Showing results by narrator "Neeraj Yadav" in All Categories

It is an irony of fate that despite being an extremely important and immortal character in the saga of Mahabharata, Ashwatthama has always been neglected. There are other characters in puranic literature, including Ashwatthama, who are considered immortal. But where other characters have received immortality in the form of a boon, Ashwatthama received in the form of a curse! 

How can an art expert differentiate between a fake and an original piece of art within seconds? How can a marriage analyst know within minutes whether the couple will stay together or not? Some ideas like this and much more gain a true resolution in Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.  

Kurukshetra is a Hindi classic. It gives an extraordinary account of the Kurukshetra war mentioned in the Mahabharata. It describes in vivid details the armed confrontation that took place between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. This bloody war lasted eighteen days. The author's own views on war are showcased in this work. He criticizes war but also admits that it is a necessary evil. It describes the demerits of war and the damage it does to mankind, through the medium of poetry.

Mustaq Ahmed Yusufi Urdu ke jaane-maane lekhak the, jinki vyang rachnaayein apna ek alag sthaan rakhti hai. 1990 mein likhe unke upanyaas aabe-gum ka yeh Hindi anuvaad hai. Tufail Chaturvedi ne iska anuvaad aisi sehaj bhasha mein kiya hai ki padhte hue lagta hai maano yeh hindi ki hee moolkriti ho. 

In this brilliant and original book, Malcolm Gladwell explains and analyses the 'tipping point', that magic moment when ideas, trends and social behaviour cross a threshold, tip and spread like wildfire. Taking a look behind the surface of many familiar occurrences in our everyday world, Gladwell explains the fascinating social dynamics that cause rapid change. 

Swami is a talkative, mischievous boy whose life is all about having fun with his friends and avoiding school and homework. He lives with his parents, younger brother and grandmother. He has a set of friends in two schools that he gets removed from. But some innocent mischief gets him in trouble and leads him to leave his house and go on the run. Written in his unique style, R.K Narayan's book Swami Aur Uske Dost is simple yet truly entertaining.

Author Rupesh Dubey delves into the life of Indian cinema superstar Amitabh Bachchan in this compelling compilation of incidents from his journey in cinema, dialogues from his films and lessons from his life.  

Jheel ke ghanishth mitra abhi vishram kar rahe the. Tabhi jor se huaane ki awaz aayi. Machchhraja bola ‘Dhyan se suno, ye na to kisi bhediye ki awaz hai na kutte ki. Yeh awaz kisi boodhe siyaar ki hai.’ Ye jungle ke tamaam siyaaron ko aane-wale khatre se aagaah kar raha hai, par siyaar iski sunenge nahin. Kachhuwa ne kaha aisa kyon? Is par machchhraja ne kaha ‘Main tumhe aisi hi boodhe siyaar ka kissa sunata hoon’. Fir kya tha mitrmandali baith gayi kissagoi karne ko. ‘Koi unche swar mein siyaaron ka ahwahan kar raha tha. Saare siyaar awaz ki disha mein daud pade. Ek vridh siyaar umr ke antim padao mein tha, maano ginti ki saasein bachi hon. Siyaaron ke jhoond se usne kaha ‘Raatri ke andheron mein bhatakne-wale saathiyon meri baat suno. Main ek sadharan prani hoon maine jeevan ke kai pehluon ko dekha aur samjha hai aur unhi ke anubhav se keh raha hoon. Brahmand ki har cheez apna astitva kaayam rakhna chahti hai. Jeevan apna astitva kaayam rakhna chahta aur isi nimitt hamari utpatti hui hai. Prakriti se saamanjsya banakar chalo varna jeevan swyam se sangharsh karte beetega. Magar hume iska daas bhi nahin banana balki inka istemaal apne astitva ko kayam rakhne mein karna hai.’ Itne mein vridh siyaar ne pran tyaag diye aur baaki siyaar uspe behas karne lage. Koi kehta yeh unishwarwadi tha, to koi sandehwadi, kisine agyanwaadi kaha, aur ant mein ek siyaar ne kaha ki navwaadi tha kyonki isne sabhi baatein nayi kahi.’ Kahani khatm hote hi mitramandali chali gayi apne liye surakshit sthan doondhne.

Machhliyon par aaye sankat aur paani ke ghate star ka laabh sabhi apne-apne tareeke se le rahe the. Paani ke peechhe hat jaane se jaleeye paudhe bhi ab shakahariyon ke pohonch ke bheetar ho gayi thi. Tabhi machchhraja ki nazar ek sooar per padi aur usne bola ‘Wo dekho is mauke ka laabh uthane-wale hum akele nahin hain, ye bansooar bhi aa pahucha hai.’ Jalkaak ne bola ‘Yah to shehari sooar jaisa lag raha, dono mein koi fark hi nahin hai.’ Machchhraja bolta hai ‘Fark hai par bahut baareek tabhi to isse shehar bheja gaya tha.’ Maamla dilchasp hota dekh mitramandali baith gayi kissagoi karne ko. ‘Bus isi pal ki pratiksha thi shayad is bansooar ko. Usne ek chhoti si angdaai li aur kachron ko raundta hua naale ke upar chadh aaya. Jhaad ki darar se usne jhakne ki koshish ki to thuga sa reh gaya shehar ki pehli jhalak ko dekhkar. Saamne adbhut sansar tha, jitni tilasmi utna hi sach. Hriday mein manushyon ke liye shradha umad padi aur unke saamne natmastak ho gaya. Vah aage badha to use ek kutte ka saath mila jo use shehar dikhane ko taiyaar ho gaya. Bansooar ne kaha “Mujhe maanavta ka pata lagane yahan bheja gaya hai”, aur fir dono nikal pade shehar bhraman par. Aage ghere mein baithe logon ko dekhkar kutte ne kaha manushya hamesha bhoot ki yaad ya bhavishya ki chinta mein rehte hain, fir kaamuk manushyon ka joda dikha park mein. Fir ek imaarat dikhi jahan manushya dara sehma haath jode khada tha. Fir aage ek restaurant mila jahan ka haal dekha bansooar shehar mein rook na saka aur agle din murchhit awastha mein jungle mein kehta chal raha tha “Pashuta hi achchhiu hai … pashuta hi achchhi hai.”’

Jheel ke alawa door tak paani ka koi doosra srot nahin tha. Pichhle kuchh dino se roj bhedon ka jhund wahan pani peene aa raha tha, machchhraja bhi apne ghanishth mitron ke saath jheel ke gupt adde par baitha tha, tabhi uski nazar bhedon par padi. Usne kaha ki bhedon ke dukhon ka ekmatra karan hai andhanukaran. Jis din bhedein yah kukhyaat pravritti chhod deingi, inse sukhi koi na hoga. Kachhuwa, ‘Fir bhedein andhanukaran tyaag kyon nahin deti?’ Machchhraja kehta hai yah unki bas ki baat nahin hai. Fir jalkaak poochhta hai kya kabhi kisi ne is pravritti se nivritti dilaane ki koshish nahin ki? Machchhraja kehta hai ek baar ek maarkhor ne koshish ki thi, magar yah ek kahani hai, main tumhe sunaata hoon. Kachhuwa aur jalkaak kisse ka zikr aate hi uske sameep baith gaye. ‘Ekbaar ek maarkhor ne bhedon ko unki shakti aur gadediye ke dwara unka kiye jaane-wale shoshan ki duhai deta hai aur usse chhutkara paane ko bolta hai. Bhedein ekjoot hokar gadediye ke khilaaf vidroh kar deti hain aur uske paaltu kutton ka anusaran shuru kar deti hain. Maarkhor fir unhe kutton ke anusaran karne ko mana karta hai aur punah lambe chhlangein lagata hua gayab ho jaata hai. Bhedein kutton pe aakraman kar deti hain aur fir ek purane medhh ka anusaran shuru kar deti hain. Medhh bhi unka shoshan kar raha yah baat fir maarkhor ne bhedon ko samjhaya aur tez kadmon se aage badha, magar pehle ki bhaati gayab na ho saka. Usne peechhe mudd kar dekha to bhedon ka jhoond uske peechhe chala aa raha tha.’

Machchhraja apne ghanishth mitron ke saath machhliyan pakadne mein vyast tha. Achanak pair patakne aur kutte ke bhaunkane jaisi awaz goonj uthi. Machchhraja kehta hai ‘Ye saambhar ki awaz hai aur agar saambhar aapda pukar de, to baagh ki upasthiti pakki jaano. Isliye sabhi chaukanne ho gaye hain.’ Machchhraja fir kehta hai baagh paani pine aaya hai shikaar karne nahin. Kachhuwa kehta hai baagh apna shikaar chhodkar paani pine aaya hai, koi uska shikaar chura na le jayega? Machchhraja kehta hai baagh shikaariyon ka shikaari hai aur uska shikaar kaun churayega? Kuchh yaad karte huye kehta hai, haan ek baar ek chorni ne aisa kiya tha. Itna bolte-hi kachhuwa aur jalkaak kissa sunane ko uske paas aajate hain. ‘Andheri raat mein ek siyaarni niwaale ki badi khep munh mein dabai hui bhaagi jaa rahi thi aur baagh dabe paon uska peechha kar raha tha. Baagh lagatar chhupao mein rehte huye us chorni ka peechha karta raha aur mann-hi-mann usse dardnaak maut dene ka tareeka sochta raha. Samay ke saath saath baagh ka gussa bhi us ‘chorni kutiya’ ke liye badhta jaa raha tha. Baagh ne uska peechha uske maand tak kiya aur hamla karne ko taiyaar hi tha ki tehar sa gaya. Usne dekha ki siyaarni ke maand se do chhote shaavak bahar aate hain aur chorni ne unke saamne maans ka lothda rakh unhe niharne lagti hai aur shaavak apni bhookh mitane lagte hain. Baagh yah dekhkar siyaarni ki mamta ko pranam karke bolta hai dhanya hai mamta, main tujhe nahin maar sakta, humsab teri godd mein pale hai aur wapas laut jaata hai.’

Jalkaak pehle se upar dekh raha tha, ab kachhuwa bhi aakash ki ore dekhne laga. Ek vishal pakshi apne vrihtaakar dainon ko lehraate huye jheel ke upar se gujar raha tha. Itne bade pakshi ko dekhkar dono awaak reh gaye. Tab machchhraja ne kaha ye garud hai, pakshiyon ka raja. Itne mein jalkaak bol pada agar ye zameen par utre to kitna vishal dikhega. Machchhraja ne kuchh bhoolta hua bola ‘Tumhari kalpana se ek kahani yaad aa rahi hai’. Kahani shabd kehne bhar ki deri thi, kachhuwa aur jalkaak taktaki lagakar machchhraja ki ore dekhne lage utsukta se bhare huye. ‘Ek din cheel hamesha ki tarah gast lagaakar jungle ki toh le rahi thi ki uski nigaah ek vishal pakshi pe padi. Uska roop-rang, aakar aur haaw-bhaaw sabkuchh shikaari pakshiyon se the. Cheel ne ye khabar titheri ko di aur usne samooche jungle mein ye baat faila diya ki pakshiraaj gadur aaye hain aur hum unke pratyaksh shasan mein rahenge. Saare pakshi us jagah ki ore chal pade jahan pakshiraaj aaye the. Sameep pahuchkar pakshiyon ne uska swagat kiya aur aav-bhagat mein lag gaye. Har koi use prasann karne mein lag gaya. Tab us vishalkaay pakshi ne khane mein mrit jeev ki asthiyon ki maang ki. Logo ke poochhne per usne bataya ki wo shikar nahin karta aur ek boodha geedh lamageer hoon. Yah sunte hi saare pakshi wahan se chale gaye aur unka darr bhi samapt ho gaya’ kahani ke ant mein machchhraja ne kaha ki ajeeb vidambana hai pashuwon ki hatya karne-wala sher pashuraaj aur pakshiyon ka shikaar karne-wale gadur ko log pakshiraaj maante hain.

Machchhraja apne jheel ke ghanishth mitron ke saath jal sparsh ka anand le raha tha. Tabhi kachhuye ne kaha jaane jal mein kya jaadoo hai, sparsh hote hi tan mein taazgi bhar jaati hai? Ispar machchhraja bolta hai ‘Hum sabke bheetar machhli hai. Jal ko dekhkar hamare bheetar ki machhli machal uthti hai kyonki machhli sabhi reedhdhariyon ki poorwaj hai.’ Jalkaak ne kaha main nahin maanta ki hum sabhi ka poorwaj ek hai, aur agar hai to maanav itna aage kaise nikal gaya. Fir kya tha, machchhraja ko yaad aagayi ek aur kahani jab kapiyon ko aise hi kisi prashn ne pareshan kar diya tha. ‘Chaaron mahakapi: gorilla, orangutan, chimpanzee aur gibbon andhere mein baithe the. Jabse unhe pata chala hai ki kapi aur maanav ki utpatti ek hi jeev se hui hai, veh tabhi se hatbodh baithe the. Unke mann mein ek hi prashn tha: ‘Maanav itni pragati kaise kar gaya aur hum kyon peechhe reh gaye?’ Fir gibbon ne kaha ‘Main batata hoon, manushya bhi hamari tarah vriksh pe rehta tha, parantu shakhayein use rok na saki, usne vriksh se neeche utarna shuru kar diya. Prakritik aatankon ke prachand ko jhelte huye aur hinsak janwaron se jujhte huye vah naye dhratal par badhte gaya. Raah mein aane-wale samasyayein uski jeevatta ki poshak ban gayi. Isi wajah se maanav aaj vikas ke shisrh per baitha hai aur hum vipatmoh mein usi shakhaon pe hain jahan se manushya kabhi chala tha.’ Fir kapiyon ne apne apne tark diye magar kisi nishchay tak nahin pahuch paaye. Unhe yah samajh nahin aaya ki utsukta, jigyansa aur pravartan ka mishran kautoohal hi wo utprerak hai jo manushyon ke vikaas ka mukhya karan hai.

Beeti raat, poore samay moosaladhar baaris hoti rahi thi aur subah kachhuwa darr ke karan paani se door khada tha. Machchhraja ke poochhne par usne darr ke ghoont gatakte huye kaha ki kal usne jheel mein magarmachchh dekha hai aur ab use jheel mein jaane par kaafi bhay ho raha hai. Machchhraja ne kaha ‘Sthal-ruddh jheel mein magar kahan se aa sakta hai? Kahin tumhari dasha us khalihaan mein rehne-wale choohe jaisi to nahin ho gayi, jo billi ko dekhkar isi tarah bhaygrast ho utha tha.’ Kisse ki gunjaish banti dekh mitra mandali taiyaar ho gayi kissagoi ke liye. ‘Gaon ke khalihaan mein ek chooha bill banakar maje se rehta tha. Vah poore khalihaan ka maalik tha aur apni marzi se jeeta tha. Khalihaan varshbhar fasalon se bhara rehta tha isliye khane ki koi chinta na rehti thi. Ek raat chuha anaaj kha raha tha tabhi use aisa laga ki koi use dekh raha hai. Usne jab aahat-wali jagah dekha to use ek kaale bilaar ki do chamakti aankhein dikhayi di aur darr kar apne bill mein chala gaya. Ab chooha bill se bahar nahin aata tha aur isi tarah kamjor aur dubla ho gaya. Magar achaanak ek din voh bilaar uske ghar tak aa gaya aur choohe per hamala karne laga. Choohe laakh koshish ki bilaar ko manane ki, chaaploossi ki, magar koi fayda na hua. Ant mein chooha usse ladne ki thani aur uske gale pe lipat gaya, tabhi chuhe ki neend khul gayi. Aur darrte huye usne kaha “Kitna bhayaawah swapn tha.”’ Jalkaak ne kaha bhay ka khel aisa hi hota hai. Machchhraja ne kachhuwa ko bataya usne kele ke thumbe ko jheel mein tairte dekha hoga jis par jugnoo baithe honge jo usey magar ki aankhon ke bhaati prateet hua hoga.

Ek suhani subah jab machchhraja machhli pakadne jheel pohoncha, tab mitra kachhue se usey pata chalta hain ki unka mitra jalkaak subah se udaas aur vyathit hai. Puchhne par jalkaak apni vyatha vyakt karte hue kehta hai ki samoocha sansaar usey machchharaja kyu nahi bulata, jabki uske paas toh jyada sansadhan hai machhliya maarne ke liye. Ispar machchharaja hasta hai aur ek bagule ki kahani sunata hai, jo sansadhan viheenta ko apni asafalta ka kaaran manta tha. ‘Ek baar ek badi si aur machhliyon se bhari sarpil nadi ke kinare ek bagula rehta tha. Wo sara din nadi ke viraan tatt par khada rehta aur machhliyon ke kinare aane ki pratiksha karta. Jabki sadhan se bharpoor dusri jal-pakshiya jo machhliyan pakadne mei maahir thi lapak kar nadi ke bheetar se machhliyan maar leti the. Lamdeng saaras, daabil, daldali baaz, pandubbi, sarp pakshi aur murgabiyan, sabhi ke apne-apne ajeebogareeb tarike and vishisht ang the machhliyan pakadne ke liye. Bas ek bagula tha jisey lagta tha wo saadhanviheen hai aur bhagwan ko kosta rehta usey iss tarah banana ke liye. Dusre pakshi bhi uska mazaak udaate thei. Ek baar bagula apne saadhanheenta aur apmaan se dukhi ho kar nadi chhod jaane laga. Bagula nadi se dur dhaan ke kheton ke upar se uda ja raha tha. Achaanak uski nazar ek billi par padi jo chuhe ke bil ke bahar ghaat lagaye baithi thi. Tabhi wahan ek saanp bhi aaya chuhe ka shikar karne. Dono ke paas shikaar ke saadhan the, lekin wo chuhe ko pakad na paaye aur waapas chale gaye. Ab waha ek saadhanviheen kala-kaluta aadmi aaya aur bil ke baahar sukhi ghaas ka dhuan kar baith gaya. Kuchh hi der mein saare chuhe ardh-behoshi mei bahar aa gaye aur wo unhe ikaththa kar chala gaya. Bagule ko samajh aa gaya ki saadhan se nahi upaay se lakshya prapt kiya jata hai. Safalta sansadhno par nahi, avsar par nirbhar karti hain aur avsar buddhi par.’

One of the only two completed novels by the famous poet and playwright Jaishankar Prasad, Titli is a ‘social novel’ that addresses themes of feudalism, poverty and oppression of women. First published in 1933, this novel is a part of the ‘progressive’ phase of Hindi literature where various writers were creating works to reform and improve society.  

Ek din kachhuwa apne mitron se kehta hai ‘Mujhe samajh nahin aata tumlog pratyek din itni door se aate ho aur fir wapas jaate ho. Tumlog apna basera yahin jheel ke kinare kyon nahin bana lete ho.’ Machchhraja kehta hai, ‘Hum apna basera to yahin bana lenge per us tees se kaise niptenge.’ Machchhraja bolta hai, ‘Main tumhe ek bhains ki kahani sunata hoon jisne is tees ka naubhaw kiya tha.’ ‘Ek gaon tha. Wahan ek balishth aur unmukt bhains rehta tha. Dinbhar gaon mein ghoomta rehta tha. Khaane ki to jaise mauj hi thi, saare khet uske liye bhojanaalay jaise the. Raat mein kab neend use apne aagosh mein le leti iska pata raat ko bhi na hota. Ek baar ek kisan ne makke ki kheti ki. Fasal lehlaha uthi. Ek din bhainse ne makke ki baaliyan khayi jo use bahut pasand aayi aur fir har din wahan aane laga. Kisan pareshaan hokar gaon-walon ke saath bahinse ki aankh per patti baandhkar kahin door chhod aaya. Yahan par khaane ke liye anekon prakaar ke phal-phool the, magar bhainse ke mann mein apne desh jaane ki tees uthi. Use kuchh bhi raas na aaya aur saamne aayi ufanti nadi ko paar karne laga apne desh jaane ke liye. Nadi ke paar use makke ke khet mile magar in baaliyon mein wo swaad nahin tha. Bhainsa anvarat chalta raha apne desh ki khoj mein aur raaste mein mile kai jagahon aur phalon ko chhodta hua apne dil mein tees liye huye. Chalte chalte aakhir bhainsa apne gaon pahuch hi gaya, uske mukh se jhaag nikal raha tha, hriday ki gati asmaanya thi par dil mein ab wo tees nahin thi.’ Jalkaak bola ‘Hum chaah kar bhi matribhoomi se door nahin reh sakte kyonki hum usi ke ansh hote hain.’

Kissagoi ho aur kachhuwa aur jalkaak chook jayein, aisa ho sakta hai kya! Veh machhli aur jheel ke bina reh sakte hain lekin kiss ek-ke bina nahin. Upar se unki jaanlewa jigyansa jo maar hi daale agar shamit na ho. Astu, dono kissakhor turant machchhraja ke sameep jaa baithe. Machchhraja jo manushyon ko jheel ke sameep dekhkar kuchh puratan kahani mein kho gaya tha, kachhuwye ki khopdi par chadh apni chonch upar utha, kahani ke dharatal per utar aaya. ‘Cheel ke deergh aah bharkar budbudai: “Main kahan hoon?” Usne kabhi aisi raat aur aisa andhera nahin dekha tha. Cheel ka abhitak ka jeevan kachre ki nadi aur basera inhi dono ke beech guzara tha. Yeh cheel ek shehari pakshi tha jahan din raat ka koi fark nahin tha. Aur yahan har taraf gehra andhera aur sannata. Cheel bifar padi “Chhi main kahan fas gayi?” Uski mann ki kudhan bahar nikli “Ye ujjad raat mujhe bhi jad kar dena chati hai, par main iske vash mein nahin aaungi”, aur pata nahin kab vah raat mein samahit ho gayi. Subah jab aankh khuli to vah sann reh gayi. Kachche ghaans ki khushboo sarvatra fail gayi hai. Ek badi nadi beh rahi hai. Suryoday ke saath pashchim se bayaar bhi chalne lagi. Inke saath cheel ke antarman mein spandan hone laga. Uske Khushi ka thikana na tha aur usne chir shaanti ka anubhav kiya. Ab wo aakash mein uthkar dekhna lagi ki dhara ke kis hisse mein aagayi hai? Upar jaane pe pata chala ki yeh shanti cheel ko ek grameen kshetra mein mili.’ Ant mein machchhraja kehta hai waise hi manushya shanti ke liye parvat aur jheelon ke kinare bhatakte hain magar asali shanti to gaon badhar aur prakriti ke aangan mein hai.

Maanav ki aadatein, uski kamzoriyo aur shaktiyo ko ban mei rehne-wale praniyo ke kisso ke maadhyam se batane-wali ek romanchak kitab hai yeh.

Jalkaak ne apne mitron ko ek vichitra ghatna sunata hai. Gauraiye ka jhoond baaz ko thokar maar raha tha aur baaz bhagta fir raha tha. Machchhraja ne kaha ‘Iska kaaran tumhe swatah samajh aa jayega, jab tumlog un chaupaayon ka kissa sunoge jo manushyon ka saath chhod apne dum par rehne jungle gaye the. Kisse ka zikr aate hi jheel ke ghanishth mitron ki toli taiyaar ho gayi kissagoi ki. ‘Ek baar ek billi manushyon ke atyachar se dukhi hokar jungle ki ore nikal padti hai. Ek kutte ne dekha aur socha pata karna chahiye. Wo billi ke pass gaya aur uske udasi ka kaaran poochha. Billi ne apne upar huye atyachar ko bataya, itne mein kutta bhi bol pada ‘Main bhi chaloonga tumhare saath.’ Ye manushya hum sabhi ko satate hain. Raaste mein inhe gaay, gadha, bhainsa aur bakra ka bhi saath mila aur sabhi jungle ki ore chal diye. Jungle dekh kar sabhi kaafi praphullit huye tabhi unhe ek gaur dikha. Gaur ne unhe saavdhan karaya ki jungle mein kitni kathinaayi aur khatra hai. Magar veh maane nahin. Tab gaur ne kaha ki ‘Tumhare shareer se partantrata ki boo aa rahi jo tumhe jungle mein nahin rehne dega kyonki jo swabhiman se aaya wahi jungle mein reh sakta hai, kasht jhel sakta hai woh nahin jo kasht se kshubdh ho kar aaya hai. Jungle ke andar hinsak janwar aur lahoo-luhaan praniyon ko dekhkar sabhi ulte paaon shehar ki ore bhag liye.’ Tab jalkaak ne kaha ‘Wo baaz manushya ka paaltoo raha hoga aur gauraiyon ko baaz se partantrata ki boo aa rahi hogi. Isliye weh use thokar maarkar laut jaane ko keh rahi hongi kyonki unhe aabhaash ho gaya hoga ki swatantra aakash mein iska guzara nahin ho paayega.’