राजपथ का 'राजा'

राजपथ का 'राजा' 

जब कभी दीवारों पर लिखी इबारतें नहीं दिखती,

जनता जनार्दन के इरादे नज़र नहीं आती

वो तख्ता पलट अपने काम पर लौट जाता है

पांच साल के लिए अन्य 'सेवक' को मुकुट सौंप आता है

यह हार किसकी या जीत किसकी पर बहस जारी है

कौन क्यों जीता या कैसे हारा की खिचखिच तारी है

कोई उससे नहीं पूछता जिसकी यह समस्त कारगुजारी है

वो कब का वोट देकर अपने काम पर लौट आया है

जो स्वयं को सदा इनके सेवक मानते आये हैं

पर किराये की कुर्सी को अपना मानते आये हैं

जब-जब 'सेवक' इस गफलत का शिकार होता है

'मालिक' 'सेवक' की गफलत सुधार जाता है

DESH KA MAHA TYOHAR: ELECTIONS 2019 (19/05/2019)

With the conclusion of the last round of voting today, came to an end an election that was high on rhetorics and low on substance. The campaign this time was shrill, divisive, personalized, polarized and hysterical. In their bid to demonize the opponent, the electorates witnessed all sort of allegations and counter allegations hurled by leaders on their opponent, which made for far better TRP than the best of Saas-Bahu serial that Ekta Kapoor could have ever come up with even in the wildest of her imagination. The quality of a leadership is reflected in the standards they set for themselves and during these elections the manner Indian leaders washed their dirty linen in full public glare spoke more of their quality than their words. And in doing so, they made a mockery of themselves at the international level. During the campaign there was no serious effort on part of these leaders to talk about their manifesto or to debate on issues and problems faced by a nation of a billion. Their electioneering was restricted to road-shows and the speeches were aimed at bludgeoning each other with facts and theories gleaned from cursory readings, rather than any statesmanship like in-depth research on current issues. Not one of them came up with his vision of change though they all did come up with a ‘manifesto’ that was never discussed or debated in public. This is because we live in an era where we do not have statesmen as leaders to lead us who can discuss ideas. We do not even have average leaders who could discuss events. We are left with ‘netas’ interested in smearing the image of their opponent on every platform including the social media. And this happened aplenty during this election. These are the days of ‘netas’ who you will find dime a dozen at every nook and corner of the nation.

Both my children acquired the age for voting this election. As a parent and a responsible citizen I made them available the manifesto of all the three leading political parties in NCR and also discussed the salient features contained therein. But they were appalled at the poverty of debate during campaign. They found these were inferior compared to debates in university elections and the maturity of leaders at campus a shade better than those running to get elected to steer a nation. They were surprised that ‘manifesto’ mattered little for the candidate contesting elections. These candidates spoke about everything other than issues contained in the manifesto. This is the ‘dance of democracy’ that we get to see every five years. The Election Commission of India termed the Lok Sabha Election 2019 as ‘Desh Ka Mahatyohar’ (The Great festival of the nation). Time has come we need to celebrate this festival in a manner that it actually leads to empowerment of the masses and do not end up in an exercise in mud-slinging by netas whose only aim remains to capture the seat of power by hook or by crook. As a nation we certainly deserve better.  

WHO IS SHE?- A TRIBUTE TO THE INDIAN WOMAN

She is the benign mother

A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.

-DIANE MARIECHILD.

She brings life on Earth generation to generation

          Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.       -SAINT TERESA OF AVILA.

She takes care of her home and hearth 

एक ही लफ्ज़ है जो वजूद में आब-ए-हयात घोल दे, मैंने ताउम्र अम्मी से बेहतर लफ्ज़ नहीं सुना। - अहसान दानिश

She nurtures the mother Earth and ensures life

एक माँ ही है अहसान से सबकदोष नहीं हुआ जाता, कुछ रिश्ते परे होते हैं दुनियावी ज़रूरतों से। -अहमद नसीम क़ासमी

She smiles through her troubles and travails

Only mothers can think of the future- because they give birth to it in their children.- MAXIM GORKY.

She leads her motherland on the battlefield

दो ही खुशगवार गौशे हैं जहाँ में, मौत की गोद और माँ का आँचल।      - रविश सिद्दीकी

She is a professional who leads the nation on business front

                             Mother India is the mother of us all.                         -WILL DURANTE.

She raises a nation's hope internationally as sky's the limit

 दुनिया को समझा मैंने माँ की ऊँगली पकड़ कर, अब किसी मुदर्रिस की नहीं दरकार मुझे।  - रियाज़ खैराबादी

She leads the nation to glory


       In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.                                                                                               -MARGARET THATCHER.



WOMAN THY NAME IS SHAKTI!

SHE IS THE INDIAN WOMAN

-A TRIBUTE TO THE INDIAN WOMAN


-RAJESH SAHAY

SHIVAJI MAHARAJ STORMS THE CAPITAL

Shivaji Bhonsle (1627/1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian warrior king who showed exemplary courage and sense of purpose to carve out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he was formally crowned as the chhatrapati (monarch) of his realm at Raigad.

 

Shivaji was known for his liberal and tolerant religious policy; while Hindus were relieved to practice their religion freely under a Hindu ruler, Shivaji not only allowed Muslims to practice without harassment, but supported their ministries with endowments, and had many prominent Muslims in his military service. His mother and his guru Samarth Ramdas had a great bearing on Shivaji who nurtured him and inculcated in him tolerance for all religion and faith.

MARTIAL ART PERFORMANCE DURING THE PROCESSION

MARATHA LADY PERFORMING IN THE PROCESSION

PROUD MARATHA YOUTHS RAISING THE FLAG

YOUNG BOYS IN PROCESSION

 

SHIVAJI MAHARAJ IN PALANQUIN

Though many of Shivaji's enemy states were Muslim, he treated Muslims under his rule with tolerance for their religion. Shivaji's sentiments of inclusivity and tolerance of other religions can be seen in an admonishing letter to Aurangzeb, in which he wrote:

“Verily, Islam and Hinduism are terms of contrast. They are used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling in the outlines. If it is a mosque, the call to prayer is chanted in remembrance of God. If it is a temple, the bells are rung in yearning for God alone.” 

Even though Shivaji was known for his religious tolerance, he nevertheless restricted the spread of Islam in India. Noting this contemporary, the poet Kavi Bhushan stated: "Had not there been Shivaji, Kashi would have lost its culture, Mathura would have been turned into a mosque and all would have been circumcised". 

There is less evidence of Shivaji's attitude towards the Christians. To one side, in 1667 three Portuguese Catholic priests and a few Christians were killed during Shivaji's raid on Bardes. However, during the sack of Surat in 1664, Shivaji was approached by Ambrose, a Capuchin monk who asked him to spare the city's Christians. Shivaji left the mission untouched, saying "the Frankish Padrys are good men." 

Shivaji was well known for his strong religious and warrior code of ethics and exemplary character. He was recognized as a great national hero during Indian Independence Movement. 

While the nation celebrates the birth anniversary of this great hero today (19^th February 2019), I share some of the pictures of this celebrations from Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD- IS IT? (22/01/2019)

Chief Guest Sri Gulzar lighting the lamps at the Saraswati Samman Function, National Museum Auditorium, 22/01/2019

Sri Sitanshu Yashaschandra, recipient of the Saraswati Samman lighting lamp

Distinguished guests on dias during Saraswati Samman Function

Saraswati Samman Function at National Museum Auditorium, 22/01/2019

Saraswati Samman Function at National Museum Auditorium, 22/01/2019

Saraswati Samman Function at National Museum Auditorium, 22/01/2019

Attending literary functions these days is fraught with risks. Nevertheless I decided to attend the 27^th Saraswati Samman Award today at the National Museum Auditorium to listen to the award recipient Sri Sitanshu Yashaschandra- the noted Gujarati scholar, who was bestowed the award by renowned author and film director Sri Gulzar.

Stressing upon the importance of literature in shaping the society and the power that be, Sri Yashaschandra drew parallels from Gujarat’s political history and the role of Gujarati literature in shaping it. He came up with three historical events.

Acknowledging the literary genius of noted Jaina scholar Hemachandra, the then Gujarat king Jayasimha Siddharaja was so pleased that he ordered Hemachandra’s work namely Siddha-Hema-Śabdanuśāśana and Dvyashraya Kavya- a treatise on grammar, to be placed on the back of an elephant and paraded through the streets of Anhilwad Patan. 

The second instance Sri Yashaschandra cited was of the Pratihara king who was rebuked by his sister in failing to accord adequate respect to the noted literatueur of his kingdom- the king himself being a renowned scholar. 

He cited the case of “Hind Swaraj” written by Mahatma Gandhi, on his voyage from India to South Africa in 1909 as the third instance. The whole consignment of this book was confiscated and destroyed on its arrival at the Bombay Port by an alien despot. 

The address by this noted Gujarati literati reminded me of the words of Mahatma Gandhi that ‘Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment’. Literature helps to keep fear at bay as ‘pen is always mightier than sword’.

All said and done, the function started only after Sri Amar Singh the noted Samajwadi leader arrived at the venue keeping everyone, even Sri Yashaschandra the award recipient and the Chief Guest Sri Gulzar, waiting who had all arrived well in time. So do you still think pen is mightier than the sword?- I leave this for you to decide in present times!