Zindagi

Random creation while evening walk..

ज़िन्दगी कैसी है, तेरे मेरे जैसी है

बारिश की बूंदों की तरह नाज़ुक,

एक अल्फ़ाज़ में पूरे आयत के जैसी है;

मेरे सांस में तेरी हवा के जैसी है,

ये कुछ नहीं पर एक छोटी पहेली जैसी है।

ज़िन्दगी कैसी है, तेरे मेरे जैसी है

ग़म और खुशी के अश्क,

इसके वजूद में इंटो के जैसी है;

इनका बंधन एक नवरंग है,

ये तुम्हारे काले और सफेद जुड़े जैसी है।

ज़िन्दगी कैसी है, तेरे मेरे जैसी है

हर मौसम के हम है आशिक,

मेरा हुनर, मेरी रचना के जैसी है;

ये इन्कलाब मेरा मेरी ज़िन्दगी से चलता रहेगा,

कैसी भी हो, ये सच्चाई के जैसी है।

You Happened!

You know what happened; I closed my eyes and magic happened.
She was there bathed in the sun, holding my hand-
Connected to my soul unto abyss;
And you know the spark happened.

She was deep into my eyes;
I am trying to find myself-
Only to realise my soul is not mine;
The inseparable had already happened.

The depth of our love isn't divine;
It transcends words and worlds.
She is melting in my arms-
Is this an illusion OR reality happened?

A breath, a kiss or a hug-
Ephemeral units to measure love;
You are the beat of my heart-
Neither I nor you, but the 'one' happened.

You know what happened; I closed my eyes and magic happened.

Translation of Sharab Cheez hi Aisi Hai by Pankaj Udhas & Dr Anjum

Just wanted to pen this down today. There are two versions on Youtube. I have translated both of them.

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Ale, you are such a thing;

You are such a thing - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

You are such a thing - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing…

I have seen every item in the world change..

I have seen every item in the world change..

But it is absolutely the same - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

But it is absolutely the same - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

These heavy nights melt away because of it’s efforts..

These heavy nights melt away because of it’s efforts..

But it is like water - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

But it is like water - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

It is the treatment for broken hearts, Anjum.

It is the treatment for broken hearts, Anjum.

It is the treatment for broken hearts, Anjum.

What should I tell you, how it is? CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing. CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing. CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing. CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

---------------

Ale, you are such a thing;

You are such a thing - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

You are such a thing - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing…

I have seen every item in the world change..

I have seen every item in the world change..

But it is absolutely the same - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

But it is absolutely the same - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

Wherever you go but you come back here..

Wherever you go but you come back here..

Wherever you go but you come back here..

Wherever you go… but you come back here….

How is this road of my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

How is this road of my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

The confusion of waiting always stuck onto me;

The confusion of waiting always stuck onto me...

The confusion of waiting always stuck onto me…

It is like your ‘locks’ - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

It is like your ‘locks’ - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

You are like my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing.

How is this road of my partner - CAN’T LEAVE YOU!

Ale, you are such a thing. Ale, you are such a thing. Ale, you are such a thing.

Ale, you are such a thing.

Qualified - A philosophical tribute to SSR

Image source: https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/features/2020/sushant-singh-rajput-had-great-interest-astronomy-used-to-star-gaze-from-his-living-room/articlecontent-pf310413-300154.html

Yesterday, a childhood friend messaged me on Whatsapp. "Bhai, my philosophy of life has changed. Now I don't need to run after success or making it big." This is what happens when someone famous dies an unnatural death and people start to realise the futility of their efforts in pursuing their dreams. These kind of situations trigger the unknown inside us and we start to ponder on our lives, goals and doubt on our capabilities.

Since my childhood I have seen lots of death. During adolescence, we used to cycle to school and there was a Hindu Samshan Ghat (Funeral place) en route and we used to encounter a death every few days. Also, we used to find dead animals like snakes, dogs etc. every now and then on the roads. You can imagine what impact will this have on kids who are growing up and learning about life. Even during my school days, there were couple of cases when there was news of unnatural death.

This incident of Sushant's death triggered an old incident which happened years back and I lost a close friend in that incident. I can very well relate to the pain of unnatural death and how depressing it can be for people connected to the passed soul. It hurts beyond belief and the brain is overflowing with only emotions. If you notice, I mentioned brain and not heart because scientifically the brain is wired to think and trigger any kind of emotions. That's what is the source of all emotions - our brain, our mind or our cerebral - whatever you may want to call it. That needs to be healthy.

I have seen few of his films and a very unique thing anyone might have noticed it that he gels so well with the character that you will hardly notice the real him. If you know about the upbringing in Bihar, children are always under pressure to perform in the competitive exams. I remember one of my teachers used to say - "IIT nahi nikale to zindagi kharab hai." This is a very general statement and is applicable in most cities in Bihar/Jharkhand. For a guy who cracked 11 entrance exams and got into one of the elite colleges, he was a Bihari parents' dream. And for someone to be connected to science and philosophy even after being surrounded by financial and social vultures, says a lot about the attitude. A person from Bihar can understand the depth of what I said just now because "papa ki maar se bahut dar lagta tha." For Bihari/Jharkhandi students, cracking a competition becomes the only goal of life when they get into their higher secondary as the state itself has very few opportunities to grow in life in THE RIGHT WAY.

Nevertheless, my point is that we already face a lot of hardships during our childhood, teenage and adolescence. But the one thing which keeps us going is curiosity. Curiosity to explore, to learn, to innovate and to do good. That keeps the child in us alive all the time. Anyone who is scientific in his brain has that child one way or the other. He knows that learning is the only way out to suffice the brain. So, what chokes that brain? The brain is choked when learning is compromised. That brain is choked when innovation is compromised. That brain is choken when philosophy is compromised. Who does that? Anyone who knows that he has the capacity to spoil my life will do that. The power, the greed, the avarice and the ignorance of the money minded Cassius kills the child in the mind. But the mind wants to be free. When the mind is unable to hold on to the string of life, it overcomes sanity and the unbearable happens.

I started following Sushant on Instagram after I saw his post that he has started to learn to build computer games. Doesn't that sound very ironical? A Bollywood celebrity trying to learn to make a game? But that shows the curious brain and will to keep going. But all this is overcome when the Cassius plays his game. And the mind succumbs to the will of others. It creates a rage inside the mind and a war of existence.

When someone makes a compromise, he/she kills a part of himself.

I have been thinking about the statement which I just mentioned for quite sometime. It is a life learning more than anything else. We should never rob someone of making a choice. It's the free will of existence. I think money, power and society makes you do that. It will make you oppress the freedom of someone's brain. Somehow, the same might have happened with the philosophical mind of SSR.

We know that Kaliyug will be only fortifying its existence as the days go by. So, we will need to strengthen our minds even more. May be he was too Educated to be in the coterie of dollar munching rats and his QUALIFICATION wasn't enough.

Let's celebrate the life of one of the finest actors and a science mate - Sushant Singh Rajput. Be well and may your soul get Mukti from the 'mrityu'lok we live in.

Re-start!

It's been a while since I wrote anything and I have started to feel a void inside me as writing gradually eroded from my life. This year I have promised myself to do more art, write more stuff and get healthier and wealthier at the same time.

I had a fabulous start to the year as I made my first Artwork in quite sometime. Thanks to an inspirational pic posted by a friend on Instagram. Quite surprising that I can still do art is relatively lesser time which means I need to practise and do more.

Portrait of my daughter

This series of pictures shows how I was able to complete the painting of my daughter (done in Acrylic on Canvas 32.5" x 32.5")

REFERENCE PICTURE

The ART IN PROGRESS

The Start

FINAL WORK

Determinant Studios

So, it has been over an year since I have been running my firm, Determinant Studios. I work in merging technology and creativity and try to address problems of different industries. My focus has been to work with more and more creative people. Being with them comes natural to me and I learn a lot.

One of my very good friends, Patricia Frischer, became one of my first clients and over the last 1 year, I have worked persistently in improving and simplifying problems faced by her in SDVAN website.

Patricia writes about me on her website. Thanks a ton Patricia for those words.

Photography - Exploring the Lens

So, I have been out for long time. I need to get back to my writing but innovation is keeping me involved more than ever.

Meanwhile, I have been learning photography myself and honestly, it is fun.

Sharing my Flickr here.

Hope you like them.

You

Fiction or illusion, you belong to me.
The waves in my brain triggers a silence in your presence.
It is that inexplicable feeling, that insane serendipity --
My senses meeting yours.

Surreal or real, you belong to me.
You balance the warmth in my heart.
The intangible connection we share without cognizance;
My thoughts are not mine, but yours.

Time or timeless, you belong to me.
You are a part of me or I am a part of you.
I sleep, the body lives and you listen;
Existence is not mine, but yours.

Dimensions or spaces, you belong to me.
Your silhouette is a master's composition.
Organic as I am - you are life;
I am not mine, but yours.

Anand Bora

Lucky 7 as Friend

Aloo chops - the Indo-Italian way

Accidentally, I happened to make the most amazing Aloo (potato) chops I had ever eaten. It is Saturday and I wanted to go to eat Aloo Chops (quite a delicacy in East of India, also called Aloo Bonda in other places). So I decided to make these today. I wanted to add a touch of experiment and the outcome was delicious.

I had some Italian seasoning and red chili flakes sachets which were left over from the earlier times I had ordered pizza from Papa John's & Pizza Hut. I used them as well to create the stuffing for the Chops.

Recipe

For Stuffing

Ingredients

3 Big Potatoes

3 Green Chilies

1 table spoon Dry Mint Powder

Salt (as per taste)

3 Red chili flake sachet from Pizza outlet [coz I used them ;)]

3 Italian Seasoning

• Boil the potatoes and peel off the skin.
• Chop green chilies and mash the potatoes. Mix all the ingredients well in a bowl.
• Make small round balls out of the stuffing and keep aside.
• The stuffing is ready.

Cooking method

Ingredients

100 grams Gram Floor (Besan)

50 grams Corn Flour

1 tsp Carom Seeds (Ajwain)

1 tsp Cumin Seeds powder

Salt (to taste)

Water - 1/4th cup

Vegetable Oil - 1 Cup

• Mix gram floor, corn floor, carom seeds, cumin seeds powder and salt in a bowl.
• Add water and make a semi-thick paste but it should be on the watery side.
• Add the balls to the paste and roll them well so that the balls are covered properly.
• Boil the oil in a frying pan(kadai) and keep the gas intensity to medium.
• Now, add the rolls to the frying pan such that only 4-5 rolls are fried at a time and keep the gas intensity to low.
• Keep turning the rolls so that they get cooked in all parts.
• Once the rolls are light brown, take them out of the pan and keep on a newspaper or tissue to get rid of the excess oil.
• Serve hot.

Garlic Chutney Rajasthani style

This is one of my favorite chutneys and I am always thrilled in eating as well as preparing it too. :D

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoon Coriander Powder
• Cloves from 3 full Garlic bulbs which should be peeled
• 5 Green/Red Chilles chopped
• Coriander Leaves
• Mint Leaves
• 4 Tomatoes chopped
• 2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tsp Red chilly powder
• 1 tsp Pavbhaji Masala
• Salt as per taste

Cooking Method

Add the coriander powder, garlic cloves, chillies, coriander and mint leaves and tomatoes in a mixer. Grind the mixture until it becomes a thick paste. Once done, keep the paste aside.

Now, boil some oil in a pan (kadai) and add cumin seeds. As soon as the seeds start to crackle, pour the paste in the pan. Add red chilly powder, pavbhaji masala and salt to the chutney. Keep stirring while added and keep the flame to a minimum. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and stir for 5-10 minutes until the oil separates from the mixture and is visible on the top.

Voila! The chutney is ready.

Note: If you want to make it more tangy, you can try adding dry mango masala or chat masala.

Zombie Me

Made this on 'Rotten Friends App' on my phone. ;)

ShakESpeare

Ambigram - Salvador Dali

Background pic taken from theartistsalvador.com