Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti.  An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

We present an English Version of Shri Sanjay Bhardwj’s Hindi Poetry “पानी ” published previously as ☆ संजय दृष्टि – पानी ☆  We extend our heartiest thanks to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for this beautiful translation.)

☆ Water… ☆

Whenever the water

of man’s eyes dies

It crosses all the limits

of the Danger sign…

Quenching thirst

is water’s nature

Filling up the springs

is water’s attribute

Moistening up the countless

Rugged roots of the trees

Turning the grass velvety

Making it bask in greenery

Pausing merrily for the

Pools, ponds and pits

Soaking the barren soil

making her womb green!

Inimically concrete jungle enroute

prevents the water absorption

Cement, rubble, garbage  dumps

Together,  try to deter water flow…

As water has to quench

every thirsty soul around

It has to reach every possible

creature and the organism…

Interruptions make it little furious

Enraging it in a turbulent mood

As it blows away all the possible

Reasons of the stoppages enroute

Concrete jungles start shaking

Forcing every ungrateful man

to promptly start creating myriad

avenues for its natural free flow….

When the water comes back

In the eyes of abject mankind

Sensing it, the water level too

recedes below the Danger mark!

≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡  ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti.  An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

☆ Anguish of the Tree! ☆

Ms Neelam Saxena Chandra

(Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is a well-known author. She has been honoured with many international/national/ regional level awards. We are extremely thankful to Ms. Neelam ji for permitting us to share her excellent poems with our readers. We will be sharing her poems on every Thursday. Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is  an Additional Divisional Railway Manager,Indian Railways, Pune Division. Her beloved genre is poetry. Today we present her poem “Death”.  This poem  is from her book “The Frozen Evenings”.)

☆ Weekly column ☆ Poetic World of Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra # 25☆

☆  Death ☆

I’ve lived on the fence

Many-a-times

And also taken occasional plunges

Into the deep seas.

Yes, I’ve died

Not once,

But several times.

Whoever says

That there is no rebirth

Is wrong;

I am good specimen

Of enormous number

Of rebirths!

© Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra

(All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the author.)

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti.  An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi ji  is not only proficient in Hindi and English, but also has a strong presence in Urdu and Sanskrit.   We present an English Version of Ms. Nirdesh Nidhi’s  Classical Poetry  “वो मैं ही थी…”with title  “It was me only…!” .  We extend our heartiest thanks to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for this beautiful translation.)

इस कविता की मूल लेखिका सुश्री निर्देश निधि और कैप्टन साहब के प्रति आभार प्रकट करते हुए इस रचना मूल हिंदी  संस्करण आप इस लिंक पर पढ़ सकते हैं

>>> वो मैं ही थी…

मैं निःशब्द हूँ, स्तब्ध भी हूँ शब्दशिल्प से और सहज गंभीर लेखन से ।सुश्री निर्देश निधि जी की रचनाओं के सन्दर्भ में कुछ लिखना सूर्य को दीपक दिखाने के समान है। उनके एक-एक शब्द इतना कुछ कह जाते हैं कि मेरी लेखनी थम जाती है। आदरणीया की लेखनी को सादर नमन।

आपसे अनुरोध है कि आप इस रचना को हिंदी और अंग्रेज़ी में पढ़ें और इस कविता को अपने प्रबुद्ध मित्र पाठकों को पढ़ने के लिए प्रेरित करें और उनकी प्रतिक्रिया से  सुश्री निर्देश निधि जी एवं अनुवादक कैप्टन प्रवीण रघुवंशी को अवश्य अवगत कराएँ.

 ☆ It was me only…!☆

Who had ruthlessly trampled

over the lifeless body of the love;

And, got over the infinitely

complicated, centuries long never-ending evening!

Yes, it was me…

You moved all the rocks of the past, shaking all the thoughts of my mind

which had maintained stark silence and tranquility, hitherto!

It was me only…

You had brought all the veins

of love totally bruised

And I, didn’t even attempt to tender even a single one,

Kept sitting lacklusterly,

Indifferently to your presence!

That was me only…

The one who listened to all the sombre tunes,

Of instrument of separation,

For years and years on…

That one was no one else

But me only…!

You wanted to fill the deep

gorge of the past

With a handful of sandy excuses

The one who extended the

mocking smile on seeing this

That was no one else

But me only…!

In the scorching sun of your guilt

One, who never offered

any soothing shade

And stood stoically detached

That was also me only…!

If apathy is a crime, then

The one who confessed the

crime of being indifferent

That was me only…

Soon after you were gone,

Witnessed all the detached neutralities falling apart resolutely

Turning into heap of dry sand

Only to get restlessly drowned in the brackish saline water,

You won’t believe

That was no one else

But me only…!

≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡

Originally Written in Hindi by Nirdesh Nidhi

English Translation by Captain (IN) Pravin Raghuanshi, NM (Retd), Pune

Ms Neelam Saxena Chandra

(Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is a well-known author. She has been honoured with many international/national/ regional level awards. We are extremely thankful to Ms. Neelam ji for permitting us to share her excellent poems with our readers. We will be sharing her poems on every Thursday. Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is  an Additional Divisional Railway Manager,Indian Railways, Pune Division. Her beloved genre is poetry. Today we present her poem “Deadends”.  This poem  is from her book “The Frozen Evenings”.)

☆ Weekly column ☆ Poetic World of Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra # 24☆

☆  Deadends ☆

Imagination,

A master craftsmen, painter and sculptor

All rolled into one,

Morosely paints scenes of dead ends,

Carefully crafts the finishing line

And sculpts your illusion

That sulks dejectedly and tearfully.

You believe in the obscure fantasy

You shudder in the make-believe pains,

You cry and wail,

And are ready to give up.

What is often required

Is just a little courage

To actually walk the road!

Dead ends will always be there,

But within you lights a lamp

Which shall make you push and shove

All the endings,

Transforming them

Into new beginnings!

© Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra

(All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the author.)

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti.  An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi ji  is not only proficient in Hindi and English, but also has a strong presence in Urdu and Sanskrit.   We present an English Version of Ms. Nirdesh Nidhi’s  Classical Poetry  “दे जाना उजास वसंत”with title  “Give Me A Blooming Spring…” .  We extend our heartiest thanks to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for this beautiful translation.)

इस कविता की मूल लेखिका सुश्री निर्देश निधि और कैप्टन साहब के प्रति आभार प्रकट करते हुए इस रचना मूल हिंदी  संस्करण आप इस लिंक पर पढ़ सकते हैं

>>>  “दे जाना उजास वसंत”.

मैं निःशब्द हूँ और स्तब्ध भी हूँ। गांव की मिटटी की सौंधी खुशबू से सराबोर हैं एक एक शब्द । संभवतः इसी लिए निःशब्द हूँ  । सुश्री निर्देश निधि जी की रचनाओं के सन्दर्भ में कुछ लिखना सूर्य को दीपक दिखाने के समान है। उनके एक-एक शब्द इतना कुछ कह जाते हैं कि मेरी लेखनी थम जाती है। आदरणीया की लेखनी को सादर नमन।

आपसे अनुरोध है कि आप इस रचना को हिंदी और अंग्रेज़ी में पढ़ें और इस कविता को अपने प्रबुद्ध मित्र पाठकों को पढ़ने के लिए प्रेरित करें और उनकी प्रतिक्रिया से  सुश्री निर्देश निधि जी एवं अनुवादक कैप्टन प्रवीण रघुवंशी को अवश्य अवगत कराएँ.

 ☆ Give Me A Blooming Spring…☆

O’ Spring! I’ve seen you so many times

Taking a stroll in the garden full of flowers

Silently stiching innocent

leaves on desolated twigs

Cheering up the distraught heart

Filled with the energy of hope,

you looked ever so charming…

Floating warmth of the

Sun in the rustic pond…

Stroking the tender roots of the grass

Lurking with visiting songbirds

Bursting into rapturous melodies…

Listen, Spring!

This year you must visit our fields

Fully ornated with the jewels of wheat spikes…

Otherwise, the crops will be grainless…

Making mother pretend yet again

“I don’t have the  apetite this evening…!”

And, she won’t be able to offer even

A morsel to my snowy little calf…

This year, you must swing

on the tips of mango trees

Must confirm the finalised

marriage date of my sister…

Defeating the yearning wait in her eyes,

You must bloom as spring in them…

Must restlessly wriggle as new manuscripts

In my brother’s empty bag…!

Listen spring,

Harsh sun has been fading my Babuji’s turban colour for many years

You must spray myriad rainbow-hues on it…

Last year you didn’t even pass over our fields

Many ruthless bunches of thorns pierced

In my grandmother’s uncovered ankles

How many times my aunt longed

For the hanging opulent earrings of the neighbour’s wife…

How the dream of my uncle was snapped

Of having the motorised bicycle…

This year, you must suffuse effulgence in

my grandfather’s

fading eyes…

Otherwise your visiting earth

will be pointlessly futile

Passing through our corridor,

without talking to our courtyard,

will be considered a ruthless atrocity…!

Silently, I’ve started getting tired

Feeling the perennial fatigue of my home

O’ Spring! But don’t you ever

mention it to anyone,

Otherwise the mother will be anxiously worried

Like my sister, I too have grown up…!

≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡

Originally Written in Hindi by Nirdesh Nidhi

English Translation by Captain (IN) Pravin Raghuanshi, NM (Retd), Pune   

Ms Neelam Saxena Chandra

(Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is a well-known author. She has been honoured with many international/national/ regional level awards. We are extremely thankful to Ms. Neelam ji for permitting us to share her excellent poems with our readers. We will be sharing her poems on every Thursday. Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is  an Additional Divisional Railway Manager,Indian Railways, Pune Division. Her beloved genre is poetry. Today we present her poem “Darkness ”.  This poem  is from her book “The Frozen Evenings”.)

☆ Weekly column ☆ Poetic World of Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra # 23☆

☆  Darkness ☆

Imagine

When the trumpeting rains have shoved away

The vivacity of the branches of the trees

And they are gloomy,

When the sun refuses to show its face

The whole day along

And you terribly miss its beam,

When the footsteps of the darkness

That wraps the night

Are heard earlier than usual,

When you’ve had a hard day,

And someone smiles and asks,

“How are you?”

Just those three simple words,

Set forth a cycle of cheerfulness;

You begin to see the bright stars

And the darkness of the night vanishes

As if it was never there,

The splendid sun inside your soul

Gets ignited, burns amber,

And you are jovial,

From the branches of the trees,

Tiny leaves begin to sprout

Bringing the enthusiasm of your life back…

Tender love, care and fondness,

Can always rejuvenate you;

But then,

Why wait for others to ask you your well-being?

Why not let that splendid sun inside your soul

Be so glowing

That darkness thinks twice before touching you!

© Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra

(All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the author.)

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti.  An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

We present an English Version of Shri Sanjay Bhardwj’s Hindi Poetry “शारदीयता” published previously as ☆ संजय उवाच –शारदीयता☆  We extend our heartiest thanks to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for this beautiful translation.)

☆ Sharadiyata ☆

Some thinkers call Indian philosophy a philosophy of ‘Naman’, the venerative obeisance, while European philosophy is defined as ‘Manan’, a philosophy of meditative contemplation.

In fact, the inherent educative prowess in  the human beings motivates them to meditate on the incredibly intriguing structure of the universe and the unique role of every variable creation in the universe.  As this meditation progresses, a feeling of gratitude and singularity arises towards the Creator and His creation. The culmination of this feeling is total surrender of mind, body and intellect which results in the salutations of the exiguity to the sovereignty of the supremacy.

Naman is the step ahead of contemplation.  Manan encompasses the Naman.

Manan and Naman are Advaita* in the philosophical parlance.  The root word in both is the ‘Man’, the mind.  If ‘N’ comes as a suffix to make it as Manan, then the mind starts ‘contemplating’.  If ‘N’ joins as a prefix to become Naman, then the feeling of salvation is awakened through devotional obeisances.

The merging of Manan and Naman, confluence of contemplation and obeisances has the potential of transforming the autumn into spring.  Man becomes a wayfarer of Anandpath, the  path of the eternal bliss, by turning his sight into the vision.

Let me share an old reference.  At the time of Partition of India, a Sikh family  reached Delhi from Lahore with great difficulty.  An elderly woman, a married son, daughter-in-law, little granddaughter and a son of marriagable age. Somehow they managed to find a shelter to hide themselves near a mosque in a Muslim colony in Delhi.  While the elderly woman was in Lahore, she used to  visit a nearby Gurdwara Sahib daily to pay her obeisances, and then only partake her food.  The sons knew this routine of the mother but found themselves helpless in this situation to find a Gurudwara.  The next morning the two sons set out in search of work.  After returning in the evening,  the elder son said, “Biji, I have found out a gurudwara but it is far away. We will try to find a house near that gurudwara, till then you offer your distant prayers from here only.”

Mother said, “I have already done my prayers.” ..

“Where?”, asked the shocked son.

“Here, nearby”, said the mother as she pointed in a particular direction. “But, Biji, that is a mosque”, said the son.

“It may be a mosque for them. For me it is my Master’s house”, the mother replied in forceful manner.

Shardiyata**, which changes the sight into vision, always remains awakened in us.

≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡  ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡  ≡ ≡

Advaita*  

Principle of the spiritual realization in Hindu tradition, that refers to the true self, Atman, is the same as the highest metaphysical Reality (Brahman).

Sharadiyata **

Goddess Saraswati’s another name is Sharada who is the goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning. ‘Sharadiyata’  refers to the knowledge which liberates every human being from bondages and fetters.  Teaches to be free, develops a sense of equality.  To invoke  underlying virtues of Ma Sharada is the ‘Sharadiyata.’

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti.  An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

We present an English Version of Shri Sanjay Bhardwj’s Hindi Poetry “ठूंठ” published previously as☆ संजय दृष्टि  – ठूँठ ☆  We extend our heartiest thanks to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for this beautiful translation.)

☆ Thoonth –the Tree Stump☆

Every tree stump

can grow

Green shoots

Innocent sprouts

Blossoming buds

Rainbow hues flowers,

With chirping birds

perched on them…

All it needs

A little manure

A little water

And plenty of love…

*Similarly*

Every person desires

An assuring pat on the back,

Soothing delectable fingers,

Soulful affectionate  eyes,

And, encouraging words,

Everyone has his own definite role…

You all stick together *In drive to green*  the stumps

And I will make sure

*No one ever becomes a* stump.

Ms Neelam Saxena Chandra

(Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is a well-known author. She has been honoured with many international/national/ regional level awards. We are extremely thankful to Ms. Neelam ji for permitting us to share her excellent poems with our readers. We will be sharing her poems on every Thursday. Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra ji is  an Additional Divisional Railway Manager,Indian Railways, Pune Division. Her beloved genre is poetry. Today we present her poem “A Plea to Santa”.  This poem  is from her book “The Frozen Evenings”.)

☆ Weekly column ☆ Poetic World of Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra # 20☆

☆  A Plea to Santa ☆

Santa, Santa

Do not deny my wish,

Give me a Christmas gift

And let this Christmas eve be different please…

Santa, Santa

I want everyone to be happy and glee:

No tears, no sorrow;

Only contentment and ecstasy…

Santa, Santa

Let there be no gloom;

Please grant me a boon,

Let joy and prosperity bloom…

Santa, Santa

Let there be love and care;

No biases of caste, creed and race,

Let peace prevail everywhere…

Santa, Santa

Let us all join hands;

Form a human chain

Of affection that shall never end….

Santa, Santa

This is what I seek

Let this Christmas be

Different and unique!

© Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra

(All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the author.)