They Do It With Mirrors
Enough has been said and written about the fact that we live in a hyper-connected world. The “Sociosphere” is constantly buzzing with activity- some frivolous, some thought-provoking and some meaningless stuff. Simply put, it demonstrates and proves what has been said all along. “It takes all kinds to make the world!”
People have always had opinions and they always have wanted to voice them. Today more than ever before there are platforms that provide all of us means to air these thoughts, as, how, when and where we as individuals deem fit. Probably, also the most commonly held perception of what the Right to Freedom of Expression is.
It may be pertinent refer to some known to be liberal constitutions v.i.z. USA, France and home turf India. All of them guarantee freedom of speech/expression as a fundamental right. However, through the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or even by the First Amendment to the Constitution of India (1951- within 15 months of India declaring itself a Republic) this constitutional guarantee was brought within what are popularly termed “reasonable restrictions” that could be placed by the State through other laws. Even the French Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen ab initio through its Article 4 prefaces the other articles. I quote it only to illustrate how simple and pure the spirit of these so called reasonable restrictions are or ought to be.
“Liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every man has no bounds other than those that ensure to the other members of society the enjoyment of these same rights. These bounds may be determined only by Law.”
Does this mean that we need to have a measure of exactly how thick skinned or thin skinned people around us (aka society) are? Moreover, is the State the authority to determine the same?
There are many determinants I would argue, all of them pertaining to time, place and context. Simply put who is in control/has authority on one hand and on the other, one who wants to question it or at least question the extent of it if not rebel against it.
Often this rebellion or questioning of the so called authority finds its way into art. Contemporary art often engages directly with the complexities and urgencies of the current world, responding to personal, social, or political concerns. Yes it is true that art does exist for art’s sake to borrow from MGM’s famous Latin tagline Ars Gratia Artis.
The gratification for the artist more often than not lies in her ability to evoke a response – any kind is fulfilling. Yes, it is to this end that content creators create the content that they do. That said, it would be naïve to believe that there is no desire to profit from what has been created. However, let’s put a pin on that thought.
Getting back. The history of mankind has literally been pieced to together with the help of art of the times. Good, bad, happy, prosperous, dark or tyrannous all periods of history have been defined or labelled so basis what has been written, painted, sculpted, edified or erected.
Contemporary art, in today’s context embraces diverse mediums, techniques, and concepts. It encompasses everything from traditional painting and sculpture to digital media, performance art, installations, and conceptual pieces where the idea behind the work may hold precedence over aesthetic execution.
Essentially, art is not the preserve of a few. It is consumed by many and interpreted in their myriad ways. So what is funny to one may be insensitive to the other, who hasn’t seen or been hurt by the school yard bully. What is erotic may be construed obscene by some and many more such diametric views and opinions may exist about everything – including art.
If I was just to trace the journey of India in its first 75 years of existence as an independent nation. We have as a society showered our love upon celluloid heroes who have played the downtrodden common man, the con man, the criminal with a troubled past and the rebel. Their ends almost always justifying their means. If observed closely, one would find undeniable inspiration coming from the socio-political and economic context of the nation.
Were there no controversial artists then or were people more tolerant or were people less insensitive?
Regardless of the times this content was created. Even without taking names, people who read and/or are generally aware would be able to guess the individuals or organisations being referred to just by a five-word description of the art or content genre. For example – The woman with weird clothes or the woman who makes bold announcements or the man who painted naked goddesses or the man who wrote a controversial book or the paper that published the cartoon.
Mind you, not all have consumed the content in question yet they have a point-of-view about the content and the creator of the content. That, in essence, is the power of content – it can provoke as much as it has the ability to evoke.
It is easy to point fingers, assign blame but the jokes we crack, the rumours we spread, the gossip that we partake in and the acts that we deride or applaud are all material that is fuelling the content or art that is being created today.
The artists and the content creators are just the ones holding up the mirrors!
Who Am I?
I am not the job I do
I am not the poems I write
I am not the city I live in
I am not the party I vote for
I am not the team I cheer
I am not the brand I wear
I am not the car I drive
I am not the God I pray to
If so many things I am not
If not all the things I’ve got
Then who indeed am I
I am the son my parents had
I am the boy who loved and lost
I am the man my spouse married
I am a father to my lovely daughters
I am the kind who holds the door
I am the guy who is a friend in need
I am the colleague who gives it all
I am the boss who takes the rap
Is that all that I am
Is that all I have ever been
Then who indeed am I
All of the above
And so much more
I am much much more
Than what I am not
I am the sum total
Of my opinions and thoughts
I am what I observe and perceive
I am the goals I couldn’t achieve
I am all the good that I do
I am the favours I take
I am the mistakes I make
I am the lesson I should have learnt
This is all I know
Of me thus far
In a vacant mood
I often wonder
If not this long list
Of who I am and who I’m not
Then who indeed am Iख़ामोशी (Khamoshi)
ख़ामोशी के खालीपन में
मैंने ख़ुद को खो दिया
तेरे इश्क़ के पागलपन में
अपनी हस्ती को ही डुबो दिया
तेरी यादों की बेइन्तहाई में
दिन और रैन की सुद को छोड़ दिया
बिछोड़े की इस तन्हाई में
मैंने अपनों से रिश्ता तोड़ दिया
तेरी बेवफ़ाई की इन बातों में
जाने कैसे ग़म से नाता जोड़ दिया
सजदे किये थे जिस रब की ख़ुदाई में
उसी ख़ुदा ने अपना रुख मोड़ दियाझलक (Jhalak)
देखते देखते पूरा एक साल बीत गया
श्रृष्टि के नियमानुसार फ़िर काल जीत गया
जीवन है, लगी तो रहती ही है आनी जानी
इस ताल को वश में कर पाया नहीं कोई ज्ञानी
समय और संवेदना हृदय की पीड़ा हर नहीं पाते
कुछ रिश्ते किसी भी जतन भुलाए नहीं भुलाते
साये जो हट जातें हैं बड़ों के कभी सिर से
लाख चाहे किसी के मिल नहीं पाते फ़िर से
जीवन का चक्का तो निरंतर घूमता ही रहता है
हर पल हर दिन एक नई कहानी गढ़ देता है
पात्र बदल जातें हैं कुछ, कुछ बदले आतें हैं नज़र
मोह का भी क्या है नया बना लेता है अपना घर
दौड़ती फिरती है ये यादें मगर कुछ बेलगाम सी
बातों और आदतों में ढूँढ लेती हैं झलक उनकी
बीते दिनों के किस्सों से अपना मन भर लेता हूँ
मन हो भारी तो उनको बंद आँखों में भर लेता हूँचिट्ठी (Chitthi)
मैं ख़ुश हूँ पापा
और मुझे मालूम है
के इस बात को जान
आप कई ज़्यादा ख़ुश होते
बीते चार सालों में
कुछ पाया और
बहुत कुछ खोया है
“जीवन है”, आप यही कहते
बड़ी वाली की बातों
छोटी की आदतों
आपकी बहू के अक्खड़पन में भी
आप मुझे नज़र आते हो
हर रोज़ मैं अपने आप को
आपके जैसे किसी साँचे में
ढालने की हिम्मत जुटाता हूँ
कुछ देर के लिए आप बन जाता हूँ
बातें तो बहुत और भी थीं
जो बताने सुनाने की सोची थी
आप पास ही हो कहीं शायद
क्योंकि इस ख़याल से अब भी सहम जाता हूँजो तुम होतीं (Jo Tum Hoti)
अरसे से दिल कुछ भारी सा है
एक ख़याल दिमाग़ पे हावी सा है
माँ आज जो तुम दुनिया में होतीं
तो पूरे अस्सी साल की हो जातीं
तुम्हारे ना होने की आदत ही नहीं डल रही
इतनी यादें हैं तुम्हारी जो धुंधली नहीं पड़ रहीं
हर सुबह की वो नोंक-झोंक के चाय कौन बनाएगा
या इस बात पे बहस की क्या कभी देश में
राम राज्य आयेगा
कईं और भी मनसूबे किए थे जो बिखरे पड़े हैं
ख़त्म होने चलें हैं आँसू मेरे, नैनों में सूखे पड़ें हैं
इस बरस cake की मोमबत्ती नहीं तेरी याद में दिया जलेगा
वक्त को अब धीरे धीरे मेरा ये ज़ख़्म भी भरना पड़ेगाआज (Aaj)
मेरे जज़्बात कुछ उलझे उलझे से हैं
मेरे हालात कुछ बदले बदले से हैं
जिस कलम की नोक से अल्फ़ाज़ बहते थे
आज उसके नीचे काग़ज़ कोरे कोरे पड़े हैं
ज़िन्दगी और जीने के मायने अलग हो चले हैं
पीरी के साथ ख़यालात अब कुछ सुलझ गए हैं
जो कभी रातों का सवेरा रोज़ किया करते थे
आज वो चंद पलों की फुर्सत से कतरा रहें हैं
मंज़िल और पड़ाव का फ़र्क़ धुंधला रहा है
सफ़र शायद अपने अंजाम तक आ रहा है
ये चश्म जो कभी साथी ढूँढते थे
आज वो साथ छूटने से घबरा रहें हैं
अब तो इंतज़ार ही मकसद बन चुका है
हर लम्हा अगले लम्हे के लिए बीत रहा है
जो कभी कल की फ़िक्र को धुएँ में उड़ाते थे
आज वो आने वाले कल को देख पा रहें हैंरोज़ाना (Rozaana)
आसान नहीं है ऐसा हो जाना
होता भी तो नहीं है ऐसा रोज़ाना
मिले, बैठे, फिर अपनी राह चले
इस से ज़्यादा कौन करता है भले
बात ये कुछ तीस बरस पुरानी है
चंद दोस्तों की ये अजब कहानी है
अलग भाव, अलग स्वभाव का व्यवहार था
आपस में यूँ घुल जाना अनूठा विचार था
लड़कपन की सूखी लकड़ियाँ तैयार थी
बस एक अल्लढ़ चिंगारी की दरकार थी
एक हॉस्टल के कमरे की ये दास्ताँ है
गहरी नींव पे खड़ा ये यारी का मकान है
कभी बिछड़े, कही झगड़े, कभी बस पड़े पड़े
कितने दिन ढले, रातें बीतें, कितने सूरज चढ़े
ज़िंदगी के कदम मीलों में कब कैसे बदल गए
बाल में सफ़ेद और वज़न सालों संग बढ़ गए
दूरी जो थी यारी को सिमटा मिटा ना सकी
नोक झोंक, छेड़ छाड़ की आग बुझी न रुकी
जीवन के कई उतार-चढ़ाव दोस्तों ने देखें हैं
साथ खड़े रहने, निभाने के क़िस्से अनोखे हैं
हर गुट, हर कहानी में कई किरदार होतें हैं
किसी सूरत में सेना, किसी में सरदार होते हैं
जो ना देखे ऊँच-नीच ना देखे दुनियादारी
कुछ ऐसी और लंबी चली है ये गाड़ी हमारी
अब तक सँभाली है बस यूँ ही चलानी है
बावजूद दूरी या मजबूरी पूरी निभानी है
क्यों की आसान नहीं है ऐसा हो जाना
और होता भी तो नहीं है ऐसा रोज़ानाTime Travellers
Two wonderful days that I’ve spent
Happiness that was heaven sent
Afternoons filled with tales of old
Some repeats and many untold
A lifetime re-lived in just few hours
Great escapes and magical powers
Tricks and pranks, our devious ways
Endless nights that ran into days
God’s angels or devil’s messengers
My supporters and firm challengers
So believe that true friends infuse
That spark in our life, brighter hues
Fellow travellers, my companions
Badges of honour, my medallions
Forever together, win or lose
You’re family that I’d always chooseLife
Sometimes when it rains, it pours
Sometimes it leaves you wanting for more
Sometimes there’s happiness right outside your door
Sometimes you have the key, but just aren’t sure
Sometimes you know what life has in store
Sometimes you’re just drifting washing up ashore
Sometimes life’s oozing through every pore
Sometimes just breathing is a chore
Sometimes you’re winning, not keeping score
Sometimes you’re knocked out, down on the floor
Sometimes you’re on a high, not really you anymore
Sometimes the mirror shows the real you, flaws galore
Sometimes you’re in the spotlight the crowd chanting encore
Sometimes the joke is on you, your ego bruised, battered, and sore
Sometimes it’s déjà vu, you’ve seen it before
Sometimes you’re eager, just itching to explore
Sometimes….
Just sometimes