Shayaris Collections from Web-VIII

 

Continuing to share the collections of beautiful shayaris from various sources online...

1. 

"ik nazar kaash meri samt vo aise dekhe

jaise ghar se mujhe jaate huye maa dekhti hai

hum kisi khasta haveli ki tarah hai hammad

ittefaqan hi koi aankh yahan dekhti hai.."

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTFN65LDJQZ/

2. 

"mere lafzon se na kar mere kirdaar ka faisla

tera wajood mit jayega meri haqeeqat dhoondte dhoondte"

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWgpvgRkipx/

3.

"badi shifa hai tere ishq mein,

jabse huwa hai koi doosra dard nahin hota.."

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/J5OLBXxm1u0

4.

"rukawatein to zinda logon ke liye hain

mayyat ko to bade adab se rasta dete hain log"

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYI1Q21zF-g/

5.

"Dil Use Jab Bhulane Lagta Hai 

Kitna Kuch Yaad Aane Lagta Hai 

ro to paata nhai mere dukh par

ped patte girane lagta hai

-Mahboob Kashmiri

6.

sehra main har kisi se nahi hote moujze..

vo aediyan bhi hain  jinhe zam zam nahi mila

-Jaani Lakhnavi

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX3sRMTh9Ue/

7.

"kon zyada bebas hai

ye kinara.. jo chal nahi sakta

ya fir ye lehrein

jo theher nahi sakti"

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNsseC_5I8t/

8.

koī miltā hai to ab apnā pata pūchhtā huuñ

maiñ terī khoj meñ tujh se bhī pare jā niklā

mujh se chhuptā hī rahā tū mujhe āñkheñ de kar

maiñ hī parda thā uthā maiñ to tamāshā niklā

tod kar dekh liyā āaīna-e-dil tūne

terī sūrat ke sivā aur batā kyā niklā

- Muzaffar Warsi

9.

ये वहम जाने मेरे दिल से क्यूँ निकल नहीं रहा

कि उस का भी मिरी तरह से जी सँभल नहीं रहा

कोई वरक़ दिखा जो अश्क-ए-ख़ूँ से तर-ब-तर न हो

कोई ग़ज़ल दिखा जहाँ वो दाग़ जल नहीं रहा

मैं एक हिज्र-ए-बे-मुराद झेलता हूँ रात दिन

जो ऐसे सब्र की तरह है जिस का फल नहीं रहा

तो अब मिरे तमाम रंज मुस्तक़िल रहेंगे क्या?

तो क्या तुम्हारी ख़ामुशी का कोई हल नहीं रहा?

कड़ी मसाफ़तों ने किस के पाँव शल नहीं किए?

कोई दिखाओ जो बिछड़ के हाथ मल नहीं रहा

- Jawwad Sheikh

Kullu man 'Alaiha Faan: A soul stirring Nasheed....

 

Sharing a very beautiful nasheed that I only recently discovered, and it's so profound and melodic and truthful that it's one of the finest devotional songs of praise I have heard...

The lines "Kullu man Alaiha Faan" are taken from the 26th verse of Surah Ar-Rahman (55:26) in Quran. The English meaning of which is:

"Everyone upon the earth will perish. And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor." 

The song can be heard here:

New Motivational kalam 2025 | Kullu Man Alaiha Faan | Muhammad Anas Nazeer | JSM | Nasheed Club

The song has lyrics in Hindi and Arabic/Urdu

The following lines of the song are especially very deep:

"rooh jism ko ek din chod kar yu jayegi

tum jahan raho lekin maut lene aayegi

kya faqeer kya sultan

kullu man Alaiha faan

rab ne kar diya elaan

kullu man alaiha faan

baaki hoga bas rahmaan

kullu man alaiha faan.."

Interestingly, I keep getting reminded of some lines of a song (see below) from an old Bollywood movie (Muqaddar ka Sikandar, 1979), that talks of death being the only truth in this Dunya of illusions...and likens death (or rather Angel of Death/ Malak-ul-Maut) to that devoted lover who will most certainly appear and come to take the soul....

"Zindagi to bewafa hai

ek din thukraegi

maut Mehbooba hai

apne saath lekar jayegi.."

A beautiful similarity in one of the stories of Quran and Ramayana

 

I wanted to share some interesting insights and beautiful similarities I noted in one of the stories of the holy Quran (Surah Al-Fil, 105:4) and that of the Ramayana (Ram-Setu episode). The connection I am posting about is based on the story of the Ababeel (birds) of the Surah Al-Fil in Quran.

 First, I will talk of that part:

    In that story, there is a tyrant (named Abraha) who wanted to destroy the holy Kaaba and marched along with his mighty army of elephants. At that moment, Abdul-Muttalib, the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) prayed to Allah to help protect Kaaba from the attack. At that moment, the sky was filled with a vast flock of Ababeel (birds) that were each carrying specific stones (called Sijjil in the Quran), with each bird carrying one in its beak and two in both its claws, thus fully loaded. Seeming harmless at first, these little stones rained down on the army and had the power to completely destroy the army of Abraha and his elephants and brought about the complete destruction of the tyrant’s army, thus protecting the house of God.

     Let me now talk of the Ramayana episode which bears a familiarity with this. In that story, Rama, in his ardent search for his beloved wife Sita (who was abducted by the tyrant Ravana in his golden palace Lanka), takes help of his army of monkeys (Vanar Sena), who carried stones that were thrown on the sea, and they began to float instead of sinking (due to a divine miracle as they bore the name of Ram written by the Vanar Sena, although some other narratives say that they floated as they were thrown by specific Vanars (Nal and Neel) who had the boon that whatever they threw in water shall never sink). The bridge (called as Ram Setu) was thus built after innumerable stones were carried and thrown on water without sinking, and Ram crossed it with his army and overthrew the tyrant Ravana and saved the prestige of his dynasty (Raghukul) and also brought back his wife, thus upholding Dharma...

Now, I found that the stones which the birds carried were stones of baked clay or pumice (referred to as Sijjil) that are supposedly very light (and that's what makes it possible for birds to carry it), but when thrown from such heights in the sky, they are capable of wreaking havoc...And in this case, pumice stone has air pockets and is actually porous, so if its thrown in water (which was the case in the story of Ramayana) it can actually float (see the photo below and the link with it, where the nature of such stones as in the Surah Al-Fil is described):

Note that the link below only talks about the power of stones in the Ababeel story when they were sent down from a great height but in the sky.

 

Birds and Baked Clay - Amplify Islam

However, the common theme I observed was that the stone used in Ram Setu construction was also same (pumice stone); thus, it was indeed Sijjil (but which was thrown on the water by monkeys) instead of thrown on the ground by birds...But the purpose of both was the same- that is, to uphold the Dharma or sanctity and bring about the destruction of the evil (Abraha in the first and Ravana in the second case). I was awed as I also noted that both six-lettered names (Abraha and Ravana) are mostly similar (67% similar letters), and both were tyrants who were filled with pride (takabbur) and chose the path of adharma...

Interestingly enough, one of the recent missiles Iran launched against Israel in the Iran-US-Israel 2026 war (to uphold the truth and Dharma) was also called "Sijjil" - inspiration deriving from the name of that baked clay stone Sijjil mentioned in the Surah Al-Fil. 

 Moreover, the actual pumice stone (from the holy Hindu site of Rameswaram, South India), is actually sold as originating from the Ram Setu Bridge, and those pilgrims who visit Rameswaram can actually bring similar stones that actually float on water). I had a similar stone that I was so fascinated with in the house once and I was told by my mother in my early childhood that her father got it from Rameswaram when he visited it in one of his pilgrimages...I was so deeply fascinated by that stone that I would drop it in water and it would float, and I always wanted to keep that holy stone...Anyways, now as I look back, there is no stone or any bridge, just flowing water.............

Tu Hai Kamaal Maula & Jise Tu na Mila Use Kuch na Mila- two beautiful Sufi Qawwalis/ songs from Hindi movies

 Sharing two songs (one of them is singing praises of God, while another song is a Sufi song). Both are from Hindi movies. The interesting thing is that the second song (Jise Tu Na Mila) was a song I heard after 16 years, as I was going through some of my old stuffs and actually noted that somewhere I had saved some lyrics of a song and when I heard it back I could recognize it...this Sufi song is one of the deepest poetries ever written in my view..

1.

 First song can be called as a forgotten melody from a very old Hindi movie called Sultanat (1986). 

Link of the song: Tu Hai Kamal Maula Teri Kudrat Kamal The Legendary Suresh Wadekar Saltanat low

Lyrics:

ai maalik-e-do-jahaan terii zamiin teraa aasamaan
tu kyaa soche tu kyaa jaane ye tere bando ko kabar kahaa
tu kyaa soche tu kyaa jaane ye tere bando ko kabar kahaa

are tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
ho tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii saltanat kamaal
are kab kisako kyaa de de
are kab kisako kyaa de de
kab kisase kyaa le le, kab kisase kyaa le le
khel tere bemisaal
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

tere karam kaa nur kahaan kisakii taqadiir jagaaye
kis daaman men phul khile aur kisakaa chaman mahakaaye
chhiine kisii kii hansii kise de kushii koi ye jaane naa
are bandaaparavar mere faisale tere koi pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

maalik terii qudarat kaa hai ye kyaa ajab tamaashaa
betaa baap baap bete ke kun kaa hai pyaasaa
anahonii kyaa huyi yahaan to koi raaz ye jaane naa
kaisaa chhaayaa junun lahu ko lahu aaj pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

kaise dekhe nazar kisii kii ye gamanaak nazaaraa
baap ke siine men bete ne kanzar aaj utaaraa
vaqt badaa beraham kare kyaa sitam koi ye jaane naa
are kis karanii kaa silaa kise kyaa milaa koi pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

kyun naa tadape ruh kisii kii aankh na kyun bhar aaye
jab aulaad kii khaatir koi baap yun jaan lutaaye
kyun se qismat likhe tujhe kyaa mile koi ye jaane naa
tu hii jaane kudaa kyaa hai terii razaa koi pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal
are kab kisako kyaa de de
are kab kisako kyaa de de
kab kisase kyaa le le, khel tere bemisaal
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

from: Tu Hai Kamaal Maula Teri Saltanat Kamaal - तू है क़माल मौला तेरी सल्तनत क़माल

Interestingly, this song has scenes of the desert and camels. This actually feels nostalgic as I still remember in one of trips to the hot desert area of Rajasthan, India with the born family, in my childhood, I found the only photo where I actually sat on the camel (I think I was very adamant that I wanted to sit on that camel as I was so deeply fascinated as it was walking on the road) and for some reason, I can tell that was true joy on my face, although I do not still know if it came from camel, or the feminine motherly energy (a distant aunt who sat behind me supporting me and holding me) or both . Anyways, I decided to share that old childhood pic:

The reason being the second time I saw a real camel Infront of me (two years ago) was funnily when I was learning horse-riding (as part of some basic lessons I took solely for healing purposes, although the torture of horses and pain I could sense from them made me not want to go to advanced level). Anyways, the camels remind me of the miracle of God who was so merciful that he made the camel as the most amazing design and even presented a she-camel in one of the stories of Quran..

Anyways back to the song:

2. 

the second song from a Bollywood movie Refugee: Refugee Jise Tu Na Mila

Lyrics:

Sab ko duniya se garaj, mujhko tujhse kaam

Sab duniya duniya ratein, main lu tera naam

Teri ek jhalak jo payee hai, ek masti hai jo chhaayee hai... (x2)

Mujhe apna koi hosh nahi, pal bhar ko dil khaamosh nahi

Mere dil gunje yahi sada... (x3)

Jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x4)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

O jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

O o o duniya mein duniyadaro ko, jhuthi daulat ke yaaro ko

Daulat bhi mili, taaqat bhi mili

Ijjat bhi mili, shaurat bhi mili

Jo cheej inho ne payee hai, paani par likhi likhayee hai

Iss jhuthi shaan-o-shaukhat se, mujhe lena kya mujhe matlab kya

Mere dil gunje yahi sada, jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x4)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

O jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

Tu mohabbat ka ik samandar hai

Tujhame dubu, tujhi mein ghul jaau

Ik najar dekh le jo tu mujhako

Jism se rooh tak main dhul jaau

Mujhe dekh jara pehchaan jara, main tera hu main hu tera... (x3)

Mere dil gunje yahi sada... (x3)

Jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x4)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

O jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

Rang mein tu hai, roop mein tu hai

Chhanv mein tu hai, dhoop mein tu hai

Tu hai raaton mein, tu saveron mein

Tu ujaalon mein, tu andheron mein

Tu hi sardi mein, tu hi garmi mein

Tu hi sakhti mein, tu hi narmi mein

Tu hai paani mein, aag mein tu hai

Tu hai geeton mein, raag mein tu hai

Ho tu suron mein hai, taal mein tu hai

Soch mein tu, khayal mein tu hai

Mausamon mein hai tu, ruton mein tu

Mandiron mein hai tu, buto mein tu

Masjidon mein hai tu, azaan mein tu

Tu hi geeta mein hai, Quran mein tu

Mandir ne kaha masjid ne kaha, har rasta hai tera rasta

o o o nahi koi manjil tere siva... (x2)

Mere dil gunje yahi sada... (x3)

Jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

lyrics from: Jise Tu Na Mila Lyrics in Hindi, Refugee Jise Tu Na Mila Song Lyrics

Three beautiful Bollywood songs on "Zinda"/ living....an interesting connection...

 Sharing three Hindi Bollywood songs which are all so beautiful and melodious with very deep poetry (which are also some of my favorite songs I have listened to and listen in my life), together as I noted an interesting theme in all of them. All of them have the title of "Zinda" or alive in their titles and talk of the feeling of being alive from the point of the person singing it...(depending on the situation in the respective movie scenes)..The three songs also seems to have a spiritual cord throughout all of them for those on the path of Ishq-e-haqiqi....

        In the first song, the person is questioning that despite the blood flowing in the veins in the body and breathing, the person still feels disconnected from life as that is not truly living, and the lyrics talk of the burning fire and restlessness of the soul making the heart question its own beating, if its indeed really alive?

The second song talks of the person (the forlorn lover) for whom despite being alive (zinda), the life (zindagi) does not feel like a life, simply because of the separation from the Beloved. The eyes keep on searching for that face, and the lover also keeps on asking that lover (likening him to be a tormentor) to come for once and annihilate everything so that it's finished for once....

Finally, in the third song (which is actually from a very beautiful movie Lootera (2013) starring the handsome actor Ranveer Singh based on the story of the Last Leaf by O' Henry), the lover (the actor in the movie), is finally emptied of all desires/ regrets/ lost chance of love and all he wants to be left alone and just live, as he feels that its sufficient and enough for him....He just wants no rivals or outside forces/ persons to interfere or question and had finally accepted his state..

1.

Kya Main Zinda Hoon

Lyrics:

चल रही हैं साँसे क्यूँ
बह रहा हैं लहू क्यूँ
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
चल रही हैं साँसे क्यूँ
बह रहा हैं लहू क्यूँ
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

सीने में हैं जलन क्यों
तड़पती रूह हैं क्यों
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

दिल धड़क के पूछता हैं
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

ये सुनि अँधेरी बेक़रारी जाना
पेहचाना ढूंढती हैं क्यों
मिटा हुआ नामोनिशान
पूछती है क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

मचलते आंखों से
छलक जाते हैं आँसू
चीखती हैं बेचैनी
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

चल रही हैं साँसे क्यूँ
बह रहा हैं लहू क्यूँ
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

सीने में हैं जलन क्यों
तड़पती रूह हैं क्यों
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ"

Kya Main Zinda Hoon Lyrics hindi | क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ ज़िंदा lyrics | hindi.lyricsgram.com

2.

Main Zinda hu lekin Full Song | Nisar Ali

(This song is a version of a song that was in a Bollywood movie that was in turn copied (read stolen) originally from a Pakistani song...Not surprisingly, the typical Indians won't love their neighbor but go ahead and steal their compositions without batting an eyelid :))

The lyrics of this song are:

""मुझे फिर तबाह कर

मुझे फिर रुला जा

सितम करने वाले

कहीं से तो आजा

कहीं से तो आजा 

आँखों में तेरी ही सूरत बसी है

तेरी ही तरह तेरा ग़म भी हसीं है

तू जो नहीं है तो कुछ भी नहीं है

ये माना कि महफ़िल जवाँ है, हसीं है

जिधर भी ये देखें,जिधर भी ये जाएँ

तुझे ढूंढती है,ये पागल निगाहें

मैं जिंदा हूँ लेकिन, कहाँ ज़िन्दगी है

मेरी ज़िन्दगी तू कहाँ खो गयी है

तू जो नहीं..."

3.

Zinda Full Video | Lootera | Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha | Amit Trivedi | Amitabh Bhattacharya

Lyrics:

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

हवाओं से जो माँगा हिस्सा मेरा

तो बदले में हवा ने सांस दी

अकेलेपन से छेड़ी जब गुफ़्तगू

मेरे दिल ने आवाज़ दी

मेरे हाथों, हुआ जो किस्सा शुरु

उसे पुरा तो करना है मुझे

कब्र पर मेरे सर उठा के खड़ी हो ज़िन्दगी

ऐसे मरना है मुझे

कुछ माँगना बाक़ी नहीं

कुछ माँगना बाक़ी नहीं

जितना मिला काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

मुझे छोड़ दो.

मुझे छोड़ दो.

मेरे हाल पे

Some melodious songs of praise of Christ....

 

Sharing few divine and beautiful songs of praise of Christ... (these are not Latin chants, but songs)..

(172) Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega Ruth Graham Tribute - YouTube

I Surrender - Hillsong Worship

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong United lyrics

Amy Grant - Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) (Lyric Video)

Holy - Delirious

(this song has very deep lyrics)

Photo inside a beautiful church in Southern France (Montpellier), clicked by 

a cherished friend Fadhila (who was a practicing Muslim who was the only person

 I have come across who truly was devoted to her faith :))...

A poem written by me but completed by another- Shayari

 Sharing a Hindi/Urdu poem that I wrote probably 18 years ago. An interesting point about this poem is that I had shared it with a person (who was also my project mentor at one of the internships in India) and he actually added many lines, almost like a reply from another poet. (He himself wrote many beautiful Hindi poems but hasn't really published them). I think I also became a muse for him (:)). This person also helped me get more aware of Krishna consciousness (Hinduism) and I actually received the Bhagwad Gita from one of the professors he followed, which was one of the best gift. Although, that holy book was lost in the house of the born family (just like everything else that has disappeared, pun intended :))

Since the part of the poetry written by him, literally completes it (like two sides of same coin), so I decided to share here, as I cannot include this poem in my book as using half of the poem (written by me), won't do justice, and I cannot include writing of another poet in my own book...

Anyways, here is the poem:

चाहत

मैं कहती हूँ

चरागों से ही रोशनी होती तो

महताब कि चाहत किसे होती?

नहर से ही प्यास बुझती होती

तो सागर कि चाहत किसको होती?

अगर मिल ही जाती इस धरती पर जन्नत 

तो उस पार की चाहत किसे होती?

अगर मिल ही जाती मुकुल में वो सुरभी

तो कमल की चाहत किसे होती?

- शिल्पी 

तुम कहते हो,

अगर महताब से ही घर मुनव्वर होता 

तो चिराग की किसे ज़रुरत होती

अगर खरा समुंदर ही प्यास बुझा सकता

तो एक चुल्लू पानी की प्यास किसे होती

अगर आसमान ही सारे गम ढक सकता

तो नन्हे से अंचल की चाहत किसे होती

उस पार कि जन्नत  ही अगर जन्नत होती

तो जन्नत-ए-ज़िन्दगी की चाहत किसे होती

अगर माज़ी का गम ही मरहम हो सकता

तो आने वाले मसीहा कि चाहत किसे होती

सुरभि को अगर कमल जनम दे सकता

तो फिर मुकुल की चाहत क्यों होती ..

-मुकुल पास्टर

Some of my humorous snippets.....

 

Sharing some snippets of accounts (based on my real-life events/ incidents/ conversations) which evoke humor :). In some cases, due to privacy, I have not used the real names (for obvious reasons)

1.

3 people (including myself) board an elevator at the 3rd floor in the university building. 

One of them presses the button for 4th floor while the second one pressed for the 8th floor while I press that for the 6th floor. 

As soon as the elevator naturally stops at the 4th floor, the guy gets off at 4th floor (who was actually quite fat) and the door closes back at which the other guy who was destined for 8th floor suddenly bursts out," He could not even spare 5 calories to get off to one floor up, in fact, he needs it." Hearing that remark made me burst into laughter...:)

2.

I go to the office of my thesis advisor who was not easy to work with (let's call him Professor XYZ for the sake of privacy :)) with another senior colleague in the group. The Professor is staring at his computer screen kept on his L-shaped table and so his head and gaze is turned to his right side. Me and the other guy ask him about some information regarding our research project, at which he said that he was busy and was watching some news about a UFO (unidentified flying object) with that picture displayed on his screen. And he without turning his head towards us, asks if I have seen the UFO.

I looked directly at him and replied, "Yes, I am looking at the UFO right now"

(I hope the humor is apparent :))

3.

I was discussing a certain biomedical query with a technical person (let's call him Mr. ABC).

 As we slid past the counter outside the office printer, something fell on the floor, and he instantly stooped to pick it up and place it with the rest items back in order. I saw that it was an artificial autumn leaf which had fallen on the floor by accident or by the air, and he placed it along with other three leaves systematically.

 My instant words were, "It is the fate of the leaf to be blown away and fall off, don't bother yourself too much", at which he smirked. :)

4.

There was a meeting between me and a certain faculty (let's call him Prof. Z). So, he goes on to ask me to be compliant and follow certain guidelines based on his requirements at which I questioned back (as is my rebellious nature :)), at which he said, "You got to follow the rules here, as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do".

I promptly replied, "you see that's the reason why Rome was not built in a day".

I hope the sarcasm is clear :)

5.

In a lab meeting my professor (let's call Prof. XYZ) asked everybody as to what the hardest part was to write in a manuscript draft for research. Everybody ended up replying that it was the "Abstract" of the manuscript.

When my turn came, I replied that it was actually the "Acknowledgment" since it is usually difficult to write for the first author as he needs to thank others in the group and the project, at which everybody started laughing and I was obviously reprimanded.

But the sarcasm was there, as I have based in my experience observed that many authors (who are somewhat on the mean side), do not want to acknowledge those who helped them in their research (hinting at the credit-grabbing that is still rampant in research) and so it becomes difficult for them to write :)

6.

Mr. X: Well, why didn't you accept my request but accepted that of another person, I was so nice to you...

Me: it's not a matter of being nice, it's about getting along, like the resonance of souls....

Mr. X: I see, looks like he had a good tuning fork I guess...:)

7. 

(This one has more philosophical tones more than humor).

Mr. X: "Maybe you might be interested in developing a cure for cancer in this world."

Me: " I don't know about cancer- that is not my cup of coffee, but yes, I might think of discovering a cure for hatred in the world, but I guess, that's already there- just that it's not expressed or used that often, and they call it "love"...:)

Jaane kabse Roohon ka ye jism badalna jaari hai- a deep Urdu poem by an Indian poet

 

Sharing a beautiful Urdu poetry by an Indian Urdu poet. Every line of this poem resonated so deep that I had to post it separately.

"रोज़ सवेरे दिन का निकलना, शाम में ढलना जारी है

जाने कब से रूहों का ये ज़िस्म बदलना जारी है

 

तपती रेत पे दौड़ रहा है दरिया की उम्मीद लिए

सदियों से इन्सान का अपने आपको छलना जारी है

 

जाने कितनी बार ये टूटा जाने कितनी बार लुटा

फिर भी सीने में इस पागल दिल का मचलना जारी है

 

बरसों से जिस बात का होना बिल्कुल तय सा लगता था

एक न एक बहाने से उस बात का टलना जारी है

 

तरस रहे हैं एक सहर को जाने कितनी सदियों से

वैसे तो हर रोज़ यहाँ सूरज का निकलना जारी है"

 

- Rajesh Reddy

The Cat and the Mouse: Reflection

 They say curiosity kills the cat.

I wondered then: What kills the mouse?

The answer came, "The absence of that cat. Since as long as that cat was alive, it was up and chasing the mouse and the mouse, in turn, was constantly running, struggling, thinking of new ways to escape, find food, save, and continue to plan next move. But the death and the absence of that cat, does, in a way slowly kills the mouse due to no true purpose of life left anymore."

I smiled at that insight...

 https://stablediffusionweb.com/image/7395983-chase-involving-cat-and-mouse

An old Hindi song- Aapke Pehloo main aakar ro diye-Forgotten melody 3

 

Sharing a very melodious and beautiful song from a very old Hindi movie (Mera Saaya, 1966). The song is sung by the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi. The song is very special as it was also in my list of songs, I would listen to in my childhood recorded in cassette songs. A specific thing about this song is that I would literally write down its lyrics and try to memorize it as this song had such a deep impact on my soul. Anyways, the movie itself is very good as the plot is very interesting. The great actor (Sunil Dutt) is grieving the loss of his wife but does not realize that his wife is alive as the one who died was actually her twin sister (about whom nobody knew) and that's where the suspense is. His real wife tries hard to convince him and ultimately towards the end, his inner eyes open and he understands that she was there all along..

I don't' think anybody might even know about this song and so it's a forgotten melody in my view..

For some reason I also note a spiritual side in this song as if this song is about the person crying out and going to God (as there is reference of sar jhukakar) and mentioning about his/her sorrows to God and the pain of separation from God.....

The song can be heard here:

Mohammed Rafi : Aapke Pahlu Mein Aakar Ro Diye | Sunil Dutt, Sadhana | Bollywood Old Dard Bhare Song

The lyrics of this song are:

"आप के पहलू में आ कर रो दिए

दास्तान-ए-ग़म सुनाकर रो दिए

जिन्दगी ने कर दिया जब भी उदास

आ गए घबरा के हम मंजिल के पास

सर झुकाया, सर झुकाकर रो दिए

शाम जब आँसू बहाती आ गयी

हर तरफ ग़म की उदासी छा गयी

दीप यादों के जला कर रो दिए

ग़म जुदाई का सहा जाता नहीं 

आपके बिन अब रहा जाता नहीं 

प्यार में क्या क्या गँवाकर रो दिए"

Aap Ke Pahloo Mein Aakar Lyrics in Hindi, Zakhami Dil Aap Ke Pahloo Mein Aakar Song Lyrics

A beautiful Bollywood song-Shiddat

 Sharing a deeply melodious (with one of the most beautiful poetries/lyrics) song from some Bollywood movie. The beauty of the song is enhanced as it includes the beatings of a real heart (in the introductory music). The song can be heard here:

Shiddat Title Song Track(Lyrics) -By Manan Bhardwaj

Each line of this song is so poetic and very deeply written...

The lyrics of this song are:

"Tujhko Bana Doon Main Apna Khuda

Aur Sajde Tere Kar Sakoon

Maangu Dua Saath Hone Ki Tere

Kaande Pe Sar Rakh Sakoon

Dhaga Ek Baandhun Tujhko

Mannat Bana Loon

Kaagaz Pe Dil Ke Teri

Surat Bana Loon

Chhute Kabhi Na Woh Aadat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe

Qismat Banalo Meri Chahat Banalo

Dil Se Main Maangu Ibadat Banalo

Chhute Kabhi Na Woh Aadat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe

Qismat Banalo Meri Chahat Banalo

Dil Se Main Maangu Ibadat Banalo

Chhoote Kabhi Na Woh Aadat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe

Kyun Ye Hadein Hai Kyun Sarhadein Hai

Itne Hai Kyun Faasle

Manzil Teri Meri Jab Ek Hai

Toh Kyun Hai Alag Raaste

Ishq Ki Aisi Kahawat Bana Loon

Paani Pe Likh Doon Likhawat Bana Loon

Goonje Sada Wo Aahat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe

Dil Ki Main Tujhko Sajawat Bana Loon

Kuch Bhi Na Bolun Muskurahat Bana Loon

Barse Khuda Ki Woh Barkat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe

Qismat Banalo Meri Chahat Banalo

Dil Se Main Maangu Ibadat Banalo

Chhoote Kabhi Na Woh Aadat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe

Ye Khara Samandar Mera Gawah Hai

Ishq Hai Mera Ya Mera Gunaah Hai

Tujhko Saza Aur Adalat Bana Loon

Haan Shiddat Bana Loon Tujhe"

Shiddat Title Track LYRICS - Sunny Kaushal, Radhika Madan, M

In Memory of Makan Nasiri- the missing Iranian child martyr of the war

 This post is dedicated to the 7-year-old Iranian boy Makan Nasiri, who was one of the 168 children who were victims of the atrocious missiles strike of the school in Minab, Iran on Feb 28, 2026, by US-Israel troops. He was the only child whose no human remains were ever found even after 7-weeks of search, and he was thus declared as the missing martyr in the war. The only thing ever found of him were a blue sweater and a single shoe. 

(Makan Nasiri, the only child still missing from the school bombed in Iran | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera)

Photos showing the smiling little Makan (taken from the various links below) as that's how I would like to remember him too..

Makan was a boy who brimmed with life and was also someone who had a devotion to God as his mother reported that he would take part in religious rituals and helping with activities in the mosques (https://www.instagram.com/p/DXM18hZSS7e/).

I am sharing some clips which I found from the web:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW7eTs5gpCz/

(showing the bubbly cute Makan in few clips)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXrl3wmjC33/

(This clip (AI generated) an attempt to show Makan (after his passing) walking on path of roses and entering the mosque and being welcomed with other martyrs.)

other clips showing the little angel and the aftermath:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXklmmtDPPd/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXeuBhBCDtb/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW3w1gziNPU/

Makan Nasiri was reported as missing after the 7-week search, but he was killed on Feb 28. I discovered that his Arabic-origin name (that means "place" or "location") appears exactly 28 times in the holy Quran. Perhaps, his passing was chosen and was meant to set an example as his role on earth was finished.  But then, it is not possible to fill the void he has left behind and the sorrow which his loving parents feel and will continue to feel.  Truly, his loving parents were spared the horror of seeing their little child in bits and pieces. Rather, God decided to have him become part of the Iranian soil completely and inspire young blood to wake up to their roots and faith and stand up for the truth.

May God grant patience to his parents to manage to live with his loss....

I was getting reminded of some poetry lines of Allama Iqbal at this:

"Kitni Mushkil Zindagi Hai, Kis Qadar Asan Hai Mout

Gulshan-e-Hasti Mein Manind-e-Naseem Arzan Hai Mout

Seena Chaak Iss Gulistan Mein Lala-o-Gul Hain To Kya

Nala-o-Faryad Par Majboor Bulbul Hain To Kya

Zindagi Ki Aag Ka Anjaam Khakstar Nahin

Tootna Jis Ka Muqaddar Ho Ye Woh Gohar Nahin"

-Allama Iqbal

https://iqbalurdu.blogspot.com/2011/04/bang-e-dra-139-walida-marhooma-ki-yaad.html

English translation of above lines:

"How hard life is! How easy is death!

In the garden of existence, death is as cheap as the morning breeze.

If in this garden the breasts of the tulip and the rose are torn, so what?

If nightingales are forced to cry and lament, so what?

The finality of the fire of life is not a bed of ashes.

It is not the pearl whose destiny is to be broken."

https://iqbalurdu.blogspot.com/2011/04/bang-e-dra-139-walida-marhooma-ki-yaad.html

Targeting and killing little children is a war crime and it obviously impacts me to a deeper level, and although I have penned many poetries (unpublished) on that topic, I could not stop myself from expressing my emotions especially for this little boy as it also helps me in my healing too as I am highly overwhelmed as I can deeply feel sorrows of little children and their mothers as I am a highly sensitive person...

I am sharing a poem dedicated to Makan I wrote few days ago. This poem is inspired by the story of Surah Yusuf from the Quran, especially as it's believed that even Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was 7-year-old when he was separated from his loving father and there was a striking similarity. Even the sweater of Makan had some blood spots/ flesh on it but it was later confirmed it belonged to someone else and not Makan, so essentially, the sweater left a window of hope open...

Anyways, here is my first poem on Makan:

Waiting for Makan

They have given me that torn

blue sweater with blood spots

that are not your blood,

found after the intense search,

the silent witness of your 

disappearance and predicted death.

No trace, no remains

of your gentle little body,

only debris and ruins remain.

Should I believe them?

My heart shall not.

I shall cry and cry,

empty out my two eyes 

in your sorrow,

turn myself blind to this world

as I wait in beautiful patience.

For I know,

after a long long wait,

I shall be able to smell 

your scent from your

heavenly garment

and I shall be granted the sight 

to glimpse your full face and body

shining beautiful and bright

and embrace it in my arms

in Paradise, where we

will meet again.

-Shilpi

Similar pathos of a few shayaris

 I noticed some similarities in few Urdu shayaris (on ishq/love) that I found very intriguing.  The first pair are from the same poet (Allama Iqbal) but are separate poetries. The second one is from two different poets (one a poet, another a pious scholar).

The pathos in both is so similar and beautiful, hence I thought of sharing them here:

1.

"Ishq teri intehaa, ishq meri intehaa,

Tu bhi abhi na-tamaam, main bhi abhi na-tamaam…"

-Allama Iqbal

 

 

2.

“Tere Ishq Ki Intehaa Chahta Hoon

Meri Saadgi Dekh Kya Chahta Hoon

 

Ye Jannat Mubarik Rahe Zahidon Ko

Ke Mein Aap Ka Samna Chahta Hoon”

 -Allama Iqbal 

Allama Iqbal Poetry کلام علامہ محمد اقبال: (Bang-e-Dra-059) Tere Ishq Ki Intaha Chahta Hun

The second set of similar pathos of the two poetries:

1.

“Chalne ka hausla nahin, rukna muhaal kar diya,

Ishq ke is safar ne to mujhko nidhaal kar diya."

-Parveen Shakir

 

 

2.

“muhabbat kya hai? dil ka dard se mamoor ho jana,

mata-e-jaan kisi ko saunp kar majboor ho jana.

qadam hain raah-e-ulfat mein to manzil ki hawas kesay?

yahan to ain manzil hai thakan se choor ho jana.”

-Mufti Taqi Usmani

 

One of my urdu poems...

 

Sharing an Urdu poem, I wrote many years ago. This poem as it stands is deeply personal and has a specific code of sounds/ pattern I have used (based on my style). Anyways, I decided to post this one here on my blog:

 

"Maafi mein tu

Maaenon mein tu

Maahir mein tu

majboor mein tu

Maasoom mein tu

mazaak mein tu

Maazi mein tu,

malaal mein tu,

masroof mein tu

mayassar mein tu

marham mein tu

marhoom main tu

masjid mein tu,

rahMaan mein tu,

Urdu ke itne lafzon 

ki khanak mein tu,

par zindagi mein,

kyu nahin?

Ae Maa,

O ma..

Ikhattar se sattar ka safar 

faqat ek ginti kam hi to hona hai,

Phir bhi, dil hi jaanta hai,

vo safar-e-muhaal kitna hai...”

---Shilpi

A melodic song- Ajnabi

 Sharing a very simple yet beautiful melodic song sung by a famous pop singer Amir Saleem: (169) Ajnabi - YouTube. 

The lyrics of this song are:

"ajnabi mujhe tum yaad aate ho

mein tanha hoon tumhare bin

mujhe tum kun satatey ho

ajnabi mujhe tum yaad aate ho..

tumhein dekha nahi phir bhi

mera dil kun tarapta hai

tumhein milne ko dil mera

na jane kun machalta hai

mera dil kyun tarapta hai

meri bahoon mein aa jao

mujhe tum kun satatey ho

ajnabi mujhe tum yaad aate ho..

kabhi socha na tha aisa mere..

sapno mein aao ge

mujhe deewana ker do ge meri!

neendein uraoge

mujhe her pal sataoge

mere jeevan mein aa jao

mujhe tum kun satatey ho

ajnabi mujhe tum yaad aate ho..

mein tanha hoon tumhre bin

mujhe tum kun satatey ho

ajnabi mujhe tum yaad aate ho."

I have done the English translation of the lyrics of this song:

"Stranger, I remember you

I am lonely without you

Why do you torment me

Stranger, I remember you

Haven't seen you yet, but

my heart yearns for you

my heart desires to meet you

don't know why my heart is restless

come into my arms

why do you torment me

Stranger, I remember you

Never thought like this

you will come in my dreams

make me mad and chase away my sleep

every moment you torment me

Come into my life

Why do you torment me

Stranger, I remember you

I am lonely without you

Why do you torment me

Stranger, I remember you...."

S se Shayari.....

 Sharing a poem that I wrote many years ago (probably 8 -9 years ago) here. As this particular poem does not fit a typical Urdu or Hindi poem, I don't think I can include it in my future poetry collection (God willing) in print. The reason being that it's a deeply deeply personal poetry that was written in a very unique and experimental style but also written in some layers hiding emotions in some specific patterns I have used only known to me:).

Anyways, here it is:

"j se jugnu

j se jharokha

j se janaab

j se jamaal

j se jigar

j se jauhar

j se jalwa

j se jazbaat

j se jaan

j se jahaan

j se justaju

j se Junaid

j se jism

j se janaaza

j se judaai

j se jogan

j se jumbish

j se jawaab

j se jaadoo

j se jeet

j se jashn

j se jannah

    j se jaaveda...”

---Shilpi