Category: Delhi

नानी की गुम गई बतीसी 

रात यहीं तो रखी थी !

रात भात संग दाल चबाई 

साथ आम की गुठली खाई 

और बताशे चाब के आखिर 

पानी संग धो रखी थी 

नानी की गुम गई बतीसी    

रात यहीं तो रखी थी !

बुरुश चलाया मंजन मसला 

रगड़-रगड़ के साफ़ करी 

नल के नीचे भिगो-भिगो के 

डिबिया में फिर रखी थी 

नानी की गुम गई बतीसी 

रात यहीं तो रखी थी !

जाने क्या बिल्ली ले भागी 

या बन्दर ने खेल बनाया  

कहाँ पे ढूँढूँ किसको पूछूं 

शैतानी ये किसकी थी 

नानी की गुम गई बतीसी 

रात यहीं तो रखी थी !

बच्चों के लिए कुछ कहने का, कुछ लिखने का अपना ही मज़ा है। कोई मीटर, कोई स्टाइल, कोई ग्रैमर किसी की कोई पाबन्दी नहीं होती। बस सच्चा सपाट प्रसंग, रोज़ देखी या आप बीती घटना, अक्सर सुना संयोग – जिसमे कोई लाग-लपेट न हो, कविता या कवि होने का कोई छलावा न हो। सिनेमा जैसी चलती तस्वीर हो जिसमे बच्चे अपना खुद का दिया संगीत जोड़ सकें, ढोल मंजीरा सुन सकें, अपनी तुक लगा सकें, सुरों को पीछे छोड़ वो अपना पाक शफ़ाफ़ राग गा सकें जिस से मियां तानसेन भी सर नवां दें । बस हो तो शब्दों से जुड़े शब्दों की तुक जिसमे बच्चे अपने शब्द, अपनी तुक जोड़ सकें बिना किसी हील-हुज़्ज़त के। लिखो तो बच्चे हो जाओ, तुक ऐसी मिलाओ के दिल खुश हो जाये और आनंद बख़्शी भी हार मान लें।  

ख़ैर, नानी की बत्तीसी तो अगली सुबह मिल गई थी पर ये तुकबंदी खो गई थी। अब मिल गई है तो मज़े लीजिये। 

अम्मा // माँ > जाड़ा > धूप > झूला > बग़ीचा > किताब > कहानी  > पढ़ना > बेसुध > थोड़ी देर में चाय 

Somewhere between a dream and the distant past this face has lived for ever and came back each time I picked up a fairytale. I have reminisced it each time I heard or recalled the story The Elves and the Shoemaker (Grimm brothers). Yesterday, when I saw and met Riaasat Ali for the first time in the Imperial Hotel my first question to myself was ‘Is he for real?’ For the fear of losing him soon I wanted to make a wish. I so very much wanted him to fulfill that wish. Facing him I quickly thought of a wish and said it whispering it to his sparkling eyes. I wanted to see him swirl up and rise like a jinn, glide over my head and land lightly on my shoulder. I dabbed my right shoulder flattening it so he may land comfortably. I wanted to feel him, smell him and hear him say in Sindarin “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favourite”(remember Buddy said it in the film ‘Elf’). I had to pinch myself to make sure that I was not hallucinating, that I was not walking in sleep, that this man sawing a plank of wood was for real. It took me back to my childhood to my story books, to the elf whom I wished to complete my homework. Riaasat Ali slogged the whole night to make ready an exhibition arena for a public health organisation that was to set the tone for ‘how to deal with the next crisis’. In the melee of workers in that plush Ballroom with crystal chandeliers hanging from high ceilings I looked for another elf, a group of elves who would smile and know I had recognised their ilk. With early dawn my elf Riaasat disappeared without a trace in the misty outdoors of that ‘hotel from the Raj’. Does this face remind you of a fairy character? But before he disappeared he shook hands with me, smiled and permitted me to take a picture. Thank you ‘Elf Riaasat’.

On the night of 30 January 2023 at Hotel Imperial, Janpath, Delhi  

The one and only Tennis Yearbook in India and possibly the only exclusive tennis magazine in the country. This magazine has been regularly published with amazing commitment and dedication for over 25 years now. Other than the unfortunate  pandemic years, Priya Nanki Singh, its publisher-owner, has brought out the magazine year-after-year with no support from anyone, holding forth a crusade for promotion of tennis in the country. Profusely illustrated, “Advantage Tennis” yearbook/magazine carries well-researched & commissioned articles, interviews, game history and analysis of the previous year, player rankings and tournament schedules for all major tournaments across the world and within India. A center-spread pinup poster is an added attraction. We at ISHTIHAAR are proud to have been associated with the magazine since its inception. Ishtihaar has designed and printed all 23 issues till date with as much dedication and love. 

ISHTIHAAR, design studio and advertising agency, offers its services to you also in case you wish to design and print a book, magazine, annual report, catalogue, calendar or any other illustrated document. Leave us a message here or write to rajinder@ishtihaar.com 

Have you ever seen Mars rise over the northern hemisphere of earth? No? Even I haven’t. This is the sunrise over Lake Ontario from Toronto. Picture by my brother JR.

Reminds me of ‘Rhythm Divine’. Though still, the sky still has a few musical notes fluttering in it left by a singing Loon; the aura around the sun starts an Aalaap from the southern flank of the lake and dips it in the northern waters giving a gentle push to the ripples which culminates in the ultimate divine symphony playing out for us, the lesser mortals.