Kuchh lafz...

Dekha jab tumko, 
Ye chehra dil ko hai bhaya,
Mandra gya yun main 
Jaise bhanware ka ho saya,
Yaad kar wo lamha, 
Zindgi pal main jee aya,
Palke seher uthi, 
Khayal jab tera lehraya, 
Ye nasha hai ya madhoshi, 
Madira sa hai chhalkaya,
Hue gumsum yun hum to, 
Hai pal pal yun sehlaya,
Mann kiya dil  khol dun, 
Magar kuchh keh nahi paya,
Kare Kya, Ae Husn-e-jaan, 
Abhi mera waqt nahi aya...
Abhi mera waqt nahi aya...

Human Values...a thought shared

I was born in a country that boasts of being a Secular Republic. I was nurtured by a family who laid great emphasis on my moral education first, followed by the academic aspect. The importance of human values was understood then, and that became the founding stones of my personality, developing with each step taken by me towards achieving academic, moral and professional pinnacle.

I am not a philosopher, but I understand what my morals are. I am not religious fanatic, but I believe in maintaining my dignity, and not reel in front of the quick but short success.  The policy of ‘Do unto others what you would want unto you’ was taught to me early in life.

Today, I understand what the lessons of honesty and integrity meant. The B-school I study in is trying its best to land me a good job. The interviewer that I face is trying hard to understand me beyond what I project. As he readies himself to write my destiny (for time unspecific), I think of the near future. The commercialization of my knowledge in the coming years would require for me to take some drastic steps, some to which the world will not agree, and some which will prick my conscience forever. As I steady myself to ride the roller–coaster professional life in the coming years, I pray. I pray for the power to retain my patience with other people, I pray to be saved from the venom of my ambitions, and I seek peace in the thought that as long as I have kept my values in the forefront, there is little to fear.

When a tiny hand wraps my finger as I walk, I feel the warmth. I miss this warmth while shaking hands at a client meeting. As I compare the difference, I notice the purity of heart behind the clasp of those feeble fingers, and then feel ashamed to have compared that purity with my own motives of landing the business deal during the client handshake.

My experience with the people has made me realize the paramount importance of human values. The term is far deeper than the words can echo. However, the global village stinks of foul practices and impatience among people. As I commute with the morning newspaper in hand, I notice the frustration among people, and wonder how strong an organization can be, if it stands on the shoulders of such a tired lot. It seems that this feeling of helplessness has put to rest the excitement of life, and while the human remains, the values diminish.

The solution is not very difficult. All it would require is a compassionate approach. It vital for us to understand that mere recognition of an employees’ effort would not only enhance his/her professional spirit, but also would send out a signal that you respect the one committed to excellence.

The dictionary tells me that the human values comprise of love, peace, truth and non-violence and many similar words. I do not doubt that, but have one question in mind; “Will the peace and love sustain when all I would be focusing on would be to land a business deal? And that too, when my manager’s words ‘get it by hook or crook’ echo in my ears?” The idea of todays corporate and traditional ‘care for each man’ philosophy going hand in hand may have issues, but there is hope.

Generation Y has displayed a considerable interest towards social issues. It gives me immense pleasure when I notice that today’s generation resents authority. The feeling of freedom inculcates the sense of not bullying others, and this ripple effect would lay foundation to a great human utopia.

After all, the challenge is not to win once; it is to maintain your winning performance. 

You are still the one…

 You are still the password of my laptop,

Thinking of you still make my eyes bright,

My b’ful day still starts with you,

With you I call it a night…

My lips pronounce your name with care,

My fingers still yearn to run through your hair,

My toes still write your name in the sand,

My face still misses the touch of your hair strand,

I still don’t believe that it is true,

The only one who didn’t understand me, t’was you,

Was I an idiot, or was it your cute stupidity,

But it was always you I wanted till eternity,

Think, my dear, of those lovely moments,

Remember, it was just you and I that in them,

Our intimacy was divine, our luv pure,

Then why the hell did we break up for sure?

I kneel on one knee, my head is bowed,

You are still the one I seek from the crowd,

My heart whispers a silent sigh,

Its still you I need, and my hopes are high,  

My dream you are, my horizon you,

My breath is short, my words are few,

You are still the one I worship, Yea; its true,

My luv you are, my life you…

Terrorism; for all it is...

They murder our hopes, instill fear in our hearts, rape our supposedly bright future, and manage to
get away with it, thanks to the religious sentiments flared in their speeches and dead militants being
portrayed as legends. Who says that dead men don’t tell tales; well they shout the word of terror and
themselves rest in graves while the public still struggling to get on with their own life face grave dangers
of never returning home.

Humanity begun by war against nature to survive the cold and rain, the struggle continued when
kingdoms were formed, and today the war is against the fellow brother. Terrorism is not limited to the
bomb blasts and mass killing; it starts at the tender age when a tiny heart is terrorized by glares of a
mother during toilet training, and it continues in form of bullies at school. What we know of the terrorist
activities is the much later form, when there is lack of education and/or veteran approach towards
brain-washing. Religion is often used as a tool here, and sentiments are deliberately hurt to portray the
rest of the world as an enemy, and the only word taught is ‘kill’…

I venture out of home and receive multiple calls about my whereabouts, I cross my child’s school gate
to ensure the institution is still safe, and I return home as a triumphant warrior, who has survived yet
another day of a possible RDX attack. It’s not safe to let my young son go to the community park swings,
it’s not safe for my daughter to stir outdoors when the sun has resigned for the day, its not safe for my
lovely wife to wear her favorite neck-piece I bought her for our last anniversary, and yes, I am forbidden
to visit crowded markets.

The war is not against the militant groups, neither is it against the independent small time crooks, the
eternal war wages inside us, that we cannot finish off this serpent of terrorism, and that we cannot do
away with its roots, bribery and corruption being the chief among them.

For once, let us understand, terrorism knows no sympathy, it has no mercy on children or the aged, and
above all, it has no religion. The so-called protagonists of terrorism are not the God-sent creatures who
have the aim of improving the world, in which you and I strive to live in, they are people who have no
mercy, no soul, and no conscious. They are not here to provide solutions, they are here to kill, and if you
are not with them, you are against them. You kill, and then die/get killed, and they go on in search of
another such ‘martyr’. To them you were a stepping stone, and to the victim, you were the devil himself,
and yet you think you are serving humanity! God bless you, and give you the power to sense what is
right for you and the world you live in, and above all, what comes first, your religion or the mankind.