Spectator

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...

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 sch...

Image Courtesy :  clker.com Dichotomy of Love Your reasons and your arguments, I wonder how stupid am I not to understand them, and you follow... You need comfort, you need the love and me to be near to clasp you tightly. You will not talk, and will turn moody, you making faces.. for the unknown reasons known just to you. And then that touch of  yours make me feel, how meaningful am here to someone, who wants to cuddle me, care and love me without any reasons maybe it is... the dichotomy of love - Harish Benjwal

Image Courtesy : clker.com फ़ुहार  है तो  ये बारिश की फ़ुहार जो बरसी आज यूँ बरबस आँखों की इस तपिश को कौंध  से बेबस कर. उड़ती हुई धूल के ये भंवर थे जो कुछ आक्रोश  में भीगती भरती हुई नालियों संग, अब तो  हैसियत खामोश है. कई रातों की करवटें बदली हैं जो इस पल शायद कई तो मैं भूल गया भूलता हूँ क्यूँ मैं सरल? बंधा हुआ आज सब ये तुम, समय और पहलुओं की जो रात थमी जरूर है, कुछ वक़्त तो  दो फिर जमेगी ये बरसात. मन तो है कुछ भीगने का संकोच पर जो मन का है बूँद गिरी हैं जो आँख पर, बस उन्ही का तो भ्रम हैं . - हरीश बेंजवाल

Jugalbandi : Phoolon ke Rang Se....    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=460342600643408 I t was just a meet and the company of a guitar, i along with Manish Nailwal started singing casually and strumming. and later realized the 'Jugalbandi' went very good....maybe coke studio in wait! :) the song lyrics are : फूलों के रंग से, दिल की कलम से, तुझ को लिखी रोज पाती कैसे बताऊँ किस किस तरह से, पल पल मुझे तू सताती तेरे ही सपने लेकर के सोया, तेरे ही यादों में जागा तेरे ख्यालों में उलझा रहा यूं जैसे के माला में धागा बादल बिजली चन्दन पानी, जैसा अपना प्यार लेना होगा जनम हमे कई कई बार इतना मदिर, इतना मधुर तेरा मेरा प्यार लेना होगा जनम हमे कई कई बार साँसों की सरगम धड़कन की वीणा, सपनों की गीतांजली तू मन की गली में महके जो हरदम ऐसी जूही की कली तू छोटा सफ़र हो, लंबा सफ़र हो, सूनी डगर हो या मेला याद तू आये, मन हो जाए, भीड़ के बीच अकेला बादल बिजली चन्दन पानी, जैसा अपना प्यार.. .. लेना होगा जनम हमे कई कई बार (Hindi lyrics courtesy : http://geetmanjusha.com/ ...

My essay got published. http://span.state.gov/mar-apr2012/eng/award-for-american-studies-benjwal.html