4 verses · ~1 min
कहाँ है मेरा घर? जाना चाहती हूँ , रहना चाहती हूँ अब वहीं! छोटी थी तो समझ में नहीं आता था , सुनती थी पराई अमानत हूँ, अपने घर जाकर जो मन आये करना! धीरे-धीरे समझ में आता गया कि यह घर मेरा नहीं । पर फिर यहाँ जन्म क्यों लिया?
बड़ी हुई - घर ढूँढा जाने लगा जहाँ भेज दी जाऊं , उऋण हो जायें ये लोग ,भार मुक्त! चुपचाप चली आई नये लोगों में! पर ये घर तो उनका था जो लोग यहीं रहते आये थे!
मैं नवागता , ढालती रही अपने को उनके हिसाब से! नाम उनका ,धाम उनका , सारी पहचान उनकी! बनाये रखने की जिम्मेदारी मेरी थी , निभाती रही! निबटाते -निबटाते चुक गई , अब भी रह रही हूँ पराये घरों में , सबके अपने ढंग!
ढाल रही हूँ फिर अपने को कितनी बार ,कितनी तरह! अंतर्मन बार-बार पुकारता है - 'चलो अपने घर चलो!' जनम-जनम से गुमनाम भटक रही हूं! कहाँ है मेरा घर!
इति
The Poet
प्रतिभा सक्सेना
Pratibha Saxena
Dr. Pratibha Saxena holds a distinct and vital place in contemporary Hindi literature. Her work connects the rigorous intellectual demands of academia with the sensitive realities of human relationships. Born on February 9, 1938, in Madhya Pradesh, her life path took her from the lecture halls of Kanpur, where she worked as an educator, to a diasporic existence in the United States. This geographical shift is highly visible in her diverse literary output, which includes poetry, short stories, and satire. In collections like Uttar Katha and Seema Ke Bandhan, she examines the modern domestic sphere. She highlights the subtle constraints placed upon women and the shifting dynamics of family life with deep psychological insight. Her language carries a quiet and confident thoughtfulness that never shouts but still commands complete attention. Saxena has spent decades enriching Hindi literature, demonstrating that a writer can remain deeply rooted in their native culture while living far from home.
Paired Painting
Woman with Fruit Plate
In this serene composition, Raja Ravi Varma captures the timeless grace of an Indian woman, elevated by his masterful fusion of European realism and traditional Indian sensibilities. The figure holds a plate of fruit with a poise that suggests both domestic duty and a sacred offering. Her expression is one of quiet contemplation, reflecting the dignified beauty the artist sought to immortalize. Varma sought to bring Indian subjects into the realm of high art, and here, through the soft play of light on her crimson sari and the delicate rendering of her jewelry, he invites the viewer to share in a moment of tranquil domesticity that feels eternal.
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