The novel centers on Janki Das Mishra, a fifty-nine-year-old retired bank officer living in Borivali East, Mumbai. His life is defined by a quiet, predictable routine, punctuated only by his interactions with his domestic helper, Lata. Having a son settled in America, Janki Das grapples with the typical silence of a “nest” that has long been empty.
The narrative gains momentum when he meets Kalyani, a retired teacher from Durgapur who has moved to the city to stay with her daughter, Ruma. The two find a common purpose in tutoring Lata’s daughters—Janki Das teaching them mathematics and Kalyani focusing on English. What begins as chance encounters at the local vegetable market evolves into a profound, respectful companionship.
Character Dynamics
The Seniors (Janki Das & Kalyani): They represent a generation that values patience and human connection. Their bond is not one of romantic urgency but of mutual understanding and shared service.
The Corporate Contrast (Ruma): Ruma serves as a foil to the elders. Her life is a high-speed chase for corporate success, marked by stress, alcohol as a coping mechanism, and an emotional distance from her mother.
The Bridge (Lata): As the domestic helper, Lata is the thread that weaves these lives together, highlighting the interdependence between Mumbai’s middle class and the labor that supports it.
Themes and Writing Style
Neeraj Verma writes with a gentle, observant hand. He transforms mundane activities—baking a cake, buying vegetables, or riding an elevator—into meaningful reflections on the human condition.
Urban Loneliness: The book captures the specific isolation of a big city, where millions live side-by-side yet remain strangers.
Legacy through Education: By teaching Lata’s children, the protagonists find a way to remain relevant and useful, proving that aging does not mean an end to contribution.
The Final Takeaway: What the Story Teaches Us
The core message of The Melody of Freedom is that freedom is the liberty to redefine oneself. It suggests that “retirement” is not a withdrawal from life, but an opportunity to compose a new “melody” based on choice rather than obligation.
The book serves as a poignant reminder that in a world obsessed with speed and digital connection, true fulfillment is found in the “slow” moments—in altruism, in the courage to seek new friendships in one’s sunset years, and in the realization that we are never too old to learn or to teach.
A heartwarming, soul-stirring read that finds extraordinary beauty in ordinary lives. It is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the quiet dignity of the older generation and the healing power of simple human kindness.
Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!
☆ Games People Play, ERIC BERNE M.D. ☆ Compilation: Shri Jagat Singh Bisht ☆
Notes of a Trainer
☆ SOCIAL INTERCOURSE ☆
The theory of social intercourse has been outlined in Transactional Analysis.
Social programming results in traditional ritualistic or semi-ritualistic interchanges. The chief criterion for it is local acceptability, popularly called ‘good manners’. Parents in all parts of the world teach their children manners, which means that they know the proper greeting, eating, emunctory, courting and mourning rituals, and also how to carry on topical conversations with appropriate strictures and reinforcements. The strictures and reinforcements constitute tact or diplomacy, some of which is universal and some local. Usually formal rituals precede semi-ritualistic topical conversations, and the latter may be distinguished by calling them pastimes.
The solitary individual can structure time in two ways: activity and fantasy. An individual can remain solitary even in the presence of others – withdrawal. When one is a member of social aggregation of two or more people, there are several options of structuring time. In order of complexity, these are: (1) Rituals; (2) Pastimes; (3) Games; (4) Intimacy; and (5) Activity. The goal of each member of the aggregation is to obtain as many satisfactions as possible from his transactions with other members. The more accessible he is, the more satisfactions he can obtain. The most gratifying forms of social contact are games and intimacy. Prolonged intimacy is rare; significant social intercourse most commonly takes the form of games.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Observation of spontaneous social activity reveals that from time to time people show noticeable changes in posture, viewpoint, voice, vocabulary, and other aspects of behaviour. These behavioural changes are often accompanied by shifts in feeling. In a given individual, a certain set of behaviour patterns corresponds to one state of mind, while another set is related to a different psychic attitude, often inconsistent with the first. These changes and differences give rise to the idea of ego states.
An ego state may be described as a coherent system of feelings or behaviour patterns. Each individual seems to have a limited repertoire of such ego states, which are not roles but psychological realities. At any given moment each individual in a social aggregation will exhibit a Parental, Adult or Child ego state. Individuals can shift with varying degrees of readiness from one ego state to another.
‘That is your Parent’ means: ‘You are now in the same state of mind as one of your parents used to be, and you are responding as he would, with the same posture, gestures, vocabulary, feelings, etc.’
‘That is your Adult’ means: “you have just made an autonomous, objective appraisal of the situation and are stating these thought-processes, or the problems you perceive, or the conclusions you have come to, in a non-prejudicial manner.’
‘That is your Child’ means: ‘The manner and intent of your reaction is the same as it would have been when you were a little boy or girl.’
TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS
The unit of social intercourse is called a transaction. If two or more people encounter each other in a social aggregation, sooner or later one of them will speak, or give some other indication of acknowledging the presence of others. This is called the transactional stimulus. Another person will then say or do something which is in some way related to this stimulus, and that is called the transactional response.
Simple transactional analysis is concerned with diagnosing which ego state implemented the transactional stimulus, and which one executed the transactional response. The simplest transactions are those in which both stimulus and response arise from Adults of the parties concerned. Next in simplicity are Child-Parent transactions. The fevered child asks for a glass of water, and the nurturing mother brings it.
These transactions are complementary; that is, the response is appropriate and expected and follows the natural order of healthy human relationships. The first rule of communication is that communication will flow smoothly as long as transactions are complementary; and its corollary is that as long as transactions are complementary, communication can, in principle, proceed indefinitely. These rules are independent of the nature and content of the transactions; they are based entirely on the direction of the vectors involved. As long as the transactions are complementary, it is irrelevant to rule whether two people are engaging in critical gossip (Parent-Parent), solving a problem (Adult-Adult), or playing together (Child-Child or Parent-Child).
The converse rule is that communication is broken off when a crossed transaction occurs. A common crossed transaction – The stimulus is Adult-Adult: ‘Maybe we should find out why you’ve been drinking more lately.’
The appropriate Adult-Adult response would be: ‘Maybe we should. I certainly like to know!’
If the respondent flares up, the response will be something like “You’re always criticizing me, just like my father did’.
Simple complementary transactions most commonly occur in superficial working and social relationships, and these are easily disturbed by simple crossed transactions. In fact a superficial relationship may be defined as one which is confined to simple complementary transactions. Such relationships occur in activities, rituals and pastimes.
More complex are ulterior transactions – those involving the activity of more than two ego states simultaneously – and this category is the basis for games. Salesmen are particularly adept at angular transactions, those involving three ego states. A crude but dramatic example of a sales game is illustrated in the following exchange:
Salesman: ‘This one is better, but you can’t afford it.’
Housewife: ‘That’s the one I’ll take.’
PROCEDURES AND RITUALS
The simplest forms of social activity are procedures and rituals. Some of these are universal and some local, but all of them have to be learned. They offer a safe, reassuring, and often enjoyable method of structuring time. Greeting ritual:
1A: Hello, good morning.
1B: Hello, good morning.
2A: How are you?
2B: Fine. How are you?
PASTIMES
Pastimes are typically played at parties or social gatherings in the form of chit-chat or they may become more serious, e.g., argumentative. A large cocktail party often functions as a kind of gallery for the exhibition of pastimes. Pastimes may be classified in different ways. “General Motors’ (comparing cars) and ‘Who Won’ (sports) are both ‘Man Talk’. ‘Grocery’, ‘Kitchen’ and ‘Wardrobe’ are all ‘Lady Talk’. Pastimes form the basis for the selection of acquaintances, and may lead to friendship.
GAMES
A game is an ongoing series of complementary ulterior transactions progressing to a well-defined, predictable outcome. Descriptively it is a recurring set of transactions, often repetition, superficially plausible, with a concealed motivation; or, more colloquially, a series of moves with a snare, or ‘gimmick’.
Games are clearly differentiated from procedures, rituals, and pastimes by two chief characteristics: their ulterior quality and the pay-off. Procedures may be successful, rituals effective, and pastimes profitable, but all of them are by definition candid; they may involve contest, but not conflict, and the ending may be sensational, but it is not dramatic. Every game, on the other hand, is basically dishonest, and the outcome has a dramatic, as distinct from merely exciting quality. The use of the word ‘game’ should not be misleading. It does not necessarily imply fun or even enjoyment.
The most common game played between spouses is colloquially called ‘If It Weren’t For You’. Mrs White complained that her husband severely restricted her social activities, so that she had never learned to dance.
Out of her many suitors she had picked a domineering man for a husband. She was then in a position to complain that she could do all sorts of things ‘if it weren’t for you’. Many of her women friends also had domineering husbands, and when they met for their morning coffee,they spent a good deal of time playing ‘If It Weren’t For Him’.
His prohibitions and her complaints frequently led to quarrels, so that their sex life was seriously impaired. She and her husband had little in common besides their household worries and the children, so that their quarrels stood out as important events; it was mainly on these occasions that they had anything but the most casual conversations.
A Thesaurus of Games:
The games are classified into families according to the situations in which they most commonly occur: Life Games, Marital Games, Party Games, Sexual Games, Underworld Games, Consulting Room Games and Good Games.
Life Games include ‘Alcoholic’, ‘Debtor’, ‘Kick Me’, ‘Now I’ve Got You, You Son of a Bitch’, ‘See What You Made Me Do’ and their principal variants.
Marital Games include ‘Corner’, ‘Courtroom’, ‘Frigid Woman’ and ‘Frigid Man’, ‘Harried’, ‘If It Weren’t For You’, ‘Look How hard I Have Tried’ and ‘Sweetheart’.
Parties are for pastimes, and pastimes are for parties, but as acquaintanceship ripens, games begin to emerge. Party Games include ‘Ain’t It Awful’, ‘Blemish’, ‘Schlemiel’ and ‘Why Don’t You – Yes But’.
Sexual Games are played to exploit or fight off sexual impulses. They include ‘Let’s You and Him Fight’, ‘Perversion’, ‘Rapo’, ‘Stocking Game’ and ‘Uproar’.
Underworld Games include ‘Cops and Robbers’, ‘How Do You Get Out of Here’ and ‘Let’s Pull a Fast One on Joey’.
Consulting Room Games include ‘I’m Only Trying to Help You’, ‘Psychiatry’, ‘Greenhouse’, ‘Indigent’, “Peasant’, ‘Stupid’ and ‘Wooden Leg’.
A ‘Good Game’ is one which contributes both to the well-being of the other players and to the unfolding of the one who is ‘it’. Since even under the best forms of social action and organization a large proportion of the time has to be spent in playing games, the search for ‘good’ ones must be assiduously pursued. Good Games include ‘Busman’s Holiday’, ‘Cavalier’, ‘Happy to Help’, ‘Homely Sage’ and ‘They’ll Be Glad They Knew Me’.
BEYOND GAMES
Games are passed on from generation to generation. The favoured game of any individual can be traced back to his parents and grandparents. Raising children is primarily a matter of teaching them what games to play.
Games are sandwiched between pastimes and intimacy. Pastimes grow boring with repetition and intimacy requires stringent circumspection. Most people compromise for games when they are available, and these fill the major part of the more interesting hours of social intercourse. People pick as friends, associates and intimates other people who play the same games.
AUTONOMY
The attainment of autonomy is manifested by the release or recovery of three capacities: awareness, spontaneity and intimacy.
Awareness:
Awareness means the capacity to see a coffeepot and hear the birds sing in one’s own way, and not the way one was taught. It requires living in the here and now, and not elsewhere, the past or the future. The aware person is alive because he knows how he feels, where he is and when it is.
Spontaneity:
Spontaneity means option, the freedom to choose and express one’s feelings from the assortment available (Parent feelings, Adult feelings and Child feelings). It means liberation, liberation from the compulsion to play games and have the only feelings one was taught to have.
Intimacy:
Intimacy means the spontaneous, game-free candidness of an aware person. Because intimacy is essentially a function of the natural Child, it tends to turn out well if not disturbed by the intervention of games. Usually the adaptation to Parental influences is what spoils it. But before, unless and until they are corrupted, most infants seem to be loving, and that is the essential nature of intimacy.
Parents, deliberately or unaware, teach their children from birth how to behave, think, feel and perceive. Liberation from these influences is no easy matter, since they are deeply ingrained and necessary during the first two or three decades of life for biological and social survival. Indeed, such liberation is only possible at all because the individual starts in an autonomous state, that is, capable of awareness, spontaneity and intimacy, and he has some discretion as to which parts of his parent’s teachings he will accept. At certain specific moments early in life he decides how he is going to adapt to them. It is because his adaptation is in the nature of a series of decisions that it can be undone, since decisions are reversible under favourable conditions.
First, the weight of a family historical tradition has to be lifted, then the influence of the individual parental, social and cultural background has to be thrown off. The same must be done with the demands of contemporary society at large, and finally the advantages derived from one’s immediate social circle have to be partly or wholly sacrificed. The individual must attain personal and social control.
Human life is merely a process of filling in time, with very little choice, is commonplace but not the final answer. For certain fortunate people there is something which transcends all classifications of behaviour, and that is awareness; something which arises above the programming of the past, and that is spontaneity; and something that is more rewarding than games, and that is intimacy.
But all three of these may be frightening and even perilous to the unprepared. Perhaps they are better off as they are, seeking their solutions in popular techniques of social action, such as ‘togetherness’. This may mean that there is no hope for the human race,but there is hope for individual members of it.
A Pathway to Authentic Happiness, Well-Being & A Fulfilling Life! We teach skills to lead a healthy, happy and meaningful life.
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☆ Minor Nuances but Major Impacts – By Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM ☆
With immense joy and gratitude, I’m thrilled to share with the readers that my new book, “Minor Nuances but Major Impacts,” is now published!
It is a story-driven exploration of how small actions create transformational results in strategic leadership and management.
This book distills 45 years of my journey across the uniformed services, corporate world, and strategic management—captured through real experiences, insights, and learnings. Years of observation and reflection, now placed in your hands with lessons and takeaways.
Do read, reflect, and share your thoughts.
Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM
(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi—an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as a Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. He was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.
About the book: Minor Nuances but Major Impacts
Great empires are not built overnight, nor do they crumble abruptly without reason. Hidden beneath the towering facades of thriving organisations lie the tiny, often invisible elements, those minor nuances that shape the trajectory of success or failure. These are not the headline-making disruptions or glamorous strategies found in case studies, but the everyday choices, overlooked behaviours, and unspoken cultural defaults that silently determine whether a company merely survives or genuinely thrives.
This book is a culmination of my 45 years of hands-on experience in the corporate world, stitched together over seventeen years of reflection, observation, and unwavering curiosity. Through countless boardrooms, shop floors, crisis meetings, and mentoring sessions, I came to recognise a painful pattern: while many small organisations dream of becoming giants, very few actually do. Not because they lack vision, product, or passion, but because they fail to notice the little things that matter.
Each chapter in this book delves into one such nuance. Some will feel familiar, others might be uncomfortable to confront. Yet, each carries within it the seeds of transformation, if only leaders and entrepreneurs are willing to pause, reflect, and act.
But this book is not just a commentary or a checklist. It is a mirror. And like all mirrors, it does not lie. It reveals truths that we sometimes wish to ignore but must confront if we seek growth that is not just quantitative, but also qualitative and sustainable.
The first part of this book builds a strong foundation of lessons and insights drawn from both triumphs and pitfalls. But theory, no matter how sound, is only half the journey. Part Two shifts gear. It steps into the world of a real-life entrepreneur Paresh Mittal whose journey you will walk, stumble, and rise with. It is here that the lessons truly come alive.
This is a book for those who believe that big things are hidden in small details. For those who are brave enough to admit that what’s holding them back might not be the market or the competition, but something much closer often within.
Welcome to a journey where small shifts lead to big outcomes.
I am pleased to present the Foreword written by Dr. Navin Singh.
Dr. Navin Singh
It is a privilege to present the foreword to Minor Nuances but Major Impacts, a distinguished contribution by Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM-an individual whose multifaceted career embodies a rare confluence of strategic insight, professional rigour, and intellectual curiosity.
Over the course of my career in public service and policy, I have engaged with exceptional minds across diverse domains. Captain Raghuvanshi stands out among them not merely for the breadth of his accomplishments, but for the clarity and depth of his thought. A decorated officer of the Indian Navy, an experienced management advisor, a high-level contributor to national and international initiatives, and an acclaimed poet, his profile defies easy classification. This book reflects his uniquely interdisciplinary perspective and a lifetime of reflective practice.
In this work, Captain Raghuvanshi addresses a critical but frequently overlooked phenomenon in organisational dynamics the disproportionate impact of seemingly minor practices, decisions, and behavioural tendencies. Drawing on extensive experience in industrial relations, corporate strategy, Defence, and technological innovation, he presents a structured yet accessible framework for understanding how subtle misalignments can hinder institutional growth and conversely, how mindful refinements can catalyse transformation.
What makes this book particularly valuable is its pragmatic orientation. The author does not offer abstract prescriptions; instead, he grounds his observations in lived corporate realities and practical scenarios. His writing bridges the gap between theory and practice, between leadership intent and organisational outcome. The result is a narrative that is simultaneously reflective, actionable, and enduring in relevance.
The language employed is precise and elegant, marked by clarity of thought and literary finesse. Each chapter engages the reader intellectually while inviting – a rare feat in management literature. The work encourages readers to consider not just what organisations do, but how and why they do it questions central to sustainable excellence.
For leaders, managers, policymakers, and students of management alike, Minor Nuances but Major Impacts offers not only insights but also a mindset a way of perceiving the granular elements that determine institutional success. It challenges assumptions, sharpens strategic thinking, and fosters a more nuanced understanding of human and organisational behaviour.
I commend Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi for this valuable contribution. His work is timely, thought-provoking, and destined to find a meaningful place in boardrooms, classrooms, and among discerning professionals who recognise that in management, as in life, it is often the finer details that shape the grand outcomes.
(प्रतिष्ठित साहित्यकार श्री विवेक रंजन श्रीवास्तव ‘विनम्र’ जी के साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ – “विवेक साहित्य ” में हम श्री विवेक जी की चुनिन्दा रचनाएँ आप तक पहुंचाने का प्रयास करते हैं। श्री विवेक रंजन श्रीवास्तव ‘विनम्र जी, मुख्यअभियंता सिविल (म प्र पूर्व क्षेत्र विद्युत् वितरण कंपनी , जबलपुर ) से सेवानिवृत्त हैं। तकनीकी पृष्ठभूमि के साथ ही उन्हें साहित्यिक अभिरुचि विरासत में मिली है। आपको वैचारिक व सामाजिक लेखन हेतु अनेक पुरस्कारो से सम्मानित किया जा चुका है।आज प्रस्तुत है एक विचारणीय व्यंग्य – “लाइक करो, शेयर करो, और फॉलो करो ! ” ।)
☆ साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ – विवेक सहित्य # ३७९ ☆
व्यंग्य – लाइक करो, शेयर करो, और फॉलो करो ! श्री विवेक रंजन श्रीवास्तव ‘विनम्र’ ☆
वो जमाना गया जब लोग अख़बार में “आज का विचार” पढ़कर दिन की शुरुआत करते थे। अब लोग सुबह उठते ही मोबाइल उठाकर “आज की वायरल रील” देखते हैं जिसमें कोई बाल सुखा रहा है, कोई नाच रहा है, और कोई तो बिना वजह ही होंठ चबा कर भद्दे इशारे रही है। गोया कि होंठ चबाना भी कोई राष्ट्रीय खेल बन गया हो। टिकटॉक और रील्स ने दुनिया को ऐसा उलझाया है कि लोग अब रील्स पर दिखाने के लिए कपड़े बदलते हैं। एक आउटफिट से तीन-तीन रील्स! कपड़ों की एक्सपायरी डेट नहीं होती पर रील्स की होती है । “अरे ये वाला तो कल ही पोस्ट किया था, आज दूसरा पहनना पड़ेगा, नहीं तो लोग ट्रोल करेंगे।”
एक जमाना था जब लोग खाने से पहले “बिस्मिल्लाह” कहते थे, अब “वीडियो रिकॉर्डिंग ऑन” करते हैं। यह समझ पाना मुश्किल होता है कि ये खा रहे हैं, या इंस्टाग्राम पर दिखाने के लिए खाने की एक्टिंग कर रहे हैं? खाना ठंडा हो जाए तो चलेगा, पर रील का एंगल परफेक्ट होना चाहिए। “अरे ज़रा चम्मच ऐसे पकड़ो, लाइट इधर से आ रही है… हाँ! परफेक्ट! अब चबाओ स्लो मोशन में।” खाना अब पेट नहीं, फोन भरता है। रील की इनकम पेट भर सकती है।
घर की दादी, जो पहले तक ‘व्हाट्सएप’ को ‘व्हाट्शैप’ कहती थीं, अब खुद ‘रील क्वीन’ बन चुकी हैं। चश्मा चढ़ाकर ट्रेंडिंग साउंड सुनती हैं और बोलती हैं “बहू, ये वाला गाना तो हमारे ज़माने का है, इस पर हम भी रील बनाएंगे!” और फिर शुरू होता है परिवार का सामूहिक प्रोडक्शन हाउस। पोते कैमरामैन बनते हैं, बेटा डायरेक्टर, पति कैमरामैन और दादी हीरोइन। “दादी, एक बार और! इस बार हाथ थोड़ा ऊपर उठाना।” दादी की फिटनेस एक्सरसाइज अब योग से नहीं, रीटेक से हो रही है।
“आज ये डायलॉग ट्रेंड में है, इसका वीडियो बना दो ज़रा”, पत्नी कहती हैं, और फिर शुरू होता है उनका गायन सह अभिनय जिसे यदि शंकर महादेवन देख लें तो सुर की समाधि में चले जाएं। “अरे सुनो न, लिप सिंक गड़बड़ हो गया, एक बार और!” पति जो पहले ऑफिस में बॉस की डाँट खाते थे, अब घर में ‘डायरेक्टर बीवी’ की सुनते हैं। “तुमने फोन हिला दिया! फोकस बिगड़ गया! तुमसे एक काम सही से नहीं होता!” अब शादी की सफलता इस बात पर निर्भर करती है कि पति कितनी अच्छी रील बना देता है।
दुनिया हकीकत से अधिक, कैमरे में जी रही है। कभी लोग पार्क में टहलने जाते थे, अब ट्राइपॉड लेकर रील्स बनाने जाते हैं। पेड़-पौधों से बात नहीं करते, उनके पीछे खड़े होकर डांस करते हैं। वो पेड़ भी सोचता होगा “मुझे ऑक्सीजन देने दो या बैकड्रॉप बनने दो, कुछ एक तो तय करो!” और अगर गलती से कोई इनकी शूटिंग के बीच से निकल जाए, तो उसे ऐसे घूरते हैं जैसे उसने फ़िल्मफेयर अवार्ड छीन लिया हो। “अरे भाई, दिखता नहीं शूटिंग चल रही है? अब पूरा फिर से बनाना पड़ेगा!” वो बेचारा सोचता है “ये पार्क है या मल्टीप्लेक्स शूट स्टूडियो?”
अब रील्स ही असली हैं,ज़िंदगी बैकग्राउंड में चल रही है। शादी हो तो पहले पंडित नहीं, कैमरामैन बुलाओ। “बेटे की शादी में तो पाँच रीलमेकर रखे थे, हर एंगल से कवर हो!” लड़का लड़की एक दूसरे को नहीं, कैमरे को देख रहे होते हैं। फेरे ले रहे हैं, पर निगाह फोन पर होती हैं । लाइव पर “कितने व्यूज आए?” मेहमान खाना नहीं खा रहे, रील बना रहे हैं। “अरे पनीर टिक्का कैसा लग रहा है फ्रेम में?”
टिकटॉक बंद हुआ तो लगा कुछ चैन मिलेगा, पर इंस्टाग्राम छा गया। और यूट्यूब शॉर्ट्स ने तो जैसे कसम खा ली है “हर इंसान को कम से कम एक वीडियो ज़रूर बनवा कर ही मानेंगे।” अब तो फेसबुक भी रील्स लेकर आ गया। यानी, भागो कहीं भी, रील्स का भूत पीछा करेगा ही। लिंक्डइन पर भी लोग प्रोफेशनल रील्स बना रहे हैं “देखिए कैसे मैं ऑफिस में कॉफी पीते हुए प्रोडक्टिव रहता हूँ।”
बुद्धिजीवी अब ‘बुक क्लब’ नहीं, ‘रील क्लब’ में शामिल हैं। “कैसे बनाएं वायरल वीडियो?” पर सेमिनार होते हैं। “लाइक नहीं आए तो आत्ममंथन करें” ये आज का गंभीर विषय है। प्रकाशक मुझसे बोला सर कविता कहां ले आए ? कुछ युवाओं के लायक लिखी पांडुलिपि लाइये मसलन ” रील से पैसे कैसे बनाएं”
इंजिनियरिंग कॉलेज में पहले इंजीनियरिंग पढ़ाई जाती थी, अब “वायरल मार्केटिंग 101” कोर्स शुरू होने वाला है। MBA की डिग्री से ज़्यादा ज़रूरी है “10 लाख फॉलोअर्स”। नौकरी के इंटरव्यू में अब पूछा जाता है “आपके इंस्टाग्राम पर कितने फॉलोअर्स हैं?” बायोडाटा में लिखा होता है , “अनुभव: 5 साल, वायरल रील्स: 12″।
अब लोग परीक्षा में कम नंबर आने पर नहीं, वीडियो पर कम लाइक्स आने पर बच्चे डिप्रेशन में जाने लगे हैं। “मम्मी, मेरी रील पर सिर्फ 200 लाइक्स आए!” माँ दिलासा देती है “बेटा, टाइमिंग गलत थी, शाम को पोस्ट करना था।” पहले बच्चे बोर्ड एग्ज़ाम के रिज़ल्ट से डरते थे, अब रील के व्यूज से। काउंसलर भी अब नई समस्याओं से जूझ रहे हैं “डॉक्टर साहब, मेरी रील वायरल नहीं हो रही, मुझे लगता है मैं असफल हूँ।”
सोचता हूँ, ये रील बनाने वाले आखिर करते क्या हैं? तो जवाब आता है “रील बनाते हैं, और वही करते हैं।” दिन की शुरुआत रील से, अंत रील से। सुबह उठे “गुड मॉर्निंग “। नाश्ता किया “ब्रेकफास्ट रील”। ऑफिस गए तो भी रील”। लंच किया “फूड रील”। शाम को जिम किया तो “वर्कआउट रील”। रात को सोए “गुडनाइट रूटीन रील”। यानी, ज़िंदगी एक बड़ी रील है और हम सब उसमें महज एक्स्ट्रा किरदार हैं।
घर में बर्तन गिरते हैं तो पत्नी चिल्लाती नहीं, कहती है “सुनो न, मैं फिर से गिराती हूं, जरा इसका स्लो मोशन बना लो!” नया आइडिया है। है न! बच्चा रो रहा है तो पहले फोन उठाओ। “अरे रुको, रिकॉर्डिंग ऑन करने दो, ये ‘क्यूट बेबी क्राइंग’ रील बनेगी।” बच्चा चुप हो गया तो बोलो “बेटा, फिर से रो ले, एंगल गड़बड़ हो गया था।” प्यार भी अब रिहर्सल माँगता है।
पढ़ाई छोड़, करियर छोड़, रिश्तेदार छोड़ , सब छोड़ कर लोग अब केवल “वायरल होने” की साधना कर रहे हैं। गुरुकुल में अब योगासन नहीं, “कंटेंट स्ट्रैटेजी” सिखाई जाती है। संन्यासी भी अब हिमालय नहीं, स्टूडियो में वर्चुअल ध्यान करते हैं “फॉलोअर्स बढ़ाने का मंत्र, अगली रील में।” गलती से जो कोई वीडियो चल गया, तो समझो “ब्रह्मज्ञान प्राप्त हो गया।” तब फिर क्या, बाकी ज़िंदगी वही फॉर्मूला रिपीट करो। “वो वाला ही डांस फिर करो, वही बैकग्राउंड, वही ओछे चमकीले कपड़े!”
हाल यह है कि दुनिया के बड़े-बड़े सवालों के जवाब हमें शॉर्ट वीडियो में मिलते हैं। चाहे जीवन का उद्देश्य हो, या सिक्स पैक ऐब्स बनाने की शिक्षा । सब कुछ 30 सेकंड में समझा दिया जाता है। “क्वांटम फिजिक्स समझें 60 सेकंड में!” “महाभारत की पूरी कहानी एक रील में!” ज्ञान की गहराई अब 30 सेकंड की है। पहले गुरु कहते थे “बेटा, वर्षों लगेंगे समझने में”, अब रील गुरु कहते हैं “बस एक मिनट दो, सब क्लियर हो जाएगा।” यानी, ज्ञान अब ज्ञान नहीं कंटेंट बन गया है। और सबसे बड़ी बात “फॉलो करना मत भूलना!”
ऊपर की ओर स्क्रॉल करते हुए समय कब बीत जाता है, किसे पता चलता है। सुबह 10 बजे फोन खोला सोचकर “बस एक रील देखूँ।” अचानक नज़र घड़ी पर दोपहर के 2 बज गए! ये कौन-सी आइंस्टीन की थ्योरी है जिसमें 10 मिनट 4 घंटे के बराबर हो रहे हैं? रील्स में टाइम ट्रैवल होता है, बस भविष्य की तरफ ही। वापस नहीं आ सकते। लोगों की नींद उड़ गई है, टाइम पास हो रहा है। सोने जा रहे हो “चलो सोते हैं, पर पहले एक रील।” फिर एक, फिर एक, और सुबह की नमस्ते! रात 2 बजे अचानक याद आता है “अरे, कल मीटिंग है!” पर फिर सोच “चलो एक और लास्ट देख लेते हैं।”
हम सब डिजिटल कंटेंट क्रिएटर बनकर उस डॉलर की प्रतीक्षा में हैं जो हमारी रील्स के व्यूज, लाइक, रीपोस्ट और सब्सक्राइब से टोटल टाइम ऑफ वॉचिंग से आएगा। बच्चे अब डॉक्टर इंजीनियर से अधिक बड़े “इन्फ्लुएंसर” बनना चाहते हैं। “मम्मी, मैं बड़ा होकर यूट्यूबर बनूँगा!” पहले माता-पिता कहते थे “बेटा, पढ़-लिख कर कुछ बनो”, अब बच्चे कहते हैं “पापा, आपको नहीं पता, मेरे 5000 फॉलोअर्स हैं!” और पापा गर्व से कहते हैं “हमारा बेटा इन्फ्लुएंसर है!”
जिस दिन इंटरनेट डाउन हो गया, उस दिन ये पूरी रील असेंबली पूछेगी , “अब मैं क्या करूं, जाऊं तो जाऊं कहाँ?” लोग सड़कों पर भटकेंगे, हाथ में फोन लिए, निगाह खाली स्क्रीन पर। “नेटवर्क कब आएगा?” ये नया राष्ट्रीय प्रश्न बन जाएगा। बच्चे रोएंगे, बड़े घबराएंगे, और दादी बोलेंगी “हमारे ज़माने में तो बिजली जाती थी, फिर भी हम रहते थे।” पर कोई सुनेगा नहीं, क्योंकि बिना रील्स के सुनने की आदत ही खत्म हो गई है।
असली ज़िंदगी अब “अनस्क्रिप्टेड कंटेंट” लगने लगी है , बोरिंग, बिना एडिट का, बिना फिल्टर का। “अरे ये तो रियल लाइफ है, कौन देखेगा इसे?” रिश्ते अब “कोलैबोरेशन” हैं। “चलो मिलते हैं और एक साथ मस्त रील बनाते हैं।” दोस्ती की परिभाषा बदल गई “जो तुम्हारी हर रील पर पहला कमेंट करे, वही सच्चा दोस्त।”
और हाँ, सबसे बड़ी बात, अब तो शादियों में भी लड़के लड़की एक दूसरे के इंस्टाग्राम प्रोफाइल देखते हैं। “लड़की है तो अच्छी, पर फॉलोअर्स कम हैं।” “लड़का कमा तो अच्छा रहा है, पर एस्थेटिक सेंस नहीं है, रील्स देखो इसकी।” बायोडाटा में अब लिखा होता है “नेट वर्थ: 50 लाख, फॉलोअर्स: 1 लाख”। और सास-बहू की पहली बातचीत “बेटा, तुम रील्स बनाती हो? हमारे घर की पारंपरिक पोशाक पहनकर एक बना देना, वायरल हो जाएगी!”
@ कैमरा ऑफ. लेखक ऑफ. दिमाग स्टैंड बाई मोड पर।
पर रुकिए… ये आर्टिकल तो बहुत लंबा हो गया। अब इसे भी 30-30 सेकंड के पार्ट में बाँटना पड़ेगा। क्योंकि अब कोई पूरा आर्टिकल पढ़ता ही कहाँ है? सब रील में चाहिए। तो अगली रील में मिलते हैं “व्यंग्य, पर शॉर्ट फॉर्म में!”लाइक करो, शेयर करो, और हाँ… फॉलो करना मत भूलना!
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra, known for his wit and wisdom, is a prolific writer, renowned satirist, children’s literature author, and poet. He has undertaken the monumental task of writing, editing, and coordinating a total of 55 books for the Telangana government at the primary school, college, and university levels. His editorial endeavors also include online editions of works by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla.
As a celebrated satirist, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra has carved a niche for himself, with over eight million viewers, readers, and listeners tuning in to his literary musings on the demise of a teacher on the Sahitya AajTak channel. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades such as the Telangana Hindi Academy’s Shreshtha Navyuva Rachnakaar Samman in 2021, presented by the honorable Chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao. He has also been honored with the Vyangya Yatra Ravindranath Tyagi Stairway Award and the Sahitya Srijan Samman, alongside recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other esteemed institutions.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra’s journey is not merely one of literary accomplishments but also a testament to his unwavering dedication, creativity, and profound impact on society. His story inspires us to strive for excellence, to use our talents for the betterment of others, and to leave an indelible mark on the world. Today we present his Satire 𝓟𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓽𝔂, 𝓸𝓱 𝓹𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓽𝔂!.
Poverty, oh poverty, what a dear friend you are to us! You never fail to make an appearance in our lives, always there to remind us of our humble beginnings and how well we have managed to stay connected to you through the years. Your presence has become so familiar to us that we couldn’t imagine life without you.
Yes, my fellow comrades in poverty, let us revel in our shared misfortune and bask in the glory of our empty wallets and rumbling bellies. For who needs material wealth and worldly possessions when we have the richness of our poverty to sustain us?
In our dear country, poverty is not just a fact of life, it’s practically a way of life. The government may claim to have various poverty alleviation programs in place, but let’s face it, they are about as effective as a broken dam in a drought-stricken desert.
The irony of our situation is truly something to behold. We live in a land of plenty, where the elite flaunt their wealth like peacocks displaying their feathers, while we, the impoverished masses, scrounge around for leftovers like hungry street dogs.
Oh, how we must admire the ingenuity of our leaders who have managed to turn poverty into an art form. They make grand speeches about eradicating poverty, all the while lining their pockets with the sweat and tears of the downtrodden.
But fear not, my fellow paupers, for we have our own unique set of skills to survive in this harsh world. We have mastered the art of stretching a dollar further than a rubber band, of making a meal out of scraps that others would discard without a second thought.
And let us not forget the endless entertainment that poverty provides us with. Who needs cable television when we have the spectacle of politicians squabbling like greedy children over the crumbs of our meager existence?
Yes, poverty may rob us of material comforts, but it has gifted us with a keen sense of humor. We laugh in the face of adversity, knowing that we are stronger than any obstacle that life may throw our way.
So let us stand tall, my dear friends, for we are the true warriors in this battle against poverty. Let the rich wallow in their excess while we revel in our simplicity. Let them hoard their treasures while we share the wealth of our poverty with each other.
And as we navigate the treacherous waters of life, let us remember the immortal words of our esteemed leader, “Let them eat cake!” For we are the masters of our own destiny, the champions of our own fate.
So let us raise a toast to poverty, our constant companion and faithful friend. May we continue to embrace its challenges and triumph over its obstacles, for we are the warriors of the underclass, the champions of the downtrodden, the conquerors of poverty!
– Living in poverty is like being a contestant on a never-ending game show where the prize is a lifetime supply of struggle and hardship.
– Poverty is the great equalizer, ensuring that no matter how much money you have, you can always feel like you’re one missed paycheck away from disaster.
– They say money can’t buy happiness, but poverty can definitely rent out misery on a daily basis.
– Poverty is like a bad roommate that refuses to leave, constantly making a mess of your life and never chipping in for rent.
– The only thing more reliable than taxes is poverty, always there to remind you that your bank account is just a sad reflection of your existence.
– Being poor is a full-time job with zero benefits and a retirement plan that consists of hoping you’ll hit the jackpot in the lottery of life.
– Poverty is the gift that keeps on giving, like a never-ending subscription to a misery magazine that nobody wants to read.
– They say money talks, but poverty screams louder and with a more annoying voice that never seems to shut up.
– Poverty is like a bad tattoo that you can’t remove, a constant reminder of past mistakes and poor decisions.
– They say laughter is the best medicine, but when poverty is the punchline, it’s more like a bitter pill that’s hard to swallow.
– Poverty is the ultimate test of patience, like waiting in line at the DMV while your life falls apart around you.
– They say you can’t take it with you when you go, but poverty ensures that you won’t have anything to take even if you wanted to.
– Being poor is like being stuck in a never-ending traffic jam, always moving forward but never getting anywhere.
– Poverty is like a dark cloud that follows you everywhere, raining on your parade and ruining any hope of sunshine in your life.
– They say money can’t buy love, but poverty ensures that you’ll never have the chance to find out.
– Poverty is the great leveler, ensuring that no matter how rich or powerful you are, you can always feel like life is just one disaster away from falling apart.
– They say life is what you make of it, but poverty ensures that you’ll be stuck with the cheapest ingredients and the worst recipe.
– Being poor is like trying to swim upstream in a river of debt, always struggling against the current and never getting ahead.
– Poverty is like a bad addiction that’s impossible to kick, always there to tempt you with a quick fix and a lifetime of regrets.
– They say the best things in life are free, but poverty ensures that you’ll never be able to afford them.
– Poverty is the ultimate reality check, like a harsh wake-up call that reminds you that dreams are for those who can afford to sleep.
– They say money can’t buy happiness, but poverty ensures that you’ll never know for sure.
– Being poor is like living in a house of cards, always on the verge of collapse and never sure if the next gust of wind will be your last.
– Poverty is like a broken record that keeps playing the same sad song on repeat, never letting you forget how out of tune your life really is.
– They say that life is a journey, but poverty ensures that you’ll never have enough gas money to get where you’re going.
– Poverty is like a bad haircut that you’re stuck with forever, a constant reminder of past mistakes and poor choices.
– They say that the best things in life are worth waiting for, but poverty ensures that you’ll spend your whole life waiting and never getting anywhere.
– Being poor is like trying to run a marathon with one leg tied behind your back, always struggling against the odds and never reaching the finish line.
– Poverty is like a bad case of food poisoning, always leaving you feeling sick and never satisfied with what life has to offer.
– They say that life is a gift, but poverty ensures that you’ll never be able to afford the wrapping paper, let alone the present inside.
पुस्तक अगदी छोटसं आहे. एकूण नऊ कथा आहेत. त्याआधी लेखिका अरुणा ढेरे यांच्या विषयी थोडक्यात- कथा, कादंबरी, ललित लेख, अनुवाद, समीक्षा, लोकसाहित्य, सामाजिक, इतिहास पर, कुमारांसाठी, किशोरांसाठी इतका व्यासंग लाभलेल्या कवियीत्री अरुणा ढेरे. ज्येष्ठ आणि सुप्रसिद्ध साहित्य डॉ. राची ढेरे यांचीही सुकन्या .यांना बाळकडूच मिळाले साहित्यरसाच .मराठी साहित्यातील दांडग्या अभ्यासक म्हणून नावारूपाला आल्या. त्यांचे अतिशय गाजलेलं पुस्तक कृष्ण किनार आहे तर ते आपल्या अगदी हृदयाजवळ आहे.
पावसानंतरच ऊन हे पुस्तक देखील तितकच सुंदर आणि छोट्या स्वरूपात आहे प्रत्येक कथा मनाला भावणारी आणि विचार करायला लावणारी आहे .काही कथा नव्या विचारांच्या आहेत तर काही कथा या जुन्यातूनच नवं जगणं कसं शोधावे हे शिकवणारया आहेत. पावसानंतरच ऊन म्हणजे मनाला मिळालेला गारवा जसं की रात्री बराच पाऊस पडून गेलेला गॅलरीतील कुंड्यांवर छान शिडकाव झालेला सकाळचा ताज होऊन मनाबरोबर शरीरालाही निवांत करत आणि चहाचा मंद सुवास आणि अचानक कोणीतरी हातात तो आणून द्यावा बस आता आयुष्यात काही नको अशीच काहीशी जीवन कहाणी आहे या कथा नकांची *एखादा पावसाचा शिडका व्हावा आणि आणि कोवळं ऊन सुखावून जावं अगदी तसं
पहिली कथा- ओळख- स्वतःची ओळख शोधणारी, नात्यांच्या पलीकडे जाऊन स्वीकारणं, समजून घेणं, सोसण, सावरणं, कसलं दुःख आपल्या वाट्याला आलं आहे? उमग नाही ,अंत नाही, आकार नाही, रंग नाही वास नाही,चव नाही. एक अवाढव्य काळ ओझं, चिनूस टाकणार, घुसमटून टाकणार, त्याबरोबर एक सत्य आणि आपण स्वतः त्यातून निर्माण झालेली ओळख आणि तिची ती कथा.
दुसरी कथा- नवरात्र कथा एक सून, नव अंकुर बीज पोटी फुलतोय जणू ही घटस्थापनेच्या स्वरूपात सांगितले आहे. एक स्त्री तशीच ही पृथ्वी तिची गर्भधारणा म्हणजे नऊ दिवसाचे व्रत तिच्या कुशीतून जन्म घेणारे धान्य बीज पेरायचं ते वाढतं नऊ महिन्याचं ते प्रतीक म्हणून नऊ दिवस आपण ते वाढवायचं व्रतासारखं ते सांभाळायचं मग शेवटी पूर्णत्वाला गेले की आनंद उत्सव साजरा करायचा. दसऱ्यासारखा सुनेच्या पोटीही ते बीज अंकुरते. आणि ती ते अनुभवते.
तिसरी कथा- नवीन. कथेत नव्या दमाची तरुणाई आणि जुन्या विचारांची पिढी. त्यांनी ह्या पिढींशी एकरूप व्हावं आणि इतर जाती पंथांच्या सुना-मुलींची जुळवून घ्यावे ही सांगणारी नवी पिढी. आता काळ आला आहे की दोन्ही पिढ्या आपले हात एकमेकांच्या हातात गुंफून आनंदाने राहावे.
अशा प्रकारे प्रत्येक कथा वेगळी आहे. आशावाद आणि जगणं यामधील दुवा कसा शोधावा आणि स्वतःला शोधून आपलं जग कसं निर्माण करावं हे समजतं.
पावसानंतरच पडणार कोळवून कसं हवं असं वाटतं अगदी तसंच जीवनात येणाऱ्या चढ उतारा नंतर येणारा आनंदी क्षण देखील लोभस वाटतो गजबजलेल्या ढगांमधून एखादी उन्हाची तिरप चेहऱ्यावर घेताना रोमांचिक होतं अगदी तसंच असतं हे पावसानंतर ऊन म्हणून प्रत्येकानं एकदा तरी वाचावं असं आहे
परिचय : सुश्री अर्चना माने
सांगली.
≈संपादक – श्री हेमन्त बावनकर/सम्पादक मंडळ (मराठी) – सौ. उज्ज्वला केळकर/श्री सुहास रघुनाथ पंडित /सौ. मंजुषा मुळे/सौ. गौरी गाडेकर≈
(ई-अभिव्यक्ति में संस्कारधानी की सुप्रसिद्ध साहित्यकार श्रीमती छाया सक्सेना ‘प्रभु’ जीद्वारा “व्यंग्य से सीखें और सिखाएं” शीर्षक से साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ प्रारम्भ करने के लिए हार्दिक आभार। आप अविचल प्रभा मासिक ई पत्रिका की प्रधान सम्पादक हैं। कई साहित्यिक संस्थाओं के महत्वपूर्ण पदों पर सुशोभित हैं तथा कई पुरस्कारों/अलंकरणों से पुरस्कृत/अलंकृत हैं। आपके साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ – व्यंग्य से सीखें और सिखाएं में आज प्रस्तुत है एक विचारणीय रचना “क्यों दाता बनें विधाता…?”। इस सार्थक रचना के लिए श्रीमती छाया सक्सेना जी की लेखनी को सादर नमन। आप प्रत्येक गुरुवार को श्रीमती छाया सक्सेना जी की रचना को आत्मसात कर सकेंगे।)
☆ साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ – व्यंग्य से सीखें और सिखाएं # 150 ☆
☆ क्यों दाता बनें विधाता…? ☆
प्रचार- प्रसार के माध्यमों से लोक लुभावन सपने दिखाना तो एक हद तक सही हो सकता है, किंतु मुफ्त में सारी सुविधाओं को देने से कामचोरी की आदत पड़ जाती है। जो आर्थिक रूप से कमजोर हैं, अशक्त हैं उन्हें मजबूत करने के प्रयास हों। पर जाति, धर्म, अल्पसंख्यक के नाम पर समाज को विभाजित करके सुविधाओं का आरक्षण देना समाज को जड़ से कमजोर करने की दिशा में उठाया गया कदम साबित हो रहा है।
जब राष्ट्रवाद की परिकल्पना साकार होती है तो व्यक्ति हर प्रश्नों से ऊपर उठकर अपना कर्तव्य निभाने की ओर चल देता है। हर वर्ग ने जाति, धर्म, अमीरी- गरीबी से ऊपर उठ केवल देश हित को सर्वोपरि माना है। कहा भी गया है – जननी जन्मभूमिश्चय स्वर्गादपि गरियसी अर्थात जननी और जन्मभूमि स्वर्ग से भी बढ़कर होती है।
जो भरा नहीं है भावों से, बहती जिसमें रसधार नहीं।
हृदय नहीं वह पत्थर है, जिसमें स्वदेश का प्यार नहीं। ।
राष्ट्रकवि मैथिलीशरण गुप्त जी की ये पंक्तियाँ सबका मार्गदर्शन करती हैं। क्या अच्छा नहीं होगा कि सत्ता को पाने के लिए दाता बना भाग्य विधाता की सोच से ऊपर उठकर हम कार्य करें। जनमानस को सचेत होकर अपने दायित्वों का निर्वाहन करना होगा तभी बिड़गी चाल पर नियंत्रण रखा जा सकेगा।
(सुप्रसिद्ध साहित्यकार श्री ओमप्रकाश क्षत्रिय “प्रकाश” जीका हिन्दी बाल -साहित्य एवं हिन्दी साहित्य की अन्य विधाओं में विशिष्ट योगदान हैं। साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ “श्री ओमप्रकाश जी का साहित्य” के अंतर्गत उनकी मानवीय दृष्टिकोण से परिपूर्ण लघुकथाएं आप प्रत्येक गुरुवार को पढ़ सकते हैं। आज प्रस्तुत है बाल साहित्य – “आत्मकथा – हवाई जहाज का जन्म”)
☆ साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ – श्री ओमप्रकाश जी का साहित्य # 139 ☆
☆ बाल साहित्य – “आत्मकथा– हवाई जहाज का जन्म” ☆ श्री ओमप्रकाश क्षत्रिय ‘प्रकाश’ ☆
मेरा जन्म 1900 की शुरुआत में ओहियो के डेटन में एक छोटे से वर्कशॉप में हुआ था। मेरे निर्माता ऑरविल और विल्बर राइट नाम के दो भाई थे। वे पक्षी की उड़ान से प्रेरित थे। वे कई वर्षों से मेरे डिजाइन पर काम कर रहे थे।
मैं एक बहुत ही साधारण मशीन था। मेरे पास दो पंख थे, एक प्रोपेलर और एक छोटा इंजन। लेकिन मैं भी बहुत नवीन था। मैं पहला हवाई जहाज था जो कुछ सेकंड से अधिक समय तक उड़ान भरने में सक्षम था।
17 दिसंबर, 1903 को मैंने अपनी पहली उड़ान भरी। मैं ऑरविल के नियंत्रण में था। विल्बर मेरे साथ दौड़ रहा था। वह एक रस्सी पकड़े था। मैंने 12 सेकंड के लिए उड़ान भरी। 120 फीट की यात्रा की। यह एक छोटी उड़ान थी, लेकिन यह एक ऐतिहासिक थी।
मेरी उड़ान ने साबित कर दिया कि इंसान उड़ सकता है। इसने अन्य अन्वेषकों को नए और बेहतर हवाई जहाज बनाने के लिए प्रेरित किया। और इसने दुनिया को हमेशा के लिए बदल दिया।
मैं अब 100 से अधिक वर्षों से उड़ रहा हूं। मैंने उस समय में काफी बदलाव देखे हैं। हवाई जहाज बड़े और तेज हो गए हैं। वे ऊंची और दूर तक उड़ सकते हैं। वे अधिक लोगों को ले जा सकते हैं।
लेकिन एक चीज नहीं बदली है: मैं अभी भी दुनिया की सबसे आश्चर्यजनक मशीन हूं। मैं लोगों को नई जगहों और नए अनुभवों के साथ ले जा सकता हूं। मैं लोगों को एक-दूसरे से और उनके आसपास की दुनिया से जुड़ने में मदद कर सकता हूं। मैं दुनिया को एक छोटी जगह बना दिया है।
मुझे मेरे हवाई जहाज होने पर गर्व है। लोगों को यात्रा करने और अन्वेषण करने में मदद करने पर मुझे प्रसन्न्ता होती है। मुझे मेरी प्यारी दुनिया के भ्रमण करने पर गर्व है।
(Neelam ji, through her poems, takes us into the sphere of light through the darkness in which one can find that Lost Mint Taste, as she calls it, and be invigorated again.)
(Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra)
☆ English Literature – Book-Review ☆ ‘The lost mint taste‘ by Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ☆ Mrs. Poornima Rao ☆
Neelam Saxena’s ‘The lost mint taste’, an anthology of fifty poems, can be a soul freshner in a collector’s cabinet. It is a bouquet of fifty different flowers arranged creatively to enrapture the beholder. Each flower is unique in fragrance and makeup and definitely does not trespass the other.
Neelam ji draws abundantly from the Indian panorama, be it family or social issues. So you connect instantly with each poem . It is the honest portrayal in each that binds you. While poems ‘Madness’, Work from home’, ‘To you my daughter, ‘The Pain’, directly resonate in your drawing room, some like the ‘Wandering Singer’ are almost alive at your doorstep. Her love for nature oozes in ‘Pristine Nature’ and ‘The Ultimate Destination ‘ to mix with traces of anger in ‘Water’.
I particularly liked her series of six poems dedicated to the mystical and boundless love of Radha and Krishna from genesis to its emotional closure. Trees as metaphor for societal imposters though unusual is deftly penned in ‘The Towering Tree’ and ‘Ego’
That she can handle lighter themes and evince laughter in the reader with equal ease is evident in the poems with which she concludes her book. It is definitely ninety nine pages of happy reading with no dull moment.
(हिंदी साहित्य के सशक्त हस्ताक्षर डॉ. राकेश ‘चक्र’ जी की अब तक 122 पुस्तकें प्रकाशित हो चुकी हैं। जिनमें 7 दर्जन के आसपास बाल साहित्य की पुस्तकें हैं। कई कृतियां पंजाबी, उड़िया, तेलुगु, अंग्रेजी आदि भाषाओँ में अनूदित । कई सम्मान/पुरस्कारों से सम्मानित/अलंकृत। इनमें प्रमुख हैं ‘बाल साहित्य श्री सम्मान 2018′ (भारत सरकार के दिल्ली पब्लिक लाइब्रेरी बोर्ड, संस्कृति मंत्रालय द्वारा डेढ़ लाख के पुरस्कार सहित ) एवं उत्तर प्रदेश हिन्दी संस्थान द्वारा ‘अमृतलाल नागर बालकथा सम्मान 2019’। उत्तर प्रदेश हिंदी संस्थान द्वारा राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर बाल साहित्य की दीर्घकालीन सेवाओं के लिए दिया जाना सर्वोच्च सम्मान ‘बाल साहित्य भारती’(धनराशि ढाई लाख सहित)। आदरणीय डॉ राकेश चक्र जी के बारे में विस्तृत जानकारी के लिए कृपया इस लिंक पर क्लिक करें संक्षिप्त परिचय – डॉ. राकेश ‘चक्र’ जी।
आप “साप्ताहिक स्तम्भ – समय चक्र” के माध्यम से उनका साहित्य आत्मसात कर सकेंगे।)
व्यंग्य – 
पुस्तकावर बोलू काही 
