AstaLavista 2008

Today, its last day of 2008. Another year went off with loads of happenings. Some of them might keep tickling me through rest of my life while others will hibernate till something special awakens them.
It is said, What ever happens, has some positive aspects attached to it. With this hope in my Heart, I bid adieu to 2008. No one can be a better teacher than time. It waits, it sets and in end, it rehabilitates our life. I thank God for all of his Love and Blessings that He showered on me in 2008.

The New Year again comes with lots of new thoughts, desires and dreams.

New is the year,

New are the Hopes and the Aspirations.

New is the Resolution

New are the Spirits And forever my Warm Wishes are for Everyone.

Have a Promising and Fulfilling

New Year-2009.

- Piyush

My Life, My Experiences.... Part - 4

It has been a long time since I last updated my blog. There were lots and lots of dramatic and phenomenal events happened to bypass me that I wasn’t able to cope up with the life. Some of those events were too bizarre to pen them down.

So, Lets start from where I left last time; Yes the Beverages Corporation. Sometimes it happen that honesty and sincerity has to pay great dividends to this ‘Materialist World’. And of course I wasn’t from the other world. In my case, as my parents taught me, I was on the right side of the law, but the mirror that was shown to me, showed that my actual right was actually on the left side. Confused……!!!! I was too. But, in short, I was wrong for being right. It’s really a materialistic world. The only word that could flash to my mind was “Backstabbed”.

It was irony to continue my services with them, so, I decided to quit. Thereby ending my story with BSBCL happily. The very first day I joined Beverages Corporation, I was advised by a very senior official that – "Beta, Beverage Trading isn’t for good people." I used to ponder on the aforesaid statement but wasn’t able to resolve the actual meaning. Finally, after two years of my hard work and dedication, I finally grubbed the gist of it. That was a really a very important lesson to me and I shall remember it throughout my life.

But as I always say – Life is Best Always’

Flood in Bihar

(Flooded with love of entire Nation)

It has been really a tough time for the people of Bihar. Kosi, in its worst form, smashed Bihar. It is not easy to be in the shoes of the people affected from flood, but the kind of concern that whole nation showed towards Bihar was really overwhelming. We are receiving love and concerns of our brothers and sisters from all over the country. Sometimes, it makes me think, where these emotions were hidden when some miscreant showed their agitation against Biharies. It is said, friends in need are friends indeed. Why do we need such types of trials to show our hidden emotions? It’s really nice to overcome such situation with the help of friends but why always sacrifices are needed to show love and affection? We love Bihar, You Love Bihar, whole India loves Bihar. Bihar is flooded, not only with water but also with love of entire nation.

According to the PTI, over 30 lakh people in more than 1000 villages in 16 districts of Bihar - Saharsa, Supaul (243 districts), Madhepura (378 villages), Araria, Purnia, Katihar, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, Saran, Sheikhpura, Vaishali, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Patna and Nalanda - have been affected by the floods. The first four districts were the worst affected where over 22.75 lakh people in 755 villages were affected by the Kosi River fllods. Road and rail traffic has also been disrupted at several places. State government sources say that over 350,000 people have been evacuated during the past 15 days and more than 150,000 people are living in over 100 relief camps.

Kosi - Bihar’s sorrow

The Kosi is a young river and according to experts, it has yet to settle on a fixed course. An article in the Indian Express explains the unsettled nature of the Kosi River:

“Prior to 1731, Kosi used to flow by Purnea and Forbesganj. It last changed its course in 1952. The river started sliding towards the west, flowing by Murliganj in 1892, Madhepura in 1922, Saharsa in 1936 and by 1952 it had reached Darbhanga.”

Having veered eastwards from its course by 200 kilometers, the Kosi River is now flowing from Bhimnagar to Birpur, Araria and Purnea to flow into Ganges at Kursaila in Saharsa, after a 225 km-long-journey.

Helping hands needed for a Fight against Nature.

Everyone, in his own manner is showing his concerns for Bihar. Please join the nation in saving Bihar. We not only need funds, medicines, foods and shelters but also your Love, Affections, Caring and Blessings. Please do pray for Bihar.

Donate to Bihar Chief Minister Relief Fund

Write a cheque to

A/C Name: “Chief Minister Relief Fund, Bihar”

A/C No: 10839124928

Bank: State Bank of India, Secretariat Branch, Patna.

Put your Phone number, name and address on the back of the cheque. Deposit the cheque to the nearest State Bank of India cheque drop box

On friendship day…..

(An Innocent Thought)

Friendship Day celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. Friends and friendship have been valued since the beginning of civilized world. Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was deemed to fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. Friendship helps to bring peace and positivity to the globe - a great reason to celebrate!

On 2nd of August, some school kids of Patna, offered their friendship to those terrorists, who recently tried to shatter India’s harmony in Bangaloru and Ahmedabad. Their slogan said

“टेररिस्ट अंकल, क्या आप हमसे दोस्ती करोगे.…?”

Happy FriendShip Day to everyone..........

(image courtsey: Hindustaan, Patna)

From Patna to Pataliputra....

(A quest for regaining our glorious past)

According to our historians, Pataliputra was believed to be established in 487 BC. The modern Patna was established hardly 500 years ago and acquired the status of state capital only in 1911. Pataliputra was the largest city during the reign of Chandra Gupta Maurya.

Very few Patnaites know that in the year 1982, Patna's Literati put their heads together and formed an organization named Pataliputra Jagaran Abhiyan Samiti, as part of the effort to rename the state capital.

With this rich history in the back drop, intellectuals had sparked a movement to renames Patna as Pataliputra. Yet decades after the movement first took, it remains a distant dream. The government on its part, remain ambiguous on the issue.

The prominent Bihari's have quoted;
"Pataliputra represents the culture and tradition of real India. And name of place or person is of great significance. If Patna becomes Pataliputra, the capital will definitely get back its lost glory and can even re-emerge as a powerful state."
Vishudhanand, Writer, Film director.

"Patna should definitely be renamed as Pataliputra. After all, it has a great culture and glorious history and I am proud to be a citizen of his city. The renaming will only motivate us to revive the past glory".
Sunity Lal, History Lecturer, (MU).

"Through the renaming will not help in developing the state immediately, the very name will inspire the present generation to work for the state's progress."
SNP Sinha, V.C. (P.O.)

"If Bombay can be renamed Mumbai, Poona as Pune, Calcutta as Kolkatta, Madras as Chennai, Bangalore as Bangalaroo, Trivendrum as Thiruvananthapuram and so on, why can't Patna be renamed as Pataliputra?"
Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha, Governor (J.K.)

According to me, renaming of Patna as Pataliputra, isn't for inspiring the today Patnaites, nor for generating a competition with other cities, but is for reviving true cultural aspects of Patna; regaining out lost glory and reminding people about the contribution made by this ancient city to the entire world.

It’s a quest for our lost values which made it a great and a glorious city in the past, so that we may regain the same in present. It is like reminding Patnaites of their own roots.

Redeveloped from Ariticle of Sunday Times; Courtsey: Sunday Times of India, Patna Edition.

Poem - वो अंजाना सा चेहरा

एक अंजाना सा चेहरा मेरा चैन चुराता है,
हक़ीकत में तो नही, पर ख्वाबों में रोज़ आता है,
पहचानने की कोशिश, बहुत की मैने हर बार उसे,
पर धुंधले अक्स के सिवा, कुछ नज़र नही आता है,
मैने छुना भी चाहा, उसे कई बार आगे बढ़कर,
पर मेरे पास आने से पहले ,ही वो दूर चला जाता है,
ख्वाबों में तो खूब करता है, वो बातें मुझसे,
पर आँखें खुलने पर, गुम हो जाता है,
वो अंजाना सा चेहरा मेरा चैन चुराता है.

Poem - कुछ नयी सी लगती है

कुछ नयी सी लगती है

उन घनी झाड़ियों के पीछे ,
एक दरख़्त कुछ नयी सी लगती है

हर दिन यहाँ स्याह सी,
और रातें उजली सी लगती है,
सूखे पत्तों की तरह बिखरती,
ये ज़िन्दगी कुछ नयी सी लगती है
उन घनी झाड़ियों के पीछे ,
एक दरख़्त कुछ नयी सी लगती है

रेखाओं के हैं पार बने,
भाई - भाई के छोटे घर,
जहां सिमटी है सोच मुट्ठी में,
ये दुनिया कुछ नयी सी लगती है
उन घनी झाड़ियों के पीछे ,
एक दरख़्त कुछ नयी सी लगती है

क्षितिज़ को छुने की चाह दिल में,
और कल्पना की उँची उड़ानें,
चाहतों के भंवर में घूमती,
ये आँखें कुछ नयी सी लगती हैं
उन घनी झाड़ियों के पीछे ,
एक दरख़्त कुछ नयी सी लगती है

दिखावे की शिद्दतों और,
चाँदी के उल्फ़त से सजी,
शमा सी लरज़ती हुई,
ये मुहब्बत कुछ नयी सी लगती है
उन घनी झाड़ियों के पीछे ,
एक दरख़्त कुछ नयी सी लगती है

- राज