Monday, September 28, 2009

मरण

कुणी न काही कल्पिले कधी,
मृत्युत आहे एक अद्भुत शक्ती.

मरण हे सत्य अंतिम आहे ह्या जगती,
तरीही मरण का इतके हे मन हेलावती,
कोणाचाही मृत्यु असो का हळहळ वाटावी इतकी ती.

आयुष्यभराचा अबोला, वैर क्षणात उडूनी जाती,
धाय मोकलून मन रडू लागते एक जणू ते अपराधी,
दबलेली भावना मग आपली लागते मुक्त वाहू ती.

जन्मानंतर असतो जो फक्त काही मोजक्यांचा,
मृत्युनंतर होऊन जातो तोच साऱ्या जगाचा,
रंक असो वा राव असो होऊन जाई एक पातळी ती.

अनैसर्गिक घटना जितकी सुन्न करी माणसा तितकी ती,
परिपूर्ण काही कधीच नसते जाणारी ती ही व्यक्ती,
कळे न काही का फक्त तयाची सत्कार्येच ही आठवती,

खरा अर्थ कळतो कुठे जगण्याचा मानवाला
त्यामुळेच कदाचित वाटतो देवदूत मृत्यु तयाला,
देण्या तो सज्ज होई आतुरतेने मग ही आहुती.

लढता देशासाठी यावा मृत्यु यासम दुसरे भाग्य नसे,
वाटते अशावेळी आपुल्या जगण्याला काही अर्थ नव्हे,
क्षणात बलीदान तयांचे गाठते ऊंची ती किती.

आयुष्यभर गुणांची जयाच्या कदर कोणा नसे,
वणवण, कुचंबणा फक्त सोसली तयाने असे,
कवटाळताच मृत्युने कळते खरी तयाची ही महती.

मृत्युत सारे जणू मोक्ष एक ते शोधती,
वाटते मरण तयांना देवाच्या घरची पायरी ती,
अनंतात विलीन होण्या हसत मृत्युला ते कवटाळती.

कुणी न काही कल्पिले कधी,
मृत्युत आहे एक अद्भुत शक्ती.

....................................आशिष जोशी

चाकोरी-बाहेरचे जीवन

पहाटेचा मंद धुंद वारा,
प्राजक्ताचा पडला सडा,
पापण्यातील साखरझोप सारून तर बघा,
श्वास भरभरून तो सुवास घेऊन तर बघा.

श्रावणातली एक प्रसन्न सकाळ,
सभोवार पसरली दूरवर हिरवळ,
मस्त पडलेल्या धुक्यामध्ये जाऊन तर बघा,
अनवाणी पायाने दवबिंदूंवर चालून तर बघा.

उन्हाळ्यातल्या कडक दुपारी,
नभ अचानक येते भरूनी,
‘येरे येरे पावसा’ साद घालून तर बघा,
वळीवाच्या सरींत भिजत नाचून तर बघा.

हिवाळ्यातले शुभ्र चांदणे,
गुलाबी थंडीत लपेटलेले,
शेकोटीची उब अंगावर घेऊन तर बघा,
मित्रांसोबत रात्रभर गप्पा मारून तर बघा.

दिवसाची सुरुवात आगळी,
सुवर्णप्रभा नवतेज झळाळी,
न ठरविता ऑफिसला दांडी मारून तर बघा,
फक्त दोघं राजा-राणी मजा करून तर बघा.

सुट़्टीत विसावा संथ पहुडलेला,
घरी मुलांचा खेळ रंगलेला,
मुलांबरोबर साप-शिडी, लपा-छपी खेळून तर बघा,
चिमुकल्या नजरेतून ओसंडणारा आनंद साठवून तर बघा.

आयुष्यात दडले विलक्षण रंग,
मनात उठती असंख्य तरंग,
एकदातरी सगळ्यांचा आस्वाद घेऊन तर बघा,
थोडं चाकोरीबाहेर जाऊन मुक्त जगून तर बघा.

...............................आशिष जोशी

तपोवन

काल पहाटे स्वप्नात मी,
निसर्गवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

झाडी गर्द-हिरवी सभोवताली,
पाचूचे जणू वस्त्र ल्यायलेली,
अंधूक पायवाट आलो चालून एक मी,
निसर्गवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

मेघ सावळे आसमंती दाटलेले,
त्या ईश्वराने जणू छत्र धरलेले,
ओला गंध मातीचा आलो घेऊन एक मी,
निसर्गवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

पक्षांची हलकी ऐकली कूजबूज,
एकमेकांशी जणू चालले हितगूज,
केका मयुराचा आलो ऐकून एक मी,
निसर्गवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

वाऱ्याची मंद झुळुक येतसे,
मोरपिस जणू गालावर फिरतसे,
धुंद श्वास आलो घेऊन एक मी,
निसर्गवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

चोहीकडे अनेकविध रंग उधळले,
मोहक जणू इन्द्रधनू झळकले,
लाजऱ्या रानफुलाला आलो भेटून एक मी,
निसर्गवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

कालचे स्वप्न सत्यात आज आले,
रम्य तपोवनात आलो जाऊन एक मी.

............................आशिष जोशी

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

निसर्गाची किमया

गर्जत घन निळा बरसतो, विद्युल्लतेची साथ छेडीत,
क्षितीजावर इन्द्रधनू रंग उधळीत,
कोसळती शुभ्र प्रपात खाली,
हिरव्या गर्द कडा कपारी,
निसर्गाची ही किमया सारी.

अथांग दर्या दूर पसरतो, आभाळाला कवेत घेत,
अंगावर सोनेरी तरंग झेलीत,
खळखळती लाटा मध्यान्ह्काळी,
गडद निळ्या सागरकिनारी,
निसर्गाची ही किमया सारी.

ऊत्तुंग हिमालय उभा राहतो, आकाशाला हात टेकीत,
ऋषीतुल्य साधक जणू आशिष देत,
पसरती तयाची श्वेत सावली,
ऊंच सखोल दऱ्या गिरी-शिखरी,
निसर्गाची ही किमया सारी.

प्रखर रवि तेजात तळपतो, वसुंधरेचे रण पेटवीत,
चराचराचे जीवन उर्जीत,
उजळती दाही दिशा त्रिकाळी,
तप्त-तृप्त सहिष्णू धरा-अंबरी,
निसर्गाची ही किमया सारी.

..................आशिष जोशी

मुखवटा

मित्रांत हास्यविनोद-मस्करी चाललेली,
आत जिवाला घोर, काळजी लागलेली,
छानसा मुखवटा घालीत असतो,
आपणच स्वतःला फसवीत असतो.

वरवर आपुलकी, लोभ-जिव्हाळा,
अंतर्मनी द्वेष, उसना उमाळा,
सक्तीची नाती जपत असतो,
आपणच स्वतःला फसवीत असतो.

बाह्यरुपाचे स्तोम, उथळ विचार,
पोखरलेले आत मन, कुरुप विकार,
नुसतेच साज चढवीत असतो,
आपणच स्वतःला फसवीत असतो.

लोक-प्रतिष्ठा, वैभव श्रीमंती,
आत्मविवंचना, मन दरिद्री,
आयुष्यात सारखे पळत असतो,
आपणच स्वतःला फसवीत असतो.

......................आशिष जोशी

Unusual Mirror

Once I chanced upon an unusual mirror,
It showed a distinct me, much to my horror.

Neat and clean me of everyday appeared as sophisticated,
Eagerness to be on time seemed excessive and unwanted.

My efforts to dress well came across as obedience with uniformity,
Awareness on current events felt like an attempt to superiority.

Calm & quiet nature of mine appeared as private and snobbish,
Desire to pursue my dreams looked nothing but too selfish.

My beliefs in good old values looked as orthodox and outdated,
Cognizance of intricacies of human mind seemed unsupported.

Setting high performance standards seemed as unrealistic,
Passion for cars, good things in life felt as materialistic.

My insistence on self-reliance came out as being unsupportive,
Avoidance of a fight looked weak and counter-productive.

My urge to do the right thing read as rigid and unyielding,
Taste for good music & art appeared as dull and unexciting.

I scratched my brain but couldn’t find an answer to a thing,
After much thought it struck to me what was happening.

The mirror was showing what was others perception of me,
It was uncomfortable & embarrassing to see this new image of me.

What the mirror showed me was a complete revelation,
I must admit it forced me to have a deeper introspection.

……………………………………………………………………… Ashish Joshi

Monday, August 31, 2009

मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस 
 
आयुष्याची वर्ष सरता-सरता वयाची चाळिशी गाठली जाते, 
डोक्यामध्ये निर-निराळ्या प्रश्नांचे थैमान, विचार-मंथन सुरू होते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 
  
आयुष्यात आपण काय कमावले, काय गमावले याची मोजदाद सुरू होते, 
कमवल्याच्या आनंदापेक्षा, गमावलेल्याची हूर-हूर वाटत राहते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

भूतकाळातील घटनांचे संदर्भ बदलून गेल्याची जाणीव होते, 
आता अवतीभवती घडणार्‍या घटनांचे नवे संदर्भ जाणण्याची उर्मी जागी होते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

शाळा-कॉलेज, लगेच मिळालेली नोकरी, पगारवाढ सगळे आठवत असते, 
त्याचबरोबर हेही लक्षात येते की, आपण फक्त नोकरीच केली, करियर करायचे राहून गेले, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

कामातील गती अचानक कमी झालेली वाटते, 
काहींना ही दगदग, धावपळ मुद्दाम कमी करावीशी वाटते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस||  

आजवर करीत आलेल्या गोष्टीविषयी आत्मीयता संपत जाते, 
न केलेल्या गोष्टी करण्याविषयी सुप्त आसक्ती वाढत जाते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

हेवे दावे, लोभ मत्सर, आपल-परक सगळ्या भावना धूसर होतात, 
जगण्याकडे बघण्याचा नवा दृष्टिकोन, नव्या संवेदना प्रकट होत जातात, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

एकेकाळचे जिवलग मित्र, सवंगडी यांची सारखी आठवण होते, 
हेही कळते की, मधल्या काळात सख्ख्या जोडीदाराकडे दुर्लक्ष झाले होते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

आपण मिळविलेले यश, कीर्ती यांचे महत्व गौण वाटू लागते, 
आता आपल्या मुलांनी खूप यश मिळवावे हीच उत्कट ईच्छा लागून राहते, 
यालाच आपण गोंडस नाव दिले आहे मिड-लाइफ क्राइसिस|| 

अशा ह्या नैसर्गिक वळणावर सगळेच येऊन धडपडत असतात, 
काय होईल, कस होईल ह्याचा विचार करत आपापली वाट शोधत असतात|| 

अशाच एका वळणावर येऊन मीही अडखळ लो आहे, 
माझ्या आयुष्याला निराळी दिशा देणारी वाट मला भेटेल का हे शोधतो आहे|| 

आयुष्यात असे महत्वाचे बदल आणणार्‍या वळणाला क्रायसिस हे नाव ठीक नसेल, 
परंतु आणखीन पुढे एक 'मिड-लाइफ' अजुन बाकी आहे हा दिलासा मात्रा नक्कीच सुखावेल|| 

......................................................................................आशिष जोशी 

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Back to Basics!!

When you watch the violence and hatred all around,
Newspapers filled with stories of bloodbath abound,
You feel helpless seeing people turning into cynics,
You know that now it’s time to go back to basics.

When you see the craze for materialism increasing,
billboards for newer and newer products flashing,
You feel sad seeing people dump things you love, as relics,
You know that now it’s time to go back to basics.

When you hear the hapless poor pleading,
People turning into silent spectators, leaving the victims bleeding,
You feel distressed watching endless debates and all become just critics,
You know that now it’s time to go back to basics.

When you realize that people are missing the virtue of sympathy,
Everyone running the rat race devoid of any empathy,
You feel appalled as people now have become nothing but egocentrics,
You know that now it’s time to go back to basics.

When you observe the blind acceptance to all things western,
People denouncing their culture embracing everything modern,
You feel agitated with people turning into nothing but hypocrites,
You know that now it’s time to go back to basics.

When you notice people losing interest in things simple and pure,
There is growing focus on quantity and no sign of cure,
You feel disappointed hearing loud noise and crave for soothing lyrics,
You know that now it’s time to go back to basics.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Stick to your personality

There are basically two types of people we encounter. There are the ones, who are more outgoing in nature, very open, gregarious, expressive, social (whom we call as Extrovert) and there are ones, who are solitary, silent types, somewhat reserved, keeping to themselves (whom we call as Introvert). We all know about these two terms. Each of us has been branded to belong to one of the two categories by our colleagues, friends & family.

I, as a person since my childhood has been more like a silent or a private person. I have been labeled so at every possible opportunity by my friends, family and may be even my peers/ sub-ordinates. All of these comments were made hinting clearly the incompleteness or a suggestion of not up to the mark, something lacking clearly.

Btw, did you also experience a bias towards “Extroverts”? Society at large, even past and contemporary literature and typically most of western cultures view extroverts in a much positive frame as against the introverts. Do you know why?

It is generally observed that these people stand out with their ability to talk and believe me, they can talk for hours. These are the people, who have no problems in striking conversations with strangers. These are the same people, who have so many friends. They are the ones always sought out by friends, consulted for advice, get all the interesting mail-forwards and are found to be on the phone always.

This ability of initiating conversations is of great use and thus comforting to some, as there won’t be a specter of bored train/ bus journeys! This ability is also a great boon in creating good visibility for oneself, helps to build a nice perception as well. These people can work wonders in setting up the tone, lightening the mood at any event. They are a great fit for the sales & marketing and customer facing professions and they do really well in that.

But hey, wait a minute. Such skill doesn’t come in handy when it requires deeper and focused thinking, concentrating on certain thoughts in one’s mind. So, it is no surprise that there are tons of cases of scientists, artists not belonging to this lot of people, who were labeled as mostly Introverts! Self-observation is a great virtue for such careers and introverts snuggly fit into such roles and have no qualms being labeled so. This helps them further to be left within their own space and they thrive further in such environment and focus on their endeavors.

Extroverts are so used to talking all the time that if they encounter a situation, where there is no one to talk to, it immediately leads to uneasiness, boredom and complete frustration. These people can’t sit quietly for even few minutes and such moments of peace, serenity in fact gets on to their nerve.

On the other hand look at all the benefits people like me can find. I can enjoy the solitude or the company of very few close friends it offers. I am less likely to be disturbed by other people, which save me from getting trapped with unwanted responsibilities. For such people it’s like a paradise to discover such moments. Once in such situation, they thank God and without wasting any more minute, soak in the peaceful surroundings. People like me can find the required solitude even when there is hustle bustle in the surroundings. It provides me opportunity to pick up a good book and get captivated by the beauty of the written word. I also save loads of money on my phone bill.

So, it doesn’t matter if you belong to a particular type. Stick to who you are and all is fine in the world, no matter what others say. As far as I am concerned, let those social and gregarious ones have all the fun in the world along with their fat phone bills, I am fine with my own solitude and peace of mind.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Economic Situation

Things in the past 3-4 months have changed so drastically that it has become totally unpredictable. You will not know what can happen next. Global economies have become shaky, almost 50% of the global economies having already entered recession (formally), the remaining are as good as on a similar path, and growth has turned negative.

The once mighty organizations, institutions and even the High Profile/ Super Rich have fallen from grace. The change hasn’t been restricted to only the organizations or only few super rich, it has equally, if not more, impacted most of the commodities, stock markets, jobs, and so on. It is as if everything has been impacted in some way or the other. Even just the cursory analysis has thrown up these major observations;

1. Magnitude of Change -What baffles is the magnitude of this change. The crude oil not so long ago had climbed to an all time level of US$ 147 per barrel has come crashing down to US$ 36-37. That’s a whopping 75% reduction from the peak. The scale of change in other parameters is no different.

2. These changes were not triggered by any natural calamity - There was no natural calamity, which triggered these events. This was purely an effect of human actions or inactions.

3. The impact is Global - There is no country on this planet, which had the fortune of having escaped this downturn. The economies of the countries are so integrated that the impact has been far-reaching.

4. Pervasiveness - This is all too pervasive in its character. Not only the smaller ones suffered, the big and mighty ones have been the most sufferers. One might be tempted to say that the trigger has been the all-too greedy nature of the business practices employed by the Giants of the so-called World’s Top Financial Services Organization. Whether the over-leveraging of paper assets have been the trigger or the fundamental flaw in creation of a housing bubble in the US has been the trigger, no one knows. The impact has however been wide spread and every segment of industry is impacted to some extent or the other. I wonder if we can find something called as “recession proof”! Sure, there will be lesser impacts on some, but no one will be impact-proof.

5. It’s a great leveler - Whatever may be the root cause; the impact is far reaching and has acted as a great leveler of sorts. The mighty can no longer wield the same kind of power and the ones aspiring to be one will need many more years to get to that spot. Warren Buffet, the highly regarded Investment Guru, too has suffered in this downturn and admitted the mistakes he made.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

New Year Resolutions!

New Year, New Resolutions!! No that’s old saying, isn’t it?New Year to me means new beginnings, starting things afresh, wiping out the slate clean, forgetting the past, looking forward to the future, making new friends, breaking new grounds, analyzing one’s past mistakes and learning to make best from these in future. It also means unlocking your mind, overcoming your mental obstacles, trying to do the unthinkable.

It’s almost like getting a new car to drive every year! All the problems of your old, over-used car going away and you are getting a brand new one to drive, to explore things unexplored so far, visiting new destinations, soaking up the smell of that new upholstery and so on..Wouldn’t it be great if life too can be just like this? Most of you would say, ‘no it can’t be’. Really so? I think it can still be, if you look at it from such a broader view point. How is it possible? It’s no rocket science!! In my opinion, even a small effort in taking stock of your life’s goals (if you have already defined them) or even sitting down to list these down if you haven’t started yet, is all that is required to start with. Find out where you stand with respect to these goals, don’t sulk about the things you didn’t or couldn’t do last year. And then plan for taking action/s in the New Year.

New Year, New Year, Oh, you are already here,

What will I do this year, I am not so sure!

Will it be just like last year, or will be any different?

Leave all such thoughts behind, because only you can make the difference!

Look at it like it’s completely a new beginning,

Starting afresh, let’s give life altogether a new meaning!

It’s time to look ahead and plan for what’s going to be on your plate,

And it’s time to forget the past mistakes and wipe out clean your slate!

It’s time to meet new people and make new friends,

It’s also the time to explore and break new grounds!

Look at your long term goals and take charge of your life,

Plan now and bring the balance back in your life!