Few steps…

 

few steps and we cross

the gateway of earth

after the crisscross of clouds and few norms

we land on an altar

of stars

beneath , the world appears minute like a dewdrop

here ,we stride in cosmos

beside the planets in backdrop

can we hold and pick them up

place in orbits as we thought?

Life or destiny

can it be aligned and designed as

we presume and want?

 

©Soumya

Whence thus…

Treading through rough terrains when in the invisible threads of world entangle lost is the soul in the tandem of livelihood and survival.

Whence thus, whence would

breathe I the fragrance of jasmine

play through forests of green firs

watch the golden over peaks Himalayan

tread along sands of flowing rivers

count the stars lying in a desert

dance with waves of an endless ocean

vibrate in tranquilness

under the sapphire

O! mighty one

paths many I traveled

found umpteen chronicles

thousand relics

but thou reside in me

I knew…

whence would then

thou reveal?

 

©Soumya

 

 

 

“Suroor of the Soul”- Now on Kindle

Hi friends !

With the Kindle version of “Suroor of the Soul ” coming, we feel the book will reach thousands who were not able to get the book delivered at their destinations. Also the evolving trend of  digitization has made things simpler at many places, even in my country where a click can bring things at your doorstep.

Hope the journey of “Suroor of the Soul” continues by spreading the fragrance of illumined realization.

The book is now available on AMAZON KINDLE across fourteen countries.

You can select the region of your residence.

For Indian readers, here is the link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B071FSQG7P.

You may also find it on KDP SELECT.

We both, Shaheen and me wish you all a blissful journey and a Happy Reading !

Love,

Soumya & Shaheen

Rhetoric

Ah! Exclaimed the unknown poet

Bidding adieu to the world of sleeping souls

“Will thou never wake up

anyday before the

temple bells  or will the sound of

 a blowing conch stir thy senses

Then thou would get up from the slumber”

In dark , have thou lived

Forgetting the golden hours

When the prismatic rays kissed

Thy temple’s horizon

…long before the birds sang thine praises

And perched beside the mangoflowers…

Now sleeps the land

and thou folks in inebriation of materialistic ,egoistic treasures

Leaving aside the golden strokes

of humanism….

Shattering idols of faith…creating statues of stone and places of fearful altar

Mingle thou in dust while thy soul shrieks to remind

illumine the cavern

Then would be the advent of

An age utopian…

@Soumya

A Different Book

Dear friends,

It is rather uncommon when I post something besides poetry and share it with all of you.

But a dear friend Rachna co authors a book and sends a copy to read,its a wonderful gift and gesture to be acknowledged. So here is something about the book and the authors :

AUTHORS:

RACHNA ARORA: A Psychologist, author, writer, blogger, poet and provides online professional counselling services to women.
DEEPIKA SHARMA:  A post graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication,an author, writer, blogger  who feels strongly about the issues that plague married urban women in India.

THE BOOK:

Indian Women and The Shaadi Conundrum! by Dr. Rachna Arora and Deepika Sharma is a simple book, on its face, but full of resounding depths: a reality of women in our society and offering hope that things will get better. A descriptive psychological reflection of beautifully narrated short real life extracts connecting to every woman, whether she is unmarried, married or just getting into the nuptial ties to realize her individuality and believe in her potential. It helps and enriches every woman with essential info that is required for happy married life.

This book talks about post-marital challenges a woman face, which are often sensitive issues and people generally avoid talking about them honestly. Almost every woman struggles with some kind of post-marital challenges but no one really brings up this topic to discussion openly. More power to the authors who have dared to write about this topic and portray a very realistic picture of our society which often makes the beautiful event of life i.e., marriage the most challenging event for almost all the women.

Authors have gone an extra mile to bring out the best of what can prevent the confusions and assumptions on marriage with a series of practical suggestions to help every woman in her life. The book gives a thoughtful insight on why it is important and essential for every woman to consider all the aspects of marriage and have a realistic approach towards it ‘before she says yes’. Quite often women ignore the many important things which give her a difficult time after marriage.

This book reflects a plethora of common situations, type of changes and problems faced by Indian woman pre and post marriage that every woman can relate with. Authors have given suggestions and advice that help a woman to cope up with all the changes and challenges and also helps a woman to maintain her individuality while maintaining her relationships with ease.

Authors have given various reasons and explained possible conflicts that may arise post-marriage and also the problems that woman may encounter, with the help of case studies and have suggested possible solutions to those problems.

Each chapter in the book gives an insight of the situations and changes that are likely to come with the event of marriage and how a woman can prepare herself mentally for the changes that are likely to come post-marriage. Practical tips and solutions for the common conflicts are also given in the book to help women.

Though this book is written and dedicated to all the women, it will be useful for husbands and in-laws to better understand what a woman expects. There is also a chapter that rationally describes the double standards of our society in differentiating between a man and woman. As you read this chapter, realization dawns upon the reader that how patriarchy, unconsciously affect our behaviour and actions, and due to this, even the majority of women have failed to understand the plight and problems of their counterparts.

As very aptly quoted by authors “The need of the hour is to introspect and analyse yourself to find out whether your behaviour and actions are unconsciously dictated by a patriarchal mindset and put conscious efforts to break away from the shackles of patriarchy.”

So if each one of us self-introspect our behavior and actions and be considerate for our women counterparts (as a sister, daughter, sister-in-law, mother, mother-in-law and Daughter in laws) most of the issues will never even arise.

Authors have reiterated at various places, the most important lesson that each one of us needs in life, is that Be Yourself, and do not succumb to the pressure of unreasonable demands of any kind. Authors have wonderfully described that seeking approval and acceptance from others will only make you feel helpless, sad, angry and unhappy and you cannot able to live life to the fullest. So you get drilled deep into married life, do not forget your real self. Authors have beautifully quoted in the book “Embrace yourself the way you are and empower yourself by knowing the true meaning of self-empowerment. Self-empowerment simply means that you are the master of your life and your life is in your control.”

 

I would recommend this book to every woman to read, as it will be very helpful in understanding and coping up with all the Shaadi conundrum and empowers you to positively and effectively deal with issues pre and post marriage. This book will help you to take control of your life and enables you to become truly empowered and transformed you completely for betterment.

Besides this , they have started a wonderful initiative of THE HAPPY WOMEN , a platform where  women who encourage, inspire and motivate come together and share . http://thehappywomen.com/

Lets join together and lend them a hand of support in their initiative as well as to their book.

While the seasons played

While the swindler burnt my cheeks with

its sumptuous golden glow

I changed sides back and forth

for a while I was in shade

hugging memories  sheltered the autumn skin

while the seasons played

…

The silken locks refused to listen

falling like cascade disturbed the rhythm

the song of past struck

few strings in galore

the beats struck the chord

and music echoed.

©Soumya

My new venture” Jogi De Naal”

Dear friends,

It has been long since I shared a word with you directly and somehow have been posting less poems than earlier,all because of busy schedules, other involvements  and my new venture.

Yes, learning and evolving keeps us vibrant and lively. My new venture is a project I was working on  produced by my newly established company  “AUDUMBAR ARTS” which would deal with production of music videos, albums, short films and also organize art, music and poetry festivals in future.

As of now, the first video,a Punjabi Sufi fusion “Jogi De Naal” has been released today on Eid  by Audumbar Arts in association with Zee Music Company.

This is a stepping stone for me and the newly  born company.

Iam sharing the YouTube link  with all of you here and hope you all would love it.

Kindly watch and share if you enjoy the song!

 

Best wishes,

Soumya

The Rainy Season

 

The Rainy season- A random musing

 

Like the beautiful  flowers of palash, popularly known as fire of the forest, I was burning . The inner turbulence  like the  upheaval of tides made me rise and fall against the heavy rocks of life.

Had the shore been sandy ,I wished to have laid myself on the shore surrendering to  the splashing waves of a sea,but nonetheless,it was n’t such.It was rocky.

Life isn’t what we dream and wish for! We have to create a path to realize this dream  and then walk on it ,many a times getting pierced by innumberable thorns .

The fragrance which disseminates in the atmosphere is usually of the wild flowers growing on open meadows and hillsides, those which bring freshness in life and also in the monotonous mundaneness. Pruned, I loved watching birds flying in the sky, they seemed to be so happy, free and delighted ,marching towards their goal . Their wings unfettered and whistling to their favourite tunes they sang whenever they wished .

A sense of freedom filled the heart and I wished I could fly thus like the wading birds.

The riot of colours in the evening sky brought more nostalgia  as I walked towards the mound on the top of the mountain. This rainy season, nothing had changed.

Her mind’s garden

In the backyard of her mind’s garden
Where grew thousand lilies
On ransom were few flowers…
may be some Desires  unseen…
Oh! She knew it wasn’t easy
She struggled all through to barter her dreams
Breathing some  fresh air she stumbled intermittently
While the rocky terrains kept throwing obstacles
in between…

Now,what next?She kept thinking
“Do I win, or I lose
am I on the right  way or the  wrong
my soul   away on  an exile
what’s the predicament
I tried again, I tried my best...
I will again until finally I’m put to sleep in the grave
Thence shall the soul rest"
Until the pen has inscribed thoughts
Until the sky has been painted red
Until the sea sings my  lore
Until the river takes my breath to it’s door
until few daisies sprung on the soil
of her garden
Until the veins have drop of blood to shed…

“After death”

When left “I”
‘the life’ in a split second
From the door of the body to heaven
Where did I get lost in between,
O ! lord !
Was ‘I’ a body with a life
Or a soul imprisoned in flesh of being?
..
Where was I ?
Who was I ?
Amidst the melee. I didn’t hear any sigh..
What was my name ?
What am I named?
Is it the same,
as I lose
myself …
on pyre,
in ashes
when burns my effigy,the form of five elements created by thee

Where will I go and traverse?
is it the The cosmos
or The astral ?
what’s the journey ahead,O thee!
hold my finger and take !

©soumyavilekar