Calling Sehmat

by Harinder Sikka

The princely state of Maler Kotla came into being in 1454 CE when the Governor of Lahore and Sirhind, Sheikh Sadruddin Sadr-i-Jahan, married the daughter of Sultan Bahlul Khan Lodi of Delhi and was given a cluster of villages in dowry.

‘Respect this uniform, son,’ she had said, running her hands on his shoulders, enjoying the feel of the metallic stars on the uniform of the newly commissioned officer. ‘And your soul will respect you. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that you will learn to be brave. You have a duty towards your nation and you must never weigh it with the materialistic pittance that you may sometimes receive in return. There is no greater reward than to live and die for your country, knowing that you have done your part.’

‘We are what we are thanks to our motherland, Sehmat. Nothing can be more disgraceful than to be disloyal to her. I was born here and I must give my best to this soil. When I merge into it, my conscience should be proud of having lived an honest, faithful and grateful life.’

Let me fade into the corridors of history in peace, in the oblivion of my country’s soil and not in an alien land.

‘Love can only happen once and when it does, your heart will tell you that it is the one true love. Allow that to happen when it does.’

‘Music comes from deep within. It opens the walls of the mind and helps in removing mental blocks. It’s a great stepping stone to inner peace. It can help you attain name and fame and make your parents and country proud of you. If you want to be sincere about your goals, you will first have to lift yourself from small attachments and greed. Only then will you realize the innate strength of music.’

Oh Nature Caged in the wrap of time, Surrounded by lust and desire, Holding on to greed for more, A bird within me wishes to fly free. Far away from shores, In the middle of nowhere, Am rowing my life’s boat in materialistic circles, Wondering how to free my soul, Hoping yet to fly free. I miss the shine of sun, The song of birds, The clouds hugging the winds, The purity of dewdrops and love, I desire yet to quench my thirst, I yet aim to fly free. I have emotions that are meaningless, Courage that is worthless, I have a journey ahead that is aimless, I dream yet to reach my destination, I yet pray to fly free. In a jungle of steel, mud and concrete, Packed with scores like me as sardines, Tied in knots of social bonds, And hopeless hopes, I see my shadow amidst millions, I do not learn yet and change, I still yearn to fly free. Oh nature, dear nature, are you listening?

Things will go wrong. They always do. This is a chance to make the best of what you have. Whether we fail or succeed is not important. It doesn’t take great men to do great things, just those who are dedicated to doing

‘The Upanishads say, when you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds, your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dominant forces, faculties and talents come alive and you find yourself to be a bigger person than you’d ever dreamed.’

‘Have you seen a mountain? It looks calm and solid from the outside but within it contains the volcano, the energy. Humans can only see the outside, but that alone is not the truth. The truth is also the inside, so you need to go much deeper. You have to see the volcano. To be only on the physical plane is not the natural state of being as we all imagine. The most natural state of being is being in a spiritual state.’