ज़िंदगी

उन शोख़ियों से भरी पल्कों

के पीछे, अश्कों को छिपाती वो

जाने कित समन्दर पार कर गई,

पिंजरा तोड़कर, मुँह मोड़कर,

जाने कहाँ वो भाग गई?

कल आई थी वो मेरे

ख़्वाबों की डगर पर

करने मुझसे शिकवे वहाँ ,

आँखों से अपना दर्द छलकाकर

बिन कहे कह गई अपनी ज़ुबान!

भागता चला गया मैं

सब पाने की चाह में,

सराब सा समाया था निगाहों में

रहा उनमें डूबा मैं!

आज जो दौड़कर थकने लगा हूँ

तो याद आती है वो सुंदर सखी

जिसके संग था खेलता मैं

बचपन से ही लुका- छुपी!

अब जो आया हूँ उसे ढूँढने 

सब पीछे छोड़कर मैं,

नहीं आ सकती वो मुझसे मिलने

वक़्त से हुआ हूँ शिकस्ता मैं!!

है जाना मैंने विछोह से,

आख़िर थी जो कोताही मेरी,

"और" पाने की चाह में भागकर

गँवाई थी मैंने ज़िंदगी मेरी!!

-ऋचा

Just a thought..expressed as envisioned

With every passing moment, I like to believe, that he's here to stay. And then a drop trickles from the mound of my eye, burning my face and pulling me back to the salty truth. I walk and talk, consume and bathe, or rather I don't. Perhaps a doppelgänger, in my absence represents another 'me', to people around. And up there, I continue to run, turn, fall and run again, ascend the hill that takes me atop, where I meet him, see his face, talk and decipher his expressions as they change. We talk, laugh and cry at the same time, pour our hearts out to each other and nearly hold hands.And then comes an avalanche, pulling me away, back to the world, pacing as I lose my head. Everything twirls and twists and makes me see through the haze. Every morning, such is the case. The drops I mistook as dew, were actually my tears that rolled down, on the pillow that I envisioned as the mountain on which I stood. And then, I realised that the missing nonchalance in his expressions was due to the clouds that moved away, sometimes making me see his smile, sometimes tears. It feels like I ran whole night, and entered the mundane body to stop and start again, but play a different role. I begin to think that sometimes I'm not me. If I'm not with him, how can I be alive? How can I be 'me'?
There comes a storm and pulls me into disbelief. For a moment, I feel he's here to stay. And then I run in search of him, all over again! I feel the void he left behind, that burns me from within. And then begins my soliloquy, letting the world know how this solitude gets the better of me, each time,all day. I feel the scars that burn as my tears trickle down, wavering my urge to live and move on. I only live to meet him again, capture his expressions, and engrave his smile in my heart, forever. If only I could dive back into the depths of time and cling to him, like I did as a kid. Miss You NANU! 

-Richa Gupta

Havoc

There stands a city

A little too busy

For him to express how he fell!

He wonders who'll speak of the

sabotage that led him to the knell!

It bloomed with spring

And heard the jingles

That tots would oft sing.

It looked serene and colorful,

sans any traffic or ting.

The colour well, fell in a bound!

All stood in vigour,

awaiting the instructional sound.

It had a tree

That stood out of the scene

Green with glee,

it would make him keen.

The fact that it outshone all around,

he got inspired to work till his mound!

He remembered the dusk

that drove him sad,

deciphering the horizon 

he often went mad.

He wonders what led to a change

so drastic ,nearly turning a cage.

He yearns but, to soar quite high,

Passing all boundaries,in the sky!

- RICHA GUPTA

Happy Republic Day!

जिसके प्रताप की जय-जयकार करता, झूम रहा ये नीला गगन है

जिसके गौरव-गाण में डूबी प्रत्येक दिल की बुलंद धड़कन है, 

प्राची की स्वर्णलिपि में अंकित

महिममान्वित ये मेरा वतन है! 

सहिष्णुता व शांति से परिपूर्ण 

दर इसकी पवित्रता का शिखर है

ऋषियों की तप की भूमि ये,

माँ गंगा का उद्गम स्थल है, 

मल्हार - वसंत की अगवानी में सजी

अन्न - धान से इसकी डगर है! 

तुझे फरमाबरदारी दिखाने को,

जी-जान से हम आगे बढ़ेंगे 

हर क्षेत्र में और परिश्रम करके

पहला स्तर हासिल करेंगे!

चारों ओर, तेरी प्रशंसा में

ये प्रतिध्वनि हो रही है- 

तुझ जैसा  मुल्क इस पूरी दुनिया में नहीं है! 

JAI HIND! HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!🇮🇳🙌🏻

-ऋचा गुप्ता

आँसुओं की विडम्बना (irony of tears)

जीवन के हर मोड़ पर रहा मेरा ये सवाल,

कि हो चाहे जैसा भी हाल,

मनुष्य  अश्रुजल क्यों बहाते हैं? 

मन मौन रहा, अधर ख़ामोश रहे

सवाल वही रहा, जवाब हम ढूँढते रहे ।।

उसकी नयन सफ़र में ढूँढती रही कोई रेहनूमा,

अपनी तलाश में उसने अश्रु प्रवाहित किए।

अरे, मिला जब कोई दर्द बाँटने वाला उसे, तब भी ख़ुशी के नाम पर उसने सैलाब भर दिए।।

व्यथा सुनाने को ढूँढते किसी को उसके अधर,

सारा ज़हान घूमने पर मिल जाए कोई अगर,

फिर क्यों कहता वो कि दिल की बात तो है उसी में दबी, कितनी सूनी है ये डगर! 

हर प्रश्न का है होता कोई उत्तर , 

पर इस सवाल का क्यों नहीं? 

मनुष्य क्यों असंतुष्ट होकर रो देता है,

आख़िर ख़ुशी में भी क्यों दामन भिगो देता है? 

-ऋचा गुप्ता 

Happy Independence Day

🇮🇳माँ तुझे सलाम!🇮🇳

है जिसके प्रताप की साक्षी माँ गंगा

देते जिसकी करुणा का प्रमाण ये तारागण

ऐसा है भारत देश हमारा

करती जिसपर मैं सर्वस्व अर्पण !

अरे ओ आध्यात्मिकता के शिखर

ऋषि-मुनियों के तप की पवित्र डगर!

नैतिकता चूमती तेरा अंबर

है तेरी शान में गर्वोन्नत मेरा सर!

है हिम-किरीट तेरा मुकुट

और तन है सपाट मैदान

पवित्र नदियों के उद्गम स्थान 

करती मैं तेरा अथक सम्मान! 

है तेरी वायु में इतना अपनापन

की परदेसिओं का भी खिल जाता मन

है तेरी मिट्टी में ये कैसी शक्ति

जो आश्रित है तुझपर सैंकड़ों वनस्पति ?

तू थी ऐश्वर्य की प्रतिमा

'सोने की चिड़िया' उपाधि थी तेरी गरिमा!

बाहरी लुटेरों ने तुझे भरसक लूटा है,

मैं जानती हूँ तेरा मनोबल टूटा है!

तेरा आशीष मिले तो हम संगठन से आगे बढ़ेंगे 

प्रतिबद्धता और दृढ़ता के दम पर 

हर रण से जीतकर लौटेंगे!

तेरे हर रत्न को हम पुन: भर ले आएँगे,

जन्मे हैं हम तेरी अंक में ये सबको दिखलाएँगे!

-ऋचा गुप्ता 

Dravid v/s Sachin fan battle

For all those Sachin fans who regard Dravid to be any less a legend than Sachin.....

       India is a cricket-crazy nation.Forget being crazy about the sport, people follow it like a religion, with complete devotion,treating cricketers like GODS. 

      Whenever cricket is discussed in India, the first person that all Indians think of is Sachin Tendulkar. Needless to say, this great man needs no introduction. The little master has played for India over 25 years, scoring 100 centuries. Millions of people follow him ardently, to a level of worship. His fans regard him as the GREATEST CRICKETER in world history and feel that Cricket is humbled to have him. No offense to the stalwart, I strongly feel that no player is greater than the sport.

      Due to some chauvinists who compare Sachin with other greats of the game, it sometimes goes par tolerance to think of him as the only legend India ever produced. These followers treat other players as amateurs or perhaps even nonexistent in front of Sachin.

        Their main target is one of Sachin's best comrades both on and off field-Rahul Dravid.Often regarded as THE WALL for his rock-solid game, DRAVID has been India's most consistent batsman and the world's most classical and technically correct cricketer.He is the epitome of masterclass and the Lord of Superfine cricket.  In his career of 16 years, Dravid has 13,288 test runs and 10,889 ODI runs with the record of a century in every cricket playing nation. He has many partnerships with Sachin that have added to India's best innings partnerships. Though no 2 players must be compared, there are certain things that Sachin fans need to know before considering Rahul Dravid any less a legend than Sachin.

        Sachin has always been among the most active cricketers in news headlines. Limelight has never left his path. His fans regard cricket lucky to have him. If he plays, the sport is humbled, if he scores a century, he is the best, if he takes a catch, there is nobody to match upto him. If he drops a catch, the batsman is at fault, if he is out for a duck, it is just bad luck, if he does not play, India will lose. 

        But, if Dravid plays, it's fine, he scores a century, he goes unnoticed, he takes a catch, it was an easy one, if he misses a catch, he is a bad feilder, if he gets run out, he is a slow runner & if he does not play, it's just fine. Why so? If you actually sit to compare their performances, Dravid has a better consistency percentage. Then how is he any less a legend than Sachin? 

      Dravid came, played and went unnoticed all the while. Despite being consistent, dependable, committed and exceptional, he wasn't given the recognition that he deserved. The fact that Indians wanted Sachin to play, they NEEDED Dravid to play to survive. 

       If Sachin hits some odd runs in front of Dravid's half-century, still he will have all the limelight. All through his career, Sachin opened with personal choice, or came in at 4. But Dravid opened, kept wickets, came in at 4,5 or even 7 at times. He fielded  at the slip and took 210 catches. He adjusted all the while, never saying no to his team. He played for his nation and not records. Still Sachin is the BEST? Really? 

          Forget the silence through his career, his farewell too was an ordinary one. He made way for a youngster in the team. Sachin, on the other hand chose his opposition teams. His position remained fixed, keeping one youngster out of chance. He even chose to retire against West Indies. He got a big-bang farewell, with full media coverage and loudness. He had a farewell series to his name, a highly commercialized event. 

 But still! Sachin is great and Dravid is not? 

          Well, Sachin will remain to be known for his records, but Dravid will always be remembered for his perseverance and personality on the field. 

        If like to say that if Sachin is Superman, Dravid is the dark knight. As a Dravid fan, I'd like to conclude by saying that,

SACHIN MAY BE THE GOD,

GANGULY may be next to God on Off-side 

LAXMAN may be the God of 4 th innings,

But when the doors of a temple are shut, even the Gods remain BEHIND THE WALL.

For the Indian Soldier

Before I mishandle my unbridled patriotism,

Devastated that is by my countrymen's communalism,

I would like to mutter and curse,

And pledge to never speak even in verse,

About the diffusing provincialism.

As all my brothers who commandeer forces and circumspect the boundary,

Not for their worthy praise or fee,

But to let us breathe free,

Sans the sigh of anguish PHEW!

For the brothers of my motherland,

All I want is to

Adapt your non-spasmodic and gallant virtue,

And predispose myself to your spirit-

To have the will to fight it out and win it!

Like how you 

Never let your duty relinquish ,

Among traitors and brothers you distinguish,

Though being affected by our mother being impoverished,

But never speak I'll with anguish.

I am incapable to breach a fortress with my verses,

But I wish your thundering spirit never effaces!!

JAI HIND!

-RICHA GUPTA

Happy Republic Day!

The very thought of being born in a nation as great as India is so scintillating ! I'm proud of my country,it's seasons,it's religions, it's colors , it's glory, it's affection, it's humanity, it's fraternity, it's integrity et all. Words can't describe how I handle my unbridled patriotism! Everyday I live is for my nation and because of it! Today is just a reason to say it again! JAI HIND! Cheers to my motherland, the epitome of divinity! Happy Republic Day!!

अरे ओ मनुष्य! अब तो जाग

गूँज रहे गगन में विनाश के राग,

मौन हुई कोयल,गा रहे काग।

डँस रहे हर ओर से काले नाग,

अरे ओ मनुष्य! अब तो जाग।।

हो रही अवनि-मेघा की कड़वी मुलाक़ात,

मच रहा कुहराम, बनने को है दिन भी रात।

पहले देता था इनका मधुर मिलन कोई मनोरम सौग़ात,

पर अब छा रहा अँधियारा,दे रोशनी की कोई तो किरण मेरे भ्रात!

अरे ओ मनुष्य! अब तो जाग।।

प्रभु कृपा से चल रही थी जब सहज प्रवृत्ति,

मनुष्य था ईश्वर की सबसे अनुपम कृति।

है यह संसार एक अमूल्य निधि,

तू बचा इसे, बना कोई शत्रुंजय विधि।।

अरे खड़ा क्यों है? बढ़ा क़दम,रक्षा को भाग। 

अरे ओ मनुष्य! अब तो जाग।।

प्रभु हैं दाता और तू याचक,

कर उनके चरणों में नमन अपना मस्तक।

परस्परावलंब के दम पर है जीता ये जग,

आवाज़ उठा,हाथ मिला और इस सृष्टि का तू बन जा रक्षक!

  खा सौगंध, फैला एकता की आग!

अरे ओ मनुष्य! अब तो जाग।।

यह देश ही है तेरी दुनिया ,

है टिका इसपर तेरा मुस्तकबिल,

जा! अपने भाइयों का हौंसला बढ़ा,

मिटाकर सारी दूरियाँ ,जा उनसे मिल।

तभी होगा तेरा उत्थान,

होगा एक जब सबका दिल।।

तो आओ गुनगुनाएँ एकता का राग,

अरे ओ मनुष्य! अब तो जाग।।

                       -ऋचा गुप्ता

English took a loan..

        Is English really the greatest language? Some linguists say that all languages are equally great and unique.English too, like other languages has got its own syntactical ,phonological and lexical features.It is the most commonly known and spoken language in the world.Its significance is way beyond national boundaries. Despite all its grandness,English cannot be called "the mother" of all languages for the very fact that it has borrowed words from other languages, and unlike Sanskrit or Pali, it does not undertake the use of all words which belong to it. Everything in this world depends on the other for its existence, and so do languages.Not perplexing statements anymore,English too,for the reader's manifest,borrowed words from its sisterly foreign languages.

         A LOANWORD is a word used directly from another language with little or no translation.Such foreign words or phrases are peppered throughout the English language.Some commonly used loanwords are:

                     ZEITGEIST

Meaning : The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

Origin: German

Etymology: used by Germans in the mid 19th century,to define a particular era 

               Imagine describing the 'Golden Age of Guptas' by calling it 'the spirit and mood of the Golden period of history when the Guptas ruled' ..would you even have the time to comprehend it? Certainly not.

               So, English, our dear language helped us out by using an appropriate alternate term ZEITGEIST. Such a word acts like a boon to the reader's manifest. It is self-explanatory and makes the comprehending aspect quite immaculate to the reader. For instance, when you say ' The zeitgeist of the Guptas'..it is vividly comprehended and immaculately understood by the reader.

             Another such word is CASH.

Meaning:  coins or bills of monetary value -as used in vernacular English.

Origin: Indian ,Dravidian Tamil.

Etymology: derived from the Dravidian Tamil word 'kasu' which stands for coins.

             Dravidians, also known as the FIRST INDIANS were the first set of people to enter and set in India. They have given birth to the Indian culture.Dravidians are considered the most superior caste in the World, falling under the sub-category of Deshastha Brahmins-the highest caste of Brahmins. There are about 124 words in common between Dravidian Tamil and Sanskrit. Dravidian Tamil words like 'kasu','ilchi'etc have been used by the then residing Englishmen in India, using them for cash and ginger respectively. 

           Imagine using the literal meaning of the term cash and saying " I am going to draw 'coins and bills of monetary value' from the bank." And now say "I am going to draw cash from the bank" . Which one sounds better? Obviously cash. 

         Thus, many loanwords borrowed from foreign languages make understanding clear and immaculate to the reader. 

Patience-Rahul Dravid

I just found these golden words by the great wall of Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid.

Rahul Dravid on Patience -

“When I’m requested to speak to youngsters I like talking about this phase of my life and liken it to fascinating plant: The Chinese Bamboo. You can take a Chinese bamboo seed and plant it in the ground, water and nurture the seed for an entire year & not even see a single sprout. Infact, you’ll not see a sprout for 5 years. But suddenly, a tiny shoot will spring from the ground. And over the next 6 weeks, the plant can grow as tall as 90 feet. It can grow as fast as 39 inches every 24 hours. You can literally watch the plant grow.

What was the plant doing during these 5 years, seemingly dormant period, it was growing its roots. For 5 full years it was preparing itself for rapid, full growth. Without this root structure, the plant simply couldn’t support itself for its future growth. Some would say the plant grew 90 feet in 6 weeks, I would say it grew 90 feet in 5 years & 6 weeks.”

So keep watering and nurturing yourself. One day you will sprout and may be grow as fast as a Chinese Bamboo tree. No one becomes a mid night success, there are years of labor and pain behind that.

"God's delays are not god's denials."

-Rahul Dravid

#MyRoleModel RAHUL DRAVID- magazine article

THIS GREAT WALL OF INDIA  NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION. KNOWN AS MR.DEPENDABLE, HE WAS TEAM INDIA'S KNIGHT. HE STOOD TALL IN ALL THE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND EMERGED AS A VICTORIAN. SIMPLICITY,CLASS,DISCIPLINE,DEDICATION,DETERMINATION AND ELEGANCE ARE SOME VIRTUES WHICH CONCRETE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS WALL.
HE IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST CLASSICAL TEST BATSMEN IN THE WORLD.JUST WHEN PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HE IS FIT FOR ONLY TEST CRICKET, HE PROVED THEM ALL WRONG.APART FROM THE 13,289 RUNS IN TEST CRICKET, HE IS ONE OF THE SEVEN CRICKETERS IN THE HISTORY OF WORLD CRICKET WHO HAVE MORE THAN 10,000 ODI RUNS TO THEIR NAMES. HIS ODI RUNS COUNT UPTO 10,889.NOT JUST BATTING, HE HOLDS THE RECORD OF 210 CATCHES AS A NON-WICKET-KEEPER IN TEST CRICKET AND 196 CATCHES IN ODI- WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD.
MANY RECORDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO LINK THEMSELVES TO HIS NAME.DRAVID ACCORDING TO ME HAS THE BEST PERSONA .HIS PERSEVERANCE IS BEYOND DEFIANCE . HE HAS INSPIRED MILLIONS LIKE ME TO BE DEDICATED,PATIENT AND OPTIMISTIC. ALSO I HAVE LEARNED FROM HIM TO  HOLD ON TO THE CORRECT TECHNIQUE, NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK OR DO. HIS DEFENCE WAS OFTEN CRITICIZED AND EVEN GOT HIM THE TITLE OF A SLOW PLAYER. BUT HE PROVED THE WORTH OF HIS TECHNIQUE AS THE SAME DEFENCE MADE HIM HOLD HIS WICKET IN ENGLAND, WHERE NOBODY COULD EVEN ADAPT TO THE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER INSTANCES THAT MADE HIM STAND TALL AND TALLER AND PERHAPS THE TALLEST IN MY EYES. I HAVE BEEN WORSHIPING HIM FOR OVER 11 YEARS NOW..EVER SINCE I AM A FOUR YEAR OLD. I HAVE WRITTEN A HANDFUL OF POEMS ON HIM TOO.WHENEVER I HEAR OF THE TERM ROLE MODEL, IT IS ONLY HIM I CAN THINK OF.WHAT MAKES HIM STAND OUT OF THE CROWD IS THE FACT THAT HE IS DEEPLY ENGROSSED AND COMMITED TO THE SPORT. DUE TO HIS 100% COMMITMENT, HE WAS ALWAYS READY TO FACE THE TOUGHEST OF SITUATIONS. NAME ONE THING AND HE WOULD BE READY TO DO IT FOR INDIA, BE IT WICKET-KEEPING OR OPENING , FEILDING AT THE SLIPS ..AND WHAT NOT.THE WORDS I AM USING CANNOT FATHOM THE DEPTH OF THE AMOUNT OF RESPECT I HAVE FOR HIM. HE WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE ONE WHOM I WILL LOOK UPTO IN MY LIFE AND LEARN..JUST LIKE HIM, WHO  YET REMAINS A STUDENT OF THE SPORT AND IS NEVER TIRED OF LEARNING MORE.
INSPITE OF ALL THE 17 YEARS OF HIS CONTRIBUTION TO CRICKET, HE HAS ALWAYS GONE UNNOTICED.HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OVERSHADOWED.BUT I FEEL THAT MAY THE DARKEST OF SITUATIONS COME FORTH, HE WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO BE DIVINE WITH THAT KIND OF A HALO THAT ENCIRCLES HIM..AND TO THIS MAN'S WORSHIP ,WHO I DEFINE AS GOD, I COMMIT MY ENTIRE LIFE...I PLEDGE TO ALWAYS WORSHIP HIMTHE SAME WAY OR PERHAPS EVEN MORE....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAHUL DRAVID ( my poetic dedication )

In 1973,there was a dawn,

11th January was Indian Cricket's morn, 

When a worthy cricketer was born.

Yes, he is none but RAHUL DRAVID

Whose cricket technique was indeed splendid.

Yes he became team India's knight,

Difficult battles he was ready to fight.

The bowlers when saw his sight,

Began wondering about their plight,

Seeing boundaries take their flight.

Yes he is called THE WALL,

For India he did stand tall,

Never letting our hopes fall,

Striking boundaries of many a ball.

He is called CUCUMBER COOL,

One whom no bowler could fool,

His career was a run-filled pool, 

Correct technique was its key tool.

The bowlers were always admonished,

As many runs he replenished.

Till 16 years this player lasted,

His retirement left me flabbergasted.

Yet no Indian can ever forget,

What he made India achieve .

He delivered the BRADMAN ORATION,

For him every Indian stood in ovation.

I wish this gem a HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

In future I wish there is some day,

When I could catch a glimpse of him

And show my respect towards him..

-RICHA GUPTA

My Poem on Rahul Dravid

THANK YOU DRAVID

 

The world knows how priceless was your wicket,

Just as they know that you define cricket.

All across the globe know that one could only earn your wicket.

You played with honesty and credibility,

Projecting clearly your dependibility.

You soaked in pressure and were ready to endure it all,

There is no doubt that you always stood tall,

for your retirement yet makes me gall.

Your contribution is more than indispensible,

For you are and will be the most responsible.

Your fond memories will always last

As you have a history,

While others have a mere past.

Someone today may be called the GOD,

But not greater than you,LORD OF LORDS.

You are the reason I ever saw cricket,

Cherished every moment till you stood by your wicket.

These mere words can never project the depth of my views,

But remember, no one can ever fill your shoes.

Your records always made great news,

And you are loved by more than a few

No matter how long you stood at the crease,

Your worshippers will never ever decrease.

Your descriptions need not be vivid,

As your techniques were more than splendid.

You are called the technician of cricket,

But you altered my life and its every bit.

I cannot describe how thankful I am 

As you inculcated patience and determination in me, JAM!

I WORSHIP you and am a fanatic,

As your flamboyance was never erratic.

Your every strike is simply magnificant,

I wonder how can someone be so consistent?

You have given cricket a class

And inspired not just me,but a huge mass.

How I wish I ever met you,

And got a chance to personally thank you.

-RICHA GUPTA