February 23, 2024

वाह रे ज़िंदगी

कभी धुप है 
कभी छाओं है 
कभी उजाला है 
कभी घोर अँधेरा 
खुशियां और दुःख जैसे 

कहीं ठहराओ है 
कहीं भागदौड़ है 
कहीं नदियां है 
कहीं पहाड़ है 
उतर चढाव से भरी 

कई आस्तिक दीखते है 
कई नास्तिक दीखते है 
कई इमारतें दिखती है 
रस्मो रिवाज से भरी 

इंद्रधनुष जैसी रंगीली 
हर पल रंग बदलती 
कुछ रंग आवारगी के 
कुछ रंग कश्मकश के 

इस चाहतो के दौर मैं 
इक अनबूझ पहेली सी 
थोड़ी सी  सुलझी हुई 
थोड़ी सी उलझी हुई 

कुछ खट्टी 
कुछ मीठी 
कुछ तीखी 
कुछ फीकी 
वाह रे ज़िंदगी 

- विकास गोयल 

February 21, 2024

जंग - 3

क्या है ये
कुछ सोचना
ऐसा हुआ था
वैसा हुआ था
क्या हुआ था
क्यों हुआ था
कब हुआ था
कैसे हुआ था
किसने किया था
क्यों किया था
न जाने क्या क्या 

और अब ये इंसान 
खामोश बैठा है 
अकेला इस भीड़ मैं
जंग अभी जारी है

- विकास गोयल 

February 20, 2024

जंग - 2

उफ़
ये धुप
ये छाओं
ये सुबह
और ये शाम

उफ़
ये सर्दी
ये गर्मी
ये बारिश
ये मौसम

उफ़
ये पहाड़
ये हरियाली
ये रेगिस्तान
ये नदियां

उफ़
ये जंगल
पेड़ों के
इमारतों के
भावनाओ के

उफ़
ये अपनापन
ये मस्कुराहट
ये रोना
ये गुस्सा

इन सब के बीच
बैठा है ख़ामोशी से
भीड़ मैं भी तनहा
क्यों की ....
जंग अभी जारी है

- विकास गोयल 

February 19, 2024

जंग - 1

ज़िंदादिल हु मैं
हौसले बुलंद है अभी भी
जज़्बा ज़िंदगी जीने का है

थोड़ी से थकावट है, थोड़ा सा सुकूँ है
दूर मंज़िल पाने की चाह मैं
चल सकता हु मगर वजह नहीं है
दिल और दिमाग की जंग जारी है

ये फासले  और ये रिश्ते
ये अजीब से दूरियां
वो याद करना, परवाह करना
पर अपनापन कहीं खो गया

थोड़ा सा अकेला हु मैं इस भीड़ मैं 
अकेला ही चला था, अकेला ही हु मैं 
रिश्तों मैं ज़िम्मेदारी के बोझ से 
अपनापन कही खो गया है 

उम्र और तजुर्बे के इजाफे से अक्सर
खामोशियाँ ही मेरा जवाब देती है
अब तो कुछ कहना भी
फ़िज़ूल खर्च लगता है

अक्सर खामोश बैठे बैठे 
अपने आप को सोचता हु मैं 
फुर्सत नहीं कुछ और की 
दिल और दिमाग की जंग जारी है

विकास गोयल 

August 20, 2023

The Shadow Lines

A book by Amitav Ghosh. 

I picked up this book as I like reading post colonial write up (fusion of history and friction) and not much to my surprise, it got me hooked till the end. The shadow line started in 1947 with concept of War, Borders and Boundaries to divide great nation into three pieces. So called partition. Everything is so well connected to each other, the lives of the people, the countries and everything else too. The way wars and riots are described, perceived differently by the people, the pain of such situation, how life changes entirely due to loss of a loved one etc. were felt happening in front of my eyes while reading. It kept me so engaged and wanting to continue reading to know what comes next.

After reading, it seems that the character Tridib is going to remain in my mind for few months if not years. 

Today, we live into globalized world where border lines separating two nations are only shadow lines. Amitav Ghosh does it very well being Indian by birth and global in his vision. 

The book won two prestigious Indian prizes i.e. the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Ananda Puraskar.

July 23, 2023

It's only a hobby!

Two old men were sitting on a park bench.
"Well, what do you do now that you are retired?" asked one.
"I have a hobby: I raise pigeons," replied the other.
"Pigeons? Where do you keep them? You live in a condominium!"
"I keep them in a closet."
"In your closet? Don't they shit on your shoes and on your clothes?"
"No," said the man.
"I keep them in a box."
"In a box? How do they breathe?"
"Breathe? They don't breathe," said the man,
"they are dead."
"Dead?" exclaimed the friend, shocked.
"You keep dead pigeons?"
"What the hell, it is only a hobby!"

- OSHO : Dhammapada Chapter 2

June 08, 2023

It's What I Do

It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War
A book by Lynsey Addario

Lynsey Addario is an American, Photo-Journalist and Author. She photographed for Time Magazine, The New York Times, and National Geographic.

I completed reading this book last month and I liked it as she talks about the women in conflict (or War) and how women in different cultures are more affected and not spoken about in the world. It is true that even neighboring communities or nations are not aware and talking about such an important issue. Beautifully captured photos, story of the moment instead of overall war story and done by journalist. There are many points I felt it’s a story for “breaking news” rather than inside story. Every profession has its own advantages and limitations. Or allow me to say brighter side and dark side.

Since I travel a lot as an aid worker and have worked different conflicts around the world (Afghanistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, etc. and now in Ethiopia), I was able to understand beyond the story told in the book.

I would like to call Lynsey as “Fearless Traveler” with her heart and mind in right place. She has shown bravery where needed and have also shown Lynsey travels with purpose and photographs during key war times.

The Afghan people before and after Taliban, the civilian casualties during parties in conflict during Iraq war, burned villages and deaths in Darfur – The Sudan, violence against women in Congo, spellbinding and headline-making story of her kidnapping by pro Gaddafi forces in Libya, tragic lives of starving Somali children etc. stories are well captured, right on time, with her DSLR and with right mix of bravery and empathy.

Do I recommend this book? Since I have travelled over 50 countries and understand international affairs / conflicts easily, I enjoyed the book. If you do understand, you will enjoy.

However, i also wonder why there are no such books by aid workers? Usually they would have more details and they live in such context relatively longer. I find very few books and wish there were more. 

May 18, 2023

The Covenant of Water

"The Covenant of Water"
A novel by Abraham Verghese

I picked up this book just because of the title and initial impression. Before reading the book, I researched about the author and his journey inspired me to read his book.

Abraham, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to expatriate Indian parents. Started his medical schooling in Ethiopia. During 1974 civil war, parents moved to US, and he joined them that interrupted his study. Then he decided to complete his medical schooling from Madras University in India and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Boston City Hospital. He is best known in the medical community for “being able to read the body as text.”

Later on, I listened to his inspiring and enlightening talk about power of human hand to touch, to comfort to diagnose and to bring about treatment. such a passionate insight on a physician-patient relationship from a Physician.

I was already into the book now and completed the book in a week time.

The multi-generational family saga from twentieth century (1900 to 1977) follows a family in southern India where Atleast one person dies by drowning – and water is everywhere in Kerala.

Everyday life in the watery landscape of Kerala is beautifully rendered. The story is build considering political and developmental changes including technological and medical developments affecting day to day life in India which was easy for me to connect and relate.

I have decided not to summaries the story as part of the review as the book is well written. The story line is very good and I will not be surprised if there will be a movie or series made on this.

However, I would not recommend the book with confidence as it’s too long, does not meet my expectations that was build after reading about author and his Ted Talks. Also, this book with over 700 pages uses difficult words and kept me busy finding meaning. It could have been said in simplified way. Though I plan to read his another book “Cutting for Stone”.

March 30, 2023

Let human learn from nature

The Nature...
know what's good
has a purpose 
and is most adaptable

The nature...
ever-changing
never in rush
endless patience

The nature...
solace in troubles
unconditional love
flexible and resilient

How plants, animals
in nature are living
in peace…

Why human is in conflict?
war terror or animosity,
despite the bounty of
thinking power reason?

Even tigers, lions,
bears, wolves in jungles
exist without
causing disorder

We human being
part of the nature
in civilized society
can we end conflicts?

Let humans learn from nature



March 29, 2023

One thing at a time

My father taught us this poem during our childhood. In the poem, he made sure that we learn and explained us the meaning of it as part of our growth. I also made some efforts to embed this poem as part of my kid's growth. Here is the poem : 

Work while you work,
Play while you play,
To be useful and happy,
That is the way.

All things you do,
Do with your mind,
Things done by halves, 
Are never done right.

One thing at a time,
And that done well,
Is a very good rule,
As many could tell.

Moments should never 
be trifled away,
So, work while you work
And play while you play.