#Darjeeling is a hill town in Eastern India, dotted with beautiful mountains, and tea estates dating back to the times of British Colonial Rule. It also houses the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage. One of the oldest steam locomotives chugs the 'toy train' up the hill there. It is sheer joy to be on that train with clear views of the estates, hills and springs.

I attempted a Limerick

Can we claim, that all success is one's own,  by him/herself? I answer with an emphatic No! In political theory,  the celebrated political philosopher and theorist of justice,  Michael Sandel critiques hyper individualistic thought.  I tend to agree: we are all indebted right from birth to Nature,  our parents and the like.  There is a share of all of them,  in our success.  We should be grateful to everyone who helped on the way,  for we couldn't have achieved anything purely on our own.

In India,  we are born indebted to the gods,  the sages and the parents.  More on this,  another time!

The majesty and calm of the ocean has had a humbling effect on me,  each time I witnessed the ocean.  

It is said that the ocean is the true source of all rivers.  All major human settlements right from Egyptian, Indus Valley Civilization were borne on river banks. Thus,  rivers have sustained humanity since forever.

The source of all rivers,  it is said by the learned, in reality,  is the ocean: the ocean might also be their destination.  

I dream of a day when our hearts become as large as that of the ocean,  free of discrimination and deceit,  full of acceptance with no exception.

I have always been fascinated by the unreal, the surreal and the imaginative. I have found metaphysics attractive: loved a poem of John Donne (Ask Not for whom the bell tolls). For me, engagement with metaphysics is a means to self-inquiry: the real question of identity. Not mere physical identity, but a meaningful conception of one's own self, a sum total.

It is insightful for me to note, that amidst so many changes, something deep down, remains constant, a sort of witness to all the changes occurring, but not being a party to the same!

I had written this poem about 2 years ago, when I was immobilized and confined to my house, thanks to a fractured foot. I was depressed, and unable to share my thoughts plainly with anyone. This was the time of (ironically) the inspiration to this poem.

It is surprising, that not joyous feelings, but sadness brings us close to art (poetry). It is said that the great Sage Valmiki, author of the epic 'Ramayana' was inspired when he saw a 'Krouncha' bird die, being hit by the arrow of a hunter, when it was engaged with its companion. From out of sorrow, the first verse was born.

Tough times of our life, make us introspect. The profundity of experience is higher in grief, than in joy. Tough times, have lessons to teach us, to make us learn to accept that all is not fair in life, and move on.

I have been a part of the rat race, yet did not want to be a rat. I have often felt, that there is so much of aimless competition in our daily lives that the purpose of doing an activity and experiencing it without the secret feeling of jealousy, and an urge to win it, is nearly impossible to have!

I look at this maddening race of life, from an outsider's perspective. Rather than be a part of the mad race, I would be happy to stand outside and introspect. I
How graceful and more fulfilling it would have been to progress at each one's own pace, pausing a moment in between, to reflect upon the freshly bloomed flower and its beauty, or the morning chirp of the the birds, their flight and gaiety?

Is competition a necessary outgrowth of civilization, or a gangrene that the body of civilization can do away with? Has it dis-cultured us?! What are your thoughts?

I wanted to specialise in Physics. At the same time I was enamoured by literature and humanities. Unable to decide, immature and not knowing how to express clearly, this poem was written during my college days, just past the teenage years. I had not known how to think beyond binaries: my world view had not expanded beyond matter vs energy. Attempted a rather amateurish or foolish, trial in synthesizing physics with feelings of love.

The ocean is majestic, serene. It is also deep that we don't truly know what it has hid in its depths. Metaphorically, I imagined the sea (or ocean, I am using it interchangeably) to be a living organism, nurturing numerous beings, and one without bounds. But, what feelings would an ocean or a sea have. Did it hold a lot of anguish inside, or was calm on the inside as it did show outside? Would an ocean cry to show its grief? Would its tears be distinguishable from its being? Would we be able to see, if it cries?

Freedom or Liberty is a value that every living being longs for. For me, freedom is the escape of my mind from the inevitable mundane. An elevation of my spirit to something transcendental, and not ephemeral. Not necessarily a permanent refuge but even a momentary catharsis in the continuity of chaos.

Viraha: is the Hindi/Sanskrit word for separation, specifically the longing experienced by lovers. This has been the subject of many paens, poems and elegies through millenia till the present day!