Beauty in the ordinary and Vandana Krishna's 'Flight of Fantasy'...

Beauty in the ordinary and Vandana Krishna's 'Flight of Fantasy'....

It had been a long day with a visit to the doctor, a workshop on socio-economic paradigms in urban development,  brainstorming over economic empowerment of women, talking about elimination of violence against women to employees of Federal Bank.
As I stepped out of office at about 6.30 pm, I could see Mantralay, the stately headquarters of Government of Maharashtra standing tall against the dusky sky.
I walked down the steps of the new administrative building and headed to take another Flight of Fantasy, at the solo exhibition of paintings by Vandana Krishna.
Most people would know her as a senior bureaucrat in the Maharashtra cadre of the Indian Administrative Service. Some may even know that she is melodious singer but most wouldn't know that she is an amazing artist.
I too wouldn't have known had I not got this opportunity to visit her solo exhibition of paintings at Hall no.4, of the renowned Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.
Of whatever little I understand in art there were times when frequenting  art galleries was therapeutic however pressures of work and family and distance to the city doused that fire.
As I stepped into the gallery that  familiar flicker was rekindled. It got converted into a flame as I went through the beautiful paintings made by Ms. Vandana Krishna. By the time I saw all the paintings it was a raging fire of emotions. 
For this was no routine Flight of Fantasy, the paintings were sublime art each depicting a different mood and embellished with sensitivity. 
It was as if her 'Boats on the Ganges' took me on a ride 'Towards the Light'.
As I took 'The Leap'  to 'Reach for the Stars' I found that she was  'Fearless' in expressing her emotions.  In fact she left us 'Floating Free' to experience the 'Stillness' and the 'Storm' or 'Fly with the wind'. So you could be on 'Evening Stroll' or taking the 'Stride' getting wet in a 'Drizzle' or 'Flying Free'. One could feel mushy 'Head over Heels' with the 'Pinks' drenched in 'Forest Mist' lost in your 'Dreams' only to be awakened maybe at ' 3 a.m '.
And then her paintings make you sit up and experience another world where the desire for our perfect, ' Elevation' are bashfully inconsiderate about that man sitting on the ledge at the cost of his life. Many evenings of our helpers are lost in 'The Dusk' as they light up our lives.
And we are left to ponder, do the 'Urban Heights' of our 'Maximum City' really 'Mirror' their lives?
There is so much more to find among her paintings.  So walk into the ' Sunset',  take 'The Leap' or ' 'Plunge' and 'Deep Dive'  you will only ' Reach for the Stars'...

P.S. The exhibition is on till 27th November 2022 , 11 am to 7 p.m at Jehangir Art Gallery, Exhibition Hall no.4, Kala Ghoda. Also Vandana Krishna's Permanent Collection can be seen at  'Si Bambai' Kala Ghoda.
The words in ' apostrophe' are titles of her paintings....

साथ औऱ साथी...

साथ औऱ साथी...

घूँघट की आड़ से

रूकावटों को लाँघ के

देखा जो पीछे

तो दिखी मैं खड़ी 

पेड़ों के पीछे

दरवाज़े के कटहरे पे

चलने को आतुर

उड़ने को उत्सुक

लिए आँखों में सपने

मन में विश्वास

की दोगे तुम साथ

उसी तरह

जैसे मैंने दिया साथ 

घर हो या वनवास

बिनसोचे 

निकली थी साथ तुम्हारे...

तुम भी साथ दोगे ना मेरा

मेरे अस्तित्व की तलाश में?

क्योंकि सच यही हैं की 

सफर तुम्हारा या मेरा

साथी के बिना अधूरा हैं 

औऱ साथ मिल जाए तो पूर्ण हैं...

मन विमल

जीवन का अमृत रस...

जीवन का अमृत रस...

सिर्फ खुशियाँ औऱ हर्ष उल्हास नहीं
कभी अधूरी सी कभी प्यासी ज़िन्दगी
कभी बेबस कभी उदासी से भरी
कभी नीरस कभी वेदनाओं से घिरी
कभी अतृप्त कभी हताश सी रही
हर मोड़ पर कुछ सिखाती
हर मोड़ पर कुछ जताती
हमारे उदवेलित मन को सहलाती
तरसते मन को पुनः रिझाती
टूटे सपनों को फिर सजाती
हौसलें मन में बार बार जगाती
पल पल हमें यही समझाती
रास्ते टेढ़े मेढ़े औऱ उलझें ही सही
रुकना नहीं,चलना हमारा फर्ज़ हैं
समय गवाँ देना व्यर्थ हैं
दृढ संकल्प में बसा उत्कर्ष हैं
क्योंकि जीवन विष का प्याला नहीं
आशाओं से भरपूर अमृत रस हैं...

मन विमल 

The Circle of Life...

The circle of life...

Life is beautiful,  a gift given to us by God to add beauty to this world. Yet very often we find people getting fed of life, saying that life is boring or has been unfair to them. Some of them who are more unreasonable feel suicidal and some even take the extreme step of ending their lives.
It is very difficult to know the thoughts in each person's mind. Plus some are expressive and some rarely speak out or share their thoughts. 
Often times life is not easy specially for the common man. Indeed they have to struggle on many fronts,  maybe for a house, for money or for their education. At times one's health is a cause for concern more so if afflicted by a serious ailment. Property feuds, family fights,  misunderstandings galore cause heartburn for some. End of relationship due to break up or sudden death of a loved one leads to great imbalance in some people's lives. And what about those who face racial and other kinds of discrimination and are often bullied shoving them into feelings of hopelessness? Covert shaming, disdain and backbiting cause mental disturbances.
Some are conscious enough to vent out their feelings and get support. Some muster enough courage and strength to wade through. Others just clam up leading to further dejection and break down of self esteem.
Agreed that the world appears unfair and evil at times but legends say that ultimately the good prevails over the evil. What goes up comes down and each night ends with a beautiful dawn. One just has to hang on to hope even if at the brink of breakdown because life is a circle and a beautiful one. Those of us who have seen the film, Lion King will know how Simba understood the concept of 'Circle of Life' from Mufasa,the father lion.
Perhaps it's theme song conveys it all-
"It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life."
So lets hold on to life and experience this circle through its ups and downs,  lows and highs.
As far as we are within the radius of life and manage ourselves in it's circumference we shall certainly be able to figure out all the angles and work out the pie r squares. So cheer up and never let your sunny side be down...

Facing storms and dancing in the rain....

Facing storms and dancing in the rain....

It was suicide prevention day before yesterday.  Different thoughts were  coming into my mind almost in a state of flurry. I kept thinking about a few friends and dear ones who had chosen the path to exit in what we may describe as  an unnatural manner. Their action may have been well-thought out by them or perhaps done in impulsiveness and spur of the moment forcing them to take their own life but nevertheless it was illegal.
WHO states that more than seven lakh people in the world commit suicide and the numbers attempting suicide are even more.
Intense grief, trauma, low self-esteem, family discords, professional failure, financial losses, poverty are among the few reasons quoted for committing suicide.
In a society which thrives on successes and perfection very often  reaching an equilibrium becomes challenging especially in a world which is becoming more competitive with each passing day.
So we have students and couples, family members and professionals struggling to cope with the rising standards. 
But is life only about achievements and success or is there something beyond that? What about the satisfaction quotient? Also what about the tragedy which befalls on the family and friends of those who  rashly committed suicide? And  does their death really resolve their problems and difficulties or those of their families? In fact the sudden exit would add to their existing woes.
Life is certainly not easy and honestly for most of us it is full of difficulties and struggles. Yet is there any problem which has no solution?
Every problem can be fixed for sure only one has to reach out and seek help. At times one maybe shunned by society, family, friends or  employees but surely there are tens of others who could help you out or be willing to offer help. 
Reaching out to them could possibly give a different solution or meaning to life.
Last year, on suicide prevention day,  I was in conversation with Prof. Ananth Govindrajan of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and the budding music director from Kurukshetra, Mr.Vikas Relhan on my Youtube channel. We focused on reaching out, seeking help, finding ways to relax one's mind or even take medical support.
The focus has to be on seeking and providing support because that could be the best way forward.
As an after thought, I could not help question my mind about the emphasis on success and the struggle before it. Success could mean different things to different people. Getting admission into the best institute or a dream.job can be one of the reasons for happiness. It could also be vice-versa in case of failure leading to depression and mental upheavals.
Satisfaction could therefore be the key to a meaningful life. The satisfaction of giving one's best in life despite the outcomes. Having given your best would keep you in good staid.
And as said by Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami, “And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in.”
So let's learn to be strong and face the storms and in fact dance in it.
After all Vivian Greene has said,
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain."

मैं, तुम औऱ हम...

मैं, तुम औऱ हम...

ईमान मेरा देखा नहीं
विश्वास मुझ पर किया नहीं
बस सोच लिया
भरोसे के काबिल मैं नहीं
साथ दो कदम चले भी नहीं
हाथ मेरा थामा नहीं
बस सोच लिया
चलने के काबिल नहीं
आवाज़ मेरी सुनी नहीं
शब्द मेरे समझें नहीं
बस सोच लिया
अभिव्यक्ति मेरी सही नहीं
करुणा मेरी देखी नहीं
वात्सल्य से मेरे वाकिफ़ नहीं
बस सोच लिया
रहम मेरे दिल में नहीं
शराफत मेरी देखी नहीं
अंदाज़ मेरा महसूसा नहीं
बस सोच लिया
नेकी मुझसे होगी नहीं
दिल मेरा देखा नहीं
संवेदना मेरी समझे नहीं
बस सोच लिया
भावुकता मेरे मन में नहीं
मेहनत मेरी देखी नहीं
काबिलियत मेरी जानी नहीं
बस सोच लिया
योग्यता मुझ में नहीं
फितरत मेरी देखी नहीं
इंसानियत को मेरे जाना नहीं
बस सोच लिया
सफर के मैं काबिल नहीं
पर कहना मुझको तुमसे यही
ताली एक हाथ से बजती नहीं
आग के बिना धुआं नहीं
जिम्मेदारी हम दोनों की रही
औऱ कमी सिर्फ मुझ में नहीं
काश जान लेते तुम भी यही
की परिपूर्ण तो कोई नहीं
सफर जीवन का सफल वही
साथ देता हैँ जब जब कोई
तुम औऱ मैं जब अलग नहीं
क्यों ना भुला दें हम अहं अभी...

मन विमल 

ज्योत जीवन की...

ज्योत जीवन की... 

आँखों की छोर में रुकी दो बूँदें 

बहने को तरस रही बस दो बूँदें 

निकली तो वैसे थी हालत पे मेरे

कुछ बेबस और हताश रेहमत को तेरे

घिर आये जैसे हो बादल घनेरे

कालिख रात की जैसे मुझको हो घेरे

सूझता भी कैसे कुछ औऱ उस मन को

लिपटा जो सिर्फ खुदगर्ज़ी से तन हो

छन से हुआ फिर सच्चाई से सामना

दिखी उन्हीं आँखों को जीवन की यातना 

बुजुर्ग थे कुछ उनमे कुछ भिकारी

महिलाएं थी कुछ पीड़ित बेचारी

अनाथ बच्चे भी थे औऱ किशोर अपराधी

अपनों से औऱ अपने घरों से मीलों दूर

गुज़ार रहे ज़िन्दगी होकर के मजबूर

लम्बी साँसों के बीच तनिक रुक गई फिर मैं

अंतरात्मा को अपने टटोलने लगी फिर मैं

नसीब से वो औऱ मैं खयालोँ से मजबूर

सराहती कैसे फिर मिला मुझे जो भरपूर 

पल भर में हुआ बयान सत्य जीवन का

आँसूओं के बूंदों को बनाओ मोती

औऱ जला दो किसीके जीवन की ज्योति... 

मन विमल