Myriad Hues

Being an Indian.

2011-08-15T18:46:00.000+05:30

Today morning, India woke up to mark its 65th Independence Day. A journey that began all those years ago by unshackling the chains of colonialism. Our well documented struggle for freedom tells us how many noble and lion-hearted men and women led the freedom movement, taking the initiative and giving shape to a massive idea, and refusing to rest till they lived to see a free India or lost their lives in an attempt to do so. It was not the handiwork of any one man but a collective and relentless charge that paved the way for a nation's birth.

Today, at 64, India stands at the crossroads, and it has been here for a while now. We, as a country, have come a long way and the journey that spluttered and started with conservatism and self-doubt, slowly but eventually took a turn into the land of self-discovery and Indians began to expand their horizons and explore their horizons with confidence and verve. The cocoon was left behind as we all learnt to fly. Inhibitions were shed and we learnt to be take risks. The mostly stagnant, sometimes slow growth of industry, agriculture, trade and infrastructure upto the mid 1980's picked up pace with the economic liberalization of India in 1991. Since then our economy has gone from strength to strength, relatively speaking, and thanks largely to the IT boom and outsourcing business, India is now the 4th most attractive investment destination in the world.

It is not just the GDP that has changed over the years, but also a large part of India's character. The narrow minded, illiberal, savings oriented Indian made way for the risk-taking, entrepreneurial Indian, who dared to dream big and reach for more. Somewhere along the line, Indians in all fields began to lose their inferiority complex and prepared themselves to stand toe to toe with the world.

We are, today, a country thats driving to the future but every now and again takes a detour to the past. A visit to the cynical and fatalistic mindset. Where we believe everything is wrong and beyond repair. Yes, a lot is wrong and we still remain a third world country. The social evils of untouchability, sati, widow remarriages, illiteracy, poverty, child labour, corrpution, naxalism and female infanticide to name a few do exist and need to be addressed and abolished, but reverting to cast disparaging shadows of negativity and hopelessness is what our country doesnt need. Do we really want to be a country of disenchanted people with corrupt spirits who would rather pull out the dust from under the carpet but not sweep it clean? India doesnt need the populace to show helplessness when met with such challenges. She needs them to understand that if there wont be change now, there might never be one. She needs them to stand as one, how many ever of them and lead a struggle for freedom, this time from ourselves and all that we have created, like those noble men and women all those years ago. What will not suffice is the diligence of one man on a hunger strike in Delhi, but a collective quest for a second Independence.

We, as a people, have endured, evolved and emerged emboldened. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to stand up for.

Words from Pandit Nehru's speech at the stroke of midnight on 14th August 1947 seem as apt now as they did then. " Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we redeem our pledge....the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.."

Happy Independence Day!

Black, White and Gray.

2011-04-21T10:27:00.005+05:30

Standing in the field, under the merciless sun,

from the far right, I see them come as one.

Dressed in black silk, masked and armed,

straddled on mighty elephants, the enemies of calm.

Then I see before me, and a little behind.

I hear their voices and I see them in my mind.

The eyes of the faceless, making their plea,

the limbs of the bound, waiting to flee.

Then far ahead in the distance, I see specks of white,

mixed with all that gray,that fails to see the light.

As the call gets louder and the moment beckons,

the whites are too less and spread too wide.

The elephants keep marching, as their rank swells,

as the ground trembles with each oncoming stride.

As the dark flags flutter high above their ranks,

they march on ahead with their misplaced pride.

Fuelled by power and blinded by greed,

plucking the fruit born of another's seed.

The mothers are wailing, holding their babies,

as the fathers find a place for them to lay.

The children pick up fallen pieces of white,

and make them shed their garb of gray.

If the enemy must stand conquered, now and forever,

banish the thought if the thought is to run,

for it will take more than a crusader or two,

if all that is black is to be UNDONE!

Love and Beyond!

2010-02-09T13:59:00.010+05:30

As his languid gait took him along
through a familiar street in town,
he braced himself for what lay ahead,
yet couldnt help his frown.

The women, staring from windows and doorsteps,
curiosity their common trait,
some withdrew, while some sympathized,
and the men looked inanimate.

And so as he walked past them,
reminded of a different time,
those looks of silent understanding,
had put his thoughts on rewind.

He was not much older than twenty one,
when its hard for a man to stay true,
his eyes only went as far as hers,
those crystallised orbs of blue.

Soon both were blind enough to see the stars,
in the cloudy moonless sky,
weaving and stitching their paths together,
two truths for every lie.

Then one day, there was a call from the city,
for the young man, now deep in love.
And so he went, unknowingly,
that the Fates had this planned from above.

Back in the town, she felt the days grow long,
the week became a month, then two.
She must have been passing by the farms,
when she met his friend she always knew.

He let his mind dwell on thoughts of her,
as he made the long walk back.
Once in the village, he asked where she was,
and was told to take the farmers track.

His heart beat wildly against his chest,
as he made his way to the farms.
The world seemed to stop, as he watched
her gently swaying in his arms.

And the wild beating of his heart now stopped,
it was almost as if it knew,
that she would see no stars on a moonlit night,
through those crystal orbs of blue.

And tonight,before he stumbled on rewind,
their wedlock he had witnessed.
The marriage was for society,
their story was always blessed.

So on that fateful walk through town,
he found wisdom to match his age.
That theres a movie in each great love story,
and beyond the protagonists on screen,
there are the ones that write backstage,
but to the world shall be always UNSEEN.

So Much More!

2009-01-23T21:42:00.011+05:30

So much there is to learn,
if you properly look around,
a reel, a song, a sunrise,
a love waiting to be found.

So much there is to dream,
let your visions to the fore.
They are all what we have,
keep knocking on the door.

So much there is to know,
from the glory in which we bask,
from the vicious cycle of doom,
if yourself you are ready to ask.

So much there is to love,
If you can tell a broken heart,
a troubled mind, a sullen face,
If you know just where to start.

And much there is to give and smile,
and much also to share.
But your sights are set clearly ahead,
and the winding roads you bear.

And one day when the race is over,
and you play it over in your mind,
you think of all the riches and fame,
and all those you left behind.

And all life's little lessons,
that it everyday seemed to teach,
you ran too fast,passing them all,
only knowing where you had to reach.

You wish you ran a little slower,
to have properly looked around.
A reel, a song, a sunrise,
or the love you never found.

Sailing Away!

2007-04-28T19:52:00.003+05:30

As the shallow sea waves gently wash my feet,
I watch the ships sail away,in a moment so fleet.
So close yet drifting away,a difference so discreet,
I call out to the deaf,and hollowness I greet.

As they melt away into the horizon,
I stand rooted,though i want to run,
Should i have let go?Should i have held on?
I know they will return,but for now they are gone!

And a tumult of enigmatic emotion overrides me,
Once the mist clears,just where will they be?
Was i never an asset,only a liability?
I only sleep because in dreams i dont see reality.

Voices are bland,and faces abject,
Cant help but feel dislike and neglect.
Striving to stay afloat in this quagmire,
I pray what I say proves me a liar.

I gave all I had ,I cannot give more,
In search of shelter,I knock door to door.
But I know my darkest night i should fend alone,
This way maybe for my sins I can atone.

Counting my heartbeats,i dream past midnight,
Raindrops reckon as tears take flight.
And as I delve within to search for a reason,
I wish Autumn passes,bringing a change in season.

Everything I build, seems to be tumbling down,
Somewhere in this debris,my name is just a noun.
Yet again I rebuild, yet again I persist,
It might not mean much,but I havent ceased to exist.

Maybe I never was what they were looking for,
I tell myself this as i walk into oblivion,
The biggest battle and the greatest war,
Within it is fought and within it is won!

I remind myself things are far over over,
And hope that the ships return to the harbour.
I went about trying to make a difference,
And only gave myself in return this DISTANCE..!

An Unpredictable Life!

2007-01-30T18:09:00.001+05:30

I woke up this morning,deciding I wont fret,
But am left with nothing else to do,by the time the sun has set.
And no more does my heart,skip and smile with glee,
I couldn't have been more relieved that the day is behind me.

Projecting a reassuring self on the outside,
Only I feel the storm and the swelling tide.
I wish I could mask myself forever,
Too many bruises and scars to cover.

Reality was beautiful,now its a harsh place,
I'm clinging onto life,wearing a disguise on my face.

A cruel lesson then,that life still had to teach,
Was taught when I was so close to something I had to reach.
I almost had it secured,when it started slipping away,
Slowly the trip to the end began,far from the light of day.

Life is fickle..and life is but a ride,
Today you are complete,tomorrow nothings by your side.
My life,rather swiftly,has turned around on its head,
Just yesterday I was filled with life,today I'm almost dead.

Not so long ago,my spirit was free,
Now its chained,and I've lost the key.
Here things happen quickly,you'll soon lose track,
I wish those days of yesteryear,I could get back.

This happens to be the story of my life,
Keep looking for bliss,all I find is strife.
What I'm living for,I cant live without,
Beneath the peace is fear,one that instills doubt.

Back to those memories,you will have to go,
'Coz life will play a different tune,before you even know.
To rebuild what you've lost,will take a few good years,
I just wish I dont live enough to meet my deepest FEARS!

Man In The Glass!

2007-01-14T20:58:00.002+05:30

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
and the world makes you king for a day,
then go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.

He is the fellow to please,never mind the rest,
for hes clear with you..upto the end.
And you've passed your most treacherous,difficult test
if the Man in the Glass is your friend.

When you try your best,and yet have a rough day
When luck betrays,and nothing comes your way.
Your mind and spirit will still be at truce,
If the Man in the Glass agrees and approves.

For it isn't a man's father,mother or wife
whose judgement upon him must pass,
the fellow whose verdict counts most in his life
is the Man staring back from the Glass.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
and get pats on your back as you pass,
but your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you've mislead the Man in the Glass!

It's time you learnt there are no shortcuts to success,
And if you really want to rise above the crowd,
Concoct blood sweat and tears,and nothing less
And make the Man in the Glass feel proud!!

What all you give it and how hard you try
matter more than whether you win,
coz to this one person,you cant even lie,
The Glass-man is your twin!

With a mind full of questions and a guilty heart,
You wonder why life,turned out to be a farce.
And then you realise it went wrong at the start..
When you cheated the Man in the GLASS!!

A Phoenix Laments!

2007-01-14T20:39:00.004+05:30

He's at the crossroads,not knowing where to turn,
whom to listen to,whose desires to burn.
Hes hoping for intervention,praying for a miracle,
if it doesnt come soon,he have to take a sabbatical.

When people narrate his story,they do so with respect
he was the next big thing,as far as they could recollect.
What he could've been and what hes been made into,
some happenings..they wished they could undo.

Life's not fair,but life moves on..
now he's reduced to being just a pawn.
But he ain't no pushover,he's going to resist
he's got a strong will,hes going to persist.

Even after all this,the belief is strong,
he will live his dream and prove everyone wrong.
It's all or nothing,theres a lot at stake,
they say " let it go,youve got a future to make".

Its been long,ten summers in all,
little by little, he built up the wall.
But now its shaky,and there is a crack,
and it may be his last chance to make a comeback.

Comeback if he does,he'l earn himself time,
but his fate and destiny are never known to rhyme.
He'l keep bouncing back,he'l swim upstream,
he'l take on the odds to realise his dream.

Now hes resilient,and his teeth are grit,
but inside him...hes got a mutiny,
"no use fighting it,no use living it",
coz in the end,its all about...DESTINY!!!