Dilli ka Dard-e-Dil : Postcard from New Delhi

[dndeswal]

(This post is in Devanagari script. If there is difficulty in reading the text, there is need to install ‘Mangal’ font (http://vedantijeevan.com:9700/font.htm).)

दिल्ली का नक्शा पहले से ही बदलता आ रहा है, पर अब कुछ ज्यादा ही बदल रहा है । 6 मार्च 1977 को दिल्ली के रामलीला मैदान में एक ऐतिहासिक रैली हुई थी जिसमें जयप्रकाश नारायण और दूसरे दिग्गज नेताओं का भाषण सुनने के लिए बहुत भीड़ जमा थी - इमरजेंसी के बाद 16 मार्च 1977 को चुनाव होने थे, जिनमें इंदिरा गांधी को पहली बार हारना पड़ा था और जनता पार्टी सत्ता में आई थी । 6 मार्च की यह रैली उसी चुनाव से पहले हुई थी और मैं उसी भीड़ में बैठा था । 1975-76 के दौरान इमरजेंसी में दिल्ली में काफी तोड़-फोड़ हुई थी, पुराने मकानों और झुग्गियों को तोड़ा गया था । अपने भाषण में जगजीवन राम ने कहा कि दिल्ली का नक्शा पहले नादिरशाह ने बदला था और बाद में डी.डी.ए. ने !

नक्शा अब भी बुरी तरह बदल रहा है । वैसे स्वास्थ्य की दृष्टि से दिल्ली कभी अच्छी जलवायु वाला शहर नहीं माना गया, फिर भी राजधानी होने के नाते नाम तो बिक ही रहा है । देहातों में यह भी कह देते हैं - जिसने देखी ना दिल्ली, वो कुत्ता ना बिल्ली । पर हमारे बड़े-बूढ़े कहते थे कि दिल्ली कोई रहने के लायक जगह नहीं । जहां आज नई दिल्ली और दक्षिण के इलाके बसे हैं, वे बीहड़, पथरीले थे और पहले वहां खेती भी मुश्किल से हो पाती थी । पुरानी कहावत है (उर्दू में) –

चार चीज आस्ताफे रोहतक
लड़ाई, दंगा, फसाद, कौतक ॥

चार चीज आस्ताफे दिल्ली
खैर, खाँसी, बुखार, ताप-तिल्ली ॥

चार चीज आस्ताफे मुल्तान
गर्द, गामा, गुबार व गुरिस्तान ॥

आज मियां गालिब जिंदा होते तो जरूर लिखते - मेरी प्यारी दिल्ली, तुझे हुआ क्या है - तेरे दर्द-ए-दिल की दवा क्या है ? कुछ दिन पहले खबरों में पढ़ा कि दिल्ली में कमर दर्द के तीस लाख रोगी हैं - क्या सभी की कमर टूटने को है ? खाँसी, बुखार तो यहां आम बात है । हमारा एक जाटलैंडर शोभित देसवाल भी कमरदर्द से परेशान है (Need help for Slipped disc (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14776)) । यह भी सुना करते थे : दिल्ली है दिल वालों की, बंबई पैसे वालों की - चंडीगढ़ चांडालों का, कलकत्ता कंगालों का । दिल वाले लोग तो अब शायद और कहीं चले गए या दबे बैठे हैं - पर पैसे वालों, चांडालों और कंगालों का दबदबा दिल्ली पर बन गया है । पैसे वाले मिट्टी को सोने के भाव खरीद और बेच रहे हैं, चांडालों के हाथ सत्ता आ गई है और कंगाल यहाँ पर बसेरा डाल कर न सिर्फ छोटे-मोटे काम कर रहे है, बल्कि बड़ी वारदातों, डकैती, कत्ल आदि को भी अंजाम दे रहे हैं । पहले दिल्ली में जगह-जगह "प्याऊ" होती थी, पीने का पानी लगभग फ्री मिलता था, अब तो यह बहुत बड़ा बिजनेस बन चुका है, जिसकी जेब में पैसे नहीं हैं, वह बेचारा तो प्यासा ही मर जायेगा । शायद चांडालों के राज में ऐसा ही होता होगा ।

कुछ दिन पहले ही मई के महीने में दिल्ली जाने का मौका मिला । दिल्ली तो हमारे लिए कोई अजनबी शहर नहीं, पर लगता है कि अब तो अजनबी होता जा रहा है । अब यहां जाट, अहीर या गूजर आदि जातियों का दबदबा नहीं रहा । शहर की हालत देखकर हैरानी हुई, हालांकि मैट्रो रेल और कुछ फ्लाई-ओवर देखकर खुशी भी हुई ।

बात अप्रैल 1986 की है । मैं विदेश से छुट्टी आया, पालम हवाई अड्डे से नजफगढ़, बहादुरगढ़ होते हुए अपने गांव जा रहा था । उस समय आज का नया टर्मिनल चालू नहीं हुआ था । टैक्सी वाले ने शार्टकट लेते हुए 'ककरौला रोड' पकड़ा । पालम से जनफगढ़ का इलाका पश्चिम में हैं और वहां की जमीन खेती के लिए उत्तम है । पालम गांव से निकलते ही पतली सी सड़क थी, दोनों तरफ फसल खड़ी थी या कटाई हो रही थी, कुछ चने के खेत भी थे । खुली जगह, हरे-भरे पेड़-पौधे, साफ हवा-पानी । आज तो आलम ही अलग है - उसी जगह पर "द्वारका" सब-सिटी है जहां बहु-मंजिले फ्लैट खड़े हैं । एक दिन अपने एक दोस्त के घर द्वारका पहुंच गया, बिना बताये । उनको खुशी भी हुई और हैरानी भी - बिना सूचना दिये आने पर । उसके फ्लैट में कुछ काम चल रहा था, एक मिस्त्री खटपट कर रहा था । दीवार में कील गाड़ने के लिए ड्रिल से छेद करने लगा तो बरमा एकदम अंदर गया और रेत बाहर आने लगा । बोला - बाबूजी, लगता है ठेकेदार ने काफी पैसे खाये होंगे, सीमेंट तो नाम की ही है, कोरी जमुना की रेत लगा रखी है दीवारों में । यह बात मैने हरयाणा में अपने एक रिश्तेदार को बताई, जिसके अपने कई ईंट-भट्ठे हैं । वह भी बोलने लगा - "भाई, द्वारका और गुड़गामे नै तै आपणी मौज कर दी । हामनै सारी पील्ली (अधपकी) ईंट उड़ै-ए सप्लाई करी सैं, म्हारा तै टोटा दूर हो-ग्या ।"

....continued

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[dndeswal]

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....continued from previous post

कुदरत के साथ अधिक छेड़-छाड़ ठीक नहीं होती, पर दिल्ली और उसके आस-पास यही हो रहा है । 1947 में ही देहात पर हमला शुरू हो गया था । जैसे एक बड़ा अजगर छोटे-छोटे जानवरों को निगल जाता है, उसी तरह यह दिल्ली का राक्षस आस-पास के सैंकड़ों गांवों को निगल चुका है । दिल्ली के गांव तो अपनी पहचान खो ही चुके हैं, अब आस-पास कुछ शहर भी उसके लपेटे में आ चुके हैं जैसे गुड़गांव, नजफगढ़, बहादुरगढ़, फरीदाबाद, सोनीपत, गाजियाबाद आदि । लगता है जल्दी ही दूसरे शहर जैसे मेरठ, नोएडा से आगे के इलाके, पलवल, रिवाड़ी, झज्जर, सांपला, रोहतक, पानीपत आदि भी इसके शिकंजे में आने वाले हैं । इसका जिक्र मैं अपने हरयाणवी नाटक धरती के लाल (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14515) में भी कर चुका हूं । अधूरे नियोजन (Planning) और घटिया निर्माण-सामग्री के इस्तेमाल का नतीजा क्या होगा, यह तो भविष्य ही बतायेगा । श्रीकृष्ण की द्वारिका नगरी भूकंप के कारण समुद्र में समा गई थी, पर योगिराज श्रीकृष्ण अपनी सारी प्रजा की जान बचाने में कामयाब हो गए थे - सबको गुजरात की मुख्यभूमि पर ले आये - पढिये मेरा धागा SHRIKRISHNA – The Greatest Yogi Of All Times (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19324) । कल अगर भूकंप या और कोई ऐसी प्राकृतिक विपदा आ पड़ी तो दिल्ली में बसी द्वारका को कौन बचायेगा ? श्रीकृष्ण सरीखा तो दूसरा पैदा होने से रहा ।

रोहतक जिले के एक गांव में अपने एक जानकार के यहां भी मैं एक दिन पहुंच गया, बिना बताए । उनको जितनी खुशी हुई, वह उनकी जुबान और मेजबानी से ही पता चलती थी । वेदों में माता, पिता और अतिथि को "देवता" माना गया है - मातृदेवो भव, पितृदेवो भव, अतिथिदेवो भव । और अतिथि का अर्थ है - जिसके आने की कोई "तिथि" या तारीख नहीं होती । अपने गांवों में ही भारत की आत्मा बसती है । दिल्ली की आत्मा तो लगता है मरती जा रही है ।


दिल्ली का दिल

कनाट प्लेस को दिल्ली का दिल कहा जाता है । पहले यहां पर "माधोगंज" गांव हुआ करता था । अंग्रेजों ने जमीन लेकर, दो रुपये गज बेचकर प्राइवेट ठेकेदारों से सन 1933 में इसका निर्माण करवाया था । Victorian Architecture से बनाए हुए सफेद ब्लाक यहां की शान होते थे । Duke of Connaught के नाम पर इसका नाम कनाट-प्लेस रखा गया । अब इसका नाम "इंदिरा चौक" और "राजीव चौक" रख दिया गया है । यह तुक मेरी समझ से बाहर है - वे दोनों यहां पैदा हुए थे क्या ? अंग्रेजी नामों से नफरत है तो फिर अंग्रेजी जुबान से प्यार क्यों है - इसे भी चलता कर दो यहां से ! जिन्होंने इसे बनाया, उनके नाम को तो बक्श दो !

कनाट प्लेस बहुत अच्छी निर्माण सामग्री से बनाया गया था, नहीं तो अब तक ढ़ह चुका होता । फिर भी आज यहां की बिल्डिंगे लापरवाही का शिकार हैं - कुछ हिस्से गिर भी चुके हैं । मालिकों को इनकी मुरम्मत में कोई रुचि नहीं । हो भी क्यों - यहां के किरायेदार आज भी 1947 के रेट से किराया दे रहे हैं - कोई पचास रुपये दे रहा है, कोई साठ-सत्तर । खाली करवाना भी मुश्किल है, फिर मालिकों को क्या पड़ी कि वे मुरम्मत करवायें? यह सब देखकर दुख हुआ । वैसे इसके बीचों-बीच मैट्रो बन चुकी है, रौनक आज भी है, पर पहले वाली बात नहीं रही । जिस शहर का दिल ही रोगी है, उसके बाकी हिस्सों का क्या होगा ?

समय मिला तो देहात के गांवों के हालात पर भी लिख दूंगा । क्यूं रै लाडोसराय के दीवे (http://www.jatland.com/forums/member.php?u=3552) ? अपने धागे (Sealing Problem in Delhi (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17132)) में तुमने लिखा था कि MCD वाले घरों में घुस कर तोड़-फोड़ कर रहे हैं । तेरा घर तो नहीं तोड़ दिया उन सरकारी गुंडों ने ? जरा बुला लेना अपने जाट भाइयों को !
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[anilsangwan]

DND uncle ji... kya chitrannn kiya aapne Dilli ka... sahi mein... haalat waise hi hain jo aap ne likhey...Khaaskar CP ki durdasha ho rakhi hai.... Bhagwaan bachaye dilli ko...

[cooljat]

So very True DND uncle!!
It was nice to read about the real Dilli!!
quite an eye-openin readin, indeed!

Kudos to u!!

Rock on
Jit

[jitendershooda]

(This post is in Devanagari script. If there is difficulty in reading the text, there is need to install ‘Mangal’ font (http://vedantijeevan.com:9700/font.htm).)

हामनै सारी पील्ली (अधपकी) ईंट उड़ै-ए सप्लाई करी सैं, म्हारा तै टोटा दूर हो-ग्या ।"

....continued

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Bahut badhiya likhya Deshwal ji ...vaingye likhne mein aapka jawab nahi ...

[dndeswal]

DND uncle ji... kya chitrannn kiya aapne Dilli ka... sahi mein... haalat waise hi hain jo aap ne likhey...Khaaskar CP ki durdasha ho rakhi hai.... Bhagwaan bachaye dilli ko...

घटिया माल लगाने का नतीजा दिखने लगा है अनिल । सुना है अकेले द्वारका इलाके में कोई पचास के करीब ऐसी सोसाइटी या ऊंचे फ्लैट हैं जो अधूरे पड़े हैं, जिन पर कोर्ट ने ’सील’ लगा रखी है । लोगों को लुभावने सपने दिखाकर खुले रिहाइशी फ्लैटों की बजाय कबूतरखाने जैसे मकान बनाए गए हैं जिनमें हवा और रोशनी मुश्किल से ही आ पाती है और आग आदि लगने पर तो किसी को भागने का रास्ता ही नहीं मिलेगा । और सुना है कि दो दिन पहले हुई थोड़ी सी ’प्री-मानसून’ बरसात ने शहर की सीवर-व्यवस्था की पोल खोल कर रख दी है - गलियों में पानी की निकासी का इन्तजाम नहीं - पता नहीं, जब असली मानसून आयेगा तब क्या हाल होगा ।
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[dreamer]

Uncle ji aapko nahin lagta kya ... hindi main jo bhi likha ja raha hai usmain ... maatraayen or halant wagara galat falat lag rahe hain .. or padhne main ajeeb lag rahi hai ... i can understand your love towards hindi ... per yeh toh shobha nahin badhayega "asudhiyon waali hindi likhna" jo padhna bhi kathin hai ... or likhna bhi shayad ...

[dndeswal]

Uncle ji aapko nahin lagta kya ... hindi main jo bhi likha ja raha hai usmain ... maatraayen or halant wagara galat falat lag rahe hain .. or padhne main ajeeb lag rahi hai ... i can understand your love towards hindi ... per yeh toh shobha nahin badhayega "asudhiyon waali hindi likhna" jo padhna bhi kathin hai ... or likhna bhi shayad ...

At least in my posts, there is no such thing. See the Haryanavi Language page of Jatland Wiki which includes Haryanavi Dictionary which has actually been expanded and made bilingual by myself. Same is the case with my other threads. It is so because I have fairly good knowledge of Sanskrit language and am not expected to make mistakes in Devnagri or Hindi, unless someone's computer shows resistence in reading Devnagri fonts.

But some others who are trying to write Hindi posts have done so, primarily because of their poor command in handling the Hindi software. I normally do not point out this - at least it is praiseworthy that some members are making a sincere attempt to use Devnagri script in their posts.
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[cooljat]

Bhai Ravi,

u know what, Im sure u must be using 'Mozilla FireFox' browser!!!
n for ur kind info Firefox has a irritatin bug jo ki Hindi language ki sahi matraon ko galat dikhata hai!!! :rolleyes:

If u have doubt.....open same page in Internet Explorer!!! IE 6.0 n later vesion show right matra!! :cool:

Isliye bhai jaan...kisi bhi conclusion pe pahunchne se pehle vichar-vimarsh kar lena chaiiye, kyun!!

Salutations n Kudos to DND uncle jinhone Jatland ko desi ghee jaisa desi banaya with the help of introducin hindi language!! again Salutation n thanx a ton to him!!!

Bhai yo Angrezi kati farzi lanuage se.....kati kanjoos.....aapni hindi/rajasthani/haryanwi sabse andy language hai.....kati Saitsfaction sa aata hai pad ke Desi mein jaise Desi ghee sa daal liya ho muh mein....vo kehte hein na TRIPTI si ho jaati hai!!

DND uncle u keep writin in Hindi....we all luv it!!!

Rock on
Jit


Uncle ji aapko nahin lagta kya ... hindi main jo bhi likha ja raha hai usmain ... maatraayen or halant wagara galat falat lag rahe hain .. or padhne main ajeeb lag rahi hai ... i can understand your love towards hindi ... per yeh toh shobha nahin badhayega "asudhiyon waali hindi likhna" jo padhna bhi kathin hai ... or likhna bhi shayad ...

[dndeswal]

Bhai Ravi,

u know what, Im sure u must be using 'Mozilla FireFox' browser!!!
n for ur kind info Firefox has a irritatin bug jo ki Hindi language ki sahi matraon ko galat dikhata hai!!! :rolleyes:



OHO - thanks Jit, for pointing it out - I never knew about this. I just tried Mozilla - really, gaddbadd hai bhai usmein to ! Lagata hai Bill Gates ka browser (IE) hi sabse badhiya hai, aur Netscape bhi.

Please write a post to this effect in my thread "Tips for use of Hindi on your computer" (Tech Talk forum) so that others may get benefit and clear the doubts.
.

[bls31]

It was fascinating reading about Delhi, however I cant help but post my impressions of Delhi of my childhood days.
An extract from My Book The one way street BLS

I was then an excited child of six or seven accompanying my parents on a shopping trip to Delhi for my sisters ensuing marriage.

Where else one could one go for shopping in Delhi then but Chandni Chok? Of all the purchases made that day, I clearly remember the portable HMV gramophone bought from Maharaja Lal and Sons, for Rs 40, so I was told. Hand cranked, with a needle screwed in the sound box and the78-RPM record, with a two and a half minute play time. Place the needle in the grove of the spinning record and the music would come floating out, no less than a miracle, in the pre FM Radio and TV era. Yet another memory is of a bolt of cloth purchased, from the cloth shop opposite the Town Hall and the Clock Tower, once a famous landmark, alas no more. The old shop recognised now, more by the old massive tree, the trunk jutting out of a hole in the top of the veranda, old even then, than by the sign board of the shop. Memorable because it evoked an embarrassingly hilarious mental image of the wardrobe tailored for the wedding for the 3 brothers of whom I was the youngest. Though the eldest, then in college was the proud recipient of a suit with trousers and the middle brother and I had to be satisfied with suits with half pants, they were all cut from the same bolt of cotton fabric.

Chandni Chok did have 'Trams' those days, the tracks ran on one side of the road, the trams click clacking up and down the length of Chandni Chowk and possibly beyond, at regular intervals. The Tan, Tan of the bell, rung so often by the driver standing at his station in the tram , with one hand on the 'Dead man’s handle', to warn the jay walking pedestrians as also the cows and dogs, straying across, was a major contributor to cacophony in Chandni Chok.

Tram came to Chandni Chok on March 6, 1908,.
the service was discontinued in 1963

The Paranthas of the Galli of the same name, savoured for the first time, did leave a taste, still lingering, never replicated or equalled, despite many subsequent visits, accompanying my late wife, Jeet, on her frequent shopping trips.

The Majestic Picture Hall now closed and part of the Gurudwara Rakab Ganj complex at the fountain, the fountain a landmark of an era passed, demolished, a casualty to progress and increasing traffic congestion. Interestingly, while screening, block-busters of the vintage of 'Achut Kanya' a Davika Rani and Ashok Kumar starer, those days, had the lyrics of the songs, being mouthed on the screen, projected alongside on a smaller side-screen. The song-books, being sold for two paisa during interval had many ready buyers, since songs were simple, catchy and easily hum able, were in good demand.

From a later visit one evening, to the Coronation Hotel, also remembered was the 'Ice-cream' in a cup with a pink wafer stuck on the top, that my father ordered for us after dinner, seated on the terrace of the hotel.

Strangely, I have no memory of the Red Fort, the most famous landmark of Delhi and very much a tourist attraction. The drive to Mehrauli from Chandni Chowk, faintly remembered was that of a long, long one on nearly empty roads, through thick shrubs and trees on both sides. The visit to Qutub Minar is remembered for the never ending steps, going up and up and the vile smelling bats hanging upside down in the, dark circular tunnel that was the staircase.

What does comes to mind of New Delhi of that time, is the wide open spaces, nearly empty roads, an occasional sighting of a solitary commuter bus dropping and picking up an odd passenger or two. However, what is unforgettable is the sight of the Traffic Constable standing Six foot plus tall, dressed in blue and white with a stylish turban on the head, so imposing a sight did strike terror, in any traffic offender and strangely even in a child that was me.

Once on the massive steel structure, the bridge over River Jumna, now sadly, soon to be decommissioned by the railways, one was forced to follow at the speed of the vehicle in front which at times was a Tonga. The horse at a fast trot prodded along by whip lashings and choicest verbal invective of the Tonga-walla. The rumbling of the trains, passing over the upper deck, made an unusually loud racket. This unfamiliar sound generated a disturbing feeling accentuated by and reminiscent of horror tales, real or imaginary of kings and queens, fairies and witches recounted by elders mostly my aunts and servants in graphic detail late at night. Among those were frightening stories of the ghosts of those who had died or were sacrificed during the construction of the bridge by the British, to appease imaginary Gods. The recollection of these made me cower and hide my face in my mother's lap.

This day the 11th of March2007 while driving to a lunch appointment, now in my Opel Astra, some where in the Old Delhi, even after a detailed study of the Eicher map I some how managed, un intentionally, to land on the same Iron Bridge of yore, this time there was no Tonga leading me, now replaced by Auto Rickshaws, The unearthly rumbling noise, the hustle bustle, the once again unfamiliar surrounding, the river Jumna down below and the possibility of some train rumbling on the upper deck, adding its racket to the cacophony any time , strangely brought back the same unnerving feeling of unease of those long past days, to last till I exited the bridge at the Delhi end.

Returning back from Delhi, exiting from the bridge, one took a sharp 'S' turn and soon stopped at a filling station. It was a picturesque sight. The small wooden hut painted green that passed of for office with quaint looking Petrol pumps, which had two one gallon capacities, glass bottles arranged side by side. As the attendant manually cranked the pump handle the petrol level rose in one of the bottles while getting decanted from the other bottle in the car's tank. The process repeated itself alternately

Once on way towards Shahdra, the car took the lower of the two roads, then reserved for fast moving traffic, the upper being for Camel pulled, load carriers, known as Shikrams, bullock carts and other contraptions, with hanging Hurricane Lanterns, swinging to and fro while making valiant efforts to illuminate the path, slowly trudging along.

[dreamer]

Bhai Ravi,

u know what, Im sure u must be using 'Mozilla FireFox' browser!!!
n for ur kind info Firefox has a irritatin bug jo ki Hindi language ki sahi matraon ko galat dikhata hai!!! :rolleyes:

If u have doubt.....open same page in Internet Explorer!!! IE 6.0 n later vesion show right matra!! :cool:

Isliye bhai jaan...kisi bhi conclusion pe pahunchne se pehle vichar-vimarsh kar lena chaiiye, kyun!!

Salutations n Kudos to DND uncle jinhone Jatland ko desi ghee jaisa desi banaya with the help of introducin hindi language!! again Salutation n thanx a ton to him!!!

Bhai yo Angrezi kati farzi lanuage se.....kati kanjoos.....aapni hindi/rajasthani/haryanwi sabse andy language hai.....kati Saitsfaction sa aata hai pad ke Desi mein jaise Desi ghee sa daal liya ho muh mein....vo kehte hein na TRIPTI si ho jaati hai!!

DND uncle u keep writin in Hindi....we all luv it!!!

Rock on
Jit


:o yeh you are right ...

[dndeswal]

.
Rudyard Kipling, known for his classic “The Jungle Book” has wrote a long poem about Delhi and its vicinity. This one is about the battle of Panipat, in the words of the great poet.

WITH SCINDIA TO DELHI (Rudyard Kipling)

More than a hundred years ago, in a great battle fought near Delhi, an Indian Prince rode fifty miles after the day was lost with a beggar-girl, who had loved him and followed him in all his camps, on his saddle-bow. He lost the girl when almost within sight of safety.

A Maratta trooper tells the story: --

The wreath of banquet overnight lay withered on the neck,
Our hands and scarfs were saffron-dyed for signal of despair,
When we went forth to Paniput to battle with the ~Mlech~, --
Ere we came back from Paniput and left a kingdom there.

Thrice thirty thousand men were we to force the Jumna fords --
The hawk-winged horse of Damajee, mailed squadrons of the Bhao,
Stark levies of the southern hills, the Deccan's sharpest swords,
And he the harlot's traitor son the goatherd Mulhar Rao!

Thrice thirty thousand men were we before the mists had cleared,
The low white mists of morning heard the war-conch scream and bray;
We called upon Bhowani and we gripped them by the beard,
We rolled upon them like a flood and washed their ranks away.

The children of the hills of Khost before our lances ran,
We drove the black Rohillas back as cattle to the pen;
'Twas then we needed Mulhar Rao to end what we began,
A thousand men had saved the charge; he fled the field with ten!

There was no room to clear a sword -- no power to strike a blow,
For foot to foot, ay, breast to breast, the battle held us fast --
Save where the naked hill-men ran, and stabbing from below
Brought down the horse and rider and we trampled them and passed.

To left the roar of musketry rang like a falling flood --
To right the sunshine rippled red from redder lance and blade --
Above the dark ~Upsaras~* flew, beneath us plashed the blood,
And, bellying black against the dust, the Bhagwa Jhanda swayed.

* The Choosers of the Slain.

I saw it fall in smoke and fire, the banner of the Bhao;
I heard a voice across the press of one who called in vain: --
"Ho! Anand Rao Nimbalkhur, ride! Get aid of Mulhar Rao!
Go shame his squadrons into fight -- the Bhao -- the Bhao is slain!"

Thereat, as when a sand-bar breaks in clotted spume and spray --
When rain of later autumn sweeps the Jumna water-head,
Before their charge from flank to flank our riven ranks gave way;
But of the waters of that flood the Jumna fords ran red.

I held by Scindia, my lord, as close as man might hold;
A Soobah of the Deccan asks no aid to guard his life;
But Holkar's Horse were flying, and our chiefest chiefs were cold,
And like a flame among us leapt the long lean Northern knife.

I held by Scindia -- my lance from butt to tuft was dyed,
The froth of battle bossed the shield and roped the bridle-chain --
What time beneath our horses' feet a maiden rose and cried,
And clung to Scindia, and I turned a sword-cut from the twain.

(He set a spell upon the maid in woodlands long ago,
A hunter by the Tapti banks she gave him water there:
He turned her heart to water, and she followed to her woe.
What need had he of Lalun who had twenty maids as fair?)

Now in that hour strength left my lord; he wrenched his mare aside;
He bound the girl behind him and we slashed and struggled free.
Across the reeling wreck of strife we rode as shadows ride
From Paniput to Delhi town, but not alone were we.

'Twas Lutuf-Ullah Populzai laid horse upon our track,
A swine-fed reiver of the North that lusted for the maid;
I might have barred his path awhile, but Scindia called me back,
And I -- O woe for Scindia! -- I listened and obeyed.

League after league the formless scrub took shape and glided by --
League after league the white road swirled behind the white mare's feet --
League after league, when leagues were done, we heard the Populzai,
Where sure as Time and swift as Death the tireless footfall beat.

Noon's eye beheld that shame of flight, the shadows fell, we fled
Where steadfast as the wheeling kite he followed in our train;
The black wolf warred where we had warred, the jackal mocked our dead,
And terror born of twilight-tide made mad the labouring brain.

I gasped: -- "A kingdom waits my lord; her love is but her own.
A day shall mar, a day shall cure for her, but what for thee?
Cut loose the girl: he follows fast. Cut loose and ride alone!"
Then Scindia 'twixt his blistered lips: -- "My Queens' Queen shall she be!

"Of all who ate my bread last night 'twas she alone that came
To seek her love between the spears and find her crown therein!
One shame is mine to-day, what need the weight of double shame?
If once we reach the Delhi gate, though all be lost, I win!"

We rode -- the white mare failed -- her trot a staggering stumble grew, --
The cooking-smoke of even rose and weltered and hung low;
And still we heard the Populzai and still we strained anew,
And Delhi town was very near, but nearer was the foe.

Yea, Delhi town was very near when Lalun whispered: -- "Slay!
Lord of my life, the mare sinks fast -- stab deep and let me die!"
But Scindia would not, and the maid tore free and flung away,
And turning as she fell we heard the clattering Populzai.

Then Scindia checked the gasping mare that rocked and groaned for breath,
And wheeled to charge and plunged the knife a hand's-breadth in her side --
The hunter and the hunted know how that last pause is death --
The blood had chilled about her heart, she reared and fell and died.

Our Gods were kind. Before he heard the maiden's piteous scream
A log upon the Delhi road, beneath the mare he lay --
Lost mistress and lost battle passed before him like a dream;
The darkness closed about his eyes -- I bore my King away.
.

[devdahiya]

Thanks for the update DND ji.It was really inspiring to have seen you taking pains in putting across your view point in such a detailed manner
.Great goings..keep it up.My thanks is also due for Brigadier saheb for chipping in with additional inputs.Thanks for the same.

[VirenderNarwal]

But some others who are trying to write Hindi posts have done so, primarily because of their poor command in handling the Hindi software. I normally do not point out this - at least it is praiseworthy that some members are making a sincere attempt to use Devnagri script in their posts.
.
मैं आपकी बात से सहमत हूँ जी……मानता हूँ के आप प्रसन्शा के भुखे नही हैं……वेसे कम्पयुटर पर देवनगिरी में लिखना मैने आप से ही सिखा है ….और शायद दुसरे कई साथीगण भी सिख रहे है……और क्युं ना सिखें….आख़िर देवनगिरी / हिन्दी मे लिखना,पढ्ना बहुत अच्छा लगता है….अपना पन सा लगता है….कहना भाई जीत ताख़र जी का…..आपनी भाषा में पढने से मुहँ में देशी घी सा घुल जाता है ।

दयानंद जी का जाट्लैंड को बहुत बडा योगदान है………ये ज्ञान का भंडार हैं
इनका योगदान निश्ववार्थ और सहरानीय है
इनकी कार्यशैली अद्*भुत है और इसलिये हम सब इनके आगे नतमस्तक हैं
देवनगिरी में लिखना सिखाते हुए इन्होने कई बार और कई घन्टों मेरी मदद की है फ़िर भी ये कभी मायुस या उदास नही हुए…… इनकी सहनशीलता का जवाब नही
दयानंद जी मैं आपको शिर्फ़ इतना कहना चाहुंगा…..या यूं कह लो के विशवाश दिलाता हूँ के…….मैने शिर्फ़ रास्ता तया किया है……...अभी मन्ज़िल बाकी है ।

बडा होना अच्छा लगता है लेकिन बडक्पन होना उससे भी अच्छा है ।

और अंत मे……आपके लिये……….iÉuÉ xÉuÉïÌuÉkÉxÉÉæZrÉÉjÉïÇ MüÉqÉrÉÉÍqÉ|

[dndeswal]

.
The recent traffic chaos in Delhi (2-3 August 2007) due to rains reminded me of this thread of mine. I had written that Dwarka is reportedly constructed with sub-standard material which may bring havoc in future in situations like this. Poor construction of roads led to sinking of vehicles into the road, water-logging and other hardships. Similar water-logging was reported in other parts of the city, including at Dhaula Kuan. Newspaper reports indicate that it took 5 hours to reach Connaught Place from Dwarka.

There are many news reports on this and I am not giving any web-links. Those living in Delhi may be good witnesses to the situation. May God save Delhites from such scandals which only make the life miserable for common citizens.
.

[sejwaldeepak]

.
....continued from previous post

कुदरत के साथ अधिक छेड़-छाड़ ठीक नहीं होती, पर दिल्ली और उसके आस-पास यही हो रहा है । 1947 में ही देहात पर हमला शुरू हो गया था । जैसे एक बड़ा अजगर छोटे-छोटे जानवरों को निगल जाता है, उसी तरह यह दिल्ली का राक्षस आस-पास के सैंकड़ों गांवों को निगल चुका है । दिल्ली के गांव तो अपनी पहचान खो ही चुके हैं, अब आस-पास कुछ शहर भी उसके लपेटे में आ चुके हैं जैसे गुड़गांव, नजफगढ़, बहादुरगढ़, फरीदाबाद, सोनीपत, गाजियाबाद आदि । लगता है जल्दी ही दूसरे शहर जैसे मेरठ, नोएडा से आगे के इलाके, पलवल, रिवाड़ी, झज्जर, सांपला, रोहतक, पानीपत आदि भी इसके शिकंजे में आने वाले हैं । इसका जिक्र मैं अपने हरयाणवी नाटक धरती के लाल (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14515) में भी कर चुका हूं । अधूरे नियोजन (Planning) और घटिया निर्माण-सामग्री के इस्तेमाल का नतीजा क्या होगा, यह तो भविष्य ही बतायेगा । श्रीकृष्ण की द्वारिका नगरी भूकंप के कारण समुद्र में समा गई थी, पर योगिराज श्रीकृष्ण अपनी सारी प्रजा की जान बचाने में कामयाब हो गए थे - सबको गुजरात की मुख्यभूमि पर ले आये - पढिये मेरा धागा SHRIKRISHNA – The Greatest Yogi Of All Times (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19324) । कल अगर भूकंप या और कोई ऐसी प्राकृतिक विपदा आ पड़ी तो दिल्ली में बसी द्वारका को कौन बचायेगा ? श्रीकृष्ण सरीखा तो दूसरा पैदा होने से रहा ।

रोहतक जिले के एक गांव में अपने एक जानकार के यहां भी मैं एक दिन पहुंच गया, बिना बताए । उनको जितनी खुशी हुई, वह उनकी जुबान और मेजबानी से ही पता चलती थी । वेदों में माता, पिता और अतिथि को "देवता" माना गया है - मातृदेवो भव, पितृदेवो भव, अतिथिदेवो भव । और अतिथि का अर्थ है - जिसके आने की कोई "तिथि" या तारीख नहीं होती । अपने गांवों में ही भारत की आत्मा बसती है । दिल्ली की आत्मा तो लगता है मरती जा रही है ।


दिल्ली का दिल

कनाट प्लेस को दिल्ली का दिल कहा जाता है । पहले यहां पर "माधोगंज" गांव हुआ करता था । अंग्रेजों ने जमीन लेकर, दो रुपये गज बेचकर प्राइवेट ठेकेदारों से सन 1933 में इसका निर्माण करवाया था । Victorian Architecture से बनाए हुए सफेद ब्लाक यहां की शान होते थे । Duke of Connaught के नाम पर इसका नाम कनाट-प्लेस रखा गया । अब इसका नाम "इंदिरा चौक" और "राजीव चौक" रख दिया गया है । यह तुक मेरी समझ से बाहर है - वे दोनों यहां पैदा हुए थे क्या ? अंग्रेजी नामों से नफरत है तो फिर अंग्रेजी जुबान से प्यार क्यों है - इसे भी चलता कर दो यहां से ! जिन्होंने इसे बनाया, उनके नाम को तो बक्श दो !

कनाट प्लेस बहुत अच्छी निर्माण सामग्री से बनाया गया था, नहीं तो अब तक ढ़ह चुका होता । फिर भी आज यहां की बिल्डिंगे लापरवाही का शिकार हैं - कुछ हिस्से गिर भी चुके हैं । मालिकों को इनकी मुरम्मत में कोई रुचि नहीं । हो भी क्यों - यहां के किरायेदार आज भी 1947 के रेट से किराया दे रहे हैं - कोई पचास रुपये दे रहा है, कोई साठ-सत्तर । खाली करवाना भी मुश्किल है, फिर मालिकों को क्या पड़ी कि वे मुरम्मत करवायें? यह सब देखकर दुख हुआ । वैसे इसके बीचों-बीच मैट्रो बन चुकी है, रौनक आज भी है, पर पहले वाली बात नहीं रही । जिस शहर का दिल ही रोगी है, उसके बाकी हिस्सों का क्या होगा ?

समय मिला तो देहात के गांवों के हालात पर भी लिख दूंगा । क्यूं रै लाडोसराय के दीवे (http://www.jatland.com/forums/member.php?u=3552) ? अपने धागे (Sealing Problem in Delhi (http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17132)) में तुमने लिखा था कि MCD वाले घरों में घुस कर तोड़-फोड़ कर रहे हैं । तेरा घर तो नहीं तोड़ दिया उन सरकारी गुंडों ने ? जरा बुला लेना अपने जाट भाइयों को !
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hahahahahaha.,,, DN uncle ji .. ibbe tei issi kisse ki himmat hoyi koni.. arr jib dubra sealing shuru hoyi thi tei mhare hade lado sarai mein hi aaye the sabme pehlam.. gaam mein bhitar tei badan na diye kisse ne..:D anyway mhara tei lal dore mein sei.. do not worry ####:p:)

[downtoearth]

Very well written deswal sir...thanx for sharing..

[satpaldalal]

Kisi naye aadmi ko sayad urban delhi mai nahi lagega ki yahan koi gaam bhi chhipa baitha hai. Saare gaon ko dilli ne nigal liya hai. Un gaon ke laal dore nahi badhaie gaye. gaon ki boundaries par colonies develop kar dee gayi hain. Aise hi 1 gaon begumpur se mai parichit hoon. Lado Sarai ke paas hi hai. Gaon mai construction nahi kar sakte. Purane kille ke naam se pabandi hai. Gaon ke bahar hi high rising colonies hain. Agar wo colony develop ho sakti hain to gaon waale aapna aachha ghar kyon nahi bana sakte ?

Ye saara area pahle Jat, Gujjar, Ahir dominated thaa. Unki Jamin chheen kar bahar ke logo ko basaya gaya. locals ka domination khatam. Current day politics ke karan unki taraf koi dhyan hi nahi hai. Kya 1 particular location par rahne waalo ko aise din bhi dekhne pad sakte hain. Sochh kar hairani hoti hai.
Kya court ka ye kahna theek hai kya ki gaon ke andar culture / asli roop ko bachai rakhne ke liye koi business construction / activity nahi hogi. Jabki un gaon ka asli roop - uska environment us se chheen liya gaya ho.

Soch kar bada bura lagta hai ki 10 -15 saal baad Najafgarh Area ke bachhe huye gaon bhi kahi kho jayenge. Existing gaon ki pahchaan gao ke name ki bajai Nehru colony- indira nagar - Rajiv enclave jaise naam se hone lagegi.

Sarkar ko har gaon ka lal dora at least itna badhana chahiye ki gaon ke paas 2-4 sq km ki jamin gaon ke common use ke liye available ho.

[satpaldalal]

Jaisa maine pahle waali post mai hi likha tha ki Delhi ke gaon ka laal dora badhana chahiye.

LAst week hi ye announce ho gaya hai kee outer delhi ke 41 gaon ka laal dora badha diya jayega. Thanks to authorities. Jyadatar gaon Najafgarh, Nangloi area se hain.

[dkumars]

Uncle ji aapko nahin lagta kya ... hindi main jo bhi likha ja raha hai usmain ... maatraayen or halant wagara galat falat lag rahe hain .. or padhne main ajeeb lag rahi hai ... i can understand your love towards hindi ... per yeh toh shobha nahin badhayega "asudhiyon waali hindi likhna" jo padhna bhi kathin hai ... or likhna bhi shayad ...


Bhai bhawnao ko samjho ... bhasha mei kya rakha hai... bhasha toh keval ek medium hai vichar prakat karne ka....

[dkumars]

Bahut achha Deshwal ji... aise posts karte rahiye

[dndeswal]

.
Delhi is in news now-a-days on its peculiar road transport system. There are reports on a daily basis that blue-line buses are playing havoc with the lives of Delhites. Though introduction of Metro Rail is a good start, much needs to be done to get rid of the chaotic public transport system in Delhi. Will someone living in Delhi area shed some more light on this scenario ?
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[desijat]

Somwhow i feel this thread has hyped up some critism for Delhi and we all are ignoring the developments that have taken place in recent past which have made life of all of us Delhites more simpler and better... for instance


Delhi Metro - Now we can travel to Dwarka from CP in just half n hr and soon the same line will tap in Noida and East Delhi too,
Delhi is proud to have 88 fly overs to its credit, most in India. Ring Road almost has no traffic signals besides a few near Rajghat
We have the best roads in India. Recently a few of my friends were here and they just fell in love with the roads of Delhi and the greenery that we have now specially post CNG implementation to HMVs
NCR region is proving to be a good option for a lot of MNCs to set up offices and factories here because of several positive reasons


Just a few points that i could think of instantly, of course there are problems that exist but am satisfied with the way my Delhi is progressing...Just cant wait for 2010 to see finally how will it look like:)

[dndeswal]

Just a few points that i could think of instantly, of course there are problems that exist but am satisfied with the way my Delhi is progressing...Just cant wait for 2010 to see finally how will it look like:)


Why to wait till 2010 Vikas? Wait till 2021 – DDA has plans to build five more mega-cities (like Dwarka) within Delhi before 2021, on 60,000 Hectares of land, adding a population of about 75 lakhs ! Then, Delhi’s population could be around 2.5 crores ! What would happen to this huge village of Delhi which is already under pressure of population and lacks civic amenities? I wonder it is ‘vikas’ (progress) or ‘vinash’ (destruction). The little bit of agricultural land which is left in Delhi, would vanish forever ! Two links are given below:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=7176af70-f336-4527-88ca-4e3003f2bee5&&Headline=5+new+mega-cities+in+Capital+by+2021 (http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=7176af70-f336-4527-88ca-4e3003f2bee5&&Headline=5+new+mega-cities+in+Capital+by+2021)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/COUNTER_VIEW_Five_mega_cities_to_house_73_lakh_peo ple_planned_for_Delhi_by_2021/articleshow/2681494.cms (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/COUNTER_VIEW_Five_mega_cities_to_house_73_lakh_peo ple_planned_for_Delhi_by_2021/articleshow/2681494.cms)

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[plsehrawat]

Why to wait till 2010 Vikas? Wait till 2021 – DDA has plans to build five more mega-cities (like Dwarka) within Delhi before 2021, on 60,000 Hectares of land, adding a population of about 75 lakhs ! Then, Delhi’s population could be around 2.5 crores ! What would happen to this huge village of Delhi which is already under pressure of population and lacks civic amenities? I wonder it is ‘vikas’ (progress) or ‘vinash’ (destruction). The little bit of agricultural land which is left in Delhi, would vanish forever ! Two links are given below:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=7176af70-f336-4527-88ca-4e3003f2bee5&&Headline=5+new+mega-cities+in+Capital+by+2021 (http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=7176af70-f336-4527-88ca-4e3003f2bee5&&Headline=5+new+mega-cities+in+Capital+by+2021)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/COUNTER_VIEW_Five_mega_cities_to_house_73_lakh_peo ple_planned_for_Delhi_by_2021/articleshow/2681494.cms (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/COUNTER_VIEW_Five_mega_cities_to_house_73_lakh_peo ple_planned_for_Delhi_by_2021/articleshow/2681494.cms)

.

recently world jat aryan foundation adopted a resolution that any jat selling his land in delhi, haryana, ....up...etc. would have his reservation in jobs that were created on his land that was basically meant for agriculture. where, even if enough compensation was given to jats for their lands but that was not enough to give them immediate direction to invest that money. some jats of munirka...outer delhi etc. could not digest that money, and hence invested that in various means like buying buses etc. that were plying on the roads where jats had little experience. jats gave that land to their young borns to give that further to their young borns. but all those young borns were uprooted from their land in delhi, like the jats in sindh and dwarika...

in usa, canada.. in various universities I saw the reservation for aboriginal tribes.

why not same should be adopted in india????

not less than chief justice will represent this case in supreme court.