Came across a rather touching poem by a school student , Shikha Smarika, on the issue of female foeticide , and thought of sharing it with ilanders. For those who find the eng font too cumbersome to read, pl refer to the ad on page 9 of the Sunday TOI dated Oct 8,2006.
Sandesh Ajanmi Bitiya Ka
Kuchh kehna chahti hoon,apne hisse ka jeewan jeena chahti hoon
duniya ke rang, duniya ke sang, main bhi jeena chahti hoon.
Maan main teri kokh mein aayi, phir janm kyon na le paayi
na koi jaane mera marm, meri kabr ban gaya kaise tera garbh
Tera khoon to paya maine, phir doodh kyon na pee payi
astitva apna mitne par bhi, aansoo tak baha na paayi
Durdasha dekhkar meri to, brahma bhi pachhtaya hoga
sang mujhe le jaate huye, yamraj bhi tharraaya hoga
Janm lene do mujhe bhi, bete se badh kar dikhlaaoongi
dhara ke sukh kya cheez hain, tod aasma ke taare laaoongi
Agar beti ko marvaaoge, mamta maan ki kaise paaoge
kho jaayega kahin behen ka pyar, dular kis par barsaaoge
Antim sandesh yehi hai mera, bacha lo jeewan ajanmi bitiya ka
astitva varna mit jaayega, is duniya se maanav ka
PS: While on the subject, I would also like to recommend strongly a viewing of the excellent movie “Maatribhoomi: A Nation Without Women”
Posted in Inspiration.
By Udita Chowdhary
– October 9, 2006
Posted in Blogs.
By Udita Chowdhary
– September 16, 2006
Posted in Blogs.
By Udita Chowdhary
– September 16, 2006
Marooned
amidst endless piles
of bulky files
stretching for miles
like slithering reptiles!
aching limbs linger awhile
struggle against time- futile!
then a vision tries to beguile-
oops!…….its your smile! 
Posted in Poetry.
By Udita Chowdhary
– September 8, 2006
The enchanting smile
dancing in your eyes
has charmed away
sleep from my eyes
awakened infinite dreams
of myriad hues
and wished away
those haunting blues
radiating warmth,
melting glaciers,
sprouting fountains of hope
from weary, numbed senses
cascading waterfalls
and torrential streams
gush forth to immerse
in the distant ocean
awaiting catharsis,
dormant for aeons,
now erupting
like restless volcanoes;
churning up
sublime emotions,
deeper than
the deepest oceans
the rising tide of ecstasy
quenching my parched soul,
rejuvenates,
and makes me whole.
Posted in Poetry.
By Udita Chowdhary
– September 3, 2006
Smouldering embers or forest fire
Placid dewdrops or torrential downpour
A ray of hope or a blinding flash
Starry skies or warm sunshine
A straight road or a never-ending maze
A gentle breeze or a whirlwind
A subtle whisper or a resounding echo
A deceptive calm or eternal bliss-
What is it that engulfs my soul,
Embracing my very existence,
Hypnotising me to a trance,
And refusing to let go? 
Posted in Philosophy.
By Udita Chowdhary
– August 30, 2006
The head reasoned-
gently coaxed,
patiently argued,
softly tugged,
firmly mentored,
strongly hammered,
thus dissuaded.
But alas!
The immutable heart
stood unheeding
to the pleading,
digging heels,
so unrelenting,
never wavering-
just beating!
Posted in Philosophy.
By Udita Chowdhary
– August 28, 2006
Inspired by Khushi’s blogpost dated 15 June,2006…..Tanhai
Registaan ke beech mein khwaahishon ke kaarwaan
sanwartey toot-tey khwaabon ki bhool bhullayyaan
neend ki dushman aankhen, aur kaanton ki shayya
hanstey huey zakhmon se tadapta bezaar dard-e-dil
bhatakti hui bepanah rooh ki ruswaai -
in sab ki bus ek panaah hai to yeh tanhai.
Ummeed ke aasre ek aashiyaan banaaye
voh dil-azeez chehra aankhon mein basaaye
jhilmil sitaaron ki paalki sajaaye
kaise kaise armaanon ki baaraat jagmagaaye
chaahat ke rangeen phoolon ki sej sajaaye -
saath bus ek humsaaya hai to yeh tanhai.
Baithey hain muddat se nazren bichhaaye
intehaa ho gayee, kab khatm ho shab-e-intezaar
ki kab rukh ho yahaan ka, aur ho deedar-e-yaar
khil uthe yeh gulshan, laut aaye bahaar
ek baar phir, zindagi muskuraaye, aur
hum rukhsat karein, yeh sauten tanhai.
Posted in Poetry.
By Udita Chowdhary
– June 23, 2006
Kaha tumne bahut kuchh ankaha
ya maine sun liya bahut kuchh ansuna?
Jo zahan main tha hi nahi
kyon aisa dikhlaaya manzar
mahaz chaar shabdon mein jaise
mode di jeevan ki dagar;
yeh kaisa shahteer chalaakar
le gaye mera sukh chain chheenkar
dil par zor chalega kaise
thaami jo tumne jeevan dor
ek hi lamhe mein kaise
paaya tumne yeh adhikar?
kal tak mere antriksh mein
bus do he to the taare
aaj tumhaari ek nazar ne
bichha diye asankhya sitaare!
chhalak utha hai daaman mera
kaise thaamoon khushiyaan apaar
paanv zameen par tikte nahin hain
khwaabon ke pankh pakheru hain
jo hona hai kal hoga, par
aaj to mera apna hai
jeewan-sandhya ho saath tumhaare
bus itna sa sapna hai!
Posted in Poetry.
By Udita Chowdhary
– May 30, 2006
Dil ki pyaasi khaamosh jheel par
Ek ghata mandaraati aayi;
Aisa kya hai is baadal mein
Socha dil ne kuchh ghabraakar;
Kyon yeh dabe paanv aaya hai
Bin garjan, bin bijli chamke
Koi hawa na koi aandhi
Na koi barsaat ka mausam-
Phir bhi kyon chupke se aakar
Chhaa gayaa yeh mere aasmaan par
Lagta hai aagosh mein bharkar
Le jaayega door udaakar!
Jheel mein ho boond paani ki
Ya chhupi ho baadal mein
Kehne ko to jal hi hai
Par badli hai uski hasti!
Baadal ki pehli boond se
Kyon sihar gayi ye jheel
Gehraayi tak jaakar jaise
Machaa diya ajab kolaahal
Satah shaant hai lekin bheetar
Jhoom jhoom kar thirak rahi hain
Ek nayi jhankaar par
Lehron ki madhosh sargam!
Posted in Poetry.
By Udita Chowdhary
– May 29, 2006
