A fruit and vegetable vendor,
simple and humble,
Always seen with his handcart,
alongside the road, which was parked.
On my way back
from the gym,
Bought the fruits and vegetables
daily from him.

Neither the quality!
Nor the variety!!

But his  greetings "Namaste Didi" with that innocent smile,
caught my attention for a while.
That friendly gesture
made me feel familiar.

Balming the lonely and tired soul,
in the foreign soil,
in this city of strangers,
accommodating many dwellers.

While lost in own thoughts,
or busy in the cell-phone chats.
But this simple guy never failed,
seeing me come, he sweetly hailed.
"Namaste Didi"

Once, when I resumed
after a vacation,
Found dozers, excavators
busy in construction.
An all new road, footpath
for beautification,
It's the "smart city" project's
much awaited implementation.

I realized, that something was amiss!
"Namaste Didi", welcoming, friendly voice!

I looked for him all around,
Standing near a pole, he was found.
Neither cheerful, nor fruit or vegetable?
Uttered him, now the business not feasible.
Not allowed to park his cart anywhere,
As "The Smart City Mission" started here.

Go to the big stores now,
for the daily needs,
Roadside vendors
pulled out like weeds.

Neither friendly smile, nor simplicity!
"Namaste Didi" swallowed by "the smart city"!!

Do we really need a "smart city",
or simply a city?
addressing the needs of all,
retaining its simplicity.
The social warmth
and existing friendliness,
Accommodating all
with self sustenance.

**Isn't socialism, just a myth!
No offence, this way I think!!

RSS Anthem Đévnāgrī Script in Sänskřŧ:
नमस्ते सदा वत्सले मातृभूमे
त्वया हिन्दुभूमे सुखं वर्धितोहम्।
महामङ्गले पुण्यभूमे त्वदर्थे
पतत्वेष कायो नमस्ते नमस्ते॥ १॥

प्रभो शक्तिमन् हिन्दुराष्ट्राङ्गभूता
इमे सादरं त्वां नमामो वयम्
त्वदीयाय कार्याय बध्दा कटीयम्
शुभामाशिषं देहि तत्पूर्तये।
अजञ्ञं च विश्वस्य देहीश शक्तिं
सुशीलं जगद्येन नम्रं भवेत्
श्रुतं चैव यत्कण्टकाकीर्ण मार्गं
स्वयं स्वीकृतं नः सुगं कारयेत्॥ २॥

समुत्कर्षनिःश्रेयस्यैकमुग्रं
परं साधनं नाम वीरव्रतम्
तदन्तः स्फुरत्वक्षया ध्येयनिष्ठा
हृदन्तः प्रजागर्तु तीव्रानिशम्।

विजेत्री च नः संहता कार्यशक्तिर्
विधायास्य धर्मस्य संरक्षणम्।
परं वैभवं नेतुमेतत् स्वराष्ट्रं
समर्था भवत्वाशिषा ते भृशम्॥ ३॥

॥ भारत माता की जय ॥


Sänskřŧ Anthem Roman Script:

Namaste sada vatsale matribhume
Twaya hindubhume shukham vardhitoham
Mahamangale punyabhume twadarthe
Patatwesha kayo namaste namaste ||1||

Prabho shaktiman hindurashtrangabhuta
Ime sadaram twam namamovayam
Twadiyao karyao baddha katiyam
Shubhamashisham dehi tatpurtaye |
Ajayam cha vishwasya dehisha shaktim
Sushilam jagad jena namra vabet
Shrutam chaiva yat kantakakirnamargam
Swayam swikritam nah sugam karyayet ||2||

Shamutkarshanihshreyasasaikamugram
Param sadhanam naam veerabratam
Tadantahsphuratwakshwa dheyanishtha
Hridantah prajagartu teebrahnisham|
Bijetree cha nah sanhata karyashaktir
Vidhayasya dharmasya sanrakshanam
Param vaibhavam netumetat swarashtram
        Samartha vabatwashisha te vrisham ||3||

|| Bharata mata ki jai ||


Translation:
Oh my dear motherland,
I always bow before you.
You have loved and nurtured us,
Forever like your own children.
हे वात्सल्यमयी मातृभूमि, तुम्हें सदा प्रणाम!
इस मातृभूमि ने हमें अपने बच्चों की तरह स्नेह और ममता दिए हैं।

I grew up gladly in your civilized land.
This land is very benign and pure.
इस हिन्दू भूमि पर सुखपूर्वक मैं बड़ा हुआ हूँ।
यह भूमि महा मंगलमय और पुण्यभूमि है।

To my motherland, I salute repeatedly,
And I fully dedicate my mortal body.
इस भूमि की रक्षा के लिए मैं यह नश्वर शरीर मातृभूमि को अर्पण करते हुए इस भूमि को बार-बार प्रणाम करता हूँ।

Oh omnipotent Parameshwara,
As a citizen of this Hïnđū nation,
As a citizen of this civilized nation,
I bow before thy with full respect.
हे सर्व शक्तिमान परमेश्वर, इस हिन्दू राष्ट्र के घटक के रूप में मैं तुमको सादर प्रणाम करता हूँ।

For the duty you assigned,
We're prepared and up buckled,
For its completion we need be blessed.
आपके ही कार्य के लिए हम कटिबद्ध हुए हैं।
हमें इस कार्य को पूरा करने किये आशीर्वाद दे।

Give us such undefeated strength
That none can win over us and
Give us the softest modesty
That the world respects us.
हमें ऐसी अजेय शक्ति दीजिये कि सारे विश्व मे हमे कोई न जीत सकें और ऐसी नम्रता दें कि पूरा विश्व हमारी विनयशीलता के सामने नतमस्तक हो।

This way is riddled with thorns,
We volunteered for the job
And we shall beautify this nation.
यह रास्ता काटों से भरा है,
इस कार्य को हमने स्वयँ स्वीकार किया है
और इसे सुगम कर काँटों रहित करेंगे।

For achieving and attaining
Such high spiritual welfare
And such temporal plenty
Can only be achieved
Through patriotic valour
Burning saffron inside us.
ऐसा उच्च आध्यात्मिक सुख
और ऐसी महान ऐहिक समृद्धि को प्राप्त करने का
एकमात्र श्रेष्ठ साधन उग्र वीरव्रत की भावना
हमारे अन्दर सदेव जलती रहे।

The light of intense & seamless dedication towards our goal,
May it be kindled bright inside our inner minds forever.
तीव्र और अखंड ध्येय निष्ठा की भावना
हमारे अंतःकरण में जलती रहे।

May from your limitless grace,
This enlightened victory be ours
And protect it may our duty
For taking the national glory to the next level.
आपकी असीम कृपा से हमारी यह विजयशालिनी
संगठित कार्यशक्ति हमारे धर्म का सरंक्षण कर
इस राष्ट्र को परम वैभव पर ले जाने में समर्थ हों।

!! Victory to Mother India !!
॥ भारत माता की जय॥

Holiest of communions with Earth our mother.
Earth, she spins as a dancer.
Man, the stupidest species gets not dizzy.
Holding tight.
Shortest days and darkest nights.
Urge towards sunshine.
Into the light.
Making love on warm dry grass in shades of pink.
Whole soul stroking.
Worldwide.
No divides.
Without boundaries.
More life foretold in a perfect prophecy.
Namaste .
Brothers,
Sisters.
Hailstones and thunder.
Awesome power natures' wonder.
Namaste.
(c)LIVVI