Uttam Kumar's Blog, page 2

Review: Kaleidoscope – The Changing Colors of Love

First I will confess that reviewing a prose is much easier as compared to reviewing Poetry. The way poet plays with words in poems, one doesn’t have that freedom in prose. It’s like judging abstract art. You can like the art for entirely a different reason which the artist never thought of.Coming to Kaleidoscope, the book we are talking about, it’s almost a year since the book is published and is in market. So reviewing after such a long gap, only because I wanted to, as I have read few of Rachna’s poems earlier. The poems I read were really deep and inspiring and justified the topic these addressed.Now Kaleidoscope is one of the finest collection of poems I have read, of course among the contemporary poets. There are 37 poems in it, all dealing with different shades of Love.Rachna has, I feel intentionally touched only the brighter side of Love covering different emotions. The dark side of love is not at all touched. The book takes you through the Journey of love starting from first sight to happily married after.The poetess has set the poems in modern times, so, as she is inspired by the love of old times but the means have changed. Like you have lovers messaging each other, rather than writing letter. The girl waiting for the mobile to beep rather than a Postman. And there are centuries she didn’t get a message or call rather than a Letter. Though still train remains lifeline for us, so her lover leaves by train to find a good job. But then She goes and receives him back at airport. RAchna ji is a big supporter of Girl child and it reflects in her poems too when the baby to be born is addressed as “She”. Overall the poems are so touching and real that one feels the emotions conveyed. Though in the middle few poems give the impression that the poet is trying to meet some deadline. But this feeling may be entirely due to fact that the initial poems raise the expectation level to such high that even a good poem looks ordinary.The sequence in which poems are arranged take you through a smooth journey and one never feels sudden jumps or road blocks. A must read to learn how to write poetry and especially for all aspiring writers, just to know how important grammar is!
And at end: “Yeh Dil Maange More” Rachna Ji. So when is your next collection coming.
About Rachna Gupta:

Rachna is an educator, blogger, book reviewer, poet and writer whose words bring emotions to life. Her poems and stories revolve around feelings, people, life and relationships and resemble the morning ray of sunshine filtering through the leaves. When Rachna is not writing, she keeps herself busy teaching English to grownups, meeting new people who become characters in her work, reading and spending time with her son. She has two books to her credit: Myriad Hues and Kaleidoscope – The Changing Colors of Love, apart from stories and poems that can be found in various anthologies.
To know more about her, visit her website –http://rachnagupta.in/Fb- RachnaGupta/AuthorTwittter @GuptaRach 
Click below to buy the book:
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ख्वाहिशें- समीक्षा

ख्वाहिशें सोनिका नीति जी का एक काव्य संग्रह है ! सभी कविताएँ जीवन के अलग अलग पहलुओं को छूती हैं ! ज़िन्दगी की सभी भावनाओं को सहलाते हुए बड़े प्यार से सब रिश्तों को समेट लेती हैं !
इंसान के ज़िन्दगी एक बहते पानी की तरह होती है , जो अपने वहाब में कईं रिश्तों को जोड़ते छोड़ते आगे बढती रहती है ! सोनिका जी ने अपनी कविताओं में हर रिश्ते को करीब से छुआ है.. चाहे वोह एक प्रेमी का दीवानापन जो अपने प्रेम को दुनिया से छुपा कर जी रहा है :




    दुनिया की निगाहों से छुपा रखा है , हमने मुहब्बत को दिल में बसा रखा है !!

यां एक इंसान की ज़िन्दगी के बारे में हकीकत जानने पर प्रतिक्रिया :·           ज़िन्दगी मसला है बस दो ग़ज ज़मीं का , मिल जाये ग़र तो क्यों फिर कोई आसरा करे !
एक प्रेमी का दर्द, बूड़ी नानी का अकेलापन, पत्नी का पति के सवभाव से समझोता, इन्सान का ज़िन्दगी से संघर्ष करते हुए जीतने का जनून , सब को बखूबी अपनी कलम से पनों में समेटा है !उनकी कविताएँ इतनी सहज हैं के लगता है यह उनकी ज़िन्दगी के किताब है यां यह कहना अतिशयोक्ति ना होगी के नीति इन्हें खुद जी रही हैं !
एक लेखक की खूबी होती है की वोह अपने पाठक को वोह भाव महसूस करवा सके जो उसने खुद लिखते हुए महसूस कियें हैं ! सोनिका जी इस काम में बखूबी सफल रही हैं ! उनकी कृति पड़ते हुए आप हर भाव को महसूस कर सकते हैं !
यह एक ऐसी कृति है जिसे हर उस पाठक को पड़ना चाहिए जो हिंदी साहित्य की गहराई को जानने से पहले महसूस करना चाहता है !

दो शब्द कवित्री के बारे में : सोनिका ' नीति ' आहूजा ने एक होमियोपैथ के रूप में अपना कैरियर शुरू किया! लेकिन बच्चों की देखभाल करने के लिए उन्होंने अभ्यास छोड़ दिया! वो एक हिंदी कवित्री है। वह अपने विचारों, भावनाओं और सपनों को व्यक्त करने के एक माध्यम के रूप में लिखती हैं! वे एक भावुक लेखक है । ख्वाहिशें के इलावा वो “Soul’s Whispers '  नामक एक पुस्तक की भी लेखिका है।















आप इस किताब को नीचे दिए लिंक से खरीद सकते हैं !

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Democracy

Every year there are elections happening Somewhere in our country. Some of us Vote and Some don't. Voting is the tool given to us by our Constitution to elect people who will Serve us for a fixed tenure of time. These people are supposed to execute the works assigned to them or perform duties expected from them. They are supposed to enact in a manner that benefits the Last of the Last Row person in our Society. But is it happening? This platform is created to help people understand their Rights and help them in deciding how they should cast their vote. This is an Apolitical Platform not supporting any Ideology. The only ideology is to help the People in understanding that they are Real Decision makers. It's in their hand whom they want to give opportunity. There will be Members who are Actively involved in Politics and are holding offices of different Political Parties. But their involvement is to help understand the other side and Not promote any particular Party or Ideology.

#VotePlease

मेरे अन्नदाता को एक दिल से अपील

यह पत्र लिखते हुए मेरा दिल खून के आंसू रो रहा है और मुझे पक्का यकीन है कि पड़ने के बाद आप मेरी पीड़ा और लाचारगी को महसूस कर पाएंगे |  जब मैं इस दुनिया में आया तो मेरी मां ने मुझे जन्म दिया पर ज़िन्दगी मुझे आपने (किसान ने) दी | किसान मेरा अन्दाता ही नहीं ज़िन्दगीदाता भी है | आज जब मैं उसे आत्महत्या करते देखता हूँ तौ मुझे समझ नहीं आता कि यह क्या हो रहा है, जहाँ ऋण देने वाला अपनी ज़िन्दगी की बली दे रहा है और कृत्घन ऋणी अपने घर में चैन से सो रहा है? कहाँ का इन्साफ है यह ?मेरा किसान इतना कमज़ोर नहीं कि कुछ तकलीफों की वजह से ज़िन्दगी से हार जाये | बात कुछ पैसो की नहीं | कुछ तो कारण है जिसे हम समझ नहीं पा रहे यां समझना नहीं चाहते |इंसान को तकलीफे और मुश्किलें इतना नहीं मारती जितनी अपनों की बेरुखी | मेरे ज़िन्दगीदाता हम सब की बेरुखी आपको मार रही है | हम सब आपके कातिल हैं | मैं महसूस कर सकता हूँ जब किसी एक लड़की के क़त्ल की कहानी हमारे समाज के लिए ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण हो बनिस्बत की हजारों किसानो की आत्महत्या के तो आप कैसा ठगा हुआ महसूस करते हैं | जब देश आपके बारे में सोचने के बजाये यह सोचता है कि किसी रईस उद्योगपति के ऋण को कैसे माफ़ किया जाये ताकि वो चुनाव लड़ने के लिए पैसे दे सके | मेरे अन्दाता मैं तौ आपसे माफ़ी भी नहीं मांग सकता |मैं क्या करूँ जिससे मैं आपको जिंदा रख सकूं | आपको यह यकीन दिला सकूं कि आपके दर्द को मैं महसूस कर पा रहा हूँ ! मेरे अन्नदाता मैं आपका ऋणी हूँ | अपना ऋण कैसे चुकाऊ| कुछ पैसों की मदद करके मैं अपना यह क़र्ज़ नहीं उतार सकता | मेरा क़र्ज़ तो तब उतरेगा जब आप अपनी जान देने का सोचेंगे भी नहीं |मेरा मस्तिष्क इस वक़्त खाली है | मुझे कोई रास्ता नहीं दिखाई दे रहा | मैं आपको मरता नहीं देख सकता | मेरी नाकामी की सजा आप और आपका परिवार क्यूँ भुगतें |अभी मेरे पास आपकी समस्या का कोई हल नहीं है | इस पत्र से आपसे बस एक ही गुजारिश करना चाहता हूँ कि हमें आप छे महीने का समय दीजिये | इन छे महीनो में हम देश के सब लोग जो आपके करजदार हैं मिल के एक रास्ता ढूंढेंगे कि आपका क़र्ज़ हम कैसे उतार सकते हैं | तब तक आप हमपे विश्वास करिए और कृपा करके हमारे कुकर्मों की सजा खुद को मत दीजिये | यह पत्र लिखते मेरा दिल लहू के आंसू रो रहा है | हमें बस एक मौका दीजिये |
आपका कृत्घन ऋणी
मेरी मेरे सब बुद्धिजीवी लोगों से प्राथना है की इस पत्र को ज्यादा से ज्यादा किसानो तक पहुचाएं | इसके साथ ही इस बात पे भी विचार करें कि हम ऐसा क्या कर सकते हैं जिससे हम अपने अन्नदाता को यह विश्वास दिला पायें कि हम उनके साथ हैं| उन्हें अपना जीवन ख़तम करने की ज़रुरत नहीं | अपने आस पास के गाँव की पंचायत से मिलकर ऐसे किसानो का पता लगाएँ जो आत्महत्या कर सकते है यां क़र्ज़ में डूबे हैं | उन्हें विश्वास दिलाये कि हम उनके साथ हैं | हर मुश्किल का हल पैसा नहीं होता , कभी कभी प्यार और हमदर्दी के दो शब्द भी ज़िन्दगी बचा देते हैं | आइए मिलकर इस समस्या का हल ढूंढें | सरकारें तो वोट ढूंढेंगी , हल नहीं | क्या हम अपने भाइयों को मरता छोड़ सकते हैं | आज जब खाना खाएं तो सोचें कि कहीं उसमे किसी किसान का खून तो नहीं है | 

Is Sensex Driving our National Policy?

Today PM met top industrialist, 2nd time in 2 months to discuss ways to revive Economy. Nothing objectionable about the meeting but the most Worrying thing about the meeting is that it is driven by fall in Sensex.So, now our Economy and Policies will be driven by Sensex?The enthusiasm shown by PM towards managing Sensex is not reflected towards actual problems people are facing. Let's check following facts:Around 1500 farmers have committed suicide in 2015 in Maharashtra alone. that means on an average 10 suicides a day!!Around 5 people die in Road Accidents only on Delhi roads daily!!Country is facing worst drought situation!!Assam is flooded and more than 18 lac people are affected there.J&K has not returned to normalcy after more than a year of floods!!In none of above cases we have seen PM calling the meeting of affected and concerned people and meeting them at least once, if not every month like industrialists.Then why Sensex numbers are so important. Let's check the effect of Sensex on following:How many people got jobs when Sensex jumped from 24000 to 30000!!How many people came out of Poverty Line when Sensex touched 30000!!How many farmers were saved from Suicide when Sensex touched 30000!!How many Indians benefited out of 120+Crore when Sensex jumped to 30000!!Friends Sensex is nothing but legalised Gambling. It's just a Dream which is sold to a Middle class man to fleece money from him.But as an environment has been built where if Sensex rises, people think that all our dreams will be fulfilled soon. It's just a feel good factor. And our leaders are wasting their time to manage this Number.I just wish, if we can create a Farmer Suicide Number just like Sensex, which is affected by each Suicide happening in India, on Real Time Basis; then may be our Great Leaders will have time to meet these dying farmers and try to improve the Suicide rate...But alas, We Are Living In A Time Where Sensex Falling occupies more Space than thousands of Farmers committing Suicide.
## Comments are welcomeKeep following for more!!

Is Raksha Bandhan Reduntant in today's World?

Just 2 days back India celebrated one of it’s famous festival: “The Raksha Bandhan“. There have been opposing views about this festival as are there for any other festival in India. But what struck most was a tweet of a Leading Female Journalist terming Raksha Bandhan as an Redundant Idea in modern India.As per the journalist, it represents the male dominance thought of our society where a Male (Brother) gives assurance of protection to a female (Sister). Sounds correct and revolutionary. Yes, in a society where more and more women are trying to excel against all odds and are proving their mettle such an Idea has to be Redundant and done away with.But I doubt she knew about “What the Idea” of Raksha Bandhan is?Idea of Raksha Bandhan is as good or bad as “Beti Bachao” or “Save Girl Child” programs.I still remember in our childhood, Raksha Bandhan was considered a festival of pride for brothers. More the number of Rakhi’s on hand, more the pride. Ones who didn’t have Sister, were pitied on and more often than not was adopted by one or other girl as Brother.In our views, it was first ever movement on Beti Bachao or Save Girl Child. But with our desperation to prove our modern views and our efforts towards women empowerment, we are trying to criticise anything or everything which we don’t understand.Celebrate the Idea of Raksha Bandhan. It’s our contribution in Save Girl Child program.Your comments: For or against are welcome.

Day 2: June 5, 2015

                                                        Memoir de Tour : Pollution- Garbage and Sound
I landed at Chandigarh airport. Chandigarh is considered the most planned and in many cases first planned city of India. I had my expectation. But as soon as I landed and reached the conveyor belt to claim luggage, the first thing I noticed was the empty plastic bottles and torn papers/tissues thrown around. I was really shocked. It was completely different from what you see at Mumbai Airport. There too people throw things around, as we are Proud Indians Now, but there is always someone cleaning the area. But here there was no one around. It took us around 15 minutes to claim the luggage but no one came to clean the area.
I moved out. Roads were better. But then there was a different kind of pollution there: Noise Pollution! Invariably all 2 or 4 wheeler drivers were honking. Most of the time to Air. I could not understand why? I thought a lot but could not find a reason. I asked few around for reason but no one could tell me. They just laughed at me as if I asked a Silly question. May be, I thought, Punjabis are extra cautious and so they honk a lot. But his habit of honking gives a lot of trouble to others who are not used to it. 
Honking while driving is a kind of disease. It has two major types:

Fear Psyche: The person remains in constant fear of meeting an accident. So as a safeguard honks continuously.Show off: This is a typical Punjabi Disease in which person wants to show off his/her belongings. So to show off whatever person has he/she honks continuously.Both these diseases are dangerous for Society. These not only effect the person suffering but also the Society at large.
Adding to the menace of Sound Voice is our Red Light/Blue Light Sirens. I was under impression that these are for VIP politicians/individuals or for Ambulances. But in Punjab it is there in every 3rd vehicle I saw on road. (Will discuss separately about it in a post later). These vehicles ply on road as if a King is passing thru its Kingdom and the Public must empty roads and bow in front of them.
Garbage: It's such a problem to find a place in Punjab where there is no garbage. Plastic Bags are on roads, House Garbage thrown here and there. Cleaning is just Out of Fashion Thing.
Even near places of worship which we consider Holy, one can see plastic bags all around, garbage smell killing you. And remember I am travelling in month of May and June and not rainy season when the situation will definitely be worse considering the situation of roads.
Please note: I am just sharing my observations and not providing any solutions or suggestions here.

Day 1: June 2, 2015

Memoir de Tour Begins
I am a Proud Punjabi! Have done my studies from Jalandhar, Punjab. Did my Graduation and Post Graduation from D.A.V. College Jalandhar.
 But am living in Goa for last 12 years. Always had a dream to write a novel on Punjab where I can show the World what Real Punjab is!!
After almost 10 years, I spent last 42 days travelling across Punjab, Himachal, Chandigarh and Delhi. It was meant to be to do groundwork for my NGO and also to do a study for my upcoming Novel. What started as a casual tour, soon brought shocking truth in front.
Did I find Punjab as I had envisaged or Is it far from my Dreams! Keep tracking and following my Blog to know. I will share all my experiences and observations with all of you here. Will start with Punjab. I will share my experience and observations on following aspects:IndividualsCleanlinessDrivingPolicePoliticsBusinessYouthEducationThe list may grow as and when we move ahead.
The views are all my personal. Expect you to share your observations freely. Reviews, if critical, are most welcome. And if you have something Good to say, please don't stop.