हामीले हामीलाई नै माया नगरे

पर्दा खुल्छ अनि स्टेजमा बत्तीहरु घरिघरि मधुरो,घरिघरि तेज हुन थाल्छन्। सङ्गीत बज्न थाल्छ र नाच शुरु हुन्छ। यहाँसम्म त कुरो साधारण नै लाग्छ नि हैन? दर्शकहरुका आँखा स्टेजमा सङ्गीतको लय र तालमा हल्लिरहेका मानव आकृतिसंग रमाइरहेका हुन्छन्। अनि शुरु हुन्छ गीतको बोल। एउटा सी ग्रेडको हिन्दी चलचित्रको तथाकथित आइटम नम्वर,

"नथनी उतारो सम्भल के पिया........."

झट्ट सुन्दा तपाईंहरुलाई बामदेवजीले बक्रदृष्टि लगाएका डान्स रेष्टुरेण्टहरु मध्ये कुनै एकको वर्णन जस्तो लाग्छ तर यो वर्णन केही दिन अघि राजधानीको एउटा नाम चलेको विद्यालयको अभिभावक दिवसको हो।

What Ugyen said

After a long time, I met Ugyen Chhopel. I haave repeatedly said that he is the only director Nepali film industry has ever seen. I know that I have rubbed a lot other people in the business with my statement. But it is a truth and I stand by it. Yesterday evening, me and Binod Serchan jammed up with Ugyen. He is worried about the state Nepali film industry is in currently. He has visions and capabilities to execute them. Binod Serchan is another gem of a person and a quality film maker. Ugyen is interested to make a film and Binod jee is keen to produce. This duo has given Trishna and Badal Paree to the industry. I hope they will keep up the enthhusiasm and their 3rd project will materlise. Of course I will be involved in the screenplay and dialogues.

Gosh, the idea excites me.

जाँगरको अभाव

धेरै दिनदेखि केही लेख्न सकिरहेको छैन । खै किन हो जाँगरको अभाव भइरहेको छ । त्यस्तो खास कारण पनि केही छैन तर लेख्न बस्यो, केही टाइप गर्यो अनि ह्या‍‍‍‍‌‌आआआआ भन्यो, सबै मेटायो, त्यस्तै भइरहेछ आजकल किन हो कुन्नि । भूपि शेरचनको एउटा कविता छ नि, ठ्याक्कै शव्दहरू क्रममा त सम्झना छैन,

"यसो लेख्छन्, खुइय्य गर्छन्,
अनि केर्छन्, फेरि लेख्छन्
कठै बरा भूपि शेरचन"

त्यस्तै भइराछ अचेल मलाई पनि ।

वर्षाको एउटा छिटा

स्निग्धताको
मधुरो आभाष पनि
कति न्यानो, कति प्रेममय

तप्त अभिशप्त
रापले डढेको पहाडलाई
चीसो हावाले सरक्क
छोएर गए जस्तो
अपूर्णताको लामो एक्लोपना
र त्यसको अत्यासलाग्दो पीडापछि
प्राप्ति, पूर्णताको
एउटा सानो अंश पनि
कति अपार, कति सम्पूर्ण

लामो सुख्खा खडेरीपछि
वर्षाको पहिलो छिटा खस्दा
सन्तापले जर्जर भइ
चिराचिरा परेको भुइंमा
उठेको वाफ जस्तो
मधूरो सुगन्ध पनि
कति सुमधु्र, प्राणदायी

एउटा अठोट, एउटा संकल्प
आफैसंग एउटा वाचा
अडिग, अटल, चीरस्थायी

शनिवार, २०६५ मङसीर १५

Where is the world heading?

Terrorists attack in Mumbai is shocking. It made me think where the world is heading? Why people think that violence and cruelty can solve any problem or any solution could be reached by that. Even looking at our own country, everything seems to be going haywire. Two school students have been found dead after many days of their disappearance. Ther have been protests, road blocks around the city for different reasons every day. Living a peaceful and problem free day has been like a dream. We are always tensed and wondering what is the future of our children. Major part of our days are in dark due to ever growing load shedding. Scarcity of daily needed goods never seem to stop. Prices have gone up for everything.

Where do we go and how do we get peace of mind?

A wonderful day with Dr. Saroj Dhital

We spent a meaningful day on Saturday, Novemebr 23, 2008.
We had visited Dr. Saroj Dhital's place in Hattigaunda. He has a very attractive and beautiful house there. The ambience itself is serene over there.

Ram Dai;only in memories now

I am feeling very sad and low since this morning when I heard the news of Ram Thapa's demise. We had spent a long time together while traveling across the country for Nepali Tara. Ever smiling and cheerful Ram Dai, I never saw him getting angry or cross. He used to to entertain everyone with his parodies and folk songs on those long tedious travel.

May you rest in peace, where ever you are Ram Dai.

बाँदर

आफैलाई चिथोर्छ
आफैलाई कोपर्छ
अर्कोलाई दुखाएँ भनेर
अनि दङ्ग पर्छ

लक्ष्मीको अपमान

तिहार पनि सकियो ।

संधै जस्तै पटका सटका नपड्काउने अनुरोधलाई लत्याउँदै नेपालीहरूले सानदार तरिकाले ड्याङ डुङ गर्दै छरछिमेकको कानका जाली फुट्ने गरि, साना केटाकेटीहरूको सातो हर्ने गरि पैसाको दुरुपयोग गरे । मलाई यो सबै देख्दा एउटा कुरा सोच्न मन लाग्यो । के यसरी अपव्यय गर्नेहरूले त्यो पैसा मेहेनत गरेरै कमाएका हुन् त? हो भने त त्यसको अलिकति भए पनि माया लाग्नु पर्ने हैन र? एकातिर लक्ष्मीपूजा भनेर धनकी देवीलाई रिझाउन खोज्ने अनि अर्कोतिर धनको त्यस्तो दुरुपयोग गर्ने यो कस्तो मानसिकता हाम्रो?

Wishful thinking

I happened to be the witness of a relationship ending yesterday. A person, whom I know quite well, who got married few months back. I could see the joy of starting a new phase of his life when he was about to plunge in to the matrimony. I don't know what went wrong but within a couple of months, things got sour and they decided to part their way.

वर्गीकृत विज्ञापन

वर्गीकृत विज्ञापनको पृष्ठ म
छापिन्छन् म माथि
थरिथरिका आवश्यकताहरू
पूरा हुन्छन् कति,
कति रहन्छन् अधूरा
जस पाउँदिन म पूरा भएकाहरूबाट
दोष थोपर्छन् अधूरा हुनेहरू
तर निर्जीव मानिने पृष्ठका पनि
हुन सक्छन् आफ्नै चाहनाहरू
छाप्न कहाँ जाओस्
बरो वर्गीकृत विज्ञापनको पृष्ठ
उसका आफ्ना आवश्यकताहरू

२०६५ असोज ३०

After a long needed holiday

Well, dashain is finally over. Loking back at the last eight days when I was detached from computers, emails, internet and spending the whole time with my family, I realized that I badly needed that looong holiday. In total, it was a quality time I must admit. It was nice to find so many comments awaiting my moderation in the blog. Geared up with new energy and enthusiasm, hopefully I will be able to write some quality stuffs. The workload is there and lots of things to catch up with. May Goddess Durga give me strength to continue. I wish everyone a merry Tihaar which is just round the corner.

लोडशेडिङ्ग.....

साँझैपिच्छे लोडशेडिङ्गले

छोपेका अंध्यारा दिमागहरूमा

के पलाउन् र अरू

निराशाहरू नपलाए

एउटा अंध्यारोबाट उम्केर

बिलाउनु पर्ने अर्को अंध्यारोमा

नियति के हाम्रो यति नै

उदाउन नपाउँदै एउटा प्रश्न

फेरि विलीन हुन पुग्छ

लोडशेडिङ्गकै कालोमा

 

उज्यालो त चेतना हुन्छ

सेतो त ज्ञानको रंग रे

तर हाम्रो उज्यालोको भोक

कसले कहिले मेटाउने हो

हाम्रो निष्पट कालो संसारमा

घाम कहिले उदाउने हो

हरेक मान्छे बाँचिरहेको छ

भाग्यको बोकेर रित्तोरित्तो

एकएक वटा कुलेखानी

छोड्न पाइएला कुनै दिन भन्दै

अंध्यारोमा रूमल्लिने बानी

 

निभ्नै नपर्ने बेला पनि अचेल
तर झ्याप्पै निभ्ने गरेको छ बत्ती

 

मंसीर १, २०६५ नेपाल पत्रिकामा प्रकाशित

शून्यको मोल

जति घुमिरहे पनि
आफ्नै परिधिमा फन्फनी
कहीं नपुग्ने शून्य
खोक्रो शून्य, रित्तो शून्य
मोल नभएको शून्य

एउटा शून्यबाट सुरू भएको म
मेरा उपलब्धिहरू पनि शून्य
मैले चढ्न खोजेका पहाडहरूका
उचाईहरू पनि शून्य
म एउटा शून्यको पछाडि
थुप्रै लाम लागे शून्य
जति थुप्रे पनि शून्यका पछाडि
शून्य त आखिर रहन्छ शून्य

अनि कुनै बखत कतैबाट
तिमी आयौ, मसंग गाँसियौ
तिमी १ मसंग जोडिनासाथ
म र मेरा थुप्रै शून्यलाई
तिमीले अमूल्य बनायौ

मलाई तिमीले सिकायौ
१ बनेर अघि सर्न
कतै तिमी पनि कुनै बेला
शून्य भयौ भने

अब मलाई डर छैन
जति नै अरू मेरो पछि
जोडिए पनि शून्यहरू

मेरो तिमी

तिमी न्यानो घाम
शीतल जून पनि तिमी
म त जर्जर हुन्थें मरूभूमितुल्य
नहुँदो हौ त यहाँ तिमी

म बेलाबेला तिम्रो
ठेस बनेर लाग्दा पनि
उल्टै सम्हाल्ने मलाई तिमी
म अघि बढ्छु तर
मेरो पाइला तिमी
मेरो मुटु चल्छ तर
त्यसको स्पन्दन तिमी
म त उष्ण हुन्थें बलौटे वगर झैं
नहुँदो हौ त यहाँ तिमी

मैले तिमीलाई अन्जानमा
कहिले दुखाउँदा पनि
उल्टै मेरो आँशु पुछ्ने तिमी
म आँखा खोल्छु तर
मेरो दृष्टि तिमी
म सास फेर्छु तर
मेरो जीवन तिमी
म त जीर्ण हुन्थें खण्डहर झैं
नहुँदो हौ त यहाँ तिमी

सेभेन स्टोन- जीवन

किन कसरी कहिले
सपना छिन्नभिन्न भयो
पूर्णविराम खोजेको तिमीसंग
जीवन प्रश्नचिन्ह भयो

किन कसरी कहिले
जीवन सेभेन स्टोन भयो
अनवरत एकोहोरो म
एउटा माथि अर्को गर्दै
चाङ लगाइरहेको छु
चुच्चोमुच्चो नमिलेका ढुङ्गाहरू

अनि अचानक पर कतैबाट
हुर्याउँछ्यौ तिमी एउटा बल
भताभुङ्ग बनाउँछ त्यसले
मैले सकीनसकी लगाएको खात
छरपष्टै हुन्छु फेरि म
तिनै ढुङ्गाहरू संगै
तिनै ढुङ्गाहरू जस्तै
ढुङ्गाको पीडालाई पनि तिमी
एकपटक त नियालेर हेर

बटुलबाटुल पार्न थाल्छु
एकपटक फेरि आफूलाई म
सुरू गर्छु चाङ लगाउन फेरि
ती टुक्राटाक्रीहरूसंग आफूलाई म

देखिरहेको छु अलिपर यतैतिर
बल ताकिरहेकी छ्यौ तिमी

Abrupt End......

He was cheerful. He smiled all the time. He was hardworking and he was just 22. I have known him for almost 6 months. A staff working in our office collapsed all of sudden following a severe headache. It was a case of brain hemorrhage. After fighting with life for 5 days, numerous complicated tests, an operation and last few hours in ventilator, he succumbed. We took him to Pashupati Aryaghat. And only the memories remain now. I am still finding it difficult to believe that the cheerful young Mohan is no more with us.

साइकल चढ्ने राष्ट्रपतिले पढाएको पाठ

दक्षिण कोरियाका राष्ट्रपति साइकल चढेर निवासबाट आफ्नो कार्यालयतिर जाँदै गरेको फोटो सोमवारको एउटा पत्रिकामा छापिएको रहेछ। त्यो फोटो मलाई प्रेरक लाग्यो। कुनै पनि राष्ट्रले उन्नतिको जग खन्ने काम सानासाना कुरा, सोच र क्रियाकलापहरुको सामूहिक प्रयास र तिनको कार्यान्वयनबाट नै शुरु हुन्छ। हामीले खै कहिले सिक्ने त्यो कुरा? हामी त एकैपटक ठूलाठूला कुराहरु सोच्छौं, चमत्कारको आश गर्छौं अनि त्यो पूरा नभएपछि एकआर्कालाई दोष लगाएर गफै मात्र गरेर बस्छौं। 

दिग्भ्रमित मृगतृष्णा

हरेक दिन नयाँ नयाँ बहानासङ्ग

टायरहरू बल्ने गर्छन्

हरेक रात एउटै छटपटीसङ्ग

जल्ने गर्दछु म

एउटा पापी पुजारी

आफ्नै प्रहारहरुले चर्काएर
ढल्ला ढल्ला जस्तो भएका भित्ताहरु
खस्ला खस्ला जस्तो छाना अनि
धूमिल हुँदै गएको आस्था छोडी
पलायन हुन खोजेको देउतालाई
यत्न प्रयत्न, मन्त्र पूजा गरि
बल्ल बल्ल एकपटक फेरि
स्थापित गरेर त्यही मन्दिरमा
लामो सास फेरिरहेको छ
एउटा पापी पुजारी

Music of an old house

Ever since I had heard about the 'Namuna Ghar' in Bhaktapur, I had longed to visit that place recreated by Rabindra Puri. Since I was born and brought up in an old traditional Nepali house in Tripureshwor, I have fond memories of the cosy ambiance of a traditional Nepali styled house. I am always remorseful about the fact that my father sold that old house. I always had a dream to build one such traditional house, which is unfulfilled till date.

Shanti didi and Dilip sir

Past week has been unique. It has been like a roller-coaster ride to my childhood. All of a sudden lots of old childhood memories flooded. Many childhood friends came in contact and made me feel like a child again. Yet another fond memory of a dear respected teacher emerged due to Shanti Thatal didi.
Shanti Thatal, a very well known music composer and singer from Darjeeling is in Kathmandu to sing in Paleti Concert Series for September.

Trying to complete my novel

Down the Memory Lane

Life never fails to surprise us. It keep on throwing pleasant or unpleasant surprises at us time and again. Some surprises catch you off hand and make you fall to the ground-flat. Some surprises help you to get up again and move ahead. One such pleasant surprise was a comment followed by a mail from Uddhav Regmi.

Clarifying the confusion

Navin writes,
"You have (c) on the header picture….

Reaching out to so many people

I had just started blogging and was bit apprehensive about making it public. Whatever I wrote there were entirely my personal perspective. In a way it was like talking to a friend when you are lonely and want to share your feelings. But after mysansar.com linked my blog and posted my writing, I must admit I have reached a huge mass and made a lot of friends. I have been receiving constructive and motivating comments and mails from these friends(known, unknown) all over the world.

मैले नबुझेको कुरा

हुन त अहिले नयाँ नेपालको निर्माणको गहन अभिभारा बोकेकाहरूलाई म जस्तो तातो न छारोका मान्छेहरूका जिज्ञासा शान्त गर्ने भन्दा धेरै ठूलाठूला जिम्मेवारीहरु छन्, त्यो मैले नबुझेको होइन। म राजनीति बुझेको वा धेरै पढेलेखेको विद्वान पनि होइन। त्यसैले एक साधारण नागरिकको रुपमा केही प्रश्नको उत्तर कतैबाट पाए अलिकति भए पनि मेरो घैंटोमा घाम लाग्थ्यो भनेर यति लेखेको हुँ।

धन हुनेलाई मन देऊ, मन हुनेलाई सारथी बनाऊ

आज बिहानै पत्रिकामा भङ्गेरा मार्ने अक्षरमा शीर्षक सहित एउटा समाचार पढ्न पाइयो। एक जना 'भक्त' ले पशुपतिनाथमा तीन किलो सुनको खडाउ चढाएछन्। त्यसको मूल्य साठी लाख पर्छ रे। धनगढी तिरका ती महान दानी व्यक्ति कस्ता होलान् भनेर मलाई उत्सुकता पनि भयो। जो मान्छेले साठी लाख दान गर्न सक्छ, त्यो संग कति पैसा होला त भनेर म एकछिन घोत्लिन पनि पुगें। अनि कर्णदासले गाएको गीतको हरफ पैंचो लिएर यो लेख्दैछु। 

Muktak ma braZesh??

I was pleasantly surprised to receive the notification that I had one comment from Indira Didi (Indira Prasai). When I checked what she had written, I was speechless. She had written a muktak. I could not control my greed to post it here.

Being a kid again

Ujwal, the security guard of my office was in a bit relaxed mood as it was Saturday. He was giving a cycle ride to a small kid of about 6 inside the office compound. As I watched, I noticed the happiness and joy in the small kid's face. She was so happy and glowing from inside as Ujwal was making round circles.

All of a sudden....

All of a sudden, in box of my email started showing more traffic. I was surprised to find mails from school friends, who have been out of touch for a long time. I was so happy to get an email from Brijesh. Brijesh Adhikari is my childhood friend. He has achieved a lot in life, he is completing his PhD currently. Wow, I will have to call him Dr. Adhikari after sometime. If you happen to re visit my blog and read this, let me tell you that I am so happy for your achievements. I feel as if I have achieved them. We have been friends form class four in school. There are so many fond memories of our friendship. Everything came back to me and for once, I felt that I was back in my school days.

आगोका फूलहरु

तातो धुवाँहरु पलाउँछन् मुना बनेर
कोपिला लाग्छन् झिल्काहरु
आगोका फूलहरु फुल्दछन् अनि
तिमीले रोपेको बिरुवामा

मदनदाइले भावुक बनाउँदा

मदनकृष्णले हँसाउँछन्, कुनै नौलो कुरै भएन। तर उनले भावुक पनि बनाउँदा रहेछन्। केही दिन अघि एउटा साङ्गीतिक कार्यक्रममा उनले आफ्नो एउटा पुरानो गीत सुनाए,

"मलाई त जिन्दगीले कति हँसायो हँसायो।"

त्यो गीतको एउटा हरफले मलाई भने एकदम भावुक बनायो,
"विधाताले किन आँखा चिम्लिदिन्छन्,
निर्दोष बलीका बोका रूँदा
मलाई त मेरै भगवानले रेटी रेटी हँसायो"

समयरोगी

समयमा हिंड्ने, समयमा भनेको ठाउँमा पुग्ने भनेको नेपालमा खराब बानी हो, कुलत हो। त्यतिमात्र होइन लौ त भनौं भने यो एउटा रोग हो। मेरो यो सोच बारम्बार प्रमाणित भै रहन्छ र पनि हालै एकदिन फेरि म यो रोगको सिकार हुन पुगें। बिहान आठ बजेको समयमा एक ठाउँमा एक जना मान्छेसंग भेटघाटको कार्यक्रम तय भयो। भनेको ठाउँमा म ठीक आठ बजे पुगें र ती महानुभावका लागि धेरै त होइन पौने दुइ घण्टा कुरें। बारम्बार फोनमा उनले पुग्न लागें, नजीकै छु, मोडैमा छु, जस्ता बहाना बनाएर मलाई अड्काइरहे।  अहिले त मोबाइलको जमाना छ, जहाँ नेर भएर जहाँ नेर छु भन्न पनि पाइन्छ। प्रविधिको यो सुविधाको उनले सकुन्जेल सदुपयोग गरे, मलाई अल्मलाएर राख्नका लागि।

Who needs a heart of gold?

While listening to popular artiste Madan Krishna Shrestha practising for his solo concert in Paleti, my attention was drawn by a particular song,
He Bhagwan Mero Khalti Ko Ghaau.......

It is not that I have heard this song, composed and performed in a light comical mood for the first time. But I don't know why, I found myself exploring the deeper and more serious side of the song. Some lines say,

वर्साको गीत

Annonymous have commented on "Sometimes...." as;
Not gettin too personal… for some people loving someone might be a blunder.. but there are also some people who think..love of someone is the treasure for their life.. that no one could ever snatch away from them and they live their entire life with the wealth of their love..treasuring it in their heart forever… So it is never a blunder but the most beautiful feeling for them which nothing can give them…correct me if i am wrong…

I agree and respect your perspective annonymous!

Last few postings have been painful. I realized that I was writing about the darker aspects of life unknowingly by posting the translations of sad songs. Who ever have been visiting my blog must have cursed me for making their mood gloomy as well. I have decided that as far as posisble, I will be talking about positive side and brighter things now onwards. As such, there is a lot of pain in people's life. Why should I be adding additional burden by talking about melancholy? In an attempt to compensate what I have done, I am posting a song of rain.

यो मौसमको पहिलो वर्साले
हिजो साँझ एक्लै रुझायो
मुहारभरि तिमीले चुमेझैं लाग्यो
पानीको थोपाले जव बिझायो

बिहानीपख चराहरू चिर्विराए झैं
कानमा मेरो आएर तिमी सुटुक्क भनिदेऊ है
मेरो सम्झनाले हिजो राति
तिम्रो पनि निन्द्रा भगायो

बिर्सिएरै, झुक्किएरै तिमीले पनि त
सम्झे मलाई कल्पे मलाई पाप त लाग्दैन
तिम्रो नाम नलिई धडकिन्छ
मेरो मात्र छाति कहाँ यो

Sometimes......

Encouraged by positive responses, I am including 2 more translations of classics by Phatteman and Kumar Subba.

A friend of mine, after reading these two translations, asked me,
"Why such 'frustru' songs only?"

Well these are the songs I am translating right now so I guess I do not have choice. I thought for a while to realize that there is a majority of sad songs in Nepal.  And most of the songs which have done good, liked by people and popular are sad ones. Is it because there is sadness in people's life? Is it because majority of the people are betrayed? Or is it because writers and singers are over sensitive and they suffer more than normal people emotionally?

Why there is more melancholy and tears around us than joy and smiles? Why there are more stories of unfulfilled desires than complete relationships in this world? Who does not want to write songs of joy and sing them? If only the world was a better place, if only people could have learnt to understand and respect other person's sentiments, then I would have been translating some merrier emotions and would have felt very happy about it. The writers and singers of these songs might have suffered from their own pain while creating them but believe me, even for me it was painful translating them because I could relate to their anguish and sorrow.

How I wish there were more happiness in the world. How I wish.......... 

Sometimes.......
loving someone could be a blunder

many others will  love you
many heart will bleed for you
to be mine, I mistook a stranger
sometimes.....
loving someone could be a blunder

may your wishes fulfill & your love bloom
though you ignored my love;  shattered my desire
no longer can dream,  my eyes full of gloom
sometimes....
loving someone could be a blunder

यस्तो पनि हुँदो रैछ जिन्दगीमा कैले कैले
कसैलाई माया गर्नु एउटा भूल गरें मैले 

मेरो जस्तो माया दिने तिमीलाइ हजार होलान्
तिम्रा लागि मेरा जस्ता हजार हजार मुटु रोलान्
जसलाई आफ्नो सम्झेको थें उही विरानो भयो अहिले
कसैलाई माया गर्नु एउटा भुल गरें मैले  

मेरो माया कुल्चिजाने तिम्रो माया फलोस फूलोस्
मेरो इच्छा मारिजाने तिम्रो इच्छा सधै पुगोस्
उदास आँखा मेरा पनि सपना देख्थे पहिले पहिले
कसैलाई माया गर्नु एउटा भुल गरें मैले

I've been sowing
the buds of love in my heart,
for my love to return

holding my tears, anticipating the dawn
remembering her the whole night
making a place for her to dwell
I've been holding together
the pieces of my cracked heart

gazing towards the horizon
Like a static mountain
neither did I melt with tears,
fell with downpour, froze with stone
nor blew like dry leaves
preserving the aroma
like an immortal flower
I've kept alive
for my soul to return

मेरी रानी फर्की आउली भन्दा भन्दै मैले 
छाती भरी पीरतिको फूल गुथी राखें 

रातभरि याद आयो यादै साँची राखें
बिहान पनि होला भनी आँशु थामी राखें
मेरो माया बस्न आउली भन्दाभन्दै मैले
चर्किएको मुटु पनि जोडीजोडी राखें

झरी जस्तो झरिनं म आँशु जस्तो पग्लिनं 
पर्वतको छोरो जस्तो क्षितिज हेरी रहें
ढुङ्गा जस्तो जमिनं म पत्कर जस्तो उडिनं
अजम्बरी फूल जस्तो वास्ना साँची राखें
मेरो आत्मा फर्की आउली भन्दा भन्दै मैले 
माटो जस्तो देह पनि पालीपाली राखें

Who knows if we meet again or not

Well, I have been translating some Nepali songs in English since last few days. Translation is exhausting. Sometimes you get stuck. There is one classic,

"Phool Ko Thunga Bagera Gayo, Ganga Ko Paanima
Kahile Bhet Hola Hai Rajai Yo Jindaganima"

After being stuck for almost two whole days, I made a breakthrough and I am fairly satisfied with what I have done. Below is the translation. Comments are welcome, negative or positive.

Life flows like a bunch of flowers in river
Who knows if we meet again; ever

Budding love felt
the pang of separation
and tears-the hills shed
in sunshine after a downpour

How long can I pretend to smile
concerned- my companions might
How long can I hold my tears
to cry alone later in the night

Without blinking, When I see
The eastern star staring at me
My beloved in faraway city
I guess, must be remembering me

As per the feedback I received from Mr. Sanjib Karmacharya, I am also including the Nepali text of the song too.

फूलको थुङ्गा बहेर गयो गंगाको पानीमा
कहिले भेट होला है दाजै यो जिन्दगानीमा 

झरीको पछि झुल्केको घाममा नीर झर्‌यो पहाडको 
भर्खरै प्रीति गाँसेको बेला पीर पर्‌यो बिछोडको
कहिले भेट होला है दाजै यो जिन्दगानीमा

नहाँसु भने सखीलाई पीर मै हाँसूं कसरी
रोउँला राति भनेर आँसु मै साँचूं कसरी 
कैले भेट होला है दाजै यो जिन्दगानीमा

रातमा मलाई हेर्दछ टोलाई पूर्वको ताराले
त्यो कान्तिपुरमा सपनाको सुरमा सम्झ्यो कि प्याराले
कैले भेट होला है दाजै यो जिन्दगानीमा

Friends are........

Friends are gifts from God. Leave something for friend. Never leave friend for something. Coz in life, something will leave you but friends will always live with you.

This is a message which woke me up in the morning. Its so very true. Being a friend is very difficult task and finding a friend is even more difficult. Other relations come with certain expectation and the moment you fail to fulfill them, you start seeing cracks and holes. The more you fail, they become wider and bigger. Intentionally or un intentionally, if you fail, the relationhips start falling apart.

Friendship is only one example which is free from expectation. A friend smiles with your achievement, success and happiness. A friend cries with your pain and failure. It is very hard to find a true friend. If you have one, you are very lucky. Learn to treasure your friendship. It is a treasure.

कालो बजारमा पाइँदैन माया

अस्तिको हप्ता बल्ल बल्ल २ लिटर पेट्रोल पाइयो, त्यो पनि कालोबजारमा।

१०० रुपैंया लिटरको पेट्रोललाई २०० रुपियाँ तिरेर किन्नुपर्दा लौ त भन्ने हो भने मेरो चित्त पनि दुखेको थियो। रुखमा फल्दैन पैसा र आफूले मेहेनत गरेर कमाएको पैसा त्यसरी खर्च गर्नुपर्दा म खिन्न पनि भएको थिएं। तर आवश्यकताको अगाडि केही लागेन। पेट्रोल नपाउन थालेदेखि मैले आजकल कतै जानै छोडेको छु। पहिले पहिले केही साथीहरु मिलेर शुक्रवार शनिवार हुनै हुन्नथ्यो कतै न कतै लामो यात्रामा हिंडिहाल्थ्यौं हामी। अहिले त घरबाट अफीस, अफीसबाट घर, टाप लगाएको घोडा जस्तो भइसकेका छौं हामीहरू सबै। यता उति कतै जानै पर्ने भयो भने किलोमिटरको हिसाब गरेर चुकचुकाउनु पर्ने भएको छ।  

आज एक जनाले बढी मोल नतिरिकनै ५ लिटर पेट्रोल मिलाइदिएका छन्। त्यो लिनको लागि मलाई जान आउन गरेर ३० किलोमिटर जति लाग्छ तर पनि मलाई तिनी भगवानले माथिबाट पठाइदिएका कुनै दिव्यपुरुष जस्तो लागे। ओहो, ५ लिटर पेट्रोल त्यो पनि परल मोलमा?

जिन्दगीमा हरेक कुरामा पनि हामी यस्तै हुन्छौं। सम्वन्धका कुरामा पनि यही त लागू हुन्छ। सजिलोसंग आरामले पाएको मायालाई पनि हामी पहिले पहिलेको पेट्रोल जस्तै गर्ने गर्छौं। तर जब त्यसको अभाव हुन थाल्छ अनि मात्र हामी त्यसको महत्व बुझ्ने गर्छौं। तर भावना, स्नेह, प्रेम र सम्बन्ध त अझ झन् कालो बजारमा बढी पैसा तिरेर पनि पाइंदैन। त्यति जान्दाजान्दै पनि किन हामी सजिलोसंग पाएको कुराको महत्व नबुझ्ने मूढ  हुन्छौं ?

हेरौं त एकपटक हाम्रो वरिपरि नियालेर, भोलि महत्व बुझेर चुकचुकाउनु पर्ने कति त्यस्ता सम्बन्धहरुको कतै आज हामी बेवास्ता त गरिरहेका छैनौं?

Om Namoh Shivay

The world was coming to an end. Something was tearing the earth apart. There was chaos everywehere. People were running around, shouting and screaming.

I was chanting "Om Namoh Shivay.....Om Namoh Shivay.....Om Namoh Shivay..." somewhere. Lord Shiva appeared in front of me. I can not remember how he exactly looked, it was a vague vision. I was thinking that I should not ask for anything. I did not ask for anything.

But he blessed me. He blessed me that nothing could destroy me, no one could look in to my eyes and dominate me.

Then I woke up. It was midnight. My little daughter, who had slept with me was nudging me. She was suffering from tonsil infection. She had high fever. After giving her cetamol,  cooling her forhead with water soaked cloth & making her sleep, I lay awake for a long time thinking about the strange dream.

Couple of my friends, upon knowing about this dream of mine have suggested that I should go to Shiva Temple and bow my head today. I agree with them. I am planning to do that on my way back to home.

अनुसरण, हाम्रा च्यानलहरूको

सिक्नु राम्रो कुरा हो। हामी सबै संधै सिकिरहेका हुन्छौं, केही न केही, कहीँ न कहीँ। तर के सिक्ने र के नसिक्ने भन्ने कुरा चाहिँ थाहा हुनुपर्छ।  
 
अहिले हाम्रा टेलिभिजन च्यानलहरुले हिन्दी समाचार च्यानलका विकृतिहरु सिक्न थालेका छन्। गीति रिपोर्ट भनेर हिजो एउटा च्यानलले गाइजात्रा गरिरहेको देख्दा मलाई वाक्क लाग्यो। नौटङ्की पारामा राष्ट्रपति निर्वाचनको परिणामको बारेमा व्याख्या गर्दै पृष्ठभूमिमा गीत बजाएर प्रस्तुत भएको त्यो रिपोर्ट ठ्याक्कै हिन्दी न्यूज च्यानलहरुको फोटोकपी लाग्दथ्यो । हिन्दी न्यूज च्यानलहरुले सस्तो लोकप्रियताको लागि समाचारको स्तरलाई नै रसातलमा जाक्ने काम गरिरहेको आवाज भारतमा नै उठ्न थालिसकेको बेला हाम्रा च्यानलहरु अब त्यसैको सिको गर्न तिर लागेका छन्। भारतमा समाचार च्यानलहरुले आफ्नो बिश्वसनीयता गुमाइसकेका छन्। पहिले पहिलेका मनोहर कहानियाँ र सत्य कथा भन्ने पत्रिका जस्ता भएका छन् भारतीय समाचार च्यानलहरु। होडवाजीको क्रममा उनीहरुले नैतिकता, जिम्मेवारी, तथ्य जस्ता सबै कुराहरुलाई पाखा लगाइसकेका छन्। तर दुखको कुरा के भने अब हाम्रा समाचार च्यानलहरु पनि त्यही बाटोमा हिंड्ने भए। 

मलाई सोच्न वाध्य बनाउने अर्को कुरा पनि छ। पछिल्लो वर्स सगरमाथा टिभीको लागि मैले परामर्शदाता भएर केही समय काम गरेको थिएं । त्यतिबेला स्वरसम्राटको पुनर्जन्म भनेर एउटा न्यूजब्रेक गर्दा अलिकति नौटङ्की मैले पनि गर्न सिकाएको थिएं । त्यो बेलामा भारतीय न्यूज च्यानलको सिको हुन लाग्यो भनेर कसैकसैले भनेका थिए । कतै मैले नै यो प्रवित्ति भित्र्याउन शुरुवात गरेको त हैन भनेर म एकछिन झसङ्ग पनि भएं । (लिङ्क)
 
हामी किन छिमेकीको गलत कुराहरु मात्रै सिक्ने गर्छौं? राजनीति, कला, सिनेमा, सङ्गीत, टेलिभिजन कार्यक्रम, समाचार, बोलीचाली, आचरण र व्यवहारमा जहिले पनि हामी गलत अनुसरण मात्र किन गर्छौं?

Love beyond the bars

I smiling girl is flashing her engagement ring. I saw the picture in one of the newspapers this morning. It was very usual, but the unusual part was the caption which said this 20 years old girl has been engaged to Charles Shovraj. She had been visiting him in prison to help in the translation of his case. They fell in love. My first reaction was,
"How could a 20 years old girl fall in love with Charles Shovraj?"

But later on I realized that I could not be judgemental. What do I know about them? What do I know about the girl or Charles Shovraj? The only thing I know about him is whatever I have read in newspapers, heard or seen in Television. Whatever developed between them, however it developed is entirely between them. And it is entirely their own personal buisness. Love is the strangest thing. It can happen to anyone, anywhere and it has no barriers.

To LOVE someone, only one reason is sufficient; that you love him or her.
To LEAVE someone, you can find many many reasons.

Leaving someone is easy, loving someone is not.

अलि विस्तारमा,

प्रसन्न मुद्रामा आफ्नो औंलामा भएको औंठी देखाइरहेकी एउटी युवतीको फोटोले मेरो ध्यान तान्यो। त्यो यसको “इन्गेजमेण्ट” को औंठी रहेछ। तर त्यो फोटोको मुनि छापिएको कुरा पढेर त एकछिन जिल्ल नै परें। ती २० वर्षीया युवतीको “इन्गेजमेण्ट” चार्ल्स शोभराजसंग भएको रहेछ। शोभराजको मुद्दाको सन्दर्भमा अनुवादका लागि सहयोग गर्न जाँदा उनीहरुको बीचमा प्रेम पलाएको कुरा त्यहाँ उल्लेख थियो। 

मेरो पहिलो प्रतिकृया थियो, एउटी २० वर्षीया युवतीको चार्ल्स शोभराजसंग प्रेम? यो कसरी सम्भव हुन सक्छ? यो कुरा मेरो मनमा निकै बर रहिरह्यो, खेलिरह्यो।  

अलिक बेर सोचेपछि मलाई लाग्यो, म किन यसरी निष्कर्षमा पुग्न खोजिरहेको छु? हामी सबैको बानी हुन्छ, देखेको र सुनेको कुराको भरमा आफ्नो सोच बनाउने। म ती युवतीको बारेमा केही पनि जान्दिनं। शोभराजको बारेमा पनि मलाई त्यति नै थाहा छ जति मैले पत्रिकामा पढेको छु, रेडियो टिभीमा सुनेको वा देखेको छु। त्यसबाहेक पनि एउटा मान्छेको रुपमा पनि त शोभराजको आफ्नै व्यक्तित्व छ नि। त्यस अर्थमा हेर्दा उनीहरुको बीचमा किन र कसरी त्यो सम्बन्ध बन्न गयो, त्यसका पछाडि के कारणहरु थिए भन्ने कुरा उनीहरुलाई मात्र थाहा हुने कुरा हो। ती कुराहरु मलाई मात्र होइन हामी कसैलाई पनि केही थाहा छैन।  

यसलाई एउटा उदाहरणको रुपमा मात्र लिएर म सोच्न थालें। वास्तवमै प्रेम भन्ने कुरा अति नै अनौठो हुन्छ। यो कुनै पनि बेला, कसैसंग पनि हुन सक्छ। न त त्यसको कुनै मापदण्ड छ, न कुनै तर्क, न कुनै नीतिनियम र न कुनै सीमा। प्रेमलाई न उमेरले, न जातले, न सामाजिक स्तरले, न त भूगोलले, केहीले पनि बाँध्न नसकेका कति प्रसंगहरु छन्। पुराणका पाना पल्टाए पनि, इतिहास खोतलेर हेरे पनि अथवा हाम्रै परिवेशलाई नियाले पनि यस्ता प्रेमप्रसंगहरु थुप्रै थुप्रै नपाइने होइनन्। त्यसैले कैदको डण्डी वारिपारि पनि प्रेम पलाएन होला भनेर भन्न कहाँ सकिन्छ र?
 
यही विषयमा समामान्य छलफल हुँदा मैले मेरा मित्र गायक तथा सङ्गीतकार आभासलाई अचम्म लागेन भनेर सोधेको थिएं। उनले पनि भने, 
“अचम्म लाग्ने कुरा के छ र? यो स्वाभाविक कुरा हो। तर के भने यस्ता सम्बन्धहरु कि त कुख्यात कि त प्रख्यात मान्छेहरुका भए मात्र हामी सहज रुपमा स्वीकार्ने गर्छौं।”  

अस्वाभाविक परिस्थितिमा जन्मने प्रेम सम्बन्धहरु निश्चय नै जटिल हुन्छन्। तिनले आफूसंगै हजारौं अप्ठ्याराहरु बोकेर आउँछन्। सामाजिक मान्यता, नैतिक मूल्यका प्रश्नहरु पनि उठ्ने गर्छन्। तर प्रेमलाई ती कुराहरुसंग जोड्नु कति उचित हो वा होइन भन्ने कुरा हामी हत्पति सोच्दैनौं। त्यसलाई अनुचित हुनुको छाप लगाउनु अघि हामी दुइपटक पनि सोच्दैनौं। ओशोले भनेका छन् माया भन्ने कुरा सबैभन्दा माथि हुन्छ। एकजना कसैलाई माया गर्नुको अर्थ अरु कसैलाई माया नगर्नु होइन। माया भाग लगाउने कुरा होइन। एउटाको भागबाट कटाएर अर्को कसैलाई बाँड्ने कुरा हैन माया।  

हुन पनि हो, माया कि त लाग्छ, कि त लाग्दैन। धेरैथोरैको कुरा नै आउँदैन मायामा। कसैलाई माया गर्न एउटै मात्र कारण पर्याप्त हुन्छ, त्यो मान्छेको माया लाग्नु। त्यो लाग्यो भने प्रेम आफैमा पूर्ण हुन्छ। त्यसका परिणाम, त्यसले निम्त्याउने सकारात्मक नकारात्मक सबै कुराहरु गौण हुन जान्छन् तर माया नलाग्नका लागि, माया नगर्नका लागि भने तिनै कारणहरु सर्वोपरि हुने गर्छन्। हजारौं लाखौं कारणहरु फेला पार्न सकिन्छ माया नगर्नका लागि। 

शायद त्यसैले होला, माया गर्न जति गाह्रो हुन्छ, माया नगर्न त्यति नै सजिलो हुन्छ।

असार २३, २०६५ कान्तिपुर दैनिकमा प्रकाशित

When we are selfish

Last night, I was watching the football match between Germany & Poland. It was a tough competition. Its part of the game that some team has to win. I noticed a major problem in the players of Poland, whenever they got the ball inside the D box of the opponents, the player having the control of the ball tried to score himself. It happened repeatedly where as Germans detached themself from that personal greed. They played for the team. The result was obvious, Germany won 2-0.

Even in life, we tend to surrender to the temptation of scoring and most of the times and forget we too have a team. The team can be a family, bunch of our friends or even a single person who is equivalent to a whole team, a whole world, universe or everything for us.

When we play for our team, provide them with opportunity to score in life, the final victory is ours. But most of the times, we are playing individual games. That will ultimately make everyone loose. So we have to get over the personal feeling, play with them, play for them, like a team. Then only can we win the game of life.  

But it is a very hard sometimes to decide which is our team, whom to play with and play for. If we make the mistake in identifying, we will end up ruining ourself & our team. In that case the people we think whom we are trying to make happy by sacrificing the opportunity to score will also achieve nothing. How can they be happy when we are making ourself unhappy. Such sacrifices are meaningles.

Believe me, life is a very tough game to play.

Tiny treasures of life

We tend to forget the importance of tiny little things in life. Its human nature. It is not that we do not realize its value, but sometimes we take certain things for granted in life. In relationships too, we take things for granted after sometime. We should refrain from doing so. Because when we take things for granted, we might be hurting the sentiments of the other person unknowingly, unintentionally.

We should try to cherish small things and small gestures from the other person. These small moments, small things make a big difference in life.

Other Side Of The Picture

I woke up with the sound of rain this morning. It was pouring heavily. With a cup of tea in my hand, I came out to the small verendah attached to my bed room and I saw a small teddy bear there. It was washed and kept their for drying.

I remember that we had bought it when our daughter Shayesta was about 2 years old. She was fast asleep when we reached home. We thought that she would be pleasantly surprised to see it upon waking up. So we put in the bed, near to her. A relative paid a visit and we were talking in the bedroom itself. When Shayesta woke up, she saw the relative first and the teddy. She assumed that the teddy was a gift from that relative. When later we said that it was us who brought it for her, she refused to believe.

She was an innocent child. But In life even mature people sometimes suffer from such confusions. The circumstances lead to misunderstanding and the way Shayesta found it difficult to accept the fact, we tend to believe in what is seen directly.

But there are other side of the picture too. Every coin has two sides.

Darkness is just absence of light..................

22:42 HRS

..................Let the light keep going, brightness is yours.

This is not my line. I have borrowed it from a friend. It is amazing that someone can be so positive in life. I admire that friend of mine who radiates positive energy all the time.

In my previous post I had talked about Talat's song, "Harek mod se milta hai rasta koi."

It reallly is the ultimate truth. In life, everyone has to travel through dark tunnels. Sometimes the tunnels are longer, sometimes shorter. When going through the pitch darkness, you can see a small dot in front of you. That dot is the light coming from the other end of the tunnel. Sometimes, even if you do not see that point, you should not be discouraged. It has to appear, sooner or later. You just have to keep moving ahead. The longer the tunnel, the smaller the dot. It might be as small as a needle point. But as you move ahead the dot becomes brighter and bigger.

When you reach the other end, VOILA! You see the sunshine.

Everyone goes through a dark tunnel, that is part of life and everyone sees a tiny bright spot sooner or later.

Oh Tenzing

Few days back, i happened to be a part of the audience of a special program. Aavaas, a musical scholar, composer and singer was singing. The venue was Embassy of India. Occassion, unofficially to bid farewell to Indian Ambassador.

Apart from many other songs he sang, I remember one right now is,
"Oh Tenzing maile yo prem ko pahad kahile naghne hola?"

If you try to go deep behind the meaning as I did, it says a lot. The most difficult height to scale is not Mount Everest, it is the height of love, emotion and affection. You have to give a lot. You have to empty yourself in love and the sad part is, the other person might not even realize the value of what you have sacrificed. The world has become so materialistic and so are the people.

The pahad of maya has become taller and taller. So when aavaas was asking with Tenzing "maile yo maya ko pahad kahile naghne hola?" I sincerely wished that someone would definitely volunteer to answer this. Aavaas, there are lot many people who are seeking the answer along with you. If you get an answer to this quesytion, please share it with me at least.

"Prem ko pahad kahile naghne hola?" 

Remembering Talat Mehmood

Its been long since I went through my music collection and listened to any of my favorites. Suddenly I remembered a song by Talat Mehmood which says,
"Harek mod se milta hai raasta koi
Nazar to dhoond hi leta hai aasra koi"

Life has unpredicatble twists and turns. It seems so true that there must be a new path to be explored after each bends. Life has to move on, it can never go back. I sometimes wonder why life plays strange games with us? Why do we have to face sharp unexpected bends and adjust to new lanes? Why life can not be a simple straight journey?

There are certain people who can easily adapt to the new lane and move ahead cheerfully. And there are other people who find it difficult to adjust. Also there are people who can not simply prepare themselves to forget things easily and move on. To those people, committment, promises, shared moments and dreams woven together matter above everything else. They are ruled by their heart, not their brain. Brain is calculative, its decisions are ruthless wheras heart never calculates pros and cons. It knows nothing apart from emotion.

People who are ruled by their heart are often ridiculed, branded impractical and emotional fools. But that is the way they are. They suffer alone. When they believe in someone or somthing, they believe in totality. When their belief is shattered, they are devastated.

Timi Sandhai Hansi Rakha Na Hai?

"Timi Sandhai Hansi Rakha Na Hai?"
(Be happy and smiling forever)
A friend sent this sms to me. It made me think. We all want to be happy and smiling forever. Who wants to be sad and gloomy? But there are so many factors in life which restricts us from smiling and being happy. Its a part of the game, no matter you like it or not.

I tried to understand the feeling of that friend. It was just a small sentence but it had all the well wish and prayer behind it. What do one need to be happy and smiling forever? A peaceful state of mind, harmonious realtionship with those who matter in your life, acceptance and  success in whatever you are doing to a certain extent. These are some of the basic aspects which makes you happy. Apart from that, stable condition of the country, secure atmosphere, reasons to be optimistic about your children's future, and no scarcity of basic commodities in the market such as fuel; These all make you smile. 

We are facing eight hours loadshedding. One third of our day is without light. Being without light means staying with darkness. Darkness makes you gloomy. Darkness in negative, it is what human kind has tried to fight against since long time. We do not know when we will be relieved from this darkness in this 21st century.

So that one sentence was a prayer may all these happen. Then only I can smile and be happy always. I am grateful for that wish. I will definitely hope I can smile and be happy. I will try......Yes I will and I will hope. I will keep on trying to be an optimist which I was. I will.......my friend!