Tujhe chhod deta hoon..

Zindagi me har manzil meri or tab aati hai jab main rukh mod leta hoon..
mujhe paane ki hasrat usame tab jagati hai jab use main chhod deta hoon..

Khuda Haafiz 007...
Thanks for the T-points in my life and
thanks for guiding me through the right turn each time...
Thanks for giving me the loveliest moments of my life...

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah... let's spread happiness- the launch

The launching Ad in Delhi Times


for details: http://onest.in/sbs/

Yunhi..

Yunhi saath chalte chalte, mujhase kar tum pyaar gaye ho...
kya jeetna tumko ab ki khud se hi tum haar gaye ho...

Yunhi baaton-baaton me mujhase kar jo sawaal gaye ho..
kyun bhooloon ki juwaab saare muskaano.n se taal gaye ho..


Yunhi milna-julna tera, tujhko kuchh bhi khaas nahi tha...
teri aankho.n ki haan to thi par sindoor mere paas nahi tha...

Yunhi aankhein milaana mat kisi se, ye mushkil asaa.n nahi hai...
tere deewane ko thikana mile jahan fir, koi makaa.n nahi hai...

Let life say...

"Don't peep into the future, it will kill your interest in present and ultimately you."

"Time is as parallel as space, at any point you can move into the other regions called future, past and present. All you need is a move."


"The only thing sensible about becoming something is be something."

"However much you try to stop the stream, if it has the force it will break open. Thats the difference between success and failure, where you mark it as enough!"

Khud ke saath chalna magar...

Tab kahan thi tu bata jab dwar khada tha main tere,
aaj khudayi paaon tale to kaise sachhe aamantran tere...

Tab sahaare ki aash thi mujhe, kadam kuchh ladkhada pade the..
ab kyun saath chaloon tere jab chalti duniya peechhe mere...

tere ishq me jag chhoota, main jhootha, sab kuchh loota, par kyun chhodu.n teri dagar
main akela hi bahut hoon is safar me, tum khud ke saath chalna magar...

**************************************************************************
(from a draft last month)

Har nasha utar gaya hai jabse teri aankho.n ka may piya hai..
har basera ujad gaya jabse tune apni baahon me shai diya hai...

Shabd khaamosh hain, awaazein kho gayi.n kshitij se,
main kya bataaun ki teri aankhein kya bolti hain...

Mohabbat hai nahi kuchh bhi...

Chheen lo beshaq gul ki peshagi ka haq humaara,
us khushboo ka kya karoge jo gulshan bikher denge...

Sab kuchh jhonk diya jisame, wo aashiyane ujad gaye...
teri nasheeli aankhon pe mere khwaab saare bik gaye..
izzat bakhshi thi jin nazaro.n ne, ab dekh sharmindagi hoti hai
kyun royein hum ki tere khel me tamaashe ki cheej ban gaye
itani tasalli bahut ki khilauno.n ki numayish teri, hum bhi shareeq hain!


Jhooth ke naqaab se jo tumne sach badal diye..
itani koshish me goya humko hi badal dete|

Mere is mod se jahan ki taqdeer to badal jaayegi
tum kya jaano ki tum kya ga.nwa baithe...

Mohabbat hai nahi kuchh bhi, jaan lo tum bhi
bas itna hai ki do pal ko tera saath achha laga tha|


Naye raaste, naye saathi, naye bhagwaan poojenge tujhe
yaad aayega tujhe kisi ka sapno.n me aana achha laga tha|

Kyun na keh doon us chaand ko benoor ab main,
khuda ko bhi us raat uska chhupna achha laga tha|


Tujhe hatheli par rakhne waale milenge har mod, har mod
poochhna khud se kiski haatho.n me tera haath achha laga tha|


Kyun sochu.n teri aankho.n ki pyaali taqdeer hai kisaki,
main jaanta hoon tujhe bhi us raat doobna achha laga tha|


Lut jaaye sab kuchh, main taa-umra yu.nhi likhta rahoonga
kisi ko do pal ko mera ye taana-baana achha laga tha|

Let life say.. 12/02/07

"Many fellow countrymen have dumped the dream of the nation for some rosy dreams that eludes them in their youth. We would have been closer an inch per person."

Let life say..

Life is in continuous conversation with you. It listens everything you have to say, you hardly reciprocate... don't close your ears when it sends you some signals next time... just let it whisper..

"Journeys of greatest conquests have begun when there was nothing to lose."

"If you want to lead, first follow everyone."

"You might have seen something close being taken away, its just the balancing act of life."

"Success is there only when you stop feeling it."

"When you have to say about it, your achievement is petty."

"Whenever in your life you have the time to look back, you probably have to make a fresh beginning."

"You are truly doing it only when you forget why you are doing it."


"If you are comfortable with yourself, you are comfortable with the world."


Darling! keep whispering into my ears... :)

Jindagi kabhi...

Jindagi kabhi chhoti baaton ka tamasha bana deti hai...
hansati roshni ko bhi jaane kyun ruaansa bana deti hai...


Ek raat mein sapne samet to liye the humne...
bhool kyun gaye ki unki jindagi ka jimma apna hai...

Tumhe lagta hai itani chaandani raatein bas mere liye kyun...
mujhe teri aankhon me doobane ko umra kam lagti hai...

Bhoolate honge log duniya kisi ki chaahat mein,
main teri mohabbat mein duniya badalne ko hoon...

Jhooth kaho ya sach, haan bolo ya naa kehna...
kaano.n me mere par tum hardam kuchh kahte rehna...

Tu aur Main

[This is continuation of 'Tu' (blog dated May 01, 2007).]

Tumhaare aur mere darmyaan jo sach tha
mere liye wo dulhan thi
jiska ghoonghat kabhi auro.n ke liye nahi utarna tha|
Tumhe to kuchh bhi yaad nahi,
poochha tha tumne-
'Gudiya samajhte ho mujhe?'
Meri haami ke uttar me tum bole -
'Tod doge, handle karna to aata nahi hai|'
Sach me nahi aata tha so keh gaya-
'Itani hifazat se rakhoonga ki chot bhi na lage|'
Main tumko par tum to
rishte aur mohabbat ko handle na kar paayi|


Tumhaare liye raat bhar haathon me haath dhare baithana
bas kisi ki 'madad' ho,
mere liye ek shapath hai|
Tumhaare maa-pitaji ko shaadi ke liye
kaise manaunga, aankho.n me aankhein daal ye poochhana
tumhaare liye sirf 'curiosity' ho..
uttar ke mere shabd meri pratigya the|
Twacha ka chumban ho sakta hai
tumhaare liye sirf ek makhmali ahsaas ho...
Anaadi main hoon,
ise tumhaari aajeevan raksha ka adhikaar samajh baitha|
Ye jaanate hue ki koi tumase pyar karta hai
usase milate rehna, tumhe 'help' bhar thi..
main kya karoon ki
'tumhe main sweekar' samajh baitha|


Vo teen shabd jo ab prem-prastaav
ka paimana ban gaye hain...
yaad hai tumhe ki usake uchharan mein
main kayi din tak atka tha
ye kehkar ki ye shabd mere liye
ek hi baar ke prayog ke hain
main aajeevan inka punarprayog nahi kar paaunga|
Tum bas keh deti thi-
'tumhe dar kis baat ka hai?'
Mujhe dar shayad isi ka tha
jo hashra ab mera hua hai|
Tumhaare liye wo shabd aisa prastaav the
jise jeevan me jab chaaho thukra do|
Mere liye meri smriti ke shesh rahne tak
meri bhism-pratigya hain|
Vo shabd baar-baar duhraaye jaane par
bas tumhe naari-bodh se abhibhoot karte ho.n,
Par, tumhe kya bodh ki meri pratigya ko
vo aatma ke tal tak le gaye hain|


Haathon ke sparsh se aur
aankho.n ki bhasha se meri kavitaayein sunana
tumhe tumhaare youvan ka maan bhar ho,
mere liye vo aisa pavitra paavak hai
jise saakshi maan tum sang shabdo.n ke saat fere liye|


Tumhaari practicality aur maturity ne
ho sakta hai zameer ko giravi rakh liya ho|
Par main kya karoon ki tumhaari baatein, mulakaatein
mujhe aajeevan kisi ka nahi hone dengi|
Yaad karo apane shabd-
'tumhara kya hai, tum to bhool jaaoge'-
uttar me aansuon ne tumhe aakhiri saans tak ka vachan diya tha|
Tumhaare liye khel ka maza kam ho gaya hoga
par main vachan se kaise peechhe hat jaaun?
Tumhaare us aatm-bal ka to main prasanshak hoon
jisane ulta mujhe hi apradh-bodh se bhar diya|
Par mere us apradh-bodh ka to socho
jisase main bhavishya ke kisi bhi prem me bhar jaaunga|


Tumne mujhe dukh diye ho.n bhale
par ye kavita bhi di hai|
Aur meri peeda kavitaao.n ke alag-alag roop dhare
jab tak duniya ke aakhiri shakhsh tak na pahunche
jaag-jaag poori umra to main kaat doonga,
kuchh raatein to tumhe bhi unke sawaal jagaayenge|


Tum ladki ho, isliye tumhaare aansuon ki
keemat beshaq jyaada hai...
par jab tak sach aur mohabbat ki aakhiri saans bachi hogi
duniya mein,
meri baat ka bhi asar hoga|

Just one word...

I was moving along my path..
just thinking that you 're always there...
i had some dreams in my mind..
in my heart, only you were..

Just at a point, i turn back
and find you 're not around..
all journeys, all destinations..
all my dreams, have lost meaning to me..
having quit everything
i'm returning to thee...

while my days are blank
and my nights are laden with your thought..
while my fingers go cold..
and pain doesnt yield tears anymore...
i just ask you...
where is my fault,
honey, where is my fault?

Let it be all mine..
let it be all my fault..
from you, may i have a word..
before i die, just one word.


yours
vivek

Bolein to kya bolein..

Muskaan humaare chehare pe udhaar kisi ki ho to bole...
hum to yaaro.n ke yaar, yaari kam ki ho to bole..

duniya jeeti hai boli se, par ek din jo tum naino.n se bole..
bhool gayi.n bhashayein saari, ab bolein to hum kya bolein..

Maut jab jindagi-si lagti hai...

Jid me apni tum bhi jeete, jid me apni main bhi jeeta
par darmyaan humaare mohabbat haar gayi hai...

Tumhaari yaad ke sahaare kuchh din jee lenge aur
ye soch bhi ab maut se panaah maangati hai..

Kya daur tha ki shaamo-saher tumhe yaad karte the..
ab har pal tumhe bhool paane ki fariyaad karte hain.

Tum kya jaanogi kabhi meri mohabbat ko
tumne kya kisi chaatak ki pyaas jaani hai..

Tum kya jaano kis jaldi me tha us raat chaand
jab teri haya ka ghoonghat maine utaara tha...

Tum kya jaano us raat chaand ki chaadar tale
tum upar bheengi thi, main antar bhiga tha..

Aakhiri saans se jab tootati hai jindagi..
bujhta-sa diya jhonke se lad jab jal jaata hai..
halak ko aakhiri boond ki jab ho talash..
thoda pahunch paaogi meri mohabbat ke paas...

Raat jab khud ko din me dekhti hai..
andhera jab roshni ko khudi maanata hai..
maut jab jindagi-si lagti hai..
waqt jab luka-chhipi ki ginati-sa lagta hai..
wo upar ka tamashiya muska deta hai
jab mujhe ye poora khel meri mohabbat sa lagta hai...

Noor tere chehare ka kya mujhe lalchayega
kayamat tere badan ki kya mujhpar kar paayegi..
tere honthon me kahan mujhe sharaab hai
main to tere khayal bhar me doob jaata hoon...

Nasha siyasat ka ghazab, nasha daulat ka ghazab hai...
zindagi ki mauz ke mujhe tareeke hazaar hain...
tujhe yaad bas isliye karta hoon mere dost..
ki tujhape mera ek chumban udhaar hai..

The death of 02MA2011

Roll No. 3, 8B... Roll No 1, 10A... Roll No 42, 12 A.... and then 02MA2011. The bigger the institution was, the more dependence was there on the label for my identity. School days were still more dependent on the tag given by my parents and the one by which i'm recognised universally, i.e., my name. IIT being the biggest institution i've been into, it took a few weeks to get into my brain that when you're asked 'yes, you!', you've to say-'02MA2011'. In a crowd of CS,ECs and EEs, one MA gets lost. Lots of pride goes into that label. First, i'm EE, you're GG. Then i'm 2001, you're 2024. It sounds to the philanthropist self of mine the same way as it would sound to anyone who has not been to IIT- completely meaningless.

This labelling adds and subtracts a lot to the individuals and many times, the original identity gives way to the new tag. Its just the philanthropist in me which hopes that the person should always be above all the labels and tags. And i think its the gift of this labelling that so many problems of our society originate. Humanitarian characteristics are lost and a person's standing and status depends on all the attached tags- B Tech IIT 8.6, MBA IIM A, Ph D, CFA and blah blah. People start seeking pleasure in tags. The bigger labels, the happier you should be!

The emphasis is more on the tags than the person. Oh! you're an IIM-A grad, great! You're Ph D from Harvard, amazing! People wont use such expressions even after hours of interaction with the same person. The tags do that, in first go. The tags have become more important than the person. I just feel that the liveliness of the person is gone with being restricted just to the role of bearer of n number of tags and being expected to behave in accordance to the tags. People become lifeless and life too becomes lifeless for them ultimately. That freedom is gone. The tags make you do what you do. There is an expected conduct and one follows it. Just live one day erasing these tags from your mind, just as a human being... and feel the freedom. Feel the liveliness. Feel the originality. Let there be death of tags and a pure human being be born.

Well, i got a bit off from the death of o2MA2011. Running for my clearance here and there through the corridors of Bengali bureaucracy, i just felt content that all these signatures would at least confirm the last use of '02MA2011'. The death of another tag for me, and probably the last one. I just wish to continue my life where i'm not respected because i'm 02MA2011 of a reputed institute called IIT-KGP, but because of what i am. I just wish to be loved for the man i am, and not for being Exec Engg, IBC corporation. I know that this struggle against tags is a real tough one, but for the moment, i feel like a winner..... with the death of '02MA2011'.

Tera ho loon pahle

Main aasmaa.n me udna to chahta hoon, par dharti ke karz chuka loon pahle…

duniya jeetne ki hasrat to hai mere dil me, par tujhpar sab kuchh luta loon pahle…

ungaliyon pe sabko nachaane ki chahat sahi, tere ishaaro.n pe naach loon pahle….

duniya meri hogi aur main duniya ka, do pal ko bas tera ho loon aaj pahle...

Is jahaan ki jaan tum ho..

Raat Ghalib aaya tha khwaab me... kahne laga- yu.n to zamana hua mujhe gujare hue par mehfilo.n me ab tak jaane kyun mujhe hi yaad karte hain... kuchh der sukoon chahta hoon dost!

Usake khwaab kuchh nishaan chhod gaye hain kagaz par.....

Shaam jab teri yaad aayi, taara ek tha aasmaa.n me

raat ko jab tu mili, chaand do the is jahaa.n me..

Do pal ko tham jaaye waqt jab tu ho saamne,

kar liya hai sauda khuda se tamaam umra ka|

Tu mujhe mili, jabki teri sifarishein liye sheikh kayi hain,

khuda ne mana hai- ye meri ibadato.n ka aatank hai|

Swarg se doot aa gaye hain tera naam itni baar humne liya,

ye dekhane ki kahin dharti par fir naya khuda to nahi hua..

Jo uthati hain mehfil me wahwahiyaan aur kahte hain log-

ye shayar mashoor bahut hai..

Meri muskarahat yehi kehti hai- tumne abhi dekha kahan

us pak-badan me noor bahut hai…

Geet tum ho, ghazal tum ho...

may bhi tum ho, main bhi tum ho..

Ram se ramzan tak,

Aarti se azaan tak,

bhog se nirvaan tak,

is jahaan ki jaan tum ho...

TU

Pata nahi tujhase kitna pyar karta hoon main

par jab tu saamne hoti hai to

dil chahta hai ki waqt tham jaaye..

aur tu yunhi saamne rahe aankhon ke|

teri muskarahat pata nahi kitani achhi hai..

par jab wo hoth hansate hain

to lagta hai koi apna

aaj barson baad mila hai…

koi sach ki murat ban padi hai..

ghane badal chhante hain, chaand khila hai…

Tere bina main kitna jee sakta hoon

jaanta nahi ..

par itna jaanata hoon ki

tere har sparsh ki pavitrata

mere hriday me chubhan deti hai

aur teri narm hatheli ab bhi sparsh me zinda hai,

Aakhein moond loon

to tujhe dekh leta hoon,

Khuda ka naam loon

to tera naam pata hoon|

Tu mohabbat hai meri- keh nahi sakta…

Par tere saath gujare waqt

itane apne se the ki kabhi khone ka dar nahi tha|

Aur ab jab main waqt

ki dahleej pe khada hoon-

to tere na hone ka dar

kuchh pagal sa karta hai mujhe...

Meri ummeed is baat par nahi

ki tu mujhe pyar karti ya nahi..

Meri ummeed is baat par hai

ki teri kaya yu hi pavitra rahe…

tu chahe jis dil me rahe...

tu khush rahe, khushiyaan bikherti rahe...

aur ye baat tujh tak jaaye ki

maine tujhe in nazaron se dekha hai|

Mere ye shabd tab na nikal paye

jab tera saath tha..

kyunki main is ahsaas mein khoya raha ki

tu meri hai, mere paas hai...

main teri muskurahat,

teri jhuki palko.n ki bhasha,

aur tere sparsho.n ke prashn…

isliye anuttarit chhod aaya ki…

main unke vaibhav me mugdha tha|

Itna mugdha ki us haath ko thaamne

ka pralobhan nahi aaya..

itna lupt ki tere tootane

ka dar nahi aaya..

Ab jab waqt ka ye mod

mera tamasha bana chuka hai..

aur teri yaad dard ki

dahleej tak jaa chuki hai…

bas mere ye shabd mere saath khade hain..

aur in shabdo.n ke siwa kuchh

shesh bhi nahi…

kyunki teri yaadein itni duhraayi.n

ki unme kuchh shesh hi nahi…

In shabdo.n ki pukaar

tum tak pahunche to pukaar lena..

Kyunki main to wo awaara hoon..

jo tera na hua to kisi aur ka ho jaaunga..

aaj tu kah de to tujh par mar jaaunga...

kyunki main to wo sitaara hoon

jo aaj tumhaari zindagi me ast ho jaaun

to kal kisi aur ki zindagi me nikalunga..

nayi roshni bikherunga...

par tum kya jaano ki

is sitaare ko bhi ek thikaane ki talash hai|

Mere hastakshar lekar kya karogi

Meri kavita hi meri pehchaan hai

Saunpata hoon tumhe-

Kuchh byproducts mohabbat ke

Kuchh mohabbatein aisi hoti hain jinke products nahi hote, byproducts bahut hote hain...

yahan bhi mamla kuchh aisa hi hai...

Buraayi hi sahi, par charcha to hoti hai apni..

mumkin hai meri yaad yunhi pahunche us tak|

Kal duniya ki mushqilon ka juwaab tha, mohabbat mein sawal ho gaya…

mohabbat ki daastan suni sabne, aaj kar baitha to bawal ho gaya…

Tere hontho.n ki nami se dil ka samandar bhar doonga...

tu mere hontho.n se bas uski pehchaan kara de|

Tu bas mere saath rahe, is duniya ka kya karna hai,

tu meri saansein ho jab, fir kya jeena kya marna hai|

Khushiyon ke ghunghroo chhip gaye hain kahin

gham ki shehnayi ne taan chhedi hai jo aaj|

Aaj muddat baad mehfil me gham ki shirkat hai,

aaj muddat baad mehfil rangeen hui hai…

Ghola hai nasha jo aaj ghamon ne sharaab me

gham me ghol diya hai maine khud ko juwaab me|

Aur ant me bas yahi lagta hai...

Mohabbat ke chausar ki baaziyon se achha to pichhwaade ki tanhayi hai…

na koi dar, na koi ummeed, aur ghamon ki beshart aashiqui bhi hai|

Puraane ghar ke sapne...

Aaj purane ghar ke sapne aaye hain meri aankhon me,

aaj suhane bachpan ke apne aye hain meri aankhon me,

Youvan ke unmaad me khoya hai man aaj jo apna-

us aadambar ko jhootha karne aaye bachpan meri aankhon me|

Keh di dil ki baat

Bistar ki chadar kehti hai mujhase-

fir laaye ho bheed saath, yaado.n ki..

Taqiya keh uthata hai-

aur bhaar nahi dhota main.

Kya karta main?

Keh di hai usase dil ki baat...

Aaj bahut khaamosh hai raat|

Concluding the farzigiri at IIT

Its been half a decade at IIT. Such a crucial phase of life was spent here that when you entered, you were controlled and now people seek your control. Just out of home and now into the dreams of making a home! There were you being escorted for every journey of yours and now, the whole globe appears neighbourhood!Its not been just a transformation, in certain aspects, it was almost a rebirth! My fate that i got into IIT, but my bad luck that it was an institute of engineering! I 'm just trying to expose the falsity(read farzigiri) that envelopes Indian life, through my days at IIT and its conclusions.

Graveyard of dreams

India is a country where dreams are imposed on its children, essentially the failed dreams of their parents. And yes, India is a country of dreams. A large part of the population still sleeps every night expecting god to appear and tell the shortcut to success and glory, e.g. swarna-mudraon ka ghada or some yagna. Few days back i found an interesting piece in TOI Kolkata- a man, in his late forties, was caught forcing a young girl to marry him as she was the first girl he saw that morning, Kali maa having instructed him to marry the first girl he finds in the morning and that act was slated to swing his fortune. Even the act of loving is done mostly in dreams as god is expected to convey the message of love to the girl next door! One nice morning Mr X wakes up to be surprised that his love of years is going to be married the next month. I 'm not surprised when in a time-pass gossip with a rikshawwalla, i'm told that he had a dream of becoming a billionaire. India has been living on a graveyard of dreams! The younger generation carrying generations of dreams and in due course dumping its own dreams! If India's dreams have not been fulfilled in these sixty years, as a nation, its mainly because almost every Indian's dreams remained unaccomplished. May be because he was living someone else's dreams and when he realized what his dream was, it was too late. Instead of helping the adolescents realize their dreams and their fields of interest, its a pity that they 're handed over readymade dreams.


Its a question of insecurity

IIT is such a dream that it has all the quotients to capture the imagination of every schoolgoing kid in India. Being economically backward for decades, our first priority, above everything, remains money. For a nation to survive, money is the driving force. But for a nation to excel, passion should take the priority. Its just because of this disorder that talents are strewn in various fields in an unsorted manner. This sorting refers to the potential talents of one field being in that field. If IT sector is excelling in India, it at the cost of many other fields. If companies are doubling their net profits every successive quarter, its just because a potential sportsman, an excellent writer, a topper of science, a theatre champ is giving his best to the industry. All the passions were consumed by economic security. A sorting of the talents is a must for building an India which excels everywhere and which doesnt feel India shining looking upto a few fields and turning a blind eye to the rest. Its not that there's any dearth of talents in India to become the Olympics champ or world leader in research. Its not that to enliven our sports spirits, we'll have to stick to watching cricket for decades to come. Its not that generations will have to read about one Asiad medallist PT Usha in the textbooks, for feeling inspired. I sometimes feel that we are probably the most insecure race of the world and that's our problem. Even if the family earnings are above the well-to-do mark, a graduate is made to feel insecure without a job. He is not given a chance to try his interests.

Duty and dissatisfaction

At this stage of my life, i feel that at the point where i had to decide where should i go, someone told me you go this way- you 'll find everything that you wish. I walked a few miles and found that i'm on the wrong path and i cant turn back and take another road. I feel happy that at least i've achieved the rights to change the path on the next crossroad! My idea is that there must be a proper counselling at that age and parents should help in churning dreams and nourishing them. India has come to the stage where concepts of economic security and accumulating wealth should give way to passions and personal satisfaction. While talking to kgp alumni i've found that most of them are not satisfied with their job. I 'd like to quote a professor who taught Sandipan Deb at IIM C, that its just because of jobs being taken as duty and money mattering more than interest and personal satisfaction that Babas and Sadhus still make billions in India. All these jobwallas turn to one or the other guru in search of pleasure and peace, in their fourties. Its not surprising that IT sector has added to their dhandha!In my years of struggle, i opted for a six-pointer who 's leading a happy life and excelling in other fields where he can, rather than a struggling six-pointer who might have been a killing spree in Counter-Strike! Its a fact that an average IITian feels it better to taapo assignments than solve it himself. He never strives to doing things on his own till things can be managed. However proud an IITian might feel when being called so, in his personal life, he carries a high level of dissatisfaction. And thank god! India doesnt have that reluctant gun-laws. Otherwise, I'm sure IITs would have been leading the campus shoot-outs list!


The bright future of India banks on the brightness of its cream spreading equally over all fields. Be it politics, journalism, music, bollywood or sports, they desperately need not one, not two but many leaders to lead them to an era of glory where we dont have such a dearth of faces that we have to look upto the bunch of chokers called Team India, Rahul Gandhi or Karan Johar as our heroes!

Acts of Disgrace and Scholars' Avenue

Review: Last issue of The Scholar's Avenue

Instructions before reading the issue:
=>If you're a Nehruite, this issue isn't meant for you...
(You already have something to celebrate, we are focussing on what we have.)
Anyways, the publication believes that PAN Loop is not a part of the institute system.
=>You must have enough imagination to believe the way we present the story.

Lessons for wannabe editors:
=>Treat a paper as a personal property. Use it to your personal benefit as much as you can, without thinking for even a moment what effect it will have on the community.
=>Rumours and status messages are the best source of information.
=>When you are biased, be so biased that none have any doubts in their minds.
=>Guest columns are Weapons of Mass Destruction! You wont be held responsible also!


Now, i'd like to get a bit serious, though i know that this paper is not at all serious. I dont know how much truth it contains, but i heard that the publishers themselves go to gymkhana authorities explaining what they have written.. and they get the reply that the authorities are yet to receive a complain! I also wished to convey how 'heard' informations should go to public.

The paper has really reliable sources- the ones who use it for full page interviews and taking the credits for anything that happens here. These sources must have constant updates of the DC meeting. The DC committee was never to hand over hell to Nehru Hall, as reported. If you could hear that focus shifted from individuals to hall, hey man! you shouldn't have shut your receivers to note that nothing fatal was supposed to come out. To all the poltubaaz junta, i 'd just like to say one thing- by working for all the foul plays, you just end up worsening the already pathetic culture at this place. I dont know what pride these people find in troubling others and then taking the credits for this. This just reminds me of the ideology behind the Ladens!

Between Heaven and Hell

Coming back to 'Nehru Hall Near Hell', i bet some of the halls had much more embarassing days than Nehru these days. And that these days were embarassing for Nehru residents, we came to know through this article only. Believe me, we were having an absolute party-time with our alumni down to hall wings. There, too, you created 'STORIES of emotionally charged people shaking their heads (as also other body parts).....'. What a story! What a selection of words! What respect for alumni! It really becomes difficult for people to differentiate where fiction takes charge amidst facts! Anyways, no fault of yours! That just spices up the matter. Leave all the matters aside, who gives you the rights to report on what's going inside a hall?

Acts of Disgrace

The publication believes that its their moral duty to report the disgrace Nehru has brought to the campus and the campus culture by their act when they 're publishing that the hall won all three GCs. Good to be a moral watchdog! Boss, you turn a blind eye to much more disgraceful and coward acts. Again, no fault of yours! But, i 'd like to point out some of them.

JAM and Antakshari got cancelled this year. Everyone knows why. The opponents believed the GC chapter will be closed with the Western Groups event. All the foul plays that ran in the background are doing greater damage to this place than the 'DEGRADING' apology that Nehru guys put up in front of RP folks.


Further, the SOP Boxes got cancelled. Few people know why. One of the parties in the election was afraid that weaknesses of their candidate will be exposed. All the lies, foul plays came to their rescue and it was a well-managed affair. Trust my words, this has done an irrepairable damage to the electoral system at kgp. I 've few more cases of people bringing disgrace to the campus life with their rampant misuse of power, but, each one comes with controversies of its own.

Columns which required editing

Another big story- this hall manages to manipulate the results in Western Groups without a g sec and the secy. The guest column declares that the hall which didn't deserve to be in the top three, finished with a gold. I can understand that judging is quite atrocious in this place but why people cry only when they 're not on the winning side. And this publication deserves all the credits for beautifully using the guest articles at the right moment. The paper doesnt listen to it when a team is asked to put up the performance at national level, when the performance is exceptional. They dont listen to it when the scoresheets in dramatics leave a distant second. It only finds unexpected golds! It only finds people who were disqualified. It prefers making personal comments in successive issues on the person concerned. Not your fault, again!

I know that you have matured seeing the culture of bias around you and it needs character to defy that and work for a constructive environment. We are in a place everyone uses power to serve personal motives and cries foul when not in power. It really needs sound character to use it for the benefit of the concerned community and not misuse it for expressing personal opinions. All that i can i say is- all the best, kgp!


The fierce criticism is meant for realizations and not hurting anyone's sentiments. To all those who couldn't avoid getting hurt, i'm sorry with the bundle of hurt sentiments on my side. I could have done with a plain criticism. But, in this place, it doesnt make any impact.

With last few days of stay left in kgp, i bear more affiliation to the institute than the hall. I only wish to see a sense of responsibilty in all future publications, towards creating a better campus and campus environment.

A frust campus life!

"KGP has been no 1 for three consecutive years. This IIT is blessed with an amazing campus life, you know, with hardly any IIT close to it in the range of activities here. You must put KGP as your first option." This was my usual self during the counselling session in my first year. I still have to face the music when i face any of my conuselling's victims. Another feature of the counselling duty was my constant argument with Arunabh Kumar, a senior who seemed to me as a completely 'frust insaan'. Whenever he used to find me in conversation with parents and their wards, he screamed-"Kitno.n ki life barbaad karega be!", after they were gone. Standing at another end of the spectrum, i find that his words did carry some meaning. I find the explanations of having just one or two of top 100 JEE ranks in kgp, every year.

Where is the root of the problem?

A campus life that suffers a lot due to the 'cholbe na' attitude of everyone, right from the rikshawwalla to the restaurant waitors, it has been bearing the brunt of the increasingly frust attitude of the campusites. A campus that is suffering from a host of problems, some of which being so basic as good food, transportation facilities, good hang-outs, faces the student body as its biggest problem. Usually graced with the biggest stupids on the campus, who 're nominated by the lesser stupids, they 're busy the whole year fixing the forthcoming elections. Its noteworthy that as soon as a month after the election results are out, the battlefields are drawn for the next year's elections. The only agenda for the whole year remains- the elections! I know, that for most of us, it sounds crazy. But, yes, this is the only job all these 'active' folks in the campus are interested in. Next, they work day in and day out to deny merit its chance in the GCs. The saying goes in kgp like this- "Pally matters more than cali.". And, everyone in the student body works very hard to retain its validity. The subcommittee meetings which were meant for the under-secretaries of TSG and the lesser mortals from respective halls, are frequently attended by the VP and the G Secs nowatime. The institute security committee, which has the responsiblity of reviewing the campus security and send its recommendations, hasnt met in the last academic year.

Irresponsible student body

Shortly after the 'Spring Fest' issue of Awaaz was out, one very important member of TSG asked me-'the student body here is very weak. Nobody listens to us. Why are you making it weaker?' I just ask all the people with this opinion to count the initiatives they have taken for the student community here. The whole year around they are busy in all kind of games, which they unfortunately call 'politics', and creating bigger 'gods' out of themselves having played the game! I feel sorry when some publication in the campus finds it pleasing to publish the achievements of these office-bearers(sometimes even with their pics!), without even finding out the truth behind the achievements they claim. I dont know why they are provided a full-page of interview space specially when you dont have any space for letting them realize what they have to do in lieu of finding a good job with 'VP/G Sec" written on their CV. My idea is not just about criticising this framework of stupidity, the idea is about creating a pressure on the body which makes them feel that they 're here to serve. The idea is to destroy the myth that its all over once you have won the elections. Having worked for a few problems that people face here and having been around the institute bureaucracy for quite sometime, i found the lack of initiatives on the students' part as the biggest problem. I believe it to be the primary job of the student body.

How can things get better

With the sub-standard restaurants in the campus, and absolutely no other place to hang out, i find the frustness level of the campus considerably high with people finding it pretty exciting to visit a place like '90 degrees'. Few clubs to chill-out during the weekends, few quality restaurants and parks which can serve as hang outs are few things which are despearate calls to counter the dullness that envelops this campus life. I know it might sound funny to you with the kind of administration here, but, take my words, more than the administration the problem is lack of initiatives by students. I just dream of the days when there will be less focus on GCs, so that people find enough time to work on things like this. With a more vibrant campus life, i believe that we can do without one of the GCs or may be smaller no of Inter-hall events. Having noted the general exciting air in the festive month of January for five years, i personally feel that this campus needs more fests, and evenly distributed over the year. Illumination is something which has been a constant controversy all these years. To the supporters of Illumination, i 'd just like to say- its not mandatory to carry on the traditions. India has done miracles in past decades, having shed the mentality. Anyways, we dont have a longer tradition than the nation. Moreover, there are better ways to enhance team spirit. I apologise for the sentiments i 've hurt, but i feel that we can find better alternatives of Illu.

To all those who find kgp campus life absolutely rocking, please take it as a suggestion for a better campus life. I feel this campus to be decent, but has lots to do before it can sustain a real good campus life. Actually, there are many things that were required to be covered, but, i didn't wish to test the reader's patience any further.

My Dream

I had a dream.

I made a plan to make that dream practical.

I believe- dreams that will just remain dreams are not worth dreaming.

Let there be one India where no one complains… let everyone do something so that the next one need not complain.

Let there exist such beautiful systems that it appeals to everyone to maintain it.

Let there be so much social comfort and ease that everyone seeks to maintain it.

Let there be so much transparency that we don’t have five-star parties till we ensure that no one is dying of hunger.

बस तू ही तू है जीवन में

तेरी यादों में ख़ोए रातों को अक्सर सो नही पाए,

कभी पलकों से तेरी झलकों को हम खो नहीं पाए,

जमाने को ख्वाहिश थी हमें अपना बनाने की

हमारी ख्वाहिशें तुम तक, तुम्हारे हो नहीं पाए।

मोहब्ब्त है तुम्ही से, पर कहाँ हिम्म्त है कहने की,

यादों के भँवर दिल मे- कहाँ दिक्कत है सहने की,

डर इस बात का है कि तू कहीं इनकार न कर दे

खुशफ़हमी का मज़ा कुछ और तुझे अपना समझने की।

एक शिकन अकेलेपन की…

महफ़िल में साथ देनेवाले कम ही नहीं होते,
औ तन्हाई में अब मयस्सर गम भी नहीं होते।

Working for an end to elitism

I always feel fortunate to have been a part of a society full of exceptional people. But, I always feel unfortunate that this society is being driven by the philosophy of elitism. This philosophy is the root cause of the situation India is facing today, despite producing close to three thousand branded graduates called IITians. These graduates are considered exceptionally talented and, no doubt, they are. These most-sought-after bachelors of India are expected to be nation's saviours, by everyone in the outside world. Unfortunately, very few of these IIT graduates, most of whom belong to middle-class and lower-middle class, are able to keep themselves off from the wave of elitism.

Elitism, as it is in kgp

I originally started thinking from what i've seen in IIT KGP- the elitism here is the root of a number of problems. A general extrapolation of this leads to what the nation is facing today. I'll focus on my campus only, in this blog. Because, smaller units can be easily corrected.

We have two great fests in our institute. Initially, there used to be just one grand fest called Spring Fest. The second one caught up fast. There was an initial struggle between the elder fest and even denial of equal status to the younger one. But, the whole struggle was of creating an elite class. A class of people who claim to belong to a higher race and who have every right to look down upon others as ordinary creatures. What i've found as a very sad feature of the campus life here, over the years, is the rise of another class which has grown up as a complete denial to this elite class. They dont participate in any of the events, they dont even touch the periphery of the circle of influence of the self-proclaimed elites, they dont go to any of the fests- in short, they have created their own world- the virtual world. They are no less intelligent than anyone, they are no less capable than the socially active class. But, just as a reaction to elitism, just as a denial to the existence of the self-proclaimed gods, there is a large section who have become completely ignorant about the mainstream activities in the campus. No wonder there is a huge bunch of people in the campus who dont even know who is the VP, the G Secs and dont even care about that.

The making of the elite class

Coming back to the philosophy of elitism, the top-brass among the propogators of this school of thought believe that organising a fest bestows you with divine powers! It just reminds me of the 'Dark Age' when kings used to proclaim divine powers in a similar fashion. All these fest folks are true rulers in this campus. You dont even qualify to stand in elections if you dont have these divine powers! This school of thought is so well-fabricated that its really difficult to raise a slogan against that. At least i've not heard any, during my stay of five years in the campus.
Dinners worth at least a lac are arranged in five-star hotels to maintain the difference between the general class and the top brass. In a place where societies and publications find it difficult to survive due to shortage of funds, the amount spent lavishly on these treats works wonders in maintaining the elitism. Well, the way it's presented and propagated, it always seemed to me that these people who manage such big fests, must be next to god and deserve to be worshipped. Who knows, you 'll have some quick benefits- some coupons, some vouchers, as a result of that! At least, that's what gods are supposed to provide, in Indian mythology.

While i was into organising Manzar, i faced a lot of silly questions and ironically, most of them were put up very seriously. The first one being, by a very responsible office-bearer of Technology Students' Gymkhana, how can you people organise this fest- its impossible- just one of you have worked with the big fests. Answer- i need not tell.
Next, do you really think there is any scope for more fests. Answer- do you really know how many S Coms and Heads are created each year during placement season? Do you really know why? Do you really know how much frust kgp junta is, with a dull campus life?
But, they wont let you do it easily. IIT B has got its own dramatics festival. But, in IIT KGP, it comes at the cost of elitism, my friend.
Next, what do you wish to prove by doing this? ....that organising fests is a simple thing. With brand-IIT behind you, with at least a hundred people per batch, who wished to be a part of the fests(and, in the end, they compensate it with faking CVs), its just about the start.

The elite class at the local level

There is another elite class, which is working here to maintain its status, at the local level. The bosses in the hall do exactly what the VP and the G Secs do at the institute level. They assume themselves to be the rulers... they assume themselves to be above everyone. Where one should actually assume the role of serving the student community, by getting one degree lower in attitude, the tradition, here in KGP, is different. Many a times i've confronted the ugly face of this elitism. Seniority doesnt matter, what you wish to say, doesnt matter... all that matters is the post behind the person next to you. All these faces put to shame the brand-IIT, as it is perceived by the world outside. I've seen this elitist mentality move beyond even the basics of humanity. In a place like this, where most of us usually dont care to look outside our small personal orbits, i still live with the dream of putting an end to this elitism. I live with the dream of a world without GODs of small things.


(I 've seen many good people here who 've been a part of the system and worked as exceptions. I request them to consider themselves outside the radius of this criticism.)

Jeena Shuru Kiya Hai

कल में जीते  आज  तक  पहुंचा  हूँ 

और  फिर  कल  में जीते

आज तक ही  रह  जाऊँगा 

इसलिए आज से आज में जीना शुरू किया  है |

कभी दर्द के थपेड़ों से तो 

कभी  खुशियों  की  बारिश  में

ज़िन्दगी ने बहुत मज़े  लिए  हमसे ,

आज से हमने ज़िन्दगी के मज़े लेना शुरू किया है|

अपना समझा जिसे, उसे बचाने 

और बढाने  की भाग-दौड़ में

उलझ गयी  ज़िन्दगी,

आज से हमने सब अपना लुटाना शुरू किया है| 

बेख़ौफ़ खुद्दारी ने

निशाँ छोड़ दिए हर मोड़

कहीं कोई ढूंढता

फिर न आ जाये मुझ तलक ,

आज से अपना लिखा मिटाना शुरू किया है|

Daaman Chhupane Lage Hain Log

Aaj jo hui hai roshni is andher basti me,

apna daman chhupane lage hain log.......

Aaj jo uthayi mashaal hai humne,

‘idhar nahi, idhar nahi’ kahne lage hain log|

Andhere ki shikayaton ka shor tha bahut,

ab roshni ke shikwe karne lage hain log|

Naqaab utarne ka jashn socha gaya tha ,

ab bas chehra chhipane me lage hain log|

Badalte manzar par jo gaye waah sune

use aah banaane me lage hain log|

Sach ki khwahish thi har kisi ko yahan

ab jhooth hi ko sach kahte hain ye log|

Taqat na thi ki sach ko jhel sakein

sach ko hi bejaa.n karne chale hain log|

Hum nikale the ye duniya badalne

ab to hume hi badalne lage hain log|

The Captives at India's Premier Institutes

IITs have made a big name in recent times. It has been so partly because quite a lot of big names belong to IITs. Names like Narayanmurty, Vinod Khosla, Arun Sarin make just a beginning to an endless list. But the hype that has been created around IITs is mainly because of Indian media's latest discovery of the glamour quotient of IITs. Insignificant and completely fictious pieces like "Elitism rules on IIT campuses" (January 3, TOI, Kolkata) make their way to front page nowadays. How much it sells can be gauged from the fact that a completely ordinary piece of literature by Chetan Bhagat stays afloat as the bestseller for months. It carried the credit of being the first fiction on IIT life which made its ordinary standards convert into extraordinary sales figure. Well, for that matter, Times Of India continues to maintain a similar profile.

There are many big names among the alumni of IITs who have scored in fields other than engineering and science. Sandipan Deb and Rajkamal Jha in journalism, Manohar Parrikar in politics, Arvind Kejriwal in social activism are the well-known names. But, there are many who were lost while trying to pursue their interest by switching their supposedly core fields. The IITs draw the biggest talent pool fresh from their schools. The main reason being the craze that they have maintained among parents belonging to middle-class families. IITs seem to be the best gateway of success and instant acclamation at +2 level. Many among those who have a natural inclination towards arts and humanities are attracted by the elitism associated with ‘science’. This bias in Indian education system has been taking its toll for quite long. With the increasing fame of IITs as world-acclaimed institutions, its bound to deprive arts & humanities of its chunk of talent. Once you’re in science, you’re driven by the madness of ‘Mission IIT’. A higher secondary student is too immature to think beyond the cocktail of success, prestige & acclamation that clearing IIT-JEE provides him with. He’s too engrossed in the dreams to think about his interest field at that point of time. Once he’s in IIT, he starts feeling that something somewhere has gone wrong. Most of them don’t find anything inside the dullness that envelops the usual engineering courses. But, yes, they believe in IITs paying them handsome rewards for following sincerity. Most of the IITians end up with a job that has remained the limit of dreams in Govinda-brand bolly movies of yester year. A good number of them manage scholarship calls from top US universities. You don’t need just courage but also foolishness to think beyond that!

The IITians’ life moves around building healthy records for achieving his end. He copies assignments, sleeps in class, makes maximum use of proxy facilities and prepares for exams with minimum-efforts policy, to maintain a healthy academic profile. In the time that it leaves him with, he pursues his other interests. IITs have a sound social and cultural events’ culture, with quite a good number of exemplary enthusiasts in dramatics, literary and musical arena. But, hardly anyone takes it for more than being a good addition to his CV. We come to know of few people now and then, who gain enough psychological momentum to move beyond the lure of high-package jobs to pursue the careers of their interest. The point that can be missed here is- there’s a much bigger talent people who don’t feel at home at IITs, especially when the academics are concerned, but, they have no other option than to continue with it. India still lives in that age of insecurity which forces its youth to forcibly pursue careers which have nothing to do with his interest. We’re economically so backward that IT companies soak up all the talent, right from mechanical and chemical engineering to aerospace and mining engineering, straightaway nullifying four/five years of technical learning.

I just hope that day to become a reality when there will be equally good brand-names in fields other than science, to be pursued after +2. It’s a philanthropist's wish that someone will not have to suffer his whole life just because his parents wished his son to be one among the rare breed of IITians. Indian education system will definitely take its time to correct the biases that have made deep roots into its system and I can’t see the extinction of captives at India’s premier institutions before that.