Tuesday, June 10, 2014

कैफ़े कॉफ़ी डे

यादों की डायरी में
एक पन्ना मेरा पसंदीदा है
कैफ़े कॉफ़ी डे की एक टेबल पर तुम
और दुसरे पर मैं
बारिश से तुम्हारे बाल ज़रा गीले थे
लटें थोड़ी उलझी
और उनमें उलझा मैं.

तुम्हारी हर चुस्की से
मैं ताज़गी से भर उठता
तुम मेरी ओर देखती
और मैं नज़रें झुका लेता
तुम भी.
कितना कुछ कह गया था
तुम्हारे मेरे बीच का मौन

तुमने सलीके से कप नीचे रखा
और सौ का नोट
तुम्हारे क़दम तेज़ हुए
और मेरी सांसें
सीढ़ी से उतारते वक़्त तुम मेरी तरफ पलटी
और मुस्कुरायी
मैं जम गया.. वो लम्हा भी.

आज भी उसी कैफ़े कॉफ़ी डे में
उस हंसी को ढूंढता हूँ
तुमको ढूंढता हूँ|

स्वेटर

तुम्हारे साथ गुज़ारे लम्हों से
यादों का एक स्वेटर बुन रहा हूँ
आगे ठण्ड का मौसम है
मुझे
गर्माहट देने के काम आएगा।  

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Cynicism and Hope

The failure of the Aam Aadmi Party lies in its failure to balance cynicism and hope.
Corruption among other misdeeds of the state had frustrated me, and the Aam Aadmi Party turned it into cynicism through protests and movements where every other political leader and party was portrayed to be corrupt.

But through this lens of utter pessimism and anger for the political establishment, I could see a ray of hope. A hope for reasonably fair politics and government. That hope was not unreal as the fasts on Ramleela ground were not unreal. Cynicism favored the downfall of Congress government in Delhi, hope desired the government of the common man - more accessible, more transparent and more accountable. Aam Aadmi party formed the government. Cynicism took a backseat as hope roared; I readily overlooked its association with the Congress party.



And then came the Lok Sabha elections. Cynicism was up the barometer again. However, I recognized some difference in my perspective towards this cynicism. I had thought it to be genuine during the protests and Delhi election, but it appeared to me as an election strategy this time. I could see the party abdicating its duties as the elected government as a strategy to win votes in the ensuing elections. And there it was. Hope had vanished.

Every meeting and campaign of the Aam Aadmi Party during the Lok Sabha election increasingly relied on using cynicism as a strategy. It failed to recognize the power of hope, a tsunami, that the BJP cultivated throughout its long and massive campaign centered around the Gujarat model. Kejriwal became the icon of cynicism and Modi that of hope. And as it happens, hope comes out victorious again. BJP formed the government with massive majority while AAP faded away.

During the whole process, I had one revelation - Politics is about pessimism but it is more about hope; it is about opposition, but it is more about governance. The Aam Aadmi Party mastered the art of opposition, brutal and lacking grace, but it refused to learn the art of governance. Governance is not a matter of 49 days. Neither is politics a matter of 1 year. Graduation in both takes years.

Aam Aadmi Party must balance the two to remain relevant. It must grasp the age old wisdom - "Beyond cynicism lies hope".




Insomnia

Twist and turn
I in bed 
As the night goes to sleep.
Jealousy takes over me
And so does misery...
That she gets to dream.
While i twist and turn
In my bed.

Heart of Gold

Bring to me a heart of gold
Pure, sublime
Gleaming with beauty...
That melts like a chocolate
Under the intensity of my passion
And love,
Oozing out the mysteries of nature
Flowing through my veins,
Reaching for my heart.
Shining and reflecting its divinity on me
Oh! How I want to turn into her. Bring to me a heart of gold
And I promise to pay you through my soul. .....

Monday, June 2, 2014

Dog

I am a crazy crazy dog
Bow bow bow bow
I am a crazy crazy dog

I chase the cars like a fool
Sometimes on your legs I will drool
I wag at you my cute cute tail
There's nothing in this world that I can't smell
Yeah , I am a crazy little dog

I really hate it when you yell at me
But you're all I got, so its okay
At times I really get greedy
I'm adorable, but also cheesy
'Coz I am crazy for your love
Yeah, I am a crazy little dog


Darling, I am someone you can trust
And tell me your secrets, if you must

I am a crazy crazy dog
Bow bow bow bow
I am a crazy crazy dog