कवि राज - Kavi Raj

Each one of us in some or the other inspired moments of life loves to quote a few lines from legendary poets. Be it in the throes of a brand new romance, be it tipsily with a bottle of booze and four friends, be it enraptured by a wonderfully beautiful sight or nursing a oft broken heart, there is a poetry aficionado in each of us.

Many dabble at writing also. I know of dozens of closest poets who are probably more shy than their legendary cousins - the bathroom singers. Then there is the issue of other poets who by use of heavy language or out of this world notions often end up providing comic relief or extreme trauma to their forced audience. And I don’t even want to talk about the crazy sms language poetry doing the rounds.

Once in a while like a fresh breath of air at the right moment comes across an original piece of poetry which resonates with an emotion deep inside you. One of these days I was getting nostalgic about my very eventful bachelor life (any man denying this should stop wearing Raymonds immediately!) and this dear friend of mine also in the same mood starts spewing out the following words.

ज़िन्दगी रह जाती है प्यासी सी,

अगर ना रहे थोड़ी अईयाशी सी,

Zindagi reh jaati hai pyaasi si,

Agar na rahe thodi aiyashi si,

I am like, true bro …. Very true. He has his eyes closed and continues ..

ज़िन्दगी रह जाती है प्यासी सी,

अगर ना रहे थोड़ी अईयाशी सी,

पहले शादी फिर बच्चे ख्च्चे,

चर्चे खर्चे, बिजली, पानी, बीमा के पर्चे,

फिर छाने लगती है धीरे से उदासी सी,

ज़िन्दगी रह जाती है प्यासी सी,

अगर ना रहे थोड़ी अईयाशी सी,

पहले नौकरी फिर तरक्की,

ज़िमेदार्रियाँ वो भी पक्की,

दिनचर्या हो जाती है जैसे किसी खलासी सी,

ज़िन्दगी रह जाती है प्यासी सी,

अगर ना रहे थोड़ी अईयाशी सी,

पहले घूमना फिरना, त्यौहार रिश्तेदार, अटखेलियाँ ,

फिर सारी लगने लगती है पहेलियाँ,

माला भी लगती है फंसी सी,

ज़िन्दगी रह जाती है प्यासी सी,

अगर ना रहे थोड़ी अईयाशी सी,

For those who read Hindi faster in English, here is a phonetic translation :P

Zindagi reh jaati hai pyaasi si,

agar na rahe thodi aiyashi si,

Zindagi reh jaati hai pyaasi si,

agar na rahe thodi aiyashi si,

Pehle shaadi fir bacche khachhe ,

charche kharche, bijli paani, beema ke parche,

fir chaane lagti hai dheere se udaasi si,

Zindagi reh jaati hai pyaasi si,

agar na rahe thodi aiyashi si,

Pehle naukri fir tarakki, zimedarriyan wo bhi pakki,

dincharya ho jaati hai jaise kisi khalasi si,

Zindagi reh jaati hai pyaasi si,

agar na rahe thodi aiyashi si,

pehle ghumna firna, tyohaar rishtedaar, atkheliyaan,

fir saari lagne lagti hai paheliyaan,

maala bhi lagti hai fansi si,

Zindagi reh jaati hai pyaasi si,

agar na rahe thodi aiyashi si,

I am like whoops! This dude is deep man! And deeply talented he truly is. Infact he vouches that anyone can give him any contemporary situation and he will be able to churn out a very recitable poem on it.

I am thinking I should give him ‘extra marital affairs’ as a topic or maybe ‘ex girlfriends’. They seem very contemporary. I dunno about you guys but since I am poetically challenged, I mug up some fancy poems like the one above and recite it as my original compositions in parties. No harm in basking in some reflected glory eh? Anyday better than quoting bollywood songs or done to death ghazals.

By the way did I tell you my friend’s name? He is the tall, not so very dark but very handsome Mr. Jitesh Mehta. But I got his number stored in my cell as ‘Kavi Raj’.

Again as I often say ... dont take my word for it. Challenge this dude by giving him any contemporary topic. lets see what this amdavadi has got up his sleeve!