A humming word

For two months, for one hour, fortnightly, we would become kids and travel through a structured hindi writing program of poems, stories and writing exercises with Bansa Library kids.  Initially, when the program was being planned, I thought how would 4 sessions cover it all? But Garima ji planned it so well that each session was enriching. We wrote as a group at the end of the session too. And yes, there were a few hindrances.  Online Engagement. We know how many treat Online Meetings.  Yet, we managed to pull it off. Garima ji kept her camera on and so did the children and thus, we did too, atleast mostly. Also the interactive learning kept us going. Another hindrance was Homework. With the advent of latest tools, doing 'homework' has become close to not doing it at all or doing in the most convenient way. So after the first two sessions, Garima ji moved to a 'in the class writing' approach. That way the children don't have the pressure of writing outside and any i...

my father has a strict countenance. on the first meet, some may feel overwhelmed by his strict appearance but beneath all of that is a loving and compassionate man. often, i am at the receiving end of how can i be more compassionate and here are a few instances: my father loves his friends and the way he speaks to them, deeply involved about their welfare while not being too imposing, is something i love to learn from him. sometimes i get over-involved with my friends but i am learning to me mindful too. as my writing mentor and friend Urbi says, 'love people from a distance they are comfortable with'. my father exemplifies that.  whenever i have a disagreement, my father sides the one who is 'wrong' by gently correcting the person who has taken the position of power of being 'right'. he often says, it is about the change. focus on growth and not merely pointing to the mistake and taking the position of power if you're right. i learn this from my partner as ...

पढाई कबसे जूती बन गई ? जिसको पहनकार लगे है लम्बी दौड़ मैं | किसी की फूलती साँस को आराम देने के लिए उसे पानी भी ना पिलाएँ | पढाई हमें सज्जन बनाती हैं हमें जोड़े रखती हैं पर हम तो बेमतलब तोड़ने में लगे हैं || Thank you Shrey ma'am for your thoughts. Edited by Garima ji: पढ़ाई कबसे जूती बन गई ? जिसको पहनकर, लगे हैं लम्बी दौड़ में किसी की फूलती साँस को, थमकर पानी भी ना पिलाएँ ? पढ़ाई जन को सज्जन बनाती है, हमें जोड़े रखती हैं । पर हम तो तोड़ने में लगे हैं |

On a bright sunny day, a driver looks out of his window and sees a cyclist on the road. The driver acknowledges the cyclist’s right to a safe commute and makes sure to follow the road rules. The driver is pleased to witness someone showing concern for the environment and pledges to contribute more actively moving forward. Now let us come back to real life, where the situation is never this perfect. Underneath the sweltering hot sun, a person in a metallic box sees a person riding their bicycle and huffs contemptuously-” A fitness freak, no doubt. Don’t they know this is a fast-moving road? They are only endangering their lives” the driver remarks.  The cyclist, armed with protective gear and obeying all the laws, has no idea of the nuisance he has caused to the annoyed driver. As ironic as it may be, the reality is sadly disappointing. People choosing alternative and sustainable methods of transport are blamed for using the roads, while negligent motorists get away with a slap on t...

 फ़िल्मों ने बड़ा बदनाम किया,  लड़का और लड़की की दोस्ती को  ऊपर से बेकरी या कॉफ़ी शॉप में जो घूरते रहते हैं, दुपट्टा भी शर्मा जाए |     हमारी दोस्ती एक एनजीओ के प्रोग्राम से शुरू हुई । वो मुझसे छोटा था... पर बहुत समझदार ।  हम अक्सर लाइब्रेरी में मिलते  थे, किताबे पढ़ते थे ।  और फिर लाइब्रेरी से जुड़े एक कॉफी शॉप में बैठ, खूब सारी बातें करते थे । हर हफ्ते लाइब्रेरी और घर के बीच ये मुलाकात बढ़ने लगी । एक दिन उसने पूछा, कितना अच्छा होता अगर हम  ऐसे ही मिलते रहे । साल बीत गए...हम अपने-अपने रास्ते चल पड़े । और आज उसको जवाब देने का मन करता है । हा.. बहुत अच्छा होता । बिन मतलब के मिलते रहना । और किताब पढ़ना .. Note: This is written on the prompt by Garima Mishra ji at the May 19 Bansa Hindi Writing Program.  Thank you for helping with the edits too, Garima ji.

काश बचपन में ही सिखाया होता, अपना साथ कितना ज़रूरी होता है | इतने बरस हम ज़ाया न करते, जो नहीं है उनके याद में तड़पते हुए | रिश्तों की चिता को, प्यार की गर्मी समझते हुए | खुद को संभल हम भी निकल पड़ते,   अपने आप से ढेर से वादे करते,   उनको निभाते हुए दिन गुज़ारते | जाने कितने दिल टूटने से बच जाते | कितने लम्हे किसी को खोने के डर से, उसके होने के एहसास में बिताते |   काश बचपन में ही सिखाया होता, अपना साथ कितना ज़रूरी होता है,   अपना साथ कितना ज़रूरी होता है... Note: Shukriya Garima ji, Shrey ma'a for your thoughts.

I was never good at academics. I did not wish to run the rat race but rather play instead and have a fun time at school. I was inclined to reading though.  The love for reading was fueled by the chetak library uncle who would visit our apartments in Hyderabad and many other apartments in our galli. He was a pot-bellied, middle aged, medium height man who would ride a chetak and fill the dikki with books -- tattered comics that he would loan for 25 anna per week.  Few of our friends would borrow them and we would read it and exchange these books within that week. And then again wait for the chetak library uncle to come. This continued till we grew up and grew out of these books. The love for libraries and books were sowed though.  During high school, i'd follow the library principle in bookstores too and would read one or two there and pick another and come home. I would calculate, i read 3 at the price of one.  Growing up, i found a few libraries which were my home t...