Forwards Ki Duniya: Nayi Madhushala

मधुशाला नए रूप में
—————————-
कोई मांग रहा था देशी,
और कोई फॉरेन वाला।
वीर अनेकों टूट पड़े थे,
खूल चुकी थी मधुशाला।

शासन का आदेश हुआ था,
गदगद था ठेके वाला।
पहला ग्राहक देव रूप था,
अर्पित किया उसे माला।

भक्तों की लंबी थी कतारें,
भेद मिटा गोरा काला।
हिन्दू मुस्लिम साथ खड़े थे,
मेल कराती मधुशाला।

चालीस दिन की प्यास तेज थी,
देशी पर भी था ताला।
पहली बूंद के पाने भर से,
छलक उठा मय का प्याला।

गटक गया वो सारी बोतल,
तृप्त हुई उर की ज्वाला।
राग द्वेष सब भूल चुका था,
बाहर था वो अंदर वाला।

हंस के उसने गर्व से बोला,
देख ले ऐ ऊपर वाला।
मंदिर मस्जिद बंद हैं तेरे,
खुली हुई है मधुशाला।

पैर बिचारे झूम रहे थे,
आगे था सीवर नाला।
जलधारा में लीन हो गया,
जैसे ही पग को डाला।

दौड़े भागे लोग उठाने,
नाक मुंह सब था काला।
अपने दीवाने की हालत,
देख रही थी मधुशाला।

मंदिर-मस्जिद बंद कराकर ,
लटका विद्यालय पर ताला!
सरकारों को खूब भा रही,
धन बरसाती मधुशाला!

डिस्टेंसिंग की ऐसी तैसी ,
लाकडाउन को धो डाला
भक्तों के व्याकुल हृदयों पर
रस बरसाती मधुशाला।

बन्द रहेंगे मंदिर मस्ज़िद,
खुली रहेंगी मधुशाला।
ये कैसे महामारी है ,
सोच रहा ऊपरवाला।

The art of spotting a dog owner by her footwear

BY INVITATION
Written by Manisha Mohan (Proud `hooman’ mom of Astra the Beagle)

I have a funny incident regarding this art work (pointing to her footwear, chewed away in places by Astra).
I was buying from a fishmonger who is not my regular one, at a place far away from home.
After I had picked up my packet, he asked me, “Do you have a dog?”
I replied, “Yes, but how did you know?“
I was wondering… am I smelling / do I have dog hair all over me?
But he only smiled.
Then he pointed at the art work I was wearing!!!!! (broad smile).

Forwards Ki Duniya: Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher says that he learnt to speak truth from Narendra Modi.
If so, we can assume he has learnt…
Journalism from Arnab Goswami
Nationalism from Akshay Kumar
Education from Smriti Irani
Democracy from Adolf Hitler
Driving from Salman Khan
Peace talk from Yogi Adityanath
Logic from Biplab Deb (CM, Tripura)
Feminism from MJ Akbar
Value of human life from Babu Bajrangi (Leader, Gujarat wing, Bajrang Dal)
Humanity from Pragya Thakur
Freedom fight from Veer Savarkar
Honesty from Jay Shah
And, of course, acting from Vivek Oberoi

Canine matrimony

Cookie and I had plonked ourselves down in the car after her morning walk when an autorickshaw stopped nearby.
“Hei female beagle aahe na? (This is a female beagle, isn’t it?)” the driver asked me in the local language Marathi, his eyes constantly on my pet.
I replied in the affirmative.
He asked her name and then: “Pilu zhale ka? (Has she delivered pups?).
I said no.
He then enquired about her age and before I could reply, fished out a mobile from his shirt pocket.
Scroll, scroll, scroll and a warm smile.
“Maaza beagle Oreo. Ha teen varshacha aahey (My beagle Oreo. He is three years old).”
The proud dad revealed that they had named him after the popular biscuit brand.
Then came the proposal: “Apun Cookie aani Oreo chi shaadi karu ka? (Shall we get Cookie and Oreo married?}”
I once again said no, a bit harsher this time.
No problem Sir, he said and started to drive off but not before revealing his home location, in case I changed my mind:
“Mi Shivai Nagar la rahato. (I stay in Shivai Nagar).”