Ajj Ankhan Waris Shah Nu

My mother was a voracious reader of many Punjabi poets, writers. She sometimes in one of her happy moods recites poems from few of her favorites. I remember her humming Ajj Akhan Waris Shah nu ( hoping i was correct). In the last 2 years I have read a few a punjabi poems and stories. I havent been able to explore much because of my inability to read, write both Punjabi & Urdu well ( actually 90%). Out of the few ajj akhan waris shah nu was one and i unknowingly keep reciting it.

Aaj Akhan Wairs Shah nu-- This is written by an Indian Writer and Poet, also one of first promninent Punjabi woman poetess, writer & essayists.She was equally loved
both in India as well in Pakistan. The Poem was written by Amirta Pritam Singh or Amrita Kaur voiced the blood soaked memories of the millions during the Partition.

Below are few of my favorite lines from the poem ( The poem is a long one).

aj aakhan Waris Shah nu, kiton kabraan vichchon bol,
te aj kitab-e-ishq daa koi agla varka phol
ik roi si dhi Punjab di, tun likh likh maare vaen,
aj lakhaan dhian rondian, tainun Waris Shah nun kaehn

Today, I call Waris Shah, “Speak from your grave”
And turn, today, the book of love’s next affectionate page
Once, a daughter of Punjab cried and you wrote a wailing saga
Today, a million daughters, cry to you, Waris Shah

jitthe vajdi si phuuk pyaar di, ve oh vanjhali gayi guaach
Raanjhe de sab veer aj, bhul gaye uhadi jaach
dharti te lahoo varsiya, kabraan paiaan choan,
preet diaan shaahzaadiaan, aaj vichch mazaaraan roan

Lost is the flute, which once, blew sounds of the heart
Ranjha’s brothers, today, no longer know this art
Blood rained on our shrines; drenching them to the core
Damsels of amour, today, sit crying at their door

aj sabbhe Kaido` ban gaye, husn, ishq de chor
aj kitthon liaaiye labbh ke Waris Shah ik hor

Today everyone is, ‘Kaido;’ thieves of beauty and ardour
Where can we find, today, another Warish Shah, once more

Taste of Cherry

Taste of Cherry

Taste of Cherry , 1997 is an Iranian Movie, directed by Abbas Kiarostami. I read somewhere that Kiarostami said "There are films that "nail you to the seat and overwhelm you to the point that you forget everything, but you feel cheated later".
And I suppose you feel this way when you watch the movie " the movie nails you to your seat & overwhelm you but for a purpose.Interestingly a slow paced movie can also do it.

Taste of cherry is a rather slow paced movie compared to many movies( specifically the Bollywood Movies). The story is about a desperate man hell bent to commit suicide and makes attempts to enlist people to help him get buried. Will he find a compassionate man to favor him?? What was inside of him which was made him desperate to bury himself?? Does he actually die?? This must be sounding like a Greek Aesopian fable but the movie goes deeper in to the dimensions of life and emotions, themes of human nature and complexity, act of suicide in it self.

It took me a few days to stop thinking about the movie, the deseparate man, other protognasits, the suicide, human legacy of living & other questions & meanings. To me the movie talked of many more meanings than the usual plot and melodrama.

It interestingly points out, what was there that probed a middle aged man, so financially sound like him desire to suicide and bury himself.In all probablities the reason could have been very narrow but much more deeper.
Is boredoom & emptiness in itself such a big reason for creating a burial for self. Is suicide or self burial not legitmate? Interestingly none of the religious doctrines of all faith, maybe people around, life around
could not convince the desperate man to change his mind for the pain inflicted on him?? Is it really possible to find a true and compassionate person to do you a favor??
Interestingly in the deseprate man's odyssey to find a compassionate man to favor him, he faces so many rejections which eventually make him feel even more rejected. Even when one finds a compassionate man who does the act of burial for the happiness of other is still an ambigious concept.
From the movie it seems the desire for committing is suicide is more than the reason it self. Maybe it is desire which needs to respected??? Maybe this again is ambigious....
The various protognaists their nature, mood, life could not move the desperate man to change his mind or was it really he wasnt moved?? Is the movie really about exitenialism or is it really about a man and his lost life & his zeal to live???

Indeed the taste of cherry is what lead the deseprate man to live again but it was again the taste of cherry which fills in the blank & creates his desire to end his life, infact it becomes his quest to end his life.
Its my favorite movie yet I am not sure if i can truly watch this movie without taking away my once Existentialist thoughts away.

" 2 Mauch"

too much mint but not well enough summer

too much money but not well enough opportunity

too much talk but not well enough connection

too much stuff but not enough space

to much icing but not enough cake

too much to think but not well enough to say

too much variety but not enough happiness

too much water but not enough tears

too much teaching but not enough learning

too much power but not enough sense

too much to give but not well enough to receieve

too much blue but not enough sky

too much life but not enough change

too much change but not enough reasons

too much reasons but not enough love

too much love and yet not well enough

Movie-Rabbit-Proof Fence

RAbbit- Proof Fence... The moment you read this you might be thinking whats there to write about rabbits and proof fences. I hope not !!

Interestingly this is the name of an Australian movie released in 2002. The movie is adopted from the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris. THe movie or the book ( which I am yet to read)is about the life of the author's mother Molly Craig, her younger sister - Daisy and there cousin Gracie Fields.
The story is about Molly who along with Daisy & Gracie who are mixed race aboriginals girls ran away from the Moore River in Perth, Australia to return to their aboriginals tribe. The three girls are claimed to be mixed raced aborginals and forcibly sent taken from their mother in Jialong and sent to
Moore River.They try to escape following the Rabbit Proof fence ( there are three fences in which runs from the north coast of Western Australia to Sothern part) which is pest exclusion fence.
There journey is very interesting & touching to see how the three girls managed to escape from Neville each time, (who was then supposed to be the Protector of the aboriginals), Modoo (another aboriginal who is helper to Neville), prison garbs, dogs, dog troppers and meeting other supporters like Mavis.The girls crossed a flooded river, sand dunes, heathlands, wheatbelt, mallee country, gibber plains, red dust, salt lake. They slept in dug-out rabbit burrows, caught and cooked rabbits, and ate bibijali, a kind of sweet potato, and karkula, a wild banana.
When their legs were weary, sore and infected by grass cuts, Molly piggy-backed Daisy, & Gracie in turn.
Sad but true only two of the girls Molly and Daisy make it and eventually meet their mother after 9 weeks of travel on foot everyday they walked 40 miles. Gracie on the other hand is tricked by the authorities and eventually get caught and never makes it to Jialong too.
Actually they never heard of Gracie again. In the end its the happy Molly and Daisy with their community.


Interesingly the Author of the Book- Doris herself was forcibly taken away from her mother Molly at age 4 to Moore river in Perth going through the same facility as her mother. It was after 25 years did Doris meet her mother Molly, they didnot talk much
and neither was she aware of her mother's captivity too and her escapism until her Aunt Daisy did'nt tell her the story.The author wrote this book in 1985 but it never got published she again re0interviewed her mother & aunt and eventually the book got
published in 1996 and the movie was made in 2002 which i saw in 2007. :)


The main characters Molly & Daisy were still alive during the making of the movie at age 85 & 79 years old living in Jialong region.The movie Rabbit-Proof fence was premiered in Jialong too ( a remote location in Western Australia of the Mardudjara community) with a population of 300-500. The guest of honor was Molly and it was her first movie premier, infact the first movie she had ever seen. Infact all through the movie she kept saying she wants to go home :)

Sadly molly died at age 87 in 2004. After seeing the movie and hearing the songs i did say "yes indeed 1500 miles would had a been a long walk home for you Molly & Daisy" and quite true "Her legacy is the calming influence and quiet dignity of the desert women, and the stolen generations story,which looked at you straight in the eye"

Movie-Kikujiro

I recently watched a Japanense movie --Kikujiro No Natsu meaning Kikujiro's Summers. The story is in chapters which goes like this....

There a young boy Masao who lives in Tokyo with his grandmother. One summer day he receives a package with a seal and details of his lost mother.
She lives in Toyahasi in Japan some many miles faraway. Upon this the little boy gathers his little bagpack with some 5000 yen to meet his mother.
On the way he meets his neighbours Kikujiro (an ex-yakuza, bad mannered man & bad mouthed, not fond of kids) and his wife. Kikujiro's wife forces him to go with Masao. Kikujiro initially has
no plans to take Masao to his mother instead he goes to the horse races, gamble and splurge all the money.

Kikujiro's mind changes he saves Masao from a Child Molestor in park. They then head to Toyohashi where they stay a lavish hotel only to find out there is hardly
any money left.. from there on starts there real journey when the taxi breaks down and they have to take down to hitch hiking ( you must watch it to see kikujiro's funny actions)
They get lifts from juggler, poet etc.. On reaching Toyohashi and the address.. They find out that Masao's mother has married another man and has a daughter.
Contrary to what expected and known she lived a very different life and forgotten Masao. Kikujiro rushes back to Masao and says that his mother has moved away
even when he knew that Masao has seen his mother.Masao runs around crying. Kikujiro is moved he takes Masao to the beach,he goes to the highway bullies two bikers and gets a blue colored angel bell to make Masao happy.Masao rings the bell manytimes only tosee that maybe an angel will come down and take him to his mother and help him. This scene ends with Masao crying even more.
Then they go to the Shinto Shrine and Masao dreams of dancing Tengu ( Tengu's are supernatural creatures in japanese art & theatre, infact borrowed creatures from Chinese art creatures)
On the way back they meet the bikers again and again a whole fun trip with a camp and traditional games alongwith funny Red Indian Dance, to nude statues etc.
All this reminds Kikujiro of his own mother who abandoned him when he was a young boy, he goes to see her but never meets her. They continue for a few days making Masao happy and loved.
finally the bikers leave and the poet drops them back to Tokyo. Before Masao and Kikujiro part, Kikujiro says "Let's do it again sometime" and Masao thanks him. Kikujiro tells Masao to take care of his grandma.
Masao asks Kikujiro's name and Kikujiro answers "Kikujiro! Now scram!" Masao passes a small bridge with the Angel bell ringing while we see him in the distance.


The movie was very touching and explores many facets of the Japanese society. More so, if clearly shows how as human beings we are alienated and how each one us reacts due to it in most circumstances.
Masao & Kikujiro both depicting normal humans who are alienated inside and each respond in different way to vent out the isloation and coldness felt inside.
we might be living in a society or with people who appear to leading perfectly normal lives yet living in a sea of loneliness and isolation inside.

Interestingly Masao and Kikujiro along there journey realise and unknowningly always react everytime to situations due to there internal residents--anger, loneliness, sadness, non acceptance.
The various characters are almost socially non acceptable people who also seem to need to be valued and accepted for what they are.
Masao ringing the angel bell many a times in the hope of some miracle It was from their journey to Toyahashi they realise how alike they are though unsaid.The summer camp was nicely depicted showing the characters find comfort in each others isloation and learn to understand and value onself and others. It was touching to seehow Kikujiro does all he could to make a little sad boy happy again.. truly unconiditionally and how very much it is important to give.

In the end Masao and Kikujiro being friends and the once sad Masao turned into happy Masao running back home to his grandmother with the angel bells ringing and the now kind of nice, loving Kikujiro asking Masao "Lets do it again sometime" .


Well it as they said towards the end of the movie... the two of them end at a destination which neither of them could have imagined ( at least not without each other)

Little Boy

I read this on someone's blog, I found this touching so I thought it best to put up here too.....

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever

ODE TO LOVE

Standing in front of the mirror read to my reflection, to myself and everything that lives within me & connects with me----MY ODE TO LOVE

Love is unreal, It creates confidence, faith, trust , happiness in self & the other. It means to love , care, give it all, be broken down and still love again. Forgive, try not to be hurt, be always open, understand that someones who loves you is open & giving her possessions/treasure of love, learn to value it .... Love...

Never disregard love for it might never come back to you. Listen, Talk,take care, trust are the essential ingredients mix them well always. Love is always beautiful, never let go off someone who loves you dearly, they probably love you more than his/her own life and soul. The person ..the love is worth it. LOVE, TRUST, CARE and life is wonderful....

The "I" in the mirror standing in front of me smiled and said... Just tell me this for once...

1. Who am I not who should I be
2. Why am I here
3. Where do I belong to
4. Whom do I love
5. Who loves me
6. How can I be true to myself

I (all of 25 years) standing in front of the mirror said to the " me" (all of 15 years) in the mirror...
Come let go sour fears.. way let be here ... From here starts the Ode to love