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Soul Sentinels: A trek to remember

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Soul Sentinels “ Shiv bhaiyya, aur kitna chalna hai ?” Baby’s voice echoes through the forest. A strident sun shines on her damp face. Sweat runs in rivulets down her collar bones. Other trekkers halt, exhausted. They look at each other. Consensus is established that Baby looks sexier when she’s sweating. Shiv, our trek-guide, doesn’t consider her cry stop-worthy; not even a head-turn-worthy. He moves on with an impassive face, motioning us to follow suit. “Chalo, chalo,” he shouts with irreverence. As though he’s herding sheep. Baby curses under her breath and drags her feet again. Other members of B-204 wonder if she’s cursing at Shiv or them. We are in Himachal, and trekking on the Pir Panjal range, towards Chanderkhani Pass. We have started the trek from Naggar camp, at around 5800 feet above the sea level, and aim to climb upto 12,000 feet in 3 days. It’s the first day and we’re already steeped in self doubts. The terrain is between steep and very steep. The sun is me

भत तेरी की

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माँ मेरी , पता चला कि  माओं के लिए एक अलग सा दिन होने लगा है . Mothers’ Day. हंसी आई सुनकर कि जहाँ पूरा जीवन समर्पित करना भी कम पड़ जाए, वहां एक दिन के समर्पण से कैसे काम चला लेती है सभ्यता? खैर, जब मानवता की माँ, यानी धरती के लिए भी Earth Day होने लगा है, वहां इंसान क्या चीज़ है! अगर वसुंधरा को चेतना में सामने के लिए एक दिन का कार्यक्रम पर्याप्त है, तब माँ-बाप-भाई-बहन-पति-पत्नी-दोस्त-प्यार-इत्यादि...सबके दिवस मनाये जा सकते हैं. हमको पता है   कि  तुम भत तेरी की  करके विषयांतर करोगी. इस मामले में पापा से विचार विमर्श   कर पाना कितना intellectually stimulating है. वो इसके पीछे के socio-economic परिवेश को समझ बूझकर कितना अच्छा विश्लेषण करते हैं. बचपन में पापा dinner table पर philosophical discussion यूँ ही कर बैठते थे और मेरा मुँह खुला का खुला रह जाता था. रौंगटे खड़े हो जाते थे. विचारों की वह स्पष्टता. अध्ययन की वह गहराई. अभिव्यक्ति का वह ज़ोर. आँखों से टपकता जूनून. आवाज़ में गरजता विश्वास. पापा तो हीरो ठहरे. हम कैसे मन्त्र मुग्ध हो जाते थे. आज भी हो जाते हैं.

Back to campus as a recruiter: A study in humility

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Dear IIMC students who participated in the Jindal Stainless internship selection test on April 5, A day spent with you gave me much to remember, learn, and respect. It transported me back to my days at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, 13 years ago. I’d look at fellow students with awe, a tad too conscious of being present among geniuses. That was exactly how you made me feel among you. I was once again marveling at the selection procedure of IIMC, that brings home such an incredible talent pool. Once again, I was back in love with the college. I have to admit that the intervening period had somewhat doused my faith in IIMC. I had met and interviewed a few IIMCians who did not make the cut. That was, personally speaking, disappointing. Considering how much of myself the college had helped me find, I expected better from its alumni. Forgive me for my ‘intellectual laziness’ (a termed refreshed by one of you that day), I was beginning to generalize that the good old

A farewell poem

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Always polite, always firm, and yet, almost always open to correction, this boss of mine held aloft several principles I stand by. He deserves an ovation for how he dealt with difference of opinion. He is grace personified. Amitabh Akhauri, our Boss, stands in the centre There comes the boss With the loud, roaring voice His height may seem threatening, But he’s full of little joys. He’s got a special way Of clearing through the clutter Decisions, tough or easy, He takes them without a flutter. Strong where he must be Else smiling all throughout He’s humble, reflective, and kind He’s sure, he’s tough, he’s proud. He’s certainly a dear person A Gentleman to the core He infects happiness around him His going does leave us sore… His going does leave us sore…

मोह मोह के धागे

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जाने कैसे घूम फिर कर हर बात, हर रात, तुम्हीं पर आ कर टिक जाती है. तुम्हारे छोटे चड्डे के उधड़ते हुए धागों पर. तुम्हारे बौराए हुए घुंघराले बालों पर. तुम्हारी कविता जैसी आँखों-पलकों पर. तुम्हारे चंचल भाव-भंगिमा पर. तुम्हारे माँ जैसे स्वभाव पर . तुम्हारी कल-कल बहती हंसी पर. तुम्हारी इतराती-बलखाती अदाओं पर. तुम्हारे सुकूनदेह स्पर्श पर. तुम्हारे गालों के भंवर पर. अनुभूति कुछ भी हो, दिनचर्या जैसी भी बीते. अहसास जैसा भी हो, माध्यम जो भी रहे. अभिव्यक्ति कुछ भी हो. निष्कर्ष तुम्हीं तक लाता है. जब हर दिशा, दशा, मंज़र, रस्ता, गली, चौराहा एक ही मंज़िल दर्शाये - तो जान लेना चाहिए के वो भीतर तक घर कर चुका है. कि हम उसके उतने हो चुके हैं कि उसके बिना अपना पूर्ण परिचय देना कठिन पाते हैं. अपना पूर्ण होना भी. पूर्ण जीना भी.

The Women Gossipers

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They are everywhere. Slavering with stories and theories on women. They are found among both sexes. Gossiping about women is their chief pastime. Like herds, their thoughts on the subject are all the same. That women envy each other. That women can never be true friends with other women. That women are poor drivers. That women nag. That women are family breakers. That parenting is a woman’s responsibility. That women are born to be homemakers. That career women are social threats. Etcetera.    “You know what, when we men become friends, we barely care about each other’s wealth or assets. We simply chill out. But when women are together, all they notice is the jewelry and clothes of other women.” I’ve heard self-appointed social commentators explain. Let’s ask them – do you remember the cars and official positions of your male friends? Yes, you do. Because you take interest in cars and designations. People remember what interests them. Social conditioning is a significant