5 verses · ~1 min
मई की उमस में अपने छोटे से कमरे की खिड़की और दरवाजों को दिन भर मजबूती से बन्द रखा मैंने ताकि लू कि चपेट में ना आ जाऊँ!
शाम होते ही खिड़की पर मोटा परदा फैला दिया, कहीं मच्छर न घुस आएँ पूरे शहर में दहशत है -- जो बच निकले डेंगू से, वे मलेरिया में धरे गए।
फिर खाट पर मसहरी के दम-घोंटू माहौल में जब पल भर को आँख सपने में उभरी -- वे बचपन की सुनहरी सुबहें जब पिता की उँगली पकड़ मैं जाता था ग्वाले के यहाँ भैंस का धारोष्ण दूध पीने
वहाँ ऊपर तक भरे हुए गिलास के झाग में कोई फँसी हुई मक्खी यदि सरक भी जाती थी कभी पेट के भीतर पीठ थप-थपाकर पिता कहते थे 'कोई हिज्र नहीं। वो तुम्हारा हाजमा ठीक रखेगी।'
इसे याद कर आज मैं भले ही मुस्कराया पर मसहरी और परदों और खिड़िकयों के पल्लों को न जाने क्यों तब भी मैं नहीं खोल पाया।
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
Reading a Letter
In this evocative scene, the artist invites us to witness a quiet, intimate moment of human connection. The soft light bathes the figures in a gentle glow, highlighting the focused expressions of two individuals engrossed in the contents of a letter. There is a profound sense of stillness here, a pause in the bustling rhythm of life where words written on paper become the bridge between hearts. The artist, M.V. Dhurandhar, masterfully balances the interplay of shadow and light, creating an atmosphere that feels both personal and timeless. It is a testament to the quiet dignity found in the everyday, reflecting a period when such exchanges were the primary vessel for emotion and news across vast distances.
Open the viewer →