Tuesday, November 14, 2006




उस दिन, एक साल
जब हम
हर साल की तरह
पींगें झूल रही थीं
भरी गर्मियों में
तो तूने
मेरी चोटी खींची थी, और मैं
तेरे पीछे भागी थी,
अपनी लड़ के कमायी हुइ पींग भूल कर

उस दिन, एक साल
तू हर बार की ही तरह
हिरणी की तरह भागी थी,
पर उस दिन
जब पकडी गयी थी हम ,
तो तूने
मेरा नाम लगा दिया था सारा , और सारी मार
मैने अकेली ने खायी थी.

आज जब हम मिलती हैं,
तो तू,
मेरा नाम नही लगाती,
मुझसे पूछ्ती है,
बाल बच्चे कैसे हैं,
वो कैसे हैं,
पर सच दीदी,
अब तू मुझसे
उतना प्यार नही करती,
जितना उस दिन करती थी.


This is a bad translation, because the original is most beautiful in its simplicity. It uses the everyday language of a part of rural India. cannot replicate the effect in English, but here goes the feeble effort:


That summer day, some year
When, like every other year,
you and me
were on the swings,
you pulled my hair
and ran.
And I
ran after you -
forgetting about the swings,
I fought to get at.

That summer day, some year
Like every other time,
you ran like a doe
and when
we got caught
you conveniently blamed me
for the entire episode
And I was punished alone.

Now, when we meet
you do not
place blames on me.
You ask how I am doing,
about the kids, the husband..
But you know what didi(elder sister),
You do not love me now,
the way you loved me , on that summer day.

Happy Children's Day!




Things I like about childhood
1. The smell of winter
2. Being short enough to crawl into tiny spaces and get out of really low railings.
3. Fighting about who is my best friend and why they should not talk to other people
4. The new clothes and the memories of festivals.
5. My grandmother used to read out stories from the scripture to us.

Things that make me feel happy about being an adult
1. School Uniforms.
2. Homework
3. Fighting about who is best friend and why they should not talk to other people
4. Not being able to decide on anything I wanted – no clothes(no money at home) , not my favorite toys, nothing.
5. Being made to drink milk.