An open letter to my countrymen

Dear citizens of this country,

This letter is hopefully the last place where I will be using the words ‘tolerance’ and ‘intolerance’, because I am beginning to grow extremely intolerant towards the two. Through this letter, I wish to pour out all my thoughts about the debate on the same and also the comment made by Aamir Khan, for I wish to be done with these two discussions once and for all.

As a 13 year old, I am expected( by my mother of course!) to be acquainted with the current affairs; but in the week gone by, I have officially failed to come across anything on the news channels except the blown-out-of-proportion comment by Aamir Khan’s wife asking him whether they should leave the country due to the rising intolerance.

What has really amused me is your reaction to what he said. And by  ‘your reaction’, I am collectively referring to the public, the media and the politicians. I feel sorry saying this, but I am beginning to realize just how bored you are with your lives and the amount of time that you have for worthless gossip. It also angers me to an extent when you say that it's you who have made him Aamir Khan. How about awarding him some credit for his hard work that earned him this place in the film industry and in several hearts, rather than attributing it to ourselves for accepting him as who he is? Just because he did not need to change his name like Dilip Kumar or Meena Kumari (my mother told me about them), it does not mean we did him a favour. We call India a secular country, and in a country which is so, a person definitely should not require to change his name just so that he can ‘fit in’, because that is not what the founding fathers of free and independent India had in mind.

Before I move on, I have two questions for you: First -how many of you have actually watched the show in which he makes that statement? Because most of you don’t even know what you’re talking about- it is all just hear and say! Well, I have seen it and I know that Aamir only conveyed to us what his wife said and felt, and he never even mentioned that they actually will leave the country! Second- isn’t it normal for people to fear for their lives in the current atmosphere of insecurity? Isn’t it therefore, normal for a parent to worry about the safety of his child? Aamir’s wife merely expressed a concern which I’m sure has crossed many minds in many-a-household across the country. Although, if any other person speaks on this issue, not a finger is raised, but since he is a celebrity, a mountain is being made out of a mole-hill. Every news channel, for three continuous days after he said this, held debates and talks and interviews. The tolerance-intolerance chapter had once again been opened, only because a celebrity, who also happens to be a muslim, expressed a genuine worry. Do we really believe that a comment by an actor can defame India?

The situation is quite ironic, actually. Rude remarks have been made by the public and several politicians against Aamir. The Shiv Sena has even offered to pay a sum of one  lakh rupees to whoever slaps Aamir(Oh my God!), and someone has already arranged the flight tickets for his family to go to Pakistan! This just goes to show that we definitely are intolerant! We are unable to even tolerate a conversation a family has, which actually does not affect us in any way whatsoever.

I have seriously been shocked at the amount of attention that has been given to this fruitless debate. It has been a sheer waste of time and space on the front page of the newspaper-and these intolerant acts must stop.

On a daily basis, we are subjected to bad roads, traffic rules being treacherously broken, noise pollution, air pollution, garbage in public places, lawlessness and more; that’s tolerance- putting up with things that we don’t like. But, being a secular nation, it should never come down to tolerating- it should be about acceptance. Coming to terms with our fellow citizens- their religions, practices, beliefs and thought processes- unless they are a hindrance to us- will contribute to the greater good- our country’s harmonious progress. So hopefully, goodbye ‘tolerance’ and ‘intolerance’! Literally.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Yours truly,

                                                                                                          Meher Joshi

                                                                                                         A fellow Indian 

  

P.S. Henceforth, I shall choose what I want to know and therefore stick to the newspaper, what with the bunch of you clogging up the news channels with your frivolous gossip!

Anya's Smile

Sweat trickled down the side of my face as the words the teacher wrote on the board swam all over its smooth green surface. I was so sleepy that I was sure if I closed my eyes for more than three seconds, I would only wake up the following month. I had only got forty-five minutes of sleep the previous night because I had to babysit my four year old sister as she cried for her favourite toy – a sock – which I searched for in vain. My sister had cried all night, my father was awake for work and my mother was too ill to help me out.

I rushed through the front door of my house to find my sister, Anya, crying again. Our nanny was unable to console her. I took Anya into my arms, and instantly she stopped crying! However, she resumed her wailing within two minutes. I let the nanny, Mrs. Mon, take care of Anya as I frantically searched the house for her sock two times over. I was unsuccessful. I ran over all the possible locations of the sock in my head. I wasn’t able to think of anything.

The last time I saw it, it was lying in the play room next to the carton of clothes which were to be donated. The only place the sock could possibly be was in the box, where it might have fallen by accident. I ran to the playroom, but the box wasn’t there…

For five minutes, I couldn’t get over the idea. The sock couldn’t be in the orphanage, I tried to reassure myself. However, I had to face the possibility that it was in the orphanage. I checked with my mother where she had deposited the clothes, sat in the car and drove off to get the smile back on my sister’s face…

The whole pile came tumbling down on me. I was in a truck, looking for Anya’s sock amongst a huge mess of clothes. A man sitting outside the truck told me I would find all the clothes which were donated and being sent to the orphanage inside. And here I was, covered in clothes from God knows where. Suddenly I heard a screeching sound as the truck’s tyres began moving! I was trapped in a moving truck under  a pile of clothes, looking for a sock!

After what seemed like an hour of tripping over clothes and searching, I found the red piece of cloth with swirly yellow designs that Anya had turned the house upside-down for. I banged my hand on the truck a million times, and was almost about to give up when the truck lurched to a stop. A man with a wispy moustache opened the door and let me go with the sock clutched tightly in my hand. I went back home.

Anya ran up to me and gave me a hug. “Ria didi! Thank you! I love you so much!” she exclaimed as she hugged the sock and flashed a smile of uncontrollable joy.

I stood there and looked at Anya, who is a part of me. I can’t imagine life without her, her happiness, her smile. All the trouble I went to was completely worth it. Anya’s smile means everything to me. Even little things are worth a lot.

बदलाव या ठहराव?

एक दिन बरसात के बाद,
मैं सड़क पर चल रहा था,
टकरा गया मैं किस से?
अरे, यह तो मेरे  बचपन का दोस्त था!

मुस्कुराते हुए वह बोला,
"मैं  तुम्हे ही ढूँढ रहा था,
छोड़ों अपना यह गाँव,
मैं शहर  तुम्हें  हूँ दिखाता !"

शहर  कभी न  देखा था मैंने,
चाह मुझे न थी,
मेरा ज़िद्दी दोस्त न माना,
मुझे बैठाया  एक डरावनी चीज़ में  , बुलाता उसे गाड़ी !

एक चाबी उसने घुमाई,
उस यंत्र ने जानवर जैसी चीख निकाली,
हाथ से एक  पहिया घुमाया,
और गाड़ी  दायें-बाएँ  मुड़ने लगी!

मेरी तो जान निकल रही थी
मेरा दोस्त था बिलकुल बेफ़िक्र ,
दो घंटे के अनजान सफ़र के बाद,
 हम आ पहुँचे  शहर!

१०० मीटर से भी ऊँची  इमारतें ,
हज़ारों, तरह-तरह के तेज़ रफ़्तार वाले
ये विचित्र वाहन  - गाड़ियाँ ,
और इमारतों में  २० - २५ माले!

मैंने देखा यहाँ  सब कुछ,
था चलता बिजली और मोटर पे,
 इतनी महँगाई थी, हों खाना या कपड़े,
इसके मुकाबले गाँव मे हर चीज़ मिलती सस्ते में ।

"दोस्त," मैंने प्यार से कहा,
"यह शहर नहीं मेरी जगह, अरे ना-ना !
तुमको यहाँ रहना है रहो,
मुझे कृपया मेरे गाँव वापस ले चलो। "

"अरे गाँव मे रखा क्या है?" वह बोला ,
"इस शहर मे सब कुछ मिलता है,
यहाँ करने को इतना कुछ है
उस गाँव मे सिर्फ खेती-बाड़ी है!"

"इस शहर मे अलग-अलग प्रकार का खाना,
गाँव में मिलता वही पुराना!
टेक्नोलॉजी ने सब कुछ आसान बनाया,
गाँव में बिजली के बिना  सब अपने हाथों से पड़ता है करना!"

"मैं जानता हूँ की तुम्हें गाँव की
कम सुविधायें नहीं भाती, "
मैंने उसे समझाया, कि कैसे, बिना बदलाव,
मुझे गाँव की पसंद है सादगी!


"अलविदा मेरे दोस्त, रहो तुम अपने गाँव में  ।"
"अलविदा मेरे दोस्त, रहो तुम अपने शहर में  ।"
मुझे वापस छोड़कर लौट गया वह शहर,
मैं मुस्कुराया, मैं खुश अपने गाँव में ।


*यह कविता मैंने पिछले वर्ष अपनी गर्मी की छुट्टियों में लिखी थी । अपनी टिप्पणियाँ ज़रूर छोड़ें :)

What a Wonderful Start

I am woken in the morning,

With the Sun’s rays streaming in,
The melodious chirping of the birds,
What a wonderful start to the day.

When I walk out to the garden,

Last night’s rain brings to me,
The smell of wet mud and leaves,
What a fresh start to the day.
 

The breeze runs through my hair,

The trees are dancing in the wind,
I want to chase all the butterflies,
What an active start to the day.

All these animals, all these trees,

The wind and the breeze,
And the Sun, the wet mud,
What a wonderful start to the day.

Who is a 'Mother'?

Who is a Mother?

I always wonder,

What is a Mother?

I always wonder,

What does she do?

Something special, is it?

Is her way of doing things,

Always so exquisite?

I don’t really know,

What it’s all about,

Just caring for your child,

Without any doubt?

What is a mother and who is she,

My Mamma has shown me!

Even she didn’t know till yesterday,

She was just born,

She started getting the feel,

When I was in her tummy,

As small as a baby corn!

This is the day, once again

She is rejoicing to be ‘Mom’,

Happy Mother’s Day!

You must have guessed who this is from!

My poem for Mamma on Mother's Day, 13th May 2012

Lights all over,
Everyone's mood is jolly,
Decorations are hanging,
Put up on every door's a holly!

Stars are gleaming on the tip,
Of every Christmas tree,
With smiles on faces,
Carols are sung with glee!

So Merry Christmas to you,
May you have a blast,
Every year when Christmas comes,
I wish that forever it should last!

दीयों से सजी दिवाली

साल के बाद साल, स्कूल को मैं वादा  करती,

पटाखे बिलकुल भी नहीं जलाऊँगी, 

पर पटाखों को देख कर मेरा मन डगमगाता, 

अपने आप को रोक न पाती ...

पर इस साल न जाने क्या हुआ, 

सबको दिवाली की दी बधाई,

बनाई रंगोली, जलाये दीये, 

पर एक भी पटाखा न मैं घर लाई ।

मैं अपने निर्णय पर अटल रही,

कोई मेरा मन न बदल पाया,

पिछले साल का फुलझड़ी का डब्बा था पड़ा,

फिर भी मेरा मन न ललचाया ।

वह एक फुलझड़ी जो मैंने नहीं जलाई,

जलाती  तो न जाने क्या हो जाता,

आ सकता था किसी को अस्थमा अटैक,

धुंए से ज़रूर किसी का मन घबराता ।

सोच लिया है मैंने,

बेहतर वातावरण में मुझे है रहना,

पेड़  मत काटो, पटाखे मत जलाओ,

पूरी दुनिया से मुझे है यह कहना ।

धूल - मिट्टी  नहीं चाहिए,

प्रदूषण न मैं सह सकती,

जब पृथ्वी स्वच्छ हो  जाएगी,

गर्व से कहूँगी - यह है हमारी शक्ति !

मेरे श्री राम स्कूल और हमारे पर्यावरण क्लब ने,

कुछ कर दिखाने की प्रेरणा मुझे दी,

अब और हिम्मत आ गई है मुझ में ,

अपने सपनों  को पूरा करने की ! 

Two Happy Feet

Crocs!

This poem holds a special place in my heart. At one point of time, I was crazy about crocs and ended up writing a poem on them :) The poem and my picture are now uploaded on the Facebook page of Crocs and have also appeared in their e-newsletter which is circulated in all Crocs offices across Asia Pacific !

Following are the links to my poem and winning story on the Crocs India Facebook page and their global site :)

http://www.facebook.com/crocs.india
http://www.crocsaroundtheworld.com/en/in/home

When you’re going to visit a friend,

Or sneaking out to play,

Crocs are what you need to wear,

Slip on and slip off each day!

When your party-wear sandals will break,

And it’s too hot for shoes,

Or, you’re playing a detective game,

On a wild goose chase for clues,

Running, playing, jumping,

Crocs are just fit for all,

Used for casual wear,

Or even going to the mall!

Crocs, Crocs, Crocs,

You might hear many people say,

Their popularity keeps growing,

Every single day!

Am I your little doll?

This poem is very special for me. I wrote this as my message to Priya Maasi on the eve of her marriage :)

You are loving and caring,
Sensible and smart,
When it comes to being a good human being,
You have the biggest heart…

Here’s something you don’t like,
Housework, cooking and indecisiveness all right,
But when it comes to being a professional,
You take off to do it faster than a flash of light!

You were my favourite Maasi,
Spent more time with me when I was small,
But then suddenly – WORK, WORK, WORK…
Am I still your little doll?

From shorts and t-shirts, to suits and sarees,
What a sudden transformation;
You staying without your favourite short nighty,
Is totally out of question!

I feel you are just a child,
Wondering what marriage has in store for you,
When I said there is only one day to go,
You looked all pale and blue!

But don’t worry Priya Maasi,
We will be just a phone call away,
Ankit is so sweet and nice,
He’ll keep you happy each day!

Have fun in your new house,
Hope you’ll get settled soon,
Wish you a happy married life,
On Karvachauth, will you be looking for the moon??!*?

The Bad Baby Boy

There was a little baby boy,
He had a beautiful toy.
Into an adult he grew,
He looked ugly too.

He never wanted to sleep,
When he was a child
And when he used to stay awake,
He used to behave wild!

In school he used to stay at the back,
Never in the front,
And when his teachers scolded him,
He just gave a grunt!

One day his teacher said,
"Why don't you study?",
The boy said, "Of course I do!
But only while feeding my dog Buddy!"

In school his position was low,
Never high enough,
And while playing cards,
He wasn't smart enough to bluff!

He had some friends,
Not too many,
He was really lucky,
'cause some kids didn't have any!

His mother was upset,
His marks were going down,
With the test paper when walked up to his mother,
He always got a frown!

All his friends were very very smart,,
He was really dumb, and to smartness he never gave a start!
Once his father said, "Yes! You have to study!",
"No!" the boy said, jumping in water that was muddy!