Poems

एक बूंद – अयोध्या सिंह उपाध्याय ‘हरिऔध’

Here is the story of a rain drop, apprehensive and scared of being destroyed. Instead, it falls into a seepi and turns in a pearl. A simple, effective and moving poem that assuages the fear of unknown in us when we embark in a new activity or start a new …

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मेरा परिचय – अटल बिहारी वाजपेई

My introduction: Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Ji’s famous  poem on his birthday!  Hindu thought and philosophy evolved over the Indian sub-continent over last thousands of years. It was the most liberal thought that allowed unfettered thinking and reasoning and was a natural precursor for true humanism. Hindu society assimilated whosoever reached India for shelter from …

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निर्वाण षटकम् – आदि शंकराचार्य

Nirvan Shatakam

Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century AD undertook to revive the Vedantic interpretation of Hindu scripture in order to wean people away from elaborate Karmakand rituals. He roamed through the length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent and debated countless religious leaders. He was remarkably successful in his aim. Credit goes …

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भये प्रगट कृपाला – गोस्वामी तुलसीदास

Lord Rama is born!

The epic Ram-Charit Manas by Tulsidas (AD 1532-1623) is simply unparalleled both as a reflection of a human beings devotion to Lord as also in his absolute grip over the technique in poetry. In the following passage from this mammoth work, the poet describes the birth of Rama. When the …

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फिर एक बार – महादेवी वर्मा

Let me rededicate to you my motherland!

Here is a poem by the well-known poetess Mahadevi Varma, showing her deep devotion and appreciation of the motherland. Rajiv Krishna Saxena फिर एक बार मैं कम्पन हूँ तू करुण राग मैं आँसू हूँ तू है विषाद मैं मदिरा तू उसका खुमार मैं छाया तू उसका अधार मेरे भारत मेरे …

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पूर्व चलने के बटोही – हरिवंश राय बच्चन

Before starting a journey, assess the path...

Here is a sound advice for a traveller embarking on a long and uncharted journey. Harivansh Rai Bachchan warns about possible hardships and challenges on the path. An inspiring poem indeed. Rajiv Krishna Saxena पूर्व चलने के बटोही पूर्व चलने के बटोही, बाट की पहचान कर ले पुस्तकों में है …

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विदा की घड़ी है – राजनारायण बिसरिया

Bride leaving after the marriage ceremony. Vidaai

A village bride is ready to leave parent’s home. A very poignant movement… Rajnarain Bisaria Ji describes the scene and her feelings beautifully and in a very moving manner. Presented are first couple of stanzas from a longer poem. Rajiv Krishna Saxena विदा की घड़ी है विदा की घड़ी है …

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सन्नाटा – भवानी प्रसाद मिश्र

Silance and the story behind it

Here is a famous poem of Bhawani Prasad Mishra Ji. There is not much tradition of storytelling in modern Hindi poetry, but this is an exception. The old and abandoned old forte that has now been taken over by the Nature, has a story to tell. I recall that Akashvani …

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जनतंत्र का जन्म – रामधारी सिंह दिनकर

Birth of the Indian democracy

In view of the recent crusade of Anna Hazare against corruption, this poem about the power of masses becomes a must-read. Dinkar Ji wrote this beautiful poem when India became a Republic on Jan 26, 1950. India’s population was 33 Crores that time. From now on, it would be the …

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कुँवर सिंह का विद्रोह – प्रसिद्ध नारायण सिंह

I recently visited Jhansi and as I am a great admirer or Rani Laxmibai, I went to see her palace, Jhansi Fort and museum. In the museum, I found a very nice poetry book related to the first freedom fight of 1857. In this book I found a truly remarkable …

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