This writing of mine is based on a hindi song that plays many a times in my head since the time I was a child. The song has a very energising beat. It is a fun song but yet talks about the journey of life. My apologies to those that do not follow Hindi. This song is going to be hard to explain to someone who does not follow the nuances of the language. I will make my best effort to explain some of the thought behind it with some of my crazy verse written in English. Mind you this is my interpretation and in no way a translation.
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” — Oscar Wilde
yahaan se wahaan
wahaan se yahaan
yahaan se wahaan
wahaan se yahaan
Remember the song — rail gaadi…. So much of life calls out — ruk ruk ruk ruk ruk… But do we stop? Can we stop? Should we stop? Stop and then what? Stop with whom? Why stop?
The tune and its catchy rhythm ring in my head…
Baluret, aaloo ke dher
bajra thaan, budhha kisaan
hara maidan, mandir makaan
chai ki dukaan…
kur pug dandi
peele pe dandi
paani ke punn
panchhi ke jhund
kjhopdi jhaadi
kheti baadi
badal dhuan
mot kuan
kuen ke peechhe
baag bagiche
dhobi ka ghaat
mandir ki haat
gaon mein mela
bheed jhamela
joote ki maar
tattu sawaar
railgaadi railgaadi
chhuk chhuk chhuk chhuk
chhuk chhuk chhuk chhuk
beech waale station bole
ruk ruk ruk ruk
ruk ruk ruk ruk
Raw speed… Lots of action… Non-stop lives…
Trains… Planes… Cars… Rickshaws… Bicycles…
People… People… People… People… And their non-stop journeys…
Never ending roads…
Feet… Hands… Fingers… Legs… Toes… Eyes… Head… Heart…
Frowns… Smiles… Laughter… Tears… Touch… Touched… Hug… Hugged…
Feelings… Anger… Frustration… Expectations… Fear…
Desire… Envy… Jealousy… Sex… Love…
To love… To be loved… To give… To receive… To not expect…
Sit… Crawl… Stand… Walk… Jog… Run… Run… Run… Run… Run… Run… Never stop!!!
Dharampur, Dharampur, Dharampur, Dharampur
Mangalore, Bangalore, Bangalore, Mangalore
Mandwa Khandwa, Khandwa, Mandwa,
Raipur, Jaipur, Jaipur, Raipur,
Talegaon, Malegaon, Malegaon, Talegaon
Nellore, Vellore, Vellore, Nellore,
Sholapur, Kolhapur, Kolhapur, Sholapur,
Utkal, Dhindukkal, Dhindukkal, Utkal,
Machhlipatnam, Mallipatinam, Mallipatinam, Machhlipatnam,
Umgol, Nandgol. Nandgol, Umgol
Koregaon, Goregaon, Goregaon, Koregaon,
Nandurbar, Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, Nandurbar,
Sheopur, Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Sheopur
Childhood… Adolescence… Teens… Adulthood… Marriage… Work… Parenting… Ageing… Passing on…
This in a nutshell summarises the journey for the mass of humanity, making their way from birth to death, bearing whatever life has to offer them. Whoever said a life was to be meaningful, to be impactful, forgot about the billions of people that simply pass through this journey without leaving a mark. Even for those that do leave some kind impact, their legacy is soon forgotten over the next couple of generations.
“Legacy is a stupid thing! I don’t want a legacy” — Bill Gates.
Then what keeps us on this journey. Fighting a battle throughout our lives. The survival instinct? Or for glimpses of happiness that life throws at us as little crumbs. Well, may as well gather up the crumbs and fill our baskets. Look up and give the biggest possible grin. Telling the Lord, that I shall enjoy my half full basket of happiness and not complain about the half empty. And I shall live a life full of energy and zest, come what may.
Written By Mohit Gupta
Week 15, April ’20
