich chhan / shall shade me in the sun
jiven rukia / (the) way you paused
si tuu zara / slightly
nahion bhulna / i shan't forget
main sari umar / all my life
jiven akhia si akhan chura / you said, looking away
"rovenga sanu yad kar" / "you shall weep in my memory"
hasia si main hasa ajeeb / i laughed a strange laugh
par tu nahi si hasia / but you didn't
dil vich tere jo raaz si / you had a secret in your heart
mainu tu kyon ni dassya / why didn't you tell me
tere bin / besides you
sanu eh raz / none shall tell this
kise hor nahion dasna / secret to me
tere bin / besides you
peerh da ilaaj / what druid
kis vaid kolon labhna / has the cure to my ills
milia si ajj mainu / i found today
tera ik patra / a letter of yours
likhia si jis 'te / on which you had scribbeled
tun shayr varey shah da / a varis shah couplet
parh ke si osnu / upon reading which
hanjoo ik duliya / a teardrop fell
akhan 'ch band si / what was locked in the eyes
eh raaz ajj khulia / was revealed today
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjoo / these tears of mine
kise hor / won't be kissed by
nahio chaungna / none else
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjoo / these tears of mine
mitti vich rulnha / will wither in the dust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Probably the best song of Rabbi, the way he seamlessly backs the beautiful lyrics with his powerful vocals is amazing. A very beautiful song, sung beautifully by the evangelist of punjabi rock. This song will make your eyes misty.... listen to it if you haven't.
sanu sohnia / my love
koi hor nahio labhna / i shan't find another
jo deve / who'll give
rooh nu sakoon / peace to my soul
chukke jo nakhra mera / and indulge me
ve main sare khumm ke vekhya / i have gone and seen it all
amrika , roos, malaysia / america, russia, malaysia
na kittey vi koi fark si / there wasn't any difference
har kise di koi shart si / they all had some condition
koi mangda mera si sama / some asked for my time
koi honda surat te fida / some were fascinated with my face
koi mangda meri si vafa / some demanded my fidelity
na koi mangda merian bala / none wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / my love
mangni merian bala / i shan't find another
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
karni dhup vich chhan / shall shade me in the sun
jiven rukia / (the) way you paused
si tuu zara / slightly
nahion bhulna / i shan't forget
main sari umar / all my life
jiven akhia si akhan chura / you said, looking away
"rovenga sanu yad kar" / "you shall weep in my memory"
hasia si main hasa ajeeb / i laughed a strange laugh
par tu nahi si hasia / but you didn't
dil vich tere jo raaz si / you had a secret in your heart
mainu tu kyon ni dassya / why didn't you tell me
tere bin / besides you
sanu eh raz / none shall tell this
kise hor nahion dasna / secret to me
tere bin / besides you
peerh da ilaaj / what druid
kis vaid kolon labhna / has the cure to my ills
milia si ajj mainu / i found today
tera ik patra / a letter of yours
likhia si jis 'te / on which you had scribbeled
tun shayr varey shah da / a varis shah couplet
parh ke si osnu / upon reading which
hanjoo ik duliya / a teardrop fell
akhan 'ch band si / what was locked in the eyes
eh raaz ajj khulia / was revealed today
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjoo / these tears of mine
kise hor / won't be kissed by
nahio chaungna / none else
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjoo / these tears of mine
mitti vich rulnha / will wither in the dust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Probably the best song of Rabbi, the way he seamlessly backs the beautiful lyrics with his powerful vocals is amazing. A very beautiful song, sung beautifully by the evangelist of punjabi rock. This song will make your eyes misty.... listen to it if you haven't.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Musings
"We all have a streak of madness and we shouldn't try losing it, because it's that which drives us" .... this is my pet line that I tell people when I am at my philosophical best. It's this madness which makes our lives worth living or else it would be boring. The monotony will get the better of us.
The other day, amidst the strummings of my guitar (yesirrrrrrrrrr I am taking guitar lessons from Jacob) the three of us, me , Jacob and Asoka sat there on the stairs of the amphitheatre discussing about the absoluteness or the relativeness of life. Jacob ofcourse came out with his biblical references, the inveterate Christian that he is. I sat there long after both of them left, playing the chords which Jacob had taught me and brooding over what this streak has made me do and what it will. And all this, in perfect realisation of the fact that it was the madness which makes me practice those chords at the dead of the night (or was it morning?).
Its the madness which made me and Asoka discuss ourselves and ofcourse our pet topic "Relativity" upto 6 in the morning when we knew we had a RDBMS module test from 9am that very morning. He says he'll break relativity and I say he can't because "Relativity" is inherent in nature... it is basic, it is fundamental and he is nothing but a victim of this inescapable fact. From Physics to philosophy its all around us, and has always been there, all it needs is someone who will recognize it. Nothing in the world is "good" or "bad" , there are just shades of grey. "Good" and "Bad" are two unachievable extremes of the same entity, between which everything rests. The moment we try to classify something as "good" or "bad", the very moment we "relativitize" it trying to benchmark it against something. This is a bloody godforsaken paradox.
Even Asoka realizes this fact, though he might not admit because like all of us he has also been gifted with that streak and it will drive him all that he can, to disprove "relativity".
It is this madness which makes us Love and Believe. Believe in ourselves and Love itself. It makes us cross the miles to savour the smile in someone's eyes. It is this madness which makes you believe that life would lose its meaning without that significant "one". It is this which makes your eyes misty, reminiscing of that familiar scent of the "one", that touch, that voice ....
And this very madness is making you read this 'incoherent BS', don't lose it, relish it, nurture it, let it bloom ...it's precious.
Amen!
The other day, amidst the strummings of my guitar (yesirrrrrrrrrr I am taking guitar lessons from Jacob) the three of us, me , Jacob and Asoka sat there on the stairs of the amphitheatre discussing about the absoluteness or the relativeness of life. Jacob ofcourse came out with his biblical references, the inveterate Christian that he is. I sat there long after both of them left, playing the chords which Jacob had taught me and brooding over what this streak has made me do and what it will. And all this, in perfect realisation of the fact that it was the madness which makes me practice those chords at the dead of the night (or was it morning?).
Its the madness which made me and Asoka discuss ourselves and ofcourse our pet topic "Relativity" upto 6 in the morning when we knew we had a RDBMS module test from 9am that very morning. He says he'll break relativity and I say he can't because "Relativity" is inherent in nature... it is basic, it is fundamental and he is nothing but a victim of this inescapable fact. From Physics to philosophy its all around us, and has always been there, all it needs is someone who will recognize it. Nothing in the world is "good" or "bad" , there are just shades of grey. "Good" and "Bad" are two unachievable extremes of the same entity, between which everything rests. The moment we try to classify something as "good" or "bad", the very moment we "relativitize" it trying to benchmark it against something. This is a bloody godforsaken paradox.
Even Asoka realizes this fact, though he might not admit because like all of us he has also been gifted with that streak and it will drive him all that he can, to disprove "relativity".
It is this madness which makes us Love and Believe. Believe in ourselves and Love itself. It makes us cross the miles to savour the smile in someone's eyes. It is this madness which makes you believe that life would lose its meaning without that significant "one". It is this which makes your eyes misty, reminiscing of that familiar scent of the "one", that touch, that voice ....
And this very madness is making you read this 'incoherent BS', don't lose it, relish it, nurture it, let it bloom ...it's precious.
Amen!
Monday, October 10, 2005
Khaali haath shaam aayi hai
Khaali haath shaam aayi hai,
Khaali haath jaayegi,
Aaj bhi na aaya koi,
Khaali laut jaayegi...
Aaj bhi na aaye aansoo,
Aaj bhi na bheege naina,
Aaj bhi ye kori raina,
Kori laut jaayegi ...
Raat ki siyaahi koi,
Aaye to mitaaye na,
Aaaj na mitaayee to ye,
Kal bhi laut aayegi ...
~Gulzar
Khaali haath jaayegi,
Aaj bhi na aaya koi,
Khaali laut jaayegi...
Aaj bhi na aaye aansoo,
Aaj bhi na bheege naina,
Aaj bhi ye kori raina,
Kori laut jaayegi ...
Raat ki siyaahi koi,
Aaye to mitaaye na,
Aaaj na mitaayee to ye,
Kal bhi laut aayegi ...
~Gulzar
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Is Waqt
Is waqt toh yoon lagta hai, ab kuch bhi nahin hai,
mehtaab na sooraj, na andhera, na saveraa,
aankhon ke dareechon pe kisi husn ki chilman
aur dil ki panaahon mein kisi dard ka daira,
mumkin hay koi wehem tha , mumkin hay sunaa ho
galion mein kisi chaap ka ik aakhri phaira
shaakhon mein khayalon ke ghaney paed ki shayad,
ab aa kay karegaa na koi khwaab baseraa,
ik baer, na ik meher, na ik rabt, na rishta
tera koi apna, na paraya koi mera,
maanaa kay yeh sunsan ghadee sakht kadee hai,
lekin mere dil yeh to faqat ek ghadee hai
himmat karo jeenay ko toh ik umr padee hai...
~Faiz
mehtaab na sooraj, na andhera, na saveraa,
aankhon ke dareechon pe kisi husn ki chilman
aur dil ki panaahon mein kisi dard ka daira,
mumkin hay koi wehem tha , mumkin hay sunaa ho
galion mein kisi chaap ka ik aakhri phaira
shaakhon mein khayalon ke ghaney paed ki shayad,
ab aa kay karegaa na koi khwaab baseraa,
ik baer, na ik meher, na ik rabt, na rishta
tera koi apna, na paraya koi mera,
maanaa kay yeh sunsan ghadee sakht kadee hai,
lekin mere dil yeh to faqat ek ghadee hai
himmat karo jeenay ko toh ik umr padee hai...
~Faiz
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Yaad
Aaye kuchch abr, kuchch sharaab aaye,
us ke baad aaye jo aazaab aaye,
kar rahe thhey gham-e-jahana ka hisaab,
aaj tum yaad be-hisaab aaye...
~Faiz
us ke baad aaye jo aazaab aaye,
kar rahe thhey gham-e-jahana ka hisaab,
aaj tum yaad be-hisaab aaye...
~Faiz
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