Kyunki har ek friend...

Somewhere in one the frontier towns in India – just few kms away from Pakistan, existed this army unit. It wasn’t a big unit but seemed self-sufficient with few basic buildings erected amidst a mass of dry land which was covered with inches of soft, loose soil as if waiting to create dust storms out of even normal breeze. Like all unit men, he too was used to this dust cushion –the flirting of dust with his uniform didn’t bother him at all. It would have been just like another evening for him except the fact that he had an unusual guest walking besides him.

He jumped out of his car and surveyed all the tanks that were resting in their garage. As he walked, the few soldiers who haven’t gone to their barracks yet, immediately came to attention and saluted him. He instructed two of them to start and drive a tank out for him.

He knew it would take time as these old war machines needed more than cajoling to be brought into some kind of readiness. He walked with his guest to the barracks to enquire about the well being of soldiers there. He was second-in-command in the unit but there was no display of any superiority. He mingled with them with a refreshing informality asking questions or commenting on their activities here and there. He walked into the mess and demanded to taste the food for the day. He made the guest taste it too. He was so sure that food must be good. Food was just one aspect of all the improvements he had brought into the lives of these soldiers. He had worked on things like hygiene, nutrition, entertainment etc. for these soldiers who at his command would not hesitate to give their lives. Though younger than most, he seemed and was revered like a father figure.

His phone buzzed. The tank was now ready. He took his guest along and asked him to climb up the tank as he entered inside the driving pit. It took some time for the metal animal to roar as he negotiated his terms with it. Soon he was driving the tank like a wild animal ready to ravage whatever comes its way across that un-even, muddy land. The excitement of sitting atop of a real war-veteran tank was such that the guest couldn’t control himself anymore and pleaded his friend if he too could get an experience of driving this beast even if only for a fleeting moment! Hearing his friend’s request, The Officer jumped out of the driving pit and asked his friend to get in.

That was when for the first time in my life I stepped inside the tank – my heart popping out with excitement – it didn’t take long before I followed my Army -Officer friend’s instructions and was able to march the tank forward!



I hadn’t met this college friend of mine in twenty years until I had recently had lunch with him and he invited me over to his place. And here he was so happy, making my evening with him so memorable for me. That’s friendship. No wonder Airtel’s song caught up so well with masses that “har ek friend zaroori hota hai”. Least we can do is to keep in touch with some of our such good friends who are like blessings bestowed upon us by god.

God & I

The latest Sufi song from yet-to-be-released “Rockstar” is a rock star itself. It is one of the best Sufi rendition I have heard in recent times. Voices of AR Rahman, Mohit Chauhan and Javed Ali together weave some kind of ethereal magic which has power to take you to amazing depths!

In Sufi songs, Rahman’s music composition is like prayer itself. This is no exception. Here, to top it all, even the lyrics are simply awesome.
Sample this –

Mujh pe karam sarkaar tera,
arz tujhe ,
kar de mujhe
mujh se hi riha

Ab mujhko bhi ho deedar mera,
karde mujhe
mujh se hi riha

This prayer is spirituality.

I would classify songs/ bhajans /prayers in three categories –

1. Through which one seeks material gains, health, security etc.
2. These describe the virtues of gods, shower praises
3. Here the seeker is seeking one-ness with almighty aware that he himself also is a reflection of this all pervasive power (god). This seeking or the search is with-in

You might have come across Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for human beings.



The prayers are a good reflection of this hierarchy. There is nothing wrong with any of these prayers. They just reflect the stage at which one is. The lower order needs are to filled first before one moves up. Haven’t we heard “bhookhe bhajan na hoi gopala”

The rock star rendition works at that level – of self actualization!

My view of god & spirituality:

To me god is a power (for not being able to find any better word!), it is all pervasive, inside everything and everyone. We can’t see it that way because of our current paradigms. In this current state we can’t appreciate this concept. If we are willing, if we are ready, a guru or a teacher can guide us to see that “one-ness” . My belief is that is the pinnacle and meeting point of science and spirituality. No contradiction. Everything is one. You are god (aham brahmasmi).

Religion is just a means to that end. Temples are just to create that environment - to take you deep inside you. The idols are just pegs and are not god by themselves. (also that’s the basis of my poem “Temple”).

Most would believe in this as a concept but out there in the “real” world, it is a war– my god vs. your god, need to prove strength of one religion over other (even if that means dedicating a whole life to go after conversions! ). How ridiculous!

For the same reason I don’t consider those “religious” who demean other religion. For the same reason I don’t like people going after followers of one faith. For the Same reason, I don’t like what happened in Gujarat. For the same reason I don’t like Narendra Modi.

And this is just my opinion.