Dr. Bachchan - The University Days!

Dr. Bachchan – The University Days ( Basere Se door..)

Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a professor of English at Allahabad Univeristy. In the third part of his autobiography – Basere se Door, initially he recounted his days in the university’s academic atmosphere, the professor and lecturers he had worked with. Among these the prominent were Professor Deb and Dr. Dastoor, who according to him were equally brilliant yet only one man could be the Head of the department and that post went to Dr, Deb for his seniority in the department.

Dr. Bachchan also raised the oddity of age and knowledge in assignments given to the university professors and questioned its validity! Dr. Dastoor was made associate professor to which he had sarcastically equated to be an Ass. Professor and also suggested that the post should have gone to Dr. Deb as he was also to bear the extra burden of management skills of the department. That Dr. Bachchan respected and enjoyed the atmosphere a great deal is evident from narration of the various limericks that were doing rounds in those days to describe the professors. He had described Professor Deb thus –

Professor Deb was the same in length and breadth
And a man of encyclopedic depth
He was also humble to a fault
And humbler with a somersault
He could talk of hafiz, Honolulu and Halwa in one breath

And again while describing Mr. Bhagwat Dayal he writes that one of his friend had composed the following–

There was a man called Dayal
He was proud of his English style
And prouder of his prose
But proudest of his nose
That made him look like a gargoyle.

There was this Raghupati Sahay Phiraq, whom the world of Urdu literature knows more popularly as Phiraq Gorakhpuri. He had described Phiraq sahib as the most versatile actor, he could turn and mould his face in so many different possible ways that any actor could hardly match his skills. Though Dr. Bachchan did not completely absorb the characteristic nature of Phiraq sahib yet he opined that he if would not mind spending hours together with some person it could easily be Phiraq sahab! Phiraq gorakhpuri friends was a brilliant scholar of English language is a fact that few would have known.

Dr. Bachchan’s this part of the story is a preface to his England days when he went to Cambridge for a doctorate on the works and world of W.B. Yeats.

These were some of the excerpts from my readings that I had promised I would share with fellow bloggers as and when I get time during my reading of his autobiography. These might just be common observations yet the way Dr. Bachchan has put them across in the first 20 odd pages can only be enjoyed from what he had to say of these times. I have just introduced the readers with a pinch of it. I am afraid if English translation In The Afternoon of Time contains these anecdotes in as much detail and depth. Till the translation of the autobiography of Dr. Bachchan becomes available in English folks knowing Hindi alone can get the poet’s versatile account!

I must also add here that I have not finished the first part and I am now reading the two parts – the first and the third in parallel. I really appreciate the way Dr. Bachchan has encompassed his life in these volumes. I am yet to touch upon the fourth part – Dashdwar se Sopaan tak, and I must also add here that I had finished reading the second part Need ka Nirrmaan earlier. The paucity of time and existence of an unplanned day makes it very difficult for me to get to read faster than my present pace! I do intend to initiate the fourth and final volume before his 101st Birthday on 27th November.

And here is a section of poetry from his yet another famous composition…

इस पार – उस पार

इस पार, प्रिये मधु है, तुम हो,
उस पार न जाने क्या होगा !

यह चांद उदित होकर नभ में
कुछ ताप मिटाता जीवन का
लहरा-लहरा यह शाखायें
कुछ शोक भुल देतीं मन का,

कल मुर्झाने वाली कलियां
हंसकर कहती है, मग्न रहो,
बुलबुल तरु की फुनगी पर से
संदेश सुनाती यौवन का,
तुम देकर मदिरा के प्याले
मेरा मन बहला देती हो,
उस पार मुझे बहलाने का
उपचार ना जाने क्या होगा
इस पार, प्रिये मधु है, तुम हो,
उस पार न जाने क्या होगा !

(2)

जग में रस की नदियां बहतीं,
रसना दो बूंदें पाती है,
जीवन की झिलमिल-सी झांकी
नयनॊं के आगे आती है,
स्वर-तालमयी वीणा बजती,
मिलती है बस झंकार मुझे,
मेरे सुमनों की गंध कहीं
यह वायु उड़ा ले जाती है;
ऎसा सुनता, उस पार प्रिये,
ये साधन भी छिन जायेंगें;
तब मानवता की चेतनता का
आधार न जाने क्या होगा
इस पार, प्रिये मधु है, तुम हो,
उस पार न जाने क्या होगा !

संसृति के जीवन में सुभगे
ऎसी भी घड़ियां आयेंगी
जब दिनकर की तमहर किरणें
तम के अंदर छिप जायेंगी,
जब निज प्रियतम का शव, रजनी
तम की चादर से ढक देगी,
तब रवि-शशि-पोषित यह पृथिवी
कितने दिन खैर मनायेगी;
जब इस लम्बे-चौड़े जग का
अस्तित्व न रहने पायेगा
तब हम दोनों क नन्हा-सा
संसार न जाने क्या होगा
इस पार, प्रिये मधु है, तुम हो,
उस पार न जाने क्या होगा !

दृग देख जहां तक पाते है
तम का सागर लहराता है
फिर भी उस पार खड़ा कोई
हम सबको खींच बुलाता है;
मैं आज चला, तुम आओगी
कल, परसों सब संगी-साथी,
दुनिया रोती-धोती रहती,
जिसको जाना है जाता है;
मेरा तो होता मन डग-मग
तट पर के ही हलकोरों से,
जब मैं एकाकी पहुंचुंगा
मंझधार न जाने क्या होगा
इस पार, प्रिये मधु है, तुम हो,
उस पार न जाने क्या होगा !

Compiled by Abhaya Sharma

रात आधी हो गई है ..

पूज्यनीय अमितजी,
सप्रेम सादर प्रणाम,
आज की यह मेरी दूसरी कविता है, नही, नही, मेरी नही, डाक्टर बच्चन द्वारा लिखित कविताऒं की श्रंखला में तीसरी कविता - यहां सीधे ही टाइप कर रहा हूं -

रात आधी हो गई है !
जागता मैं आंख फाडे,
हाय सुधियों के सहारे,
जब कि दुनिया स्वप्न के जादू-भवन में खो गई है !
रात आधी हो गई है!
सुन रहा हूं शांति इतनी,
है टपकती बूंद जितनी,
ऒस की जिनसे द्रुमों का गात रात भिगो गई है !
रात आधी हो गई है !
दे रही कितनी दिलासा,आ झरोखे से जरा सा
चांदनी पिछले पहर की पास मेम जो सो गई है !
रात आधी हो गई है !
अभय शर्मा, भारत, 23 नवम्बर 2008, 00।32 आई एस टी

After Reeham's comments I feel it would be too unbecoming of me to not attempt a translation, one has to take a step even if there is a fear of falling down! So here is an attempt -

Night has just crossed midnight again!
I am awake with eyes wide open,
Oh! with the support of just memories
The whole world is lost into its own dream houses
Night has just crossed midnight again!

I can hear the peace that surrounds,
the dew that drops onto the grounds
The ones that have engulfed everything of the night!
Night has just crossed midnight again!

Something tries to console the heart
beaming from the windowholes
moonlight of the last hour
has just gone to sleep besides!
Night has just crossed midnight again!

I am convinced there could have been better translations than what I have attempted here, yet I wished to address all my friends - Reeham, Rose, Reshmi, Rochelle and that wonderful extended family memebers who do noyt undertand a word of hindi, to be able to atleast guess what the poet Dr. bachchan might have wanted to say! if not lyrical, if not exact translation and even if does not contain the depth that original presented, I am sure it can awaken some interest in Dr. Bachchan and his poetry!

Raat adhi ho gai!
chahata hun mai bhi sona,
dekhne ko koi sapna
ja milunga un sabhi se
jinako samjha hai ab apna!

( I take a bow as it is midnight!I too want to get some sleep!so I too could get some dreamsget a chance to meet those allthe ones I consider my own! )
Bye brother, If you are also awake now, pray that I continue to keep sending the poems by Dr. Bachchan every day or rather every night! till his birthday on 27th November! Do I sound different! If yes, I shall overcome my turmoil in a day or two - Jo beet gai so baat gai!

जॊ बीत गई

जो बीत गई

जो बीत गई सो बात गई !

जीवन में एक सितारा था,
माना, वह बेहद प्यारा था,
वह डूब गया तो डूब गया,
अंबर के आनन को देखो

कितने इसके तारे टूटे,
कितने इसके प्यारे छूटे,
जो छूट गये फिर कहां मिले;
पर बोलो टूटे तारों पर

कब अंबर शोक मनाता है !
जो बीत गई सो बात गई !

(2)
जीवन में वह था एक कुसुम,
थे उसपर नित्य निछावर तुम,

वह सूख गया तो सूख गया
मधुवन की छाती को देखो,

सूखीं कितनी इसकी कलियां
मुर्झाईं कितनी वल्लरियां,
जो मुर्झाईं फिर कहां खिलीं
पर बोलो सूखे फूलों पर

कब मधुबन शोर मचाता है !
जो बीत गई सो बात गई !

(3)

जीवन में मधु का प्याला था
तुमने तन-मन दे डाला था

वह टूट गया तो टूट गया
मदिरालय का आंगन देखो,

कितने प्याले हिल जाते हैं
गिर मिट्टी में मिल जाते है,
जो गिरते हैं कब उठते हैं ;
पर बोलो टूटे प्यालों पर,

कब मदिरालय पछ्ताता है !
जो बीत गई सो बात गई !

(4)

मृदु मिट्टी के हैं बने हुये,
मधुघट फूटा ही करते हैं,
लघु जीवन लेकर आये हैं,
प्याले टूटा ही करते हैं,

फिर भी मदिरालय के अंदर
मधु के घट हैं, मधुप्याले हैं,

जो मादकता के मारे हैं,
वे मधु लूटा ही करते हैं,

वह कच्चा पीनेवाला है,
जिसकी ममता घट-प्यालों पर,

जो सच्चे मधु से जला हुआ

कब रोता है, चिल्लाता है !
जो बीत गई सो बात गई !

अंधेरे का दीपक

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?
(1)
कल्पना के हाथ से कम-
नीय जो मंदिर बना था,
भावना के हाथ ने जिसमें
बितानों का तना था,

स्वप्न ने अपने करों से
था जिसे रुचि से संवारा,

स्वर्ग के दुष्प्राप्य रंगों
से, रसों से जो सना था,

ढह गया वह तो जुटाकर
ईंट, पत्थर कंकडों को

एक अपनी शांति की
कुटिया बनाना कब मना है ?

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?

(2)

बादलों के अश्रु से धोया
गया नभ-नील नीलम
का बनाया था गया मधु-
पात्र मनमोहक मनोरम,

प्रथम उषा की किरण की
लालिमा सी लाल मदिरा

थी उसी में चमचमाती
नव घनों में चंचला सम,

वह अगर टूटा मिलाकर
हाथ की दोनो हथेली,
एक निर्मल स्त्रोत से
तृष्णा बुझाना कब मना है ?

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?

(3)
क्या घडी थी एक भी
चिंता नही जो पास आई,
कालिमा तो दूर, छाया
भी पलक पर थी ना छाई,

आंख से मस्ती झपकती,
बात से मस्ती टपकती,

थी हँसी ऎसी जिसे सुन
बादलॊं ने शर्म खाई,

वह गई तो ले गई
उल्लास के आधार, माना,
पर अथिरता पर समय की
मुसकराना कब मना है ?

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?

(4)
हाय, वे उन्माद के झोंके
कि जिनमें राग जागा,
वैभवों से फेर आंखें
गान का वरदान मांगा,

एक अंतर से ध्वनित हों
दूसरे में जो निरंतर,

भर दिया अंबर-अवनि को
मत्तता के गीत गा-गा,

अंत उनका हो गया तो,
मन को बहलाने की खातिर,
ले अधूरी पंक्ति कोई
गुनगुनाना कब मना है ?

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?

(5)

हाय, वे साथी कि चुम्बक-
लौह - से जो पास आये,
पास क्या आये, ह्रदय के
बीच ही गोया समाये,

दिन कटे ऎसे कि कोई
तार वीणा के मिलाकर

एक मीठा और प्यारा
ज़िंदगी का गीत गाये,

वे गये तो सोचकर यह
लौटनेवाले नही वे,
खोज मन का मीत कोई
लौ लगाना कब मना है ?

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?

(6)

क्या हवाएँ थी कि उजड़ा
प्यार का वह आशियाना
कुछ ना आया काम तेरा
शोर करना, गुल मचाना,

नाश की उन शक्तियों के
साथ चलता जोर किसका,

किंतु ऎ निर्माण के
प्रतिनिधि, तुझे होगा बताना,

जो बसे हैं वे उजड़ते
हैं पृकति के जड़ नियम से
पर किसी उजड़े हुए को
फिर बसाना कब मना है ?

है अंधेरी रात पर
दीवा जलाना कब मना है ?


Respected Brother,
Sadar Pranam,

I just submitted the poetry by Dr. Bachchan but the blog has undone all the formats. it is OK, I shall make it available on my website soon!

I wish I could translate it for the rest of the fellow bloggers yet I find that my knoweldge of Hindi or rather my abitlity to convert Dr. Bachchan's poetry into english is rather poor and I do not wish to attempt it in the middle of the night!

raat adhi ho gai hay ! should be the next poem, if i can maintain my words to put across some of the most meaningful poetry from Dr. Bachchan!

Bye for now! I might just take a step forward and undo some of my own mistake to see the horizon clear and in better perspective, who knows, i might just move a bit closer to you. I also plan to put forward the poem tujm mere liye - in a day or two!

It is just past midnight and we enter into 23rd November, another day shall begin after six o clock, should try to get some sleep and also thank my gods for hearing my prayers I do not mind meeting you at Kitaab mahal some day if luck favours!

Bye and good night

Abhaya Sharma, India, Novmber 23 2008, 00.08 Hrs IST

PS My sister in London has sent a beautiful keyboard player for Amrit on his tenth birthday, actually initially I had planned to gift him one but somehow I could not fulfill my desire, yet I had not asked her to send one, it is a small wonder that she sent it as a surprise, it was not even in discussion with her when we met around Bhai-dooj, such are the ways of God! he lets us do our work and sometime gets it done by his own ways! (like old times my post script getting longer than the actual post! they say Sunday is longer than monday or is it vice versa!)

SAMAY - a poem on the signficance of time!

Click on the image file to enlarge for reading in Hindi -Abhaya Sharma (anusite@gmail.com) abs31may does not work any more!

This one is indicatin the significance of time!

Oh Time I move around with you!

you never stop nor tire out

you don't seem to be slowing down!

what a great feeling that is!

you don't ever turn around!

No one could tie you down

and you are the best healer of all!

who has understood your moves

has been blessed to rule the earth!

Oh time you are one bit too strong!

You order happiness to the brave

You know of all hopes and devoid of it!

you the provider of happy and sad states

provider of wealth in the world

You are the fearless and the provider of life!

Oh time we all bend and bow to you

just take away the sorrows of world

Oh time we all marah ahead with you!

A New Role for Amitabh Bachchan - Rediscover India

“Longest period in History for a paint job - 219 years to paint the WHITE HOUSE , BLACK

“In life..MANY people help you when it suits THEM; BUT very FEW help when it suits U.

Make the FEW and … BE the FEW to the MANY.”

Respected Brother,
Sadar Pranam,

I take an objection to paint the Obama victory thus! It is just not a matter of change it is something to do with a change in the surroundings!

I feel if one person who could orchestrate change in India it could have been you, that you deny it is something that is difficult to change! I can understand your point of view! yet I once again remind you that even lord Hanuman was to be reminded of his capabilities and it is only in that context that I oft repeat my request ...

You ought to take us to where we could weave a new India, you must take us where we could love each and every one around us, you need to take us into confidence that like every drop counts in the ocean every individual has a role to redefine India! That you are capable of an Obama like feat I request you to put the best foot forward and initiate a thinking that should catalyse our rebirth as a nation! As a nation that counts, as a nation that cares and respects its individuals, as a nation that knows its rights and wrongs! as a nation that can really make itself the largest democracy not just in numbers but figuratively as well!

We must take some assignments even if it does not suit us but suits the others as you too have said in one of the few and many quotes! be the few to many Indians who look upon you not as a saviour, not as a messiah not even as the living legend that you have become for your stupendous efforts in the chosen profession! Extend that role a bit further, just walk out and talk to us as a common Indian and share with us what we all can achieve collectively! One need not be a Bharat Ratna or the Prime minister of the country to effect a change, if one has a following and has ideas that can be followed then followers will always exist!

I have a feeling that there are a lot of good people on this earth and even in India that is why the terrorsits and such elements are not able to paint the earth with their desired colors. There is still hope that we can comeback to lead a peaceful and harmonious life if we decide so! That it is not difficult to practice a life style that bringsforth brotherhood as one of the topmost ingredient in our lives and surroundings! No small wonder that I have a brother who is as tall as (physically as well as otherwise) only tall can be! I do not call you brother just symbolically I mean it in the minutest of details. I know you could symbolise brotherhood as none other could do in this world! Not even Obama! (Though I am convinced that he is not far behind in the race to associate America into a great country that could augur well for his countrymen!).

We must take a step forward to do something constructive every day, we should try to pace up ourselves into a bandwagon where love and care are the keywords and service to fellow human beings is on the front seat! That one does need a driver to move such a vehicle forward I call upon you to be the driver ( i do not mean to belittle you by using such word!).

If we could acclimatize ourselves for a change we can only increase our numbers from one to billions in the due course of time. Man by nature imitates others, someone has to set the standard rest would not mind tiptoeing to the ideas if they are worth following, if they bring peace and prosperity to them as individuals! I dictate you to become that standard that people can follow! I am once again sorry for using such harsh words as dictate but then I am helpless as there is no other way to tell the able and capable of what the society expects of him!

Brother, some of the words I might have used today might appear harsh or tough in their nature yet if you are able to contemplate the hidden meaning you would not be angry with me or anyone who suggests similar roles for you!

I think I must call it quits for today, we must not just set examples for others (including someone as big as you!) but also make sincere attempts to improve the life for ourselves and for others. Such acts need not be recounted they become visible on their own!

I take a bow down to touch your feet to get your blessings!

Your supporter from the heart, mind and body
Abhaya

Abhaya Sharma, India, November 8 2008, 09:34 Hours IST

डॉ. हरिवंशराय बच्चन की एक कविता

पूर्व चलने के बटोही बाट की पहचान कर ले।

पुस्तको में है नहीं छापी गई इसकी कहानी
हाल इसका ज्ञात होता है न औरों की जबानी

अनगिनत राही गए इस राह से उनका पता क्या
पर गए कुछ लोग इस परछोड़ पैरों की निशानी

यह निशानी मूक होकर भी बहुत कुछ बोलती है
खोल इसका अर्थ पंथी पंथ का अनुमान कर ले।

पूर्व चलने के बटोही बाट की पहचान कर ले।
यह बुरा है या कि अच्छा व्यर्थ दिन इस पर बिताना

अब असंभव छोड़ यह पथ दूसरे पर पग बढ़ाना
तू इसे अच्छा समझा यात्रा सरल इससे बनेगी

सोच मत केवल तुझे ही यह पड़ा मन में बिठाना
हर सफल पंथी यही विशवास ले इस पर बढ़ा है

तू इसी पर आज अपने चित्त का अवधान कर ले।
पूर्व चलने के बटोही बाट की पहचान कर ले।

है अनिश्चित किस जगह पर सरित गिरि गह्वर मिलेंगे
है अनिश्चित किस जगह पर बाग़ वन सुंदर मिलेंगे

किस जगह यात्रा खतम हो जायेगी यह भी अनिश्चिता
है अनिश्चित कब सुमन कब कंटकों के शर मिलेंगे

कौन सहसा छूट जायेंगे मिलेंगे कौन सहसा
आ पड़े कुछ भी रुकेगा तू न ऐसी आन कर ले।

पूर्व चलने के बटोही बाट की पहचान कर ले।

- डाक्टर हरिवंशराय बच्चन

गणेश वंदना

गणेश वंदना

हे सिद्धिविनायक महामना
हे गणपति बप्पा मोरया
हे इस जग के कर्ता धर्ता
प्रभु अष्टविनायक नमॊ नमः

हे सुखकर्ता हे दुखहर्ता
हे विघ्नविनाशक गणराया
संतन के तुम सदा सखा
प्रभु गजाननं हे सुख दाता

हे गौरीपुत्र हे लम्बोदर
हे जग के नायक विनायकं
हे महाकाय हे वक्रतुंड
अभय कर रहा तुम्हॆं नमन

हे एकदंत हे धूम्रवर्ण
मूषक सवार गणनाथ मेरे
जग सबसे पहले करे नमन
हे गजेन्द्रवदनं नमॊ नमः

हे मंगल मूर्ति महासखा तुम
वर देते हो हमें पता
मोदक प्रिय प्रभु चतुर्भुजा
मंगल हो सबका सदा भला

अभय शर्मा, भारत, 4 सितंबर 2008, 00.36 घंटे

Gadya - Padya

Respected Brother,

Sadar Charan Sparsh,

Long time back I had written this poetry I present it here in honour of Dr। Bachchan who is too human in his approach towards both prose and poetry। The most important factor which binds me to Dr. Bachchan I realise is the fact that I wrote my first poetry in school onSaint Tulsidas, it was tiltled Tulsi Mahima, I do not have a copy of my only published work! The respect Dr. Bachchcan had for great Hindi poet is easily evident from Need ka Nirmaan phir॥ He had only two pictures in his room - one of is father and another of the great poet Tulsidas. There are more similarities with him yet I would not share them immediately lest people would start questioning on what basis do correlate myeslf with some one so huge on the platform of Hindi Literature.

Here I present the poem using transliterate, I would love to install the Mangal font on your computer so that you are not succumbing to the silly mistakes of transliteration, though one can even master transliteration with practice!

गद्य - पद्य

जब गद्य हो कुछ पद्यमय

या पद्य कुछ कुछ गद्यमय

तब गद्य में गाथा लिखो

या पद्य की प्रतिमा बनो

है फर्क इसमें कुछ नही

फिर गद्य के या पद्य के

अधीन होकर क्यों लिखूं

मन की कही अपनी लिखी

क्या यही कुछ कम नही
गद्य की गरिमा बनो

या पद्य में महिमा रचो

जनता जनार्दन के लिए

जब भी लिखो यह ध्यान हो

भाषा सरल हो साफ मन हो

न मन में कुछ अभिमान हो
पढ़ने वाला कह उठे

तुम कोई कवि नही तो न सही महान

लेखक भी नही कुछ ग़म नही

फिर भी लिखा तुम्हारा सत्य है

इसमें कहीं कुछ भी है अनुचित नही
यह तुम्हारी जीत होगी विश्व में

लिखा तुम्हारा जग पढेगा

पढ़के फिर जग से कहेगा

क्या खूब लिखा है किसीने

दिल को अपने चीर के
अब सुनो क्या चाहता है मन मेरा

प्रेम करना इस जगत का धर्म हो

श्रेष्ठ बन जीवन बिताना ही हमारा कर्म हो

काम कैसा भी करे उसमें न कोई शर्म हो

अभय शर्मा, भारत, १ नवम्बर २००८ १३:४० आइ एस टी

Happy Birthday Aishwarya & Dr. Bachchan's Autobiography!

Respected Brother,

Sadar Charan Sparsh,

First thing first, our (My, Amrit and Savita) heartiest best wishes for dear Aishwarya on her birthday tday! I do not know which birthday it is and I would not dare ask a lady and that too a beautiful lady and bride to Abhishek of her age! May sun always shine upon her provide brightness in all her acts and provide her with long eventful and prosperous life that is filled with joy for her, Abhishek, you and Jaya ji and her parents!

Now, I did not get my chance to visit Sopan, I am finding that I fail in my attempts to interact with you on a personal level, though it does not matter yet I feel little dejected over my own inabilities!

Here I tell you of some achievement! I finished the second part of the autobiography of Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan - Need ka nirmaan phir today morning before landing in Mumbai. I can now concentrate on the other three volumes that have been a Diwali gift to me from my Beena bhabhiji, I have picked all the four volumes for completeness despite the fact that I had already taken the second part form BRIT library and have just completed it.

Dear fellow bloggers, I will share some of my thoughts over the second part of autobiography which I completed today morning. I now wish to start with the first volume kya bhoolun kya yaad karun and preferably try to finish the rest of the three volumes before 27th November on Dr. Bachchan’s 101st birthday.

Some major excerpts-

1. Dr. Bachchan lost his first wife on 17th November 1936 and lived in depressed state for a long time, he very nearly did not want to live any further, we know in India that Wives surrender to death at the death of their husbands as per sati pratha. But Dr. Bachchan was the husband who lost interest in life at the loss of her first wife! We are fortunate that destiny did not listen to his call and we were blessed with even more beautiful poetry by the creator of Madhushala.

2. Dr. Bachchan lost his father soon after he moved him to a new house alongwith him. Now we know that old people are always more attached to their orginal places and it took only 12 hours for his father to leave for heavenly abode on being shifted to new house.

3. That Dr. Bachchan did have a strong affair and liking for Iris and it did not work our well despite his readiness for acceptance to christinaity. Certain things are predestined. Miss Iris did not have simlar attachment to Dr. Bachchan inspite of being a very good friend!

4. It was in Bareilly that our great poet met her natural life partner in Teji Bachchan ji at one of his friends house where both were guests, Dr. Bachchan came from Allahabad and Miss Teji from Lahore. The first meeting was full of tears and that Teji Bachchan had decided to forgo her enegagement to some Rawalpindi scion to marry Dr. Bachchan. The account was the most touching part of the second volume of his autobiography!

5. After the death of Shyama ji Dr. Bachchan had lost interest in everything including poetry, it was only in Bareilly College where he came back to his poetic frame in some Kavi Sammelan organised there by Shankar sahay Saxena and Gyan Prakash Jauhari, latter became a very good friend of Dr. Bachchan and was instumental in poets marriage to Teji Suri. Importantly my late father was a student of BA in those days at Bareilly college, and my unlce shri Kamlakar Sharma told me that one of his best friend Nirankar Dev Sevak was himself a poet. More interestingly, Nirankardev ji has compiled letter of Dr. Bachchan and the poet has also mentioned him in this second part of his autobiography.

6. That Dr. Bachchan had taken a break of six to seven years between his MA Prev. and Final and was quite hesitant to attend University alone, he took another close friend Shamsher Bahdaur Singh alongwith him to University, he was quite philanthropic as he borne all his expediture there!

7. That Dr. Bachchan and Teji Bachchan were very open minded and had to suffer for that sometimes! The society of those days did not subscribe to freedom to women which Teji Bachchan enjoyed being wife of Dr. Bachchan.

8. Dr. Bachchan did not take up to writing for films despite some strong motivations like some of his friends did make quite a good living. Probably he wrote for his conscience and never wanted to write what others might have wanted him to write.

9. Dr. Bachchan was not true lover of alcohol but he gave up his habit as a sacrificial act for improvement of the health of Amitabh, when he was not recovering from his fever for long times. Though he mentioned that he did not beleive in the coincidence of Amit’s recovery and his denial of alocohol yet he did not give up his word.Similarly on another occasion he gave up non-vegetarian food for the rashes on Ajitabh’s body which were not responding to any treatment, coincidence again worked and Dr. Bachchan again said he did not believe that the two events had any correltion but he he was happy for the result. He had earlier expressed that his father took lot of sufferings for his sake and he wanted to repay that notion to his sons if situation ever demanded. These two events clearly earmark his love for his both the son - Amitabh and Ajitabh.

10. Dr. Bachchan wrote wonderful Nisha Nimnatran and Ekant Geet amongst several other poetic works during this period. Someday, if I have enough money I would enact the Madhushala which I had years back requested brother to create. Rach do ab nai madhushala.. I have particularly liked his style in prose, maybe in some ways he was equally brilliant in the two forms of writing, more importantly he wrote from his heart and God has been kind to him that his narration is so wonderful and frank that one can only salute him for his achievements. Oh! I wish I had met him before he died on 18th Januray some five years back.

I would request all the readers of Hindi literature to try and read the four epic autobiography volumes of a great human poet! There is a lot to learn from the man who gave us Amitabh Bachchan.

Brother, I have found a very few minor errors in the second part of the autobiography, I forgot to note them down yet I know if I give it a second rapid reading, I would know where to look for them so that they could be eradicated in the newer editions! (with your permission!)

Once again my best wishes to Aishwarys Rai Bachchan on her birthday. Amrit was asking can’t you come to skype and chat with him like he chats with his cousins in America, Australia and England and even India! I know the answer yet I do not want to discourage and dishearten him, so I told him I will ask you!

More Later

Abhaya Sharma, India, November 1 2008, 12:38 Hrs IST

Remembering Dr. Bachchan Amitabh day 193i

Respected Brother,

Sadar Charan Sparsh,

I have just scantily read the article from Al Azhar, I do not sunscribe to all the points there yet I am not against equality for women, which exists on paper but seldom translates into reality!

You ask the working women the world over, barring a few one would alwyas find that they are at receiving end from the fellow employers! I do not say that the situation for women has not improved in India yet there is still ample more that we can do to improve it further!

Now the article by Adam Khoo was appropriately good yet I know that the moment we become rich or rather richer we plan expansive life styles and sometimes go beyond our own means to defend the life style we had choosen! Sooner or later we must realise that material world is what we have to keep away from yet is that really that easy as it appears on surface!

I have a different story on the sixth pay commission which I keep telling and debating witrh my friends. I know that there has been unexpected rise in salary of pay band III and pay band IV employees the sdame is not exactly true for the others. What happens in India is that inflation, price rise, cost of livingf etc. gets hiked up looking at the salary rise of the higher class and results in chaos and meagreness of resources for the lower class! Yet we can not have every one of us lifted to the same levels! can we! what we can do is control inflation, price rise etc, by stringent regulations that sadly does not happen in India!

I just begun Kya bhoolun … and find that my speed is much faster trhis time around, maybe the flow and continuity of a topic in this volume is better than the Need ka nirmaan.. or maybe that I am now used to the prose style of Dr. Bachchan, whatever be the logic I feel I would be able to withhold my commitment to complete the four volumes by 27th November.

I had raised some queries on day 191 it is not important that you address them all yet if you could reply without mentioning me on the blog, like you have done on several occasions in the past, it would be a welcome thought!

If you have no plans of celebrating the 101st Birth anniversary of Dr. Bachchan, I have a simple suggestion, you could organise a one day program at NCPA dedicating it to the great humna poet. You could ask the living amongst those who were close to Dr. Bachchan, I am afraid there would be very few such people as the poet lived a relatively longer life than the average Indian. The descendants of his contemporaries may not be a bad idea, if you know of the families of Gyan Prakash and Aditya Prrakash Jauhari, Brijmohan Gupta, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, Sumitranandan Pant, Dr. Narendra Sharma or even some members of your distant cousins that are described in the beginning of Kya Bhoolun … it could still mean a good celebration. I would not mind paying for such a program being held at NCPA, that way you and I would not be forced to bump into each other and yet achieve our common aim of remembering the great poet!

I am sorry to inform you that I hold you responsible for my not being able to meet Dr. Bachchan, given your credentials and your huge image it was never ever possible for me to even give it a try to meet the human poet. I could not muster strength to be there on that fateful 19th January of 2003 for the simple reason of the great Police Bundobast that would have been around his funeral, for him being the father of the legendary star Amitabh Bachchan. You don’t have to feel bad about it, but it is the truth that sometimes popularity comes at a very heavy price and denies you the access to those who you may have loved to be present around you at such tough time as the death of your father. It is OK. I am not meaning of a complain, I just wanted to make a point and if possible you can make adjustments for the better.

I for one do not know how many people would love to be there for listening to the poets couplets in his own recorded voice (if it exists) but I am convinced that there would be thousands who would throng the venue if you decide to recite some of his compositions at the event. Just give it a thought, you have ample time for 27th November, it should not be as difficult as it might appear on my first suggestion!

Hopefully I am not thrusting myself too much upon you or your blog! I have been enjoying being around and despite my some efforts to break away from the blog I have not been able to keep away, sometimes for the love of the man called Amitabh Bachchan, sometimes for lot of fellow bloggers and now for Dr. Bachchan, I have taken a strong liking to write about him and my next few blogs may not have much else to offer except the genius of Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan. He had very eloquently retold the history of Kayasths in the beginning of the first volume of his autobiography, whatever be his resources, he has done a commendable job in putting history, story and the narration of the Kayasthas.

I would now like to take leave of you for future!

With Unababted, Undiluted and Unconditional Love

Abhaya Sharma, India, November 3 2008, 9:03 Hrs. IST

PS Someone has been ruining my website by inserting scripts, viruses and spyware that I have decided to give up promoting and propagating myself through abhayasharma.net, it is painful to believe that someone is after me! I do not see the logic! From today onwards I am not going to use the link for my website!

Debates & Discussion with Amitabh Day 193ii

Respected Brother,
Sadar Charan Sparsh,

The more I try to evade and detract myself from the blog more you pull me into it by such thought provoking issues and debate! I have npw decided not to linger on the thoughts of leaving the blog! I don’t know whether it is for the good or the bad!

The main crux of the four articles submitted by you is aiming at reconstituting India and looking forward to where we want to take ourselves as a country. All four articles were read with great concentration and a willingness to absorb the contents as far as possible.

I would love to congratulate each one of Mahesh Vijrapurkar -Blackout in minimum city; The Hindu rate of wrath by Francois Gautier; The horror of Brand India by Antara Dev Sen and Stop Hate Speech my Mahesh Dattani। All have addressed the issues they have choosen and derive meanings that should be hailed in large sense of the word! Not every statement of everyone need to be correct or precisely to the point yet what they have written is thought provoking!

I would agree that someone has to take a step forward to put things in order nut I question who could that be! It is all very easy and simple to pinpoint the wrongs of the social system that exists in our present day India but is there another Vivekanand or even a Gandhi or Nehru who would try to resolve these issues! what we have is a bandwagon of our brand of politicians who would care no more and no less for a confirmation of their elections to the next assembly or for their personal and party oriented funds!

I do not see light for India as a country someone had proeprly called it a paper democracy! someone has also praised Hindu to be non-violent citing some perfect example and at the same time the other has raised the repersusions of Hindu-Muslim rivalry। The hate speech, the horror, blackout in a city and the wrath cover these issues more or less independently even if contradictig some others view point! That is nt important!We have to learn to evolve some action, we have to look forward to some forces that bind us together rather than divide!

I know it is difficult but not outrightly impossible, if one man can really rally the Indians into togetherness at this stage it could not be a politician, it could also not be a cricketer or a man of literature it has to be someone who has a mass following of the highest order in the country! Do not assume it to be a case of sycophancy it can only be Amitabh Bachchan - one man who in his last 40 years of existence made inroads into the minds of Indians of all hues and views! Do not ignore it as a whisical finding, do not rubbish this observation as a trash from someone ignorant and unaware!

If Amitabh Bachchan could please stand up and narrate to the Indians of their follies and futility and convert it into wisdom and fertility of minds, I do not see tha why we can not be bound together once again and develop into peace loving, harmoinous existence and work towards our own brand of brotherhood! The question is will he accept to enact the most important act of his life, the one that could mean so much for a country to traverse onto the path of success, on to the roads of development and into the streets of love and respect for each others coexistence!

I am not a good script writer, I loose the sense of focus too easliy and also get swayed away from the right directions yet I know that he can always look upon his father’s poetry to provide the ingredients and instrumentalise the new India!

We would listen to you Mr. Bachchan to hear what Dr. Bachchan had to say in Madhushala or his other beautiful poetic verses that were always rendered with the good of mankind in general and sometimes specific to the cause of India. Remember Bair badhate mandir masjid mel karati madhushala. Here friends the tavern house is only symbolic of love for human beings and not an invitation to get drowned into wine! Musalman au hindu hai do ek magar unka pyala - it does not mean that drink from each others cup of wine but emphatically suggests that life is same for Hindu or the Muslim. I too had written something similar when I wrote

भाषा रंग और धर्म जाति के

बंधन कब के था काट चुका

मानव से मानव को जोड़ रहा

नही शांति दूत था वह कोई

और ना ही कोई मसीहा था

कहता था इतना ही जग से

ना पानी ने हमें जब बांटा है

ना भूख हमें है बांट सकी

ना किया हवा ने बंटवारा

फिर क्यों कर हम विद्रोह करें

हम अभय बने बस प्रेम करें
अमृत सी हमारी हॊ वाणी

करणों को प्रिय हम मधुर बनें

- अभय शर्मा

Please do not take this as a matter of self praise sometimes even an ordinary man like me could embark upon something useful! There are several places where one can pick up beautiful verses from the human poet Dr. Bachchan!

Abhaya Sharma, इंडिया November 3 2008, 12.58

Congratulations Barack Obama!

Here are the comments I submitted to Amitabh Bachchan's blog site,

Here is one man in Barack Obama, whose Florida speech I just now finished reading on this very blog courtesy Ruby (#97). Thanks Ruby. Not that I did not know much of the issues on which President elect Obama had put his heart upon during his not so easy campaign for the 44th Presidential election of the truly biggest and actually true democracy of the World!

That Obama sounds much more humane in his approach, too deep into thinking for his country and clearly knowing his goals and priorities and making them public at the right moment using the right phrases that his election was a forgone conclusion.

His election as the first non-white US president might seem historic but mind you if Obama had his ways and if he could muster the support of senators to implement even some of his ideas of Jacksonville speech I would not be surprised if he achieves what he preached that he would raise not only America to its higher glories but also take the world along with US to a destination we human beings have been striving for long times!

There is more to be grasped from his speech not only from American point of view as well as for the world as a whole for the mother earth to nurture and nourish its inhabitants in the best possible way! I salute Obama for his courage, for his fearlessness to rise above politics while mentioning of America devoid of red and blues to take his countrymen to a state where they feel at home and not helpless! To run his country in a different way to take the shit out of terrorists in the world to drive his men towards the feeling of belonging, to make things happen if not immediately in due course of time! I once again salute the natural leader of America!

The Obama factor should be visible in more and more countries if they really wish to uphold principles and policies to govern their states in the most natural yet efficient ways! I would not mind if some of us could take a leaf out of his book to promote the sense of belonging and the sense of caring for his countrymen in the larger sense!

I am not against people amassing wealth to their liking and capabilities but of what use is that wealth if another countrymen fails to find food, shelter or clothing for his family. Of what great use is the bureaucracy if it devises means for rich to get richer and poor to get further poorer. I am no communist and I do not propagate equality of financial levels for performers and non-performers and in betweens! Yet I see that there is no way I can digest that one man spends 2 billion dollars for his own home and another has to spend a night by the side of a drainpipe! I would hate to belong to that country where money and only money remains important! I would love to be somewhere where love for humanity, for peace, for harmony and brotherhood has a great stronghold. I would not mind eating one meal a day if every fellow human being could atleast get one good meal in a week!

The best stroke of Obamadom appears to be his willingness to fight the terrorist's outfit. Who could deny that the end of terrorism is going to be the biggest boon of the present day human society! We have become so sick of their success and our failure to curb their acts that it is high time someone just stands up and put things in right perspective. I would personally wish President elect Barack Obama an early success in getting the kingpin of all terrorism on this earth kneel before us and let peace prevail on this earth!

I hail his policies of trying and giving a new way an entirely new direction to govern America away from its current shortcomings and possibly his ways might just help the world as a whole! We finally might have found our man of crisis, not necessarily a Messiah yet someone who could eventually bring peace, prosperity and progress to the Americans. That rest of the world looks upto America to set new standards probably we have finally got the man capable of bringing those new standards to the front!

I once again salute the might of Barack Obama and wish his presidential term(s) to be the brightest golden chapter in the history of America and in the history of this world.

Abhaya Sharma, India, November 5 2008, 17:59 Hrs. IST