Not This Time

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi wrote this poem after the Mumbai terror attacks. Says the ad guru and film lyricist, "I believe it should reach as many people as possible because it is our collective pain and voice".

Is baar nahin
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

(This time when that little girl comes to me with her bruises, I will not blow gently at her wound, nor distract her, I will let her pain grow.Not this time.)

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

(This time when I see pain on facesI will not sing the song that eases pain I will let the pain seep in, deep. Not this time.)

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,
gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

(This time I won't apply any balm Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes and turn your head While I gingerly apply medicine I will let everyone see the open, naked woundsNot this time.)

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

(This time when I see difficulty, uneasinessI will not run to solve the problems I will let them become complicated. Not this time.)

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

(This time I won't pick up my tools as a matter of duty, I will not make a new beginning Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job I will not let life easily return to normalcy I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths I will not let the blood on the walls dry out Nor will I let its colour fade away This time I won't let it become so helpless That you can't tell blood from paan-spit. Not this time.)

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se
Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

(This time the wounds need to be watched Carefully For a long timeSome decisions are needed And then some brave moves to be made We have to begin somewhereThis time this is what I have resolved)

My 50 for 2008

It's that time of the year again... Time to set some goals and take charge. I'm writing below a list of things I want to achieve in this year. And as I achieve each or when I set a new goal, I want to keep coming back here and updating this list.

1. Come to office by 9:30 a.m. at least 4 days out of 5.
2. Leave office by 7:30 p.m. at least 3 days out of 5. This is the lower limit. I want to go home early every day.
3. Call either of my grandmothers every week.
4. Set a daily task list - either as soon as I come to office or before going home the previous day, preferably the latter.
5. Get a car before my birthday!
6. Get a driver's license before I get a car.
7. Get gifts/sweets for the watchmen in the apartment house.
8. Be more aggressive in terms of work-productivity.
9. Log off from gmail and gtalk for two hours everyday. Can be relaxed when there's no work.
10. Lose 2 inches off my waist.
11. Find half an hour to read something other than the newspaper everyday.
12. Avoid washing my hair with hard water.
13. Join and complete a photography course.
14. Get a back massage every time I need it.
15. Do a painting every month.
16. Go on at least 50% of the treks organized by the Trekkers Club.
17. Apply face-pack every fortnight.
18. Take a holiday with my parents.
19. Take a holiday with my friends.
20. Visit home at least once in 3-4 months.
21. Read all of these books.
22. Clean cobwebs everytime they can be seen.
23. Call up atleast one of my uncles/aunts/cousins (Pallu not included)/long lost friends every week.
24. Remember birthdays.
25. Acquire and maintain toned arms and legs.
26. Don't buy new clothes untill the wardrobe is cleared of the old.
27. Do a favor for someone who doesn't know me and has no clue I have helped.
28. Drink 10 glasses of water everyday.
29. Write on Rant Factory once a month.
30. Remove nail-paint as soon as it starts chipping. Keep nails clean and trimmed.
31. Buy a good pair of jeans in a sale.
32. Apply sunscreen!
33. Go to meet my school teachers - Mrs. Pant, Mrs. Rao, Mrs. Kumaran.
34. Learn swimming.
35. Learn how to make Dosas.
36. Have breakfast everyday
37. Make a monthly budget and stick to it.
38. Buy a couple of good stocks that can be retained on a long term basis.
39. Cut out on junk food.
40. Take mom and dad for a complete physical check-up.
41. Get a dental check-up done.
42. Learn to use Photoshop.
43. Put a watermark on all published pictures.
44. Learn to do the hoola-hoop.
45. Listen to music more often.
46. Watch more movies on DVD.
47. Keep updating this list.
48. Visit the spa.
49. Visit an orphanage and an old-age home.
50. Pray.

2008, here I come!

Need a read

A list of books that I want to read in 2008.

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Done 18/01/2008
2. Maximum City
3. Freakonomics
4. Harry Potter I - VII - Done 23/07/2008
5. The Subtle Knife
6. The Amber Spyglass
7. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
8. Lila
9. The Small Woman - Done 26/07/2008
10. Far from the Madding Crowd
11. Cash Flow Quadrant
12. Lipika
13. Geetanjali
14. Julius Ceasar
15. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Done sometime in Feb
16. Tuesdays With Morrie - Done 08/09/2008
17. Madhushala
18. Madhubala
19. Madhukalash
20. Eragon - Done sometime in Nov
21. Eldest - Done sometime in Nov
22. Crime and Punishment
23. Blink - Done sometime in Feb
24. Shantaram - Done sometime in Aug
25. 1984 - Done 06/09/2008
26. Fountainhead
27. Evening Class - Done sometime in Oct