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.

This is the story of a countryside boy, Rajat, who, fresh out of village schools, comes to the happening capital city of Lucknow for his higher education. High aspirations to become an officer, raw manners and slight desi pan in his etiquettes, he struggles his way out in the polished surroundings of college. The city and college start to absorb him, and he tries to adapt to the ways of the city. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.’

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.’

Ek din kachhuwa aur jalkaak, machchhraja ke sath jheel ke kinare susta rahe the. Jalkaak ne bola, ‘Aaj maine aate samay raste mei ek vishal nar-shukar ko ek shavak ko do tukdon mein faadte dekha. Yeh sun kachhuwa bola ‘Yah bahut bura hua, shukar toh bada krur hoga.’ Toh machchhraja bola ‘Isme nar-shukar ka koi dosh nahi. Asal mei uska vyavhaar prakriti dwara poorva nirdeshit hai. Phir machchhraja ne unhe uss billaute ki kahani sunayi jo jungle mein jaan bachane ke liye chhipta phir raha tha. ‘Ek baar jungle mein ek billi ka nanha-sa bacha “main kaun” ki ratt barambaar laga raha tha. Wo jungle mei ghani ghaason ke beech khoya aur dara hua chala jaa raha tha. Tabhi usey jhurmuth mein baithi ek ati prachin puraatan billi ne apne paas bulaya aur bataya ki wo iss jungle ki sabse chhoti billi ‘jungi dhabbedaar billi’ hai aur shakhaon ke kotar mei chhipne ko bola, warna maara jayega. Usney aisa hi kiya lekin kuchh dino baad wo kotar usey chhota padne laga. Wo bada ho gaya tha. Aadim billi ne uske badle swaroop ko dekhkar achambhit ho bola ki tum toh ‘tendua billi’ ho, jaakar kisi tane ki khodar mei chhip jao. Kintu wo bhi usey chhota padne laga. Isi tarah wo barabar aakar mei bada hota gaya aur usey chhipne ke liye nayi jagah dhoondhni padti rahi. Uske badhte aakar ke anusaar aadim billi ne usey ‘banbilli’, ‘syahgosh billi’, aur phir pahadi billi ‘puma’ bataya. Antatah wo badhkar khoonkhar roop le leta hain. Daaton ki jagah radnak aa jaate hai, panjo mei se nukili chheze bahar aa jati hain, vakshasthal par sarsarati si reshayein bahar aa jati hain. Wo ‘sher’ mei badal jata hain. Isi prakar maanav bhi ab maanav nahi raha, mahamaanav ho gaya hain.’

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.’

Ek baar aisa hua ki bhaari varsha aur olavrishti ke kaaran teeno mitra – machchhraja, jalkaak aur kachhuwa – ko jheel ke tatt par hi ek mitti ki maand mei raat guzarni padi. Ekaek unhe ek pakshi ki pratah gaayan sunayi padti hai. Machchhraja batata hai ki bhujanga hai jise bhor ka sabse pehle aabhaas hota hai. Phir machchharaja iss nidar pakshi ke baare mei ek kissa sunata hain. ‘…saghan basti ko nirjan upjaau kheto se jodti ek kaafi lambi dagar thi. Uss dagar se hokar rozana ek bakra niyamit roop se ek veerane mei ghaas charne aata tha. Waha uska ek mitra, bhujanga, bhi aata tha jo uski peeth par baith kar sawari karta aur ghaas se udne-wale patinge khata. Ek roj bakra ghaas charne nahi aaya. Bhujanga kisi anisht ki ashanka mei apne mitra ki kushalta ka pata lagane basti ki ore udd chala. Waha jaakar bhujanga ko pata chalta hai ki uske mitra ko ek badhik ne kharid liya hai aur saansatghar le aaya hai. Bhujanga khoonte se bandhe bakre ki peeth par hamesha ki tarah jaa kar baith gaya. Bakre ne bataya ki aaj shaam badhik usey tukdo mei baant dega aur shavbhakshi insaano ko bhech dega. Apne mitra ke pranraksharth bhujanga madad ki talash mei basti ke chakkar lagane lagta hai. Basti mei maanvo ka anveekshan karne par usey pata chala hain ki “daya ka dharma” maanav jeevan ki sabse pehli shart hain. Waapas bakre ke paas jaakar bhujanga ussey bolta hai ki jab badhik tumhe kaatne chale tab tum marmbhedi aawaz mei chillana, tab waha aaye grahako ko tum par daya aayegi aur wo tumhe chhod denge. Lekin aisa kuchh na hota hai aur bakra tukdo mei kaat diya jata hai, jisey kharidne yeh daya ko dharma manne-wale insaan “zombie” ki tarah toot padte hai.’

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.  

Baaris ke baad tez dhoop se jheel ke aas-paas kaafi umas ka mahaul ho gaya tha. Kachhuwa bolta hai gazab ka umas hai, jee karta hai ki kawach utaarkar faink doon. Tabhi jalkaak kehta hai ‘Sirf hum hi nahin, sabhi pareshan hai umas se. Wo dekho madhumakkhiyan bhi aakash mein kaise mandra rahi hai.’ Tab machchhraja bolta hai ‘Ye madhumakkhiyan nahin cheentiyan hain jo hawa mein udd rahi hain. Sirf raani aur nar cheetiyon ke pankh hote hain magar ek kissa sunata hoon jab shramik cheetiyon ke bhi par nikal aaye the.’ ‘Ek baar ek baambi ki shramik cheetiyon ke par nikal aaye to unhone saare kaarya chhod diya aur raani cheeti ka virodh karne lagi apne mukti ke liye. Unhone baambi ke liye saaman dhona aur uski suraksha ka saara kaam rok diya. Samasya ko dekhte huye raani cheenti unhe samjhane aayi. Magar par aane ke baad veh sab udne ko betab the. Raani cheeti ki ek baat na maani bus mikti ki ghoshana kar rahi thi. Jab unhone koi baat nahin maani, shabdon ke jaal mein fasane ke liye raani cheeti ne kaha ‘Batao tumhe bhookh, bhay, mausam, museebat, abhaw aur anishchitata se mukti chaiye? Sabne ek swar mein kaha: “Haan chahiye.” Tab raani cheeti ne kaha ‘Ye sab tumhe isi baambi mein mil sakta hai aur hum isi liye kaam kar rahe hain. Isliye tum sab apne pankh kaat do kyonki ye unmukti ke pankh hain. sabhi cheetiyon ne apne pankh kaatkar kaam per lag gayi.”’ Kahani khatm hone par kachhuwa kehta hai, bechare shramik lakshya ko paane ke liye swyam hi lakshya ka saadhan ban gaye.

Machchhraja jheel ke kinare chhichhle paani mein apne adde par mitron ke sath baitha tha. Tabhi kisi janwar ki daravani si aawaz unki ore aane lagi jisse sun kar machchhraja sabhi ko apne basere mein jaane bolta hai. Tab kachhuwa aur jalkaak ne bola ki kisi ko jaane bina uske prati poorvadhaarna banakar nakratmak soch paal lena anuchit hota hai. Ispar machchhraja ne unhe ek vaakya sunaya. ‘Ek baar ek lagghad kadi dhoop mei shikaar ki khoj mei jungle mei ghoom raha tha. Murdakhori ke liye badnam lagghad ashakt zinda khane mein bhi kukhyaat tha. Wo aisa hi koi shikaar dhoondh raha tha par koi safalta na mili. Safal shikaar ke saare hathiyaar thei uske paas – vehshiyana taakat, khooni mansikta, aur kuchh bhi phaad dene-wale radnak, bas kami thi toh uske dost hadgeela ki. Hadgeela usey ashakt ka pata bataya karta tha. Tabhi usey khoon se sarabor ek saaras jaisa pakshi dikha. Veh uska dost hadgeela tha. Uske pankh sukhe hue rakt ki wajah se chipke hue the. Wo rakt hadgeela ka nahi balki lagghad ke pichhle shikar ka tha, jo fawware ki tarah hadgeela pe jaa gira tha. Dost ko dekh bhaavpoorna hadgeela dosti aur sath kiye shikaar ke shuruaati din yaad karta hai. Kaise veh lagghad ko ashakt ki upasthiti ki jaankari deta tha aur wo unhe cheed-faad kar zinda khata tha. Hiran ka bachcha, langda mrig, budhi neelgaay, jakhmi bhainsa, daldal mei fansa hiran, tooti kamar-wala bandar, aur wo garbhwati maanda, inn sabke shikaar ki yaad dilata hai. Yeh sab sun lagghad bhavpoorna muskura raha tha. Apne dost aur uski dosti ko lekar aashwast hadgeela vakya yaad kiye jaa raha tha tabhi usney bhoonkhe lagghad ke bhaav mei badlav dekhe. Shikar karne se theek pehle hone-wale badlav. Samast jungle ko pata chal gaya ki lagghad ko ashakt mil gaya hai.”

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.’

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.

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.

Safal vyaktiyon ke kaary karne kaa tareeka apne aap mein any logon se alag hota hai. Safalta chaahe chhotee ho ya badee iske peechhe yojana tatha uske anusaar kaary karne kaa vishesh mahatva hota hai. Safal vyakti apnee kshamtaaon kaa har samay bharpoor prayog karte hain. Is pustak mein Safalta praapti ke anek upaay bataye gaye hain. Yah pustak jeevan ko nikhaarne ke liye har drishti se sangrahneey hai.