Departure of a Legend (Sir APJ Abdul Kalam)

You left us with 'ignited minds',

'Wings of Fire' shouldn't die,

We promise to you, Oh legend,
Your teachings we will apply,

We pray for peace and heart,
Your words for us were gold,
You taught us integrity & pride,
You taught us to be 'Bold',

We will try our best, O Great soul,
To follow the light, you showed,
Keeping intact the love for Nation,
We will seek, wisdom you bestowed,

We will let you go, to heavenly adobe,
To shine flawlessly during the night ,
Your magical simplicity will rest,
At an unmatched height,

But we know you will be around,
Whenever our path will become misty,
We salute you Sir with pure heart,
and promise to give water, to a thirsty.

क़त्ले आम

चहु ओर जो देखूं, बस क़त्ले-आम है,

प्यार के बाशिन्दो को मिलते जाम है,

सुर्ख अदाओ से चलाते है वो छुरियाँ, 

कभी अल्लाह है जिनका, कभी राम है,  

फैलाते है हैवानियत का डर वो ख़ास,

इंसानियत का खून ही जिनका काम है,

नशा दौलत का सिर चढ़ा है कुछ ऐसा, 

बाज़ारो में बिकते से ईमान तमाम है,

इस कदर गिरी है अब सोच दुनिया की, 

उठाने वाला हर शख्स यहाँ बदनाम है,

  

ना समझा ये छोटी सी बात वो 'साथी',

पीठ में घोपना खंजर, आजकल आम है || ड्व ||

प्रेम ऋतु

प्रेम जो विरह को छू आए, 

राधा यूँ मीरा हो जाए,

चंचल मन है चंचल 'साथी', 

सब जाने पर आग लगाए,

बरखा की इस प्रेम ऋतु में, 

सखिया मुझको खूब चिढ़ाए,

पिया मे जब भी ध्यान लगाऊं, 

अधरो में मुस्कान वो लाए,

यौवन सा एहसास प्रेम का,

मॅन प्रफ़्फुलित मुझको भटकाए,

आँसू में तुम, खुशियों मे तुम,

रूह भी तुझमे घुलती पाए,

आ जा संग नाचे बरखा में,

मोहित दिल ये आस लगाए,

ऐसे पिघले भीग भीग हम, 

दोनो दो से एक हो जाए, 

फूलो सा कोमल मेरा मॅन,

बस तुझको ही जपता जाए,

राधा तेरी, मीरा भी है,

तू ग्वाले सा हाथ ना आए || 

5 Things WWE should do

WWE Battleground pay per view is round the corner. WWE fans would love to see the results going in the positive direction. Fans, all over the world, would love to see WWE doing these 5 things to gain the trust of many fans all around the world.

Let's see what are the 5 thing fans expect from this entertaining wrestling fraternity :  

1)  Cut this Authority crap and join the shield.

To be precise, as a fan of WWE, it’s so discouraging to see unsubstantiated stories. People already know that WWE is scripted, but lets not make that script so dull. Team Cena, Team Rock, Team Vince, Team Shane, Team x ,y,z. Why everything is repeating only like a circle? For the one who is following WWE, since when it was WWF, it is like guessing the script effortlessly. If we look through a microscope, due to this Authority crap, most matches do not even end in a result. Making a team is good, but unnecessary writing scripts are boring and maybe that’s why we are observing back to back pay per views and marketing of them during the program by Stephanie and Triple H. It is ok if WWE want’s Seth to be the World Heavy Weight champion, there is nothing wrong in it, but give him some moves, strength or speed. Even Rey Mysterio had been the champ and his agility supported him. Seth is projected as master mind and hence he should win using the same and not incomplete matches. The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is the most prestigious title in WWE, and looking at the sorry state of it is quite intimidating.

The shield is still a better option before letting Roman Reigns win the title by making Seth lose his title to Brock and then teaming up with former shield members. From Battleground till Wrestle Mania next year, this shield Vs Brock would be a great idea to put forward. Big show, Brocklesner, Bray Wayyat, New day might become the victims at the hands of the shield.

      2) Diva Championship matches should be more interesting.

As much as people might be pissed by the same authority stories and unending matches, same goes with Nikki Bella’s winning streak. To project someone as arrogant or negative doesn’t mean they should be helped every time. And Nikki Bella doesn’t need the help of her sister to be the champion she is. Occasional help is fine, but mostly helping the champ is ridiculous and draws no story line. It doesn’t give the fans any guessing work to do, if no-one dominates the champions.

A new welcome move of the NXT Women’s champ S. Banks and other Diva’s to WWE is great, but then for the singles bout still this haziness will pinch the WWE supporters. Let’s hope that now we will have some great matches in the women’s division too.

      3) Need of an Entertainer

The People’s champ or the Cena rap. The cutting edge peep show or Chris Jerico’s Highlight Reel. WWE fans need a show like this to pump up the fans and show them off the other side of a super star. The daily show Miz Tv doesn’t seem to work like previous shows. Even King Barret tried his hands on the same, but he was unable to hold on to the excitement. Without an entertainer that speaks fun and not the crap like Seth Rollins or Rusev, the shows look colorless. A shows completes with fight as well as fun.

With the addition of Neville to WWE, it is a great visual treat for the fans to see the high flying moves. The anti gravity Vs the darkness is great, but he is an entertainer on the mat. Fans needs an entertainer which can not only entertain them on the mat, but off the mat too. The Rock or The People’s Champion is the perfect example of an entertainer. He was impeccable inside the ring with his moves and a killer by his fun filled attitude outside. In the current era, fans must be missing such an entertainer and WWE had to provide one to increase the interest.

      4)  Fans need intense matches.

It must be because students or children copies the WWE superstar that we do not see any intense matches like Iron Man Matches or Last Man Standing or TLC matches or Steel cage matches. Even if they happen, we rarely see that intense fight, which used to happen 6 to 8 years ago. The argument of no more blood splashing is fine, but the creative writers can make intense matches which don’t need to be blood spurting. The thrill and chill that used to travel through the spine of the fans can’t be generated just by the war of words. At least we can have casket match, Last man standing matches and even most falls in an hour kind of matches which might instill more interest in the fans and all over the world.

Even the entrance of The Undertaker was so spine chilling, no other superstar has got such entrance now. So matches need to be more intense with respect to the fight and entertainment.

Going personal in the name of fear is utter bullshit which we often see in here. Unnecessarily inclusion of  the family members to increase the frustrations or anxiety levels is just a useless step, this shows that creative genius needs some real rest. As shedding blood gives a negative message to the school children, then including the family members or attacking them also send that same negative vibe.

      5)  Use KANE as demon and not as a slave

The worst part of WWE is Kane. He might be doing something, off the arena, but in the arena he is literally useless or the role given to him is useless. There was the time when he  was equivalent to his brother, the dead man, now he is only a fun character that doesn’t suit him. With Brock Lesner – ‘The Beast’ breaking his ankle, he will be off for some time now. The new face of fear ‘Brey Wyatt’ isn’t that fearsome, Kane could be a lethal weapon for that fear factor. Another idea is that The demon - Kane can be clubbed with Wyatt for the storyline of fear. This battle can be taken to another level because both are significant to fear in WWE. 

*All photos are taken from google.

Is Poetry for Everyone?

Very first time when we heard poetry is when we didn’t even know its meaning. Do you remember your mother singing a song or poetry to make you smile or while trying to help you with your sleep? So poetry touches our lives very early. The next time when we realize that poetry exist in this world is when we read those in our textbooks or school books. These text books are for everyone. Even when we read magazines we find a column for poetry in all languages. We dance to the tunes of songs and poetry without actually realizing that they are poetry. And suddenly one day we realize that poetry is not for us. We realize that we have to choose between life and desires. While looking around, we started to become practical and leave the poetry aside. And our life starts to change.

When we grow up and meet a poet, we rather believe that he is either from a high profile family (who must have had a lot of money) or he must be the poorest of all (without any money). If both of our beliefs come out to be wrong, then we term him as a lucky person. And not only him, but people like him in any profession other than ours or even in which we are in, we term people as lucky. With time it becomes so obvious for us to believe in luck of others that we could then see more and more people riding on luck. Then, due to this overburden we start to panic a little bit in our life. Certainly there would be other problems as life is not a cake walk. So we combine all these tensions and dissolves it into one imaginary glass. Few of us then gets attracted towards bleak songs and poetry on sadness. We then started writing to let our negativities or frustration or hidden tears flow. At this point also we would not be in love with the poetry, but we would be in love with our bleak emotions. We would not be doing anything for the poetry, but we will only write to let our emotions out. There is nothing wrong in it because everyone is free to let their emotion flow.  

For those who write poetry out of tears and bleakness, then starts to find a publisher and start their journey of desires. Yet they will not be doing much for poetry, but they will want return from it. If they will get returns, then they will be happy, otherwise not so happy. There is nothing wrong in both.

But poetry is for everyone the only thing is to use appropriately. We should know clearly why are we writing poetry. Are we writing for letting out emotions out? Are we writing for others to get inspired? Are we writing for becoming a best seller? Or Are we writing because we love poetry?

Leaving all questions unanswered, but the last one, I would like to put a point. All those writers who write about poetry are the one who gifts a new meaning to poetry. As the way we evolve, poetry should also evolve in its form, presentation, meaning, style and more. This would only be possible if someone will treat poetry as passion and pass it on to others for future research. For that we should make poetry a culture because every child loves poetry. Every mother knows that a child smile when she sings to her child. Till then we will treat poetry as a time pass or a thing for extra time, neither we will add anything to poetry nor it will give us anything.

As everyone child enjoy music and poetry, we must understand the poetry is for everyone. We shall not restrict ourselves to very few forms or styles of poetry. At least we should encourage those individuals that are doing something in this regards and also those that want to become one. A poetry strummed on a guitar brings a smile on our face and this smile shows the satisfaction. At the end of the day, this is only what we want by any means.

So to everyone, I must say that poetry belongs to everyone, it is just the matter of passion who takes it where. So enjoy the poetry and spread positivity among others. Poetry is for everyone.

Buy & Read the book - Poetry For Everyone, consisting of 25 forms of poetry.

Let’s be the world beaters in Cricket

The golden cup of enigma, known as the world cup, should have its foothold for ages. Millions of fans pray for this, thousand of youngsters are dedicated to it and hundreds of player craves to touch it. It is a dream of every Indian cricket fan to see their team as a world beater, not just once, but again and again like recurring days and nights. If not for ages, then at least like the dominant Aussies. Indian cricket fans were on their feet, when Kapil dev and team weaved their magic at the lords, when Dada led India in 2003 world cup to the final. But in 2003 India scummed to then the strongest team, Australia. Then in 2007 world cup what happened was a nightmare for Indian fans. That unforgettable spark was again a matter of anonymity. Indian fans were so close in 2003 when Australia decimated them in final. That buried tease was still alive and when in 2011 the world cup tournament came home, it was near impossible to ignore India as a contender. Then came world cup 2011 in the Indian soil and the fans got what they want. The tigers pounced on their prey and in their own den they ended the drought of 28 years with the gold. That sheer excitement and phantom cheers at the Wankhede when Sachin Tendulkar- The God, lifted the world cup was an unforgettable moment. Then in 2015 when the world cup tournament travelled to Australia, people were skeptical about Indian team. Indian team defeated Ireland, UAE, Bangladesh, West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa but were again crushed by Australia. This time there was no Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Ganguly, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Nehra  and more.

People and few cricketing greats started shielding India by arguing that they have at least touched Semi-Final, as they defeated Bangladesh in quarterfinals. Dhoni consistently said that we have a new bunch of boys and they need experience at this level.

The best brain in India, by the media, is M.S.Dhoni. When senior players were bidding adieu, Dhoni was still the captain of Indian Cricket team and could foresee the future of Indian team. There had to be some master plans for the next big tournament like the world cup. Let us see the team performance, in terms of series win or loss, after the inclusion of new player’s, I,e, after 2011 world cup win.  

If we look at their performance outside the subcontinent or for the matter of fact outside India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh, the result would be like this:

One Day International Series outside	Played	Won	Lost
After 2011 world cup	10	4	6

Table 1Stats taken from ESPNCric Info*

Won against
Zim	2
England	1
Champions Trophy (England)	1

Table 2 Stats taken from ESPNCric Info*

So if we take Zimbabwe out of the equation then the problem seems to be enormous. If we calculate the winning percentage then it will come out as somewhat ok as 40%. If we take Zimbabwe out, then it will be 25%, which is shocking, a clear dismal performance. One excuse might come as this –‘Our players are new, so they need time’. Yes, very true, this is a valid point. Let’s see now the performance in India.

One Day International Series  in India	Played	Won	Lost
After 2011 world cup	14	10	4

  Table 3Stats taken from ESPNCric Info*

Lost to
Asia cup  in Bangladesh	1
Pakistan	1
Asia cup  in Bangladesh	1
Bangladesh	1

 Table 4Stats taken from ESPNCric Info*

10 out of 14 means 71.4% and by any standard it’s not bad, it’s really amazing. This percentage, includes matches against teams like Australia and England, but in India.

So, if we examine both results, from 2011 to 2015, during 4 years, then it means we played numerable matches with wins and losses, that bring experience to our table. In between we also had test matches and IPL’s and more T-20 matches. Aren’t we prepared for so many matches? If not, then when we will start planning for the future? When we will prepare a system? If Indian cricket fans are asking for a better team than they are expecting too much?

We hear a lot about the word ‘Professionalism’ and even in a recent press conference, after losing to Bangladesh, MS Dhoni said to a reporter ‘It is my responsibility to pick up a team’. This is the only thing we supporter thought as of now and that’s why when India won the world cup in 2011, we were so satisfied looking at a master mind in command of team India. When he said ‘Players were tired’, did he mean that India have not enough players to play in international matches, but he himself said that most of his players were new then why not he groomed other players. CSK had played 8 IPL’s and Dhoni along with Indian selectors has not yet able to find young players than can be groomed timely to avoid such stress problems? Is there a distance between Dhoni and the selectors? If there are not, then who will create such players? The irony is that, MS Dhoni was the captain during inaugural T-20 world cup victory and also World Cup – 2011 victory. So having such a sharp mind, how can India reach to such a low, how can he or anyone who was responsible for grooming players even after such big victories are not able to groom players after 2011 world cup.

The very first point that might answer this is that, the players on whom shoulders India rests their hopes for 2007 inaugural T-20 World cup were, Viru, Gauti, Yuvi and Irfan Pathan. Dhoni also played a good role in that tournament. And when 2011 world cup arrived again we had Sachin, Yuvraj, Gauti, Viru, Nehra, Zaheer and Bhajji. After this world cup everything changed in India. Doesn’t it show that we were only dependent on these 8 to 10 players and when these 5-6 players were off, we were out.

Secondly, many supporters still have no idea about few players omissions from the international team. Players like Yuvraj and Gautam Gambhir were playing good even after being dropped by the Indian think tank. As an Indian supporter, I don’t mind playing all new 11 players, but when they don’t perform then who will be responsible? They alone? But when India won the world cup who took the credit? Still, there are no clear answers to these questions, but these things have hurt the fans and the teams result badly. It is quite surprising that a master mind like MS Dhoni wasn’t able to foresee such a shocking future. A team is always a blend of experience and youth, which we saw during the 2011 world cup. Surprisingly, with 8 IPL’s gone, the Indian think tank hadn’t figured out the players capable of playing at the international level consistently.

And last but not the least, this has proved one thing for sure that India lacks a system of grooming the players and the performance outside India is the biggest proof for that. A player that scores double centuries in India is not able to apply himself outside India is a strange fact. In current scenario, every single thing is available through technology, coaches and equipments then what is stopping India of becoming the world beaters. Even the amount of money spent on the game is enormous.

Indian Cricket fans are not asking for something impossible because a team is already doing this. A team that has won 5 world cups (with three in a row) and that team had actually won their first world cup after India. We as fans only asking to match some if not exceed them. At least from the support point of view and money point of view, we are equivalent to them and I am sure as compared to the talent we possess, we stand equal. Then what is stopping us? Why are we craving so long for the consistency? Is this the bug of politics? This question needs an answer. After the announcement about Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Sachin, there is a ray of hope about the young cricketers and Indian cricket bright future. The only question is- Will they be able to change the existing system to help the Indian cricket team? Can they make India the World Beaters for long duration and not just in a tournament or two?   

 

नसीहत

खुद से बँध जाते है वो अक्सर, जो बंधवाने की बात करते है,

डर से भीगे है अनंत वो और दूजो को उड़ाने की बात करते है,

कर्म करने मे आसक्त इंसान, कोरे शब्दो के बाण नही चलाते,

खुद से खुश रहते है जो यहाँ, ना कभी फँसाने की बात करते है,

अजब रीत बनाई है तूने इस जॅग में, हैरत सी लगती है मुझको,   

ज़िंदगी की बातें नही करते वो, केवल कमाने की बात करते है

प्रेम में आज़ादी होती है, इंच्छाओ एवं भय की छाया नही होती,

अज्ञानता के अंधेरे में होते है जो, वो ही उजाले की बात करते है,     

हर इंसान में होती है एक कला, निखारना उसको ही है भक्ति,

एक रास्ता अक्सर दिखाते है जो, वो ही डराने की बात करते है,

जानते है यह सच, सब कुछ यही रह जाना है एक दिन 'साथी',

फिर भी व्यर्थ की ज़िद मे, दूजो को समझाने की बात करते है |    

कवि - दिवाकर पोखरियाल