Mukesh – As I Remember

 

Mukesh became the de-facto background singer for Raj Kapoor, but he has sung hits for Dilip Kumar and Amitabh as well. However, its the above song that I identify Mukesh with. Check out Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics:

इक दिन बिक जाएगा, माटी के मोल
जग में रह जाएंगे, प्यारे तेरे बोल

दूजे के होंठों को, देकर अपने गीत
कोई निशानी छोड़, फिर दुनिया से डोल
इक दिन बिक जायेगा …

ला ला ललल्लल्ला
(अनहोनी पग में काँटें लाख बिछाए
होनी तो फिर भी बिछड़ा यार मिलाए)-(२)
ये बिरहा ये दूरी, दो पल की मजबूरी
फिर कोई दिलवाला काहे को घबराये, तरम्पम,
धारा, तो बहती है, बहके रहती है
बहती धारा बन जा, फिर दुनिया से डोल
एक दिन …
(परदे के पीछे बैठी साँवली गोरी
थाम के तेरे मेरे मन की डोरी)-(२)
ये डोरी ना छूटे, ये बन्धन ना टूटे
भोर होने वाली है अब रैना है थोड़ी, तरम्पम,
सर को झुकाए तू, बैठा क्या है यार
गोरी से नैना जोड़, फिर दुनिया से डोल
एक दिन…

Translation

One day, you’ll be sold for the price of dirt
What you will leave behind, my dear, are just your words
So leave a song for some lips to sing 
Leave behind a mark, then leave this world

A million obstacles may come in unknown paths
But destiny will unite you with the beloved you lost
This longing, this separation
Are two moments of helplessness which is transient
So why should a brave like you be scared?

♫ Taram pam

A stream never stops till it meets the sea
So become that stream, then leave this world

Covered by a veil sits the dusky beauty
Holding the heart strings of yours and mine
May the string not slip, may the bond not snap
The dawn is about to break, with just a wee of night left

♫ Taram pam

Why are you sitting with your head down, my friend?
Lock your eyes with her, then leave this world.

One day…

Disclaimer:  It’s not easy to translate Hindi to English without losing the subtle meaning and nuances that it conveys. Let me know if you have better translation of these lyrics.

Trivia: A Majrooh Sultanpuri song was featured in the wonderful movie starring Amy Adams – Sunshine Cleaning.

Running Steamtown Marathon

I will be running again after more than 2 years.  I had last run the NYC Marathon in 2010 just a few days before my mother passed away. After her death I stopped running and could not get myself to lace up my shoes and hit the road.  However, beginning of this year I decided I should start being healthy and get fit. I have started walking long distances interspersed with some running during the walks.

The race is on October 13, 2013 near Scranton, PA. I hope to start training soon and do well at this marathon.

Lifebuoy – Wash your Hands

 

If this video doesn’t touch you… please watch again! (:

I don’t endorse any product in my blog and am not promoting this soap here. However, truth be told, like all budget conscious Indians, I grew up using the brick like carbolic acid smelling Lifebuoy. When I was a student living alone on a thinner than shoe-string budget in Delhi, I could stretch this soap to last me a month and a half. Here is the image of the original Lifebuoy (which has now been replaced by a fancier looking smaller soap).

Now living in the US, I no longer use the above soap. Heck, even most people in India rarely buy it as its considered a poor man’s soap from grandfather’s era.

This soap was featured in the classic movie A Christmas Story where Ralphie as the narrator says, “Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. Though my personal preference was for Lux, I found that Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor – heavy, but with a touch of mellow smoothness. Lifebuoy, on the other hand… (Yechh!)” . His mother makes him wash his mouth with this soap after he blurts out the ‘F’ word!

The above video is closer to truth in under-developed countries like India where lack of hygiene and clean water is the leading cause of Child Mortality (source: Unicef). Simple fact that shows nutrition alone is not what is deprived for third world children. Though I admit, as a kid I did not always wash my hands before food unless forced to.

Map of the Internet

This map shows the average Internet usage of the observed nodes over a 24-hour period. Look closely to see the traffic move with the daylight.

With cheap smartphones taking off in Africa and $20 tablets popping up in India, the world is becoming more connected by the minute. So in a few years’ time that confetti-colored map of the world above will look less like chart of privilege and more like an acid trip of progress.

source: motherboard.vice.com