Tanha

Dekhiye to lagta hai,
Zindagi ki raahon mein,
Ek bheed chalti hai...

Sochiye to lagta hai..
Bheed mein hain sab tanha.

Jitne bhi yeh rishte hain,
Kaanch ke khilone hain,
Pal mein toot sakte hain..

Ek pal mein ho jaaye...
Koi jaane kab tanha.

Dekhiye to lagta hai,
Jaise yeh jo duniya hai,
Kitni rangeen mehfil hai...

Sochiye to lagta hai...
Kitna gam hai duniya mein,
Kitna zakhmi har dil hai..

Woh jo muskuraate the,
Jo kisi ko khwaabon mein,
Apne pass paate the..

Unki neend tooti hai..
Aur hain woh ab tanha.

Javed Akhtar

Purani Jeans

It was just so sweet watching this video just now. Well, I'm going to relive all my best friendships in the coming days.

These are the days of meeting old friends!

The Runner and the Biker Gal!

Now that I am running, and know that I'll be able to complete the Half Marathon in September, I am feeling grand!

Yesterday, I bought cargoes and a capri. I've always found a capri c-o-o-l and really sporty, and yesterday when I bought one for myself, it was with pride! I was not only gonna look sporty in them. I AM sporty all right! :)

Since a few days, I've had another idea. Once I'm back from my trip to home, I'm going to buy myself a cycle, and then, that's going to be my main mode of transport in Bangalore- not the buses, not the auto- but my cycle will take me everywhere. And I'll make sure it's a s-m-a-r-t cycle!

Yeh, the fancy has me all fired up! :)

Babal tere da dil kare dheeye meriye ni

Listen to it here

Babal tere da dil kare dheeye meriye ni
Doli tenu kadde naa bithawaan
Sada rawein gudiyaan patole ni tu khedadi
Chuk chuk godi ch khidaawaan

Rabb kare hor na tu vadhe sukhaan ladiye
Hoyin na jawaan kade bhul ke
Tere budhhe baap kolon torya ni jaana tenu
Roya vi ni jaana maithon khul ke
Babul de vehre vich dheeyan ikk phull aisa
Lokaan diyaan jeehde te nigaahvaan

Totli zubaan vich gallan guddo teriyaan main
Baani de shlokaan vaangu sunaa ni
Khushiyaan zamaane diyaan karaan qurbaan taithon
Dukh tere phullan vaangu chunnan ni
Modhe naal laa ke tere rabb jehe mukhde nu
Saari raat loriyaan sunaavaan

Pairaan ch panjebaan tere hatthaan vich choodiyaan
Vehde vich rehan chhankaundiyaan
Jivein kisse devte di aarti uttaare koi
Subaho shaam rehan sadaa gaundiyaan
Saariyaan dheeyaan de dukh mainu lag jaan rabba
Ehna nu na laggan hawaawaan

Dhee ghar jamme khaure bura kyon manaunde loki
Putraan lai mangde duaavaan kyon
Dheeyaan hathon maavaan puttan nu khwaundiyan ne
Dheeyan nu paraaya kehan maavaan kyon
Dheeyan hoke dheeyaan nu hi paun fitkaaran dheeyan
Lath jaan buriyaan balaawaan

Maa kade dhee kade bhain kade beewi dhee e
Tere bina duniya adhoori e
Teri iss kukh vich duniya de sukh dheeye
Teri doli torni zaruri e
Marjaana Mann te gunahaan da maarya ee
Doli wala punn te kamaavaan

Gurdas Mann

I've always felt so sentimental about this song. Today, I heard it after many many years, and now again...it is songs like these, the soothing words of tenderness, love and emotions like these, that make me so fiercely proud of my language, and culture. This is the Punjab I feel proud of. This is the Punjabi I identify with- the man who sings this tender song. Not the hideous people who kill brides or kill unborn girl children, or the people who accept all that with a shrug. That is not Punjab. That is not 'my' state. My state is the one where emotions, values, and people are respected.

Some say Punjabi is the rudest language they've heard.

I know that it is one of the sweetest languages. Hearing it sometimes evokes overwhelming images of cool shade (thandiyaan chhawaan), or cold water (sheetal paani)or honey dripping off the tongue of the speaker.

There is sheer poetry, sheer beauty in Punjabi.

That's my language, my state for you.

Jagg jankshan relaan da

Amazing!!!! I've just discovered 'Jagg jankshan relaan da' on net!!! Here!

That's what I've been doing since yesterday- listening to old punjabi songs on the net. And right now, it's just feeling as if I am sitting in Machhiwara, as if I've never moved out of home- home that was Machhiwara, not Mohali.

Since yesterday, my soul parched of Punjabi is being soothed! I'm feeling so fulfilled!

Chann kithaan guzaari aai raat ve

Chann kithaan guzaari aai raat ve
Mainda jee daleelan de vaas ve

Kothe te fir kothra
Mahi kothe sukdaa kha vlaa (??)
Aashqaan jodiyaan kodiyaan te
Mashookan jode raah bhalla

Kothe te fir kothra
Mahi kothe baitha kaan valla
Tu taan mainu bhul gayeon
Main ajje vi teri haan valla

Kothe te fir kothra
Mahi kothe sukdi ret halaa
Asaan gundayiaan mendiyaan
Tu kisse bahaane vekh halaa

Kothe te fir kothra
Mahi kothe te tandoor halaa
Pehli roti tu khaayein
Tere saathi nassde door halla

Kothe te fir kothra
Mahi kothe utte hai pakhiyaan ni
Peevan ton asin tauba kiti
Jad takiyaan taindiyaan akhiyaan ni

Kothe te fir kothra
Mahi kothe de vich baariyaan
Hunn taan vaapas aa narindra
Tu jiteyon main haari aan

Bol Mitti Dea Baawya

I just came across this clip on You Tube. I had heard this song at a play staged at the Raamleela ground of Machhiwara, my home town. That was the first time I'd come across the phrase 'Mitti Da Baawa' and it has tugged at my heart ever since.

Sitting here in Bangalore, listening to Punjabi songs for the past hour and a half, I am feeling so much at home. It's almost as if I am still sitting at home. In Punjab.

Punjabi jehi manohar mitthi
Hor nahin koi boli ditthi! :)

Chhalla

Ho Jaavo ni koi mod lyaavo
Ni mere naal gya ajj lad ke
Ho Allah kare te aaja ve sohna
Devaan jaan kadmaan vich dharke

O chhalla beri oye boor e
Ve watan mahi da door e
Ve jaana pehle poor e
Ve gall sunn chhallya chhora
Ve kaahda laaya ee jhora

Chhalla khooh te dhariye
Ve gallan moonh te kariye
Ve sache Rabb ton darriye
Ve gall sunn challya dhola
Ve Rabb ton kahda ee ohla

O Chhalla kaliyaan marchaan
Ve maura pee ke marjaan
Ve sirre tere chadhsaan
Ve gall sunn chhallya dhola
Ve saad ke kita ee kola

O chhalla 9-9 kheve
Ve puttar mithre mewe
Ve allah sabh nu dewe
Ve gall sunn chhallya kaavaan
Ve mawaan thandiyaan chhawaan

O chhalla kann diyaan dandiyaan
Ve saare pind vich bhandiyaan
Ve gallan chhajj paa chhandiyaan
Ve gall sunn chhallya dhola
Ve saad ke kita ee kola

O chhalla gall di ve gaani
Ve turr gaye diaal de jaani
Ve meri dukhaan di kahaani
Ve aaja sunn ke dhola
Ve tethon kahda ee ohla

O chhalla paaya ee gehne
Ve sajjan beli ni rehne
O dukh jindri de sehne
O gall sunn chhallya dhola
Oye kahda paana ee raula

Mahiya

Koi chhatri di chaan kar ja
Ajj mainu milne di channa hauli jehi haan kar ja

1.

Baage vich aaya karo
Jado asin saun jaayiye
Tusin makhiyaan udaya karo


Tusin roz nahaya karo
Makhiyaan ton darrde o
Gud thoda khaya karo

2.

Kothe te aa mahiya
Milna taan mil aa ke
Nahin taan khasmaan nu khaa mahiya

Ki laina e mitraan ton
Milan te aa javaan
Darr lagda e chhitraan ton

3.

Tusin kaale kaale o
Kujh te sharm karo
Dheeyaan Putraan wale o

Aah saare dand paye kadhde ne
Asin tenu change lagde
Te saade dheeyan putt vadhde ne

4.

Aithe pyaar di puchh koi na
Tere naal nayion bolna
Tere moonh te muchh koi na

Mazaa pyaar da chakh laanga
Je tere hukkam howe
Main taan daadi vi rakh laanga



Peengh pyaar di paavange
Hunn asin mil gaye haan
Geet pyaar de gavaange

Suhe ve cheere valya

Suhe ve cheere valya main kehnni aan
Kar chhatri di chhaan main chhavein behnni aan

Suhe ve cheere valya phull kikraan de
Kikraan laai bahaar mele mitraan de

Suhe ve cheere valya phul tori daa
Bajh tere ve maahiya kujh ni lodida

Suhe ve cheere valya main kehni aa
Lagde teer judaayiaan de main sehni aa

Suhe ve cheere valya do laaldiyaan
mela vekhan aayiaan karma valadiyaan

Suhe ve cheere valya tand jodida
dil da najak sheesha injh ni todida

Suhe ve cheere valya gall ganiyaan
charkha rang rangeela vehde daahniyaan

Suhe ve cheere valya main kehni aan
kar chhatri di chhaan main chhavein behni aan

Listen to the old songs by Surinder Kaur here

Mujhko Yaqeen Hai

mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi -2
jab mere bachpan ke din the,
chaaNd mein pariyaaN rahti thi
mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi

ek ye din jab apnoN ne bhi
hamse naataa toD liyaa -2
ek vo din jab peD ki shaaKhen
bojh hamaaraa sahti thi
mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi

ek ye din jab saari saDken
rooThi rooThi lagti hain -2
ek vo din jab aao khelen
saari galiyaaN kahti thi
mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi

* ek ye din jab jaagi raaten
deevaaroN ko takti hain -2
ek vo din jab shaamoN ki bhi
palken bojhal rahti thi
mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi

ek ye din jab laakhoN Gham aur
kaal paDaa hai aaNsoo kaa -2
ek vo din jab ek zaraa si baat
pe nadiyaaN bahti thi
mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi
jab mere bachpan ke din the,
chaaNd mein pariyaaN rahti thi
mujhko yaqeen hai sach kahti thi
jo bhi ammi kahti thi


Sung by: Jagjeet Singh
Written By: Javed Akhtar

Jutti Kasoori

Jutti Kasoori Pairi Na Poori
Hayye Rabba Vey Sanu Turna Peya
Hayye Rabba Vey Sanu Turna Peya
Jinna Rahaan Di Mei Saar Na Jaana
Ohni Raahein Vey Mainu Murna Peya
Ohni Raahein Vey Mainu Murna Peya

Saure Pindh Diyaan Lambhiyan Vaatan
Bada Pawara Peh Geya
Yakka Teh Pahre Koi Na Keeta
Mahiya Paidal Leh Geya
Mahiya Paidal Leh Geya

Lei Mera Muklava Dhola
Sarke Sarke Javada
Kadheya ghundh Kujh Keh Na Sakdi
Dil Mera Sharmavda Oye
Dil Mera Sharmavda

Sol Piniya Pairh Phoole
Saatho Tureya Jaaye Na
Sajra Joban, Sikhar Dupehran
Taras Sohna Khaaye Na Oye
Taras Sohna Khaaye Na

Pairaan De Vich Pai Gaye Chhalley
Muh Mere Khumlavda
Mahiya Turda Jaaye Aage Ve
Pichhahn Na Jhaati Paavda Oye
Pichhahn Na Jhaati Paavda

Jutti Kasoori Pairi Na Poori
Hayye Rabba Vey Sanu Turna Peya
Hayye Rabba Vey Sanu Turna Peya
Jinna Rahaan Di Mei Saar Na Jaana
Ohni Raahein Vey Mainu Murna Peya
Ohni Raahein Vey Mainu Murna Peya


Sung by: Surinder Kaur

Mitti da baawa

Mitti da baawa main banauni aa
Ve jhagga pauni aa
Ve utte dendi aa khesi
Naa ro mitti dea baawya
Ve tera peau pardesi

Ho Mitti da baawa nayion bolda

Mitti da baawa nayion bolda
Ve nayion chalda
Ve nayion dinda e hungaara
Na ro mitti dea baawya
Ve tera peau vanjaara

Kitte taan laavaan taahliyaan,
Pattan vaaliyan
Ve mera patla maahi
Kitte taan laavaan shehtoot
Ve tenu samjh naa aaye

O Mitti da baawa nayion bolda

That's how I feel Right Now!

That's the exuberance I feel....walking on the roads, humming, singing, jumping, dancing- all by myself. Ah! The joy of living!

Life is a Celebration!!!

Zindagi Aa rha hoon Main!!! :) :) :)

On The Joy That Running Is

(Disclaimer: This is not Sports & Exercise Medicine doctor writing but a crazy runner... a damn crazy runner.
Please do not try this at home, kids please keep a watch on your parents)

Hi kids,

It's been a while since I "RAN".

I got up at 3:45 am on Thursday (21st) morning and was just craving for RUNNING. I just had way to much going on in my head to sleep. I decided to test drive the HPCosmos treadmill at the Sports & Exercise Medicine department at Manipal Hospital, that costs as much as Honda Accord. Wanted to check out for myself if it was as good as the Accord.

I had only run 4-5 times since the Bangalore ultra marathon, of which Tuesday (19th) and Wednesday (20th) were two of them. I have the Rajasthan desert run coming up, where the plan is to run a marathon or more every day for 5 consecutive days. So, needed some training.

One thing I learnt the real hard way was, that training is "over-rated". The only time I had a chance to come first in a marathon, was ruined by a 62 year old running mate. Last time he had run was 6 months before that, as he was nursing an "achilles tendenitis". I was running with him for first 21 km, and then decided he was too slow for me and I carried on. The guy caught up with me at 40 km mark and kicked my butt / ass / arse (take your pick) really bad. I did that particular marathon in 2 hrs 58 min and he did that in 2 hrs 54 min (his personal best). What really got this chap through was his experience of having run more than 200 marathons and rest (experience and recovery).

Back to the treadmill run. Now, the catch was, the department opens at 6 am. I was in my running gear by 4 am and was raring to go.

I finally reached the department by 6:30 am along with my water bottle and 2 Power bars. The plan was to ... hmmm ... RUN I guess. Basically, had nothing planned. Initial running speed was 14 kmph and I was trying to do a quick 5km, which grew to 10 km but then decided to slow down so I could comfortably do more, if I felt like. It was a bit of a struggle for first 40ish minutes, but at sharp 7:13 am, Kieran asked me how I felt. I said, "no legs". He thought I was dying that I couldn't feel my legs. In "Every Second Counts", Lance Armstrong uses a phrase "no chain" when he is going very quick but feels very comfortable. So for me it was "no legs".

At this stage I was cruising at 12-13 kmph. It might seem very slow but I had never run more than 30 min in total on treadmill, all put together, in my life. And I hate treadmills!

By now the plan was to do 20 km, which turned to 30 km. In this time, I had attended to 2 patient's conditions and 1 department issue and also applied some tape on my left bleeding nipple. I had 3 water stops. At times I had increased the speed to 17 kmph but most of the times it was 11 kmph.

After having got to 30 km, it just made no sense to stop there, as only 12 km more would complete the marathon distance. The best part was, I got the sms I was waiting for at around 30 km mark! I couldn't wait, sitting doing nothing. I just felt awesome.

By 40th km, Pariksha (nutritionist) had come, and I asked her to check out my Heart Rate. So, I picked up the speed again to 17-18 kmph and my heart rate touched 200 bpm. According to the formulas given on "Internet" for "Maximum Heart Rate", I had just turned 20 years. I could have reduced it to 15 yrs, but Pariksha advised me to take it easy.

After having turned 20, I had reached the 42.2 km in 3 hrs 40 min. I could have carried on for another 30ish km, but decided to stop. Slow for a marathon, but ok for a run after such a long time.

All systems are ready to go for the Rajasthan desert run and some surprise runs planned over next 2 months. It's cool to find "surprise" & "planned" in the same line.

Keep smiling & miling.

Rajat

--

Dr Rajat Chauhan
Consultant & Head
Sports and Exercise Medicine
Manipal Hospital
Airport Road
Bangalore 560017

I've joined a runners group here, 'Runners For Life'. This is a post I read on its mailgroup. I've published it here with the permission of the author.

The phrase that often entices me while running on the treadmill is, "The first 5 km were a breeze."

That's how I want my runs to be.

My current personal best is 9.44 km in 1 hr.

The Bangalore International Marathon is scheduled for September.

My goal for it is to run the half-marathon in the best possible time.

Day before yesterday, my mind said, "Suppose, just suppose, if I won the half-Marathon!"

Now, there is perfectly no reason why I should believe that to be possible, but an exciting thrill made me smile.

For now, I'll just run I guess.

I'll let the goal build by itself.

Meanwhile, Running is just SO exhilirating! I feel immensely proud of my body!

I am finally into sports. It won't be long before I would be able to call myself a long-distance runner.

I feel just so good about it all!

Reading Opal Mehta

I am reading Opal Mehta, am currently one-thirds through, and am getting more and more irritated by the extent to which she goes to 'fit-in.' She has completely left behind all that was important to her, 'disowned' it in fact, and is desperately trying to live upto other people's (read 3 dumb girls') standards of 'coolness.'

The fact that the book has vexed me enough to write this post should testify to the excellent level of writing- it does take the reader into its world. The book flows confidently, lucidly, without any self-consciousness. Considering the age of Kavya Vishwanathan, I sure am impressed by her talent!