एक उम्मीद

ये इंक़लाब है जो दिलों में पनपता है
वो सियासत है जो मुट्ठियों में रहा करती है

किसने देखी है सूरत और रास्ता समंदर का
ये हौसलों की नदी है जो बे-खौफ बहा करती है

गर्द चेहरे पर, पाँव में छाले, हैं तोहफे इस सफ़र के
एक उम्मीद में ज़िंदगी हर सितम सहा करती है

इस धुंध के पार यकीनन कहीं रोशनी होगी
मेरे अंदर एक आवाज़ यूँ रोज़ कहा करती है

ना-उम्मीदी के अंधेरों में, शमा जलती रहे कोशिशों की
इंतज़ार यूँ तो शम्स का हर निगाह करती है

शब भर के हाकिम हैं, ये अँधेरे इस मुल्क में
देखना कुदरत क्या कमाल कल सुबह करती है

© Copyright Regd. - प्रशांत सेठ

शम्स=सूरज, शब=रात, हाकिम=राजा

हौसला देखें

एक लौ ने चिराग की सोचा, चलो यूँ भी कर देखें
अंधेरों में जलकर आज, अपने उजालों का असर देखें
इस स्याह रात से जीत पाना, यकीनन मुश्किल तो है
हार क्या जीत क्या, चलो अपना जिगर देखें

© Copyright Regd. - प्रशांत सेठ

स्याह=काली

वीणा वादिनी तुम्हें प्रणाम

नित नये काव्य सृजन करें
नित निवृत हो निज ज्ञान
हे धवल वस्त्र धारिणी माँ
हमें दीजिये यह वरदान

सशक्त सत्य से परिपूर्ण
दो लेखनी दीप समान
अंधकार मिटे अज्ञान का
मिटे असत्य का अभिमान

वाणी का श्रृंगार करो माँ
स्वर वीणा का करो प्रदान
शब्द सरगम के संगम से
गीत सदैव हम रचें महान

साहस शील स्नेह ह्रदय में
त्याग और तप रहे प्रधान
परिष्कृत चिंतन को कर दो
विद्या दायिनी तुम्हे प्रणाम

© Copyright Regd. - प्रशांत सेठ

What rules us?

Typical question,  isn't it? Had it been "Who rules us?", it could have been answered easily by Darwin's theory. It is the fittest who rules.
But before we seek an answer to this question, there is yet another one. "What leads us?" Did you notice, the first question is already answered. That which leads us, rules us.
Most people are led by their desires, a few by their leaders (mis-understood or less understood) and rare are those who are led by views. Those led by desires are easy to exploit. Those who are blind followers to someone are often found comprising with the views. In the recent episode of AAP Vs Khaap, I saw some of them, unable to, but yet defending their leader's statement. Had they stuck to their views, they would have been opposing their leaders on the issue.
I do support AAP, not only for their innovative politics but more because I want the other political parties to face real competition. We have seen an era of unchallenged political ego. We need to challenge it but must avoid creating yet another group of uncontrolled politicians. I did prefer to keep on supporting AAP with an open mind. Questioning the leaders keeps them stick to their agenda. But for that, let the theory lead you, not the theorist.

सियासत का फंडा

चंद शुगूफों की सियासी सांस काफी है
ज़िंदा रखने को उम्मीद, इतनी आस काफी है
तुम वफ़ा करो ना करो सच में, ज़रूरी तो नहीं
हमारे ऐतबार को झूठा, एक एहसास काफी है

कद ऊंचा कर लो, किरदार ना होगा तुमसे
बाज़ीगरो, झूठे इश्तिहारों का बांस काफी है

करवट ली है ज़म्हूरियत ने, मतलब ज़िंदा है
नोंचो, इसके जिस्म में अभी मांस काफी है

रिस्ते हुए ज़ख्मो को कुछ और हरा कर दो
कुरेदो, इस के लिए मुल्क का इतिहास काफी है

मज़हब की बात करो, नफरत की बात करो
रोटी हो ना हो बारूद, हमारे पास काफी है

चरते चरते चर गये माना की पुरखे तुम्हारे
गधों के लिये मुल्क में फिलहाल, घास काफी है

© Copyright Regd. - प्रशांत सेठ

शुगूफा=दिखावा, इश्तिहार=विज्ञापन, ज़म्हूरियत=लोकतंत्र

गणतंत्र कैसा?

मेरे ह्रदय में उपजा है ये प्रश्न कैसा
रह गया गणतंत्र किताबों में, ये जश्न कैसा
बदलेगी ये परिपाटी है विश्वास मुझे
जागो ऐ हिन्द वालो, अब नींद कैसी स्वप्न कैसा?

क़र्ज़ सर पर लिए तरुणाई अकर्मण्य खड़ी है
उत्सव में हो रहा ह्रदय किन्तु मग्न कैसा
पुरुस्कारों से प्रसन्न होती प्रतिभा से पूछो
भारत सर झुकाये खड़ा है भारत रत्न कैसा

प्रगति पथ पर तुम कहते राष्ट्र उदीयमान हुआ है
भूमिहीन मज़दूर किसान फिर नग्न कैसा
सत्ता लोलुप सदा सुनहरे स्वप्न दिखाते
यथार्थ से मुंह चुराता तुम्हारा प्रयत्न कैसा

किलकारी नहीं दहाड़ गूंजे सिंहनियों की कोख से
सिंह जने ना माँयें तब तक शुभ लग्न कैसा
स्वतंत्रता का लक्ष्य अभी कहाँ पूर्ण हुआ है
स्वाभिमान गिरवी रख कर संघर्ष ख़त्म कैसा

© Copyright Regd. - प्रशांत सेठ

The Human Touch

    Since the day I joined Anna Hazare's movement, sometime back in April 2012, I have been meeting several people fighting for their rights and equality, or to be more precise "legal rights". The battle for what is right and condemning the wrong is a never ending struggle which draws its roots from the Treta Yug of Lord Rama.
    With my little knowledge, I always had an urge to understand the psychology behind these crusades. More so because several times I came across protests against such wrongs, which seemed to be right from a different perspective. I am convinced that many times it is not a battle between right and wrong but mostly, it is a battle of perspectives. Almost every time one fact has been ignored. The people against whom we protest or who seem to be standing on the wrong side are also humans. Then what makes them not understand the perspective of the protesters ? Is it not true that we fail to touch their human side or probably, we never tried for it.
    One of my friend, who is a lecturer in a reputed college and an official spokesperson of a political party narrated this incident with an air of pride. Once while travelling in a packed general railway compartment, he witnessed one military man occupying an whole berth while many senior citizens were compelled to stand. When several requests failed to arouse that humanitarian side of this man, he tried it the Gandhi-an way. After several hours of non violent penance, the hard ice started to melt and he was able to procure some space for himself and others.
    I was surprised not because of the stone heart but because of the approach of this young man towards this problem. More because he is not only a political revolutionist but also a teacher, preaching this incident as an example to the students. Proudly, he was teaching others, how to fight for their rights. Probably just like others, he too failed to understand Gandhi.
    Here I would like to mention one similar incident I experienced. The whole compartment was packed with army men and they were not allowing anyone to occupy a single seat. When I too was made to stand, I just gave a friendly smile and said to them that they need not bother. I can very well stand a few hours for such brave hearts who stand for us day and night at the border. The minute I said this, one of them got up and made a seat for me. With a Thank You gesture, I offered the same seat to a senior citizen and lo, they were all on their feet and every body was accommodated. No need to tell the journey was a life time memory.
Yes, it is true that problems do exist and wrongs do happen. But the solution lies in our approach. The love which was the base of Gandhi's non-violent philosophy has long been forgotten. It is good to stand for one's rights, better to stand for duties but best if we stand for humanity.