Word Power Made Easy.. Letter A

This is my story when I was a kid. Once in school I was abashed by the teacher for not completing my homework. The pain did not abate till the evening. The next day I thought of abdicating myself from the school, yes this was an aberration for a child like me. I started abhorring his classes. He made me feel like an abject student who had no IQ. The thought of abnegating was truly abortive as I was mere a child. My parents tried to abridge the gap between me and the teacher but his absolute sternness would never absolve me of my mistakes. I too was abstinent not to attend his classes. The theories were too abstract for me and the abstruce concept to learn them was also demanding. I felt the learning as abysmal and could never gather accolades in his subject.

Once I was in the market and I heard someone accousting me, his connotation at first seemed acerbic and felt like I should just aquiesce to the command. But this acrid tone was not at all acrimonious rather it was my prejudice to this voice. Yes it was my same teacher. Lacking the acumen to learn, I tought that my eyesight was acute to have seen him. He threw an adage "time is precious". But I was not an adherent who would address his adamant way. Late in the classes, I observed many students being admonished for not being adroit at pronoucing words, yet the teacher wanted them to adulate him for his mercy to enlighten us. We sometime felt that there was a level of aduteration in his teaching. He was sometimes affable to some who knew great deal but the adverse effects could be seen with others. The aesthetic of his teacing never appealed us. We felt there always was an affectation, Affinity for some students, who may be affluent and could afford his coaching. Here we were with an agenda of learing honestly as we belonged to agrarian families. The aggregate we got in the exam made us agnostic. We lost alacrity and alleged him for less marks. We wanted to alleviate him like poverty from our school or he may be allocated to other school that would make him an alloy figuratively and he could find a balance to maintain with all kinds of students. We tried alluding this to the principal when we found him aloof. The altruism in him woke up and he tought this would diturb the ambience of school. In his defence we deduced he was ambigous in his arguments and thus ambivalent in the decision. There was no one to ameliorate our condition. No one found us amenable or amiable. It was just the amenities that other parents hankered for. He was given amnesty for all complaints. His amoral behavious

Kittu and Her Goat !!

There was a cute little girl, 8 years old named Kittu in the village. Her family was poor. All they had was a goat and a cow for livelihood. They used to sell their milk. The girl loved the goat very much, she named her Sita, relating to the ramayan story her grandmother used to recite to her. She used to feed her, milk her, take her out in the evening. Eventually, she got very attached to her. Everyday, Kittu kissed her goat before going to the school and would return running happily hugging the goat.

Seeing this, her father once jokingly said "itna mat pyaar kar isse, bakriya jyada nahi jeeti, ek din mar jayegi ye". Kittu at first couldn't get this. She argued "kyu maregi, mai itna khayal rakhti hu iska". The father did not say anything thinking she is too young to understand.

Time passed and Sita, the goat gave birth to two kids one male and one female. they were very cute. Kittu adored them. She played with them all day. Her father thought if she gets too much attached to them too, it will be very difficult to sell the male kid as he is of no use to me. 

He made a deal to sell the male kid to one of the butchers provided he would never let her daughter know about it. The butcher agreed.

One early morning he took out the young goat and sold it to butcher's shop. Sita, the mother sensed something unusual and she became restless. But she was tied and what afterall she could've done!

When Kittu got up and as usual she went to feed the goat family. Finding, one kid missing and Sita, the mother crying. She ran to look for the kid. She searched everywhere in the house but couldn't find him. Then She rushed to tell her father. Her father said pretending a worriedness on his face "Beta, maine to poora gao chhan maara subah se, par vo mila hi nahi, Pata nahi kaha chala gya."

Without thinking for a second the girl ran in the entire village asking every other person telling them about the features of her goat. Kittu kept crying all day. Her father thought its just matter of time it would hardly take a couple of days and everything would be fine. 

Her father tried to pacify her "beta mai dusra le aaunga, isse bhi achha".

to this, Kittu said innocently with tears in her eyes "papa, mujhse bhi acchi koi beti dhundh lo, jo itna pagalo ki tarah na roye..!!".

The father was shocked to hear this from her as she was just 8 years old. He understood the gravity of her pain. But he knew that nothing could be done now as the butcher had already sliced the goat and sold its meat to customers.

The father now tried to make her child understand the real reason. He said "Beta agar wo kahi nahi bhi jaata, to bhi hamare pass kab tak rehta"

"wo bakra tha, kabhi dhoodh nahi deta, hum kya karte uska ?"

Kittu couldn't understand this logic and asked in return "kya matlab papa, to hum kya karte uska ? usko bahar to nahi fek dete". 

his father said "nahi, jinko iski jarurat hoti hai, use bech dete hai"

The girl thought that there are so many kind people also who would buy and keep them despite the fact that few people just want to get rid of the male goats.

By now, she had stopped crying and then asked her father

"wo kya karte hai inka, matlab ye doodh to dete nahi"..

The father was now caught off guard. He did not know how to answer this. However, with a heavy heart he stated the truth "beta, in bakro ka meat logo ko pasand hota hai, to wo kharidte hai"

Kittu now just couldn't hold her emotions for her cute kid. She started crying uncontrollebly. She just couldn't accept the fact that the goat by now might have been served to someone's plate. She abhored all people who ate meat.

It took her weeks and months to lessens her feelings for him.

Fast forward after 10 years. she was a smart, intelligent and bright student. Being good in studies , She had managed to get a scholarship in the nearby town's college. In her college, there was a debate competition organised on "Vegetarianism". She was to speak for the motion. 

She always wanted to convince people how meat eating is not good. She had prepared all her points to counter every argument that could arise to support non-vegetarianism. She had collected world wide statistics for health issues, deforestation and natural vegetation depletion for commercialising the animal farming industries. How 3/4th of the amazon forests in south africa has been cleared up to grow pastures for animals so that these animals could grow in number. How their over -production has led to extinction of rare species in savaana or other major grasslands.

Kittu heard everyone's argument about how meat is healthy and is the only source of major protiens and how these animals are somewhere related to natural tendency of food chain.

Now it was Kittu's turn to speak. All she could now think was the incident that happened 10 years ago. Everyone had expectation that Kittu will mesmarise everyone by her points to counter all arguments. 

She stood up. She was silent for a while. Looked at the audience. She had tears rolling down her eyes, yet she smiled and said in low tone "Thank You everyone for giving me this opportunity.. I have all the points to state how in no way, eating meat is humane or healthy or protein building or a million benefits which few of my friends here stated, but I don't want to repeat and tell you the things that you already know, yet are not willing to accept"

"I don't want to make you emotional by saying how killing any creature for satisfying your taste buds is cruel and all that.."

I would rather leave you all with one thought.

"These animals cannot speak any languange, cannot think rationally, cannot fight with us, cannot make us realise our oppression like Gandhi did, cannot put any point here in this debate in support of their life"

"But they understand love, the understand fear, they have instincts far better than us, they never judge us, they are emotional fools", "You can call a dog by showing a roti.. he'll come waging his tail and then you can slice his throat, yet the next dog would come even if you do not show roti and just call him with love"

"I am just trying to be their voice, that please eat something else, and let them live, waise bhi wo jyada nhi jeete..!"

"Thank You"

MAHABHARAT Unfolded

I always had this curiosity to know everything about all the incidents in Mahabharat. Since this was not one of the science's miracles or any astonishing universal phenomena, it was always postponed and was prioritized low. Now, I have begun the work of going through Mahabharat story with reference to 94 episodes of BR Chopra TV Series(1988-90).

Story goes : -

It all started with a great king of Kuru Vansa that Bharat possessed once. He was Raja Bharat, son of Dushyant and Shakuntala. He was the greatest king of his time. Our country name is named after him. He had 7 sons but he chose someone else from his subjects to be his successor, as he believed in Karma and not Vanshavad.

His thoughts were not celebrated long and time came when kings succeeded by their heir. Raja Shantanu was one of the lineage. Once he set out on hunt in the jungle and encountered a beautiful lady. He fell in love with her beauty and was magically driven into her. She was Ganga. His fall was to such an extent that he said yes to everything Ganga asked. Surely the kingdom was about to fall with the king being so indulged in carnal craving.

Once, Ganga asked the king to take a vow for not questioning her for anything she does. King, lost in her beauty, without giving second thought gave his word.

Now came the ultimate pain of this vow when one by one Ganga drowned her 7 sons into the river. Despite seeing all this before his eyes, King couldn't question. Finally it was beyond his patience and tolerance, when Ganga was taking her 8th son to the river, he stopped her and broke his vow by questioning her the very definition of a mother.

Ganga explained "This was all due to a curse that we are living in this MrityuLok(earth). The curse was of her father, which would only break if Shantanu would break his vow. Now I am relived from this, I am leaving with your son and would return it at right time."

12 years passed. King was drowned in thoughts for Ganga, her beloved. Then came a day when Ganga appeared and gifted her son called Devvrat. She promised to have taught her all knowledge and Shastra gyan to her son as this kingdom is known for passing down the legacy on Karma basis and not Vansh. King was very happy to have his son.

Devvrat was proficient in everything as he received ll his knowledge directly from Devta in swarg. He solely once drove away the entire army of Salva Vansa who attacked and even pardoned the capurted king extending his friendship. This made the Kuru Vansa popular all throughout.

Years later, when king went for hunt to the jungle he again saw a very beatiful kanya named Satyavati who used to row boat on the yamuna river bank for the travellers to cross. She was too very beautiful and attractive. King fell flat on her beauty and decided to marry her. He met his father Dashraj who set a condition that he would allow marriage only if King promised to enthrone his daughter's eldest son. King was infuriated at this and left. But he could't forget Satyavati. He was depressed and always went to the river bank to see her.

Devvrat upon observing his father's sadness, discovered the reason behind. He went to Dashraj and asked for the problem which hindered his father's marriage to Satyavati. Dashraj explained. Bhism immediately agreed for giving his kingdom to the unborn child of Stayavati. This was not enough for Dashraj, he also wanted that only Satyavati lineage would inherit kingdom and not devvrat's. To this, Devvrat who was a great father devotee, took a pratigya(vow), to not marry and lead a life of celibacy, never have a child. This is known as Bhism Pratigya.

King Shantanu, upon learning this incident felt very sad and helpless and thought himself as the reason of his son's vow. But, such a sacrifice for father's devotion and love was an example for the entire world. He gave his son a boon "You will have death only when you wish, and the world will know you by Bhism". This was iksha mrityu vardaan. King Shantanu died.

Throne was left empty till the birth of Shankuntala's first Chitrangad. His tenure did not last long and was killed. Shakuntala's second son Vichitravir was enthroned thereafter. He proved to be a good king under Bhism.

King of Kashi had three daughters  Amba, Ambika, Ambalika. He organised a swaimvar for them but did not invite Kuru vansa King Vichitravir. Bhism got offended and went to the swaimvar himself on the king's behalf. He challanged the king and forced him to let away her daughter for Vichitrvir. He brought them to Hastinapur palace but got to know that Amba was in love with King of Salva. He sent her to salva with honors. But king of salva now refused considering it a mockery on his inefficiency to win Amba himself. He felt it as an insult and rejected Amba. Amba blamed Bhism for all this happening and proposed him to marry her, but as he had taken vow he couldn't. She cursed him that she will be the reason for his death. She left.

Vichitravir died of a disease and Ambika or Ambalika did not have a son. King's place was vacant. Then Satyavati's son Ved Vyas who was a sage's vardaan for satyavati boat ride to Yamuna bank arrived Hastinapur and agreed to her mother's wish to impregnate Ambalika and Ambika. They just had to encounter Ved Vyasa and he would shower his fortune for their son. Ambika was terrified when encountered by the sage's look and she closed her eyes. Her son was born without vision Dhritrashtra. Ambalika encountered sage with fear and her body turned pale. Her son Pandu was not healthy and predicted to be so ever in life. Satyavati begged for one more chance to Vyasa, but fearful ambika and ambalika sent a maid instead to Vyasa. Unlike them, the maid was cheerful and did not panic at all seeing Vyasa. Her son Vidur was healthy and proficient in everything as predicted.

Being the eldest son, Dhritrashtra was proposed by Bhism to be the next king. However, Vidur suggested that a king should not be physically insufficient by any means. Pandu was then enthroned on the kingdom. 

Dhritrastra was married to Gandhar's daughter Gandhari. In her husband's devotion, She blindfolded her eyes too and pledged to no see if her husband cannot.

Pandu went to Aryaraj kingdom which held swaimvar for the King's daughter Kunti. Kunti was indeed born in soorvans with name Pritha but soorvans king gifted her to his childless brother kuntibhoj, and hence name Kunti. 

Kunti once did an immense hospitality to rishi Durvasha, who blessed her and gave a mantra by which any god from devlok would have to come if she remembers. 

She just wanted to testify the sage's blessing and uttered the mantra for Surya Devta. He then blessed her with a son Daanveer Karna. Being unmarried, Kunti had no option other than to let her child go. She left Karna covered in a box into a river.

Sleep Writing

While returning back to my home, I heard some JNU kind students protesting for something. I overlooked them and passed by, but there was a thought that maybe they ask of force me to join them. I pretended as if I had some important work and I passed. No one stopped me of troubled me. I reached home, relaxed for sometime and then out of nowhere this thought came to visit that place again, maybe for the good reason they are fighting against the government, I thought.

I went to that place.This time it was like a camp being set up there. There were few policeman who controlled people, I out of thinking that I have done no wrong. Lets just enter, I stopped my bike without removing the helmet started walking towards the entrance. Then I pulled out the helmet, kept it on the desk and went forward. I saw small children lined up in a row, a little happy. I noticed that there were colorful jackets placed one by one in the row. I thought, they are for distribution to these children. However, giving no time to think myself. I entered the main office room. As I walked in, everything became clear, It was an ISIS kind of group who trained children or teenagers and prepare them for jihad. There were ammunition all over. I was now troubled around but I thought to take this easily. I was hell fearful withing but I thought if they sensed that I want to escape they'll shoot me here itself. The person sitting at the table with a register gestured me to write my name and details. I moved forward as If I am aware of what I am doing and this is not happening by mistake. But then something hit my brain, and I thought I am going into the biggest trouble now If I do not speak. I said "I came here for registering my self for JNU students concerns, I guess I 'll find them somewhere else" and tried to walk forward. They in no time replied "come here, let me show you something" I sensed the sinister look in his eyes. He took a pin kind of instrument from his pocket and injected on my neck. I felt troubled and panicked to escape all this. I ran to the door, my feet felt heavy. With all my might I dragged myself out but fell on the ground and then few of his comrades come and took me to their shell.

I was terrified as hell and thought I have ended my life now, nothing's gonna happen now. No one will ever find me. Days passed.

A trainer came with his reasoning puzzle game and with a torturing iron instrument, he gave a puzzle. Before I could figure out, he used that instrument which felt like something eating my skin. I cried within, but focused on the puzzle and solved it in two attempts. 

You always need someone who is in the same situation as you otherwise you'll have no hope to live. After my turn, came the turn of my friend "Vamsi",  who was given to highlight the English word for "anaar". He's from Vishakhapatnam, he always had his hands tight for these hindi words. I tempted a lot to give him a hint but seeing the torture instrument  I dared not to speak. He was punished twice for not picking the right word.

I stared looking at the boundaries of the hall for escape and thinking fo my bike which I had borrowed from someone. I went near the windows, gates to look for any possible exit that I could use, However, I had a massive fear of what if I get caught. I would not be able to bear their punishment.

Then suddenly, I saw my brother came looking for me at the place.  I didn't know from where has he got any clue that I came here. But I felt so helpless, and tried to hide myself as I knew once he sees me he'll try his best to get in and then will in the same situation as I. I also wanted to tell him that please don't inquire much, don't try to get in this. You will die. All happening right in front of my eye. He inquired about the place, met a few people in uniform who were not real military person I knew. They pointed a way to the entrance .. I felt like shouting out as loud as I could, I never wanted my beloved brother to get in this hell....

Then I woke up...

समाज के दो चेहरे (Dual Faced Society)

मई तंग हूँ इन दो चेहरों से, एक तरफ जरुरत से ज्यादा अच्छाई वही दूसरी तरफ हैवानियत का नकाब पहने घूमते है ये लोग , खुद से क्या बाते करते होंगे ये, या शायद ये खुद को पहचानते ही नहीं | जब दुनिया देखती है तो इनका चेहरा सफ़ेद होता है, वचन वही निकलते है जो शास्त्रों में लिखा है, लेकिन जब ये अकेले होते है तो अन्धकार का शैतान बने फिरते है ||

कहते है वाश्यकरण गलत है, पाप है, अपराध है, ऐसी स्त्रिया तुच्छ होती है, देह व्यापार जैसी घिनोनी कोई चीज़ नहीं और आज स्थिति ऐसी की कोई भी क्षेत्र इससे अछूता नहीं है | आप प्रकार बताओ, आपके घर तक सेवा आएगी | कोई उनसे पूछे की क्या यह सेवाए वो खुद उठती है, क्या हवास का नशा उनकी आँखों में है ? आकड़े कहते है की एक औरत औसतन रोज़ के दस मर्दों का ग्राहक बनती है | आज लगभग ५० लाख से भी ज्यादा औरते, बच्चिया इस कूड़े की जिंदगी में है और इनसे १० गुना है ये समाज के लोग जिन्हें हम प्रतिष्ठित कहते है |

भारत की विडम्बना देखिये एक ओर ग्रन्थ, गीता, साधू-संत और पीढ़ी दर पीढ़ी चली आ रही संस्कृतिया है, और दूसरी ओर बलात्कारियो का देश कहा जाने वाला भी देश यही है |
एक ही आदमी जब बेटी की शादी करता है तो मानो उससे विनम्र, सज्जन, कर्मबद्ध इंसान ना हो, लेकिन वही आदमी बेटे की शादी में बदले की भाव लेकर उमड़ता है, सीना फुलाए सबको ठोकर मारता है कारण यह कि वो एक बेटे का बाप है और बेटा मतलब शान, शौकत, ताकत और दुसरो की बेटो को पैरो तले कुचलने का लाइसेंस ...........   मुझे दुःख है मै एक ऐसी समाज के सोच का हिस्सा हूँ ..||

यहाँ पर्व है, खूब त्यौहार है, रश्मे है, रिवाज है, न जाने कितने लाख भगवान् है, शुक्र है कुछ भगवान् स्त्रियों के नाम भी है | हमारे यहाँ शादी दो जिस्म एक जान नहीं होती, ये एक पवित्र बंधन है, बंधन है पत्नी का पति से, जहा पति परमेश्वर होता है क्योकि भगवान् शिव भी तो पति थे, भलाही पत्नी को पारवती का ज़रा दर्जा न मिले ...|
यहाँ इस पवित्र बंधन को कोई नहीं तोड़ सकता, पति चुकी परमेश्वर है, अपने तरीके से परिवार को आगे बढ़ाएगा, पत्नी उसका ख़याल रखेगी, थके हारे आने पर पैर दबाएगी, मालिश करेगी, एक से बढ़कर एक पर्व और वर्त करेगी जिससे उसका सुहाग हमेशा सलामत रहे .... हमारे भारत में उस सुहाग के वास्ते कोई वर्त नहीं क्योकि वो परमेश्वर जो ठहरा ..|

अब बारी आती है उस सुहाग पर जिम्मेदारियों की, उसकी पहले सोच यह होती है की ज्यादा से ज्यादा बेटे पैदा हो ... बेटा मतलब लौटरी और बेटी मतलब क़र्ज़ !! जिव विज्ञानं कहता है की मर्द के शारीरिक तत्व बच्चे का लिंग निर्णय करते है लेकिन सदियों से आ रही परंपरा और पति परमेश्वर के हिसाब से इसकी पूरी जिम्मेदार औरत होती है, अब उसने ग़लती की है तो बिना दंड तो माफ़ी मिलती नहीं .. यहाँ से अत्याचार प्रारंभ होता है और सासु माँ जो खुद एक औरत है , वह जज का काम संभालती है ..|

अगर पति कुछ पढ़ा लिखा हो तो कम से कम बेटी को पढ़ा देगा, अगर सामान्य हो बेटियों को दसवी पास कराकर छुडवा देगा ... बेचारी क़र्ज़ जो ठहरी ..|

मै एक ऐसे समाज के सोच का हिस्सा हूँ..||

जाने अनजाने बने कातिल !!

खुसकिस्मत है हम जो हमे ये ज़िन्दगी मिली, खामखा रोया करते है , ढेरो शिकायते लिए इश्वर को दोषी ठहराते है | कभी खुली आँखों और खुले विचारो से दुनिया की ओर देखे तो पाए की हम कितने सुखी है |

हमारी आस्था भगवान् में हमशा ही रहती है | हर दिन किसी देव या देवी के पूजन का दिन मान्य है | इतने आस्तिक होते हुए भी हूँ तीन दिन तो सप्ताह में ऐसे निकाल ही लेते है, जब मांस का आहार कर सके ... "वाह मेरे भक्त !! पूजा का अच्छा प्रसाद खाता है तू", ऐसा ऊपर बैठा विधाता सोचता होगा | :)

मै न तो आस्तिक हु, और न ही नास्तिक | मुझे इश्वर के अस्तित्व पर संदेह है और विश्वास भी , दोनों ही पहलू है मेरे विश्वास में ... | खैर मै बात उनकी करना चाहता हु, जो इश्वर को मानते तो है पर सिर्फ उनके प्रकोप के डर से | कौन नहीं जानता, की क़त्ल एक संगीन जुर्म है ., लेकिन कानून कहता है कतल यानी इंसानों का क़त्ल न की किसी और जीव जन्तुओ का | क्या भावनाए, प्यार, अपनापन हम इंसान ही समझते है ? करुणा, दया तो हममे ही है, जानवरों में कहा ... !!

अगर कोई मेरे जैसी बाते आज किसी भी युवा समूह में कहे, तो लोग कहेंगे की महात्मा प्रवचन दे रहे है | कोई उनसे कहे की प्रवचन सुनने के लिए जो आस्था चाहिए वो एक मांसाहारी के पास कभी न होगी | यह तो महज एक सुलझी हुई समझ है " जियो और जीने दो "...|

मैं भी कभी मांसाहारी था और मैं ये समझ सकता हु की कुछ ये गलती जाने अनजाने में कर रहे है | अगर कोई बनी बनायीं स्वादिष्ट चीज़ थाली में पडोस दी जाए, तो लुफ्त उठाने में क्या हर्ज़ है | मन में दो ही बाते चलती है एक की यह काफी पौष्टिक है, दूसरी की सभी तो खा ही रहे है फिर हर्ज़ ही क्या है |

कहते है एक बच्चे का प्राथमिक विद्यालय उसका परिवार होता है और जब विद्यालय के शिक्षक ही तुम्हे प्रोत्साहन दे तो फिर कौन सी सोच और कैसी सोच |

मैं हमेशा इस बात का ख्याल रखता हु की मेरे किसी भी कर्म से किसी का नुकसान तो नहीं हो रहा और जब वो नुकसान किसी जीव की हत्या हो तो मैं किस दिल से इस पेट को उनकी कब्र बनाऊ |

इतनी छोटी सी बात लोगो को समझने में बुढ़ापा आ जाता है और वो ता उम्र इश्वर की सेवा करते है.. अजीब है ये..

मेरी तो समझ से परे है