The Spark is in You

My book The Spark is in You is getting published by Authorspress, Delhi

The Kite Runner

Detest I all pages of knowledge, science and philosophy

That make one to forget Him as the Almighty
 

Fly may I higher and higher and delve deeper and deeper
But relish not the height nor the depth that hides my Anchor

Tiny before Him are the kings, emperors and the presidents
As are they the mere puppets and the role players at his behest

Mover and shaker is he of the world and holds the pivot
The kite runner is He thus controls the life and the flight

What happens and happens not happens at his commands
How Foolish are the fools to think doers they are of the deeds

Is He there nothing is where, is He there everything is where
And hapless the man that looks for Him far here and there  

Realization of being He is always with us yet unseen unrealized
Not the temple nor the Church nor the mosque He ever dwelled

Easy is He to find but subtle deeply to know and comprehend
Found I him in the heart of purity while I searched and searched

The real honcho is He of the immortal to achieve the goal
I bow before Thee, oh ! You the nurse and captain of my soul 

Our Hypocracy

Many a time it occurs to my mind that we Indians lead a life of double standard – one for ourselves and one for others.  We preach something and do something else. The last time I had a chance to be at the ‘Bhagwat Katha’ (religious story). The people thronged to the place of function in thousands.  This just imbued me to think how hypocritical we are. The people there were feeling so privileged to listen to the hasrikKatha (story related to god ) as if they all were leading a narrow and straight life. But I knew that so many of them were so down and dirty.

In fact, the people keep the principles only for sermonizing  but  in practice their deeds go against the common precept of decency and ethics. Not to talk of leading of a fair life, they leave no stone unturned impede the life of those who lead a fair and square life. Perhaps we are living in such a society where the honest people lose their houses to  be prayed in temples      

May God Forgive Us !

I saw my little daughter  hopping, skipping, prancing and dancing unwary that I had been observing her for a long time. Suddenly I thought of taking her in my arms and kiss her infinitely as I was thrown back to my past when we were to commit that heinous and inhuman sin and crime. A strong feeling of shame, regret and remorse dawned on me. And I looked toward heaven if the almighty would ever forgive us for thinking of committing that sin. Perhaps he will not……..

I had got married and also had had a son. After 2 years of birth of my son, my better half expressed her wish to have another kid with the hope that it would be a girl. But I opposed  on the pretext that it would be financially difficult to manage for the good upbringing of the two children.

Nothing came out conclusive and the altercation on the subject went on. But in due course god had it that my better half conceived thus surprising both of us. By that time, she had either got convinced with my view or she had resigned to my wish. Keeping my view in her mind, she decided to abort perhaps half-heartedly perhaps to keep my heart. But now I was deadly against it as I considered it the most heinous crime that a human is capable of committing.  But she thought that I was opposing just to keep her heart and I thought she was doing it to keep my heart. In due course of this ding - dong battle, I acceded to her intentions.

Next morning she went to the doctor who asked her to come the following day. However,  just  when my better half  was to leave the doctor the latter quipped, “ it’s  always better to have two kids”.  At night we again discussed the matter. This I spoke in roundabout way convincing - cajoling and condemning the act that she wanted to do. This time she looked convinced and she said,” You are right”, quoting the last remark of the doctor. I do not know whether she knew I really wanted the child or was it the remark of the doctor that could have been ringing in her ear and heart. However, the reason did not matter here. I felt relieved that we did not become the instrument of the sin.

And now I took the little cherub in my arms and loved and kissed her praying to god to forgive us both for having thought of preventing this little angel from coming into this world. Now she fights, plays and shares with her brother and I feel overjoyed for not missing the opportunity of finding the joy of the world that resides in the innocence of child, 

The Solace of a Teacher

Suddenly, a young man came to me and touched my feet. This surprised me and I tried to recognize the young man. I recollected that the fellow was my old student while I was serving somewhere in Shimla. His name now rang in my mind. I was surprised not by the fact that he had suddenly came to my feet nor by the fact that I could not initially recognize him. My being surprised was due to some other reason. In fact, I was surprised because I had thought otherwise regarding the boy. I had thought that the guy in his life will never like to recognize me and will never try to show any reverence to me, And the idea of his touching my feet was a a distant dream - a dream which I had never thought of having.

The boy gave me enough stimulus to be thrown back to the days while he was my student. It had so happened that this guy was to take 10+1 exams and wanted some kind of help from us- the people on duty. I as I am could not do that at any cost. He just connived with the local goons and instigated them to browbeat us and thus teach us some lesson. These hooligans did their best to scare us physically and mentally. We had to inform the police and this guy was handed over by us to the police the next day for some better treatment. The examinations went on and came to an end without any hassles and the matter was forgotten as being a little frivolous incident.

Now after six years, this man had come down to me to seek my blessings. What I could make from this incident was that perhaps this is the only solace a good teacher can have even today.