The Foreword to Snippets of Life Music

Literature is the picture of society that is not how it looks but the inside of it. Focusing on the weak spots in society and the system, it has the power to change them. It is poetry that has brought about revolutions, reformation and awareness. When John Ball shouted ‘Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?’, the Peasants’ Revolt triggered and rebels advanced on London; Milton’s voice established the Commonwealth of England; Pindar filled Greece with passion; Bhushan and Chand Bardai made Indian swords thirsty of blood; Dickens turned public attention towards orphans through his novels. Tolstoy’s stories have the power to change one’s view of life; Aesop’s fables can make its reader a perfect man. Holy prophets were wonderful storytellers. Their stories reformed society and made men out of animals.

Art and music appeal even to infants. A child listens to your stories, mulling over events. Slowly they start to imitate their hero. A good story helps children build up their confidence, gain good habits and develop an inquiring attitude to learning. Mothers used to tell stories or sing soothing lullabies to their young children to help them go to sleep. These children, inspired by the stories, grew up to be respectable, courteous and disciplined. Now with people having a casual attitude towards literary books and sociological studies, the society has been led astray and uncontrollable children grow into young criminals.

Snippets of Life Music, has twenty one short stories: each of them informs, resonates with emotions and represents different universal themes and each, a few pages long, has contents of a wholesome novel. By reading this single book, you are going to get what twenty one novels can offer. It never fails to entertain its reader for hours with stories full of thrill, fear, excitement, with love stories and with heart-warming and spiritual tales.

The book is an album of a variety of stories that cover both sad and cheerful aspects of life. They are the pictures of varying human minds; they put true examples of how a particular type of person responds in a particular situation, warn the readers of the consequences of various character flaws and show them the successful ways of life. They put both moral and immoral ways of life with their effects on the society side by side and leave for the readers to see which to choose. They are also a magical mix of fantasy and reality. You will find the aspects of rural and city life and also have pastoral scenes tranquilizing your tired and stressed self.

‘Snippets of Life Music’ caters for all levels and everyone is sure to find their favourite one. It consists of a story that answers to the question how a common man is no different from an aristocrat. One of the stories in the book makes you realize what God is; the other one will convince you that even an offender is an essential component of society. One of them tells you how procrastination costs one too dear. Another one of them describes poverty is a common issue and how it tags along with people. A family in a story is condemned to a life of hardship because they love to show off their possessions. The book has a one-act-play (Clean India) which gives a vivid picture of how the common people are given to unhygienic practices and also shows them up. You will also see how a manager deals with a difficult customer and also how an irritable manager makes the mess of his office.

The stories will haunt you for weeks, stay with you for months and kindle your emotions with genius in amazing flights of imagination and with prose precise and punchy. You will read it during the day and have strange yet pleasant dreams at night. However, the stories do not contain traditional themes in which people’s emotions are unnaturally exaggerated – they will compel you to think over the images they have engraved upon your heart and each of the stories has profundities and analytical precision with exact characterization and accurate psychological and sociological analysis.

If you cast a cursory glance at the stories in Snippets of life Music, you are going to find them quite simple. But if you read them carefully, you will be amazed to get something exciting and interesting. The deeper you go, the more you will enjoy the different shades of meaning, connotations and subtexts. They are serious and of lasting value: likely to be numbered among the masterpieces of classical literature.

The book is also rich with grammatical structures, useful for language learners, and therefore helpful in developing communication skills. It has many distinguishing features, but what make it exceptionally rare are diverse topics that it covers. If a story unfolds against a background of legal system, there is some other based on political activities, so you will find some fine examples of many different technical terms like: scientific, business, social, medical, political, spiritual, legal, administrative and so on.

A good book is a door to a better life. Go in through it and you will see a different world where the sky is clear, the deep green trees wave gently in the breeze, snow-clad summits grace the landscapes, the sea ripple and sparkle, where parks are always full of young lovers, where supermen fight off bad guys and resolve crisis, where roads to success are not much stony, where doubt and uncertainty has no place to lurk around, where no corner is dark.‘Snippets of Life Music’ is a guardian angel. It helps its readers deal with the real world, offers a wealth of delights and inspiration for gift ideas and opens the secrets of a symbiotic relationship.

On the pitch of a mind god and satan struggle.

To rule our lives try their best the forces of evil.

Keep bad company and let the devil in you win;

Or in good company keep yourself free from sin.

Very good company is Snippets of Life Music –

Have this book with you and enjoy fiction classic.

Featured in Newspapers

अंग्रेजी साहित्य के लिए श्री रमेश चन्द्र तिवारी की ‘स्निपेट्स ऑफ लाइफ मयूजिक’ इस वर्ष चुनी गयी है । ‘मानव दिवस’ के इस अवसर पर ‘विश्व मानव संघ’ उन्हें इंटरनेसनल जुनूँ अवार्ड से सम्मानित करेगा ।

Snippets of Life Music, a collection of amazing short stories by the master storyteller wins a prestigious prize.

INTL. JUNOO AWARD – 2019

The invitation card from World Human Organization which has nominated my book ‘Snippets of Life Music’ for INTL. JUNOO AWARD – 2019. The picture of my book appears on the back page of the card, too. INTL. JUNOO is a prize that is awarded on January 1 each year to people who have done important work in literature, arts, social work, travelling and health care.

World Human Organization as ever is going to celebrate 22nd Human Day-2020 on January 1, 2020 at Press Club Lucknow. On this day it will pay tribute to its founder, Dr Rashmi Bhoshan Junoo (an internationally known social worker, illustrious author and celebrated artist) his successor, late mother Premlata, an eminent poetess, and famous playwright, William Shakespeare. It will also present International Junoo Award-2019 to leading writers, poets, social workers, health care workers, philosophers, painters and to those who have distinguished themselves by their heroic acts of bravery.

Snippets of Life Music, a collection of short stories by Ramesh Chandra Tiwari has been nominated for this prestigious award. The author (May 1, 1964) is an employee of LIC of India at Bahraich and is recognized as an accomplished storyteller and a poet. His works have been published in a few leading journals such as Reading Hour, Avadh University Journal, The Criterion, Galaxy, LANLIT, The Bombay Review and Setu, a bilingual journal from Pittsburgh USA. His articles on different subjects are often broadcast on All India Radio Lucknow. On March 4, 2017, the Criterion awarded him a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his fiction.

‘Snippets of Life Music’ brings together twenty one short stories: each of them informs, resonates with emotions and represents different universal themes. It is an album of a variety of stories that cover both sad and cheerful aspects of life. They are the pictures of varying human minds; they put true examples of how a particular type of person will respond in a particular situation, warn the readers of the consequences of various character flaws and show them the successful ways of life. They put both moral and immoral ways of life with their effects on the society side by side and leave for the readers to see which to choose. They are also a magical mix of fantasy and reality.

The book never fails to entertain its reader for hours with stories full of thrill, fear, excitement and also with heart-warming and spiritual tales. They portray life in a better light, convey exotic ideas in a simple but surprisingly entertaining way, present practical solutions to some common problems, deal with spiritual and religious issues, open a world of fantasy and horror, expose the corrupt practices that exist within the system, send sweet pain of love and romance shooting up a passionate heart, thus intriguing and enthralling readers and tickling their imagination.

22वां इंटेर्नसनल जुनूँ अवार्ड - २०१९ एवं मानव दिवस - 2020 मनाया जायेगा ।

विश्व मानव संघ द्वारा 01 जनवरी 2020 दिन बुधवार को 'मानव दिवस-2020' मनाया जाएगा । नववर्ष के दिन प्रतिवर्ष यह प्रतिष्ठित संस्था कलाकारों, साहित्यकारों, दार्शनिकों, पर्यटकों, चिकित्सकों, समाजसेवियों एवं साहसी कार्य करने वालों को इंटरनेसनल जुनूँ अवार्ड से सम्मानित करता है । ‘इंटरनेसनल जुनूँ अवार्ड’ एवं ‘मानव दिवस’ की शुरुवात विश्व मानव संघ के संस्थापक, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय समाजसेवी, लेखक व् चित्रकार डा. रश्मि भूषण जुनूँ ने की थी ।उक्त दिवस में स्वर्गीय डा. रश्मि भूषण, स्व. माँ प्रेमलता श्रीवास्तव (द्वितीय अध्यक्ष विश्व मानव संघ) तथा विश्व प्रसिद्द कवि व् नाटककार विलियम शेक्सपीअर को श्रद्धांजलि दी जाएगी । मानव दिवस प्राणी एवं पर्यावरण मात्र की सुरक्षा के लिए मनाया जाता है । अंग्रेजी साहित्य के लिए श्री रमेश चन्द्र तिवारी की ‘स्निपेट्स ऑफ लाइफ मयूजिक’ इस वर्ष चुनी गयी है । ‘मानव दिवस’ के इस अवसर पर ‘विश्व मानव संघ’ उन्हें इंटरनेसनल जुनूँ अवार्ड-2019 से 01 जनवरी 2020 को उत्तर प्रदेश की राजधानी लखनऊ स्थित उत्तर प्रदेश प्रेस क्लब के परिसर में आयोजित कार्यक्रम में सम्मानित करेगा ।

ग्राम उमरी दहेलो, तेजावपुर, जनपद बहराइच के निवासी रमेश चन्द्र तिवारी अँग्रेज़ी भाषा के एक प्रसिद्ध कहानीकार हैं । पिछले दस वर्षों के अथक प्रयास के पश्चात उन्होने कहानियों का एक संग्रह ‘स्निपेट्स ऑफ लाइफ मयूजिक’ शीर्षक से संकलित किया है जिसमें 21 मनोरंजक व बहुमूल्य अनुभव युक्त लघु कथाएँ हैं । कथा लेखक के अनुसार पुस्तक पाठक को चन्द घंटों में वह सब प्राप्त करने का अवसर प्रदान करती है जिसे उन्होने कई वर्षों में कठिन परिश्रम करके सीखा है तथा इसकी खास बात यह है कि इसमें सभी वर्ग के पाठकों के लिए उपयोगी व मनोरंजक सामग्री है । कहानियाँ मानव जीवन के रहस्यमयी पन्ने खोलती हैं, रोचक ढंग से सत्य प्रस्तुत करती हैं, अध्यात्मिक विषय पर आधुनिक सोच का विश्लेषण करती हैं, जीवन की कुछ आम समस्याओं का व्योहारिक निराकरण सुझाती हैं, एक आश्चर्यमयी डरावनी दुनिया की सैर कराती हैं, शासन तंत्र में व्याप्त भ्रष्टाचार और अनैतिकता को उजागर करती हैं तथा निश्च्छल निर्मल प्रेम के मनोरम भाव से मस्ती करती हुई हृदय की गहराइयों में उतर जाती हैं । एक पृष्ठ पढ़ने के पश्चात पाठक बिना पूरी कहानी पढ़े नहीं रह सकता । इस संकलन में कुछ कहानियाँ ऐसी हैं जो गहरी सरिता की तरह हैं जिसमें जितना कोई डूबेगा प्रत्येक बार एक नयी जल सतह की शीतलता का अनुभव करेगा ।

Kisan Post Graduate College

Today I visited Kisan Post Graduate College and presented Dr S.P. Singh, the Honourable Secretary of the college, with my book Snippets of Life Music. He became very happy to know that an alumnus of the college has written a very good book. He soon granted the purchase of 10 copies for the college library. I express my deep debt of gratitude to him. 

I also presented Dr S. C. Tripathi, the Principal, with a copy as a token of my warmest thanks for his generosity.

New Edition

Open Snippets of Life Music, select anyone of the short stories in it and then read it carefully; I give you a guarantee that it will entertain and inform you to the extent where you will feel you have read something which you wanted to. Get your copy today – it is available at a greatly reduced price now. The book is reprinted and the publisher, Highbrow Scribes Publications, has brought down the price from Rs 275 to Rs 215. In addition, you will have one more story in this edition as the book has 21 stories now instead of 20.

Divine Grace Public School

Today I went to Guru Kripa Divine Grace Public School to see Chhabi Madam, the manager, the founder of the leading institute at Bahraich. I had a long talk with her about my book Snippets of Life Music and was overwhelmed by her kindness and hospitality. It was just an opportunity to see a person with such a wide range of spiritual as well as academic knowledge. I presented her with my book in token of my thanks.

अवधी बोली साहित्य में ग्राम्य दर्शन

The following article by me was broadcast on All India Radio, Lucknow on 22 Oct 2019 at 6.20 pm.

अवधी हिन्दी की एक उपभाषा है । यह उत्तर प्रदेश के अवध क्षेत्र में कई रूपों में बोली जाती है, जैसे: पूर्वी, कोसली, पश्चिमी, गांजरी, बैसवाड़ी आदि । क्षेत्र के हिसाब से अवधी को तीन भागों में बाँटा जा सकता है : लखीमपुर-खीरी, सीतापुर, लखनऊ, उन्नाव और फतेहपुर की बोलियां को पश्चिमी, बहराइच, बाराबंकी और रायबरेली की बोलियां को मध्यवर्ती और गोंडा, फैजाबाद, सुलतानपुर, प्रतापगढ़, इलाहाबाद, जौनपुर और मिर्जापुर की बोलियाँ को पूर्वी । आचार्य रामचन्द्र शुक्ल ने इसे देसी भाषा की संज्ञा दी है । अवधी के प्राचीनतम चिन्ह सातवीं शताब्दी से मिलते हैं जिसे प्रारंम्भिक काल के नाम से जाना जाता है । इसकी अवधि 1400 ई. तक माना गया है । विद्वानों ने इसका मध्यकाल- 1400 से 1900 तक तथा आधुनिक काल- 1900 से अब तक माना है ।

अवधी के मध्यकाल को इसका स्वर्ण काल कहा जा सकता है क्योंकि इसी दौरान प्रेमाख्यान काव्य व भक्ति काव्य दोनों का विकास हुआ। प्रेमाख्यान का प्रतिनिधि ग्रंथ मलिक मुहम्मद जायसी रचित ‘पद्मावत’ है, जिसकी रचना ‘रामचरितमानस’ से चौंतीस वर्ष पहले हुई । मुल्ला दाउद ने सर्वप्रथम 1379 ई. में चांदायन काव्य की रचना की. फिर इसी क्रम में कुतुबन की मृगावती, जायसी कृत पदमावत्, मंझन की मधुमालती, शेख नबी का ज्ञान दीप, उसमान की चित्रावली, जान की कमलावती, नूर मुहम्मद की इंद्रावती, अनुराग बांसुरी, शेख रहीम का भाषा प्रेमतत्व, नारायण का छिताई वार्ता, साधन का मैनासत, सूरदास लखनवी का नलदमन, कासिम शाह का हंस जवाहर, शेख निसार का यूसुफ जुलेखा आदि काव्य-कृतियां रची गईं ।

प्रेमाख्यानक काव्य से प्रेरित होकर अवधी में एक विशेष प्रवृत्ति का जन्म हुआ, जिसे चरितात्मक काव्य कह सकते हैं. ये चरित ग्रंथ प्रायः राम, कृष्ण पर हैं और गौण रूप से सीता, हनुमान, ध्रुव, प्रहलाद, भीष्म आदि से संबंधित हैं । गोस्वामी तुलसीदास कृत रामचरित मानस के बाद तो दोहा चौपाई सोरठा शैली में रचित रामकथाओं की भरमार हो गई । इन काव्यों की भाषा प्रायः ठेठ अवधी है । अवध की लोक संस्कृति की गहरी पहचान इन कृतियों की विशेषता है । राम कथा से लेकर आल्हखंड जैसी लोकगाथाओं की रचना अवधी में बहुत हुई है । ऐसी प्रबंधात्मकता दूसरी भाषा में नहीं है । घाघ जैसे लोकपंडितों ने कृषि और मौसम विज्ञान पर बहुत लिखा है ।

मध्य काल के अन्य कवियों की भाँति घाघ के विषय में कोई प्रमाणित जानकारी उपलब्ध नहीं है । माना जाता है उनका वास्तविक नाम देवकली दूबे था । वे कन्नौज के चौधरी सराय के निवासी थे । अवधी में कृषि संबंधी उनकी कहावतें बहुत प्रसिद्ध हुईं जिसके लिए सम्राट अकबर ने उन्हें चौधरी की उपाधि दी थी । उनकी कुछ कहावतें प्रस्तुत हैं जिन्हें सुनकर आपको भी बहुत सी दूसरी कहावतें याद आ जाएँगी ।

हथिया पोछि ढोलावै।
घर बैठे गेहूं पावै।।

जब बरखा चित्रा में होय।
सगरी खेती जावै खोय।।

गेहूं गाहा, धान विदाहा।
ऊख गोड़ाई से है आहा।।

आद्रा में जौ बोवै साठी।
दु:खै मारि निकारै लाठी।।

उन्नीसवीं सदी से अवधी का आधुनिक युग शुरू हुआ । 1857 के बाद अवधी के जनकवियों ने कई प्रकार से उद्गार व्यक्त किए, जिनके मुख्य बिंदु हैं-व्यंग्य-विनोद और व्यंग्य विद्रूप. व्यवस्था से असहमत होकर और साथ ही अपनी विवशता से कसमसाते हुए इन कवियों ने कभी सत्ता पर व्यंग्य किया, कभी आयातित पाश्चात्य सभ्यता पर । इस क्षेत्र में प्रताप नारायण मिश्र, पढ़ीस, बंशीधर, देहाती, नवीन, रमई काका आदि की कविताएं चिर स्मरणीय रहेंगी । इसकी दूसरी विशेषता कृषक संस्कृति और ग्रामीण व्यवस्था परक रचनाएं हैं । अवधी में किसान काव्य सर्वाधिक लिखा गया है । लहलहाते खेत, स्थानीय ऋतु सौंदर्य अर्थात् प्रकृति-परिवेश इन कवियों को आह्लादित करते रहे हैं । दूसरी ओर ऋणग्रस्त और गरीब किसानों की भुखमरी, उनकी बेगार अर्थात् शोषण-उत्पीड़न इन कवियों के मन में व्यंग्य, वेदना और प्रकारांतर से व्यंग्य-विद्रोह की सृष्टि करते रहे हैं ।

आधुनिक अवधी साहित्य में बलभद्र प्रसाद दीक्षित 'पढ़ीस' का नाम बहुचर्चित रहा है । पढ़ीस का जन्म सीतापुर के अंबरपुर नामक गाँव में 25 सितम्बर 1898 को हुआ था । वे कसमंडा नरेश के प्राइवेट सेक्रेटरी बने । उसे छोड़कर उन्होने आकाशवाणी लखनऊ में नौकरी की जहाँ पर अवधी के कार्यक्रमों की शुरूवात उन्होने ही की थी और पंचायतघर उन्हीं की देन थी । किन्तु अंत में अपने आदर्शों के अनुरूप सरकारी नौकरी करने के बजाय अपने जीवन को दलित और आम किसानों की शिक्षा में तथा ग्रामीण जीवन जीने में लगाना उचित समझा । 1933 ई. में ‘चकल्लस’ शीर्षक उनका काव्य संग्रह प्रकाशित हुआ जिसकी भूमिका स्वयं निराला जी ने लिखी और कहा कि यह काब्य संग्रह हिन्दी के तमाम सफल काव्यों से बढ़कर है । उनकी मृत्यु 09 जनवरी 1943 को अल्पायु में खेत जोतते समय हल के फल से घायल होने से हुई । पढ़ीस जी अवध के पहले किसान कवि थे । चकल्लस में प्रकाशित उनकी कविताएँ उनके गाँव देहात की स्वाभाविक सोच है । उनमें ग्रामीण मजदूर, किसान, महिला आदि भरपूर व्यंजना के साथ प्रस्तुत किए गये हैं । उनकी इस कविता में शोषितवर्ग में स्वाभिमान जगाने की कितनी उत्कंठा है:

फिरि का बिपदा बनई ?
जागि उठउ करउ चेतु,
न अउँघाउ न अकुलाउ
तनुकु भाखउ तउ ।
तनुकु द्याखउ तउ !
तुमरे लरिका बिटिया,
तुमरे बछिया पँड़िया,
तुमरइ बर्द्धउ बधिया,
हयि ख्यातउ खरिहानु
तनुकु जानउ तउ ।
तनुकु मानउ तउ !
लावा को महिमा हयि,
स्वाचउ को केहिका हयि ?
घरू जिहिका तिहिका हयि
को घेरि घेरि घुसा
तनुकु द्याखउ तउ !
तनुकु भाखउ तउ ।
तुमरे घर की माया
ठलुहा लयि लयि भाजयिं !

बंशीधर शुक्ल की रचनाओं में ग्रामीण जीवन ज्यों का त्यों प्रतिबिन्वित है । उनका जन्म लखीमपुर के मन्यौरा ग्राम में सन 1904 में हुआ था और 1980 में उनका स्वर्गवास हो गया । वे अवधी के कवि, स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सेनानी व राजनेता भी थे । उनकी इन पंक्तियों में एक कृषक की स्थिति एवं व्यवस्था के प्रति विद्रोह स्पष्ट रूप से दिखाई पड़ता है ।

पटवारी कहइँ हमका देउ, हम तुम्हरेहे नाव चढाय देई।
पेसकार कहइँ हमका देउ, हम हाकिम का समुझाय देई
हाकिम कहइँ हमइँ देउ, तउ हम सच्चा न्याव चुकाय देई।
कहइँ मोहर्रिर हमका देउ, हम पूरी मिसिल जँचाय देई
चपरासी कहइँ हमका देउ, खूँटा अउ नाँद गडवाय देई।
कहइँ दरोगा हमका देउ, हम सबरी दफा हटाय देई
कहइँ वकील हमका देउ, तउ हम लडिकै तुम्हइ जिताय देई।

हमरे साढू के साढू जिलेदार।
यक किसान की रोटी,जेहिमाँ परिगइ तुक्का बोटी
भैया !लागे हैं हजारउँ ठगहार।

अवधी के आभूषण चंद्रभूषण त्रिवेदी 'रमई काका' का जन्म 2 फ़रवरी 1915 को उन्नाव जिले के रावतपुर गाँव मे हुआ था तथा १8 अप्रैल 1982 को स्वर्ग वास हुआ । वे वर्ष 1940 से 1975 तक लगातार आकाशवाणी लखनऊ व इलाहाबाद में कार्यरत रहे और उस दौरान पूरे अवधी भाषी अंचल में 'रमई काका' के नाम से जन-जन के मनोमस्तिष्क पर छा गए । काका पढ़ीस और वंशीधर शुक्ल के साथ बहुत लोकप्रिय रहे हैं ।

रमई काका की अवधी में लिखी गईं ग्राम्य जीवन पर आधारित कविताओं में चौंकानेवाली प्रगतिशीलता और विद्रोह का स्वर मिलता है ।

धरती हमारि ! धरती हमारि !

है धरती परती गउवन कै औ ख्यातन कै धरती हमारि।

हम अपनी छाती के बल से धरती मा फारु चलाइत है,

माटी के नान्हें कन - कन मा , हमही सोना उपजाइत है,

अपने लोनखरे पसीना ते ,रेती मा ख्यात बनावा हम,

मुरदा माटी जिन्दा होइगै,जहँ लोहखर अपन छुवावा हम,

पारस नाथ भ्रमर जी का स्थान 20वीं शदी के अवधी साहित्य के प्रमुख साहित्यकारों में है । उनका जन्म जनवरी 10, 1934 को हुआ था । वे बहराइच के जाने माने वकील श्री कन्हैयालाल मिश्र के पुत्र थे उन्होने 02 नवंबर 2003 को शरीर का त्याग किया । उनके द्वारा रचित एक लोक गीत - देखिए इसमें ग्रामीण जीवन का कितना सजीव चित्रण है :

अरहरी के ख्यातन मा आय गईं फलियाँ

झम्मक झम्मक झम झमा झम बाजे पैजनिया

लहकई लहररा औ आय गयीं जोन्धरी

घर की घरैतिन का लाय देव मुदरी

अवधी बोली साहित्य में जहाँ दुनिया की महानतम रचनाएँ हुयी हैं वहीँ अवध क्षेत्र के ग्राम्य जीवन का सजीव चित्रण मिलता है और इसी कारण विद्वानों ने इसे देशी भाषा या देहाती भाषा कहा है । खेत, खलियान, कृषि विधि, प्राकृतिक परिदृश्य, लोगों का रहन सहन, लोक संस्कृति, ग्रामीण वर्ग का जीवन स्तर, उनका शोषण और उसके प्रति साहित्यकारों का रोष - गाँव से जुड़ा कोई क्षेत्र इस साहित्य में अछूता नहीं है ।

मैं स्वयं बहराइच के उमरी दहेलो गाँव का निवासी हूँ । यद्यपि मैंने अधिकतर अंग्रेजी में कहानियां व् कवितायेँ लिखी हैं फिर भी मैंने अपनी मातृभाषा अवधी में कम रचनाएँ नहीं की हैं जिनमें ग्राम्य जीवन का ही चित्रण किया है ।

Akhil Bharteey Sahitya Parishad

Akhil Bharteey Sahitya Parishad held its monthly meeting at Senani Bhawan, Bahraich on November 10, 2019 and celebrated the end of 400-year-old issue of Lord Ram’s Place of Birth. The Parishad also elected me to serve as the General Secretary of its Bahraich unit.

Ram Janm Bhoomi

Another impossible possible became.The SC verdict on Ram’s Place of Birth issue is impartial, fair and acceptable by all of the parties. It is neither against anyone nor in favour of anybody – Lord Ram, who has ever been the identity of India, got back the land where he was born. It has never had anything to do with Hindus nor with Muslims; it has been the issue created by politics. The Supreme Court has plucked Ram from the whirlppol of politics today and put an end to the 400-year-old contentious issue. However, the constructive contribution of the Modi Government to it cannot be ignored. The Prime Minister has been dealing with the controversial issues one by one successfully only because his system of governance is based on integrating the parts of society into a coherent whole. In a divided society it could not have been possible. Saturday, 09 November 2019

अयोध्या में राम जन्म भूमि वनाम बाबरी मस्जिद लगभग चार शादियों से हिंदू और मुस्लिम के बीच विवाद का कारण थी |

कितने मौत के घाट उतर गये,
कितनों के घर द्वार उजड़ गये |

यह मसला भारतीय राजनीति को हमेशा से प्रभावित किए हुए था |

सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने न हिन्दू का न ही मुसलमान का पक्ष लिया,
उसने तो इस ऐतिहासिक फ़ैसले से बीमार भारत को स्वस्थ किया |

यह फ़ैसला भावी राजनीति में संप्रदायिक प्रदूषण को कम करने में निश्चित ही सहायक होगा |
जो लोग मोदी सरकार पर हिन्दूवादी होने का आरोप लगाते हैं मेरी समझ से उनकी समझ सही नहीं है क्योंकि यह सरकार दो मुख्य संप्रदायों के बीच तनाव पैदा करने वाले सभी मुद्दों को चुन चुन कर समाप्त कर रही है |

अपने अपने धर्म समझ है अपनी अपनी
आप रखो अपनी रखने दो हमें अपनी |

फिर यदि निर्मल हृदय हो और भारतीय होने में गर्व हो तो आओ साथ साथ कहो :

हम हैं आज़ाद और हम हैं अशफ़ाक
किन्तु हमारे बस एक ही हैं माँ बाप |

Sunday, 10 November 2019

2019 has brought hope and happiness in India: the beginning of change, a new dawn. This chapter will shine gloriously golden in the blue of our country’s history. Everything is possible if there is Modi. Parliament passed a record high Bills and Resolutions, all in the public interest, this year. Lord Ram has lived in exile for centuries. Finally, the period is over now. He will have a grand palace built on the same place where He was born. May the Modi Government live long! Monday, 11 November 2019

Deepotsava

May you shine like twinkling Deeps;

Joy and success you get in heaps;

House be filled with fabulous wealth;

You be blessed with excellent health.

                                                       

Best wishes from 

Ramesh Chandra Tiwari

धनतेरस

माँ जगदम्बा के पुत्र भगवान गणेश हैं और माता लक्ष्मी के पुत्र महाप्रभु हनुमान जी हैं | किन्तु पाल पोश कर बड़ा करने के लिए दोनों माताओं ने अपने पुत्रों को अदल बदल लिया था | इसीलिए हनुमान जी महाराज बल और शक्ति के देवता हैं तो गणेश भगवान धन के देवता हैं | धन और बल दोनों अलग नहीं रहते – जहाँ धन है वहीं बल है या जहाँ बल है वहीं धन है | धनतेरस धनी व शक्तिशाली होने का त्योहार है | आदि माता हमें स्वस्थ, समृद्ध और शक्तिशाली बनावें !

मुस्कान

The world will greet you with a smile

If on your lips you yourself have a smile.

A crying baby no one willingly bears;

There’s no room in the eyes for tears.

दुनिया स्वागत करती उसका

जिसके ओठों पर मुस्कान |

रोता बच्चा क्या लगता अच्छा ?

आँसू पाते क्या आँखो में स्थान ?

PM Modi Returns from US

PM Modi has made a triumphal entry into Delhi to the sound of thunderous applause. There is no doubt that he is now one of the most prominent and popular premiers of the world and, as a result, the country too has gained an international reputation. We had decades of domination by our neighbouring countries, but now we have achieved political domination of them all only because of our Prime Minister’s Charismatic leadership.

'लोक साहित्य में ग्राम्य जीवन'

जुलाई 18, 2019 को आकाशवाणी लखनऊ द्वारा 'लोक साहित्य में ग्राम्य जीवन' विषय पर मेरी एक भेंटवार्ता प्रसारित हुई थी जिसका कुछ अंश निम्नवत है । इसी तरह 'अवधी बोली साहित्य में ग्राम्य दर्शन' विषय पर मेरे द्वारा प्रस्तुत वार्ता की रिकार्डिंग दिनांक 15 अक्तूबर 2019 को होनी है । यह आपको 22 अक्तूबर को सायं 6.20 बजे आकाशवाणी पर उपलब्ध होगा ।
'लोक साहित्य में ग्राम्य जीवन'
आज भी हमारे देश की जनसंख्या का बड़ा हिस्सा परंपरावादी लोगों का है । ये लोग या तो अशिक्षित लोग हैं या अल्प-शिक्षित लोग हैं । ऐसे लोगों द्वारा जो स्वाभाविक साहित्य उत्पन्न होता है उसी को लोक साहित्य कहते हैं । सामान्यतः स्थानीय भाषा में गाये जाने वाले गीत, पचरा, भजन, मांगलिक कार्यक्रमों में प्रचलित सोहर व गारी, विभिन्न ऋतुओं में गायी जाने वाली कजरी, धमाल, बच्चों को सुलाने के लिए कहानियाँ व लोरी इत्यादि हमारे लोक साहित्य के अंग हैं । इस साहित्य में मुख्य रूप से ग्रामीण जीवन का चित्रण मिलता है और हमारी प्राचीन संस्कृति और जीवन शैली को जीवंत प्रस्तुत करता है ।
यूँ तो लोक-साहित्य का प्रचलन केवल गावों तक ही सीमित नहीं है – शहरों में भी यह लोकप्रिय है फिर भी बढ़ती हुई शिक्षा व आधुनिकता को देखते हुए शनैः शनैः यह साहित्य अब ग्रामीण अंचल में सिकुड़ता जा रहा है । आज भी खेतों में काम करते समय किसान सामूहिक गीत गाते हैं, त्योहारों में खुशियाँ मानने के लिए गीत गाकर नृत्य करते हैं, सावन माह में पेड़ों पर झूले डालकर महिलाएँ व किशोरियाँ गा गा कर झूले का आनंद लेती हैं, विवाह, मुण्डन आदि संस्कारों में पारंपरिक गीत गाकर विभिन्न रस्में पूरी की जाती हैं । जहाँ तक शहरों का सवाल है वहाँ ये सारे रश्म व रिवाज काफ़ी हद तक बदल चूक हैं ।
भारत के प्रमुख लोकगीत अंगिका, अवधी, कन्नौजी, कश्मीरी, कोरकू, कुमाँऊनी, खड़ी बोली, गढ़वाली, गुजराती, गोंड, छत्तीसगढ़ी, निमाड़ी, पंजाबी, पँवारी, बघेली, बाँगरू, बांग्ला और बुन्देली हैं ।
लोक-संस्कृति के सन्दर्भ में जहाँ तक उत्तर प्रदेश का सम्बन्ध है तो ध्यातव्य है कि उसमें उत्तर प्रदेश के लोक-संस्कृति का प्रतिबिम्ब हू-ब-हू देखने को मिलता है। यहाँ के निवासियों का रहन-सहन, रीति-रिवाज, खान-पान, तीज-त्यौहार, व्रत-उपवास, आस्था-विश्वास, सुख-दु:ख सभी की अनगिन छवियों का भावन उत्तर प्रदेश के लोक-साहित्य के अन्तर्गत किया जा सकता है।
उत्तर प्रदेश की संस्कृति ग्राम्य संस्कृति है। यहाँ के लोग मुख्यत: खेती पर निर्भर करते हैं। उनके जीवन का केन्द्र और धुरी सब कृषि पर ही टिका हुआ है। यही कारण है कि यहाँ का लोक-संसार हो या लोक साहित्य सभी अत्यन्त सहज है, प्रकृत है। बनावट या कृत्रिमता का कहीं कोई नामोनिशान नहीं है। प्रकृति से घनिष्ठता रखने वाला लोक-मन प्रकृति के हर कोमल-कठोर रूप का खुली बाँहों से स्वागत करता है। पर्वोँ–त्यौहारों के प्रति जो उल्लास यहाँ के लोगों में दिखायी पड़ता है वह यहाँ के लोकगीतों में भी दिखायी पड़ता है।
अवधी के इस लोक गीत को देखिए कि नायिका जितनी चंचल है उतनी ही भोली है :
मैं अलबेली गुदाय आई गुदना
मैं जो गई पानी भरने संग गए अपना
टूट गयी रस्सी लटक गये अपना
मैं अलबेली...
मैं जो गई रोटी करने संग गए अपना
फूल गई रोटी पिचक गए अपना
मैं अलबेली...
यहाँ दूसरी नायिका को देखिए जो कुएँ में जल भरने आई है - अहह कितनी प्रफुल्लित है !
जल भर ले हिलोरें हिलोर रसरिया रेशम की
अरर जल भर ले हिलोरे हिलोर ----
रेशम की रसरी तब नीकी ल़ागे
सोने की गगरिया होय --रसरिया रेशम की
उत्तर प्रदेश में प्रचलित लोक गीतों में सोहर सबसे लोकप्रिय गीत है । ग्रामीण आँचलों में महिलाएँ विभिन्न मांगलिक कार्यक्रमों में इसे बड़े चाव से गाती हैं :
बंसी तो बाजी मेरे रंग-महल में
सासू जो ऐहैं राजा चढ़वा चढ़न को,
उनहूँ को नेग दे देना मोरे अच्छे राजा,
उनहूँ को नेग दे देना मोरे भोले राजा,
मोती से उजले राजा,
फूलों से हलके राजा,
तारों से पतले राजा,
नैनों से नैन मिलाना ,मुखड़े से हँस बतलाना,
रंग-महल में ।
शरद और चैत्र नौरात्रि में गाँव गाँव में देवी गीत के मधुरिम संगीत भला किसके मन को मुग्ध नहीं कर सकता :
देबी दयाल भईं अंगन मोरे होय निसरी
मईया के अँखियाँ आमे कै फकियाँ
भौहें कमान तनी अंगन मोरे होय निसरी
मईया कै दतवा अनारे कै दाना
जिभिया कमल की कलि अंगन मोरे होय निसरी
होली का त्यौहार भी यहाँ बड़े चाव से मनाया जाता है। पूरा गाँव मिलकर होली खेलता है। क्या बूढ़ा - क्या जवान, क्या पुरुष – क्या स्त्री, क्या बाल – क्या वृद्ध सब होली के रंगों में सराबोर हो जाते हैं। ऐसा ही एक चित्ताकर्षी उदाहरण इस लोकगीत में द्रष्टव्य है –
अवध मा होरी खेलें रघूबीरा
कहिके हाथ कनक पिचकारी
केहि के हाथ मनचीरा
अवध मा होरी खेलें रघूबीरा
विवाह गीत का एक उदाहरण :
मोरे पिछवरवाँ लौंगा कै पेड़वा लौंगा चुवै आधी रात
लौंगा मै चुन बिन ढेरिया लगायों लादी चले हैं बनिजार
लड़ चले हैं बनिजरवा बेटौवा लादि चले पिय मोर
अबहीं बारी है हमारी उमिरिया बाबा
डारो शादी की अबहीं ना बेडिया बाबा
मै तोरी बगिया की नाजुक कलिया
डोले फिरूँ तोरे अँगना महलिया
तोहरे घरवा की हम हैं अंजोरिया बाबा
सावन में झूला झूलते समय किशोरियाँ जब इस गीत को गाती हैं तब सभी के हृदय पुलकित हो उठते है और यह अनुभव होता है कि मानों वर्षा ऋतु के रूप में प्रकृति ने मानव को उपहार प्रदान किया है :
झूला पड़ा कदम की डाली
झूले कृष्ण मुरारी नाय ...
अवधी के नकटा का एक विशेष ही आकर्षण है :
हमसे खिंचत न गगरिया कमर मोरी छल्ला मुन्दरिया
वोहि सासू मोरी जनम की बैरनि,
दुई-दुई भरावें गगरिया, कमर मोरी छल्ला मुन्दरिया
वोहि देवरा मोरे बचपन का साथी
काँधे टेकावै गगरिया मोरी छल्ला मुन्दरिया
रोपनी गीत:
रिमझिम बरसे पनियाँ,
आवा चली धान रोपे धनियाँ।
लहरत बा तलवा में पनियाँ,
आवा चली धान रोपे धनियाँ।
सोने के थारी मं ज्योना परोसैं,
पिया कां जेंवाईं आईं धनियाँ।
झंझरे गेरुआ मं गंगा जल पनियाँ,

इसी तरह बाल-गीत, जाँत गीत, विदाई गीत, रोटी गीत, निर्गुण आदि आज भी पूरे मस्ती में गये जाते हैं ।

PM Modi Addressing to UNGA

PM Modi gave an impressive speech at UN today. He focused on his policy on cleanliness, welfare schemes, protection of the environment and peace and harmony. He raised his concerns about terrorism, indicating that it is a collective responsibility to combat it. He said, “I come from that country which has given Buddh to the world instead of Yuddh.” He talked of India’s Motto: “Public welfare through public participation” and “Inclusive growth by collective efforts". A big crowd of Indian Americans gathered outside the UN Headquarters, chanting Modi, Modi !!! At the same time, a large and excited crowd of Baloch people protested against Pakistan’s inhuman treatment of them.

Howdy Modi!

PM Modi visits America where he is warmly received by the top American officials; a red carpet has been laid out from his plane door to the car waiting for him. Now when PM Pakistan, Mr Imaran Khan arrives at the American air port, he is received by his own men only with a doormat treatment. This is the difference between a civilized community and an extremist community. The whole world is excited to see the Prime Minister at NRG Stadium, Houston. It is the mark of our prominence, excellence and strength that we have developed under PM Modi’s leadership. We are proud of him and of this grand 'Howdy Modi!' celebration, promoting our friendship with America.

A Poet Studies Man

A scientist studies nature and a poet studies man. Science finds out an easier way of life whereas poetry discovers how a better life can be lived. However, both of them revolutionize human society. As knowledge evolves and people assimilate new ideas, techniques and information, beliefs and social order change. Read Snippets of Life Music and see if it updates you on a better way to a successful life.

A computer connected by the Internet is not friendly to our eyes and mind. We often lose patience to read a serious book on the computer or mobile phone. But a paperback edition always feels pleasant and helps us enjoy a book to the full. Find a copy of #SnippetsofLifeMusic and see how it soothes and refreshes your tired mind with delightful and exotic ideas. Let me also assure you this book will not only repay the small amount of money you spend on it but also give you something which money cannot buy.

Those who love money too much do not think of anything else as much as they think of making and saving money. Generally, teachers are penny-pinching by nature, but if a professor develops to be frugal, you do not expect him to do some research. Read Snippets of Life Music and enjoy a wealth of exotic thoughts presented in a very entertaining way.

Get What Twenty Novels can Offer

A novel is a long story about some imaginary events and therefore takes up a lot of your time. If it is one that stimulates your curiosity by its early pages, you are sure to keep reading whatever lies ahead. But in the end, it is not certain that it will pay off. #SnippetsofLifeMusic is a collection of twenty short stories: each a few pages long but with contents of a wholesome novel. By reading this single book, you are going to get what twenty novels can offer. Just try on and you will be amazed to see it is not an exaggeration.

If you cast a cursory glance at the stories in Snippets of life Music, you are going to find them quite simple. But if you read them carefully, you will be amazed to get something exciting and interesting. The deeper you go, the more you will enjoy the different shades of meaning, connotations and subtexts. The book does not have conventional stories with some accounts of how something happened or descriptions of some invented events aimed at entertaining people. They are serious and of lasting value: likely to be numbered among the masterpieces of classical literature. So it is recommended that you read the book multiple times. You will understand a story at a much deeper level and catch more subtle and finer nuance of views and emotion, each time you read one.

Just form an association of hundred people and you will see each one having fondness for different things: someone would love to cook, some to serve, some to enjoy delivering speeches, some to sing, some to manage people, some to arrange meetings, some to report on the events – now your association is complete with its limbs, head, mouth, eyes and all other parts of its body. Read Snippets of life Music and know the secrets of a symbiotic relationship and also of society.

A Cornucopia of Unexplored Ideas

Generally, people do not risk purchasing a book which is not popular, whereas a book receives a quick boost not because it is better than others but because it has been advertised very heavily or the author has excited comment by passing some controversial remark. One day I happened to meet a book vendor who was selling novels and other sorts of fiction books. I asked him to sell my book, Snippets of Life Music. He took no time to reply and said, “Babuji, nobody will buy it until it is well-known like those by great authors.” Well, you wait, I reflected, you’ll be selling it second-hand. Good wine needs no bush: the book is exceptional – it may take time but will need no ad campaign.

Big publishing houses today avoid accepting a work by some new author, however remarkable and impressive it is; rather, they prefer a potboiler or a manuscript by some famous person no matter how below par it is. Generally, science students are so busy with their studies that they seldom find time to understand people and the tricky situations and, as a result, often fail to show diplomacy in dealing with them. #SnippetsofLifeMusic is not of poor quality aimed at earning money quickly. The short stories in the book are different pictures of society and cover a few of the most important aspects of society. It is therefore the book is a must read.

The book, Snippets of Life Music, has many distinguishing features, but what make it exceptionally rare are diverse topics that it covers. If a story unfolds against a background of legal system, there is some other based on business affairs or political activities. You will find examples of many different technical terms like: scientific, business, social, medical, political, communicative, spiritual, legal, administrative – all in one book.

Snippets of Life Music is neither a collection of comments on some mythology nor of pieces of writing taken from some old books – it is a cornucopia of unexplored and strange ideas. It is a wonderful collection of short stories, which are based on heuristics. 

You will read it today or tomorrow. So why not get your copy today. 

Good Stories Inspire Children

Art and music appeal even to infants. Play a sweet music or sing a melodious song – you will see it responding to it. Let it grow a little older and its cognition be a bit sharp; the child will listen to your stories, mulling over events. Slowly they will start to imitate their hero in the story. A good story helps children build up their confidence, gain good habits and develop an inquiring attitude to learning. 

Once mothers used to tell stories or sing soothing lullabies to their young children to help them go to sleep. These children, inspired by the stories, grew up to be respectable, courteous and disciplined. Tolstoy’s stories have the power to change one’s view of life; Aesop’s fables can make its reader a perfect man. Now with people having a casual attitude towards literary books and sociological studies, the society has been led astray and uncontrollable children grow into young criminals. 

Read SnippetsofLifeMusic; it caters for all levels and each one is sure to find their favourite story.

Feedback from my Readers

The following is some feedback from the learned readers of my book, Snippets of Life Music:

Suresh Kr Pandey I read it last night,very beautiful story. About ‘The Girl’

Bill Adkins I enjoyed the Fantasy read!!

Julie Tu Ramesh, FANTASTIC! A riveting read; wonderfully crafted. My hair's name is Makiko and that's exactly the type of fear she inspires in men. LOL! : )

Pawan Kumar just read two stories from the link. You are great sir. You should get these published as a book.

Sanjay Singh: Read ur article,fantastic way to express in indian context, keep alive spirit,let the world know tiwari ji from Bahraich can turn the table of writers .

Chitra Lele A nice play on words---depicting the tug of war between emotion and reason (y) best wishes Ramesh Tiwari Sir (Walls of Hesitation) Your book is certainly a melting pot of wondrous tales. I can't wait to read it Ramesh Tiwari Sir.

Pramod Srivastava धन्यदाव तिवारी जी।
कल आपकी कहानी पढ़ी थी।
बहुत अच्छी लगी, प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं की तैयारी करने वालों को और मेहनत करने की प्रेरणा देगी, साम्प्रदायिक सौहार्द का नायाब नमूना... The Power of Prayer.

English teacher, Sri Amar Singh Vishen I got #Snippets_of_Life_music,a beautiful collection of short stories by Ramesh Tiwari , This book, as its subtitle states, is a classic. I own it, and I still am moved by the introductory chapter in which the author explains why using precise language is vital to protecting truth in society. This would make a great gift for the readers.I am really thankful for providing us such great creation.

Julie Tu Ramesh Tiwari, thank you. Just remembering your excellent essays and short stories!! I am glad you are on FB. We learn so much about India from you. Indeed your viewpoints are really realistic and worth sharing.

A Judas

Read my latest short story under the title ‘A Judas’ that I wrote the month before last and that has just been published in the leading journal Criterion. See how a person whose job is to persuade people into buying a service or into giving their support often shows a lack of conscience and does not hesitate to act in a dishonest or immoral way in order to get what they want. It is not because they are fundamentally unscrupulous but because evasive and unpredictable people compel them to be.

The Universe Obeys God

Nobody can make one do anything devotedly unless one is inclined to do that, and this is why it can be said that the universe obeys God. Even lifeless things do as they are told by Him. In 'Snippets of Life Music' there is a story of a father who tries his best to bring his children up as he wanted them to be but ultimately fails. Thus the story conveys how God manages and controls the world and how He is concerned about all sorts of jobs, both good and bad, as either of them helps the world running. Here is an excerpt from the story:

Lost in the daydream, Dayanand reached home earlier than usual, but as he found his sons in the bed, he started to suspect that they had always been sleeping till late in the morning. He also remembered that he had found them watching TV when one day he came home from work earlier. Perhaps his sons did not dedicate themselves to their studies, he thought. All he dreamed about them was mere his dream and it was not going to come true.

He, however, woke them up gently and started to coax them into rising early and reading their books, but the boys listened to him quite listlessly. After they had padded into the bathroom, he decided that he would stay at home to watch their every move as it was a Sunday.

The children made their way into the dining room for breakfast and sat at the table for over an hour waiting for their father to leave home as they wanted to go out to enjoy their holiday with their friends. But when their father did not budge from the house, they got up, disappointed, and walked over to their desks. They pretended to flick through their books for a few minutes then they slowly slipped out. One of them sat by a plant in the courtyard, looking worried, watching its leaves. The other one leaned agonizingly over the gate and started to watch people coming and going in the street.

When Dayanand came out of his room to see if his sons were doing their stuff, he found them absent. He made for the courtyard. But as the boys heard him coming, they soon bestirred themselves and started watering the plants in the garden. The father turned back without saying a word, thinking that they were doing something useful and would soon be back to their desks.

After they had finished that job, they came in under the impression that his father was not going out that day. Shrestha, the elder of the two, went to his mother and reminded her of the out-of-town vegetable bazaar which is held on every Sunday morning. ‘Oh yes,’ his mother said, ‘you’d better go there and buy some fresh vegetables and fruit.’ .......

Mobile Phone

Mobile is much more harmful than what it gives to the world. It has become a threat to normal family life, to the dynamics of the social system and also to the ecosystem. The coming generation will read in the books “once there were birds that used to sing sweet songs in the morning” or “family members would sit together in the evening to enjoy idle gossips”. Constant use of mobile brings on a headache and leads to feelings of depression and fatigue. The time is not far away when we will end up becoming a robot or losing our civilization. There is an exquisite story about birds in my book, Snippets of Life Music – read it. Here is an excerpt from the story:

I was a little late because of the pause, so I made straight for the backyard from where a short and high-pitched sound of contact calls was coming. “What? The warblers have arrived first?” I said to myself as I hurried towards the veranda. The regular guests of mine were drifting along the platform, flying and landing frequently, then whirling around to have fun. I became very happy to see them, then glanced up at the parapet to see what Drut was doing and found him glaring at the birds below with an aggressive call as “Cheii-cheii-whittei-chirrr-it-it”. I was amazed to see his belligerent gesture and, before I could think of anything else, he dived at one of the tiny birds which went into a skid. His unexpected attack scared away all the birds. “Oh, birds too!” I exclaimed in wonder.

Exasperated with Drut, I went to the chair on the veranda and sat down without paying any further attention to him. He came jumping near me but I still took no notice of him, whereupon he started flying up and down in front of me. Now I could not help myself – I had to look at him. He finally went back to the floor.

“You mean you don’t want other birds to join you?” I said to him fretfully, leaning over him. “Look, I love all the birds that come here and have enough things to feed them all. Besides, birds cannot drink all the water in the well, however large be their number. If you think you’re going to share something with them, you’re very much mistaken. In future, make sure no one is discriminated against.”

When he inferred I was not pleased, he flew up and sat on the table facing me, now warbling in a sweet voice. “You’re sorry perhaps?” I continued, but soon realized that he can communicate his present feelings only.

Ex-Finance Minister, Sri Arun Jaitley

A pillar of Indian law has fallen down; a voice of logic and reason has quietened; the gone by solemnity of the Upper House will live on; and above all, it is difficult if not impossible for the country to compensate for a wise, respected and experienced leader. We mourn the passing of our worthy ex-Finance Minister, Sri Arun Jaitley. We pray that his soul rest in peace and his family and friends have strength to stand the great loss!

Govind Damodar Madhveti

I pray that I never forget you,

Hey Krishna, hey Yadav, hey Sakheti!

I sing, unconditionally loving you,

‘Govind Damodar Madhveti’.

I wish before my eyes you to be,

Play on the flute you to watch

And to be enchanted you to see

When it is time to breathe my last.

                                                  Composed today – Ramesh Tiwari

 

Awareness of Cleanliness

'Snippets of Life Music' has a one-act-play. Read it and see how the 'Clean India Movement' brings awareness of cleanliness. Here is an excerpt of the play:


THIRD BOY. What are you frowning at us for? [Warningly] Mind, we’ll continue to dump the rubbish against your gate until you go door to door, demanding an apology for the mess you have been making and assuring them that you will give up your ways.

BHALLU [shouting at the youths] Don’t you try to be funny with me, young men, and carry away this rubbish!

ALL THE BOYS [standing round Bhallu, in a circle holding hands and then going round singing]

Bhallu uncle, Bhallu uncle! Raise your hands now and surrender.

Won’t we dump waste at your gate priority hygiene if you make.

Help us keep our community clean; use not bags of polythene.

Health and wealth all stay there neat and clean it is wherever.

Clean India join dear uncle, lead us and be its messenger.

BHALLU [dancing and singing in the circle]

My dear boys, my dear boys, little, little my heart my toys!

You have taught me a great lesson; I will join in the clean mission.

You will see my house clean, drains clear and parks green.

We will clean our minds, our hearts, roads, streets, spots all sorts.

In a mixture of envy and admiration they will gaze at the beauty of our nation.

Article 370 with 35A

There is no law like 35A that provide special right and advantage for the people of Pak-occupied Kashmir. Why should there be one for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Congress never liked to touch this fake law because they preferred power to the territorial integrity of the nation. The Modi government has been making history by introducing legislation which has never been imagined to be possible. Wait, this government will solve every problem that congress had ever been nourishing and projecting as critical.

One integrated India today – from Kashmir to Kanyakumari! The two brave surgeons, PM Modi and HM Amit Shah, operated on India to relieve the old head sore, 370 with 35A, which had long been fostered by Congress with the express purpose of appeasing a particular ethnic group. Every nationalist including the architect of Indian Constitution was sidelined when this ugly article was introduced. Mother India finally wins her complete freedom today. Today the Upper House also passed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill with 125 votes in favour and 61 votes against it. The people of J&K, who were living like stagnant pond water, will have opportunities to grow and develop. They should be proud of their Prime Minister and Home Minister and express their gratitude to them.

My Masterpiece

If you cast a cursory glance at the stories in Snippets of life Music, you are going to find them quite simple. But if you read them carefully, you will be amazed to get something exciting and interesting. The deeper you go, the more you will enjoy the different shades of meaning, connotations and subtexts. The book does not have conventional stories with some accounts of how something happened or descriptions of some invented events aimed at entertaining people. They are serious and of lasting value: likely to be numbered among the masterpieces of classical literature. So it is recommended that you read the book multiple times. You will understand a story at a much deeper level and catch more subtle and finer nuance of views and emotion, each time you read one.

Triple Talaque

Most of us are fathers and mothers of a daughter or the coming generation will also be parents to daughters. I wonder why they favour such traditions that make women more vulnerable. Triple Talaque cannot be considered as the humane treatment of women. Everyone should appreciate the efforts of Prime Minister Modi that he made to have this Bill finally passed. However, our society is not an absolute open society and there are not sufficient opportunities for young women. In this atmosphere, greater liberty for women is not good for them. The freer they are, the more likely it is that they will be misused by men.

The Insolent Conductor

Here is an excerpt from a story in ‘Snippets of Life Music’. You will certainly find that the book is really a very fine buy or it is what you have been looking for: 

The oppressive afternoon heat was insufferable because the roof of the stopped bus was getting hotter and the wind was gusting in through the door like flames. People sat waiting impatiently for the door to be shut and the bus to start, but the insolent conductor did not budge. He stood, calling passengers and looking around as though he were the very owner of the bus together with its passengers.

When the passengers became deeply irritated by the conductor’s behaviour, they started shouting at him. But he walked to and fro on the pavement, looking for more passengers. Slowly, the clamour rose high. ‘We’ll take another bus.’ ‘Friends, let’s leave this bus if he does not listen to us.’ ‘Leave him crying for passengers until late evening – he deserves it.’ It was only when a few of them came at the door with their luggage that the conductor came back shouting out ‘No passenger travelling to a request stop’. He then sat down on his seat and exhorted passengers to get tickets. A dozen people queued up in the gangway and several others began to pass notes to him.

Another half an hour passed and the bus still stood motionless. The driver, resting his left hand on the gear lever and the right on the steering wheel, looked behind him again and again. Nothing else happened. The emperor of the bus, who seemed to have a mind of his own, sat tearing the tickets, quite unmoved by every hue and cry; and not until he finished his job off did he raise his head to pull the bell. Anyway, the driver finally switched on the ignition and the click of the lever sounded like a divine note.

After a brief silence, a babble of voices rose ................

Up-Front Attitude.

‘Snippets of Life Music’ is one of the best short story collections. Someone who reads a story will read all them because, on the one hand, they are exciting and stretch the imagination and, on the other, they pass on surprising facts. The following is an excerpt from a story: 

“Are you a Brahmin?” inquired Azaz.

“They say I’m,” said the driver drily.

“What does the tilak on your forehead signify?”

“The same as what your beard.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow you,” said Azaz, looking rather perplexed.

“I mean it’s simply a religious symbol and I can’t expect God to be happy with me just because I wear a tilak.”

“You’re very upfront about religion.”

“I think you’ll like one like me,” reposted the driver.

“Do you have respect for a religion?”

“I’ve great faith in God and firmly believe in the power of prayer, but I hate religion because it’s like the duckweed that grows on the surface of the society and stops the natural flow of it. Now I needn’t add that still water becomes dirty. However, the unique thing about religion is that it introduces us to the Almighty and inspires us to love and worship Him.”

A Description of Rainy Weather

A storyteller often describes weather conditions (wind, sun, rain or cold) in his account of some event that a story contains. Read an excerpt from Snippets of Life Music and see how the rain finally brings blessed relief from the heat :-

"As the month of July drew near, Mitrasen was more excited about living with his brother in Lucknow. One afternoon, it looked as though the sultry weather would put a full stop at the end of every sentence of life. People stayed up late because the heat and humidity was insufferable. But late at night, an east wind came to inform people of a huge dance party. Dark clouds gathered; lightning flashed; thunder boomed; and a storm arose. The rain ultimately started beating against the walls. Nature behaved as if he was drunk. Trees danced rhythmically, swaying their heads to the peals of thunder and to the music played by the rain. Heaven flashed lights on them every now and again.

All three members of the family lay wakeful all night because water was splashing from holes in the thatched roof. But when the rain stopped and the trees rustled gently in the breeze, it was time to get up in the morning.

Yagyasen and Narayani got out of their beds to get ready to go to work. Mitrasen was still asleep. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Narayani..."

Arriving Late

Here's an excerpt from the book:

The angry in charge turned back to face him, frowned at him and asked, ‘Do you know what time it is?’

‘Sir, I’m not too late – only 10 minutes,’ replied Mr Shukla very politely.

‘You think 10 minutes have no value, do you? Go and ask them who are standing in a queue at the counter - they will tell you the value of every second. Mr Shukla, it simply won’t do!’

‘You can depend on me to deal with the situation. You’ll soon see these people going out cheerfully. Well, you know, I’d not have left you alone here if my wife hadn’t been ill.’

The boss calmed down a bit. He asked him to see to the arrangements, and then continued walking like before. It looked as though he had made up his mind to go on at all the late comers that day. A little while later Ashok Gupta arrived.

‘Mr Gupta, you’re the head of the accounts department, aren’t you?’ he asked, looking straight at him.

‘It’s obvious, Sir,’ came the brusque reply.

‘And to meet the requirements of those people at the cash counter is your responsibility?’ he added.

‘Indeed it is.’

‘Then who do you think would discharge that?’ shouted the boss, his eyes blazing with anger. ‘Do you expect me to run the counter?’

‘But you didn’t think of it on Saturday afternoon when I could not catch even the evening train.’

‘You insolent dog, you’ll teach me how to go about things!’

‘Sir, it’s a breach of protocol – you can’t give any of us a telling off at a public place.’

‘I think I should have given you a severe reprimand on the road.’

‘You’re free then – go and dance there, but don’t you humiliate me like this, mind!’

‘How dare you speak to me like that!’ he responded. ‘Shut your filthy mouth or else...’

‘Or else you’ll expel me from the organisation! Do it if you can.’

‘You the stinking pig of a man!’ shouted Mr Singh, his face contorted with rage. ‘You’re sure to pay for it. You’ll be selling eggs in front of one of our offices.’

A crowd gathered around. Mr Shukla came running. He took the manager’s hand and led him to his chamber. He was shaking with anger as he sat in his chair. A peon entered in with a glass of water and there followed an awkward....

Ostentation

Here's an Excerpt from the book:

‘Where’re you going at this witching hour?’ growled Sheela as she got up.

‘You know Jagannath?’ whispered Rohit. ‘His wife is about to....’

‘We purchased the car to do this sort of thing?’ she broke in. ‘Go and tell him the car has already broken down.’

‘Do you know what’ll happen? She might die if I did not take her to hospital.’

‘Let her. Suppose we don’t have the car – what will he do then?’

‘God will send a chariot to take her back or to hospital. Mind you, one’s moral fibre is more valuable than one’s wealth; to be of service to others is the soul of humanity, but to lend a hand is to obey God without question.’

‘Keep your moral lessons to yourself,’ she muttered, ‘and go back to bed. I am going to turn him down myself. You know, if you don’t slave your conscience, such things will happen every next day.’

‘Housewives that are kept confined have very limited space in their minds and therefore are often selfish and snobs, have irritating habit and lack normal etiquette,’ he mused.

‘Perhaps you people do not know how the world works,’ she continued. ‘Some laugh, some cheer and some cry because a single note cannot make the music sweet. God wants every sort of things to happen on the earth. He loves saints and also thieves; He loves war and also peace; He loves wrong and also right; He loves day and also night. Everything has its adversary but they help each other establish their identity and a clash between them gives birth to a new thing. The world was not beautiful if not varied.’

‘You mean religious teachings are useless things?‘ asked Rohit.

‘I mean everything is useful if it serves our purpose.’ Sheela rejoined.

‘So it’s silly to render assistance out of sympathy.’

‘Yes, it’s for God to help the needy.’

‘But God helps a person by inspiring someone else to come to their assistance.’

‘Anyway, if you’re so touched, you may go; but this will be your first and last chance of helping someone around midnight....’

Heavenly Justice Comes into Play

Read a story in Snippets of Life Music that shows how politicians, the police, the court and musclemen treat the common people and how heavenly justice comes into play when worldly justice turns a blind eye. The story aims to cover three aspects of social life: first, it describes how people clash sometimes on account of their wrong judgments and suffer a terrible loss for nothing; second, it portrays the corruption among those who are responsible to maintain law and order; third, it represents favouritism giving rise to public reaction.

Here's an excerpt from the story:

‘Devil, you see things through the wall!’ groaned Ranjeet. ‘Where’s that lane behind my house?’

‘That space has been covered over by your backyard, blocking off our way to the neighbouring colony,’ Maiku countered in a firm voice. ‘The property-dealer divided up the whole strip of the land equally between you, me and Bhallar. He planned a street in front of them with a 3-feet wide alley behind them. They both run north-south.’

‘What a fine story!’

‘This is all a story? I’ve concrete evidence to prove it, mind.’

‘Mind your neck, you! I’ll wrench it if…’

‘So you’ll hit me for speaking the truth, will you?’

‘And what am I – a liar?’

‘It’s blatantly obvious....’

‘You arrogant sonofabitch! I’ll teach you to call me a liar!’

‘Can your threats change fiction into truth, by the way?’

‘They can change your foul mouth. Wait it’ll never open again!’

So saying, Ranjeet gave a roar of rage and punched Maiku in the face.

IX

Maiku stood bleeding, his legs failing him. He staggered a few yards, and fell onto a pile of bricks with a moan. He lay thinking of Bhallar, of Ranjeet, of Jata Shanker and also of the police and the advocate. They looked like giants to him, eager to devour his land, his money, his peace. But as he lifted his eyes to seek help from the Lord, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He stood up and to his astonishment he saw.........

An Old Fable

My granddad used to tell a story about a hermit and parrots which is immensely popular in India. I have retold this ancient fable in English under the title ‘Hermit and His Disciples’. To enjoy this fable translated from Sanskrit into English,

Here's an extract:

The following month he asked them to repeat the whole sentence (A trapper may come here, spread a net, strew it with grain, but we won’t fall into the trap.) after him. The parrots successfully started doing that, too, and had to undergo this sort of exercise for the whole of this month. Then, in the third month of their exercise, each one of them was asked to recite the saying to the class. Finally, from the fourth month onwards, the parrots began to chant it all the time.

One day a trapper really came there. But when he listened to what the parrots were chanting, he was disappointed. At first he thought to retrace his way, then later he decided that he would do his job no matter what the result.

He spread the net on the ground, scattered rice grains over it and hid behind a tree, holding the other end of the cord. A few minutes later, one of the parrots swooped down and landed on it. Then another one followed it. Slowly the whole flock of them gathered there. They started eating the grains, clattering, ‘A trapper may come here, spread a net, strew it with grain, but we won’t fall into the trap’. The trapper behind the tree quickly pulled on the rope and all the parrots got trapped.

The trapper became very happy because he had notched up a big gain that day. He put the bag of his net on his back and headed for home, smiling at their mantra which they were still declaiming.

Luckily, the hermit was coming in his direction........