Daughter of a Daughter

She said I want to study

To fight the world I want to be ready

But I will take care of you my child, said her mother

Soon she was married against her wish by the father



She toiled in the day, she cried in the night

Her mother couldn’t do anything about her plight

She was left alone & unequipped in her fight



Soon she was blessed with a child

Overjoyed with emotions she couldn't control her smile

But the husband seemed sad, he said, “I wanted a boy”

She said, “She is my boy & she will be my joy”



It was made sure the child went to school

The husband banished the child & acted as a fool

The mother made sure the daughter didn’t lack any tools



The child went on to be a bright child & a great daughter

She even allured her stubborn father

“Do you want a boy” asked the wife one day

He said, “No, as from me I don’t want any of her love to be taken away”

Wake Up

I look at them and feel sad
the people of my country
their situation is so bad
social or monetary

We lament the financial meltdowns
having gone tart
forgotten india in our towns
we shallow hearts

Some dying of hunger, some of biting cold
those poor souls
No water & no power putting life on hold
India shining with black holes

fighting a battle each day
my fellow citizens
making troubles turn away
these brave men & women

I am one among you all
living with a fake make up
Acting tall & being small
my friends, its time to wake up

The Panna Story

I spent the last week in Panna District of Madhya Pradesh as part of the Govt Immersion Programme started by IIM Indore. I must say the experience was amazing and I learnt a great deal. Though it was a lot of fun, it was eye opening as well. I saw how a boon can be a bain as well!

Panna can be a perfect example of how a city suffers from its own resource. Panna is a city having about 45 % area covered under forest land which includes the famous Panna tiger reserve but by admission of the people of the district and the local administration that is the biggest problem for Panna. The forest covers Panna from three sides which makes a rail link impossible as the forest authorities won’t let a rail link be brought in through the forests. This is one of the biggest reasons for Panna to be featuring among some of the most backward districts in India according to some surveys. The presence of Panna tiger reserve, Panna Diamond mines, Pandva Falls, Chaumukhnath(a 7th century old temple with the main attraction being four idols of Bhagwan Shiva in different moods) and also being only 50 km away from Khajurao makes Panna a potential tourist destination. Tourism seems to be Panna’s only hope at this time and non availability of good connectivity to the place makes industry a distant possibility with certain units having opened and closed in the past having faced transportation problems. Though it may be argued that Tourism also requires connectivity, which is true, but if we look at it from a different angle- Panna tiger resere is just 30 kms from Khajurao and the Pandva falls 10 km from there and the city 10 km further which is a sort of tourism corridor so road connectivity can do good for it. Panna is a beautiful place with beautiful people, you can admire this statement better only after you see the cleanliness in the city. All it needs is some help so that it can fully utilise its potential. This help has to be both from the government and the private sector. Spending a week with the government officials made me realise they are trying to do a lot but a bit more is desired.

As it is

In life's twists and turns
Try to make things simple
Its not tough to learn
If you try to make things simple

We cry and we complain
but cant we take it as it is
a plateau will never be a plain
so cant we take it as it is

Days will be good and bad
if only we look at the positives
life wont be sad
if only we look at the positives

It may or not be true
but do consider these views
trivial will seem life's blues
so just consider these views

Now n Then

Its running through my mind
a thought so naive

I wanna be a child again
I wanna run wild again
wanna dance in the rain
play with a toy train
what loss what gain
life stayed the same

Now life has changed
everything has changed

Now its work all the time
Now its toil all the time
In this long line
others I wanna outshine
either I go up or I decline
I cant stay just "fine"

Wanna fly like a bird
have to work like a nerd
wanna have a sound sleep
have deadlines to meet
wanna go for a walk
have to attend a talk

Do I like it, probably not
Do I want it, probably not

Rat Race

Everyone competes in this rat race
some win but many lose
among them some lose with grace
others just lose their face

Its not that I dont like to win
but why someone has to lose
on someone's sorrow I grin
this adversarial nature just doesnt sink in

What do we want this world to be
People ready to kill each other
Will they do this with glee
some may but not me

I may be considered a fool
but I have my heart in place
with this I cant be "Cool"
On others' peril I cant rule

Sleeping in the Class

As I sit in a boring class,
yet another one in a long day,
trying to keep myself awake,
failing miserably at the same.
Though its just not me
enacting they are attentive,
noone's listening to the prof,
lost in their own thoughts.
As I doze off once again,
my neighbor wakes me up,
the prof goes on and on,
I don't understand a word of the jargon.
Trying to get along whats going on,
I sit straight and rub mu eyes,
the clock strikes 1 & over is the class,
Relief to all, ALAS!