The seat of Spiritualism, Learning and Power - Bodh Gaya, Nalanda and Rajgir!

Visiting the ruins of Nalanda Vishwa Vidyalaya had been on my Wish list for a long  long time. So is true for Bodh Gaya and  Rajgir. Despite being from Bihar, it took me years to visit these places – which holds its importance for being the seat of spirituality and learning. I have been to many places, but these three places stand out. The experience is inexplicable! You can feel the vibe emanating from the red brick walled corridors, hostels and the teaching area. You can see the charred and melted bricks – as a testimony to the act of arson by the invaders in which the entire library got gutted – it is said that the library had such a large stock of books and research papers that the fire continued for six months!

The ruins of Nalanda University is imposing! It had a nine story library, 10000 students, hostel for them – with spacious rooms , 7:1 Students to Teacher ratio, hostel for all, quality education and that too free of cost! Unbelievable, isn’t it! It was a humbling experience. Truly.

Then, the Bodh Gaya – saw the Bodhi Tree. I was told that the current tree is the fourth generation! One has to deposit the mobile , but can  carry your Camera for a fee. As you enter the campus, peace and tranquility descends on you! Magical. Very neatly maintained. Beautiful Idol of Buddha in the main Bodhi Temple.

I was told that as you enter Bodh Gaya, you will feel as if you are not in India!(the phrase that we use to impress that the place is very neat and clean, well organised, etc..). Yes, the Bodhi Temple and the other Temples built by different countries are neat and clean, same is not true for Bodh Gaya. It is a normal place. Yes, during the winter most of the videshi tourists visit, it gets flooded with them and locals might get outnumbered during those days – giving it a firangi look!

Rajgir has many attractions – it was the Capital City – infact, the First Capital of Magadh! Son Bhandaar – is rumoured to hold huge treasure – but no one so far has got the clue to open it! The natural Hot Spring – has medicinal values – couldn’t take bath here due to heavy rush of the Bol Bum Kanwariyas – who on their return journey from Deogarh come here to take the medicinal hot bath – for getting relief from the pain and tiresome journey on foot!

At Pandu Pokhar in Rajgir, one can go for some sporting thrill – zip line, Burma Bridge, Boating and can also stay there in tented accommodation at a reasonable price.

I recommend to hire a local guide, it helps in better understanding of these seats of high learning!

शक्ति हो तुम on International Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day!

हैप्पी इंटरनेशनल विमेंस डे!

 हम सब यह भली भांति जानते हैं कि यह दिन हमारी महिलाओं को हमारे घर, हमारे समाज, हमारे कार्य क्षेत्र में और अधिक महत्व दिलाने के लिए मनाया जाता है। यह महत्व इसलिए नहीं दिलाना है क्योंकि वह हमारे बराबर है, मेरा मानना है कि वह हमसे कहीं बढ़कर हैं। अपने घर को संभालने के साथ साथ वह जो भी कार्य आज के दौर में कर रही है वह किसी भी पुरुष के द्वारा किए गए कार्यों से किसी तरह कम नहीं। आज की महिलाएं नई ऊंचाइयों को छू रही हैं ।महिलाएं तो हमारे समाज में पहले से ही आदर और सम्मान का पात्र रही है। वह आदिशक्ति हो, दुर्गा हो, लक्ष्मीबाई हो या मौजूदा दौर की मदर टेरेसा हो,  कल्पना चावला हो , सुनीता विलियम्स हो , बचेंद्री पाल हो,  इंदिरा गांधी हो या कोई अन्य साधारण महिला-  सभी आदर और सम्मान के पात्र हैं। जरूरत है आज हम सबको यह अच्छी तरह खुद समझने की और अपने आने वाली पीढ़ियों को यह समझाने की कि नारी है तो सृष्टि है।

मेरी यह कविता हमारी महिलाओं को समर्पित है- 

शक्ति हो तुम

शक्ति हो तुम आदि काल से 

21वीं सदी भी तुम्हारा है।

 निर्बल कभी नहीं रही तुम

 कभी दुर्गा, कभी रौद्र काली बन

 सदैव रिपुओं को संहारा है।

 वहीं जन्म दे 

नवजीवन रचकर

 मानव सृष्टि को 

सदियों से संवारा है।

ज्ञान भी तुम, धन-धान्य भी तुम

 पावन गंगा बन तुमने 

सबके पग को भी पखारा है।

 कई आघात हुए,

 वज्रपात हुए,

 पर धरती सी तुम अचल, संबल

 हमेशा दिया सहारा है।

 हर तरह से 

तुम उत्तम सृष्टि सदैव से,

 ऊंचा स्थान तुम्हारा है।

फिर भी करते उपहास, 

अपमान हम

यह तो दुर्भाग्य हमारा है,

हां , यह तो दुर्भाग्य हमारा है।

© Madhukar Mohan

Me, You, Gurmehar and Akhtar Sahab!

At 50, I am at a loss in defining myself. All the while I have had been thinking that myself and people like me qualify as a part of intelligentsia! I have authentic degree in Engineering and Management from Institutes of national standing, have been performing my duties as a professional and as a team leader, have the ability to reflect and react on the changes taking place in the society. To the best of my understanding, I am playing my role as a responsible citizen, a loving husband, a caring father, a thoughtful mentor. But, with every passing day, as I go thru the electronic media, the print media and the social media; I find that the views of the so called ‘Intelligentsia’ are diametrically opposite to mine and it is becoming more and more difficult for me to adjust to the meaning of ‘Intelligentsia’! Etymologically the most basic meaning of Intelligentsia is –  intellectuals as a group : educated people and an Intellectual is one who has  the ability to think and understand things, especially complicated ideas! And who can be more qualified as an Intelligentsia? If, literacy is one criteria, then I think Javed Akhtar Sahab is not as qualified as me; and if literacy is not a criteria, then Virendra Sehwag and Yogeshwar Dutt are more qualified than Akhtar Sahab! Yes, as far as literacy goes, I am more qualified and when it is the question of influencing the masses with positivity, these two players qualify with distinction. These players with their grit and determination have raised the aspirations of millions of youth and have at many occasions bonded the nation in one common thread of unity and strength. In fact,  they are the pride of the nation, the real Heros!

In recent times, for personal gains and to qualify as a member of ‘Intelligentsia’, it has become fashionable to abuse one’s own faith, religion and nationality – whatever and whenever suits to draw the attention of the people. The more you utter against own nation, the more you sympathise with the enemies; the more you qualify as a broad minded soul, a man with a great heart, a superhuman who is beyond the ideologies of a nation! And today, their is no dearth of such intellectuals in our society. And these intellectuals, more than less often, are the one who have thrived and succeeded just because of the pure love and support of the ordinary people. And for these ordinary people, nation has always come first, irrespective of their status as a literate or an illiterate.

Who is not aware of the Pakistan sponsored war? We all have grown up with almost daily shelling of Kashmir by Pakistan. Innumerable Indian Kashmiris and security personnel bled to death and such deaths are a routine now. Who is waging the war? Who has to stop it? What is our nationality?  What freedom we are looking for? Which nation gives you more freedom than ours?

Some media houses also gave coverage on the sedition charges framed on Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel vis-a-vis the charges on JNU students.  How can one compare these icons with JNU students? And are they students? To me it seems to be a place of merrymaking in the name of education at the expense of our hard earned money which go as taxes to the government and is routed to the university as grant.
I also pity some of the news channels about the way they report. It creates doubt in ones mind – are the Indians running it! If so, they are Indians just by birth, certainly not by their deeds.

I do not support anyone using abusive words and foul language against Gurmehar Kaur. However, I have serious difference of opinion with her and the ilk supporting Pakistan.

Akhtar Sahab, we ordinary people love and respect you for all your filmy achievements, and remember that we people made you, whatever you are today. But your comments on Sehwag and Yogeshwar has hurt millions, not just because they are real Indian Heros, but also because we take pride in being an Indian and azad Kashmir is ours. Please understand that the War that is killing is sponsored by Pakistan. And last thing to you, we never credited your pen for all your creations in the form of scripts, shayaris and dialogues, we credited you! You got the Padmashree and other honours for it, not your pen. I hope it is clear.

Let us be rational. Let us appreciate the boundless freedom that we have. Let us use our freedom, do not misuse it.  Let us move!