It will take a strike, but of a different kind

Let's try to understand what Climate Change Action really means. Let's know that governments and politicians are NOT responsible, and they will not be able to change this. Remember that most governments in the world are democracies, which means they simply respond to popular demand or they lose power.

About 20 years ago, I read a poster that said - We are the last generation that can do something about this. It is only now that I realise the full impact of that line.

Those of you who are applauding the Climate Change Activist, and those who want to send children on strikes, this is what climate change action is going to take. Make a pledge today to accept this future. Then act towards it:

1. LESSER money than we have now.
2. FEWER jobs
3. LESS convenience. In everything.
4. MORE recycling - all aluminium that comes in medicine wrappers, all iron that is thrown away, all broken lead crystal, all organic waste...
5. NO DISCRETIONARY TRAVEL to create MEMORIES.
6. No access to fruits and vegetables from around the world.
7. LESSER infrastructure like roads, airports, train stations, wagons, trucks etc., and higher dependence on local produce.

If you want to imagine what sustainable living looks like, go spend a month in the North East of India. Life is simple, community bonds strong, facilities and monies very limited.

And it is ALL WORTH IT.

John Eliya.. enough said

The Climate Change Strike

So, how many tonnes of paper was used today to create posters for the Climate Change Strike? 

#ThingsIDontUnderstandAboutTheWorld

Vishwakarma Divas Poem / विश्वकर्मा दिवस पर कविता

विश्वकर्मा दिवस

कारीगर पूजते हैं
अपने औज़ार

आओ कलम,
मैं तुम्हें पूजता हूं. 
***************
Functional translation:

On Vishwakarma Diwas
The artisans and the engineers
worship their implements.

Come, dear Pen,
It is time
for me
To Worship you.

Contribution of the Congress Party to India

So first, Pakistan gives the UNHRC a 115 page dossier on Kashmir with quotes from Rahu Gandhi, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Martya Sen and Arundhati Roy.

Then Shashi Tharoor goes out to say "We are Opposition can say anything, but we are united against anyone outside."

Like, seriously, WTF! ?

The best thing I read this week was: There is a reason that no one names their child "Vibhishan"

The Ramayana can lie about the truth of our history, but we all know better. Way better. 

जवाब - प्रेम

मैं तुम्हे प्रेम करना चाहता हूँ

हर चोट
जो बचपन से खायी है तुमने
हर फोटो
तुम्हारे बचपन की
वो हर बार जब तुम
"कोई बात नहीं"
कह कर
अंदर के कमरे में चली गयी थीं....

हर बात
मेरे अंतर्मन की
हर दर्द
जो मॉर्फिन की सुई से
सोया है
हर डर जो केवल मेरा है.

कितना कठिन रास्ता है देखो
अभी तो पहला पग न धरा है
पर मुझे यकीं है
ये सब मरहले
सारे पर्वत
और कंदरायें
नगण्य हो जाएंगे
जब हम
ठान लेंगे
कि हमको
प्रेम करना है.

तुम्हारा मैं नहीं जानता
पर
मैं तुम्हे प्रेम करना चाहता हूँ. 

प्रेम/ Prem

मैं तुम्हे प्रेम करना चाहता हूँ 

तुमको सजाना चाहता हूँ 
उन सारी पीली, नीली, शोख साड़ियों में 
जिन्हे मैंने तुमपर 
कई बार सोचा है 

तुम्हारे साथ जाऊँगा 
बचपन की सब जगहों पर 
दिखाऊंगा 
एक एक कमरा 
पाठशाला  का, 
पडोसी के घर का, 
अपने पुश्तैनी घर का भी 

देखना चाहता हूँ 
सभी मनपसंद फिल्में 
तुम्हारे साथ बैठ कर

तुम्हे 
मिलाना चाहता हूँ 
अपने दोस्तों से
रिश्तेदारों से 
बताना चाहता हूँ 
मिल गयी मंज़िल मुझे

मैं अधूरा हूँ तुम बिन 
तुम संग 
सम्पूर्ण होना चाहता हूँ 
मैं तुमको 
प्रेम करना चाहता हूँ 

On Wealth Creation and India..

Evening Thoughts:

From 712 to 1398 AD, The Arabs, Ghazni, Ghori and Taimur attacked India with the sole purpose of loot and plunder. The riches to be got from India were enough to cover the costs of raising an army, having it cross the mighty Hindukush, fight, and go back all the way, and still make a profit.

From 1600 AD onwards, The British, French, Portuguese, and Dutch East India Companies were created for the sole purpose of 'trading' with India and partaking of the wealth of India. That lasted 300 years.

Within 73 years of Independence, India is the world's sixth largest economy.

If we want to learn the secret of consistent creation of wealth, perhaps, we should look inwards?

The other thing we should learn from India and Russia is the concentration of wealth. It was because wealth was concentrated - first, in the temples, then in the ruling and trading classes, that it became easier to plunder from India. If the wealth was well distributed, the effort required to get that wealth would also have been higher, and perhaps, not worth it so much.

What do you think?

Not Amrita Pritam.. sorry!

That awkward moment when something you have written is attributed to Amrita Pritam..

Chhala appeared on this blog in April 2006: 

https://ki-jaana-main-kaun.blogspot.com/2006/04/tumhaara-naam-chhala-ban-gaya-hai.html

Update: The moderators of the group have changed the image with this post, taking very prompt action. Thank you so much, especially to Pravin Jangid ji and Sarita Trivedi ji who picked it up first thing in the morning. 

I later realised that some posters of these lines with Amrita Pritram accredition have also been circulated on social media. The poster is beautiful, but those words are mine. :) 

Also, another friend from my poetry group has informed me about the posters, and many of my friends were happy for me - that my lines are used as signature lines for Amrita Pritam. I have no view on that. Should it be flattering? Perhaps. But only as their colours are flattering to the butterflies. Their colours just are. My words just are. They exist for me, complete unto themselves. I guess I should be happy. Ok, I am going away to be happy now. Issue Resolved! :)