Shades of Being Alive

Today when I am asked to join Youth Alliance, full time, I am humbled! Thank you Prakhar Bhaiya, Kishan Bhaiya, Shefali Di, Sanjeev Bhaiya, Vibhuti and all others. When I look back last 9 months or so, when I first encountered the Youth Alliance's Lead the Change link on Facebook in late February and today when this offer is made to me, iIsee a whole world getting upside down for me. Then I struggled to survive, was doing some things in college, but was largely insecure and unhappy. Then, I doubted all the ideals that I came with to Delhi, to college, frustrated with the way things worked, YA came like a breath of fresh air, I could recover those ideals that iIhad during school. And when I reflect back today, I realize things flowed quite smoothly with LTC happening very well for me, followed by Gramya Manthan which too helped improve my perspectives a lot, consciously-unconsciously i started feeling for the cause, all rational judgements aside, i was enjoying ...

Years throughout my childhood, i have grown up listening to this phrase from my parents. As i grow up, i am understanding its real meaning. Last few days, i have had an encounter with this more than ever before. i found my habit which is born out of some form of ego, of not saying No. And result is i overburden myself. Layers and layers of such acts and then finally comes a state, when the bird inside me feels enough of it and then it struggles to break free. Break free from the cage of procrastination. And when the cage is broken, it affects relationships, both work and personal. Now, i can imagine one of the many reasons of red-tapism in the country. And how it is linked to this habit of not giving straight, honest answers. By the way, in our journey last few days, we had some intriguing experiences with NDMC and its bureaucracy. The hypocrisy. The bottle necks. The policies. The rules that keep gathering dust. The files that keep travelling to-and-fro between tabl...

Why do we need numbers to prove ourselves? Why do we need marks to tell us that a student is brilliant or not? Why is it achievements in competitions only considered achievements? Numbers, marks or competitions as far as I can think were just a tool to relatively consider various items in a space. Not to make conclusions that one is superior than the other. Probably to say by the given standard, various items may be placed relatively in a particular order. But now, it seems we are obsessed with them. Until we do not have our GDP growth rate falling, we do not know that this country need policy reform. A student must have marks to prove her/his mettle. A simple application of common sense can tell us what piles of analysis of numbers can't. Every child has a genius, but when looked with different perspectives, not forcing them to go through a rigid system like in a factory. It pains me when students catch inferiority complex because they do not get good ...

There have been numerous occasions when I have felt that, Enough, I am tired . In all senses of the word, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially.   But the bliss of Tiredness came to me,  almost in an instant, while lying at a random lawns this evening under the sky in the shade of a tree. When the mind was completely at peace, no more thoughts, no more desires, no disappointments. Peace. Serene and exquisite peace. And before I knew I was asleep. It was hot, though an occasional breeze did rouse our emotion. Yet, it was the most pleasant weather to be in. This beautiful phase of freedom, I call it freedom because here we are free, like a child, of any shackles of worldly sophistication. This phase had come after an honest toil of all senses of our being. Where limits were redefined only to be redefined again. And the feeling is heavenly.  Like the resources of mind, body and soul have been utilised, for good. And for that briefe...

One very significant thing that Nature teaches us is Balance. And Timing. From the moment when this Universe came into existence, to the moment when a new life takes birth, Balance and Timing  have defined terms. What is it like when monsoons do not arrive on time, or arrive in abundance or scarcity. What it would have been like if sun did not set and rose in its usual way.What is like when lyrics do not match with the rhythm. What it would have been like if water was to freeze and ice was to melt not at a hundred degrees Celsius. To understand Nature's Balance and Timing, we do not need to go to any peak or delve deep into a forest or stay under water for hours. The miracle, The greatness of such Balance and Timing is very much with us, every day, every minute, every briefest of moments! Our Own Breath. How beautiful is it to feel ourselves breathing. How wonderfully each breath, without us knowing give us the gift of life. How serene it is to think of the bal...

Those set of rooms that was chosen with no other available, but encapsulates a moments that became almost a year there moments that made me grow beyond! Third Floor F-66 Kamlanagar, Delhi That flatmate, my sister the best flatmate i could have Those long strolls in the balcony  with nothing but the cool breeze and stars being the witness Listening to music, rather looking for music that best suited the feelings that prevailed Those small gaps in the window that let the sun rays beam on my face while i still slept to push me out of the comfort zone of the bed The walls that probably knew more about me  than myself Those obedient set of speakers that sung what i wanted them to sing and made me dance to their tune The uncomfortable chair  that held my bums as i slept over books The lamp that did not stop giving me the light of inspiration when all other lights were gone That rack of books that became a means in O...

कल बस यूहीं समय की नदी पर पतवार चलाते चलाते सब कुछ छोड़ देने को जी किया, पर फिर अचानक उस कश्ती का ख्याल आया जिसने मुझे उन कठिन लहरों में भी थामे रखा, उन हाथों का ख्याल आया जिसने मेरे लिए वो सुंदर नज़ारे रचे, फिर क्या था न पतवार छोड़ी, न ज़िन्दगी, न शुक्रिया करना, न मुस्कुराना।

कल बस यूहीं समय की नदी पर पतवार चलाते चलाते सब कुछ छोड़ देने को जी किया,  पर फिर अचानक उस कश्ती का ख्याल आया जिसने खुद को मेरे हाथों में सोप दिया,  फिर क्या था न पतवार छोड़ी, न ज़िन्दगी, न सपने देखना, न कोशिश करना!!

क्यूंकि हिंदी पढने  का   मज़ा देव नगरी में ही है..! एक दिन एक पल एक इंसान कुछ ऐसा आता है  की आने वाले दिन महीने साल को छु जाता है कुछ ऐसा ही हमारा प्रखर से नाता है. इस निराशा भरी दुनिया में वो एक आशा की किरण लता है एक ख्वाब तो देखा है हमने भी पर डर गये थे उसके राह की मुश्किलें देखकर पर एक दिन एक पल एक इंसान कुछ ऐसा आता है की वो उस ख्वाब को पूरा करने की राह पर उँगली पकड़ कर चलवाता है कुछ ऐसा ही हमारा प्रखर से नाता है देखा तो था बोहोत से नेताओं को मगर सब कहते थे हमें की हमारे पद चिन्हों पर चलो जैसा हम कहें बस वैसा करते चलो पर प्रखर कुछ अलग सा भाता है जो हमारे पद चिन्हों को ही राह का नक्षा बनता है जो हमें पीछे नहीं खुद के साथ चलता है एक दिन एक पल एक इंसान कुछ ऐसा आता है की आने वाले दिन महीने साल को छु जाता है कुछ ऐसा ही हमारा प्रखर से नाता है  बचपन में मैंने चलना सीखा  फिर बड़ा हुआ तो लोगो को मतलब के लिए छल करता देखा देखते देखते मैंने भी दुनिया से गिरना सीखा  पर भगवान् को तो कुछ और ही मंज़...

We often have heard from our elders that any new task must be begun with the name of God. As i begin writing this blog, I thought what can be the best note to give it a kick-start, the answer was simple. To write about the man, and tell the world who is behind the winds of change that i have been experiencing, more on the inner side than on the outer. So here i am, writing about Prakhar Bhartiye, the man behind Youth Alliance. Let the following do the rest of the talking! Enjoy reading. Ek din ek pal ek insaan kuch aisa aata hai, Ki aane wale din mahine saal ko chuu jata hai.. Kuch aisa hi hamara prakhar se naata hai.. Iss NIRAASHA bhari duniyaa me vo ek aasha ki kiran laata hai ek khwaab to dekha hai humne bhi par darr gye the uske raah ki mushkile dekhkar par ek din ek pal ek insaan kuch aisa aata hai.. ki vo us khwaab ko pura krne ki raah par ungli pakad kar chalwaata hai kuch aisa hi prakhar se hamara naata hai. Dekha toh tha bohot se netaon ko magar sa...