Thursday, February 28, 2008

Bachpan

Mujhe aaj bhi yaad aati hai; Jab bhi maa mujhe bulati hai; Uski aawaaz mujhko lekar jati hai; Aur bachpan key din ki yaad dilaati hai

Kya mukt hawa ki tareh hum jaatey; School ground mein plane udaatey; Zindagi ujjwal jaise darpan; Aisa anmol hi tha apna bachpan

Phir teacher ki daant khakey hum ; darey dubkey sehmey sey hum; chupchaap apni class mein jaate; aur kuch der mein sab bhool jaatey

phir ghar jaldi pahunchney ki lagti hod; ruktey nahin kisi gali kisi mod; sirf bhaagtey bhaagtey ghar ko jaatey; Aur is meethi jeet ka jashn manaatey

Itna nirmal aur anupam ; Aisa anmol hi tha apna bachpan ;Woh jangli phoolon ki phulwaari;
mano dekh hamko phir muskurayee

Aur phir bhag bhag kar bhusidar pakadna; mano dharti ka safaltam karya karna; Aur gandey naale mein bhi dhoondhtey they akarshan; Aisa Anmol hi tha apna Bachpan

pavitr nirdoshta aaj bhi woh; kahin shayad chipi ho; Par aaj kuch haasil karke bhi; man tript nahin santusht nahin

Maano umar key umdey saagar mein; dab gayi kuch komal koplein; Aur naam kamaney ki is jang meinkahin; Sab dhunndhlaa gaya ab aur nahin

Aur laga sochne phir udaaseen man ;Kya yun anmol tha apna Bachpan ????

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Of Something...


I live on the Earth ; the place I live
is filled with tyrants and talkers glib.

They talk abundantly about times to come
Whilst all the work done becomes undone.

They talk about the sun , and the moons and stars
and the glorious battles and the various wars.

And they talk about work to do
of rebuilding the said homes left crude.

Hypocrites; Vultures and similar scum
sitting , gloating, at humanity's helm

While the Rest do their best to find
some food, some rest and peace of mind.

You know what I think when I see what we are
When I see these atrocities by and far,

The seemingly simple thought crosses my mind
Do you know where I live ; where all kind eats its kind

And the very carrion eaters that dwell
are the rulers of us and well

We are but the miserable prey
Cursed to be hunted and they

Know the sword of oppression has and will
overcome all strength and valour and skill

Of all the wars the warriors die in gallantry
At the end of the campaign, its the King's victory

At the end the public claps and cheers
for "the King was masterful in battle O hear!"

How sorry the bodies lay in the dust prone
at the mercy of the elements and toiler drone;

But no ; "How much the king sacrificed and lost"
While the gridiron fields get covered in frost

Oh how much lies and how much fallacy
Oh how much deceit and how much treachery

And so I wonder is here where we stay
destined to ,like always, fade away

How I wish to sprout some wings ,
and to fly where the free wind sings.

Where man is really free as he thought
and where goop and bigotry comes to a naught.

And so do I wish to fill this void,
Utopia you may call it, I like Paradise.

And seeking now the said Land, is all I dream
And though futile this task of mine might seem

I promise, oh I do, I will find it where
it lies; and then, only there

Shall my mind find the rest it seek-ed
where men will be brave no head will be meek

And the freeness of thought shall flow like the river
Shining as hope , as joy in every sliver

Where equality and love will have no dearth
And that ,my friends, shall be renamed Earth.

And that, my friends, shall be renamed Earth.

-Sam

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Of Anshu...

I know this is probably too late to write something...anything. But, I cannot really do something about it. Please do not take it as eulogy because it is not.

You probably knew Anshu Gupta , or you probably didn't ...but now you won't.

Let me begin. I knew Anshu from class 10th but we became good friends from class 11th when he came to my class. Bright,Cheerful,Crazy like the rest of us, I immediately took a liking to him. to say the least, he was an excellent right-winger,amazing batsman and bowler, supreme maths god, and an honest person and a rare friend. He had one dream he wanted to be in IIT thats all he ever wanted.

I remember asking him once "kya yaar, agar iit mei nahin hua to?" he replied " agley saal try karunga" "aur phir agar phir sey nahin hua?" he replied" Doosri baar mein to koi bhi nikaal lega, yaar!!"

I still remember the day when he first fainted...on the football field. I used to brag proudly that it was I who had tackled him just before that... The words keep coming back to haunt me and I am at a loss to explain how ashamed I feel about myself.

I remember the time we all went to Campion school for our Brilliant Tests and the football matches during the lunch time. I remember the fights and the discussions regarding football and practically everything. I remember his most oft-repeated line "Meoanna??", the tunes of "Roobaroo"the Rang Dey Basanti song(his favorite),I remeber the celebration when we all found out we were all going to be in Kgp. I keep remembereing and the memories keep coming...they are rich in detail and almost make us forget the loss.

Anshu collapsed on the cricket fields in his NSS camp. I remember the day as never before now. The frantic phone calls from friends , the running to B.C.Roy and trying to get things done,watching him being carried inside, talking to his father...; and then hearing the news from the OT.
Have you ever have had a cracker explode too near your ear?? The whole inside of your brain goes numb and there is a strange silence among the chaos. Like armageddon all around you. Like a spear that has been thrust so fast that the pain is still to come. Like ice and fire.

I know my pain is nothing as compared to what his family and relatives may have felt. Maybe I had not even felt a fraction of there suffering. I know this... that was the day I lost a very good friend. A friend I would have had for life. A friend I would have gladly been there for.

Often, in times of despair, the thought occurs...could I have done something to save him...I ask and I ask...but there is no answer. Could he have done something to save himself...again there is Silence.

May the Almighty give Peace to his soul.
May the Almighty give peace and Solace to his family.
May the Almighty give me and my friends strength to bear this incredible loss.
Amen

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Of Robotix and the Most Memorable Time of My Life.



I do not know whether I should say anything at this juncture, but I would just like to give an account of my brief relation with Robotix....

When first Gaurav(B) said that " we are a family......you will understand it later....." . I really did not know what to think or respond, particularly because the heads seemed too distant and co-ordinators were , well, near godlike. I was really afraid of Sassy that time(which I am a little now even!)

But during the event these differences just seem to melt away.... and I got to know the seniors better;all the heads , coordinators and the super coordinators. Being on the Robotix Help Desk also was a challenge, which I hope I took head-on.

Also I observed a very amazing fact , that as long the co-ordinators were with us , we had this inner reassurance that nothing could go wrong . I guess this comes with experience; I endeavor to reach this level one day.

The continuing echoes from the mind forcing you to sleep, to sleep on the Vikramshila seat cutting wires, to watch a teammate dream of flowers,to explain the people that ktj events info was to be found inside the Colosseum, to be nicknamed "Dog-Lover", to explain the intricacies of Terra Ranger and Stackistics along with Nightshift and Overnite..............
when hunger and thirst give way to sheer excitement and accomplishment of finishing an event, from Shantanu to Patel
to TRS and back again, to announce stuff inside the ktj control tent.............
all these are the memories that will remain etched in my memory for ever.

As far as "Jhaad" is concerned I totally think that we deserved it ......as we are not the right people to judge our own effort. It's people who have been there , done that that can give a straight idea of what we lacked.Maybe we all got too critical after the day was over.

Now I truly understand what being in a family meant....I now realize the depth in those words.

Even if I "makhaoed" in this event... I daresay I'll strive to redouble my efforts as i go along and may you see me with redoubled vigour and zeal in Robotix 09

As Al Bernstein once said : "Success is often the result of taking a misstep in the right direction.
"

Thank You

ROBOTIX ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sam "the Dog Lover"