“It’s
a state of mind,” our Marathi teacher said while explaining a set of definitions
of happiness. She remained our Marathi teacher during the entire high school
period. Being a major language in our curriculum, we had to work extra for
Marathi. The Marathi teacher also made sincere efforts to teach us the subject
with similar zeal during every session. She was well read. Her vocabulary was comprehensive
and the way of teaching was precise. She would elaborate even on a simple word,
a short phrase or a minor theme. Many a time we got bored, but she never lost
her patience as she knew the necessity of the detailed explanation. Even today,
I can distinctly recollect her words. Every so often she used to say, “A human must
treat a human like a human.” We did not understand the essence of her words at
the tender age and often found them funny. Apart from details of the subject, Marathi
lessons taught us some of the vital values of life too. I realised this as I
grew up and came across a number of situations which narrated the same teachings.
Happiness was one of the topics discussed at various levels during high school,
particularly class 10. As I got enrolled in medical college and entered a
domain of contest, I got practical lessons on some of the aspects of happiness which
our Marathi teacher explained. Situations were diverse and so were our
reactions. A few of us searched for happiness in creation, but many of us were
happy to be admirers of those creations. Some colleagues found happiness in
trivial occurrences, while a few of them remained unmoved even with the greatest
achievements. A popular verse from ‘Manache Shlok’ by Saint Ramdas Swami says-
“Who is the happiest of them all, only you can search for it for yourself, O my
mind.” On introspection, one may realise that no one is wholly happy. Everyone
seems to be continually searching for bigger and more than what is attained or
received; often least realising that one can certainly try and find happiness
in smaller or lesser accomplishments too.
Apart
from a state of mind, happiness is also about a way to look at things. Even
with sincere and honest efforts, success or fulfillment may sometimes remain
out of reach. Such circumstances leave us with no option than to accept the
outcome and be content. During such situations, less pain or less
dissatisfaction is often acknowledged as happiness. At times one expects more
than what is deserved and feels unhappy when the prospects fall short. Usually,
we don’t value or perceive things when they bless us with happiness in real
time; we rudely overlook or ignore them. We may realize our errors and regret,
but only when the moment is gone.
It
is true that many happy moments are hidden within material gain, yet they
cannot match the joy of giving. The desire for worldly-wise pleasures is not
inappropriate, but greed is. To overcome the state, several affluent families
opt for philanthropy, which certainly adds to the happiness already acquired
through materialism. Many well-to-do individuals practice a minimalist approach
after attaining a certain altitude in personal or professional life. If
compared with the present day, life in the olden days appears simple, humble,
yet happy. With modernisation, the world has become self-centred. The modern
world tends to amass pleasures, but seems to shed the ethos of sharing. The
selfish view has parted us from our near and dear ones and friends. The digital
revolution might have brought the world closer in technological terms, yet the
warmth is missing.
In an attempt to achieve more in a shorter span, the ambitious world forgets to take a break or enjoy some moments of leisure and usually finds itself lost and alone in distressing chaos. Recreation and rejuvenation are vital for refreshing our minds and for improved performance. One must draw a line to be content and experience true happiness.
It’s tough to eke out a living,
■ विजयादशमी
For seventy years, all innocent souls grew up watching themselves
or friends delivering speeches about the father of the nation or dressing up as
Netaji. Bhagat Singh, Azad, Nehru, Tilak followed in various forms and left an
enduring mark on everyone’s heart. Suddenly, the same old souls were fed with
maliciously twisted facts to raise a false alarm about the previous managers’
ignorance towards the great martyrs. Some of the freedom fighters were chosen
and brought into a new light and were presented in a conveniently altered form.
Memories of all such historical figures have been consistently leaving a
permanent mark on society in various physical forms, like statues, roads,
educational institutions, museums, libraries, airports and so on. The spiritual
space for these historical figures in people’s hearts is rather permanent. The
nation has been remembering these freedom fighters for a long time. Adding one
more statue or a memorial was just an addition rather than a beginning. At no
point in time, the nation forgot them. But this was not enough. Conflicts were
planted between two or more ideologies of the pre-independence times to ignite
various sections of society. Before anyone could realise, the conflicts
percolated, polluted and bled the innocent minds. Cunning and autocratic
administrators continue to create a dangerous aura of mistrust and
misinformation by means of hate speeches and false propaganda. People are being
taught animosity intentionally. Unfortunately, a large section of society is getting
carried away. Rapidly spreading chaos and ambiguity may lead the nation to an
anarchy-like situation.
In a democratic structure, the elected representatives must work
neither for a group of people nor for subjective ambitions, but for the benefit
of society as a whole. This very principle has been purposely and conveniently
kept under cover since the inception of democracy. A subtle authoritarian
attitude is obligatory for any director, but the thought seems to have crossed
all the limits in the present-day. Interests have become subjective, dangerous
and selfish. ‘Swaraaj’ is everyone's right. In a frenzy to enjoy it, we have
been exploiting freedom for a long time. We have been steadily forgetting that
it was earned by making a great sacrifice. Swaraaj was a precious gift which
should have been conserved to lead this beautiful nation to a magnificent ‘Suraaj’;
but today Swaraaj is being misinterpreted as arbitrary governance. Supremacy is
being misunderstood as an authority rather than accountability. Money and
muscle have become indispensable and are dominating almost all the branches of
many great republics. Custodians have become lords. Swaraaj is indeed a
pleasant reality; but Suraaj still appears to be a far-fetched dream.
■ Martyrs’ Day
कपड़ों की ख़रीदारी पूरी कर सदानंद और कुमार किताबों की एक बड़ी दुकान पहुँचे। कुमार को किसी ख़ास इम्तिहान की पढ़ाई की ख़ातिर जो किताबें चाहिए थीं, उनमें से सिवा एक के सारी उसी दुकान में मिल गईं। दुकान-मालिक ने कहा, कि वह शायद ही कहीं मिल पाए। “ठीक है, फ़िलहाल इन्हीं को पढ़ो, बची हुई बाद में ढूँढ़ लेंगे।” सदानंद ने कुमार का हौसला बढ़ाते हुए कहा। दोनों दुकान के बाहर लौटे ही थे, कि यकायक सदानंद को कुछ याद आया। उसने उलटे रुख़ की ओर कार मोड़ी, और एक घने पेड़ की छाँव में फ़ुटपाथ पर जमी किताब की एक छोटीसी दुकान के सामने रोकी। ‘पेपर फ़्री ऑफ़िस’ और इंटरनेट के दौर में औरों की तरह सदानंद का भी किताबें ख़रीदना और पढ़ना न के बराबर हो गया था। कई सालों बाद वह यहाँ लौटा था। जब तक कुमार किताबें खोजता, सदानंद दुकान-मालिक से बात-चीत करने लगा। “गुज़ारा हो जाता है इतने में?” सदानंद ने पूछा। दुकानदार बोला, “बस, जैसे-तैसे चल जाता है।” ऊँचे ढेरों में किताबों को खोजना कुमार के लिए मुश्किल होता देख सदानंद मदद के लिए बढ़ा। बड़ी कोशिशों बाद कुमार को तो किताब न मिल पाई; मगर सदानंद को कई दिनों से जिसकी तलाश थी, उस मज़्मून१ से मिलती-जुलती किताब मिल गई। “क्या क़ीमत?” सदानंद ने ख़ुश होकर पूछा।
(Select lines from my Hindi poetry book)
‘सृष्टि’ की तरह ‘बूँद’ और प्रकृति से जुड़ी मेरी अन्य रचनाएँ भी मुझे अपूर्ण लगती हैं। परिस्थिति के अनुसार बूँदों की प्रस्तुति चाहे भिन्न हो, किंतु अभिव्यक्ति हमेशा मनोरम ही रहती है। कामना यही है, कि सृष्टि के प्रेम की बूँदें यूँ ही अविरत बरसती रहें।
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समाज में बंधनों के साथ जीना और बढ़ना होता है। किसने, कब और क्यों यह बंधन डाले, यह कोई नहीं जानता। चाहे प्रेम की हो, द्वेष या फिर नाराज़गी की; स्त्रियों को इन भावनाओं को व्यक्त करने के बंधनों में तनिक शिथिलता है; किंतु पुरुषों को किसी स्त्री के प्रति प्रेम तो दूर, आस्था जताने की भी स्वायत्तता बड़ी कंजूसी से मिलती है।
जिस व्याकुलता का प्रेमी और प्रेमिका को अब तक केवल एहसास था, उसे शब्दों में कहना अब अनिवार्य था; किंतु पहल कौन करे? शर्मसार होती प्रेमिका को झिझक ने बेबस कर दिया था। अंततः प्रेमी ने अभिव्यक्ति के सारे बंधनों को तोड़ प्रेमिका से ‘कारण’ कह ही डाला। जो अब तक व्याकुलता के आवरण से ढँके थे, उन समर्पित भावों को सुन प्रेमिका सराबोर हो गई।
प्राची का गुलाल थी या, अस्त की उद्विग्नता तुम,
■ Valentine's Day
■ Martyrs’ Day
(१-tribute, २-speech, ३-organisation, ४-assembly, ५-orphan, ६-hope)
Related link: (English poem) https://jsrachalwar.blogspot.in/2017/01/29-martyrs-day.html
शालेय जीवन से इन्टर्नशिप पूर्ण होने तक कई मित्र हुए, किंतु इन्टर्नशिप के पश्चात मित्रों से भेंट कम ही होती थी। एक विचित्र सा ख़ालीपन महसूस होने लगा। पत्र भेजता, तो उनमेंसे कुछ ही जवाब लिखते। धीरे-धीरे सारे मित्र व्यस्त हो गए। दोनों ओर के पारिवारिक, सामाजिक, व्यावसायिक और व्यक्तिगत कारणों से संपर्क लगभग ख़त्म हो गया। मित्रों की बहुत याद आती। बीते वर्षों और वर्तमान की तमाम बातें किसीसे कहने का मन होता; किंतु दूरियाँ कुछ ऐसी बन गई थीं, कि कह न पाया। ई-मेल, फ़ेसबुक इत्यादि से तकनीकी रूप से तो सारे क़रीब आ गए थे; परंतु भावनात्मक दूरियाँ वैसीही रह गईं। एक दिन औपचारिकता की सारी बेड़ियाँ तोड़कर सोचा, कि पुराने दिनों की तरह ख़त ही लिख दूँ मित्र को। फिर क्या था; क़लम उठाया, तो सारा सैलाब ही काग़ज़ पर उतर आया।
मित्र और मित्रता की परिभाषा एक ही रहेगी; फिर युग कृष्ण-सुदामा का हो, या थ्री इडियट्स का।
मेरी आँखों से बहे खारे पानी से,
■ Friendship Day
