Pukaar

Kitni bholi thi yeh Zindagi
Sabko pyaari thi apni bandagi
Ab kaisa hai yeh sama
Khauf bardta chala yahaan

Koi to ab suno pukaar
Aansoon ruke nahi iss baar
Yeh kahar hai jaane kaisa
Kabhi socha nahi tha aisa

Le chalo dhuey ke par
Koi to ab suno pukaar

Where’s the sunshine dear
What’s this constant fear
When shall we have our share
Of love & peace right here

Oh! God we need you here…
Come here… You are our saviour… Answer our prayer…
Oh! God you are our saviour…answer our prayer…

Apno main chupa hai woh chehra
Karne lage hai ab apno se pehra

Woh to kissi ke nahi hote hai
Upperwale ka naam lete hai
Aur unhi ke ghar tor dete hai
Unka na dharm hai, Na hai koi bhasha…
Phir bhi jalaye rakhna ek asha…

Har barood se dard to mila
Par kuch der ka tha woh gila
Jinke nahi the apne…
Sajane lage apne nayey sapney…

Bahut hua ab yeh sanghaar
Kar do khali unka har ek vaar
Bas karo bharosa, mat daro…

Karo ek dusre se pyaar…
Har zakhm bhar do iss baar
Le chalo dhuey ke par
Koi to ab suno pukaar

Where’s the sunshine dear
What’s this constant fear
When shall we have our share
Of love & peace right here

Oh! God we need you here…
Come here… You are our saviour… Answer our prayer…
Oh! God you are our saviour…answer our prayer…

Yahi hai woh samay
Yahi hai woh waqt…
Jab unko nahi hai rukna
Tab hume kyun hai jhukna

Sir utha ke…
Haath mila ke…
Ab kuch aisa kar jaana hai
Shanti ka paigam lana hai
Unki soch ko mitana hai

Suno tum ab dil ki pukaar
Ho gayi hai seher
Subah hone wali hai
Yeh raat saath-saath kaat lo…
Subah hone wali hai…

                                   ~ Abhik Choudhury, '08

Spirit of Learning (The ILI Anthem)

                                    Beyond boundaries

‘I looked down from the mountain & feared I will fall, only when I was pushed did I realize I had wings’

A new bird today re-born
Ignorant & innocent he starts to learn
Hindrances now, he faces as a chance 
Limitless dreams he does enhance

He learns, learns, learns & wants to learn more…
Soaring high, his passions touches every shore

He continues to flap his wings for more
Soaring high, his passions touches every shore

In future victories he looks for solace 
To wisdom perfection is his only lace

Overcoming all, the bird flies a boundless flight
Craving for perfection he kisses endless height

He continues to flap his wings for more
Soaring high, his passions touches every shore
I wonder who the bird…is
And will I ever have the spirited wings of his…
A sparkle of zeal from within instantly whispers
And to the world I shout aloud…
I am that Bird…I am that Bird
Ardent & free I am that Bird
Transformed & ready to fly…
I am that Bird ready to soar above every sky…

 ~Abhik Choudhury, Feb 19th 2010 (released on 25th Feb. I.L.I. Induction)

My name can be anything. My Identity is Indian. All the way proudly with Shah Rukh Khan.

                     Shah Rukh, for what he is standing for & is ready to go against everything & will continue doing so, makes him the only true ‘lotus citizen’ in the dirty mud of wrong directed passions. The only one in the involved who actually showed his mettle of true upbringing & his still unscathed soul & integrity. The right path is always the difficult one they say, now we know why. But today what makes him respectable beyond words is that it’s not just his fight he is so valiantly fighting alone, it’s the struggle for each & every citizen of India. The struggle of safe guarding our right of thoughts, opinions & perceptions. Every civilization would stagnate without this, without exception each one of them. If there are no debates, no clash of thoughts, the most inevitable truth for development will be hindered…change. What I find funny is this bunch of cowards with cheap dose of politics saying they are accusing Srk, Ambani & Rahul to save their country from enemies, have already proved they don’t possess the balls to do so. Few days back they were mourning Bapu’s death & today they are violating the basic principle Bapu died for…Unity & Equality of humanity. 
Ironically we are trying to be taught to be succumbed to violence & hatred not for our enemies as they are saying but heart wrenchingly internally for each other. I don’t know why they are not understanding this simple thing that if these ‘efforts’ of their make Maharashtra an outcast in the minds of Indians, India will deeply bleed yes but will still survive. But how can they overlook the fact that one of the greatest freedom fighter of India Bal Gangadhar Tilak a true Marathi fought till his last breath for "Swaraj" (self-rule) in Indian consciousness not for Maharashtra but for his Mother India. Being proud Marathi’s as they address themselves shouldn’t they carry on the legacy & pay him homage by showing reverence to secularism. Celebrities are soft targets, they get a lot of mileage from them. When the Home Minister, Mr. Chidambaram had said the same statement for the Pakistani cricketers then they didn’t wink…deep slumber suppose. 
In last couple of days I have come across people saying, ‘no doubt Srk has done the right thing voicing his concern for Pakistani players but when we see the other side of the coin... when he had the chance to hire them he didn’t do it…why so?’ To all of them I would very humbly want to quote Shah Rukh if they allow & not quote me as unpatriotic in doing so…Pun Intended. To quote -"I wanted to take all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from Pak. but had to leave him the last moment when heard abut his wrist problem & inability to play. My coach informed me this in the midnight just before the auction. And for other players as we can't take more than the certified limit of players in IPL, we couldn't exceed. You can go through the rules." Here's the other side of the golden coin of Shah Rukh’s non-negotiable integrity. And to all who are still thinking this all is a stupid publicity stunt & spoof, I just want to share something with them, between all this mayhem Suhana, Shah Rukh’s little angel had called him twice while he was in U.S. to ask in innocent fear, “Daddy shall we have to leave India & our house when you come back?”, anyone who’s has a heart will comprehend they would rather die before letting their loved ones go through this amount of mental trauma. I honestly have nothing else to say…except for the fact I know not many Muslim men in the world who have a temple inside their house & respect for humanity in their heart. All the way proudly with Shah Rukh Khan, the living symbol of secularism, integrity & dignity a true Indian should possess. 
A century ago there were difficult dark times, much, much more dangerous but two people changed it to a hopeful light by their different ways. Mahatma Gandhi & Bhagat Singh. Today again our sovereignty, integrity, secularism & unity are in danger & we need to stand up with dignity, fight & restore them. Just this time our soul will bleed more profusely than before, for this time unfortunately we face no foreigners… 
What concerns me the most is that if the planet’s biggest democracy can’t cease idiotic & despicable politics NOW, is our Mother’s future respectable & sheltered?! 

Thanks Shah Rukh for making us remember the importance of values & making all of us realize the pride & responsibility of a true Indian. You were always my favourite…you never leave me short of raison d'être to adore you, respect you, admire you & love you to the core! Wink!! The flicker of hope against hooliganism & hoodlums which you have lit, we will keep it burning…We will make sure it naturally blends in our coming generation & they need not to make the surplus effort for what they naturally deserve…  

Abhik Choudhury (Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 3:30am)

P.S. For all my Indian friends, at times when you are suppressed & not allowed to speak, don't whisper...SHOUT...