Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Chantings of an Unprejudiced Mind

Today Vardan and I were discussing about the viles of Indian education system, as how it kills the innate talents of people and moulds them into a single cast. The discussion reminded me of the the scrap book I used to maintain as a kid and the poetries I used to write back then. He asked if he could have a look at them and after a little hunting in the stash I located the book I used to call "A Small Donation In Field of Poetry". I was in no mood of bringing the utterings into the light of world but Vardan forced me to do so. So people, bear with me! I must bring one thing to your notice that all the poems have been written during school years (class VII-IX) and the topics of the poems are all pertaining to what the kid used to hear from around. BTW my favorites are "On Friends" and "On Mother"!

The Zest

O Sun, going from east to west,
Please, Satisfy my zest.
Why people are fighting on the name of God?
Why is there riots between these bods?

Why is there so much bloodshed?
Why one craves for another's head?
Why is there Hindu-Muslim war?
Why are these brothers going so far?

Is it not in the state of mind,
What else difference can we find?
Tell me O' Sun going from east to west,
Can you satisfy my zest?

    - A.M.Aatif (Class VII 'A')


On Friends

One who takes a person out of gloom,
And saves him from an impending doom,
Whose friendship never comes to an end,
Is as I think called a friend.

One who always gives a good idea to us,
And takes us out of the fuss,
Who always is their to defend,
I what I think is a true friend.

One who protects us from our foe,
And always keeps his vow,
One who wipes our rend,
Is I see a best Friend.

    - A.M.Aatif (Class VII 'A')


On Money

What is money? Just some pieces of paper,
But can buy the most precious of Sapphire!
Money has incredible power,
For it can make brothers go far.

It can make son to kill father,
Can make a thief be released by copper!
Money has a great attraction,
For it can change saints to burgler by starvation.

It sure can change a simple man,
Into the most dangerous of Satans!

    - A.M.Aatif (Class VII 'A')


Population

God created the, tells us the fiction,
But He would never have though of so much population!
His creatures dying out of starvation,
Making life with altercation!

There would be no food left, as the scientist say,
And the left food be worth more than we could pay!
It looks to me that there doesn't remain a way,
But to take a voe and stop the population fray!

    - A.M.Aatif (Class VII 'A')


On Mother

"Mother!", Who is she?
A face of God, for her we should pray to thee.
Mother is name that cannot be defined,
She is the star that always shines.

Mothers face looks like a doll,
But not for her heart, as its not small.
Her smile makes us tension free,
She's like and evergreen tree.

On our mistakes, she always scolds,
And is always there to encourage us and make us bold.
Mother, the word which never can be forgotten,
Mother, a fruit which never can get rotten!

    - A.M.Aatif (Class VIII 'B')


Our Class

My class is the sweetest class,
Music of the finest bass,
Always in purpose of grade,
Also ready for anyones aid!

Our class has a treasure of teachers,
Guiding us as the best Seers,
We greet with huge cheers,
Trying to vanquish our fears!

In our class there is no place for a stick,
For we are the model students, never a rustic.
Our class is the sweetest class,
Clear and spirited like soda in a glass!

    - A.M.Aatif (Class VIII 'B')


Excuse the kid of some forceful rhymings! Few of the poems are written in hindi and am looking for some good hindi font for them. Reading through the poems, which maybe dumb for some, sure made me nostalgic. I was and am musing over the kind of thought process that used to go over in my mind back then. One would think that topics like population, money, communal harmony are all adults domain, but childrem sure have their opinions. We should try and look things from their perspective for its the least denatured and most unprejudiced.

I don't know what happened to me post IX class class, for I simply started hating english and arts. Was it my growing interest in science subjects? No it can't be for my interest in Maths and physics were at peak when I was in VIII and IX Yes, it has to be the screwed up education system. I always used to ace creative writing and essay competitions, back in schools but thanks to Mr. William Shakespear and the vapid lectures of arts classes, I performed miserably in the boards, and started hating arts! The hatred still continues forcing me not to opt for any electives in the institute pertaing to any form of arts. In the last attempt to rejuvenate the dying writer in me I have taken up writing blogs. I hope it would restore my liking for the language and maybe 10 years down the lane I would be getting nostalgic again reading my thought process at this point of time!!!



Tuesday, November 02, 2004

A Midsummer Night's dream!

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."


Coming back to my space after a long time does make me feel good. I see myself as a very planned person, trying to get things I aim to be set by pin point precision. But last 10 days have shown me the futility of planning ahead bringing contradictory thoughts! Last to last weekend Chhotuu informed me about his plans to Pune. And believe me, I was in no mood for the trip as I had no money and no enthusiam. But things simply fell into their places and I was in Pune on Sunday making a night's halt with Chhotuu. Well as I always say "Whatever happens, happens for good!", the trip was memorable. Awesome dinner at Richa's place, endless schmooze with Suravi with endless strings of Cappuccinos, cajoling Debs to set her in right mood (it costed me lot, but then thanks Chhotuu!), the boring Tom "Mangu Ram" Cruise movie in Vijay "pseude" Chitra Mandir and yes checking out the other side of a boy called "Chhotuu"! Describing the experience as fabulous maybe an understatement.

Back form the get away life got on a fast track. I think a BTP submition, 2 quizzes, 10 lab submitions, overdue assignments and lab endsem on the door may qualify my statement. Got into high gear and a week from then I am here writing this blog!

Already into November! Now that I think of it... Time Flies!! This semester, as I have titled the blog, has been a midsummer night's dream! Simply incredible. Last semester, I had made elaborate plans for this semester. None of them have materialised and I have no qualms. Doing things on whim, discussing about topics out form the blue, singing, dancing, treating and sometimes relaxing have their own kick. With not a penny in my pocket I have enjoyed my life way more than when I used to carry cash. Life has been just too beautiful and I hope it continues even though end seems nigh! Just 5 more months - 150 more days to go before we get into the hot seats uder the prying eyes of batchmates, listening to our exploits and boners, our imaginary/real love-lifes with lots of spice thrown around and then fencing the abashing questions from the clique who matter. Boy, it would be some time! I would be belying myself, if I say I am not waiting for the D-Day, but the fact that it would mark the end of my spell at IIT, makes me distance myself from it. But then life would move on. Some friends will stay, some would falter against the pace of life, but the memories made would stay for life. Looking forward to make more such memories.

CHEERS TO ALL MY FRIENDS!!!

"Keep thy friend
Under thy own life's key."