Mountain of Conviction

Blackened by the sooty flames of despair

With the litter of doubts here and there

Peaked by the snow of discouragement

With trees laden with the leaves of hindrance, seemingly bent

Lit by the lightning of diffidence

With the clouds of demotivation getting dense

Braving the storm of uncertainty

Resounding by the cries of inability

Drained by the stream of deviation

Reverberating by the voices of procrastination

Yet suffused by the light of hope

Dotted by the saplings of trust on its slope

With the wings of faith, it aims to fly

To reach higher, higher and high

Midst echoes of abnegation

Rises high the mountain of Conviction...

The Nature’s Best

The grass was green

The breeze so cool

The sky was a luminous blue

The butterflies fluttered

The cuckoos sang

The little monkeys stood there too

The river waves played

The frogs did croak

The sun was an orangish glow

The temple bells tolled

Azaan was heard

And the glory gently seemed to grow

The leaves rustled

The birds flew back

Everything was slowly coming to rest

The moon was out

The stars shone

I had witnessed the nature at its best.

Happy Father's Day

For my Dad...An Inspiration...a role model...a mentor...a friend....and an exemplary gentleman.... A very Happy Father's Day!

HE

He held out his hand, when I fell down

He tickled me silly whenever I frowned

He made me fly when I wanted to jump

He steered me away when I was about to bump

He made me act upon my thoughts

He rescued me from tight spots

He made me run when I wanted to walk

He made me resume when I wanted to stop

He made me explore when I wanted to see

He made me the person when I wanted to be

When I wanted to whisper, he made me shout

He made me sure when I had a doubt

He gave me energy, when I was feeling low

He made my life a beautiful rainbow

Many bizarre hues, he did add

Yes....He’s none other than my Dad!

The India of My Dreams

"Aano Bhadra Kratvo Yantu Vishwat"
(Let noble thoughts come to us from every side)

-Rigveda

Whenever I'm alone, I dream....I dream of what India will be like in the near future. I grew up listening to the endless yarns of my Granny of how India had been. The rich past of India acts like the golden chain which binds the country together into oneness. Everything from wisdom to spirituality sought refuge here. The great Himalayas with its lofty peaks rising above the clouds and the grand waves of the Indian ocean together contribute in making India a 'Kohinoor of the world.' We have a rich heritage ranging from the towering heights of the Qutub Minar to the sinking depths of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Since time immemorial India has set examples for the world. This is the land where Bapu once trod, where Krishna was born, where Buddha got enlightened...It is the land which survived numerous invasions and still stands firm on its feet, strengthening all the more. The future I want for India is the upon built upon its past. We need to look back and take inspiration or as Swami Vivekananda puts it "...Drink deep of the eternal fountains that are behind and then look forward"
The call for unity is the first and foremost thing. Considering the brutal clashes in Andhra Pradesh or Assam for a split up, one can say that unity is becoming lax here. Unity not just regionally but I want unity culturally, racially, religiously, linguistically and intellectually. The more we go on fighting about trivial issues, the more we'll deviate from the path of togetherness. Divisions will degrade us all the more and weaken the prospect of a better, shining India. Patriotism should fuel our intentions. If we want to bring India to the heights of prosperity, there lies a bumpy road ahead. There's work to be done day and night.As "The future depends on what we do in the present" (M. K. Gandhi), we have to start working now. I dream of a country devoid of pollution, beggary, corruption, poverty, untouchability, violence, dishonesty, unemployment, illiteracy, inequality, discrimination and injustice. I beckon the youth of today to rouse themselves for life is short. The golden bird is now ready to fly away, we just need to provide a bit of strength. The future I want for my country is suffused with the light of Non- violence, Truth, Education, Development, Fearlessness, Women- empowerment, Equality, Self- discipline, Prosperity, Greenery and last but not the least golden rays of hope...

A Prayer to God

I lift up my head towards the sky

The heaven and the earth behold me sigh

My lips are moving in a silent prayer

My eyes are closed, I am standing there

"Oh God" I pray,

"Grant me a boon that I may

Not hurt a single being

Or destroy even a little thing

May I be loved by all

And may I hear each distressed call

May I do everyone good

And may I never ever be rude

May I help all the needy souls

And may I reach all my goals"

With this I lower my eyes upon the earth

I feel contended with my new birth

I can hear God whispering slowly

"And Lo! my child, I forgive your folly"

HOPE

When all the lights are flicked off.

And your sinking ship finds no dock.

When all the paths are blocked.

And all the doors you find are locked.

When in darkness, you are struggling.

And the others are just sitting back and chuckling.

When the sun doesn’t rise to lighten up your way.

And the candles you had have melted away.

When the tide is high and you are in a sea.

And on a safer side you struggle to be.

When from home you are far away.

And there are many obstacles in your way.

When you have lost the best of your friend.

And to your wounds there’s no one to tend.

When you are all alone in the darkest place.

And you have no energy to increase your pace.

When fate has many tragedies in store for you.

And you can’t find any support to cling to.

When in these adverse circumstances you are trying to cope.

Then there is nothing you have but just hope.