Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist:
“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation.
All things are one.
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires to helping you to achieve it’.”
Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om:
“Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho to saari kaaynaat usey tum se milaane mein lag jaati hai”
” अगर किसी चीज़ को दिल से चाहो तो सारी कायनात उसे तुम से मिलाने में लग जाती है’ “
Contributed by: Bharat B (Thanks!)
Gami te malti nathi,
Mali te faavti nathi,
Faave teni saathe majaa aavti nathi,
Ane majaa aave te kaayam maate rehti nathi….
Tenu naam zindaagi!
(contributed by Kanan J – આભાર!)
jivan maa jas nathi
prem maa ras nathi
dhandha maa kas nathi
javu chhe swarg maa
pan eni koi bus nathi
~Rakesh
This has got to be the ‘Gujju-Anthem‘!
We are G-U-J-J-U, Gujju.
This is video clip is from a recent NY based Bollywood film – Kal Ho Na Ho by Karan Johar. Talk to any Gujju in USA and they will say.‘Oh by New York..you mean Jackson Heights or Edison?’ (and Edison is in New Jersey!).
The center of the Indian Diaspora Universe (US-based) is either the rough around the edges – Jackson Heights or the ’swank’ little neighborhood – Edison. A Gujju shopper’s paradise. Got food. Got Gold. Got Sarees. Got movies..and Got Deals/Discounts/Sales/Freebies!
Got Gujjus!!
As all Gujjus would say: Watch the video and ‘by heart it’ becoj v are Gujjus!
~Rakesh
No this is not the notorious Patel Motel Rap. It is rap, but a very well made one at that.
The rap is a sort of a ballad of a journey of a young ambitious man – a son, a brother, wanting to economically immigrate to ‘Umereekaa’ ~ Maarey Umereekaa javvu che ~ A call that many a youth, many a families are making. Once he is here, he goes through all the work, effort, trials & tribulations of adjusting to the western culture, achieving his goals and ambitions of ~ ‘Maare millionaire thavu che’~. But all along he knew deep inside he was also losing a lot of himself. Nothing comes for free.
Not to say that lofty ambitions, high goals are wrong. Not to say that the ability to buy a Hummer and wear the best suits is wrong. But should these things be achieved only at the cost of losing, breaking, ignoring the relationships, the bonds that tie us, that keep us on firm ground, then they are all wrong. Duty is a very important word and ‘virtue’ – culturally within the Indian Diaspora. Fore go the odd dollar for the sake of doing your duty. This is a fight that all Indian youth born and raised or brought up in a ~ ‘vilaayat’ ~ a foreign(?) land – in the west have with themselves. Sadly some lose this battle. But most shine through.
Listen for the gujarati words..
maru dil..my heart
maru loy..my blood
maru nath..my family …2 worlds apart
kay-veereetay jaiyse
~ Rakesh
Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.
~ Ralph Emerson
This song takes me back years down memory lane. In the days when cars with CD players were a WOW! thing. I vividly remember playing the cassette tape (remember those things?! 
) over and over again. Especially enjoyable was the song ‘Rang De Rang De’ – picturised on Tabu in the film.
The film ‘Thaksak’, the music by A R Rahman and wonderful rendition by Roop Kumar Rathod. A very gentle song with strong words.
Listen and Enjoy!
Khamosh Raat
Saihmi Hawaa
Tanha Tanha Dil Apna
Tanha Tanha Dil Apna
Aur Door Kahin, Roshan Hua Ek Chehraa
Ek Chehraa, Ek Chehraa
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Khamosh Raat
Saihmi Hawaa
Tanha Tanha Dil Apna
Tanha Tanha Dil Apna
Aur Door Kahin, Roshan Hua Ek Chehraa
Ek Chehraa, Ek Chehraa
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Jhuki Jhuki Palkein Jab Uthi
Nainoon Mein Diye Madham Madham
Adh Khule Hoton Se Hansee
Jhaank Rahi Madham Madham
Kaise Kahan Phir Ho Gayee
Uski Charee Madham Madham
Pal Pal Uthti Hasratein
Hone Lagi Madham Madham
Aur Door Kahin, Roshan Hua Ek Chehraa
Ek Chehraa, Ek Chehraa
Sooraj Tha Pe Noor Sa
Uski Tanak Madham Madham
Chaand Bhi Sa Bujha Bujha
Taare Bhi The Madham Madham
Jugnu Dilasa Dene Lagey
Nanhi Si Jaan Madham Madham
Shamaa Bhi Thak Haar Ke
Hone Lagee Madham Madham
Aur Door Kahin, Roshan Hua Ek Chehraa
Ek Chehraa, Ek Chehraa…
Jeene Ka Tha Hum Mein Dam
Par Nahin Tha Koi Humdam
Khushiyoon Ki Thi Justajoo
Mil Rahe The Bas Gham Hi Gham
Shuru Mein Is Duniya Ke Bhi
Khamoshi Thi Aur Ek The Hum
Rahein Sabhi Thi Sooni Sooni
Uth Rahe The Kadam Tham Tham
Aur Door Kahin, Roshan Hua Ek Chehraa
Ek Chehraa, Ek Chehraa
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Khamosh Raat
Saihmi Hawaa
Tanha Tanha Dil Apna
Tanha Tanha Dil Apna
Aur Door Kahin, Roshan Hua Ek Chehraa
Ek Chehraa, Ek Chehraa
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna
Ye Sach Hai Ya Sapna…
Anyone who is a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan fan and follower (He is like a religion!) will know the song ‘Tere Bin Nahi Lagda’. A very catchy mesmerising song.
I came across another version on YouTube and it has since become my favorite. I would go as far as saying that it is far better than the original version. It starts off very slowly, soothing almost and classically. Then it picks up and climbs to a crescendo with the unusual burst of hard guitar and the trademark NFAIK’s alaap.
Please add your comments below if you like it so much that you would want an mp3 file of this song.
Listen and enjoy:
Jaania… Haania… Jaania Haania Tu Vi Sikh Ke De Dukh Sukh Polna
Tere Bin, Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Jaania Haania Tu Vi Sikh Ke De Dukh Sukh Polna
Tere Bin, Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Kuch Kare Lag Nato? Seene Vich Ag Lage Lang Gaya Kayee Barsatan
Dur Gayo Sajna Neend Na Kho Ke Jaag Ke Katiyan Rataan
Avija Na Sata Wasta Pyaar Da Beruba? Sohniya Moor Nai Aaniya
Tere Bin, Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Ma Ga Ne Da Ga Ne Ga Re…
Jaan Ey Khuda Mei Ruwaan Tere Siva
Kon Mera Kadi Na Howi Juda Chori Na(Tori Na) Saath Mera
Dil Tenu Day Bethi Khabre To Aisay Nai Karna Ey Beparwaiyaan
Keetay Waday Qasmaan Tenu Yaad Kadi Nai Aayan
Ey Gila Pyaar Da Khol? Aanso Zara Jaise Mei Na Te Ker Mehrbaniyan
Tere Bin, Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Jaania Haania Tu Vi Sikh Ke De Dukh Sukh Polna
Tere Bin, Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera Dholna
Tere Bin…
Jo beet gayi so baat gayi
Jeevan may ek sitatra tha,
Mana woh behad pyara tha
Woh toot gaya toh toot gaya.
Amber ke aangan ko dekho,
Kitne iske tare toote,
Kitne iske pyare chhoote.
Jo chhot gaye phir kahan mile
Par poocho toote taron ka,
Kab amber shok manata hai,
Jo beet gayo so baat gayi.
~ Harivanshrai Bachchan
What has happened has happened !
In your life there was a star
Agreed that it was bright and beautiful.
If it has broken today it is broken !
Look at the courtyard of the sky,
How many of its stars break away from it,
How many of its stars leave it and go away.
But of all the stars and loved ones the sky loses,
Have you ever seen the sky mourn for them !
What has happened has happened !
Our respective profiles; be it our Facebook profile, or our real social profile; shows many ‘friends’. Friends made with a click, or made with a smile and a shake. The ‘instant’ nature of everything in our lives, in my opinion, has greyed out the difference between ‘acquaintance’ and ‘friends’.
Every now and then, it is required for us to stop and look around us and ascertain the quality, the value of these ‘friends. Once a value is attributed make sure that the person knows their value in your life and that “Who they are really does make a difference”
This video makes us stop and think, out of so many ‘friends’, who really would we be able to pin a Blue Ribbon with Golden letters??
Stop and have a ponder!
Not many!
(Warning: Keep a box of tissues handy to wipe that odd thing called a Tear, from your eyes!)
Jawaab maan…