2 verses · ~1 min
काँटों ने हमें खुशबू दी है, फूलों ने हमेशा काटा है। बांहों ने पिन्हाई जंजीरें, आहों ने दिया सन्नाटा है। अपनों ने अड़ंगी मारी है, गैरों से सहारा पाया है। अनजान से राहत मिल भी गई, पहचान से धोखा खाया है। कुर्सी ने हमेशा ठोकर दी, थैली ने सदा संदेह किए। घड़ियालों से रिश्तेदारी कर मछली की तरह तड़पे हैं, प्रिये!
खुशियों को खरीदा है हमने, सेहत को सदा नीलाम किया। लमहा वह याद नहीं आता, जिस वक्त कि हो आराम किया। रोगों को सहेजा है हमने, भोगों को नहीं परहेज़ा है। गम बांटे नहीं, खुशियां बोईं, मुस्कान को सब तक भेजा है। हम हिन्द की ख़ातिर मर न सके, हिन्दी का भी दामन भर न सके। इन्सान तो बनना दूर रहा, शैतान से तौबा कर न सके।
इति
The Poet
गोपालप्रसाद व्यास
Gopal Prasad Vyas
1915 · 2005
Gopal Prasad Vyas possessed the rare and difficult gift of using humor to speak profound truths. Born in 1915 near Govardhan in Mathura, his formal education was cut short by his active participation in the Indian independence movement. This early exposure to political struggle shaped his worldview, giving him a deep understanding of human nature and societal contradictions. He became a giant of Hasya Ras, the tradition of humorous and satirical poetry, writing verses that made audiences laugh before forcing them to confront their own hypocrisies. Collections like To Mein Kya Karoon and Ras Rasamrit showcase his ability to dissect social norms with sharp wit and absolute clarity. He was the visionary founder of the Rastriya Kavi Sammelan, an annual gathering at the Red Fort that brought poetry directly to the masses. Honored with the Padma Shri in 1965, Vyas lived until 2005, leaving behind a legacy that proves laughter is one of the most effective instruments of social critique.
Paired Painting
Mohini and Rugmangada
In this magnificent oil painting from 1899, Raja Ravi Varma breathes life into a compelling episode from Hindu mythology involving King Rugmangada and the celestial enchantress Mohini, who is actually Lord Vishnu in a feminine guise. The narrative revolves around intense tests of devotion, righteousness, and divine trials. King Rugmangada, renowned for his unwavering adherence to truth and vrata, finds himself ensnared in a divine test orchestrated by the gods. Mohini demands an unthinkable sacrifice to test his absolute devotion, leading to high dramatic tension depicted through the grief and astonishment of the courtiers and family members surrounding them. Varma masterfully freezes this moment of emotional turmoil, utilizing rich textures, glowing light, and classical European academic realism infused completely with Indian spiritual ethos.
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