Naxals and VK

Hi,
Following is a mail, my friend Satish sent me a few days back. I am posting it as it is. I have been wanting to write about the issues discussed below. But, for reasons I haven't done so. Thought, this to be a way to start. I do not know who the author, Preetham, of this mail.
Bhadri.
________________________

Dear friends,

It is shocking that these days Kannda print media is going crazy. Sorry to say that editors start writing their pens filled with emotions and prejudice. Recently Vijaya Karnataka (VK) and hosa digantha carried a picture on Page 1 claiming it as proof to prove that Kadidal Shamanna is a naxal sympathiser (of course these papers do not attribute any difference between a naxal and a naxal sympathiser!). shockingly it was a photo taken years before when Thunga Ulisi horata was at its peak. Many, including U.R.Ananthmurthy (URA) took part in the protest rallies. In that file photo Shamanna is in a public meeting organised in a village in Malenadu. But the Vijaya Karnataka caption claims it to be a Naxal meet!

Anyone with little common sense would disapprove this claim. No banned out-fit holds its meeting in public that too with the sound system in place.

Moreover, the photograph was taken long back when there was no sign of Naxal movement in Karnataka. Then, what makes these papers carry it? Did they lack common sense or do they have taken readers for granted! This is utterly unmaking of journalism.

Those who have figured as naxal sympathisers (as listed by the GoK) may have sympathy for the causes for which the Naxals are fighting. But none of them are comfortable with the means adopted by Naxals. Nobody can comment that naxals are fighting for their welfare. If so, why should they hide in forest facing difficult to get food in heavy rains?

Think over it and don't foget non-violence is the strongest weapon, nothing can match it.

- Preetham

Gulzar and Poetry

"Don't you guys feel that our thoughts are our worst enemy? But, can we imagine our lives without thoughts and if we stop thinking then what will we write, paint or sing?..." I was just pondering over this issueafter speaking to Gulzar, my favorite lyricist, at a party.

While everyone was surrounding him to get an autograph I wasstanding alone in a corner sipping ginger chai. I had met Gulza rearlier and I never thought, he would remember me. But he did cometo me and we were again arguing on the topic we left abruptly in thelast meeting – "All feelings fall in the ambit of thought. Whether for good or bad, it sucks life and keeps us on move".

Though it was sounding true I felt that thoughts are dangerous at times; they can make and mar the person's life! They suck everyone's life but a few of them like Gulzar could react with the pen.However, I find Gulzar a more sensible writer who carefully spins emotions to human understanding. Not only his lyrics but his voice has so much of depth. It speaks his whole personality. I don't know why I am mad with this guy. Probably because he very well responds to his thoughts!! Right now I am reading his Hindi poems. They are just amazing!!!

-Lakshmi.
________________________

"Dafn kardo ki mujhe saans mile,
Nabs kuch der se thami si hai".
-Gulzar

(Bury me so that I can breathe,
the pulse seems to have stopped since a while)

Dear Lux,

I envy you that you not only personally know Gulzaar Saab, but alsofor the fact that you carry out conversations with him. Lucky Lux!!!Gulzaar is in a sense the most accomplished of the modern Indian poets. His magic stretches across genres and so he is a name heard and recognised long and wide in India. Starting from film music my tryst with Gulzaar was bonded by Ghazals. I am too small a person tosay much about a towering personality that he is. A fan is always a fanatic and hence is biased while talking about his/her idol.

However I would like to add a few lines to what Lux has said. Poetry, music, painting in short art, as we see it/them is a refined product of a crude seed called the thought. And this seed in turn is theresult of a 'superior' sense called the 'feeling'. So, what starts instantaneously, without any colour, is the feeling. And what gets across as art is the total collection of such feeling/s which over aperiod of time is crafted, sculpted and given hue. This is where William Wordsworth and T.S.Elliott differ. For WW poetry per se was the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings recollected in tranquility. While TSE put poetry as a craft and compared a poet to the sculptor. A feeling is neither strong nor weak - it is value neutral and colourless. It gains all the adjectives that we people tend to heap on it only when the 'feeling' is converted into a 'thought'. Inshort 'feeling' is 'abstract' while a 'thought' is 'definite'!

Thanks Lux for inspiring me to write something close to the heart after a long long time.

-Bhadri.

(An exchange over a yahoo group during June-July 2005)

Time

I believe
as days unfold
Time's comforting hand,
wipes away tears,
Time outweighs
the measure of loss,
Time mends, Time cures

Just one answer
will reaffirm my faith

How much time does Time take?

-Lakshmi Devi.

______________________

Dear Lux,

Just to say that the one above is really nice. Dear, don't get lost in the wilderness of Dehli.

Luv,

Bhadri.

Dad, I love you...

Dear Pappa,

Having traversed the many ups and downs you have reached an unenviable stage in life with lots to look forward to. And you have reached 60 just as you were; say since I have known you (forget the gray hairs and an odd wrinkle).

The conviction with which you have lived is fabulous. Your outlook towards life is one that’s worth following. The unshakable principles and ethics that you have followed throughout your life is something, which we, youngsters, look up to. Your words, though sparingly heard, are resplendent with sense, meaning and love. What to say about your silence?!!

How I wish I had interacted more with you. You have led by the front and Pappa, please be there to rap us on the knuckle and guide us in the right & righteous path to peace and prosperity.

And Amma, much goes to you also for keeping us all sane and simple.

On this auspicious occasion of your sixtieth birthday I wish you the best of health, wealth and peace.

Happy Birthday, Pappa!!!

Toast!