Atalji used to be my favourite politician during my growing days. With limited knowledge of history and civics, truth to be said, I was least interested in his politics, but hugely attracted towards his personality. The way he spoke, taking long pauses, as if evaluating every word that he uttered, knowing very well what impact those would have on the people of the country that he was leading - impressed me immensely.
I remember, watching him in parliament, when every now and then he would spontaneously quote his poems to contextualize an argument, that had lasting impression on my mind.
मेरे प्रभु!
मुझे इतनी ऊँचाई कभी मत देना,
गैरों को गले न लगा सकूँ,
इतनी रुखाई कभी मत देना।
When I was reading these poems of his, I realized that I was imitating Atalji's style while reciting those in my mind. Such was his impact. And that made the poems more enjoyable.
Tagore said, “It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.”
That's probably the beauty of Atalji's poems - so simple, yet so profound.
भीड़ में खो जाना,
यादों में डूब जाना,
स्वयं को भूल जाना,
अस्तित्व को अर्थ,
जीवन को सुगंध देता है।
What great lines. "Forgetting self gives meaning to existence."
Or take these lines…
हरी हरी दूब पर
ओस की बूंदे
अभी थी,
अभी नहीं हैं|
ऐसी खुशियाँ
जो हमेशा हमारा साथ दें
कभी नहीं थी,
कहीं नहीं हैं|
or
पृथ्वी पर मनुष्य ही एक ऐसा प्राणी है,
जो भीड़ में अकेला
और अकेले में भीड़ से घिरे होने का अनुभव करता है।
Or
आदमी की पहचान,
उसके धन या आसन से नहीं होती,
उसके मन से होती है।
मन की फकीरी पर
कुबेर की संपदा भी रोती है।
And many more such
Atalji wrote poems on various subjects - life, experiences, nationalism, politics and many more.
I loved his poems that were based on his take on life's philosophy.
I am fortunate to read his poems in original language.