To Mother

Mother I will born again!

 I look into the mirror

a history shrieks at my back

I carry the ruins of the civilization.

Every woman does. Every mother does.

 

I look into your eyes: the darkness

life perhaps is walking dead

through me and someone tells me:

                        you shouldn’t be

                        shouldn’t be alive.

 

This is a night before,

this is a moment before

I allowed myself

                        to be scraped out

                        of your womb,

my unformed

unborn shreds of tiny body.

 

The devil of tradition

takes over and hovers upon you

the very moment

you conceived me.

They say they see a devil

in a pregnant body,

fearful of the unknown

demand only male air

which sometimes they

themselves don’t have

in their male body.

How easy it is to play ignorant

and blame a woman for

not delivering a male child!

 

History laughs.

Nothing has changed

between now and then

from the ancient midwife’s

making the newborn baby girl

suck her poisonous thumb

to see her unborn body

through ultrasounds and

wash her out. Difference?

Only it looks more accurate,

more sure, professional,

and six months time saver.

 

After I opened my eyes

for the very first time

in the day light

I found myself alive

pulsating, and  crying.

Only after sucking on

the poisonous thumb

I was declared a dead-born!

 

Now it has changed.

I am not even allowed

to be born.

Sex-selection labs,

testing and selecting

        the only sex: male!

considering female foetus

as sub-human demon

her right to be born

            is taken away!

 

Traditional bound parents

find  a relief in aborting

their female air.

They earn an other chance

a privilege to try again

until they get it ‘right’.

 

Mother, I feel your sighs

inside your womb

I sipped your salty tears

inside your womb.

You know this sanctuary

this sacred place you offer

for both male and female

is safe temple for me.

Over a span of time

and countless loathings later

I will come again.

I will be born again and again.

I will dwell in this sacred place again!

Don’t you worry mother!

I will be there again!!

You know, I know

if we keep vanishing ourselves

the day is not far  away

when the human race

will no longer be there!

 – A poem by Surjeet Kalsey

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Beyond Masks

..

 

Year 2011 made me wiser!

 

I discovered real faces

hidden under masks

The masked faces were

showing wrinkle free smile

sugar-coated words

pretending humbleness.

True self of a person

is tested only in crisis

the way it is handled.

Some brood and wait

evaluate the situation

reflect on the words

some lash out their

inner hidden garbage

and spread out filth.

The moment it happens

their faces become naked

their masks crack down and

people see them who they really are!

 

This is how friendship cracks down

this is how intimate people become enemies

Watch  for a mask of kindness!

Nothing is free, look for its price tag.

Sometimes we have to pay too much price

for someone’s tiny kindness.

Meanings underneath humbleness

could be a fire-ball underneath snow.

 

 

 

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2 October

GANDHI JAYANTI

CELEBRATION OF PEACE

On October 2^nd Gandhi Jayanti   

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”       

                                                                                                  By Mahatma Gandhi

2^nd  October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti – Mahatma Gandhi ji Birthday 2^nd October 1869 in Porbunser Kathiyawar, Gujarat India. Gandhiji was a pioneer of Non-violence and firm believer in practicing non-violence in his life, in his thoughts, in his struggle which played a significant role in achieving independence for India from British rule.

Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday in India celebrated on 2nd October. This day is celebrated in the honor of the birthday of the Father of the nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi or Bapuji. Internationally this day is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence as Gandhiji was the preacher of non-violence. He is a symbol of peace and truth. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of total non-violence.
All the businesses,  institutions, organizations and schools, throughout India remain closed on 2^nd October to mark the National holiday. Special colourful cultural event are organized at various places and in every state especially at Raj Ghat, New Delhi where Gandhiji was cremated. People say prayers, pay homage and remind themselves to follow the path of non-violence  and peace and sing Gandhiji’s favorite song “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram …” in Gandhi ji’s memory.
Gandhi ji’s words are with us to guide the world:

Read during the month of October:

GREAT SOUL: Mahatma Gandhi & His Struggle With India

By

Joseph Lelyveld

(Winner of  the Pulitezer Prize)

Gandhiji said:

• “Ahimsa (non-violence) is the highest duty. Even if we cannot practice it in full. We must try to understand its spirit and refrain as far as humanly possible from violence.”
• “Hatred ever kills, love never dies; such is the vast difference between the two.”
• “Hate the sin and not the sinner”.
• “Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
• “Truth is the breath of my life. The only virtue I want to claim is Truth and Non-violence. I lay no claim to super human powers. I want none.”
• “Humanity is the key to success.”
• “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.”
• “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”
• “I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for Unity, Love and Peace.”
• “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

(Remembering a great teacher)

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