As she blew the candles on the cake..

Showers of blessings to Dear Jesna,
23 years! and chirpy Dear Jesna!

Today the Virgo lass shall smile,
I gather she has a different style.

I wish for you a laughter devine,
Like subtle happiness from the wine.

I wish for you for a future bright,
That steps you take fall mostly right.

You rise above the small and shallow,
And achieve a rich and radiant halo.

I wish for you a splendid Sunrise,
A victorious Sunset after a day gone wise.

May your smile never go vary,
May you celebrate each day like a fairy.

A Happy Birthday to the Lass clement,
May Today and Alls be the greatest present.


PS: This poem is a birthday wish to a dear friend born in the month of September back in 2014.
A brilliant human being, she'll always be a dear.

While on the job

Here’s a conversation from work today and I get to be the bright one. :) 

XXX: You know Udit, I spent hours preparing for a review meeting with the Boss and he cracks the whole thing up in 15 minutes… one feels a little Err... depreciated. 

I: Oh come on XXX Sirji… The Boss is reviewing the job that you are doing. He doesn’t have to know 'your' job. He just has to know, if you know your job in all detail and are doing it well. Knowing this much, the Boss's job is done. 

There was applause in the cosmos or so it seemed… somewhere… far far away.

Fasting (is) Feasting!!

So we have ISIS, followed by Taliban, notorious Kim Jong Un, the perennial Kashmir, vexing Arvind Kejriwal and the recent JNU boloney and many others... Namely the big problems of the World! 

Here’s a circular scaled map of the entire known Universe in a single field of view using logarithmic maps and satellite images collected by NASA and ESA missions. Now, I am particularly fascinated by it!

Among various astronomical things it makes me realize, “How tiny am I and my troubles.” In the above map my existence and presence is NIL. Oops...

But look at my Magnanimity! By sheer ignoring food, I have the power to turn around scenarios! Well sadly, that’s no Creating a Difference or Changing the World moment.

Hindus dedicate 9 days to the Mother Goddess which is what is known as the Navratris. In my definition, the Dedication is about Indulgence. Astronomically also, this is a good setting, like there’s magic in the Air! (Like the Universe will be positive and take care of itself and we mortals needn’t worry much - or pretend to). On second thoughts, maybe not everyone feels it.

Of the ones who ‘get it’ :) ; some observe fasts, yes because they wish to enjoy this effect on themselves; some observe other rituals like chanting and kirtan. And yes that brings me to saying that after 5 years of experimenting with myself, I’d say that the concept of Vrat is not about conquering food and condiments. It is mere celebration of the cosmos and its conspiracies.

Dedicating ourselves to the goddesses, by meditation and mantras during these days helps us connect to the cosmos better. In the longer run of life food just becomes the least in priority temptations for us, music, mind and madness take an importance. The phenomenon of 'God is in the Details' and the 'Brilliance of the Cosmos' is adored and admired most often. With a higher awareness of body and sustenance, food is acknowledged only as a fuel for energy. The simpler the better and this is what made me a vegetarian with a sandwich fixation.

I may as I grow, understand life more clearly as I have learnt or opened up a few layers over the years while accepting fasts. A more profound and vivid conversation takes place in between the mind and the body these days and both are happy in each other’s company. Fasters would have been best left alone, yet, there runs a parallel, inevitable life. They always strive to get back to the conversation leapfrogging the obstructions or disturbances. It’s the same feeling when two blissfully playing toddlers are separated or when two pets take extreme fancy to each other.

Food here becomes a mere Fuel and the smallest of problems. One eats what is available the easiest and doesn’t let the conversation be bothered (basically avoiding the burps and farts during the talk).

I pray if everyone could fast to get a sense of their body and mind, and be humbled by the real magnanimous Cosmos, yet I won’t motivate others to. Or maybe after nine days; meanwhile, I am too happy enjoying my state and the cosmic conversations :)

Happy Navratris!

Zest for Life!

Psyche

I see happiness behind your eyes,
A surrendering innocence in your smiles,
Excitement about the road you'll take,
Transcending pride in your enchanting style.

Among the favourite of His proud treasures,
You surpass beauty in every measures.
I feel deep immense poetry everywhere about you,
Wallah.. I am stunned to see what you hold inside you.

Steady feet, pillared legs,
Brilliant bright, beyond pure white,
Carved curves, tender nerves,
Your feet a star, on a festive night.

Carved Creamy Calling Calves,
Strong minarets of a masterpiece,
In obeisance I bow down to them,
Nervously touch the softest tease

Transfixed to the power that lies ahead,
The source of the mother, the energy red,
Where lies the genesis of life,
I surrender unto your love so rife.

An untraveled roadway to purity,
Through untouched snowy mighty paths,
A temple within a 'Jasmine forest' dark,
I worship thee with tremendous spark.

Blessed Blissed Bathed in tranquil,
Climbing the valleys, troughs and streams,
Flawless landscape, the expansive Hills,
A slate behind that fulfils all artistic dreams

I breathe harder clutching the supple, softest slopes,
Nearing destiny, the delectable door to all my hopes,
There lie the koel's neck, about which dark the Ganges run,
Where I get lost repeatedly and salvated emerge again.

Your prowess your elegance your elan,
Your grandeur your substance your command,
Shall set the world's trifling limitations freeing,
For Your Zest to Life is unmatched to humble beings.
                                           *

Psyche in the Bath is a painting by John William Godward, an English painter from the Neo-Clasicist Era. Displayed at the Western Block of the Salar Jung museum, Hyderabad, India it is one of my favorite part of the Museum and a painting that stops time for me.

The other works of JW Godward are as compelling. www.johnwilliamgodward.org. My poem above is a tribute to the most beautiful woman and Godward's vision of Psyche.
An Irony : JW Godward committed suicide at the age of 61.

Lutyen's Sunday!

These pictures are from my pilgrimages to the Mecca of cyclists. 

Pedallers coming from far and near pay a Quixotic obeisance to the monument with a hand on their heart and head held high. The Rajpath connecting to the South and North Blocks become the perfect complexes adorning the Tall Sanctum Santorum. 

Calm, Pride, Honour, Favored, Gratitude, Bedazzled are some of the feelings buzzing in the tunnel connecting the heart and the mind while trudging through the long road on the two wheels.

 Baby Eagle flies high, fends for prey, the early hours of day

Foreboding Foliage 

The Raj'path' to Freedom 

"O kaka.. Haule Haule", the Sardarji roared

Roxanne

Us at the 'Ministry of Magic' 

The spirit of India Gate never sleeps, passionate pilgrims like us thrive in its enigma and ecstasy.

Hyderabad to Harinagar; Himalayas Beckon

Golconda bids a farewell, Coco's Tara wishes me well and The Himalayas await

I fought against the urge to fit Hampi in the Headline. It does bring relief to those who know me well I am sure. (I reckon, apparently almost everyone knows me well.) Hampi had become another Home in Southern India in the four Humble yet Highly Haywire years in Hyderabad. The mysterious land has a major value contribution to my life's learning and is a cherished immeasurable asset which I carried to the North.   

The mighty Hampi (Vithalla Temple campus)

Hunooz Dilli Door Ast (Abhi Dilli Door Hai / Delhi is yet far away) was my state whenever it was the decision making time. While I knew Delhi is going to be as enterprising and enriching, I always shirked to leave Hyderabad. Of course it is the warmth of the city which never wanted me to withdraw the comforts and the contentment. Besides that, it was the humanity in the city which held me. Friendships sprung up to become Families pampering you and not just taking care. The others you met through the day ensured you to maintain a decent emotional quotient emanating through their honest talk (includes small, medium and large) and enchanting smiles. I wouldn't be a racist to say that the Telugus have the most candid and frank smiles, sincere as well. 

Ab Dilli Door Nahi (Delhi is Not Far Anymore) happened so immediately. I had to chose over nostalgia and the existing. There was so much of the present that I had to handle and do justice to. The destined gullible friends and family who's character and nature I share could never have enough of the time I could squeeze out. I owe them a bond forever.

My cycle has taught me to keep pedaling lest I'll fall, lose balance so to say. So is our duty in this world. To keep moving. In my case probably not like the gypsies. Unlike them solitary souls, I'll be held by those who have been generous and touched my life. For I have deep regard and gratitude for every one who has helped me learn or unlearn or teach me or just be there for me, or simply heard me mercilessly sing. 

Now nestled in Delhi's Harinagar, with all enthusiasm and the Wisdom of the South, I ready myself to another set of journeys. To newer meadows and pastures. Among these it excites me the most to scale the Himalayas where I hail from. Who knows where lies a Serendipity! (Chuckles)

PS : I have found myself responding in Telugu, "oka nimisham maa", or Hyderabadi, "Hou ji.. Aatun". I missed my daily quota of Telugu from various sources and saw a reality show on Zee Telugu and Maa TV. Of course I do listen to songs from the recent Rowdy Fellow and my favourite Happy Days. I with fanatic excitement watched Bahubali's first trailer. Super Mama!! And I have made an effort to open my mind and heart to Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift. 

Here's a song I dedicate to everyone at Hyderabad.

As natural as it gets

A 100% natural salad made today afternoon using -

Strawberry
Chayote
Palm sprouts (roasted)
Pomegranate
Mint leaves
Papaya

And that is it.

No salt or sugar was added.

Calories, I spent the same while making it.

Nutrition? A cocktail of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Sadly I was the only one who enjoyed it; wish I could share it.

Dailey

For Delhi
And Dehli
But Daily (not April, which is my favorite month)
And Dahlia

Dalai perhaps..

Ummmm... Affection.

A deep and strong affection is an energy waiting to disrupt positively. It is this energy that manifests in Art. 

Is it necessary?
Ummm we dooouoo (in my current accent)... But don't we live in a win win. Why then?

And do we mean it?
I think it's hardly intended. It's only because i need a cushion some time. Like hugging a stuff toy. Some people get pets.

So one feels the need for it. Hmm?
Ummmm...  Ok I do feel to be loved, to know if someone has thought about me. I feel great if I get a message from anyone except my Boss or colleagues around the world or a call from them. It's exhilarating. You feel good about yourself.
So it does hold meaning?
Ummmm... yes. But is that what is affection I wonder...

(Break. For no reason.)

How many times do you make similar calls, send messages?
Ummmm...  Mostly, if at all, well actually to my mom. And its not out of an obligation but that I want to, at times my sisters but I do forget my friends. I take them for granted. Less to my dad as well. Relations hardly.
Why would you have to talk to your relatives?

I should na. Again, its no obligation but they are nice people. They are of significance in my ecosystem and their being there is really important. But thennnn...

:-) Are there lesser topics to discuss with them?

Hmmm yes kind of. Earlier it was studies and now it's marriage. I knew them less as individuals. And they don't know me well as well. I m to them what my parents told.

Does it need a lot of guts to go the extra mile?
Avoidable guts, I'd say.

(Break. For no reason.)

So there's needs to be a motivation for affection?
Hmmm..  If you have to put it this way, so dry.

Hmmm...  But u like affection.
Oh yes... I have an addiction for affection.

To give or to receive it?

Both.

Is it selfless?

Not unless its pure.

So it's selective.
Hmmm I guess. I take everyone for granted that way. Most..  Well almost everyone.

(Break. For dramatic effects of revelation.)

Oh shite. I hate it when people do so to me.. Am I a bad human being?

"There There... Udit."

Juvenile Compositions

She thanked me a bunch
Of the daffodils and daisies,
Slightly quiver got my hunch
And I landed up at JCs

                *

what to do... what to do, 

Chirped a cute  li'l cuckoo,

'wat ooo tels s'so troo; whe'll alwysh nid oo' 

what to do, what to dooo :-(
                *
Helter Shkelter, 'ere and their
Ins'de-Outs'de everywhere
Toiled eyes seeking peaces
Strawberry fields forever at JCs
                *
Ray of 'Ope, a refreshing soap           
The Distance; a thin rough rope!!           
New music even naturally made, 
Alexander's taken Home his Jade
                *
Hung. the boys Sung
Boy Oh Boy bit his tongue
Whirl and Waltz, if I may could...
Miles away did Joys stood
                *
Super Senti, Duper Senti!!
A Senti Simpleton I am
From her broad smiles to cute Jives
She left having brightened our Lives
                *
Appeared an Angel with bejeweled wings,   
The Fairy wedded among the Kings        
Showering grace goes my Joan along,         
A powerful melody,Her sweetest song.
                *
A lot could be done if open and aware, 
A lot attained if Ji just look not stare
There are alternatives Ji could chose, 
Eliminate a fight, nurture truce
                *
And Finally a Chapter's closed.
Equanimity is reimposed.
With a Fresh slate, a New page,
I look back at myself, 
Oh Gosh there's so much to gauge!!
               ***

Hinduism vs Others known to me

I have two points here...

Well I say that Hinduism originally doesn't give me  any commandments to follow. It doesn't bother me with restrictions limitations and gives me the luxury of imagination. There is Geeta which primarily talks about Karma. As you sow so shall u reap. There are the Vedanta and the Upanishads but then they aren't necessarily to be read for a clean survival. They are pretty scientific I have heard and do not refer to a person, community, individual but are universal in application and approach. I shall now delve into them as part of my new project.

However and this being a big However, Hinduism created class. While other religions (again in my common knowledge, reached that state of division of work either by merit or suppression of other communities, Hinduism had a direct classification of individuals. Now, the genesis of this might have been pretty apt back in the time (the much discussed and referred Ram Rajya) but it lead to all kinds of problems in the recent centuries continuing with much disgust till today and years to come.

In understanding and accepting the statement that religion degenerates and limits self confidence and mind it took me lot of guts. 

I also think that I was born free, Russell said it already. But I guess the moment I started absorbing I started becoming insecure.

I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't have done this, I should only do this...

It was very much inside my mind till (because primarily of my Maa) I did not reside to the the fate's declaration that I have screwed up. My mom has been one of the most liberal and liberated woman who has told me its ok to ruin things. But keep walking. Of course it wasn't a lecture but her instinctive nature which I absorbed over the growing up years. It is because of her that I don't feel scared to be impulsive, instinctive and accept failure.

As my best friend she has never restricted my thought. In fact she made sure I m well exposed to have a mind of my own. She emphasized on being a vegetarian most importantly because she loves life in the animals. Wow... My various relationships. She is so brave and courageous to have accepted my big lies. Isn't that cool. While exposing me to ideologies of life through books, through movies, through discourses she has never ever restricted my mind. She trusts her creation.

I might not follow her ideas and she would be OK with it. Yet, I would certainly debate with her the right, the wrong and the desired.

Do we really need an idealized God who's existence is merely In the books (scriptures) and not in real life. I rather prefer the real life. Where I don't have to be waiting for a Miracle to happen based on the degree of my prayers but the faith that I have in the person.

Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Budha, Mahavira, Md PBUH are the legends I learn from (aptly put, second hand learning from others experiences). They are great personalities who have a lot of character to teach but I won't bend down and pray to them. For me they are apostles of characteristics as the courage of the Great Alexander the Great, the dedication of Gandhi and the passion of the Christ, the mind of Nelson Mandela...

I could create a list of My commandments but I'm too free to be held for long.