सीता से लेकर आज तक ...

"लस्ट फॉर लाइफ " नोवेल ख़तम करने के बाद कल का दिन ऐसा था जब में पूरी तरह से विचारों में डूब गयी थी और कल कि रात जब मुझे कई विचित्र सपने आये. ये कल दिन में "लज्जा" जैसी फिल्म देखने का निताजा ही था जिसने मेरे दिमाग में सोये हुए विचारो के लिए एक तूफ़ान का काम किया था... 

फिल्म उद्योग ने  मुझे हमेशा से ही आकर्षित किया है. इस क्षेत्र के माध्यम से  असंभव रचनात्मकता लायी जा सकती है और  इसके माध्यम से समाज के विशाल समूह तक आसानी से अपनी बात भी पहुचाई जा सकती है. "लज्जा" इस दृष्टि से बहुत ख़ास फिल्म है. मुझे आश्चर्य हुआ ये सोच कर कि स्क्रिप्ट रायटर और डिरेक्टर ने कितनी बारीकियों को ध्यान में रखा और बिलकुल एक साहित्य  कि तरह समाज का दर्पण बना दिया इस  फिल्म को. फिल्म कि ख़ास बात थी कि इसमें कहानी भी थी  , शिक्षा भी थी और साथ ही साथ इसकी प्रस्तुति बेहद सुन्दर और रौचक थी. 

फिल्म में लगभग चार नायिकाए है  जिनमे मनीषा कोईराला ने मुख्य  भूमिका निभायी है, ध्यान देने वाली बात यह  है कि सभी नायिकाओं का नाम "सीता" का पर्याय है , जैसे - "वैदेही " , "मैत्रयी" , "रामदुलारी" , "जानकी"... इस तरह गौर करे तो आज के ज़माने में सभी औरते   जो सीता माता का ही एक रूप है आज के पुरुष समाज जो स्वयं को "मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम राम" समझता है उसके सामने ये सवाल उठाती  है कि ---- " अगर सीता माता अशोक वाटिका में ही रावण कि बात मान लेती तो क्या राम और उनकी सेना युद्ध जीत पाते ... वो तो बिना युद्ध किये ही हार जाते... असल में तो सीता माता थी जिन्होंने रावन को अकेले ही अशोक वाटिका में हराया... और समाज ने उन्ही को चरित्रहीन घोषित कर दिया? क्यों? क्यों हर बार अग्नि परीक्षा औरत को ही देनी पड़ती है? उसे तो क्या उसकी सोच तक को बंद दिया जाता है...ऐसा  क्यूँ होता है ? ? ? "

 इतना ही नहीं फिल्म में बड़ी समझदारी से एक औरत से जुडी हर समस्या पर प्रकाश डाला गया है. किस तरह उसका "जन्म " एक अभिशाप माना  जाता है. जब एक बेटी के पैदा होने के बाद उसे उसके ही घरवाले बेरहमी से मार देना चाहते हैं तो "रामदुलारी" उन बेशर्मो से  पूछती है कि "अगर उनकी माँ के साथ भी यही हुआ होता तो वो लोग  कहाँ  से आते?"   

मैं जब दिन में यह फिल्म देख रही थी मेरा छोटा भाई स्कूल से आया शुरू में उसने चैनल बदलने कि कोशिश कि पर एक बार जब उसने फिल्म देखनी शुरू कि तो देखता ही रह गया , मुझसे भी ज्यादा मज़ा उसे आ रहा था और मज़े कि बात तो यह कि बीच के  गेप में हम दोनों में अच्छी  खासी चर्चा भी हो जाती . वो कहता कि आजकल तो इतना अत्याचार नहीं होता है औरतो पर . लेकिन इस फिल्म कि खासियत यही है कि इसमें वो चीज़े भी दिखाई है जो आज से दस साल पहले हुआ करती थी और अब बिलकुल न के बराबर होती है और वो बाते भी दिखाई है जो आज भी गावो में तो क्या शहरों  में सभ्य लोगो के बीच भी होती है जैसे - दहेज़. कहने कि आवश्यकता तो नहीं पर आज कल के लड़के सॉफ्टवेर इंजिनियर या सी . ए . होते हुए भी लड़की के माँ -बाप से पैसे लेते हुए नहीं शर्माते. और हम लडकियां तो बेवकूफ हैं जो ऐसे लडको का सपना देखती है जिनमे थोडा सा "आत्मा-सम्मान" बचा हो. खैर , फिल्म के सिर्फ चार दृश्य इतने ख़ास है जो कि चारो नायिकाओं के मुख्य डाइलोग हैं. 

मुझे लगता है ऐसी फिल्मो का बनना बहुत ज़रूरी है - ये समाज के लिए एक झटका है और सक्रीय लोगो के लिए एक सोचने का मुद्दा. हिंदी फिल्मो कि सबसे अच्छी बात यही है कि ये हमेशा अंत में  समस्या को सुलझाती है  और सच्चाई कि जीत दिखाती है. हमारी संस्कृति के अनुकूल ये सिखाती है कि हमें आशा नहीं छोड़नी चाहिए क्यूंकि एक दिन बदलाव ज़रूर आएगा और सच्चाई कि जीत अवश्य होगी - और मुझे लगता है कि ये विश्वास ही अपने आप में एक बहुत बड़ी जीत है आम इंसान के लिए.  

चरित्रहीन - एक चर्चा

घर पर बैठे बोर होने और  टीवी से चिपके रहने की अपेक्षा मैंने तय किया की मम्मी की समृद्ध लाइब्ररी में से कोई नोवल निकाल कर पढ़ लू. लाइब्ररी छानते हुए मेरी निगाह पड़ी "चरित्रहीन" पर (शरत बाबु द्वारा लिखित उपन्यास) , चूँकि इसके बारे में मैंने बहुत सुना था तो इसे पढने के लालच को रोक नहीं पायी.

अक्सर ऐसा होता है की हम किसी चीज़ से आशाये/अपेक्षाए लगा लेते हैं ओर वो उस पर उतनी खरी नहीं उतरती... हालांकि शरत बाबु का यह उपन्यास बहुत अच्छा था पर जाने क्यों यह मेरे मस्तिष्क में ही मछली के कांटे की तरह अटक गया , दिल तक पंहुचा ही नहीं. दोष  उपन्यास का  नहीं , ज़माना ही इतना बदल गया. हाँ अगर यह उपन्यास मैंने शरत बाबु के ज़माने में पढ़ा होता तो ज़रूर इस "चरित्रहीन" की गंगा में बह कर "पवित्र" हो जाती.

उपन्यास समाप्त कर सबसे पहला प्रश्न जो दिमाग पर छाता है वह है - आखिर संपूर्ण उपन्यास में "चरित्रहीन" कौन था? सतीश- जो स्वयं को सबसे अधम पुरुष मानता है ? सावित्री- विधवा ब्राह्मिन जिसे कुल से निकाल दिया गया? या किरणमयी - अपूर्व सुंदरी जो भूल से गलती कर बैठती है पर अंत में प्रायश्चित कर लेती है? ... पर पहले ये जानना ज़रूरी है की आज "चरित्र" और "चरित्रहीन" की  हमारे लिए क्या परिभाषा है? क्या शरत बाबु के ज़माने से लेकर अब तक वही परिभाषा चली आ रही है? क्या हमारे मूल्यों में ज़रा भी परिवर्तन नहीं हुआ? क्या यह ज़रूरी है की उस ज़माने में जो "चरित्रहीन" माना  जाता था वह आज भी "चरित्रहीन" ही माना  जाए?

किरणमयी द्वारा एक बहुत अच्छी  बात उपन्यासकार ने कही है की - राह चलते जब कोई अँधा गड्डे में गिर जाता है तो लोग उसे उठाते है , सँभालते हैं. समाज द्वारा यह बात स्वीकृत है की प्रेम अँधा होता है - पर जब यह अँधा गड्डे में गिरता है तो लोग उसे संभालने के लिए नहीं आते बल्कि उसे और गिरा कर उस पर मिटटी तक डाल देते हैं. अगर अँधा गड्डे में गिरे तो समझ में आता है पर आँख वाला गिरे तो क्या उसे माफ़ किया जा सकता है? शरत बाबु की दृष्टि में भी "चरित्रहीन" वह नहीं जो भूल से गड्डे में गिर जाए पर वह है जिसका लक्ष्य ही गड्डे के समान नीच हो - जिसकी नियत खराब हो.

मुझे लगता है समाज को या व्यक्ति को धोखा देने की बात तो दूर की है , इंसान जब स्वयं को धोखा देने लगता है तब वह पतन की ओर बढ़ने लगता है. कल रात को "देहली ६" फिल्म देख रही थी जो की मुझे बेहद पसंद है. एक पागल व्यक्ति उस फिल्म में हमेशा सभी को शीशा दिखाते हुए कहता है - "झांको" ... दरअसल वह स्वयं के अंदर झाँकने की बात कहता है .... हम सभी को इसी तरह स्वयं के भीतर झाँकने की ज़रूरत है. जब कोई इंसान अपने अंदर स्थित शीशे में स्वयं का असली चेहरा छिपाने की चेष्टा से धुल की परते चढ़ाता जाता  है उसका चरित्र दूषित होता जाता है. समाज के सामने हमारी जो छवि बनती वह असली नहीं है अर्थात वह मात्र शरीर की भाँती है जिसका किसी भी प्रकार से स्वच्छ रहना "अच्छा" है परन्तु "आवश्यक" नहीं जितना की आत्मा का शुद्ध रहना आवश्यक है क्यूंकि अंतिम निर्णय कि हम कैसे है?- चरित्रवान है या चरित्रहीन? ये तो हमारा अंतर्मन और फिर उपरवाला ही करेगा....

An Initiative - Beyond Expectations

Who can tell what is truth and what futility ?

Who can tell which dream will turn into reality?

When I was attending the Capacity Building Workshop conducted by Pravah Jaipur Initiative in collaboration with other organizations in Jaipur , far in my mind, a dream was shaping that I will conduct a workshop in my hometown too. I learnt comics though I wanted to learn film-making first but I chose comics because I knew I can spread this art easily than film-making. And I am glad that I could do it. And I could do it only when first I thought – I can do it.

I had to face many challenges but as always I am so lucky and things turned into my favor. The workshop was organized by Bharat Vikas Parishad , Pravah Jaipur Initiative & World Comics India. I got so much help from Bharat Vikas Parishad and I represented other two organizations as a volunteer. My only biggest challenge was that I was alone as an instructor or trainer and I knew making Comics is a no joke. We elders could do it in two days with the help of two elder trainers and I had so many small kids , all were below 8^th class but as they say , “jahaan chaah hai wahaan raah hai” I did my best. My one friend came ahead to help me . Nishita is pursuing BVA(visual arts) from ICG college, Jaipur. Fortunately , she had also attended a one day Workshop on Comics in her college so she was equally supporting me.

Other challenge was collecting kids and managing them . I wanted to conduct this workshop for the students above 8^th class but as usual at my end children are very shy & egoistic . They think they know everything and need not to learn anything new. Well , on the contrary , the small kids were so enthusiastic and eager to learn that I couldn’t hold the boundaries which I made any longer.  First day , I had hardly five kids but last day I had almost 20-22 kids . The reason , simply was that children were enjoying themselves and through mouth publicity the grew into a good numbers. They were learning something new which they liked. They were busy , doing something productive and creative. And above all , their parents were encouraging them a lot , after all now children were not watching tv , wasting their time and irritating their parents.

Last day had become very memorable for me as I got many wishes as well as many amazing feedbacks , which I had hardly expected. A small kid , Parv Vyas who is in 3^rd std , though couldn’t complete his comics but he made comics in his drawing book which was on “water conservation”. He gave message that – “we should not bath in shower and waste water”. That amazing kid himself used to bath in shower but when he made that comics , he told his mother that – “I wont bath in shower and in bath tub because I myself made comics on that, we should not waste water”.  His mother told me on last day that I was trying to teach  him this from last two months but he wouldn’t listen to me , now your comics workshop has done what I couldn’t. This was a Big Compliment for me. I got success. I told her that if such small child can understand what I wanted to convey then I think I am succeeded in my effort.

The response was beyond expectations. I knew Banswara is not a developed city , but it is an intellectual city. People are ahead in taking initiatives and they engage themselves in many social activities. Many people came to meet me during workshop , to understand the concept and wish me luck. My principle , Saroj Nagawat ma’am asked me to organize a workshop in my old school , which is a thing to proud on. Parv’s mother , who is also a teacher asked me to add Theatre also next time , as she says , many people are interested in learning new things.

Earlier I had planned to take registration fees but then I discarded that thought and took no fees from anyone and so couldn’t provide much things and gifts to kids. But the response and enthusiasm of visitors and well wishers was so amazing that Last Day , Saroj ma’am gifted drawing books to children and Kothari aunty gave them pencils and other stuff . My parents financed the whole workshop. Whole in whole , the workshop  was beyond expectations… & my experience…. Ah! I am short of words now J

A Journey... with a voice !

Just few days back I finished a novel called , “Lust for Life” by Irving Stone and today I watched a documentary “Koi Sunta Hai”… a very similar thought between two is – you need to be in touch of grounds if you want to paint them or sing about them. Vincent lived in poverty like farmers his whole life so that he could catch the soul of them in his paintings and Kumar Gandharva tried to explore the truth which Kabir presented in his songs , in the regions where Kabir is still alive .

... Says Kabir , Only those are awaken , whose hearts are struck by the arrow of the Word…

Kumar gandharva , a classical singer , was such a man . He was attacked by Tuberculosis , but this was just the disease of body , he was some where also suffering from the disease of heart and soul and that was – Egotism. At the high point of his career , he started believing that he is the best singer but he realized soon what Kabir says is very true  –

The Swan will fly away alone ,

The Spectacle of this world , a carnival

Like a leaf falls from a tree,

And cant be found again,

Who knows where it will come to rest,

Blown away by a gust of wind.

(ud jaayega hans akela,

Jag darshan ka mela

Jaise paat gire taruwar ke,

Milna bahut duhela,

Na jaanu kidhar girega,

Lagyaa pawan ka rela…)

Kumar was also sent to Maalwa , Madhya Pradesh for fresh air . He was strictly instructed not to sing and thus five years flied away until the medicine was available in the market. In these five years he first realized futility of mundane things like money & fame and then he studied Nirgun songs of Kabir. He was the first man to introduce Kabir in classical singing. One friend of his says smilingly that he raised the Status of Kabir. Well , don’t know exactly about the status but Kumar’s singing of Kabir’s bhajans made Kabir popular among Urban people and his scope was widened. The movie is a search of moviemaker of Kabir but in her search of Kabir , she says , she had found many Kabirs . She found “everybody’s Kabir” among different people ,while some found Kabir’s truth ,some created their own Kabir.

In Kabir’s songs , many gems are scattered here and there and one such gem I found in the movie  which is reminded by a Thumari Singer , Vidhya Rai that Kabir says live life to the fullest , there is a diactomy in this that he discards mundane things like all senses yet he talks about them in his songs for example – he says the body is a beautiful instrument … She talks about “ras” and says “taste  ras of everyday life- whether you are washing clothes , waiting for bus , everything has its own ras… ” … Taste – because while you taste something you are mindful and conscious of its taste – you take its whole “ras” , same you should do with your life .

I see every one is fighting his own battle and I ask myself who will help them?  - - - They are all warriors , they can fight their own battle , just they don’t know & realize this yet. Many people say that go to Ganga , you will get rid of your sins , do this – do that – listen to him – meet her n blah blah … but Kabir says – Its only you who can teach yourself , who can find the right way , who can guide yourself … it’s the Self who is Superior. I know Kabir sometimes may mystify us and seems very difficult , but we can simplify him for us. The crux of this thought of Kabir is – Happiness lies within us & Hell and Heaven are the state of our own mind. If we are suffering from a disease of mind, heart or soul , the cure lies within us only - & only we can cure ourselves with true determination but for this – Knowledge of the disease is very necessary – and this knowledge comes along with knowledge of self - - - Who am I? Kabir focuses on the Knowledge of Self more because with this knowledge  only comes along the Knowledge of Truth & God…

No doubt for me, the movie proved one more important step in the direction of knowing Kabir , understanding his philosophy and learning through him otherwise at my age , its very difficult to learn that –

“Nothing is yours , Listen Oh my mind…

Yours Wealth , Yours Treasure ,

A dream of two days

(Koi nahi apna , samjhe mana…

man to daulat tera,  man khadina …

do din ka sapna  )”

I am afraid , what my mother learnt at the age of 55 , I have realized & understood at the age of 21 …now I have to see where my journey ends …  

एक सूरजमुखी आत्मा : विन्सेंट वान गोघ

विन्सेंट तुम इस तरह से दुनिया से क्यूँ गए ? क्यूँ तुम्हारा जाना ज़रूरी था?... तुम्हे पता नहीं?- तुम एक मुर्ख थे.. ओह विन्सेंट ! तुम सच में एक मुर्ख आत्मा थे ...एक प्यारे मुर्ख!... एक पागल!... तुम्हे ऐसा ही होना था... अगर तुम ऐसे नहीं होते तुम विन्सेंट महान चित्रकार कभी नहीं बन पाते. देल्क्रोआ ने ठीक कहा था की एक अच्छी आत्मा कुछ पागलपन लिए जरुर होती है... तुम एक अच्छी आत्मा थे विन्सेंट पर अफ़सोस ये बात पूंजीवादी समाज में कोई मायने नहीं रखती , तुम्हारा समय तुम्हारा सम्मान न कर सका... तुम्हें दर - दर की ठोकरें खानी पड़ी , पूरी ज़िन्दगी गरीबी और बिमारी में बिता दी...पर क्या तुम नहीं मानते दर्द ने ही तुम्हारे भीतर के कलाकार को जन्म दिया और पाला था...?

चित्रों के रंग संयोजन , रेखांकन .. आदि की समझ तो नहीं है फिर भी मैं कह सकती हूँ कि विन्सेंट एक महान कलाकार था... सिर्फ महान कलाकार ही नहीं एक महान और पवित्र आत्मा भी। हाँ मैं जानती हूँ कि वह कई बार वेश्यालय पर  भटका था , एक वेश्या को पत्नी का दर्जा दिया और कई लांछन झेले ... भारतीय सभ्य समाज में ऐसा इंसान निकृष्ट माना जा सकता है, पर मेरी नज़र में ऐसा इंसान उत्कृष्ट है क्यूंकि उसकी आत्मा पवित्र है, वो प्रेम की तलाश में भटका , हालांकि वो प्रेम में हमेशा बदनसीब ही रहा।

इरविंग स्टोन द्वारा लिखित उपन्यास "लस्ट फॉर लाइफ " जो कि विन्सेंट वान गोघ , डच पेंटर , की जीवनी पर आधारित है , पढने के बाद मुझे लगा मैं विन्सेंट की आत्मा में उतर चुकी हूँ... जैसे उसे मैंने अपने सामने चित्र बनाते हुए देखा हो... उससे भी बढ़कर उसका पागलपन मुझे उसकी ओर आकर्षित करता है.... कुछ तो था उसमें... और उसका असफल जीवन जब उसके मरने के बाद सफलता की चरम पर पंहुचा उसका जीवन सार्थक हो चुका था... वो जो काम करने आया था उसने किया--- उसने खुद को एक माध्यम चुन कर अभिव्यक्त कर दिया था।

क्या  मैंने विन्सेंट को पूरी तरह जान लिया है? क्या मुझे उससे प्यार हो गया है? नहीं, वो किसी नोवेल का चरित्र मात्र नहीं है, वह इतिहास की एक सच्चाई है, मुझे उससे प्यार नहीं हो सकता। मैं अब भी उसे मुर्ख मानती हूँ। वह मुझे एक  आइने - सा लगता है मैं खुद की हल्की परछाई इस आइने में देख सकती हूँ। विन्सेंट बेहद संवेदनशील और प्रकृतिप्रेमी था। मुझे विश्वास है जब वह सुबह उगते सूरज को दूर पहाड़ी के पीछे से झांकता हुआ देखता होगा... उसकी आत्मा शरीर के बाहर कूद कर आना चाहती होगी ... हरियाली और बहती हुई नदी उससे बातें किया करते होंगे... सूरजमुखी का शानदार चित्र वह तभी बना सका होगा जब उन्हें देख कर उसके भीतर भी एक सूरजमुखी उगा होगा... काली रात की चादर पर कई तारे बिखेरने में उसने अपने दर्द में से सपनों को छाना  होगा। सच! कैसा महसूस होता होगा उसे प्रकृति की गोद में, शायद वह भी उन्हें शब्दों में नहीं बता सकता था।

विन्सेंट के चित्र देखने लायक हैं और उसका जीवन पढने लायक। जितनी उसकी पेंटिंग्स दिल को छूती हैं, उतना उसका जीवन आत्मा के भीतर उतर जाता है। वह दुनिया का हीरो नहीं था, वह दुनिया से हारा था.. नहीं ! दुनिया ने उसे हारा था... बोरिनाज़ के जिन मजदूरों की सेवा उसने की उन्होंने उसे नाम दिया था - जीसस  क्राइस्ट। पर  क्या वह जीसस क्राइस्ट था जबकि उसने आत्मा के आनंद को धर्म से ऊपर रखा था। और ये रास्ता कोई बुरा नहीं है ... आखिर हर किसी को अपना रास्ता स्वयं चुनना होता है विन्सेंट ने वो रास्ता चुना कई मुश्किलों के बाद भी उस पर टिका रहा...और अंत में .... अंत में.... वह जीत गया। हाँ विन्सेंट का जीवन सार्थक हुआ उसने स्वयं को पा लिया.... स्वयं को खोने के बाद।

- ओजसी मेहता 

City of Dreams

As I am a literature student and I read almost all genres , I had a fancy to write prose. It is a direct way to converse with your readers and it is really a challenge to make it interesting . But now when I am writing prose I have no idea what kind of prose and style it is. I am just writing what ever my heart says I should write. Today I am feeling like writing something and I am so glad that I have my own space and I need not think before writing anything .

When a man wakes up from a nightmare he asks himself - Where I am? I am asking this question to myself - Answer? - I am lost in the City of Dreams. I can see vacant streets . I am sure many have walked on this road before me. But it is dark... I can see no footprints. Shall I walk in this city and find my destination or go back where there is light and people around me? Light --- Light --- Light--- ..... Why can't I light these dark streets? If I dont have a match stick why can't I wait for the Morning Glorious Light. Wait? --- How long will I have to wait?

We are such stuff as Dreams are made of and our little life is rounded with sleep.... (Shakespeare)
I wish we were dreams... I wish life was covered with sleep so that we could forget everything ... why the river of Oblivion; Lethe can be seen only after life? We need to forget things in this life only. But no, why we want to forget those dreams which we could not fulfil. Why! there is still life. There is still strengeth in my body. Warrior of Light never stops fighting with darkness. But I am not afraid of darkness , I am more afraid of loneliness. I can not see anyone in My City of Dreams... everyone is lost in his own City. Am I expecting much? At least they bear ... they hear my stupid  dreams , isn't that enough? And who threw me in the abyss of this Dark Dream City?... I myself came here ... it was my choice. Then why I seek a friend ? Why I seek a helping hand to build the castle of my Dreams? .... Brick by brick I will build my own Castle... all bricks which I collected till now... and if any storm will shake my castle or break my bricks I will give birth to more bricks... & more bricks... I will not stop dreaming and working... till either I am turned into a Big Castle of Dreams  or destroyed and spreaded like sand everywhere....

Fun & Masti with lots of Learning

 Workshops , camps , festivals , programs always spread positive energy around the people who attend them. For five days Jawahar Kala Kendra was glittering with positive vibes. I could feel a change from first day to last day . It was as if scattered pieces are slowly coming together . There was so much diversity of creativity in the workshop , everyone was very creative as well as hungry for knowledge and skills.

I was personally interested in all three skills which were being taught there – Comics , Theatre & Film making . Of course , film-making attracts a lot but I knew right now I needed to learn a simple yet an effective skill which I can use through my creativity and teach others too .. so , Comics was for me and I am so happy that ,I chose it                                         (-kabila dance)

Well… well… well… before taking you into the sessions which we had of our skill , I would like to show you some glimpses of outside fun which we had through different games . On first day , due to hesitation lots of people could not come out of their shell to make new friends – I was also one of them , I was stick to my old friend only but we played a game where you will have to choose randomly anyone and Know him/her in two minutes… it was very interesting I made two friends there only. After this “silsila” of games was on and we enjoyed all the games , new & interesting. These games were called “energizers” and they boosted our energy and spiced our Fun. Wait – let me tell you the very  first “Value” of Pravah, who organized the workshop  – Fun with Learning. And exactly five days we didn’t realize – whether we are having Fun in Learning or Learning in Fun… but whatever it was – it was Awesome. Oh! did I tell you that though we were physically in Jaipur but we roamed around the whole world through our superb energizers. One of the very different experience was “Kabila” . The whole group of 30-35 people were asked to form a “kabila” , give it a name , prepare its song and dance. The name of our kabila was – JIM HAKUBA TAM TAM TORA TORA SA SA … J So we did it successfully – and Guess what --- we actually looked like the “Kabila” and it seemed if today we are thrown in the jungles of Andaman we will make a great original “Kabila”.. ahh… the word “original” reminded  me of something—Aasif sir (theatre guru) gave me a name – O.C. – Original copy… see its an example ! we lived like a family – when we were together no one was from theatre , comics or film making – we all were One –  one of the motto of Pravah – “Me to We”… and of course it didn't come on the very first day but it was a gradual journey. 

Now have a look at our inside sessions –It was really great , we got to know that we are not learning simple comics but its called – Grassroot comics . A story told by pictures is called comics and when this comics is made on some important issues and problems of layman its called Grassroot comics . I loved it because anyone can make it with very few things – a black sketch pen and 2 A4 size papers . Well… we learnt so much in 4 days – to make cartoons , give special effects , give a title to comics and so on…   But with learning we had lots of fun… for example – We had to bear  Dilip’s songs and queries. Yash  and Rajesh irritated me a lot. We chatted on different topics.. shared our experiences…Our trainer Pankaj bhaiya and Abhishek bhaiya were very friendly … I always tried to call them “sir” but I could never because they never treated us like students… they encouraged a lot and taught us to make cartoons in very funny way J

Well … I don’t know much about the inside stories of other sessions but as everyday in the morning we recalled last day’s experiences, I had some idea on the basis of it which I will tell you , the tit-bits of other sessions – Theatre learners learnt small skills of theatre and I could see on Finale how they took out the hidden actor in themselves. Though everyone complained that five days is a very short period to learn such art but they still make something out of it . Same with the film making students – 5 days is a very small period … but as they told us they enjoyed the time , got familiar with camera and… they learnt “How to think…” because their trainer Akshay Bhaiya would ask them to “think..” and disappear for several minutes …J  Our all trainers were very friendly and enjoyed with us , they actively took part in all games… so the whole atmosphere was so strongly Positive with Creativity , Fun & Learning…

We not only learnt the skills we chose but also about “Active Citizenship” . We were shown a documentary also – Dark Zone – on water problem , made by Rakesh Gogna. Thus we did so many things in four days , I am not able to mention all of them here. Last day we went into a “Kachhi Basti” and there we interacted with people , especially kids. It was an another different experience.

  

Now I am just waiting for the next workshop by Pravah… Only by Pravah because I know the way they made learning Fun and taught Active citizenship as well as the chosen skill very friendly … hardly any other group/NGO can do…

So---- We Rock !!!!

Cheers! 

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

This is my first ever article to be published in any magazine. As after many days I opened the magazine & read it again , I felt like putting it up here so that Some Friends around me who are obsessed with their body image should read this. :)

Published in Srijan - A new Vision (A magazine of Women Studies Centre) ; 2008-2009 , Banasthali University

Body Dysmorphic Disorder -

Can you imagine a girl asking again & again about her face and looks? Oh! I know that makes her a girl but do you know it can also mean that she is suffering from BDD- Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Those who suffer from this disease are always preoccupied with their beauty or body image.

Beware if you look in a mirror for a long time analyzing your face and body because you can be a patient of BDD, if a slight defect on your face like the size of your nose or a scar left after a pimple disturbs you a lot and you constantly ask for reassurance even though the defect is not too obvious , you might be suffering from BDD.

My sister has given up all her happiness because of her pimples , she would call me up , cry and refuse to go anywhere outside . Same is the case with my friend Shalini who would shut her up in a room because she thinks her color is too dark and everybody would make fun of her. Psychologists believe that a negative body image is related to low self-esteem.

Doctors believe that this disorder is largely seen in adolescents and teenagers . Although it can happen to both girls and boys, usually girls are seen more affected by this. Those who have done simple or multiple reconstructive surgeries are also known to suffer from BDD.

Feminists claim that the media creates a particular beauty image and thus throws negative impact upon common people. Media is also responsible for encouraging people to go for cosmetic products and surgeries. People are also being attracted towards outer beauty because beauty products and cosmetic surgeries are advertised so much and they are easily available to them.

Everything has its pros & cons . Cosmetic surgery has also its bad and good effects but one should always keep in mind its bad effects before going for it. Well, Athena Paul has said it rightly in her book Girlosophy , " Rather than make up your face , make up your mind". Your universe is a reflective image of your mind. So keep beautiful things there and your world automatically become beautiful. "Real natural beauty never goes out of fashion." also says Athena Paul. Beauty's life span is very short but real inner virtues last long.

Beauty is just an idea and not an object itself. So just don;t worry if you are not beautiful according to people's mind set because your happiness is not dependent upon other people but on your own idea.
Remember only one thing - just believe that you are really superb , unique and God's special child and many people love you and need you not because of your looks but because of your virtues. And yes , never forget to wear a smile - a free of cost expression , better than thousand cosmetic products.

-Ojasi mehta

Blogger World & English Poetry

Quite tensed is the blog scene now-a-days for me at least. My friends honor me by asking to review their work and I find myself in the most difficult position . Firstly, because I am a student of literature itself and unfortunately*  I think I have inherited The Great Tradition of Literature & Criticism. (*Unfortunately , because I sincerely believe -  Its folly to be wise where Ignorance is bliss) . Secondly , it becomes the case of "personal fallacy" in criticism as they are my friends and its very natural that my reviews are affected by the nature of my relationship with them.

I know I have not read much of literature but whatever I have read till now , by that and by my own nature I have formed few notions about the language & style of poetry in English Language. I strongly believe in Wordsworth's theory of poetry that it is - " spontaneous overflow of powerful emotions", and the language of poetry should be everyday language of common man because then it serves the first aim of poetry to give pleasure. And pleasure can only be derived  when without extra efforts you can understand the meaning of poem and when you understand the meaning you flow with the current of poem , deriving immense pleasure.

Now lets come to the point, lets talk about the Blogger World and its English Poets. Not every blogger is a scholar of literature but everyone of them have some thoughts which they feel they should pen down. But in jotting down their thoughts in the form of poem , the true nature of their thoughts is lost. May be it happens because of unconscious urge to attract attention and appreciation and then to be called an "intellectual". But poetry is not only about "intellect" , its the synthesis and harmony of "intellectual thought" and 'emotions". If you want to prove your intellect go and try your hand in Criticism or even Fiction. Its really sad to see that many bloggers do not understand the true nature of poetry. The most whimsical thing is that they work so hard to search difficult words to make a poem - a poem whose power of thought is so weak that after making the poem only structure remains and else all beauty is perished , meaning is lost. Hard diction is pardonable if thoughts are very powerful and myths , allusions , allegory & imagery have been used to strike a balance. Childish poetic style and diction can still make us smile but inane phraseology can do nothing but irritate us.

After the modern revolution in poetry - mellifluous poems with inane diction are out of trend. In already complex world we need a heart to heart connection which , I think can only come by simplifying things around us.

- Ojasi Mehta

Biniding Love- Beyond Boundries

The hot summer afternoon of 9th April , a small room laced with a shelf of books and "gaddas" on floor and walls occupied with several colorful posters , a tv and dvd player and 10-15 curious young people - it was the office of Pravah Jaipur Initiative and we all were called up there for a movie screening - a documentary movie on Kabir. Everybody was chatting in low voices , I was sitting quietly as I was new at this place and knew no one particularly. I was quite excited about the movie but was afraid too as it could turn out very boring but I was wondering what others are talking about and not until the movie finished and some people confessed , I got to know they were also anticipating that movie would spoil their precious summer afternoon sleep. But guess what? After watching movie , everyone was in an ecstatic state , upon being asked the experience of movie , no one even could express the joy in words.

The movie was- Had Anhad , made by Shabnam Virmani under a kabir Project. It begins with a question - "Where I will find Ram?" And the first landscape is that of Ayodhya - Ram janm bhumi... but does she find Ram there? Some shopkeepers are interviewed by her and it is very realistic  to see that what people actually think about Babri Masjid Case. It is a war between Ego and Belief. A war on God's name - to find God or save God- but does God reside in temple or masjid? God would be pleased by such wars? Such questions take her from Ayodhya to Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan and finally Pakistan. Through Kabir she tries to find all these answers . She meets different people in her journey who are either local singers (folk singers) of Kabir or related to Kabir in one or the other way. Finally  she goes to Pakistan where she feels most closest to Kabir and his philosophy.

Who is Kabir by the way ? - An incarnation of Vishnu ? A fakir or saint? A poet of Bhakti movement? A revolutionary man?  Why not go back and see him first as a man... but something definitely makes him different from an ordinary man and that's his knowledge of Self .

Had-Had Karke Sab Gaye,

Per Behad Gayo Na Koi.

Kabir had crossed the limits between Soul n Bramha. There is one fine example in movie to describe Kabir's position that one who is in ship says- "Shore is coming" , One who is on the shore says - "Land is coming" but for one who is above both , no one is coming and no one is going - Kabir was like this. 

When one knows himself , his own soul , from this knowledge one can embark on the journey of "search of God". And why kabir is relevant today? There are various reasons like his dohas and songs contain the eternal knowledge about  "soul" , "god", "life", "love" but the most prominent voice of his dohas and songs are - "Humanitarian" which today in the world threatened by terrorism , existentialism , depression and loss of faith on God, we need to understand badly. He teaches us to see everyone as human and worship one God whom he called "Ram" - his Ram is not Dashrath's son Ram , an incarnation of Vishnu but his Ram lives in everyone's heart and if we love everyone , we are worshiping God. 

Sakal Hans Mein Ram Viraje,

Ram Bina Koi Dham Nahi.

Ram resides in every soul,

There is no abode without Ram.

Through the screening of this movie , Pravah whose motto is - "Me to We" and whose Focus is on both "self" and "society" , tries to help us to see "what we are" , "who we are" , and "What we can do for our society and humanity?" 

- Ojasi Mehta