मझदार (Trapped in the middle): Poetry in Hindi

This poetry in hindi expresses a dichotomy of feeling trapped in the middle of ambition and emotion. Hope it resonates with you!

मझदार (Trapped in the middle) is a poetry in hindi is inspired from a recent goodbye I bid to my family. My parents stay with us for only a few months in year and my brother is settled outside the country. I yearn for a time when our entire family could stay together all the time. My parents, my brother, bhabhi and our adorable baby princess Freya.

These short stays together and goodbyes have become a way of life for us ever since my brother and I started working as we didn’t take up jobs in our city beautiful, ‘Chandigarh’ and went with the flow of wherever the opportunities took us. So many of my friends around me are in a similar situation and they are building their lives away fro their families. With time, this becomes a habit and at times it gets harder to then adjust to people around you, even your loved ones.

The poetry expresses that dichotomy of feeling trapped in the middle of ambition and emotion. Hope it resonates with you!

Here it goes: मझदार (Trapped in the middle), a poetry in hindi

मिलने बिछड़ने का सिलसिला
यूँ तो हो चूका है कई बार

–

फिर भी आँखें भर आती हैं हर दफा
जाने क्यों आदत नहीं पड़ती यार

–

कई सालों से दूर हूँ अपने शहर से
याद आते हैं दोस्त और मेरा परिवार

–

क्यों मुड़ते नहीं कदम पूछता हूँ खुद से
महत्वाकांक्षा के जाल में हूँ गिरफ्तार

–

ज़िन्दगी जीने के हैं तरीके कई
अटका हूँ मझदार, जाने कब जाऊंगा पार

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Gangtok to Bagdogra in 16 hours! My experience in Sikkim Flash Floods

A story of my experience in the 2023 Sikkim Flash Floods when it took me 16 hours for an otherwise 5 hours journey!

This post is about my experience in the latest Sikkim flash floods in first week of Oct, 23. The journey from Gangtok to Bagdogra airport usually takes around 5 hours, including a short stop. Unfortunately, my journey from Gangtok to Bagdogra was planned for 4th Oct, Wednesday, the day Sikkim faced the belligerence of Teesta River. A cloud burst in north part of Sikkim and dam burst led to flash floods in large parts of the state. Hundreds of houses, parts of national highway 10, countless vehicles and scores of people got washed away into the river.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sikkim-flash-flood-death-toll-latest-news-west-bengal-teesta-river-lake-burst-2445729-2023-10-07

There were disturbing and frightening scenes all around. Thousands of people, locals and tourists alike, including me, were stranded on the roads. Information and misinformation were overflowing and there was palpable fear all around. Nobody really knew how bad the situation was and which routes were accessible or weren’t. Shocked and stranded in the middle of it all, I was wondering how things could change so quickly and unpredictably. The only comfort I had was that I was alone while my family I had stayed back as they had plans to travel to Darjeeling the same day.

I started my journey from Gangtok to Bagdogra at around 5am in the morning of 4th Oct. I was booked on a 1pm flight from Bagdogra to Bangalore. Before my journey started, there was some news of flooding and heavy rains but it wasn’t until a couple of hours later that I really comprehended the extent of this disaster. The route on which I was travelling, didn’t exist any longer as parts of the highway were washed away by the burgeoning Teesta river.

Time in Gangtok before the D-day

A jewel among the seven sisters of North-east, Sikkim is one of the most beautiful parts of India. I was very excited about my first ever trip to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. My journey from Bangalore to Gangtok comprised of a flight from Bangalore to Bagdogra followed by around 5 hours of road journey. The connecting national highway 10 was in a good condition and the views throughout the journey were breathtaking. Large tall mountains covered in greenery and the floating clouds made for a perfect vacation set up. It was love at first sight!

The trip exceeded expectations and I really enjoyed the uniqueness of Gangtok. Coming from the hustle bustle and constant noise in the city, Gangtok is an entirely opposite end of the spectrum. The silence of the surroundings was awkward at first, but it became the highlight of the trip for me. The general discipline of the people in Sikkim deserves appreciation and emulation. Overtaking and honking are discouraged in the city and people abide by it. Wow!

We did the usual touristy itinerary in Gangtok and visited popular sites like Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Tashi view point, Gonjang Monastery, Ban Jhakri water falls and the cable car. The second day was reserved for Nathu La pass, Baba Harbhajan Singh temple and Tsomgo lake.

It was all great, nice cold weather, friendly helpful people and beauty of nature at its best! And then it changed!

16 hours of Anxiety and Unpredictability

A large part of the 16 hours on the road was travel without any stops. A few additional kilometers in the hills means a few additional hours. From 5am till 1pm, my cab driver had tried 3-4 different routes only to be stopped after a point saying a landslide has happened, river water is overflowing etc. There was a constant information overload where some people saying one route is open while others saying it isn’t. The only way was to travel several kilometers on the route and figure it out.

Landslide around Pakyong Airport

Around 2pm, while I was waiting at Reshi check point, I thought of staying there in a guest house and wait for things to settle down. Someone informed me that the route via Rangpo to Lava, by passing Kalimpong was open and that’s when we started journey on that route. The rain continued unabated and the atmosphere was grim. The road was completely muddy at many places and small rocks were falling on the way side at too many points. It seemed a matter of minutes before a large rock would fall on the road and block it. Finally around 730pm, I reached Siliguri and breathed a sigh of relief. While I was relieved to have reached safely but was worried about my family who were to travel next day to Bagdogra. Their Darjeeling tourney was of course cancelled.

Next Day

While I took the morning flight to Bangalore, my family was travelling by road. All of us were nervous, they had started early in the morning and thankfully didn’t face any major hurdles. It took about 8 hours for them to reach Bagdogra. The route they took had many places with loose road and eventually it broke down. The driver who dropped my family at Bagdogra on Friday, reached back home on Sunday. God bless him and all other drivers who braved the natural calamity and ensured many tourists reached their destination safely.

Floods, natural calamities, riots, earthquakes are just another sad incident for many of us while we sit in the comfort of our homes and read about it online or in newspapers. However, having experienced it myself, it has been an eye opener. I feel lucky that it has all ended well for us while there are others who faced this ferocity of nature and lost their homes, livelihood and family. I can only pray of their wellbeing and I am thankful to all those folks who helped everyone in the time of this disaster. God bless us all!

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परदेस: Hindi Poetry for Indians abroad

परदेस, is a hindi poetry for Indians who are settled outside India and miss their home country but hide their emotions

परदेस, is a hindi poetry for Indians who are settled outside India. So many people leave their home country in search for greener pastures. Most of them work hard, become successful and lead good lives. At the same time most of them reminisce their connection to their home country. They dearly miss their family and friends. And often wish they could visit their home country more often, or even move back permanently! My brother and many of my close friends stay abroad. I know they go through this gnawing feeling of loneliness, a craving to speak to someone in their native language or from their culture.

However, they courageously (or helplessly) continue to stay abroad. They overcome these overwhelming emotions to make things work, not for themselves, but for the better future of their children and family. I hope our country gets to stage where greener pastures are aplenty on this side of the border. I hope families can stay together, much like they used to, a few decades ago!

Here it goes: परदेस (foreign), hindi poetry for Indians abroad

आज फिर इक बार
घर लौटने की
हसरत करी दिल ने
आज फिर
उस हसरत को हमने
मजबूरी की चादर से ढक्क दिया

–

परदेस में है हमारा
इक सुन्दर आशियाना
वतन को याद किया दिल ने
आज फिर
उस याद को हमने
खुले मैदान में दफ़्न कर दिया

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सुकून (At Peace): Poetry in Hindi

This poetry in hindi is inspired from an unknown couple I saw in a café. It captures the harmony and the beautiful rhythm between two souls.

सुकून (At Peace) is a poetry in hindi is inspired from an unknown couple whom I saw in a café. Although, I went to café coffee day to get some productive writing time. I got distracted when I saw this beautiful middle aged couple, a boy dressed in formals and the girl dressed in everyday casual jeans and T-shirt. The girl walked into the café much earlier and waited for her beau. When he arrived, she sat him down and started to rub his forehead and eyebrows as if trying to push away all the strain and stress that he carried. This gesture intrigued me! Curious,I continued to notice how they were drowned in each other’s presence, without a care for the world. While the girl sipped black coffee, the guy lit a cigarette, may be to shoot up his worries in smoke. While they held hands, he kept talking. As if he was telling her all about his day and she listened with intent, as she spoke sparsely but lovingly. Although it felt like a distraction earlier, but I loved their harmony and it inspired me to pen down my thoughts on this beautiful rhythm between two souls.

Here it goes: सुकून (At Peace), a poetry in Hindi

दिन भर की थकावट चली जाती है
तूँ जब धीरे से मेरे बालों को सहलाती है

–

तूँ ब्लैक कॉफ़ी की घूँट लगाती है और
मेरी सिगरेट धुएँ के छल्ले उड़ाती है

–

अपने हाथ में मेरा हाथ पकड़ कर
ध्यान से मेरी बातें सुनती जाती है

–

दुनिया की परवाह नहीं होती तुझे
अपना वक़्त तूँ बस मेरे नाम कर जाती है

–

इन लम्हों में तेरी एक छोटी सी राय
मेरी बड़ी सी उलझनें सुलझा जाती है

–

पूछे गर कोई मुझसे सुकून का मतलब
मुझे तेरी ही बेइंतेहा याद आती है

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Baby Girl

A poetry to celebrate a memory and a relationship which once was like fire but extinguished akin to its nature.

This poetry, Baby Girl, is from the closet. I wrote this one at least 12 years ago and this piece carries some memories. Hope you enjoy reading this piece ‘Baby Girl’.

Some years ago, a house was blessed with a baby girl,

She had a smile so sweet, just like a Barbie doll,

She was naughty to the core, and was full of anger,

Like all of us are, childhood stories aren’t a stranger,

Time went by and made her older,

Vagaries of life , burdened her shoulders,

Saddened and hurt, with no one to hold her,

She kept fighting,  becoming stronger and bolder,

Now the thick and thin, fail to bother,

As she spreads her charm from one to another,

The innocent eyes, and looks to die for, 

This nubile makes you praise the lord, 

Here she is, in the year twenty four,

Independent, ambitious and full of vigor,

Obstacles in her path are no match,

For resilience and dedication are her natch,

Don’t try to be smart, she knows the tricks,

You can’t help but admire her, for who she is,

She’ll care for you, like no one can,

Her love is like symphony of a musician,

Being with her is like another life,

A perfect partner in any strife,

She is a princess, but her prince is who,

Who holds her hand and takes her through,

Thousands crave but fail to woo,

I just couldn’t be happier, I am lucky to have you

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धोखा (Betrayal): Hindi Poetry

This poetry is a reminder that sometimes we betray people around us. Do you feel uncomfortable with betrayal?

Betrayal, is a hindi poetry explore and accentuates an unpleasant experience which we all of us have experienced and knowingly or unknowingly have made someone else experience it. Sometimes, promises are not kept, dues are not cleared and expectations are not met. This poetry is a reminder and an acknowledgement that despite best intentions, or sometimes with deliberate intent, we betray people around us. Do you feel uncomfortable with betrayal?

Here it goes, Betrayal!

धोखा आम हो गया है ज़माने में अब
ठगने वाला हस कर कहानी दोस्तों को सुनाता है

–

भरोसा करने वाला होता है बेवक़ूफ़
मतलबी होना आजकल हुनर कहलाता है

–

आता है नकाब पहनकर, प्यार तो कोई फायदे का
दिल होता है चूर या कोई अपने पैसे गंवाता है

–

कोई जिए या मरे, मेरा भला क्या जाता है
दिक्कत ना आये कोई मुझे, हर कोई यही चाहता है

–

मिल जाये गर इंसान शरीफ कोई
दिल अंदर ही अंदर बहुत हैरत जताता है

–

दिया होगा धोखा तुमने भी कभी किसी को
माफ़ करना गर ये पढ़ कर तुम्हें वो याद आता है

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बेचैन (Restless): Hindi Kavita

Restless, is a hindi Kavita which lends words to that feeling of self doubt which makes us feel inadequate and restless!

Restless, it’s state of being when we experience uncertainty and anxiety. At times, restless means that we just look around for anything that can keep us occupied so that our we can avoid the thousand thoughts that cloud our mind. Often, many of us feel restless at work. The pressure and stress of our everyday jobs and other responsibilities has pushed so many of us into this continued state of restlessness. We sometimes feel that we walk on egg shells and keep looking for assurance and external validation. Small things, words and actions can sometimes land in our mind as big events which again, make us restless. One of those small things is the feeling of self-doubt and imposter syndrome which many of us have experienced.

Restless, is a hindi Kavita which lends words to that feeling of self doubt which makes us restless! My message to you is, it’s ok to feel restless and this feeling is more common than we think. This feeling dawns upon the best of us at times. It’s important to acknowledge its existence and develop ourselves to take in our stride, and move on!

Here it goes, Restless!

कई दफा, मैं यूँ ही बेचैन हो जाता हूँ
अधूरे काम की लिस्ट देख बड़ा घबराता हूँ

–

अपने हुनर पर शक्क़ करता हूँ अक्सर
कभी दूसरों के डर से चुप रह जाता हूँ

–

गलत बोल दूँ गर नादानी में कभी
क्यों बोले, सोच कर खुद को कोस खाता हूँ

–

मेरी तारीफ बहुत करते हैं लोग आस पास
बहुत जल्दी उस तारीफ को मैं भूल जाता हूँ

–

जो मिला मुझे, कैसे बनूँ लायक उसके
इस सोच के समुन्दर में डूबे चला जाता हूँ

–

ध्यान लगाता हूँ, लेता हूँ सहारा कलम का भी
बेचैन हो जाता हूँ, फिर भी बढ़ते चला जाता हूँ

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तेरी आदत बन जाएं: Romantic Love, Sringara Ras

This Sringara Ras ‘हम तेरी आदत बन जाएं’ is my yearn to express my love for my beloved and appreciate little things about our relationship

This Sringara Ras is inspired by the love of my life, Guddu. Words are neither adequate nor enough to express my love for Guddu. However, I keep trying to lend words to these overwhelming emotions of happiness I experience every time I consciously think about us together.

This Sringara Ras ‘हम तेरी आदत बन जाएं’ is my yearn to express my love. To be a part of her life in myriad ways and appreciate little things that make me feel amazing to be a part of her life.

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इंसान है तूँ खुदा नहीं (Raudra Ras Kavita)

Raudra Ras Kavita ‘इंसान है तूँ खुदा नहीं’ is my attempt at channelizing my anger into a rhythm. Have you ever felt angry?

‘Learn to cultivate your anger’ is one of the dialogues I fondly remember from one of the iconic Bollywood movies, Ghatak. The role of angry young man was played by Sunny Deol and his father, Lt. Amrish Puri guided him to cultivate his anger so he could inspire others around him to be fearless.

“क्रोध को पालना सीख, काशी” he said. Recently, I had a few days where I felt extremely angry and I channelized that anger into the Raudra Ras Kavita below. This Raudra (anger) is directed at a fictional character who I perceived as the target to lay upon my verbal wrath. Now when I looked at it after several weeks, I decided to publish it.

I don’t wish that you re-live your anger after reading this. I would rather wish that you will find an outlet for your anger through these words.

Here it goes.

कांटे बिछा कर रास्ते में मेरे
तूँ सोचता है किये की सज़ा नहीं
कुछ दुश्मन न हों ज़िन्दगी में
तो जीने में भी मज़ा नहीं

–

छीन लेता गर कोई छीन पाता
कोशिश करने वाला तूँ पहला नहीं
कैसे मिल सकता है तुझे भला
जो किस्मत में तेरी लिखा नहीं

–

जो पाया है पाया मैंने मेहनत से
खैरात में तो मिला नहीं
मौका तेरे पास भी था ‘दोस्त’
दुबारा मगर ये मिलता नहीं

–

मेरा रब्ब है मेहरबान मुझ पर
मरने का मुझे खौफ नहीं
पा कर जाऊंगा मैं वो मुकाम
जितना तूने सोचा भी नहीं

–

मेरा इंतकाम तेरा साया बना रहेगा
वक़्त के धागे से ये बंधा नहीं
तूँ भूल गया है शायद
इंसान है तूँ खुदा नहीं

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Poetry on Shopping: शॉपिंग

Hindi poetry about shopping, and the never ending cycle of it

A poetry on shopping is my reflection after my recent outing for shopping with my family. Shopping never gets old and we never get enough of it. Sometimes, we shop for things which we already have, and yet want more of. Other times, it’s just a good sales person selling us their idea of a product that lures us into buying more.

I have seen a trend around me, where we try to give away a few of our prized possessions to the needy through the organizations which support them. It’s amazing to see people give away toys, clothes, music instruments, books etc. That makes us feel good and also, makes room for more shopping, isn’t it?

Do you think you are a part of the shopping cycle? Here is a poetry on shopping, शॉपिंग

खुशियां खरीदने निकलते हैं घर से
बड़ी बड़ी दुकानों से चुन कर लाते हैं

–

खुद के लिए बटोरते हैं कभी
तो कभी घरवालों के लिए ले आते हैं

–

बहुत मेहनत से कमाते हैं पैसा
मलाल भी होता है की यूँही लुटा आते हैं

–

करें भी तो क्या करें हम बेचारे
खरीदे हुए सामान इतनी जल्दी पुराने जो हो जाते हैं

–

डब्बे में भर पुराने कपड़े खिलोने किताबें
कभी ज़रूरतमंद संस्थाओं को दे आते हैं

–

और फिर, ‘मेरे पास कुछ नया नहीं है’ कह कर
खुशियां खरीदने हम घर से निकल जाते हैं

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