Wakhan Corridor!

Area Map

 

What is really going on in South Asia and how is Afghanistan back in the middle of it? 

I know it is exhausting to go back again and again about Afghanistan but really that is what is happening so  that's what you have to talk about.

In my experience a lot of people have greeted me with a Salam Wa le Kum; traditional Islamic greeting! I do not really mind and have answered back appropriately as Wa le Kum Assalam. The trouble with all that is that I am not a muslim or even remotely middle eastern. I do not have a beard nor do I dress like one. For some reason people assume one or the other. I have never been able to point to the reason behind it. Interestingly it is only a Pakistani that shows regret ; some times very visibly after coming to know of my identity. Greeting a kafir must be a great sin !

You know who does not think so ? Pretty much every body else! Iranian , Syrian , Indonesian ; all firmly muslim communities. One group that sticks out amongst them is Afghans. They are positively beaming because I am an Indian. I am confused! All these were supposed to be hard line Islamists ; even terrorist sympathizers if not terrorists themselves and Pakistan was supposed to be an ally in the fight against extremism! Yet on ground their training, indoctrination, culture and thought process is not like a normal person of the Islamic faith. I do have a theory about it but that  we shall explore some other time.

Afghanistan has been in the eye of the storm for a very long time. In the Indian context Gandhari married to Dhritrashtra was from Ghandhar- modern name Kandahar. So was mama Shakuni. Without these two characters Mahabharat would not have taken place; nor would there be a need  for Lord Krishna to give his battlefield sermon! Lynch pins of  our entire history, culture, society; morality and ethics.

Taliban wresting control of Afghanistan was considered a major boost to Pakistan.Their dream of achieving strategic depth became real. It was their handpicked group too. For a few years it did seem so. A number of Indian consulates got closed and eventually Indian embassy too. India's investments in Afghanistan in form of the hospital ; parliament and other infrastructure seemed wasted in a way and all running projects stalled. 

Taliban went on their merry way -very regressive; anti women; Islamic extremist ideology. This only suited pakistan ; since this countered Indian broadening influence.

As usual Pakistan celebrated too soon. They hit a decoy and start a victory parade for dowing rafale! They convince themselves that they have won , while their 93,000 troops are making a cowardly surrender.

 Anyway there are other players in the arena. Lots of them. Among other things USA apparently wants Bagram airport where they can make a base to check China and Iran from. They have already paid the local goon Pakistan to create trouble with Afghanistan. That might allow US to intervene and maybe wrangle a sweet deal. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to be their hinterland in case of war with India and an arms length away camp/training ground for their terrorist assets. Pakistan also eyes the control of the wakhan Corridor to have connectivity to erstwhile soviet republics; china and create a defensive line when India tries to take POK back.

China is apparently also interested;  one it helps their belt and road initiative and control on the area helps them manage the rebellion in adjacent Chinese territories.

Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan ; if you check the map sits where China , Tajikistan and India meet . I know ; I know that part of India is under Pakistan's control. Nevertheless it is right there at the civilizational, historical and financial meeting point. 

Taliban have a medieval mindset. Their behaviour has not left the sixth century. Their attitude to women is shamefully obnoxious. That however does not make them stupid.

They have realized that notwithstanding the fluffy talk of Islamic brotherhood; Afghanistan has been short changed by fellow Islamists. Durand line that delineates the border between British India and Afghanistan was forced by the British. Upon their departure from the Indian Subcontinent and the resultant partition of India, it made Pakistan the heir. This fellow muslim nation has not lifted a finger to address this issue except calling it a permanant border.

Afghanistan also remembers how Pakistan leveraged the soviet occupation to their benefit. Where Afghanistan became cannon fodder;  Pakistan became rich! At least their generals siphoned off dollars by the  bucket load.

They also remember how Pakistan provided the bases and facilitated continuous bombing of afghan targets by the USA after Russia left.

So several thousand Afghan National are in Pakistan. They were literally invited in by Pakistan with express approvals of the US during the soviet times. It suited the anti Russia narrative. Now 45 years later they are being hounded out. Their third generation are adults now. These people have mostly worked in food industry and transport sector. Hard jobs no body wants. It is pressure tactics to soften Afghans for to give concessions to the US.

India  is largely seen as an ally of Russia which is a black mark in Taliban eyes.  Despite an ideological bias and religious animosity towards India and incidents of direct confrontation like plane hijacking etc. Taliban has mostly avoided antagonising India.

India earned it by continuously investing in Afghanistan infrastructure. These are visible symbols of goodwill and diplomacy. A hospital does not differentiate between people of differing ideologies. Taliban realises that India helped big time; even if it was not all altrustic or aligned ideologically. 

Mulla muttaqui's visit to India and restarting of full diplomatic ties are really an interesting development. It needs to be read with how Pakistan is making things hot for Afghans; and What slice of the pie America wants. Afghans can make life easier for themselves and India can help there. Afghans can make life tough for the American proxy in the region; Pakistan. India can help there too. 

One takeaway from all this is that one should not celebrate too soon! Neither should you be quick to give up.Interesting times ahead. Keep you eyes glued to the tv news.

From the wish list!

Old Magazine style digital illustration.

I would have preferred

to wake up first thing everyday and see you.

I would have preferred 

not to spend a futile life time just looking for you!

I would have preferred

to listen, hear and trust the magic in your voice.

I would have preferred 

not to forget your face. Now that would've been nice!

I would have preferred

for you to love me more than I love myself.

I would have preferred

not to have to pick myself from the dump - myself!

 

I would have preferred

to smell that fragrance of your hair and pink paint your nails.

I would have preferred

not to wake up middle of the ocean; drifting with shredded sails! 

 

I would have preferred

for time to have stopped at a moment of my innocence.

I would have preferred

to understand your cold apathy. To me it makes no sense!  

 

I would have preferred 

for you to always prefer what I preferred. 

I would have preferred

to be the one for whom in silence you suffered!

 

I would have preferred

to have said a loving last word; though there was nothing left to say.

I would have preferred

to be wrong about you regretting your choices every day!    

 

I would have preferred

to love, hold tight, nurture,build, rise and grow old together.

I would have preferred

not to drop our head on our knees; sob & mourn each other!  

 

I would have preferred 

to have not met for my peace or ever set on you my eyes.

I would have preferred

not to be silent strangers; look blank & pray to the skies!   

 

I would have preferred

for you to communicate; be vulnerable & come home  to me. 

I would have preferred

for you to have thought wisely while I could still give 'me' entirely!

 

I would have preferred

us to be forever; graceful; generous, kind & abundantly celebrate in mirth.  

I would have preferred

not to leave everything unfinished; to the chance of another birth!   

 

I would have preferred...... 

 

  

    

 

दीपावली!

 

"Dancing Green Ganapati" 

Acrylics on Wooden Panel; 30 cm X 45 cm. 2022 . by Ashutosh kaul

 In private Collection

 तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय! 

On the auspicious occasion of Deepawali may you and your loved ones find truth; light; peace and prosperity for all times to come. May God grant you grace, compassion, success; a purpose in life and make all your wishes come true!

 दीपावली की शुभकामनाएं!

जिन्न का चिराग!

AI generated image.

 

 किस जादू से बांध  रखा है मुझे? 

क्या न दे दूं मैं तुम्हे! बोलो क्या चाहिए?

ना जाने ये प्यार कहां से उमड़ रहा है; 

मुझे तो तुम्हे नफ़रत से देखना चाहिए!

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

सच में देने को कुछ हाथ नहीं है मेरे;

 दुआ न सलाम; मुझ जैसे को टालना चाहिए!

खिलौना जिसे तुम कब का तोड़ चुकी हो;

खास चलता नहीं है अब; क्यों चाहिए?

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

जीना मरना इंसा के वश नहीं, 

कोशिश कर ले, चाहे जितना चाहिए।

इस बार साथ बड़े कम वक्त का रहा;

 जीवन भर का ही होना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

शुरू से फिर शुरू करेंगे, 

शुरू से हिसाब होना चाहिए!

क्यों जाता वो; इस जन्म गर आना होता?

 इंतज़ार करना भी क्यों चाहिए?

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

वक्त भी खास कुछ  बचा नहीं है;

  तुम्हे  क्या अब मेरी खाक चाहिए?

खूब पहचान कर भी जो अनजान बने,

 उसे कुछ कहना भी नहीं चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

जिसको तुम पाना चाहो;

उसको भी तुम्हे चुनना चाहिए!

अब कभी भी मिलेगा नहीं  वो;

 फिर भी राह तकते रहना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

नालायक थी तमन्ना मेरी;

 शायद उसे धोखा ही खाना चाहिए!

अबके मजबूत डाली पर घोंसला बनाएंगे; 

हर तिनका सहेज के रखना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है; होना ही चाहिए!

 

हर लालच से; अपनी खुदगर्जी से; 

सच को छलने से, बचना चाहिए।

इस बार तो तुमसे नहीं ही हुआ; 

अपने से सच बोलना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए।

 

चलो करें फिर कुछ इक वादे ; 

बस तुम्हे निभाना आना चाहिए।

अगले किसी जन्म जब फिर मिलेंगे;

 तुमको मेरा हाथ पकड़ कर रखना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है होना ही चाहिए!

 

सुनो भई, मैं कोई लफंगा नहीं हूं; 

 जिसे ब्लॉक कर ज़लील कर देना चाहिए।

 उम्र भर तुम्हे कोई आवाज़ अब न दूंगा;

 क्यों, जब तुम्हे ही नही चाहिए....

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए।

 

चाहत ने बहुत बेआबरू किया है मुझको ;

 चाहत को और कितना चाहना चाहिए?

चुपचाप वफ़ा करेंगे पहले के जैसे; 

नाकाम शख़्स को यही करना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए।

 

भूल जाना चाहता हूं मैं सब कुछ  ।

 उसमें तुम्हे भी शामिल करना चाहिए?

क्या बनूं मैं भी इंसा औरों जैसा;

 क्या मुझे भी वादे भूल जाना चाहिए?

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए।

 

तोहमतें तो मैं तुम्हे बेहिसाब दे दूं;

 कोई फायदा भी होना चाहिए।

किस किस बात को रोएंगे हम; 

अब ये सब कम करना चाहिए।

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए!

 

देने को पास तुम्हारे दुनिया थी पूरी; 

सारी वैसी जैसी मुझको चाहिए।

इस बार मेरे भाग में क्या क्या आया?

 वो बात करनी ही न चाहिए!

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए!

 

बस ईश्वर तुम्हे हर सुख दे; 

 हां, भगवन् से ये  वरदान तो चाहिए!

आज़ाद नहीं जो आज मैं कुछ दे पाऊं;

   हक नही कुछ; जो तुमसे मांगना चाहिए!

अगला जन्म भी होता है, होना ही चाहिए!

 

चमकती, गुलाबी, सुनहरी रहे दुनिया तुम्हारी;

 तुम्हे खुश खुशहाल होना चाहिए।

मन में रोज दीवाली मनती रहे तुम्हारे; 

मेरे चिराग को अब बुझ जाना चाहिए!

मेरे चिराग को अब बुझ जाना चाहिए! 

  

अगला जन्म भी होता है न ?

 

 

 

Sorry; trust me, I love you!

"Hey , Look at my new skirt!"

Oil on Canvas, 1989.  H 180cm X W 120 cm. by Ashutosh Kaul

Artworks whereabouts  are unknown; believed to be destroyed !

Arguably the most misused word in the English language is ,"sorry"! Sorry to bring it to your notice though! You see how I am not sorry; not even one bit. I intended to do this all along but I am "sorry"! Most of the times we are insincere and mouth these words to mask our indifference ; guilt or a sly motive. When one is truly sorry, there is no need to say it. A sorry person makes the necessary change to correct the mistakes and that is all the sorry that is ever required.

A few  years ago Harbhajan Singh called Phil Symonds "monkey"('Bandar' in his mother tongue) in the heat of the moment  during a cricket match in Australia. The controversy became big and took racial overtones. It was eventually capped by explaining that word said was 'benchod'(f your sister) and not 'bandar' (monkey). Everyone said sorry; though  Harbhajan was guilty as sin but got a pass on  the racial slur. Sorry worked because there was no repetition of this slur again. He made the changes as required.

What happens when someone makes no change? When they knew exactly what they were doing, when they were doing it? When they are fully aware of the severe damage they are causing and continue to do it anyway. Can they ever be sorry?  Maybe for themselves but other than that....What if that unlikely remorse strikes them later in life but they have no way to make amends ? After all if you push someone down the stairs , you could get him to a hospital, give him some care and pay for the costs etc.; but if you knife someone and keep knifing till they loose their life; what on earth can you do ? Say sorry! Really ! Can you? "Sorry I screwed your life" ! What difference could it make?

"Trust me on this"; every scam , every con has trust at its core, trust me ! People go to great lengths and make great sacrifices in order to build trust in themselves. Trust is the most precious currency you can have in life. Once you fritter it away there is almost no chance of getting it back ever. It is the greatest of honours to hold someone's trust. That alone should stop people from betraying and losing their stock of trust. No, not at all! Real world does not work that way. Trust is the first currency people use to get ahead. More someone puts their belief in you, easier it is to exploit that trust. Like snatching candy from a kid! Easy peezy!

Why do bridges fail; why does a newly made road sink even before it is inaugurated? How does a criminal run his gang even while he is inside a jail? I can keep giving examples all night. The simple answer is that the  people we have placed our trust in are betraying us for their own ends without a morsel of shame or regret.

So what does one do ? How on earth can you continue if you do not trust at all? After all you need to trust the metro time table and leave home at a certain time in order to reach your place of work. You need to trust the coffee machine that once you press the brew button, your morning cup would come out hot and nice. Trust; trust indeed but remember two things. Firstly humans are the least trustworthy creatures on God's earth, period! Secondly trust demands proof ! There is no trust without it. If your machine spew out a good cup yesterday at the press of a button , you can trust it today to do likewise. It might still fail but that is not a trust issue. Humans on the other  hand need to provide proof every time by their choice of action ; not by their words or their thoughts. It is always a betrayal of the trust issue! Always; no exceptions! None.

What if someone loves you? Or the other way around. Can you trust them or yourself for that matter? I will cut the argument short but sadly the answer is 'no'! You can not and specially yourselves!

Problem lies with the concept of love. What we encounter on a day to day basis is not love. It is lust mostly, an attraction, a fancy or self love at best. People love themselves as they should but they look for others that can fill some of their own emotional, Physical, or material needs! Then they brand it 'love'!  Once the needs change love goes out of the window. They should not but love marriages fail too; don't they?

A mother always loves her children unconditionally. A father mostly. They ask nothing of you. They care despite your short comings; failings and misdemeanor. That  love qualifies as love.

For the rest of us love demands action. To find unconditional love is the rarest of the rare blessing in other people. It is so rare that we do not recognise it till it is too late. Consider it non existent for all practical purposes.

Anyway test yourself and test others constantly on the same scales. Who shows up? Who stays? Who runs away? Who cares? Who is  unbothered? Who wants to share, grow, partner and nurture? Who wants to take and take and scoot? Who will make sacrifices to keep you in their life; who will demand you to shrink to fit theirs? Who chooses you over the world every time, everyday? Who has you marked as an option? Who stays loyal despite receiving nothing? Who betrays despite receiving everything? Who is transparent; honest; secretive; communicative, closed off; lies; misinforms; grounded; calm; impulsive; ...

Love demands action. The worst lie people tell is 'I love you'! No you do not! Not until your actions say it. Stop lying to people or  to yourself. You never need to utter these three words ever when you truly love someone and someone loves you unconditionally .  Every breath you take is going to shout it ! Every breath you take belongs to your person! They  will know it instantly too!

Unconditional kind is only kind of love that is love. Other kind is just making a deal. Stop calling a  mere contract 'love'. You are only deluding yourself ! No wonder 'love' so often disappoints so comprehensively! Parties always feel short changed and deceived. Mostly they are.

Sorry; trust me, I love you! They are all meaning less combinations of the alphabet. They might soothe your ego, but will certainly bring  big trouble for you if not accompanied by the needed action.  Maybe you did not know ; now you do!

 

Blabberings of an old man !

AI generated symbolic image

 

'A long time ago'...is a favourite start of the stories old people tell. I have realized that I am using it quite a bit! In fact very often my train of thought fires up on this ignition. That does mean that I am getting old ; or does it ? What actually is getting old ? Can we assign a number to it? Who decides that number?

 

Averaged Data collated from various sources  tell you that the life expectancy at birth for men of Indian decent is around 70 years. A few months back my youngest uncle passed suddenly and he was around that age. So there is some merit in that data and my uncle was not sick; ailing or that many years senior to me either.  

 

Life has an uncanny habit of constant movement. Nothing remains static. Even death is not permanent according to our Indian wisdom. There is rebirth and birth again and again till one improves enough to be assimilated in to God and one never needs this mortal life again.

 

John Lennon said a very apt thing about life; "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans"! Somehow life never turns out to be exactly as one envisages. So many ifs and buts surround it. So many regrets adorn it and so many failures define it! One can however never stop aging! Never go back in time and never restart! Every moment lived is set in stone and you remain accountable for it forever!

 

One can start anew though! Colonel Sanders started KFC when he was 65 years of age. There are other late bloomers and later startup success stories but not too many and hardly anyone close to the good old colonel's age. I am similar to him only in age.... sadly! I am getting old!

 

What this means is that I have lived most of my life! Years behind me greatly outnumber years ahead of me.  It means that my dreams; my hopes; my plans and my achievements are all in the past. Except my disappointments! This is what I would have preferred to have stayed behind  but apparently they are loyal to one's last breath. So I will experience some loyalty at last! There is not a whole lot left to expect of the remaining time left. Life will move on constantly in a surprising direction that I may like or not; till it is time. Life will then continue on without me... it does not care. 

 

So I am old. Once upon a time ; a long time ago I was young. I lived; I loved; I laughed; I cared; I dreamed; I trusted and collected disappointments. A whole lot of them.

 

Once upon a time; a long time ago........! 

 

 

Impact!

 

AI generated Image

Okinawa in Japan hosts the largest fleet in the US navy- the seventh fleet! Nixon the infamous Watergate president was looking to get in bed with China. Pakistan was the middle man facilitating and Pakistan was in serious trouble with India threatening to run over their east wing ( now Bangladesh). That was 1971. Cold war was alive.Nixon ordered the seventh fleet to sail to bay of Bengal ; put pressure on India and give military relief to Pakistan. It almost worked! 

In response, Soviet Russia honouring the pact she had with India; moved a flotilla  from Vladivostok; including frigates and destroyers to interception coordinates and checkmated the US deployment. US had no game left short of igniting a third world war! US 7th fleet never arrived in the Bay of Bengal and India swiftly bifurcated Pakistan. On reflection that was a big headache cured for Pakistan and one more headache added to India. That however is quite a story for another day! 

The lesson for India is that US is never to be trusted. Secondly US will always favour Pakistan for the simple reason that Pakistan can be bought cheaply to do it's bidding. India need not get confrontational but must always keep her antennas up; options open and be ready to exercise them.

Let us come back to the present times.So recently that  general Munir;  who awarded the rank of field  marshal to himself was at the white house. It was very intriguing at the time but now things are looking a little clearer. Pak prime minister accompanied him to US too. There are of course reports of the Pak nukes being controlled by the US or the US nukes being stored in Pakistan! It kind of tallies with how the Indian offensive during May 2025 came swiftly to a halt as soon as Kirana hills ; a suspected nuclear store site was hit by the Indian missiles. We will ignore this theory today.

The paki duo's visit I feel was to thrash out the Security deal between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. America has remained absent from the actual signing  but I see a clear CIA footprint here. 

Ostensibly it is marketed as a defence pact for Saudi Arabia and against Israel's muscular middle east policies. A little examination does not bear this out.

Firstly Pakistan has been providing paid security services in Saudi Arabia for long and there is nothing new except new verbiage put on paper.

Secondly Pakistan against Israel in no contest whatsoever.You do not need to be a military expert to know that Israel with her iron dome, long range weaponry and F35 stealth platforms will lick Pakistan with one hand tied behind its back.

If Pakistan had any stomach for a nuclear engagement,  it would have been  used against India by now. They do not have the delivery system for Israel anyway. So providing a nuke umbrella to Saudi Arabia does not cut it. It is a false flag operation.

USA would strictly control any military engagement between Israel and Saudi Arabia; two of their closest allies. Pakistan's role may be zero to none.

So the question is who is this pact meant for? I would say it is directly targeting Iran ! US animosity towards Iran is not hidden. Since US embassy in Tehran was seized so long ago and shah dethroned; Iran has been a US target. Iran is also at odds with Israel and we have recently seen an exchange of long range fire between the two. What usually is papered over but happens to be the most important factor is the historical rivalry Saudi Arabia has with Iran for leadership of  the ummah. There is a Shia / Sunni factor in play as well.

USA recently did another little thing! So they have long sanctioned Iran; putting hurdles in their energy sales. That was Iran's main export and which directly impacted Saudi's petroleum market share. 

Then there is this India angle. India has been developing chabahar port in Iran. This port will facilitate trade with Afghanistan and  erstwhile Soviet Asian republics. This port avoids Pakistan entirely and helps Iran economically. The port was exempt from US sanctions till now. This exemption is to be withdrawn soon. This exposes India to the US sanctions; puts  breaks on Iranian ambitions with this port and gives a helping hand to Gwadar port in Baluchistan to usurp chabahar 's role! It potentially helps Pakistan economically and strengthens it's control on Baluchistan and exploit their resources.

To be honest; I am not so sure Pakistan army will be  very effective against Iranian forces in case of a direct conflict. Remember Iraq - Iran conflict not too long ago. Iraq was supported by entire west and the arab world;  Iranian forces however did pretty well all by themselves.

It is technically possible for Saudi Arabia to provide military personnel to Pakistan under this pact;  but if they had  personnel available why would they import so many immigrants to their country? Other than that they have provided cash and kind to Pakistan for long. They do not make any military hardware. Pakistan gets it from Turkey, China and USA.

You can see how this game is being played by USA by throwing some crumbs and a bone or two at Pakistan. Pakistan has wet dreams of their cash cow Afghanistan! Milk has dried there. They are looking for their sugar daddies to open their wallets once again. Pakistan army would do anything for money and an opportunity to make US look the other way while they do their thing in Baluchistan and across their eastern borders in India!

Immediate benefit to Saudi Arabia is that Pakistan military machine will be able to engage the Houthi rebellion. Pakistan army has long experience of constraining low intensity internal conflicts. They have conducted military  operations against bengali's; Pathans and Baluchi people. Bengal they lost only because India intervened. They however have been able to successfully  hold both Baluchistan and NWFP freedom fighters at bay in  protracted campaigns.

Overall  security for the Saudi state will still be in the US hands. There is no  known credible immediate threat to it anyway. Israel has no plans or even a need to engage Saudi Arabia. Saudi need to show concern for the ummah requires them to take a position from time to time. They do that by making appropriate noises. Saudi's do nothing more and definitely take no military action at all.

Just day to day local armed houthi challenge and such will be now taken on by the Pakistan army units legally. This is the crux of this pact. This is where it's impact will be apparent. This campaign does require a ground offensive; a lot of boots and the ability to receive a lot of body bags! American lives matter; Saudi lives are too rich to die in desert. Pakistan army can  supply those bodies as long as the generals get to make some riyals!

India will need to be watchful but I do not envisage Saudi Arabia to do anything wild in case hostilities break out between India and Pakistan. As far as this pact developing into an islamic NATO is concerned.... don't make me laugh! There is no ummah, period! They are individual states more often cross with each other than together! Let them sort out Palestine question first!

 

AI generated Image 

End Game!

 "Buddha under the tree of knowledge" 

Still Life.     Digital photo.

Ashutosh kaul - 2025

Amrita pritam once described the outermost limit of sorrow as the situation where the 'ink in your pen too dries out'. You  are so sad that you can not even write about it. Your tears would have dried out long ago.

I remembered this as I was recently lounging on the undulating deck of the lake house. Water waves from the lake were sloshing the sides of the deck and the moon was shining in the night sky. I could see the deep blue of the sky adorned with twinkling stars as far as my gaze reached. There was no other sound , just myself, stars and the gentle lake!

Life is what you make of it. All of my troubles at that moment just evaporated.Gone! I realized I still have it in me to take sorrow head on. My ink is yet to dry; even my tears are well and truly alive! We are not going to need them today anyway.

I was in grade 3 when Ms. Kusum, the music teacher at our school called me out of my classroom. We went up to the music room on the first floor. She had  heard my humming and wanted to see how good I can be. Her harmonium was all set up and she asked me to sing. Anything. I sang a few lines from a cabaret number pictured on Helen.  Then she requested another song. This time I picked a Rafi song. Remember I was in grade 3. This went on for a bit and I still remember the look of increasing disappointment on her face. She had failed to discover the next singing sensation. I was never going to be a singer! I am in tune but my voice is just short of horrible. 

People that know me , know that I hum all the time. Even during a major crisis a tune is playing in my mind. Kusum madam that day left me with  her loving advice to keep humming always. I have kept it up. I was very young and did not realize the disappointment then.  Later I complained silently! God should had given me a good voice.

Only recently have I found how beneficial humming is for your mental health.It also has a salubrious impact on  other physical parameters including your cardiac health.That's the gift God wanted me to have and made Kusum madam deliver it!

My teacher Mr.Jugal Kishore Sharma; who is still in touch with me sent for me to come over to grade 8 class room. I was in grade 6. The teacher thought highly of me and asked me to speak extempore on " movement is life"! There I was under a spotlight. Junior most lecturing to the senior most! I did mumble something about dead make no movement. I was nervous and hot under the collar but that day taught me a systematic process of thinking. I am still learning but  God did send guidance to Sir who created the opportunity for me to elevate.

Later in life I found myself  a student in Nainital. A smaller place and a  nondescript educational institution was my fate. I seriously resented it but had no wriggle room. Why me? Why?

Two years down the line I had developed a lifelong love of poetry and won a national scholarship. Money I used to fund 4 years of my art education. 3 out of 4 years I did not take a single cent from home. Drawing material is very expensive and in those pre computer days everything was to be done in real time. Nobody had heard of virtual design. I would have been hard pressed if that scholarship did not exist. I used up a tonne of expensive drawing material that God provided by sending me to Nainital. I see this clearly now!

I came out of the university and got a job that my class mate recommended me for. She got selected from campus but  her family was immigrating to the US and their papers had come in. She told her soon to be ex boss about a brilliant designer- me! Thing to note is that she did not recommend her special friend. I have always wondered about it. Apparently being a gentle, self less person is not without merit. God does see everything! 

I applied  for a project in Russia as a long shot; with zero experience of large projects and that too in a foreign work environment. I got an interview; surprise ! The project director turned out to be a neighbour and knew my father well. He did not let this on during the interview and I did not know him from Adam. I got to be the project designer without knowing much. Good luck; God; dad's stellar reputation ; call it whatever! I was so unqualified that I would not have hired myself if it was my decision! That's how God helped me earn a reputation for being an expert in foreign projects. Later on I worked on several  such projects in Europe as well as on the Indian sub continent. Needed help came from above!

Era immediately post this project happens to be the lowest point in my life as I lost pretty much everything I had been working towards for years. It's devastation is still a daily challenge. We will not go there today. But listen I got hired by the Government of India to be their design consultant on the strength of my Russian experience. Pretty sweet , isn't it?

What happened in one interview actually was surreal. It was for another job and I was in the waiting area with some other candidates when I was called in. The vice president, HR interviewing me was ex army; a major general to boot. As I entered he said; "come in Mr. Kaul, I have already selected you, I just wanted to see you in person"! Seriously! That was the interview. Rest of the time we had coffee and he told me about his various campaigns that he commanded. Just like that and  I was the graphics manager for the Hyatt Group!

Apparently he had a very high opinion of my community and the fact that our community had to be  refugees in our own land because of Islamic terrorism in Kashmir made him sympathetic. 

In perspective God sending me to be born in that smelly by lane of  old  Srinagar city; to lower middle class parents and into a much persecuted minority community was just part of a grand design. Do you see that?

J Walter Thompson is a very big communications company; very old and very reputable. Somehow I got hired. Unknown to me was that my boss had the reputation of going through a lot of teams. He would sacrifice a team member to save his position. I was to be his second in command!

I was given a project second day on the job.  The client Motorola had rejected thirteen design submissions and we were just a whisker away from losing the project entirely.  That had major implications on other jobs in the pipeline. Big bucks were involved. Mega bucks! I was hired to be the sacrificial lamb that would be chopped when we did loose the project! I was told all of this later by other people; much later!

 Completely unaware of the danger, I did what I did and rest is history. My career  within the organization boomed on that one design with back lit circular blue ceiling feature and metallic wall panels. Sounds very cheesy and you will not catch me doing it today. Back then though this Client not only ate out of my hands while I worked for JWT; It gave me projects worth a lot  when I started my own practice. That led to me accessing  funds to be able to come abroad! I also became the choice designer for all tech clients.

You can not miss the hand of God in all this. A dodgy boss; angry client;  rookie designer.... How did it all come up smelling roses?

So back to my starry night. I am not exactly a fan of the city I currently live in. My hand really got forced as I was finding my home town unbearably choking for reasons we will not go into today.

I really  can not start to sum up all the blessings I have had ; in all other facets of life too! I feel thankful to many individuals that became the agent of God's benevolence towards me. Too many to count here. I have not done much to deserve this amazing experience that I have had.

God saw my challenges and trials of the past few months and God decided to give me some peace; where I am ! A lot of peace, lot of clarity, strength and  a sense of balance was on offer as well. There can be no other explanation to it. It is God showing me light!

I trust God to provide exactly what I need; what I deserve and what I have earned! Right on time! God will retain what is not for me and  God will provide in abundance what is meant for me! All I have to do is what I have to!  Just be completely honest; truthful and not be selfish nor betray others or myself! That's it! Simple!

I trust that not only will God provide a cherished sunset; God will never forget to provide a new spectacular sunrise.I will grow with every challenge.Life is what you make of it. God is looking out for me!

Silence of Paradise!

Representative picture

No ,I am not crying; no; not really! There actually is a story; a ghost story behind it all and if you insist; we'll need to go back a little. Actually go back a lot; about 50 years.

I was in school and so was the witch.... alright we will call her Ghost and maintain decorum. Witch does not sound respectful and she is very easy on the eye as well. I saw the ghost in its human form for about five minutes while attending a marriage. Don't you get any funny ideas though! We hardly registered on each other's radars. Alright; alright, my radar blinked! I won't admit to anything more! No words were exchanged that day.

These memories have come flooding back because the other day I watched "Songs of Paradise". Lovely little gem of a movie  that tells the story of a legendary female singer of Kashmir- the land of my birth. Her Music has been recreated with great skill and taste . Of course it has been shot on real locations. There were those sights and sounds that reside in  all of us who hail from the place. Every street, every old house; the wooden bridge; the lake; my river, my people - everything resonated with me.  Every frame sang to me. It was an emotional roller-coaster that did transport me there and jolted the chords of  my memory.

Did I tell you I have a love/ hate relationship with the place! I do. I love everything there and I hate everything. It is because of all that I cherished and all that got denied to me! You think it is childish; but you are not me!

So this ghost did come across me a couple of more times over the years. What happened one night however was life changing. I had lost my most favourite person on earth a couple of days earlier to a road mishap. We were in deep mourning. Too many people in the house on the day that needed to sleep. So a lot of people crashed on a bedroom floor one night. Sometime during the night I felt a strange smooth warmth come over me. I was half awake, half asleep but I remember this clearly to this day. When I woke up in the morning everyone else had already gotten up and left the room. Just one person was sleeping squeezed between my mattress and the wall under a  warm cover. Only the face with unruly hair was visible. Lo and behold; It was the ghost in human form that sometime in the night found that corner to lay her head. Remember the warmth that enveloped me? It was their aura! That moment changed my life entirely. I fell head over heels for her, that exact instant. My feelings have not changed yet and most of my life has already been lived. I am not likely to fall out of it now! Not sure though if it is a blessing or a curse! Imagine finding a new begining while mourning a massive loss  !  Life is stranger than fiction. I would not  have believed it, but it happened to me.

This ghost soon became friendly; even in its human form. We interacted sporadically and became close. We shared some secrets; some jokes; lots of plans and happy times. We found we think alike and could finish each other's sentences. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Shortly ghost's human form became the very embodiment of every thing I like and everyone I like. My paradise! My Kashmir; all rolled into one person. Then one day  fate struck and the human form ran away. Hid herself in those very streets of Kashmir. Never to be found again. Never! You now realize why I hate what I love ! 

If you thought the story ended there, you would be far off the mark! It in fact started there! The ghost almost immediately returned to haunt me by taking over every cell in my body and  occupied most of my mind. I do not know how at the same time it manages to  make itself felt right behind my right shoulder also. It is inside me, outside me and around me. It does not go away. Not even for a second. It has remained there for four decades now. It is there when I am taking a shower. It is there right besides me in the car. It hears me curse other drivers on road. There it is while I take a walk. It is with me at the mall; at work; in a restaurant.... Sometimes it takes the shape of a stranger but vanishes somewhere when I go near it.

I used to get  seriously disturbed and annoyed. I wanted it to go away. I asked it to let me be; many times. I called it some very bad names to push it away. I told it how much I abhored it ! I told it to show up in the human form or get the hell lost ! Nothing ; nothing really affects this ghost. It does what it does; when it does!

 Eventually I learned to live with it after I moved cities to other corner of the world but found that the ghost is travelling with me two rows away! No, there is no getting away from this for me!

I asked myself, would I ever  have let go of it had this ghost come to me in it's human form?  It is quite complicated but the short answer is; never; no; not in a thousand years! So I have tried to have some interaction with the ghost for some years now. I tell the ghost everything that is happening with me. I ask its opinion on things. I have told a few jokes. We have had coffee together. Attended social gatherings; picnics; marriage receptions and parties. I seek Ghost's approval on my wardrobe. Don't you dare laugh!

The ghost does not speak to me. It never answers back  and it never shows up in a human form; but It has not left me yet. Ghost has kept up its ghosting.

 Of late though I do not feel  it over my right shoulder at times. It goes away suddenly and than it returns quickly. Maybe  it is going deeper inside me or maybe it is trying to leave me like it's human form did. Just when I have gotten used to it being a part of my life. 

I am no longer seeking to be free of this ghost. I do not abandon; not even my ghost! It is the only peace left to me anyway.

Dreams die. Some sooner than later. I was keeping some dreams locked, but they depended upon the ghost showing up in it's human form. That did not happen and it looks quite impossible now. So I have finally let those useless dreams leave through  the portal of my eyes. These are not tears.

It would not have hurt so much except that there is this silence on top of it.  This is so, so unbearably heavy!

Paradise has no songs for me; none! Only silence. My lost paradise is silent and I can not do a thing about it! 

I am not crying. I am not! These are my dreams finally saying good bye!

 

बातूनी!

representative graphic

इक गुज़रे ज़माने में  कुछ था  जो वो था;

कुछ हुआ ही न होता तो क्या बात करते?

इस लंबी खामोशी ने जो दूरियां बढ़ा दी हैं;

मिलते तो आंखे कहती, और क्या बात करते?

कितने तुम्हारे राज़ इस दिल में दफन हैं;

सब कुछ भी गर बताते,तो क्या बात करते?

हर बात  बतानी थी, सुनते तुम्हारी हर पल ;

 सिलसिले सब तुमने तोड़े ; फिर क्या बात करते?

 

 है तुमसे ये छुपाया, इक ही है दोस्त अपना; 

उसने भी कब निभाया, फिर क्या बात करते?

किस आसानी से तुमने मुझको दिए हैं धोखे; 

हम ये ही भूल जाते तो क्या बात करते?

"खुश हो न तुम"; बस इतना सा पूछना था;

इतनी सी बात करते; फिर क्या बात करते?

 माला फेरने की उम्र में हम; जाने किस साल पे रुके हैं!

दुनिया के शोर ओ गुल में फिर क्या बात करते?

ऐसा कैसे !

La Femme Quite Pleure (The weeping woman) by Pablo Picasso

Oil on  canvas,  1937,  61x50 cm.     Tate Museum.

अब बची ही कितनी थी,जिंदगी घिसट रही थी जैसे कैसे।

निकल जाते खामोशी से, ये दरवाज़ा बेवक्त खटका कैसे?

हवा थी ये , फिर उसमें तुम्हारी खुशबू आई तो फिर आई कैसे?

जीना यूं ही मुश्किल था, अब मरे भी तो  मरे कैसे?

जाओ अपना कत्ल तुम्हे माफ किया, प्यार है, करता न कैसे?

 ये खुद को जो तुमने ज़ाया किया, उसकी माफी कभी न दूंगा। दूं भी कैसे?

आओ दिखाएं मुस्कुराती आंखों से जी भर भर कर रोते हैं कैसे?

रोम रोम में बसने वाले को पराई बाहों में देख   रोज़ चिता पर दहकते हैं कैसे?

हर पल जिनके के साथ था जीना , बिन उनके हम बूढ़े हुए तो कैसे? 

सिखाएं तुम्हे जादू;  टूटे वादे को सपनों में  फिर जोड़ते हैं कैसे?

देखो हर रोज़ जहर पी पी कर फिर से सासों को झेलते हैं कैसे?

उम्र भर के दगा का दाग हंसकर रोकर पालते हैं कैसे?

मेरी कोई चीख तुम तक पहुंची ही नहीं, तुम्हारा सिसकना मुझे दिखेगा कैसे?

ताउम्र मेरी हर बात अनसुनी रही,तुम्हारी चुप कहीं सुनेगी कैसे?

ये होगा कैसे; वो होगा कैसे; कुछ भी होगा क्या? पर होगा कैसे?

Three of Swords!

 Ektrina was drunk a little,so was I. We had just finished dinner with our group and then continued our discussions on the renaissance movement as we took the elevator to my room. I was a little high on  champagne as I said but not so high that I could not see that she was making moves  to stay in. I was young, stupid and idealistic. So  that night after a little while I called the front desk for a taxi for her to go home; before things got  hot. That I thought was the  appropriate thing to do since I was in a committed relationship.

Do not ask me what I think today. You may not like the answer !

Anyway a couple of days later I took a long flight  to see the one I was missing so badly, the love of my life! I had managed to conjure this trip by a lot of manoeuvring; calling in every favour and at a substantial cost to me. You see, I was not supposed to break my assignment as per  my contract but I was in love and I would pay any price.

 I had bought some semi precious  trinkets and a ring which was received with eyes moist with emotion befitting the occasion. Two days later however my person stranded me because ," my friend had to buy clothes"! Really , that's  what my priority was in their eyes? My person never talked about 'us'; never discussed a future plan and mentioned the richness and the  car of this ' friend'  pretty much with every second breath during the two odd weeks I was there.

Anyway that trip I was met with naked lies, cruel deception and gas lighting.  Clearly they were already intimate and I was already on the chopping block . They just maintained the confusion by bread crumbing.  It did culminate in a shamelessly selfish and an inconsiderate full betrayal soon after with the same 'rich car driver'.

About forty years later I made another long gruelling trip to mostly see the same person. Again at a very high cost,largely emotional. I Put the acrimony  of  the betrayal behind and ignored the permanent wreck it  has foisted on my life. Yes, I am really as stupid as I was in my youth!  When I did not change; how in the blazes did I expect this person to have changed? 

Luckily nobody cheated me this time round. There were no lies, no betrayal; nothing. Literally nothing ; since nobody bothered to talk to me! I expected 'unloved' but I went unseen and unheard too. No consideration was ever shown and there was zero recognition of the effort I was making. I did not even merit the basic courtesy of a 'hi'! They chose not to  recognise my existence.  Although I made it clear that silence is rude and insulting to me;  I was met with a whole lot of silence.  Of course I was blocked on every channel of communication.They did not want to know what I had to say. At least they made a clear choice.

It was quite devastating to see how dramatically this person had shrunk. Inversely proportional to their super inflated ego! Apart from where they are in their life ; what have they become!  I cried tears of blood for what could have been if they had only trusted me in life. As usual they did not. Honest loyalty; unconditional love and pure emotions hold no value in their eyes! All  of their choices are based on their current selfish interests.  Well; so much for my long distance travelling!

 

This person lost their family, lost their faith, lost identity, lost culture , lost honour. They lost a career; lost equality & freedom; lost an unconditional love and  as for intellectual companionship for life - Lost! Lost! Actually I am so  wrong; "lost" is not the word. This hapless person gleefully exchanged all of the above for money! Yeah! They did.Tragic but true! Sadly, Based on the available evidence I do not think they have a lot of it either! 

Even if they have become super rich; it is still an abominable deal that they made; rank bad deal is what I think! There is no rationale for such a smart , educated and intelligent person to do so; except wanton greed, runaway lust and maybe some black magic.  

Forty years should have given them some clarity; lot of wisdom and a little humility. They should have realized that  no amount of money will ever compensate for what they so churlishly junked by the roadside. Enormity of all they lost  should have dawned upon them! It should have been clear that they would have fared significantly better in life, had they trusted their own  education & abilities to achieve success. They did not need anybody to be rich. Unfortunately they took the short slippery route to easy riches and paid an unaffordable price for it!

They should have realized that if someone  still cared for them despite everything; it is nothing short of a heavenly  blessing that they needed to nurture. Alas!

 

Ego, pride and emotional  immaturity destroyed this person. Their constant need for external validation and implusive seeking of sensory thrills have gotten them in trouble on every occasion.  They learned nothing from their past mishap and graduated to craft a graver one. Absolutely life altering one!

Their unwillingness  to communicate has blocked every chance of a recovery. Their running away from responsibility and accountability has made their life miserable. They do not want to address their troubles, so they have to live with it -  in hiding! 

I suspect they probably realized quickly the crazy mess they have gotten embroiled in. There were far too many red flags to miss. Sadly their pride and ego stopped them from admitting their faults and exiting their choice while there was time to repair the damage. Of course they have continued to make that  same choice every night for forty years. ' Selfish Greed' is the only explanation that fits. Maybe they are ashamed , maybe they are blase' ; but cutting all ties past this blunder to their own support network was the worst possible advice they have ever received in their life! Rank stupid, if this  was self medication. Absolutely disgraceful, manipulative and sinister if they acted upon outside advice. Who in their right mind fires their own cheering party?  I could shoot the person responsible.

 

Since they do not communicate, I am sensing from my third eye for them to be  in a 'three of swords" situation as they say in the intuitive world. They are alone and up against a wall, yet they would not let me get their back and I was physically present for it too ! God really really pushed me to show up by creating helpful circumstances magically; where none existed !

Maybe the last trip was a lesson God designed for me! God however needs to come in directly without involving me going forward. If God wishes to help! 

In fact this person has been  quite comfortable with my absence for decades. They were enjoying life in peace  all these years; never missed me! My showing up on the scene may have unnecessarily stirred up a hornets nest. I do not wish any harm  whatsoever to come to this person; specially on my account. May they live their chosen life happily. May they get  all they want. I willingly give over half of my entire good luck and blessings ever earned to this person. Let that be my gift! I  could literally cut my heart out to turn back time and avert these troubles for them but life and time sadly only work in a linear forward movement. I will always care as promised but only God can help this person - if this person's ego allows.