Is a Muslim Always Terrorist? By M.A. Rathore

An Essay

Is a Muslim Always Terrorist?

By M.A. Rathore

Hearing a constant tapping sound on the door of my bed room I got up instantly but reluctantly leaving my plush couch, went to have a shower, shaved early at 5 O'clock in the chilled winter fogy morning through mirror the flying foams swirling out of my mouth, took a cup of tea hurriedly, packed my bags and baggage and went out striding towards the railway station to catch the Kalka - Badmer Express train running on time fixed for 6:10 a.m. Having taken a ticket for journey to Nagaur I got into the train.

Sitting for sometimes recklessly making myself comfort able I asked for a newspaper as it is a general habit of passengers, read in a cursory way going through all pages as an office attendant searching thoroughly the needed urgent files from a cupboard, my eyes fell on stopping rigidly altogether at the editorial columns that tells about the ISI's movement in Iraq and Syria being the present centre of the controversial organization because  these countries are the main sources of the crude oil and it is undoubtedly the centre of attraction for the rest world politics.

America, once the originator of such a terrorist organization for his personal gross profit at the time of Soviet Union lead by socialists, has been fighting against all those activists nurturing in his own country and the other major countries where he gets an opportunity being a powerful country having a veto privilege to operate his war policies or to commercialize his weapon export such as a big bazaar.

To control the anti - social activists of ISI whom he nurtured in the past and now there is no need of his support or no longer in force for this aim 800 military troops from America and the same and Syria to suppress the activists . quantity of 800 troops from UK and France are being sent to Iraq It is a matter of great concern I have heard that some of Indian young - blood students having scientific and computer IT knowledge with well - versed high quality almost trained went to join ISI for searching new opportunities for making money and thus strengthening their livelihood .

This is the matter of shameless for Indians and the burning issue that makes me to think over the matter. I cannot understand why the younger generations are doing so only for getting money. But as they have returned or captured before hatching their activities in near future. These types of the young newbies do not consider their good or bad future at this tender age while they hold weapons. They are instigated on the name pseudo religion especially of fanatic people considering religious superiority over the uneducated poor people who practise their religion.

There is no religion in the whole world which teaches to spread terror among his brethren and countrymen only to satisfy the false fanaticism. There is no scripture in any religion of the known world which lets their followers free to spoil the followers of other religions.

All the Muslims of the world are being considered the so called terrorists these days for the activities of ISI. Long beard, cleaned mustache and wearing Pope - like cap has been a specific costume for terrorist. Since all men are not terrorists, they have to forebear insult as the suspects of terrorists ‘activities going on in that particular area largely.

The men who are still being so unwise that behave ill - mannered and rudely in the era of modern technology where we are thinking about to make a room on the moon. Still they are divided into smaller sects following the old - aged norms and traditions of which there is no need at the present time where the scientists have proved the reality of life and the existence of God. It is a matter of serious concern they why are some people for satisfying their false ego creating an atmosphere of warlike situation on the basis of religious practices. Copyrighted. 

Importance of Free Meditation in Writing An Essay by M.A. Rathore

Importance of Free Meditation in Writing 

An Essay by M.A. Rathore

Literature is a spiritualism and meditation. It is the main source of spiritualism for ages. With the creation of spirituality in writing the divine and ultimate aim of motivational meditation can be seen in literary writings. This spirituality can only be obtained by doing pure and natural behaviour with the purity of work and action by the norms and values of the traditional society. In this changing scenario of the world, free and spiritual writing is solely responsible for getting salvation at least for the authors and the question still grows how free meditation can be achieved through writing literary epistles.

It is to be said about the usage of free writing in literature. Firstly, what is the chief aim of free writing in literature? Is it for seeking pleasure? Is it closely related to our life? The most mystical poetess of India named Maha Devi Verma wrote about the importance of ideal literature in the fields of life, arts, and literature that idealism, having been absolved us, shows the combination of power to perceive the innermost hidden darkness of our sluttish narrow-mindedness. It provides us the wings to fly for the macrocosm with our limited knowledge and blesses us with the enlightenment of life combining our divided feelings. Unless or until the ideal ism spreads in the limitless colors and forms of the earth and its expanse of limitless extending as clouds in the sky, it is to be the sole aim of a spot of nothingness as in the silent clouds of winter. Idealism is used in the sense of specific conventions and assumptions, especially in the fields of science, philosophy, and literature. Idealism is against materialism and it is said to be the complement of spiritualism but there is always some difference in the unity of time and place.

Regarding the usage being the synonym of aestheticism, Socrates has written in a place that a basket full of cow dung is said to be the most beautiful aspect of aestheticism if it has a usage while a shining sword does not have any value if it is incomplete in its usage.

Life's philosophy and its values are developed with the meditation of free - writing. A man becomes a spiritual being after having developed his personality. There are three things based on truth, peace, and pleasure that are the quality of God's absolute form viz. Knowledge, impulse, and action. Knowledge is related to truth, action to consciousness, and the impulse to ecstasy. So according to God's attributes, these three elements are important in human life. Modern psychologists accept these three elements searching for the absolute form in all the things attributing the sameness not only in science, philosophy, and ethics but also in literature freely written.

Our soul dwindles in search of aestheticism but it is hard to get the pleasure of it. We can get its aesthetic pleasure only by going through the serious reading of great world literature come what may they belong to in any religion or any practice with deep brooding using the specific mental powers of all our understanding. So far it is satisfied with the absolute reasoning power and deep study that makes us nothingness. Aestheticism is beyond reason. It is but an impulse to feel.

Aesthetic idealists give importance to spiritualism against materialism, microcosms against realism, and pragmatism against imagination. The use of idealism in the field of literature is not for one and the other class of poetic genre or movement but for all in a specific way. So it is important to maintain a balance between realism and idealism. This is what we call meditation in literature and frees - spirit in writing. (c)

 

HAIKU POETRY by M. A. Rathore

Part 1

Whisper on Christmas

(1)

Summer breeze-

her unlocked hair ripple

through droplets

(2)

tulip-

a baby smiles at mother

in her lap

 

(3)

drizzling dales-

a turtle walks across

the road

(4)

drizzling dales-

a lass gathers pollen from

the saffron fields

(5)

drizzling dales-

a roadside corn seller with

burning hearth below

(6)

drizzling dales-

a jam of swans walking

across the busy road

(7)

drizzling dales-

a girl without an umbrella

in the open street

(8)

Winter fog-

I've lost the remote control

somewhere in my quilt

(9)

Christmas morning-

dispersed million balloons

everywhere around

(10)

Christmas morning-

my daughter prepares a feast

on her birthday

(11)

Christmas morning-

the misty sun plays hide and seek

in the cradle below

 

 

(12)

Merry Christmas-

a cock proclaims a feast

this morning

 

 

(13)

Christmas morning-

my mom calls me for

an early bath

 

(14)

Christmas tree-

million stars twinkle

on each branch

 

 

(15)

Christmas evening-

even a monkey needs

a heavy branch

 

 

(16)

freezing point-

I try to press out some paste

from my toothpaste

(17)

early frost-

a beggar covers his body

with a newspaper

(18)

early frost-

the vigour of early riser

loses at dawn

(19)

December moon-

she requires no veil

to cover her face

(20)

Winter storm-

she keeps me inside the doors

burning the fireplace

(21)

Winter storm-

she hides me inside her heart

burning the fireplace

(22)

Winter nights-

She reminds me to get up

early morning

(23)

central heating-

she wears me as a sweater

in winter season

                                                                                -M. A. Rathore © DRIZZLING DALES 2023

LET'S LOVE CHILDREN By M. A. Rathore

LET'S LOVE CHILDREN 

By M. A. Rathore

Let's love children;

We have forgotten to love them;

We have not given our attention to them;

We were inclined just 

To follow the traditional thoughts

And used to think accordingly;

Let our parents should feel otherwise.

Parents who do not love their children

Will not be remembered;

Children need only love from us;

They will get all other motivations from around;

They will make a way to earn their living;

They will find their way to serve us

Only if we love them they require.

We always try to make them follow

The rules that society makes for us;

We never let them do what they like;

Instead, try they should adopt our ways

Which are not proper to carry on;

We are killing their innate qualities

That God has endowed them.

We are against God 

If we are denying His universal laws;

The law that gives the right to enjoy life

With the love of the parents;

If they do not love their offspring

Then who will do this?

I do not favour them in all matters.

Creative Poetic Engery Breaks Down All Limits By M. A. Rathore

 Poetry is a game of words played skillfully and these words are but the instruments of animate and inanimate things of past, present, and future. So wherever it finds a creative force, it breaks down all the bondage of language spoken either in the tribal or civilized world in all times and spaces. 

Children are more creative and active than any other species in the world as a kitten behaves in response to something moving in front of it. Poetry breaks down all the obstacles of the civilized and uncivilized folk, in general living in urban and rural countries. Poetry is life in itself. As we breathe in the open air so also it takes her energy from the open sky of reality and imagination so vibrant at the time floating around us, of the day to - day matter, and even from the blood of our veins arising from mind and floating towards our heart vice - versa. 

No life is possible if there is no poetry, for it cannot be separated in any sense. No rhythm is possible if there is a scarcity of one and the other rhyme in the life of a man. His whole life is made up of music and with all its notes - high and low. Every person can recount the flow of life in his words if he tries to take a chance. Poetry understands feelings better than words spoken in support of the statement made to the public. Hence it does not require words but feelings and the way of expression as the poet feels at the time of the flow of the heart's spontaneous feelings or to escape from the most vibrant feelings of the heart. Poetry is not a figure of curved shape and 

lines drawn on the blank surface of words but the expression of beamlike dazzling light spreading in all the sides with equal force, Every word used in a poetic piece has a grandeur of epic-like expression that needs to be explained widely and understood deeply in all the dimensions. Poetry is like a kite of its kind that flies towards the limitless sky to know the known and unknown secrets of mostly tensed and ecstatic issues bringing down the solution in the way of expression. Poetry is a simple message clad in beautiful epithets and the figure of speeches the poet feels at the time of the most fertile imagination overwhelming him. Some words are fixed in an expression such as the proper key to the lock fitted to the hinge required. We know the words by their usage. 

For the creation of the best poetry, the right words should be chosen for the right situation. Accidently or with practice, the poet is successful in using them in their proper sense finding them as easy as it comes in the natural flow or without much tension and stress. Imagination is limitless that does not know the limits as poetry does in her field without knowing her limits of time and space. It is to be understood only in the same context as the poet feels at the time of composition. Ideas and imaginations bloom and spread the fragrance of it just like flowers. Imaginations never fade but bloom inside our hearts or outside the world. 

Poetry spreads its fragrance throughout the whole society with powerful ideas and expressions. Poetry does not distinguish between person to person. It behaves like innocent children who play with their peers crossing the manmade selfish or narrow boundaries of their houses and the society or locality they live in. Thus breaking all the bondage of civilization, poetry passes through the world equally as an electric current.©

Gems of Rajasthani Poetry (Review) By M. A. Rathore

Gems of Rajasthani Poetry translated by Rajni Chhabra is a collection of more than half a century of poets of repute in Rajasthani poetry as well as those budding poets who are writing poetry with passion and have maintained the purity of the Rajasthani culture. While reading this anthology, I have found that there is a serene atmosphere of Rajasthani folk culture. Through the eyes of the translator, I have noted the real essence of poetry and I accept that there is no bar of language for true poetry. Poetry itself takes its form and language in which it is written. In this collection, the real work of original translation is just like the rebirth of the poetry originally felt by the native poets. 

Rajni Chhabra is not a new name in the world of the English translation. Besides being a poet herself, she has a bulk of experience in writing in more than one language and has authored several books, not only on poetry but Numerology and other motivational genres too.
In this book, the reader can find the fragrance of soil, the countryside, the life of the modern world, and the cultural and historical background of the thoughts of the poets included in it. This collection includes the most vibrant personalities of Rajasthani poets whose introduction does not need words. The number of poets who write in Rajasthani is also a part of the language movement for the Constitutional recognition of the Rajasthani language. Though Rajasthani culture is not far from Indian culture, several social and burning issues have been put forward by the poets that constitute a micro world within itself. Most of the poets are rooted in the essence of Rajasthani culture. They think and they work diligently; they feel like a universal entity. They muse over several local issues. They are progressing in every field, but their feet are touching the ground. To write about these famous signatures of the present day is to show the light to the Sun.

The first poem I come across has been delineated by Aidan Singh Bhati, who feels worried about the disintegration of age-long values and the means our forefathers used to make our houses pious with mud and cow-dung. The streets are choked with smoke. The fragrance of clouds, butterflies, and flowers is absent. A woman in front of his eyes appeared and a footpath stretched itself. In his poem, the diligent figure of a common woman is found plucking shoots of millet in the fields and doing other household work.

In the poem Craftsmanship, Raju Bijarania writes the true feeling of the mother as she is busy from dawn to dusk mending the home torn into pieces while we can see the farmer working throughout the scorching day of June, Ramswarup Kissan observes his spouse with a line of perspiration due to the excessive work in the field. He deems her solo bearer who holds all the responsibility and loads of family; the man does nothing except do some petty jobs. He calls himself a useless ox who is not working but composing a few verses even though he is awake, but in sleep, she is pushing the cart.
Reena Menaria imposes a strong question of the identity of a girl who refuses to get married and perform wedding rituals; the wedding procession has to return without a bride. This is not the question of marriage and the denial of marriage, but the question of the decision taken by a daughter. We can see the dark side of the bullied society where the bridegroom has to be unhorsed due to the discrimination of old-aged casteism. B. L. Paras underlines the fact that besides being modern as we are; casteism is still prevalent in a society that is more dangerous than the mania of Kim Jong of North Korea who can cause deadly destruction within a second. He finds the discrimination made by the higher caste taboos who think they are made impure merely of the touch of the lower caste people. He makes it clear and feels awkward when he finds himself not able to get the love of a higher-class lady because of the discrimination, though he loves her immensely.

The theme of a daughter is high-lightened by the poets such as Arjun Dev Charan, The daughter is instructed to orient the rules of society. She is enthusiastic to do something outstanding at school and home, but her feelings have been curtailed. She owns a pair of eyes, but they are devoid of dreams; she possesses lips but it is not to speak; she possesses hands to spread in front of others; she has feet but she spends her whole life as handicapped. Poet Charan claims that a daughter opens the door of home; the path for coming generations; probabilities of the future but never opens the doors of her heart. Nalini Purohit states in her poem, ‘Madhavi’ that Madhavi is not dumb. God had bestowed her with a tongue that has been snatched away by this society. She is destined to live in a male-dominated society where questioning is prohibited. Nalini asks if society could donate a son in marriage rather than donating a daughter in the marriage by her father. Sapna Verma delicately portrays women in the poem, ‘Grass and Woman’ A woman is like grass /Swaying and waving/ Delicate and soft/ Always keeps sticking/To roots. Despite being cut many times, she keeps sticking to her roots. She has the capacity of flourishing into a tree. She takes pride in being grass that turns the whole earth into the greenery.

We can observe the true feelings of a fond father in Atul Kanak’s poems for dear daughters. He trains her daughter in swimming and now she wants to comprehend the exhalation of rivers when they mingle into the sea. He describes her daughter who used to sleep till late even after sunrise; covering her face with a sheet of dreams, but now she gives priority to her official duty to cherish her life. The poet worries about whether she can take out some time to sing or not. Poetess Ila Pareek feels it is her moral obligation to scribble about the injustice faced by females in every stage of life. The burning issue of foeticide in baby girls is put forward. While the baby is in the womb, an atmosphere of death dominates the scene. She is instructed by her pen to lay down the pathos of this unborn daughter. She paints the whole life of Lachami in a picturesque manner that imprints the struggle of an Indian woman. Neelam Pareek puts the question of the identity of the daughter in the poem, ‘Where is my Sky? She states, ‘Birds fly freely/ in the vast sky/ If I am a bird/ Where is my/ Share of the sky?

The rural setting of a mother removing the thick layer of cream from curd, beckoning children to come and sit in her lap, for relishing butter, shown pictorially in the poems of Inder Singh Rajpurohit is noteworthy. In the poems of Deendayal Sharma, we find a lot of exposure to the feelings of children who always have a question. That is why people usually avoid conversing with them. They never tie a knot of hatred like we elders do on petty issues without any reason. Dinesh Charan urges to save humanity rather than showing concern about the environment sitting in air-conditioned rooms; while in the poem of Basanti Panwar, honesty commits suicide and war leaves so many questions behind. The poems of Neeraj Daiya are infused with the feelings of sand, dunes, and deer without which the description of Rajasthani poetry is incomplete.

Love is the universal theme in poetry and we can relish it in the poems of Om Purohit ‘Kagad’, Jayshree Kanwar, Sanghmitra Rathore, Madhu Acharya, Nand Bhardwaj, Ravi Purohit, and Sanwar Daiya. Jayshree tries to awaken the feeling of true love through her poem, Mahender Moomal. In Sanghmitra’s poem, You –you and You, she finds- In the love of Dhola-Maru/ I view you in/ Blood- smeared arrows/I view you in / Blossoms at my abode.

 It is not easy to mention all the names of all the great gems of Rajasthani poetry in one glimpse, but I would like to conclude my view by taking the example of poetic creation in the poems of Jitender Soni who truly feels the pain of composing poetry just like the pain of giving birth to a child. 

Rajni Chhabra has carved a niche in literary corridors, especially in multi-lingual translation works. I would like to congratulate all the participants whose poems have been included in this collection.©

Scatterd Moments (Preview) By M. A. Rathore

Nandita Samanta is an upcoming contemporary voice in the field of Indian English literature gaining momentum through each of her excellent poetic measures and contributions to modern literature. I have been visiting her timeline to relish the poetic feasts that she serves to the readers at length. She is a highly sophisticated and well-brought-up lady with her classical wits and wisdom.

Scattered Moments is her debut poetry book through which she has portrayed her extraordinary talent of composing poems aesthetically. She has been an active member of the literature world. She is an artist and painter by nature and was an esteemed teacher professionally. She composes her rhymes with heart and chisels them with her mastery of language. She puts in extra carefulness and effort to make her verses a rare beauty.

Her poems are well-crafted, and mature in meaning which provides a soulful treatment to leave her readers in an enchanting wonder. The theme of her poems is versatile that I can prophesize her ultimate future as a poet of substance. From her girlhood days, she has been having an innate urge to write poetry, which got realized a few years back. 

Nandita's book is a product of a mind that is restless and vibrant, with a micro-fine sensibility as well. Her poems are full of expressions and rhythm that show her deep passion; a passion that enriches and nourishes her poetry. The very first read exemplifies her vast knowledge of mythological characters. She invokes the arrival of Zephyr to satiate her brimmed desires. She calls the west wind that brings rain in the spring season to arrive and rejuvenate nature as well as her, and she wants to become rain-drenched in emotional feelings for her companion.

Come Zephyr, the world is waiting

for a fresh shower of spring;

I'm waiting to be taken to your world. [Come Zephyr ]

 

She yearns for the most tantalizing elixir, the potion of love by her beloved alchemist so that he may allow her to cease with each drop of its pulsating love. She wants to drink it till the last drop from the flask of her lover, and die without any complaint.

The last drop... let me drink

from my lover's flask

that can make these sweet

tormenting moments last. [Elixir]

 

How fantastically she conveys her feelings of divine love that unfold a million desires though she is away from him, her wings of delight runs into a trance. Here the poet makes her readers feel the stirring presence of love within her through her imagery. The intense aroma of passion makes her bloom like a flower in spring and she undulates in ecstatic waves.

A pleasure unfolds within

As if petals blooming in spring,

In your intense undulating aroma

Gets drenched, my mortal aspects

Unclasps all binds and rises, 

Leaving behind vulnerable emotional fragility. [Never Too Late]

 

Love is not always reciprocal, not pleasurable, and sometimes it is painful, but true love never fails and pain can evoke immense pleasure, some can die happily in love. The rotation of days and nights goes on. The poet sees the dying stars every night which flings her to the next day. Thus she remains busy with her daily routine but she feels lovelorn even if she is left behind in grit and charcoal.

I love to remain lovelorn

In my night star's cuddle

your unrequited love to cajole. [Your Nightingale]

 

The poet expresses a deep passion for a lost love, the lover is reluctant to give up her hopes and believes that her love resides somewhere in the darkness and doesn't want to welcome the dawning sun which can break her illusion. She proclaims.

I don't wait for another dawn,

for it holds no interest

Face in the shadow pretends to be you

My empty inside substitutes, in hopes I may rest. [Substitution]

 

Poet is impregnated with seeds of desire and wants to deliver the ecstasy boldly. And thus invites the lover to satiate himself in her oozing passion, elaborating-

My lips hold the nectar

Oozing from an unfathomable heart

That has bloomed to its fullest

Inviting for a drink. [Joyous Communion]

 

The night is mystic and to add to its mystery, the poet in an invigorating essence weaves the tapestry of the darkness, the celestial beauty of the moon, and the wind skilfully in the following lines.

In a semitone

in night's whisper...

moan together

with the Moon and the Zephyr

Voice unvoiced thoughts...

break prolonged silence...[Dream]

 

 Sometimes memories elate and sometimes bite deeply or corrode from within. They are a part of our life, no matter what we try to forget they keep coming back in gusto or apathy. They fascinate or nudge.

Memories that I seek to forget

flicker like embers in a grate;

singeing my moribund life

escaping on a clamber. [Memories]

 

Reminiscing love that once was euphoric, but now has lost the zeal the poet captivates with her lines.

Recalling the fervency of the bygone night

Still exhausted bed laments and sighs. [Changing Colours]

 

The entire day is toil for survival, tired one retires for the night hoping to rest and dream beautifully fulfilling the unfulfilled desires and praying for a better brighter tomorrow. Here the poet explores the advent of such a moment where the failing, falling light nourishes nannies a night in its cuddle. 

Dusk lays its bosom for the night to feed

When my dream grapples for a hold of hope. [Togetherness]

 

 As a woman sometimes the poet feels vulnerable, divided between recognition and lost identity, smothered by thankless mechanical responsibilities, she doubts her existence. 

I believe I live in

belief and skepticism

divided between extant and extinct,

sometimes a woman, sometimes no one.[Unseasonal]

 

When one tries deciphering relationships the complexity of it surprises, and the truth often is dumbfounding. Some standing at the crossroad of life are indecisive and lost. Poet paints such a situation in her poem Black Hole. Lines that caught my attention 

Love twirled in the turbulence, churning out the relationship

Then vanished into the darkness

Empty soul watched in dumb silence. [Black Hole]

 Nature is so enthralling and its beauty is so seeking that people forget the pain and discomfort in its lap. Just like a mother's lap is the safest heaven for a child, so is nature's lap for all living beings. Poet is amazed by the beauty of nature at night. The sky at night looks sequinned and exotic, and the silhouettes in the distance add charm to the mystique of night. Poet expresses her overwhelming feeling through these lines

In the lap of nature, forgetting all duress

Enthralled, I stand under the blanket of darkness

Watching the cosmic beauty and nature coalesce. [Neon Light]

 

 Poppy field is always associated with death and the sad memories of Flanders. Poet feels this is unacceptable and highlights the beauty of a poppy field at different hours of the day in her way.  I'm delighted reading the closing lines of her poem. 

My heart yields to this stunning presence,

The crimson ground a divine nascence!

Not all poppies' blood red fed

Not all poppies grow on the dead. [Poppy Field]

 

In her poem "Be My Ocean, Me Your Tide" she wishes to glow celestially.

Let me melt, let me flow,

Let me shine, celestially glow

Illuminate me your affection

Engulf my being, in your loving elation

 

Serenade me to a boundless eternity

Kissing, caressing, loving with timid honesty

Love me, trust me, be my pride

Be my ocean, me your tide.

 

Though humans are only a tidal wave in the vast boundary of the absolute oceanic existence they try to complete the circle of life via love in some form, passionate or spiritual. Like John Donne, the poet depicts an exaggerated expression of her love and proclaims that love is no more away from her reach, it exists as breath in the chest, ink on the nib, and tongue in the mouth 

Say, there's a mere eyelid's distance,

Between me and you

, we have waited for infinity

To live in this affinity

And tell them it's true

Moving on an axis in me

You're a world born anew. [Say]

 

After going through these poems I have an overwhelming feeling for the mighty soul, of Nandita Samanta and I hereby attest to her promising future in the world of International poetry and literature. Self-knowledge is always a provisional achievement; the poet has started her journey of achievements with excellence and will go a long way. I wish her much success.©

FOREWORD to The Songs of Humanity By M. A. Rathore

The author, Mohan Lal Verma is an upcoming poet of the modern world in the field of English literature. He writes in Hindi and Rajasthani also. He belongs to a middle-class family in Rajasthan. He has shown extraordinary talent in composing his poetry and reciting it on his blogs and YouTube channels. By profession, he is a lecturer in English. He is a man full of thoughts and words. He writes with his heart and tries to maintain the standard and rhythm of Indian mythology in his poetry.
 
He is a true follower of Indian philosophy and believes in the theory of karma. He is a hard-working teacher and a dedicated soul in search of true God and the most appropriate fellow who fights for the downtrodden. He has a heart that throbs for humanity and peace. He is an avid reader who has never wasted his time on trivial things but makes use of the best of it and keeps himself busy in doing fruitful jobs such as initiative teaching, writing, playing music, etc.
 
Though poetry writing is not an easy task yet he finds himself close to the secrets of poetry. In his life, he has accepted the dark and din with a heavy load of mental distraction while he was struggling for success. He never said a word to society but his suffering made him realize that he should pen down his sorrows and sufferings in black and white, as the outburst of his powerful feelings in poetry.
 
Poetry is the medium of expressing something great and hidden, and Mr. Verma is the master of poetic sensibilities. The openness of his mind paves the way for innocent expression in his poetry regardless of caste, colour, and creed. He is the man of his word who favours the fundamentals of humanity.
 
“The Songs of Humanity” is the debut collection of poems by Mohan Lal Verma. It is a bunch of 80 poems with several styles including sonnets, and Gammo style, and most of his poems are in free verse. Though most of his poems are praiseworthy yet it is better to discuss some of his best poems here.
He is an optimistic bent of mind. He believes that hard days will never remain. He thinks a man should have at least faith and hope. He writes in his poem ‘Hope’:
If the storm of adversity affects your life
Hope works like an anchor of the ship;
If you are on the battlefield with cuts and wounds,
It acts as a soothing dressing;
Antibiotic medicine, if you have not become lazy.
 
How fantastically he expresses his images which ultimately motivate a man to work more if he has felt low and disappointed in life! See the next poem entitled ‘Optimism’ that makes a man optimistic and gives strength to the despaired.
What though the night is dark today
And you are surrounded with dense despair;
There is always a silver lining after heavy rain
For the new moon of hope and bliss.

Those who suffer much can guide and motivate. In this regard, he instills his readers with courage by giving several examples when he says:
Who will accept a challenge?
If he has not had enough courage and promptness,
Initiative attitude and steady efforts;
Moreover, the patience that has wings of hawks.
 
One should have faith if one wants to get something from life itself. He praises his readers to have belief if they want to come up with their original selves. They should have a belief in the theory of karma. He dictates:
When an infant shows his belief
In his mother he becomes graceful;
Like the faith of a mountaineer
That gives him a way to measure
The peaks of unconquerable mountains.
 
The poem ‘Why Do I Write?’ is a search within. The poet explores the hidden secrets of life. His motto becomes clear. We can see his vast thoughts even in this single poem which shows his determination and inclination as a poet.
The secret of birth and death I disclose,
Strolling around the earth I feel a repose;
I travel over oceans, deserts, and mountains,
Beholding the scenic beauty of plush plains.
 
In his poem Love, we can observe his deep brooding when he tells us that love is life and life is love which is close to platonic love. He says:
Love is the bondage of the souls
Without any difference of sex and creed;
Away from the physical or spiritual call,
Love is life and life is love.

Describing several instances in his poem entitled Sacrifice; he concludes that we have to sacrifice our lives for the cause of the poor and downtrodden. He says:
For the cause of human welfare,
Great people sacrifice their lives;
And show the path of sublimation
To the afflicted and ignorant human being.

To bring a smile to the face of a man if someone behaves properly to please the deserted soul can bring him back to life. The poet is a true soul when he requests the readers to bring harmony and peace. In his poem Appreciation, he feels grateful to God:
If we feel grateful to God
For all his gifts and grace,
For His fortune and favour,
Above all, He makes us sleep and awake,
We should appreciate His love and kindness.

All of the above-mentioned quotations show that Mr. Mohan Lal Verma is a poet of promising nature. He is the master of his verse. It shows that he sits on a pulpit and delivers his message like a great saint. I am looking forward to reading more of his poems and congratulating him on his first debut.©

Two and Half Years (novel) (Review)By M. A. Rathore

"Two and Half Years” is a novel by Dinesh Upadhyay, born on 9 March 1976, the upcoming voice in the modern world of novelists. Hailing from Didwana, Nagaur in Rajasthan, he is by profession a teacher. He is the master of his art of dramatization. The novel presents the psycho-analysis of the character of the protagonist, Diwakar. He poeticizes his situations when he is in his deep thoughts.

By nature the main character, Diwakar is a teacher who believes in scientific knowledge more than merely false assumptions of astrology; though astrology is science itself. He tastes the bitter fruit of reality and the tragic aftermath of his luck while struggling through his job-oriented career in different private institutions. Though working diligently and with dedication, he faces the shrewd reality of institutional crookedness and how it exploits the teachers and tries to get the maximum out of them, paying them a meager wage. Diwakar protests the so-called service and loses his job for so many times but in the end; he wins, for his courage as predicted by Shastri, the fortune teller. He had predicted the turning of his luck after two and half years, the total period of the coil of Saturn and the Rahu" which was a decisive remedy for the sorrows and sufferings he has been facing from the very start of the novel.    The whole plot of the novel revolves around Diwakar. He is the mouthpiece of the novelist who himself is also a teacher by profession.

Intrigue plays a dominant role in the narrative; especially to confiscate of the property of the elder brother, Jagdish by his relatives which are reported to the court for justice, meanwhile his father Jagdish dies of the shock of disgrace by going to trial in court against his brother.    The suspicious character of Birdichand reveals worsening moral values under the garb of highly institutional status. He makes all his conspiracy to unclothe Diwakar to cover the sins that he has made by committing vulgar activities to abduct Jaisel and her companion. 

The characterization in the narrative is simple and unique in the sense it is an Indian scenario and especially in Rajasthan. The dialogues are much closer to the setting of this narrative. Some of the expressions are translated into the finer thread. 

The basic thread in the story runs side by side with the effects of the stars on the human mind and their ways to dominate them at a higher level. The protagonist of the novel, Diwakar is a man of pragmatic nature who believes in his deeds rather than the prophecy of the soothsayer. Instead of going after the astrological predictions, he prefers to garner enough courage to fight adverse circumstances.

Diwakar is a man of high moral standards. He does not feel ashamed of accepting what happens in the case of the girl, Lichhma. He bears all adversities with fortitude and his sound character.

The narrative underlines the dignity of labour against the exploitation by the so-called Directors. The language and diction used in this narrative are simple yet offer a highly psychological dissection of the character. The whole story is interconnected with each of the chapters. As a novel, it is pure and simple. It is the picture of manners exhibiting the characters through which the whole philosophy of life is revealed. Here I would like to congratulate Dinesh Upadhyay for his brilliant debut.©

FOREWORD TO ACROSS THE BORDER By M. A. Rathore

Across the Border Translated by Rajni Chhabra is a collection of more than half a century of the poets of repute in Rajasthani poetry as well as those budding poets who are writing poetry with passion and have maintained the purity of the Rajasthani culture. While reading this anthology, I have found that there is a serene atmosphere of Rajasthani folk culture. Through the eyes of the translator, I have noted the real essence of poetry and I accept that there is no bar of language for true poetry. Poetry itself takes its form and language in which it is written. In this collection, the real work of original translation is just like the rebirth of the poetry originally felt by the native poets. Rajni Chhabra is not a new name in the world of English translation. Besides being a poet herself, she has a bulk of experience in writing in more than one language and has authored a number of books, not only on poetry but Numerology and other motivational genres too.

In this book, the reader can find the fragrance of soil, the countryside, life of the modern world and cultural and historical background of the thoughts of the poets included in it. This collection includes the most vibrant personalities of Rajasthani poets whose introduction has no need for words. The number of poets who write in Rajasthani are also a part of the language movement for the Constitutional recognition of Rajasthani language. Though Rajasthani culture is not far from Indian culture, yet a number of social and burning issues have been put forward by the poets that constitute a micro world within itself. Most of the poets are rooted in the essence of Rajasthani culture. They think and they work diligently; they feel like a universal entity. They muse over a number of local issues. They are progressing in every field, but their feet are touching the ground. To write about these famous signatures of the present day is to show the light to the Sun.

The first poem I come across has been delineated by Aidan Singh Bhati, who feels worried about the disintegration of age-long values and the means our forefathers used to make our houses pious with mud and cow-dung. The streets are choked with smoke. The fragrance of clouds, butterflies and flowers is absent. A woman in front of his eyes appeared and a footpath stretched itself. In his poem, the diligent figure of a common woman is found plucking shoots of millet in the fields and doing other household works.

In the poem Craftsmanship, Raju Bijarania writes the true feeling of mother as she is busy from dawn to dusk mending the home torn into pieces while we can see the farmer working throughout scorching day of June, Ramswarup Kissan observes his spouse with a line of perspiration due to the excessive work in the field. He deems her solo bearer who holds all the responsibility and loads of family; the man actually does nothing except doing some petty jobs. He calls himself a useless ox who is not working, but composing a few verses even though he is awake, but in sleep she is pushing the cart.

Reena Menaria imposes a strong question of the identity of a girl who refuses to get married and perform wedding rituals; the wedding procession has to return without a bride. This is not the question of marriage and the denial of marriage, but the question of decision taken by a daughter. We can see the dark side of the bullied society where the bridegroom has to be unhorsed due to the discrimination of old aged casteism. B. L. Paras underlines the fact that besides being modern as we are; the casteism is still prevalent in the society that is more dangerous than the mania of Kim Jong of North Korea who can cause a deadly destruction within a second. He finds the discrimination made by the higher caste taboos who think they are made impure merely of the touch of the lower caste people. He makes it clear and feels awkward when he finds himself not able to get the love of a higher class lady because of the discrimination, though he loves her immensely.

The theme of a daughter is high-lightened by the poets such as Arjun Dev Charan, The daughter is instructed to orient the rules of society. She is enthusiastic to do something outstanding at school and home, but her feelings have been curtailed. She owns a pair of eyes, but they are devoid of dreams; she possesses lips but it is not to speak; she possesses hands to spread in front of others; she has feet but she spends her whole life as handicapped. Poet Charan claims that daughter opens the door of home; path for coming generations; probabilities of future but never opens the doors of her heart. Sapna Verma delicately portrays women in the poem, ‘Grass and Woman’ A woman is like grass /Swaying and waving/ Delicate and soft/ Always keeps sticking/To roots. In spite of being cut many times, she keeps sticking to roots. She has the capacity of flourishing into a tree. She takes pride in being grass that turns the whole earth into greenery.

We can observe the true feelings of a fond father in Atul Kanak’s poems for the dear daughters. He trains her daughter in swimming and now she wants to comprehend the exhalation of rivers when they mingle into the sea. He describes her daughter who used to sleep till late even after sunrise; covering her face with a sheet of dreams, but now she gives priority to her official duty to cherish her life. The poet worries about whether she can take out some time to sing or not. Poetess Ila Pareek feels it her moral obligation to scribble about the injustice  faced by females in every stage of life. The burning issue of foeticide of baby girls is put forward. While the baby is in the womb, an atmosphere of death dominates the scene. She is instructed by her pen to lay down the pathos of this unborn daughter. She paints the whole life of Lachami in a picturesque manner that imprints the struggle of an Indian woman. 

Neelam Pareek puts the question of the identity of daughter in the poem, ‘Where is my Sky? She states, ‘Birds fly freely/ in the vast sky/ If I am a bird/ Where is my/ Share of the sky?

The rural setting of mother removing thick layer of cream from curd, beckoning children to come and sit in her lap, for relishing butter, shown pictorially in the poems of Inder Singh Rajpurohit is noteworthy. In the poems of Deendayal Sharma, we find a lot of exposure of the feelings of children who always have a question. That is why people usually avoid conversing with them. They never tie a knot of hatred like we elders do on petty issues without any reason.Dinesh Charan urges to save humanity rather than showing concern about environment sitting in air-conditioned rooms; while in the poem of Basanti Panwar, honesty commits suicide and war leaves so many questions behind. The poems of Neeraj Daiya are infused with the feelings of sand, sand-dunes, deer without which the description of Rajasthani poetry is incomplete.

Love is the universal theme in poetry and we can relish it in the poems of Om Purohit ‘Kagad’, Jayshree Kanwar, Sanghmitra Rathore, Madhu Acharya, Nand Bhardwaj, Ravi Purohit and Sanwar Daiya. Jayshree tries to awaken the feeling of true love through her poem, Mahender Moomal. In Sanghmitra’s  poem, You –you and You, she finds- In love of Dhola-Maru/ I view you in/ Blood- smeared arrows/ I view you in / Blossoms at my abode.

 It is not easy to mention all the names of all the great gems of Rajasthani poetry in one glimpse, but I would like to conclude my view by taking the example of poetic creation in the poems of Jitender Soni who truly feels the pain of composing poetry just like the pain of giving birth to a child. 

Rajni Chhabra has marked a niche in literary corridors, especially in multi-lingual translation works. I would like to congratulate all the participants whose poems have been included in this collection.©2022