शान्त· Shanta
01मैं कब से ढूँढ़ रहा हूँ
Main Kab Se Dhundh Raha Hun
Bhagwati Charan Verma
8 verses · ~18 lines · 1 min
4 verses · ~1 min
वे हर मंदिर के पट पर अर्घ्य चढ़ाती थीं तो भी कहती थीं- 'भगवान एक पर मेरा है।' इतने वर्षों की मेरी उलझन अभी तक तो सुलझी नहीं कि- था यदि वह कोई तो आख़िर कौन था?
रहस्यवादी अमूर्तन? कि छायावादी विडंबना? आत्मगोपन? या विरुद्धों के बीच सामंजस्य बिठाने का यत्न करता एक चतुर कथन?
'प्राण, तुम दूर भी, प्राण तुम पास भी! प्राण तुम मुक्ति भी, प्राण तुम पाश भी।' उस युग के कवियों की यही तो परिचित मुद्रा थी जिसे बाद की पीढ़ी ने शब्द-जाल भर बता खारिज कर दिया...!
कौन जाने, मारा ध्यान कभी इस ओर भी जाए कुछ सच्चाइयाँ शायद वे भी हो सकती हैं जो ऐसी ही किन्हीं भूल-भुलइयों में से गुज़रती हुई हमारे दिल-दिमाग पर दस्तक देने बार-बार आएँ।
इति
The Poet
अजित कुमार
Ajit Kumar
1933 · 2017
Ajit Kumar occupied a remarkably unique space in modern Hindi literature, serving simultaneously as a brilliant creator and a devoted custodian of the literary tradition. Born in 1933 in Lucknow, he became a highly respected poet, memoirist, and editor associated with the Nayi Kavita movement. He was one of the closest confidants of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, taking on the monumental task of editing the complete works of the legendary poet and ensuring that a vast literary heritage was preserved for future generations. In his own writing, Kumar possessed a gentle, conversational lyricism that completely avoided heavy academic pretension. Through memoirs like Door Van Mein and travelogues like Safri Jhole Mein, he mapped both geographical landscapes and the intricate emotional terrains of human friendship. Passing away in 2017, he left behind a legacy defined by profound intellectual generosity. He was a writer who understood that celebrating the greatness of others only expands one's own literary soul.
Paired Painting
Woman Worshipping the Serpent
This evocative illustration captures a moment of quiet domestic piety rooted in ancient traditions. Within the intimate setting of a traditional home, a woman performs the sacred rite of Naga Puja, offering homage to the serpent, a symbol of primal energy and protection in Indian cosmology. The presence of the serpents, depicted with calm reverence rather than fear, highlights the seamless integration of the divine within the mundane activities of daily life. The artist, D. P. Joglekar, masterfully uses soft light and warm tones to create an atmosphere of profound serenity and spiritual dedication, inviting the viewer to witness a timeless act of devotion that bridges the human and the elemental worlds.
Open the viewer →
If this held you
Four more, in the same key.
Chosen for their rasa and their register, not their popularity. Each one carries some part of what Meri Ma carries.
