HARSH SINHA

The Wings

2020-07-31T20:18:00.000+05:30

Once I knew how to write
But now it's all withered away
The Wings through which my words would fly
Chopped by the edges sharpened with Time
And burnt by that callous - that mighty scorching Light
What whilom illumined my life
My pal, indeed I knew how to write

There is no glory to the words unheard - untold
But to the writer from whose fantasies the words would flow

I was no writer churning the deepest imaginations
All I had were the visions so profound - to delve into
And now all's throttled...and my hands tied...

Once I knew how to write...

Harsh Sinha

Jack and Jill went up the Hill...

2020-07-31T20:10:00.000+05:30

"Jack and Jill went up the hill"

And the night so dark - so full of thrill

Clattering Clouds, shrieking Storms and flash of Lightning

Drizzly drops on Fire; but ain't so frightening

"Few more paces to your palace Her Majesty

Just a few more rivulets and a couple of rills"

"Not in haste O Jack! My legs resist"

Chivalrous and Toned...Jack honored the Queen

- Her raiment though soiled - losing the gilded sheen

His boots clattered and her bangles jingled with regal arts

A few weeks together and a rapport had struck both the hearts

His was the Strength and hers was the Silence

His was the Duty and hers was the Guidance

"What reward has the king announced for my rescue, O Jack?"

"Thousands of Drachmas, Honors and an abode, I suppose, O Majesty!"

"Wealth and Honor; Is that all for Jill?

Ah! I am happy though at least you shall be rich."

Silence pervaded the moment and slowly the clouds dispersed

Wolverine rescued the Moon yet again and his voice deeply versed

They trotted again - dawdling up the slope

Their eyes fixed but hearts still teeming with hope...

Time tricked and soon the Moon fled away...

With the Palace in vicinity and the cruel Red Giant lighting up the way

"Here comes your home O Majesty! and in there your king awaits..."

Time paused for a while and the winds froze

Their eye-lids drooped for a while and furtive emotions arose

Thence from his satchel, he drew out a tiny clayey deer

Offering to Jill for the little-little memories they share

She grabbed his life in her palm and turned around briskly

As even the bravest couldn't behold the sight and the parting so easily

Trumpets and drums enchanted her way in unison

While Jack stood behind with clouds of tears lurking at the crack of dawn

He darted like a mad-man towards the horizon

Gathering all the way along - Vestiges and Her images to enliven

Strength was lost - Silence was broken

He became the "Jack" - a Living Legend - Unheard - Unspoken......

ZERO WEEK

2018-07-01T16:25:00.000+05:30

(PRELUDE TO A NEW BEGINNING AT SSB ACADEMY, BHOPAL)

‘Ek Do Ek’, ‘Ek Do Ek’

We chant in unison sans any break

‘Edi Panja Roll March’ and in sync are the steps

We thump our feet, Roaring and Thundering

‘Ek Do Ek’, ‘Ek Do Ek’

Vigour and passion allay our pains

Hearts pound heavily with courage in our veins

We ‘push’ ourselves and ‘stretch’ our wings

Flock in the sky and fall off the brinks

‘Commands’ and ‘drills’ mould our gaits

Hopes and thrills help behold our ways

We ‘bend’ ourselves and squeeze our desires

Hold our breath and fight against the fires

Friends and family dissolved at the shores

We had sailed against the currents rowing our boats

Now, we board the ship and stand with the legion

Pledge for the destiny and security of the nation

Harsh Sinha

Studio Safdar

2015-06-28T23:29:00.002+05:30

It was all so usual when I woke up. The Sun had already risen in the east heralding yet another warm day in Delhi. Though unperturbed by the heat outside, I allowed lifelessness to trigger vexatiousness in me. I love being a 'solitary reaper' most often as it fosters thinking. But the day wasn't going to be usual.

Soon I found myself in the company of friends who too were seeking joie de vivre...Although such thirst can't be quenched by same means, we flocked together towards a mutually chosen destination. The Sun by then had made up its mind to set, letting birds collect their evening meal and us to stroll towards a studio near our residences. The studio was to showcase a drama and it had been quite a few years since I had watched any.

"Did you check the Google map closely?" I asked Ravi while we were being apprehensive about the quality of the play and it is human too to undervalue things that aren't tough to get or hard to reach.

"Yes Harsh, I too was flabbergasted to find such place lying so close and yet unfounded by us for so long," he replied.

Disregarding his mapping ability, we chose to ask a street vendor selling clay pots to guide us.
"Studio Safdar. Do you know where it is?" we asked. And upon that the vendor immediately pointed at a four storeyed building with fainted reddish brown hue that wasn't over 100 paces away from there. And without any delay, Manish, the most jovial of the triad, and I beamed and bowed in the honor of Sir Ravi.

During my school days, I used to participate in creative activities - dramatics amongst them, quite avidly. And since some steps were still left to cover to reach the tower of art, I reminisced my role as Haibat Khan, the Wazir of Sher Shah's empire in the play - 'Sher Shah Ka Nyaya'. That 'paan ka beeda' thrown at a widow and the loosening beard of Sher Shah during its portrayal in the school auditorium again filled me with awe. The play had then collected appreciation against the trepidation that the audiences might not be able to enjoy the seriousness scripted and enacted from the historical textbooks. But that was history!

We didn't even have the slightest picture of what was to come. Upon reaching in front of the venue, we found a guy beating a drum with a strap slinging over his neck. It was a traditional folk beat meant for calling the potential audiences. A group of clamouring children had started gathering around. And I wondered if only the kids were going to be our compatriots for the next few hours. Most of the kids happened to be from the underprivileged sections of Patel Nagar as was discernible from their attires. Nevertheless, they were quite exuberant about watching the play and also livelier than us.

Ravi asked the drummer about the venue of the play. Through his eyes and brows, the chap directed us towards a door. We pushed open the door and stepped inside to do the preliminary inquiry. It was a transition from light to the sources of enlightenment - THE BOOKS ! Shelves of books greeted us in their old fashion. And we honoured them back by checking and turning pages of a few of them.

Two boys and three girls almost of our age were sitting on benches in the book store and discussing something in an elitist vogue. Clearly, we were not alone.

* * * * * * *

"We are soon going to start Zero Story," announced a young woman possibly in her early thirties who certainly was associated with the studio.

The children were then asked to come inside in a queue. But they were children - anxious and uncontrollable!

"The play is basically meant for kids but adults too now come and watch it," I overheard that while glancing at Maxim Gorky's books which eventually made me feel a bit outcasted as a potential viewer. The actual theatre was across the book store where we were browsing initially, so another threshold had to be passed through to spectate what we had come for.

The triad then split up. Ravi managed to find a seat with a good front viewing angle beside one of the girls from the book store while I chose to compromise to suit my inexplicable desire to go after everyone else had gone inside. But to my dismay, Manish entered even later and also found a nice spot owing to the adjustments made to fit even more viewers. Whilst, I preferred to retain my seat that was in a way aloof from the crowd, with fair side viewing angle.

The air conditioning was satisfactory. Lights were dim and the stage was set. From my spot, the viewers could be viewed the best, especially the children, almost four scores in number. While some of them were sitting quietly, others were jittering. Since they were also to get the attention of the casts of the play, they sat closest to the stage.

* * * * * * *

"Gol gol hai, humara pyara zero,

Hai zero, hai zero, humara pyara hero," enchanted all along with the artists as the play had reached its climax.

For over an hour the play had kept the audiences spellbound. I too was enthralled by the humour and the energetic performance of the actors. The brothers in the play were named from zero to eight with Zero being the least revered and the play so portrayed the chronicle of Zero's realization of his hidden talents which helped him earn honour and fame.

From poor zero to stupendous hero - was what must have caught the imaginations of children who looked so heartily attached to Zero upon completion of the play. The studio was overwhelmed with laughters, gigglings and smiles on the faces of children. The jesters with tomatoey noses and scintillating multi-coloured outfits danced with immense zest.

But what went unnoticed was that the fantasies for a while had lifted the morale of children too high to accept the ground realities of life and that the opportunities bestowed upon them weren't sufficient to do justice to their future. But they were children - curious but ignorant, many of whose talents would not even surface in their lifetime if not their nurturing was ameliorated.

While I was in the midst of such serious thoughts, a gentleman carrying a small basket took over and started collecting funds from the spectators on voluntary basis. Few tiny little hands did drop coins of five, bills of ten and twenty. The seniors, over twenty in number, too pulled currencies from their bags to contribute. I could see Ravi holding a hundred rupees note in his hand and Manish, who was sitting near him, smiling - possibly signaling his share in the same. I too singled out on hundred and drew from my trouser pocket - a thick jetty weathered wallet, filled with useless receipts and cards. But prima facie, there was only a five hundred rupees banknote, showing off its greenish yellow edge defiantly by breaching the limits set by my old leather wallet.

My fingers started searching for lighter notes as the gentleman was about to reach my sitting zone for collection. A second more passed and my fingers touched something really crispy lurking inside a folded piece of white paper. And I pulled it to find some bills of ten rupees pressed together and before I could even count them, the basket arrived and I dropped my contribution least satisfactorily into it...

* * * * * * *

"It's a nice place," I uttered while we were sauntering back to our flats. The sky was still lit by the last rays of the Sun and the locals seemingly had come out of their homes to buy fruits, vegetables and other utility items that were being sold along the street-side. At a corner of one of the turns in our way, some children along with elders were watching jalebis being fried in a large karahi by a dwarf, who with all his strength was stirring them with a long slotted spoon. We stopped there for a while as Manish had to buy flavored milk from a dairy store nearby.

"Hey, at what time do we have to go for the library the day after tomorrow?" I asked Ravi to reconfirm.

"11 a.m., she has said," he replied, carrying the water melon he had bought few minutes ago.

Ravi and I had chosen to volunteer for the library, arranged biweekly at the studio for primary school kids. It wasn't supposed to be the conventional one with stack halls, tables, chairs and pin drop silence, but an interactive one with colourful story books and volunteers to help children develop fascination towards reading; and the announcement for the same was made in the studio soon after the play had got over, following which we had gone to meet its organizer, Moloyashree Hashmi, who was then apparently preparing for a street play with few others.

"Let's go," mumbled Manish, sipping his kesar milk through a straw.

By then, the jalebis too were almost ready and were being dipped in sugary syrup for sweetening while the children were impatiently waiting to grab their packets and run.

And amidst that resounding hubhub of the street, my phone rang. It was my mother on the other side. She asked me about my whereabouts and I just said that I was returning back from a studio and would call after reaching home..

The evening had already started dissolving as we strolled down the newest memories of our lives, ruminating about the play, the zero, the children and the studio.....!!!

Moloyashree ma'am with children in Studio Safdar

harshsinh@gmail.com

Essay - "Does Indian Cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it..."

2012-05-20T21:42:00.000+05:30

Culture is the pillar upon which a society mushrooms. It is the ensemble of all that constitute the everyday life in a state/nation or a society. Every aspect, be it the art, social norms, language or attire, adds its flavor in the making of what is both materialistic and abstract - the thread by which all the components of a society is joined - the aura that we call - Culture. It takes decades and centuries for a culture to flourish and take its shape. A culture develops with human creativity over the years and also by the exchange and intermixing of ideas and way of life across different civilizations.

India is a land of immense diversity. Religions, languages, geographical conditions, socio-economic framework and even ethnicity have always played vital roles in building the culture and the zeitgeist of a region. With revolutions - scientific, social and political - the cultural as well as physio-graphical landscape of the earth has been rolling and changing at tremendous speed. The world, as of today, is smaller than it was for those who lived few decades ago. Internet, media and telecommunications have impacted the world like never before. In such a scenario, where all the cultures of the world interact heavily, the situation is aiding the world to head towards a homogeneity of culture in a greater sense. Though such intermixing that would lead the world towards a common culture, is at a preliminary stage...the metropolitan areas of many countries now already look alike from many corners.

India is a country where media plays a great role in the formation of the mindset of citizens. And Indian Cinema does affect the viewers and make them think & imbibe rationale and theme of inspiring movies. India proudly stands at top position in the number of movies released every year. Bollywood, Tollywood and all other regional language cinemas have now become an intrinsic part of entertainment. Movies that are portrayed may sometimes be based on reality or sometimes be fictional. Indian Cinema for decades have catered to the society that watches movies primarily for the sake of entertainment but indeed in due process of fun - daub the hue - the theme into the day-to-day life. There exists a reciprocal relationship between the contemporary culture and Indian cinema that is molded in an Indian context. They affect each other simultaneously. Sometimes, movies based on regional social cultures like that of Rajasthani, Kashmiri and so on reflect the reality - the popular culture of the region. And when movies based on international themes having western outlook is on the big screen - the extra-territorial or new norms slowly and steadily come out of the screen and start mingling with the regional culture - giving it a new shape and color.

For instance, movies set in the backdrop of live-in relationship in someways became a source of this contentious issue as the commoner found a way different from the Indian social norms to follow. Even the modern outfits of actors and actresses - not so native to the Indian land, enter into market and subsequently into daily life quickly; though such changes take place basically in economically and technologically advanced areas. Thus we can say that Indian cinema impacts Indian culture in different proportions in different regions and also that the Indian cinema is not the sole reason behind any shift in the culture of the nation as factors like globalization, commercialization, scientific and economic advancements and human creativity and rationale have even bigger impact on the shift.

When Dadasahed Phalke made the movie "Raja Harishchandra", the ancient culture of India through the chronicles of the great Indian king came into the limelight. Nobody ever wondered that cinema could be so creative and didactic in nature. Though the moral values of the lessons of mythology depicted in such fashion emote the viewers to follow the path of truth with perseverance, the social and political culture depicted hardly resembles the contemporary one and also never bolstered the social culture to change accordingly - as never the society turned on to monarchical system or even started wearing fanciful and scintillating outfits.

Then there were movies in 60s and 70s like - "Purab and Pashchim" with Manoj Kumar as the lead actor, that highlighted the differences between western and native Indian culture with great sarcasm. The movie for decades became an example to portray the beauty of our nation's culture that still exists in many of its parts. And then "Namastey London" with almost same theme came out in the twenty-first century. Thus, we can say that Indian cinema over the years have always reflected nation's popular culture.

The changing beats and rhythms of music in India is an exemplary example of how the pervasiveness of Indian Cinema and its music downplayed the ancient classical music and folk music which till its advent were no less that regional cults. The tune, rhythm and frequency of contemporary songs resemble more to Pop, Jazz and hard music. There was a time when the children brought up in traditional families used to learn Bhajans and Ghazals from their elders. The case isn't so different as far as even dance patterns and styles are concerned. Over the years, Indian Cinema has nudged hip-hop dances into the social functions and ceremonies....simultaneously drifting Dandia and other folk dances away from the culture that once adorned our society on a day-to-day basis. The wheel has turned and the youth is tuning totally into fast-tracks irrespective of what they actually mean!

Movies based on orthodox and regional anti-social activities like child marriage, exploitation of the deprived sections, superstition, class conflicts, communal detestation and so on have been eye-openers to those who practice these and also to those who are the victims of such trends - aiding a paradigm shift in the social and cultural norms of the affected regions. Shekhar Kapur's "Bandit Queen" and Anurag Kashyap's "Gulaal" portray such issues.

Political culture of India in the recent years has also undergone typical changes. The citizens have now become more aware, keen and also assertive in their demands. Some part of the credit also goes to Indian Cinema that has for long acted as a guide to all those who remain oblivious of the existing political & governmental functioning and ideologies. Cinema not only portrays the lacunae in a political, economic or social arena but also suggests ways by which the loopholes and the evils could be removed. For instance, the Tamil movie 'Sivaji' brilliantly portrays how the black money can be re-routed into the national market for developmental purposes (though not feasible for a commoner but it did instigate the doers to proceed in the right direction).

Today, children and youth greatly admire the ostentatious materialistic display of outfits and style of the actors in the movies. Also, the movies bearing romanticism and showcasing disputatious issues like pre-marital sex, live-in relationship, homo-sexuality etc though without highlighting them extensively, have indeed inspired the commoners. Pros and cons always exist! Such revelation of issues certainly give a spark in the minds of those who are in their formative years and the effect of which is seen with the passage of time - as the slow and steady change of culture. The movie "Ï am" based on such issues must have had impacted the viewers; and the impact being positive for some while also negative for others.

In a nutshell, Indian Cinema hasn't been a big cultural revolutionary, as it also has its own limitations; nevertheless, it indeed has over the decades contributed in some ways, with level of impact varying according to region, context and cultural aspect, in shaping and also sometimes ameliorating the culture of the land.

A Lifelike Encounter with my Past...

2012-05-17T21:54:00.000+05:30

Few days ago, a child came to my home. Six or seven-year-old he should be. His family has been for sometime taking medical consultancy from my mother. Something was there in him - something special - something familiar . His eyes were so lighted...and some known waves of serenity were touching me.
With a smile, he paced towards me and asked, "Are you Harsh Bhaiya?"

I nodded, "yeah...and what is...your name?'

"Aadesh," he replied.

"hmmm," I muttered and started walking towards my room. He followed. With a rare inquisitiveness he started looking around. And then I moved into my room, pulled my chair and eased up. I was a little tired then.

"Is this your room?" he asked.

"yeah...more or less ...you don't like it???"

"I like it."

"Ok...So, where do you study and in which class?" I asked.

"St.Xavier's (Patna), in Std 2," he said that with a big smile.

And I patted on his back and gleefully said, "Hey, I studied there for 10 years."

"I know. Helen Ma'am told us about you and Shubham bhaiya (my younger brother) and also I heard from Doctor Ma'am (my mother) about you."

"hmm...so Helen Ma'am is teaching you...she taught me in my junior classes too.."

"She told us that you and Shubham bhaiya are very intelligent and have won many prizes.."

"Hahaha...I am not intelligent...," I smiled and chuckled . But I rather felt elated and adulated upon hearing that from a child whose every word bore certain gravity and sturdiness reflecting high level of cognizance and virtuousness at his age. "But Shubham bhaiya really is very intelligent...You will also bring many awards if you study well, develop intellect and be a good person," I thought I was boosting his morale.

"How many hours do you study?" he asked.

"Not many...but you should study at least four hours a day."

"Ok," he mumbled.

His politeness and gracefulness had won my heart and the aroma of his inner being was so felt.

"So, what do you want to become in your life??" I asked.

"I want to be like ***," he replied.

"No, you just have to be what you are...an individual - who carries no other identity except that of himself...and then one day you would be recognized by the whole world...Do you like toffees??"

"Yes."

I pulled open a drawer and asked him to take as many as he could. He smiled with scintillating eyes but then he said, "I can't. My stomach is not so well." I understood the problem. Then I replied in a little solacing way, "Ok...then you can keep them in your pockets and don't show them to anyone else. When your stomach gets ok...you can eat them... :)"
He nodded with a beam.
Then a staff came asking for him. And I didn't want him to leave...as if I had so many things to talk and discuss with him...But he had to leave...He smiled again and started trotting away. And I 'followed' him with 'rare inquisitiveness'. The winds were moving fast and the Moon was lighting up the night. Downstairs, near the porch, I met his parents. We greeted each other, smiled and stood for a while. The little kid had left me enlightened. My eyes were already adhered to him. Then he looked back at me and waved his hands and I did the same. And in no time, he left my home...!!!

Life moved on but while I was 'retreating' back, I was able to understand that - for sometime I was there with my past...unknowingly trying to redeem all through Aadesh...who edified my understanding of Time and also how I have been brought up all through my life.

Media Regulation (in India)

2012-05-10T00:33:00.008+05:30

Indian media doesn't only comprise journalists like Shri Swapan Dasgupta but also thousands of those who might fail to possess the sagacity and wisdom that the venerated veterans like him retain. In his article, "The media is already governed by law" (published in The Hindu on May 4, 2012), Mr Dasgupta, undoubtedly, has put valid arguments to outcast the Print and Electronic Media Standards and Regulation Bill, that is not even in its foetal stage. And also for weeks, the advocates of the Freedom of the Press have been relentlessly sensitizing and quoting the clauses (like "90% Indians are fools") that The Chairman of the Press Council, Justice Markandey Katju out-poured in due course of his reaction towards media sensationalism, though unjustly - but with pious intentions to highlight the irrationality and backwardness that still stand as major obstacles in the way of holistic development of our society and that media can play a vital role in nation's development.

Regulation in media doesn't mean empowering cops to use batons on journalists; rather it envisions an authority that would prevent media from going astray. Nothing is infallible and so media too is erring. If the regulation codes are directed towards curbing the nonsensical components that are being fostered due to the existing freedom, then media should embrace it with a right sense; though at the same time, it should also fight to keep such regulation apolitical and unbiased.

"Media Regulation" in the ongoing debate is basically concerned with the balancing of media contents, their portrayal, i.e. language, iconography etc. and a pre-defined hierarchy in which they all should fall. These may not turn out as the core of regulation in the long term; but indeed shall play the roles that “The Directive Principles of State Policy” enshrined in our Constitution perform in the governance of the state.

Media is a dynamic organ of our society and regulating it would indubitably mean giving it more freedom than putting restriction itself. Then again, the question arises - why to have such regulation??? The regulation is not meant for the wise and patriotic journalists but for those who with ulterior motives, switch to wrong ways to garner Brownie Points - to mint money...

Mr Dasgupta convincingly places media in the class of regulated commercial bodies by elucidating how media is not exempted from "the statutes governing defamation, obscenity, incitement and official secrecy". And that indeed makes me ponder over the fact that all such statutes are effective only after something terrible has already been perpetrated!

"Prevention is better than cure." And I am positive that Mr Dasgupta would accept the validity of this proverb in the case of media too. Despite going against and shunning the concept of regulation in its totality, all should rather discuss and help to evolve an exclusive system that would make media free of persisting venality and anti-social contents.

Every citizen has got an unrestrained right to be dogmatic as it directly relates to one's state of mind and psychology. In a democracy, choices cannot be eliminated on the ground of ludicrousness till they don't evoke serious questions of national security and communal harmony; nevertheless with a robust system we can at least try to control the "Justified Irrational and Provocative Contents" by not prioritizing them through regulatory measures; and also instil a sense of wisdom and righteousness among those who make erroneous, unscientific and detrimental choices due to ignorance, through debates and discussions at massive level.

Media is potent enough to entice human minds towards light or towards darkness!!!

Kadhai Chicken and You !!!

2012-01-06T22:11:00.016+05:30

I was a vegetarian for almost two years during my high school days. More or less, advocacy of Right to Life ushered into my veins. Pain and suffering meted out to those little or some big animals that finally get shredded and mixed with onions and spices in Kadhais....kind of tickled my psyche all the time. The quest was whether pain and death inflicted upon the animals were justified or not. Actually, neither Yes nor No!

Our conscience is always in conflict over deciding whether all that we do is right or wrong.

Let's start from the laws of nature. What we eat and wear depend on the kind of environment we dwell in. You go near the poles and remain a vegetarian - nature would be harsh on your survival. You go to some desert and wear just next to nothing! ... You would have a tough time fighting the ruthless shrieking winds... In a nutshell, man adapts himself according to the air, temperature and nature around him.

KFC Chicken - hot and juicy!

The exponents of vegetarianism are always right but people who eat meat are also not wrong. This is a little tough to explain. Nature requires a balance. Man is omnivores and also is painful, to kill and eat. Science substantiates the presence of all the macro-ingredients in vegetables that are found in meat. So, to say meat is good for health and is much required, would be a little imprudent. We eat mostly because we like its taste. There isn't any denial to this fact. So, I personally condemn non-vegetarianism because I find it avoidable.

But when there is a requirement of meat for survival, the beastliness could be justified depending upon the situation.

If you are some igloo guy and nature and vegetables are kind of scanty around you, then buddy...don't quit eating meat till you move towards some lower latitude - crossing 65 degree N or S latitude or to some place with bearable temperature...but if you are bestowed with beautiful nature that is providing you with vegetables and fruits, then why to kill those little innocent creatures..!!!

Stir up your wisdom and your conscience, then you might find an answer. Because if I say...be a vegetarian always...it would be imprudent...and also if I say....never eat non-veg....then that would be wrong too.... :)

In my hometown...

2012-01-05T19:08:00.000+05:30

It has been over three weeks since I returned back to Patna. And I am pleased to see the city, that once blighted by political negligence during the office of incapable leaders, is now among the most expensive cities of the country. The nooks and corners are being refurbished. Though high and disproportional population is still standing as an obstacle in the way of development, the city looks calm and placid. Also after sometime, the rapid growth of urban sprawls would start supporting the growing population of the city.

Life is easy when I am at home. Moreover, the childhood intimacy with the surrounding and the nature keeps my heart all satisfied. And a typical feeling of belonging downplays all other charms of the technologically and economically developed metro cities, like Delhi where I spent almost three years.

Though there were so many relatives, friends and acquaintances in Delhi, I always felt a gap that co-existed between me and the environs. Delhi has instilled in me maturity...and also the life experiences have brought in tremendous patience and power...to stand - to face this world. Nonetheless, everyday is new and also sometimes brings to us incredible and extraordinary situations.

Economic Battle...

2012-01-04T21:08:00.006+05:30

Economics can never solve any problem. In an economy, the fundamentals would always have to go through seasons of flip-flops because an economy takes its seed from human behavior and it can never remain poised for a long time. History indeed teaches us this lesson. And sooner we understand the root of the present problems, better would be our tomorrow.

The slumps and crises are merely the prices being paid for the extensive and uncontrolled globalization. The European Nations like Greece, Italy and Portugal, under the sovereign debt look so smashed that it seems it would take over a decade for them to stabilize economically . And also the year 2011, annus horribilis as one would say, was resplendent with such appalling events (natural hazards, civil strife, economic crunch and what not!), that even thwarted big economies of the world, be it the USA or Japan.

India, as of today, stands at a threshold of development and the government policies must be directed towards enhancing the economic fundamentals like GDP, employment rate, inflation etc. But none should disregard the fact that India is an agricultural country. More than half of the population still strives for food and cloth. It is not a hidden fact that in India - two economies are thriving - one at rural level and the other at urban level. I don't mean to preach communism but I truly believe in having a socialist approach when it comes to measures being taken for the betterment of our country.

The policy-makers should rather emulate the way Turkey, Brazil and China have been progressing if they find it difficult to save the economy from crumbling by their own methods. Though China's approach has been a communist one officially (though in reality China's methods and goals mirror profit-making MNCs), it has surpassed the biggies and is now being viewed on par with the USA. It isn't that India cannot better itself or would fall, but rather should we be wary of the time still to come. There seems to be a great war in near future which for long has been deferred! And for all such situations, the govt. should buckle down to initiate measures to safeguard the sovereignty of the nation with unflinching effort and also to become a self-dependent economy.

"The Bird, the Woman" and Jack...

2012-01-03T17:45:00.001+05:30

(It will be tough :) as it is erratic - in-contiguous but if felt, it could be thoughtful to some extent...)

Sometimes...the raindrops cry...and sometimes...the Sun glows red...then yellow...and then something - that we can't see with bare eyes - a ball of fire...though illuminating all our lives. Once, I saw a bird nesting and then one day...it was all washed away by the rains...The bird might have survived...but not her efforts - her family - her kids...But again she starts off fresh - building her dreams..."sometimes...the raindrops cry...sometimes..."

Once I strolled down my colony lanes lonesome at night...& I saw a woman somewhat in destituteness sitting alongside the footpath...She was carrying a child in her arms with due support against her waist...The child was asleep...and the mother had still eyes...For a few seconds...I wasn't with myself...But I think I didn't stop and moved on...The night was cold....

Some days passed...I stopped thinking...and my hand got kind of broken...and all I had was just me...I mean I felt just "I"...not my body..neither my eyes...nor my smile or tears...just myself...!!!
Duties...passions...love...dreams...All seemed meaningless for a while...as if I am done...though I know...I haven't even begun...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack once was climbing up the hill...and then there was night with twinkling stars...That was all beautiful...the sight - the grandeur - the magnificence...He thought Jill must have also been watching those stars from her castle up the hill...Such was the discreteness and such also was the unbreakable rapport...sometimes all these make Jack what he actually is...!!!

Wolverine to the Moon !

2011-11-21T03:41:00.001+05:30

O Life there so far! Are those flowers still abloom – the petals, their scent

Or sapless, lifeless, repugnant and pallid?

The ashes I smell on the Earth, though glorified, the Death that came and went

Speculating why night departs and also the unending ballad

O Love there so far! What ruse did split us apart? Tears and pains

The Daemon still sneaks, though coward with malice and atrociousness

But Unknown that Fire here fumes when it rains

And one day I shall beat them all and the Time – this discreteness

- Harsh Sinha

(Wolverine loved Moon. And then, one day, Wolverine came to Earth to pick flowers for Moon but couldn't go back and since then....)

Wolverine to the Moon - On a Difficult Night!

2011-11-20T03:35:00.001+05:30

Yet another Day died, and now this Night a little petrified

Drizzles, downpours and storms; Tides inundating the Mangroves

And the Shadows of the Clouds – the enemies so disguised

I run hard, galloping and leaping across the creeks

My eyes in search of you, cursing those clouds that shine with your light

But a day shall come when I will take the Immortal Leap

Breaking the barriers of Nature, penetrating through the swords of Daemons

Reaching to you, forever - Dead or Alive....

- Harsh Sinha

Wolverine and the Wizard!

2011-11-18T22:52:00.000+05:30

"Why are these eyes so still - so dry?
O Wolverine! There is a life beyond this one - you ought to see"

"O Wizard! Are the moon and the sky - sleights of the God's hands?
And why am I cursed to be alive and wander and seek a way to the Moon
Although I know - is unreachable with even the hardest possible try..."

"O Wolverine! Love is magic - a spell that keeps you lighted
But wish not of what isn't destined to be yours..."

"O Wizard! My heart bleeds...Can thy wand be of any use?
Some spell...or some trick..so that I could take an Immortal Leap
Else take my heart...Leave me lifeless...
For also I just can't die - as there shall always be nights and the Moon and her light..."

"Wolverine! My powers are limited but this Nature has preternatural powers...you ought to evoke
Might your plea one day get heard - melting and compelling this Nature
With winds blowing towards the sky..through which you shall gallop and reach to your Moon..."

"O Wizard! Then I shall make the Gods bend...and shall Nature be on my side...
For she is my destiny; Else all is fake...this world...You and...I..."

(Wolverine loved Moon. And then, a breach of some truce with the Daemons separated Wolverine from the Moon and he was sent to Earth....)

Indian Citizens need Ombudsmen......

2011-08-19T19:24:00.011+05:30

The development of the massive social activism - bolstering citizens to come out on streets is what is sometimes required as a precedent for an effective execution and sustainability of what the nation is presently calling for. And after such extreme awareness and hullabaloo, the Lokpal if formed, would always remain in the limelight bearing the load of expectations of the citizens. And such conditions would always deter the Lokpal from becoming a body of corrupt vigilantes. Call it an eye-opening move or a beginning of a change - it truly bears ability to eradicate the extreme corruption persisting within the system, which presently appears totally shaken and traumatized.

Unlike thousand other write-ups on this issue, this would discuss on the core reason of dispute between the civil society and the Parliament. It’s not that the Parliament can’t move the Jan Lokpal Bill after so many debates and criticisms, but since, Draft Lokpal Bill, that doesn’t include PM and higher Judiciary within its ambit, has already been moved in the Parliament, the Cabinet and the other Minsters feel that the Parliament shouldn’t change their frame of Bill only due to the ongoing nation-wide agitations against it, as then, such ostensible “civil disobedience” would become a conventional method to force government to act & respond positively according to the will of a group, clan or just a “commoner”. Government doesn’t want to lose their discretion upon legislation of this stature under any pressure. And truly speaking, from some angles their stand does make sense.

For instance, there are popular demands for new states in some parts the country, and especially for Telangana. And if the people demanding new states start building pressure with such form of demonstrations, the Parliament wouldn’t be relieved and be able to function properly. The Cabinet must have been envisaging that such protests would become a common weapon for all.

Then we have the Land Acquisition & Rehabilitation Bill 2011 – that again has got a number of loopholes like, the Bill allows acquisition of farmlands for industrialisation, though it says it rules out the acquisition of the multi-crop producing lands! Moreover, the Bill provides scope for private industries to mushroom at the stake of those who still struggle to manage two times meals a day. With the still existing adversity and penury, the government shouldn’t keep clauses that can initiate extreme privatisation, marring the agrarian sector.

Today, the Indian citizens need Ombudsmen. The list of scams and the figures of currency looted are mind-boggling. Undoubtedly, a strong Lokpal or any such authority that can impede and curb further corruption is the need of the hour, whatsoever the “great academicians” occupying the throne say. In spite of taking appropriate action, the government is now in search of evidences to sue Anna Hazare as once he was allegedly found investing Rs.2.2 lacs of a trust to celebrate his 60^th birthday anniversary! And if that is true, he should surely be handcuffed but at present, the demand for which he is standing is extra-ordinarily genuine and for the betterment of the country.

The government should keep aside their ego and reason out the problem with maturity, also to put an end to the pandemonium across the country. Civil unrest in major parts of the nation is not so a meagre issue and thus should be dealt democratically by the UPA led government.

Finally a graduate... :)

2011-07-15T20:59:00.002+05:30

Three years of rock and roll without any moral and without any goal,

Not until before a burp we ever retired

With loads of laughter, paranthas and coke that poured till all our bellies cried

Never had we bothered how the unit tests, house exams and then the finals came around – Roaring and Growling

As if anytime we would get afraid and buckle down – to struggle with books around

Nonetheless we all chuckled and said, “Wow!” and the three years left for us a serious question that we still ask, “How???”

Was it just the unity amongst the friends that we never frenzied?

Or was that just a life that was a due and duly justified?

Whatever that was….now I am a graduate still not knowing exactly what all was the syllabus and which one to love and which one to hate.....

Emptiness - A Little Hypothetical...!!!

2011-07-04T22:15:00.000+05:30

I always wonder how the traits common or special in thousands of animal species could be analysed, taking various seen and unseen components of the universe in the confinement of human brain. Though a mind has no limit of imagination, the physiological limitations do bind man from perceiving and understanding all the existing matters, ideas, or parts of the cosmos comprising both abstract and real components.

What we see, hear, smell, taste, and perceive by touch are signals that our brain interprets, giving us a sense of understanding. And at most, there could be just another “sixth sense” apart from these real senses. It is these senses that play the vital role in forming and establishing concepts or ideas of everything that we can think about. A man with just 5 or 6 senses at his helm is either a trifle or a God! How would have been this world with human beings loaded with tens, hundreds or even thousands of senses? There aren’t words that can actually be used to elucidate what all kinds of senses humans could have had. Such grave is the limitation of a human mind. Sometimes I think what should be going on in ants' mind. Do they also have such behavioural lineaments? They must also be considering that world is only what they sense, and nothing more. See through my eyes, and then you might be able to comprehend the emptiness that is all pervading.

If there could have been any dictionary with infinite number of words and their meanings, then probably I could have expressed that I am unable to, due to lack of lexicons. It is just an insight that matters. Nevertheless, the world today seems to be working to shove the obstacles in the way of development and welfare for a better tomorrow.

A New Life

2011-07-04T16:41:00.001+05:30

It’s all cloudy out there in the sky. And it seems I am waiting for it to rain but in Delhi things are rather unpredictable and even deceivable. Birds might be having a time really tough coping up with the erratic weather condition prevailing in Delhi. You would hardly find homely and beautiful birds in your surrounding, chirping and nesting - I mean - no sparrows, no parrots, no beautiful white pigeons and neither their koo-kooos and katorey-katoreys. In spite of all the conditional flaws, I am still there in the city with an insight a little modulated and life, at a height of a 3 storey building where I have been sleeping, eating and studying for last few days .Undoubtedly, I have put on some weight but even with all the oddness I feel good. It seems all aberrancy that once was present there in my mind has been wiped out. And all I see is a goal, and that way and those obstacles which I will be facing in future.

Glory of the Nation

2011-07-03T21:44:00.001+05:30

He did find the glory, unheard - untold

In the land of gold

Where the Currency burns, Economy slumps and bellies ache

Where also the Gandhis lurk

In the shade of those Lions - the inanimate saviours
To protect the glory - the wealth of the nation!

A child once cried there beneath the scorching sun

Mother came rushing to her son

She cleansed his cheeks - so soaked in tears

Her eyes did behold the life but still - a quest and a fear
She drooped down in pain

No Milk...No Wealth

The Glory of the nation stood still...

With the Lions at the top, smiling at Gods' will...

The Ironed Shirt and the Jeans

2010-10-28T02:53:00.012+05:30

It’s not just one morning that you wake up late

Time ticking high in thy watch, tickling nerves to get you off the bed;

And then you pace towards the lecture hall, ruminating

On the previous night’s chat ;

Hitting an unsolicited obstacle and exclaiming, “Oh Sh*t! “

Is that the blow that awakens you up - pulls you out of the dream?
And again you start off fresh, fabricating in mind - creative reasons
That would sound reasonably valid for the delay so mean.

One morning, I rose early, bathed, and put on the ironed shirt and the jeans

And then the Axe - the Brylcream and made sure that I looked clean

I had to overcome the side-effects of the teens

All it seemed was a dimension so new to life – but difficult to redeem

The wolverine enfeebled, and the time prickled

Was all that just a maze - a riddle for which I was not keen?

I had to proceed; nobody to entertain - neither folks nor even my team

The sloth did come out on the street

Looking around hither and thither with thoughts darn to retreat

Still took a step ahead into the ocean - shallow was the shelf

Felt the warmth and even the veracity of the world – so full of wealth

Is it the hard notes, a Porsche car, a beautiful spouse or a Bungalow along the main road?

For a while, I did cuddle the thoughts – damn befuddled, but still bore the load

I drooped down till the knee; and so drew back, postponing the plan

For the time was still not ripe for me

I returned back; took off the shirt and the jeans

Stretched out on my couch & closed my eyes

Thinking again of the life so mingled with dreams.....

"Commonwealth 2010 - an extravagant extravaganza to exploit the common wealth"

2010-07-31T15:27:00.005+05:30

US $ 1.6 billion – rather an amount so impressive, an amount even heart-warming – but in reality – it’s damn hollow within. No matter - whether there is really a need of re-paving of roads, renovation of buildings or putting up of new tiles on footpaths; every nook and corner of Delhi is being refurbished.

I am not against development neither am I in opposition to any big sports summit, but still, being a concerned citizen of a nation where, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than half of the population is still malnourished (& still we can see increment in the number of hungry people by millions every year), I find this profligate and prodigal exploitation of India’s wealth for the Commonwealth Games 2010 really brain hammering. And also, the added adjective “GREEN” sounds even more ironic when I hear about the tons of money that are being looted by foreign contractors and traders in the name of infrastructural development.

As anti-corruption watchdogs like CBI could make out, the hike in the prices or the higher costs have been justified by citing “urgent and emergent circumstances”. And thus, the contractors are still continuing with money minting up to the limit which they had never ever dreamt of.

With corruption and unplanned execution of the projects, use of low quality materials and fragile framework of the stadiums that still cannot withstand wee windstorms, the scenario formed has moulded once justifiable Commonwealth Games into an extravagant extravaganza to exploit the common wealth.

Bermudas, micro-minis, sleeveless-backless tops......!

2010-06-20T22:52:00.019+05:30

Not am I a cultural pundit but still, do I feel that my religion needs a reviver - a restorer. Indian culture and its dying traditions for now are just mere hackneyed expressions that fall in the queue of unlamented survivors with wounds and boils - never being embalmed & never so healed. And any simultaneous discussion on Indian-ness and Hindutva with such diversified Indian Diaspora would be a sin. But this sin is worth committing.

When Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) took the decision of imposing the Indian dress code on the pilgrims entering into the famed Lord Venkateswara Temple, which I feel should be unanimously accepted and praised or at least not be criticized , too received the so called rational insights - criticizing the step being unreasonable on the grounds of holiness of heart being not reflected by the outfits whether fashionable or “antique”. And if such is the rationale then the priests of churches, Maulvis and also the Pujaris too should start wearing Bermudas while performing rituals!...Here, on this, one can also easily refute by saying that the Digambara monks wear no cloths or also that - India is a land of Kamasutra...and so such imposition would sound ridiculous!!! But to me, it wouldn't.

The context of cultural consciousness, relevance and also its implications cannot always be generalized by a rational outlook but should be looked into on a case by case basis. Every aspect of culture - traditional or modern, has a value. And one should learn respecting both rather than considering them as rivals and thus shunning one out of them.

Culture, spiritualism and religion are like three different jewels but all joined by the thread of humanism. What concerns me is the condemning of the mentioned imposition that in no way is anti-social or doing harm to anyone but indeed is bringing to light the idea and beauty of Indian-ness that seems to be disappearing with the intermixing of various cultures....

Bermudas, micro-minis, sleeveless-backless tops and sometimes rather revealing outlandish clothing might have become the trend of this era but when it comes to religion and conservation of its cultural code of conduct, there sometimes occurs a deep and a wide chasm between the two. Not all, but some of the followers of Western culture living in India do find these religious and cultural deportments a folly.

Indian democracy does give each individual absolute freedom and due to so much liberty, people start undermining the indispensability of their valuable culture. Being fashionable is an art and shouls never be criticized but when such trendy and voguish demeanour unknowingly tends to putrefy one’s own culture and tradition (especially at places like temples), steps like the one taken by TTD should be taken to impede such erroneous development.

Down in The Valley so deep !

2010-04-21T14:09:00.003+05:30

It dived deep into the valley

The chasm with steep side-ends...

It's lost in the midst of my memories

The channels through which flows the time

Ages have been wasted by the mankind in search of new doors...but now it takes just few seconds - just few more coins to hunt the subsidiary ones...the derived ones....the lost ones!

But I found one there

lurking in the darkest side

wee - could have I thought

but soon shone the light

I hurled with vigor and might

The cobwebs veiled the crown

the precious one held so tight

but soon I realized

I cannot reach that height

It was meters above me..

Then I moved on

Like a ghost

But this time - in light !

On Her Thirteenth Birthday!

2010-04-15T17:10:00.017+05:30

With those little fingers, the eyes so gleam, skin so silky and the mind so clean - you came. I touched you and took you in my lap and felt - the moment of completeness quite so nascent to me. I had with me the gift most awaited. And rather the tactility resplendent with ardency - can I feel the moment still so fresh in me. I scrutinized your every little finger turning mine into a kind of forceps. The toy – rather a stuff one for me was a bit perplexed to see the doctor so young & your eyes saw the world so obscure – so unknown – but rich in love!

But soon you left, left the town - and from then every time you came – you left the town! But with you - didn’t ever leave the memories so profound.

And then a year passed – and you were back again with a year of experience – this time a bit more changed. Your words could be heard, your agile moves could be seen with smile so prominent and innocence never so mean. But rather I went mean, the toy was mine and thus, it was a tough job to take you away – especially to your maternal home! I remember well your first birthday function. And so do I remember the beautiful toys and gifts – the jet plane, the car, and the dolls. On that giant plane that Phua gifted (as she has always brought to each one of us mind – boggling toys) – you giggled and chuckled every time the plane halted and a staircase made with-in it came out with artificial passengers moving out of it. No sooner did the frolic and fun could be content, than all of us got a season more to prepare ourselves for the awaited reunion. And then what - a long wait...!

And with every passing year, your elder brothers & your loving sisters grew taller and smarter (rather I am not sure about the present). And you – like we read in the fairy tales of Snow White and Cinderella – whitened with powdery snow, fabricated with immense glow – climbed every step of your childhood with sundry memories & with characters so significant – Grandpa & Granny, Mom & Dad, Bade papa & Badi Mummy, Phua and Phuphaji, Shubham bhaiya, Anku dids, and the late-comers – Priyasha and Aastha. And the best part of all – each one of your family - loved /loves you so much.

On your thirteenth B’day! – Shall all of us be enjoying delicious and sumptuous food – with you blowing the candles on cake and we – big balloons. How so ever we grow old or rather young, the child in us will never depart at least in this life.

Now she is 17.

“Prerna” - the name shall always be breathtaking and one-day – the world shall see the person behind the name – who will bestow to this dying world in her own way – the gift of green – a paradigmatic ideology that the generations still to come shall remember and tread on your shown path.

Wish you a great future ahead

With love,

Your elder brother,

Harsh

The Night after the “Happening Trip”

2009-10-09T16:05:00.007+05:30

And I woke up in the midst of fog or rather call it clouds, all around me. I was feeling a bit, no, really very cold in my loose summer apparels, and may be knickerbockers and a shabby discoloured t-shirt were on, certainly in contrast with the weather. The clouds clutched and accelerated touching my naked arms and legs; penetrating into the fabric of my outfits and taking the warmth out of my breath. Never had I felt nature taking such sadistic pleasure out of me. Neither did I try to surrender. But the physical resistibility had a limit certainly not tending to infinity.

I tried to walk and gain momentum. But it seemed useless as there was no motion and hence no displacement. Then I sped up but in vain. I was running motionlessly as if I were jogging on a treadmill. After such tremendous efforts I got stunned when I saw a troop of 10 soldiers hurling towards me. The nature veiled their faces with fog. But as soon as they came nearer to me I was able to recognise each one of them. And then I sighed with relief. Every one was carrying a pistol & a rifle, with grenades hanging around their waist. They seemed to belong to some anti-terrorist squad. But I galloped and frolicked at my spot where I had been stuck from the very beginning.

Nitesh, Deep & Prateek were allegedly discussing about some terrorist activity in Maths Dept. of Hindu. I was again taken aback with their bewildering words. And then a word from a female soldier, “Halt!!”. I could recognise the voice….

But for me, it didn’t make any sense as I could not move as if I were a tree. Deepankshi and Neha were likely trigger-happy soldiers. In the wink of an eye, their pistols targeted my head. Swati, Sakshi and Pragati came strolling towards me with their rifles lifted. There was a change in my mood. I got desperate to know what exactly was happening there. I plugged my voice exclaiming,” What is this?”

To my surprise, none of them replied. But soon I found Prachee and Ankita with loads of questions to pour upon me. Things weren’t apprehensive. I gathered my mind again and eventually I asked, “Where is the eleventh one?”, and then, a big silence and all staring towards me. That was my fault. They weren’t gazing at me but there was someone else right behind me. Now I could feel his breath for the first time. Then I turned back. The one was Aamir, the “eleventh one” & the most “killer” of all the soldiers. I thought him to be a helping hand at that juncture but like all, he betrayed. He was the one who was holding me from the back so that I could not escape. He was the one who sent messages to all the other soldiers through his mobile to come to the spot, as he always does. He was the one who was leading the troop of eleven. Technically speaking, it was a major trap. I couldn’t help myself.

No sooner had I took to their directions, than Prateek muttered,” Lets take Harsh, the convict, to the court of Justice Subhash Choudhary. Let “Justice SC” be the one who should punish him for his guilt and make him study more of Analysis and Differential Equations. Hail Subhash Choudhary!”

And I woke up once again. But this time – into reality.