Spectator

रात का मुसाफ़िर  सर्द हवा की  चुभन से बढ़ रहे हौसले मेरे, स्वप्न है  या नींद में एकांत में कभी भीड़ में चल रहा हुँ  इस उम्मीद में कि मुसाफिर हुँ  रात का। पिछड़ गया रफ़्तार से निकल गया तकरार से और मुक्त हुँ  भीख मांगती निगाओं की अपेक्षाओं के बौछार से चल रहा हुँ  इस उम्मीद में कि मुसाफिर हुँ ज़ज्बात  का। - हरीश बेंजवा

Harmonium - Disharmony! Naah! am not criticizing western music or its instruments with this peti (Harmonium) . Am not a crusader. This episode revolves around my training days to learn guitar(i didn't perfect it yet). With childlike curiosity i came to know some International Guitar Coaching center has been opened in my neighbourhood. As the prefix had international, mind got attracted that I will learn some international technique. One fine day I went to the International Center. There was a dark glass door, to give it some mysterious look. I entered and saw a thin mid aged man (Mr. X) sitting on a revolving chair, i guess he was revolving for several hours, as i just saw him. With one x-ray i thought he was the attendant given his outlook and acts (revolving) but was blown away with the american accent 'Hello!'. I got nervous as i didn't expect from this poor looking, malnourished man to say with that elan.  I murmured - " Hello! Sir. I have com

Time Favours Me! रात में  चिरागों  सी जलती है कुछ  इस तरह तुम्हारी बात  उम्मीदों के परवान लौ  में  बीत रही रात। हौसला भी आज नुमाइश  की बाट जोहे  कर रहा है कुछ फ़ितूर दिल में, बात  जो बढ़े अब या तब से  हाल का मेरा वो फ़रमान पढ़ दें क्यूंकि  वक़्त है मेहरबान मुझ   पे। (This night ascends, And the hope pretends, The guts are in full spirit, in some mischievous... Your talks goes on My scroll of heart you can declare, As time favors me here..)   - Harish Benjwal

I wish Freedom! An urchin watching a ragpicker. Maybe freedom in his mind.   Photo : Harish Benjwal Happy Independence Day to all! Yes! we turned 66th last midnight only. Great. If one starts going into memory lane he/she will learn that indeed a very long phase has just passed. The clarity of events on the fateful day of 15th August 1947 has gone into the feeble snapshots of black and white photographs, films and audio. It seems that the time was old and the days used to be dry, colourless. None of us, of present generation can relate with that era. It's difficult for us. I remember my school days and the Independence Day as an eventful day-half day . That time we used to assemble in school premises, and after flag hoisting, cultural programmes and concluding national anthem, we used to get sweets ( laddoos). The two  laddoos used to be a very great thing, as they were the prized possession, of one of the day of the week, of a year that was beyond the regular schedule