खुलली कळी

थकूलं मन हळूच
कळीत जावून लपलं
सूर्यासवे उमलायची
वाट पाहू लागलं

सूर्य आला वर तरी
कळी काही उमलेना
किती केली आर्जवं तरी
फूल काही फुलेचना

तिकडून आला माळी
घातलं ख़त पाणी
खूप घातल्या शिव्या अन्
खोचक टीका टिप्पणी

शिव्या खूप बोचल्या
टीका खोल रुतली
कळी अशी घाबरली
घट्ट मिटून लपली

मनाने मनावर घेतलं
भ्रमरावर सवार झालं
कळीच्या मनात शिरलं
अलवार तिला थोपटीलं

खुदकन कळी खुलली
अंगांग रोमांचली
हात पसरून नाचली
फूल होऊन बहरली

Shell of a Snail

when I was a small child
on grass I was rolling wild
there I saw a quiet snail
with a bright shining shell

in warmth of morning sun
sparkling with beads of dew
it sparkled its shining smile
from beneath the shining shell

sun rose, went up the sky
snail only wondered why
its so quiet and blissful here
why then rush here and there

in wonder and in awe
snail took a tiny step
with wonder and with awe
its mind grew a zillion way

a dot and the universe
really there is no difference
wise was the quiet snail
smiling inside its shining shell

Be Good

A man spent a busy life

all his life he created wealth

a zillions in wealth

didn’t  waste a moment

didn’t waste a smile

did not shed a tear

 

after his ultimate death

he donated all to charity

to build temples and

to run many schools and

to feed a thousand hungers

to a benevolent earth

 

After his such a deeds

he was well remembered

his statues were erected

schools were named and

awards given in his name

he was conferred a saint

 

he went to God

to take him in heaven

God asked him why.

he had a long list

of charity done unto others

after his divine death

 

God looked  the whole list

top to bottom, bottom to top

He could not see his name

whole world was there but

not even a bit of self

God refused him in

 

to his agony He answered

I am you and you are Me

how can you be good

 when you ain’t good to self

its not enough to do good

if you aint be good

नाचे म्हातारा

घेर कळेना, ढेर कळेना
बम्ब नाचायाचे याला
अरे कुणीतरी थांबवा
या माझ्या म्हातारयाला
ओ माझ्या म्हातारयाला ।

नाच नाचूनी पाय थकले
झिजलेले गुडघे सुजले
आणखी तरी नाचायाचे
या माझ्या म्हातारयाला
ओ माझ्या म्हातारयाला ।

झुकले जरी याचे तन
मस्त आहे हिरवे मन
त्याची ही हिरवी धुंदी
या माझ्या म्हातारयाला
ओ माझ्या म्हातारयाला ।

हरले तन जिंकले मन
थकलेले उथले मन
वाजवू किती तालया
या माझ्या म्हातारयाला
ओ माझ्या म्हातारयाला ।

Who Is The Deadliest Terrorist of them all

These days there is heightened level of alram for terrorist bombs. People are alert towards suspicious objects, there is supposed to be a toll free number in case of terror attack, high pitch speeches are heard all around, there is very high security checks etc. Apparantly all these are focused on one type of terrorists, i.e. islamic terrorists. No doubt these people are a big threat to our peace, safety and security. But is it happening that focusing on this we are neglecting other terrorist? 

"Other Terrorists? Who are they?"

Yes. They are not only 'who', but also 'what'! Let me offer you some data (this is not an official data, is not varified and is indicative only):

• Between Jan, 04 to Mar, 07 there were 3675 deaths in attacks by islamic terrorists.
  
• Between Jan, 06 and Mar, 07 there were 1221 people killed in maoist attacks.
• A study indicates that smoking account for 90,000 deaths in india every year
• Government data indicate that end Aug, 06 there were 14325 reported cases of AIDS in Maharashtra and 124.995 in total India. Prevalence of AIDS in maharashtra in 50-06 was estimated to be 0.62% of population. This means that if Pune's population is taken as 40 lakh then there may be nearly 25,000 cases of AIDS.
• Only on Pune raods there were 324 accident fatalities in 2004 and 172 in 2005.
• There are number of deaths in North Eastern states by insurgents there.(I could not get figures)

If you take all these figures to a common denominator, you may notice that there are causes, other than islamic terrorism, that account cause high number of deaths. The number of deaths from terrorist attacks may have been low because of all the efforts being put by security agencies. This is like arranging all the fielders on off side because the batsman is strong on off side. 

This is not to downplay the threat posed by islamic terrorism but to make us aware and alert to the other dangers that are threatening us.

.....participation to fight terrorism

Jayant Umranikar, the former police commissioner of Pune has written an article in Sunday Sakal, discussing different aspects of dealing with terrorism. Though I felt a lot to agree and many things to debate, I am dealing with just one point he has said. He has refered to the IA flight hijack episode of few years ago. He has said that loud demonstration by relatives of abductees forced the government into knealing in front of the terrorists and has opned doors for future abductions as tools in the hands of terrorists. Looked in isolation this point may look very impressive, but an officer of his stature should deal with broader understanding. (Or i dont know if it is deliberate). Let me remind that Kandahar was not the first instance. I remember atleast one instance when a politicians keen was freed in exchange of terrorists' demands. Wasnt that a precedence that need to be talked about first? People today have so much faith in politicians and high officials that they know for sure that unless they should loud and hoarse they will be mercilessly made sacrificial lambs while politicians and officials make merry. What might have enabled those people to stake the lives of their abducted relatives and stand united behind the country would have been a solid affidavit or declaration by the President, Prime Minister and all his ministry stating that if such an incidence were to occur with their relatives they would not ask for any negotiations. If this was to be followed by all high politicians and officials including the respected officers like MR. Umranikar then, probably, those people would have acted differently. 

Mr. Officer, Sir, it is so easy to offer big statements from high dias. Let us see higer ups acting even a part of what you are preaching. Let the Lords lead and commoners will follow.

Have you seen the movie 'Farenheit 9/11'? When in Amrican Senate and Congress there were big loud speeches asking citizens to participate in war on terror, urging youngsters to join army to fight in Iraq, these same senators and congressmen were asked to sign a statement asking their urging their own children to join the army. Not a single one, I repeat not a single politician, signed such a statement. And we see what has happened of that War on Terror and of those young americans who lost their lives or limbs in that same war on terror.

Stones of heart

Do not pelt thy stones
for they carry your God

put them in gold
they carry your ornaments

feel them all around
for they carry your river

put them on one another
see them make your house

put them alongside other
they chart your path

give them to your kid
see world of play evolve

share them with beloved
and create loving monuments

stones ...  Read Moreare not mere things
they are loving beings

hit them hard
they will hurt you

caress them with warmth
a world of love will emerge

touch them to your heart
they will in turn touch your heart