कल (Kal)
चलो अच्छा है के पहल तो हुई
ज़रा देर लगी बात आगे बढ़ाने में
कुछ समय बीता रूठने मनाने में
लंबी अँधेरी रात की सहर तो हुई
आँधी सा उठा था जो वो बदलाव लेके आया है
संग हैं उस के कई वादे और कुछ चुनौतियाँ भी
उमंगों-जोश के साथ ज़रूरी है सयंम और होश भी
दिन नया एक नए दौर का संदेश लेके आया है
आसान नहीं होगा सब कुछ बदल पाना
व्यवस्था और तंत्र के पहिये धीमे घूमते हैं
हम-आप जैसे लोग ही इस के ताने को बुनते हैं
गहरे घाव हों तो मुश्किल है निशान मिटा पाना
निकल पड़ें हैं इस राह पे अब तो घबराना कैसा
बुलंद हौंसलों में अब कोई कमी न आने पाए
इरादे जो हैं मज़बूत उनमें नमी न आने पाए
अब डोर है हाथे में, देखें कल का भारत बने कैसाUnstoppable
My nation stands at the precipice A fledgling ready to leave the perch Yet a maven helming a new world A beacon of a wise and vibrant past A billion hopes ready to take wing Aspirations waiting to fly high A populace with a newfound voice Diaspora that has found the spotlight You know you can reach where you’re going Once you know where you started from India today is an idea whose time has come Our tryst with our destiny has only just begun
Man in the Mirror
I look in the mirror and try to place the face I see Is this the man that ten year old wanted to be Years have passed, time enough to have all the boxes ticked I remember the ten year old had a list The face in mirror has a dismissive look I gave it a shot and all that it took I did some of that and even more This ship has sailed now to many a shore I sense your pride said the boy You have the riches but where's the joy Happiness now is a mere pretence Blissful seems a life of ignorance You will learn in time about the rat race Have to give up a lot to find your place Gave up a dream or may be two What could've been no time to rue One last thing the boy said What I see now I don't look forward to When I am older I won't be you With those words the mirror cracked Suddenly I had a hundred me s Not one of them who I wanted to be I don't remember when or where the boy got lost I have to find him at any cost