wonders of a camera!

LOOK at the camels first and then read the message below. :)

This is a picture taken from directly above these camels in the desert at sunset. It is considered to be one of the best pictures of the year. When you look closely, you can see that the camels are the little white lines in the picture.
The black images you see are just the shadows! :D

बसन्त- पंचमी...

पतंगों का त्यौहार बसन्त- पंचमी
देख कर अपने शहर में यूँ ही,
आ गयी याद 'The Kite Runner’ पढ़ी थी कहीं,
'हसन' तो सैंकड़ों दिखे भागते गलियों में लेकिन
'आमिर जान' एक भी नज़र आया किसी छत पे नहीं !

PS: Those of my friends who have read Khaled Houessini’s
“The Kite Runner” would be able to recognise the sting of the
satire in my above verse. I recommend the others to read this
book not so to appreciate my poem as to make a good reading.
And yes, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” too, by the same writer,
which is an even more beautiful work!

कुछ हाइकु...

(१)
कुतर जाता
भीतर ही भीतर
प्यार कैंसर

(२)
आम पे बौर
जैकेरेंडा है नीला
वसंत आया

(३)
यादें उम्मीदें
ख़ूबसूरत फ़िज़ा
जले पे नून

(४)
कोयल कूकी
फिर से पुरवाई
जागा मदन

(५)
रात नशीली
दिन में है आलस
टूटा बदन

शिकायतें

आ जाएँ अगर सामने वो
मैं नज़रें चुरा लूँगा,
मेरे दिल की तल्खिया कहीं
निगाहों में न उतर आयें.
शिकायतें चाहे कितनी भी हों उनसे लेकिन
सर्द आहों से मेरी, उन्हें चोट न लग जाए!

The other side of Valentine’s...

On Valentine’s Day when millions are rejoicing in their newly found/not so new/time tested/awaited/imaginary/sweet/sour/sweet-n-sour/happy/painful/passionate/platonic and all other types of love, there are millions others who will agree, coincide with and find solace in the following lines by the celebrated Faiz sahib:

मुझसे पहली सी मुहब्बत मेरे महबूब ना मांग
और भी ग़म हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा
राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा...

Sigh!... What say?

Love is in the air...

The astounding painting and the incredible sculpture by Hessam are not to be yearned to buy, gift, possess or receive for me; these are the things of beauty to be marvelled at!
The artist has named them as ‘Lovebirds’ and ‘Embrace’ respectively, but I believe spectacles like these are as good without names!
The painting is awe inspiring due to its rhythm and an effortless, innocent ease, while the sculpture overwhelms me with its intricate yet immaculate energy!!
Enjoy and go astray into ecstasy...

Lake Lavender and Crimson Sun...

It took me hours at end on different days to be able to capture the unusual shades the way I wanted to.
The geography was secondary at those moments and the delicacy of the hue (lavender), and the boldness of the tone (crimson) were at the forefront. The pics were shot in Nainital and Rishikesh respectively.

Life...

Life is a muted pink thorn with a faint fragrance..!

हसरतें...

उड़ती  थीं  जो हसरतें खुले  आसमान  में  ऊंची  बड़े  फ़ख्र  के साथ  कभी

बिजली के तारों में फटी-टूटी-बदरंग पतंग के मानिंद आज लटकी क्यों हैं...