Oh! What’s this life? 

Dr. JYOTI PATIL

Oh! What’s this life? If I want to live it in true sense,

I should choose something to do for others, for the society,

For my country and, if possible, for the whole humanity,

Where there is no space for selfishness and greed.

Some say life is a dream, have a nice sleep and enjoy it,

But I want to see this dream melting into reality,

That reality should be better than the dream,

Where there is no fear and no hatred only love prevails.

Some say life is a tale of woes and worries,

And we have to suffer it, but I see all such emotions,

Are the ingredients of life which give us mental strength,

Focus at high aims to make others comfortable and fine.

Some say life is an endless series of experiments,

These experiments may be fruitful or meaningless,

But I want these tests to be with some genuine goals,

Which can make our life meaningful and of some worth.

Some say life is a journey of a sort in which

We have to change our pace according to terrain we tread,

I wish to make this journey useful and sweet for everyone around me,

As life is not just to live and die one day, 

But to make the world a better place for others.

 

Shun all bitterness, avarice and ill feeling,

And enjoy whatever you have around you with love and kindness, 

To make others feel happy and cheerful. 

Maharshi Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Born when India was engulfed by an era of darkness,

Cultural decay and increasing social sullenness,

As a ray of reason and progress and a spiritual revolution,

To resuscitate India’s glorious past by transforming the Indian society

Maharshi Swami Dayanand Saraswati dawned 

On the National horizon some 125 years ago.

With robust optimism and sincere idealism 

He wanted to dispel the gloom and despondency 

By instilling confidence and energy into the veins of young Indians

When Indian morality was on the decline and fraught

With leviathan problem of caste system.

Lashed out strongly against priest-craft, petrified dogmas 

And meaningless rituals, superstition and bigotry,

He pleaded to end untouchability by saying 

“Untouchables are those who are unteachable”

And promoted women’s education believing firmly

That ‘If you teach a boy you teach an individual but

If you teach a girl you teach the whole family’.

Fought against regionalism, sectarianism and factionalism

He kept a universal goal before him to salvage national pride 

And redeem Mother India from the yoke of British rule.

His wide vision, pragmatism and a streak of patriotism 

Are fully reflected in his educational conceptions, like  

‘Satyartha Prakash’ and ‘Aryabhinaya’ his famous treatises.

As the watchword of Martin Luther King ‘Back to the Bible’

He exhorted the Indians to go ‘Back to the Vedas’

For national salvation and rejuvenation, 

For supremacy of Swaraj and fervid patriotism

And established ‘Arya Samaj’ to remove all the defects of castes system. 

Now, today in the face of terrorism, trauma and troubles

Of all sorts, the intelligentsia who is adrift by falling an easy prey 

To the seductions of western culture, 

Where we justify violence, descend into dishonesty

And accept corruption as an inevitable part of our life

The teachings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati come handy to guide us

Which still make us realize about our rich, 

Priceless heritage and pristine glory.

Don’t Cry for What is Not

Don’t cry for what is not

Be happy for what you have got

You always aspire for what is unachievable

Thinking one day you may get it

Desiring one day you may find it

Hoping one day you may achieve it,

Let’s not cry for what is not

Be satisfied for what you have got 

You always dream for what is unattainable

Thinking one day your dream may come true

Desiring one day your dream may be a reality

Hoping one day you may attain it.

Be happy for what you have got

But don’t stop and don’t cry

You can better try and try

Plan out things and strive for it

Keep your target always before you

Tread towards your target slowly but steadily,

Be happy for what you have got

But don’t be sad for what is lost

Don’t get dishearten for your lot

Row your boat till it comes to shore

Go with your efforts till it comes to success

Toil hard till the end of your strength.

Because the real happiness lies 

Not in achieving the target 

But in striving for it

Once it is done successfully

The result is inevitable and unstoppable.