In the love of a Nation na·tion ˈnāSH(ə)n] NOUN - a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a country or territory – as explained in Oxford Dictionary. So, what makes a Nation? Is it a mass of people bound by a commonality of language, territory or land, ethnicity, direction or is it more elevated, a more exalted, a more abstract consciousness of Unity, of Autonomy, of Belongingness?Is my Nation the greatest or should it be to get my love for it --- this question has vexed many as we study the history of war and today’s tone of nationalism, hyper, uber, liberal and anti-nationalism. Is it required to be great, the most ethical, the most advanced? What makes someone protect it? What makes someone go against it? Is it right to go against the Nation? If yes, are you going against the Nation or against a set of people who are behaving not in the strictest terms of your judgment? If yes, what makes love for your Nation healthy to protect or aid subconsciously in the horrific ills we see, hear and read from the present and past? Should our love for Nation be absolute or conditional? If conditional, in what circumstances and if absolute, why? Is there a scale to the love I have for my Nation? Should I love to protect my home, my neighborhood, my people, my food, my culture and ask to be left alone – Live and let live? In what granularity or grandiose I need to love and protect against – does my intolerance defines the Nation or is it another way around? Next, do I have to love and protect my Nation’s past – the handed-over version of the unprotected one, the defeated one, the divided one, the glorious one, the heroic one, the rich ones or the righteous one …. As I move along should it be “Knowledge is Power” or “Love is Blind” or both in moderation? Should my love be on a moving scale as I know more of or by the assertion of mine or by the belief of others? Is it to infinitely expand or should be continuously adjusting as it inherits and disinherits beliefs and customs, traditions and lethargy, progress and decay as it goes for my other loves? The love for the Nation is only for the better or should it for the worse too? Is it because it is mine with all the faults and glory? Is it not natural to be in love than to be in ambivalent? Can we reject it? Hope Not! Again, should my love not defend it and fight for?

Kalpanayein

Aaj, sthir iss jeeven ko jhanjhodo Kalpanayon ko panapnein do Prashno ke dhundh ko na teherao Vishwaas ke lalima ko yun bikhrao Ki Ho sake kal bhi, aaj ho Ek kalpana ka, navnirman ho Inn parvaton ko napna ho Iss sagar ko badhna ho Nidar badho Path ke karvaton se na daro Unmein iradon ka barood bharo Samay ke majboot chakron ko kalpanayon ke rath par daudao Nidar badho Tod do aasman ke har kismaton ko Nakar do unn har rehmaton ko Jo jakde tujhko Teri kalpanayon ko Ant mein Uttar dena hoga tujhe tujhko Ateet mein rache har kalpanyon ko Nahi dekh payega muk, sthir jeevan ko Jab udta dekh Nirmal, nischal, nirwik apne kalpanyon ko - Penned in a cold foggy January morning in Delhi, India

I Love You

let me sing a old song for you

dust the guitar to play it for you

humming , that reminds me of you

all to say that "I love you"

You captured my heart

Know I not what happen when

Streaming through the crowd, unknown

Finding you, my smiling own

Close my eyes,

Cut the strings

Set me free

love,i need to see

to ask if we

can make a new song, old for us

can make a new tune, only for us

can make each day, new for us

all just to say, that "I love you"

- 24th August, 2010

Day 37: away from my love

In the clearing stands a boxer ,

And a fighter by his trade

And he carries the remianders,

of every blow that laid him down

Or cut till he cried out

In his anger and his shame

"I am leaving", "I am leaving"

But the fighter still remains

Here I am

Here I am , just me and you
Dreaming that all our dreams come true
A new day, a new way
Life we will swing away

Just me and you

It's time to bind our hearts
See the life as a beautiful art
Loving this moment as done
Time will pass, years be gone

Just me and you

For you Banaja

On one hand,
Soon there will be a golden band
Which gives the reasons,
I could stay on
And, be your caring man

But, on the other hand
so much to understand

To hold you close to me
And play the lover's game
Feel the passion in your's arms
Finding in your eyes the beautiful charms

On one hand
With the one with golden band
Reminds me to be your man

But the life that we will have
Is on the other hand
And be your loving man!

Shakti

Iss rakh mein mujhe aaj bhi
Ek shola ka ansh dikhta hai
Kuch garam vishwaason ka
Kuch beech mein ruke sapno ka
Kuch aashyein , kuch iradon ka
Prayatan karta huya prakash dikhta hai.

Mein chahtha hun isko hawa dun
Shesh ek chingari bhi thama dun
Dekhna chahunga mein uss aag ko
Jo iss gilli mitti ko bhi jala de
Ya reh jaye mere hatheli par
Ek ghaav , Ek Praman