Author Archives: mandeepcaur
If Not Now…Then When Shall We !!
If Not Now…Then When Shall We !!
Entire sovereign is favouring inaction, indeed party to crime
Everywhere, there is bloodshed, corrupted every mind
There is an impenitent dance of selfishness ‘n’ indifference
Marginalized is the common man, slighted is womankind
If we don’t fight for our rights now, then when shall we!
Powerful afflicting the weak, making them weaker
Wealthy becoming wealthier, one third still below poverty line
Enslaved, living a life of untouchables and maligned
Screaming for justice, do we heed them whine
If we won’t hear them cry, then when shall we!
Every religion ‘n’ caste is brewing hatred ‘n’ crime,
Common man so timid and scared, turns an eye blind
Few raise voice are singled out, pay price of being kind
Deprived of justice, subjected to more barbaric crime
If we still don’t raise our voice, then when shall we!
Media makes a news churning machine, chases TRP rates
The more sensational it is, more it sells in the race
People suffer from social amnesia; issues are dozen a dime,
Fast paced life, refuses to pause, fatigued by daily grind
If we don’t move now, then when shall we!
Honour for women, pride for daughters, is what we’ve been vying
Youth immersing in drug menace, hope of India’s dying,
Children of today, are future of tomorrow, is a forgotten rhyme
Caste still leads, power still rules, superstitions still haze our minds
If we don’t woke up still, then when shall we!
Where are those, whose senses are alive ‘n’ blood is still warm
Those brave hearts, who’re willing to fight ‘n’ await a new dawn
Who claim to be nimble n awake, need to create a storm
Those erudite, who dream and strive for a reform
If it’s not time to wage a revolution, then when shall we!
Yet Another Women’s Day !!
Women’s day again and we have the same agenda to steer….
Today again after decades, I reminisce a beautiful verse written by a highly acclaimed, prominent woman novelist, and essayist Amrita Pritam. She was a leading 20th-century poetess of Punjabi language –.. .My grandmother used to often recite her verse remembering the atrocities caused to women at the time of India Pakistan partition…
Aj aakhan Waris Shah nun kiton kabraan vichchon bol,
Te aj kitab-e-ishq daa koi agla varka phol..
Ik roi si dhi Punjab di tun likh likh maare vaen,
Aj lakhaan dhian rondian tainun Waris Shah nun kehn..
Dharti te lau vaseya, kabran paiyyan chon, Preet diyan sehzadiyan ajj vich mazaaraan ron..
Ajj sabbe Kaidon ban gaye, husan ishq de chor, Ajj kithon le aaiye labh ke waris shah ik hor..
For those who don’t understand Punjabi, an attempt to translate above stanza in English ….
Today, I call upon Waris Shah, “Speak from your grave”
And turn today the book of love’s next affectionate page
Once, a daughter of Punjab cried and you wrote a wailing saga
Today, a million daughters cry to you, Rise O’ Waris Shah!!
Today all have turned Quaidons, the tormentors of love and beauty,
Where can we find another one like Waris Shah who could cause a revolution with his poetry
Ironically, after more than six decades this verse is still as apt to our ever globalizing country and progressive society as it was when we were a conservative and right-winger society. I often wonder we are the most hypocrite society who shows respect for fairer gender only in scriptures and sculptures in temples. The moment we step out of the holy places on the road back into our houses, to our work places, we adorn our bigoted instincts and assert our power on weaker sections.
Male female ratio, women education percentage, gender neutrality and inclusivity, crime against women… you pick up any census… at what pace are we growing. While we claim to be the next big economic power in the world, we have a huge land to cover. Essentially, the status of women is the reflection of state of development of any country.
Unfortunately, we all know that we have a law in the country which cannot protect its little less than half the population. We have a constitution which cannot ensure equal rights of freedom to women. A government which takes its own pace and time to confront such crimes and police that starts reacting only when masses come on the road to protest. Does this really guarantee any solution to this problem, I am not hopeful.
So friends!! we have to make a choice between acting helpless and blame the system or do our bit!
My question to everyone is –“ Are we doing our bit, if we desire a change !! ”
How many of us are parents, guardians and have daughters, sisters who wish them an independent tomorrow. I guess most of us. But what are we doing to create a social setup where our sisters, daughters, wives can go out and work as an equal person and professional as our male friends. Have we done enough!?
Then how do we expect this transformation to happen on its own, overnight.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. It sounds banal but I am repeating it for its unsurpassed value.
If we all wish to give a true meaning to this Women’s day, Lets go home today and try bring this little change in our own life, our environment! To begin with:
1. Respect the woman at home (charity begins at home). It could be our mother, sister, wife, daughter for a person she is and value she is bringing to our life.
2. Let’s not offend her in private or in front of our children, colleagues, friends in compulsive outburst of our chauvinism.
3. Let’s not promote cheap, senseless jokes, profane language just to assert our power.
4. Teach our children, especially sons to respect women as mothers, sisters, spouses and most importantly human beings.
5. I bet it won’t take away masculinity from anyone if we exhibit this behavior and be the role model ourselves.
6. Now at work, if we genuinely wish to make our sisters, daughters safe and breathe in fear free air, let’s start respecting others’ sisters and daughters who are our colleagues today.
I know this will still take a few years to change the old wiring and completely replace with new social order. But before we know, a revolution may have already begun.
Tribute to Nirbhaya, the rape victim !
Tribute to Nirbhaya…
Once again a daughter is sacrificed
Tormented n wounded was she to the core
So barbarically, that she lost her life
Questioning humanity that how many more!
Once again someone has dared
Acted sinful and immoral
Beleaguered and coerced the innocent
To prove his satanic power
Once again I heard
This dark sinister laughter
My ears deafen with splitting
and piercing screams of torture
Once again I tossed n turned
Sleepless through the night
I called upon ‘O God’,
Who claims to be almight
You’re known to be Supreme,
So where is your clout
I learnt you stood for the weak,
Protected with your shroud
We learnt from the scriptures
One pays for one’s misdeeds
I haven’t seen many brought to justice
Virtuous victims only recede
All that while we cry hoarse
Against the malevolent society
Why shouldn’t we then question
Your chauvinistic deity
Dowry deaths, honor killings
and daily physical assaults
Or shouldn’t we support the womb killings
to save the pain afterwards
Once again I have no answer
to our daughters we raise
No protection can I guarantee,
No promise I can make
My heart is torn for the sufferers,
Who fall to devils’ prey
How can we be their guardians,
When You are not au’fait
How many more sacrifices
And assaults will it take
To stir You up to chasten
The sordid and depraved !!
Have I Lost my Poetry !!
Have I Lost my Poetry !!
Have run out of ideas, disarray are my thoughts
I have lost my words and dreams, gamut of writing art
Which earlier was my forte, I used to razzmatazz
Too numb to feel anything, the Poetry is lost……..
There is no fresh inspiration, to well up the drought
The ocean is dried up, once was so deep n vast
Need to reignite the fire in my frozen heart
Its not the one which flows in veins, but burns you red hot
All the stories I nurtured all along, are vent n exhaust
I keep going back to the same beliefs and dreams, once envisaged
Letting the same emotions flow, over n again the canvas and collage
Have I devoured the skill of rhyming or all my creativity is lost……..
For once I have to feel so strongly about something
A new idea, a new feeling or a novel thought
For once again I need to connect to my soul
Feel the passion and not let it perish or rot………….
Poetry gives me joy n my sense of attainment
Enlightens my eyes and enlivens my heart
Can’t wait till I get some fresh air to breathe
So let these feelings be the source, to let the stream start…..
Act When You Must !!
Act When You Must !!
Trough shall never hit, if you plan ‘Change’ while still at crest
Break inertia and explore, more when you are at your best
Move on when you get the first signal of beginning of dusk
For there is a new dawn awaiting and night we walk through must
Choose when you have options, not when left with no choice
Speak when it matters, not when no one needs your voice
Act when you must, not when it’s trivial and trite
No one but it’s You who decides when the time is right
Leave when you still want it, not when you have lost your appetite
Eat when you are hungry, not when served and obliged
Strike when the iron is hot, not when is brittle and oxidized
Reinvent, rediscover and revive before you have died
Fear not the unknown and unexplored
Wear not the old treasure once conquered
Sing not the past laurels and dead valor
Plan the next victory when still stained with blood is your sword
Under The Shadow Of Giant Trees…
Under The Shadow Of Giant Trees…
Blessed are those special ones, whom God bestows with His might
They are indeed those bright minds, who earn this gift for the right
They have certainly risen more than other poor mortals in plight
Now that you are the chosen one, have bigger challenge to fight
There are those who bow their head in reverence, contain the power inside
Spread their aura; kindle the radiance, to the humble and slight
There are some who can’t hold the power, get blinded by their might
Can’t see those new tiny stars around, who are struggling for their lime light
Narcissists captivated in self-gratification, nonchalant to selfless side
Giant and towering trees let only nestling climbers touch height
Indifferent, syphoning wherewithal, causing erosion, basking in avaricious pride
Eclipsed in their amoral shadow, many true n worthy saplings died!
March On…
March on !
Don’t be complacent , don’t be smug
On your conquered laurels , no matter how grand !
Sharpen your saw, refurbish your arms
Be ready to annex forever new land !
This shall renew you each next day
Don’t lose your shine, remain fresh and new brand!
Learn and learn, its never enough yet,
Redeem every breath, forever you’ll be in demand !
You are part of me…
They may see in you an ordinary boy
But I know you’re quite unusual
Not a regular next door guy,
A discreet and super individual
Once if you meet someone,
You win him for life
You touch his heart and soul,
With your candor n smile
Your world is totally different
With meaningful little things..
Where reality gets blurred
And dreams get their wings
Where fish can actually fly,
Birds can also swim
Where humans turn in robots
Zombies killed by imps
Your reasoning is so special
Your ingenious has no parallel
Ordinary things just bore you
In puzzles and riddles, you excel
I want to see the world from your eyes
For, it’s limitless beyond the skies
With a mind always on flight
You could touch the stars so high
I know you’re going to be exceptional
It wonders me what’s your whim
I have seen your young mind question,
Look for answers of world so distinct
You’re part of me,
So I live you everyday
My heart beats for you
For your triumph, I always prey!!
Mentor and Coach !!
Mentor and Coach !!
I have touched a few lives
Some vain, some really bright
They renewed, they grew and reached their height
Met their purpose, which made their heart smile
It feels great to play that role
But on my heart it takes a toll
As this involves me to go through a process
Of trust and love and emotions enfold
It starts with loving the dough of thy soul
Soaking in mine, as if it was a mold
Slowly it takes the shape of my heart
Fits into it as if it was a part
It grows its stems and leaves to feed
It strengthens the roots to stand on its feet
Only to discover that it was God’s art
To use me as a carrier to take them to their path
It’s great to be worthy of playing that role
But everytime my heart stretches and reshapes
It wilts to shreds, baring new holes
It causes a piercing ache, unexplained, untold
It’s my heart and it’s my soul
Not a synthetic cast or a throwaway mold
You may use and shed whenever…
You think you are ready for a new goal
God tells me it’s great to be a catalyst
To contribute to the others’ catharsis
But, it impregnates my heart with a new hope
That I found my true friend ‘n’ accomplice
I want to hold on to it for all the blood ‘n’ tears I give
I join its dream as it‘d break if I miss
But then it’s evolved and ready for a goodbye kiss
You shovel me out of my make belief bliss
I am left bleeding in anguish n pain
Isolated, lonesome and torn by a vane
Withered by a storm, deluged by the rain
Feeling hollow and vain all over again
God! It’s been long, I swore, I’ll not surrogate anyone’s soul
I’ll not love or nurture it to have me cajoled
You served me anew! As it was meant to merge
I started believing, we are one and it’d make me whole!