From The Quill of Suranya

My heart is that of Radha's  Longing to reunite with my Beloved. My soul that of His,  One and the same, he and I.  There they sit together  Witnessing song, dance, and frolick  Colours that smear the same  On every skin,  Rich, poor, class and caste alike. The red of love, the orange of sacrifice  The yellow of spring, green of everlasting promises. And here I am, dancing in a frenzy  Singing the praises of the Lord  Who made you and I?  Would He not grant me a final wish,  And reveal Himself to me  As the drums play along? ~ Suranya Holi is celebrated across India as a day when Krishna confessed his affection for Radha. However, in most parts of East India, especially Odisha and Bengal, this full moon is celebrated as Dol Purnima. Here's why: Vishambhar Mishra was born in Nabadwip, Nadia, in a commoner's house on the day of Holi in 1486 CE. As he was born under a Neem tree, his nickname (Daak naam) was Nimai. His affecti...

 A crowd was gathered, busy making idols of clay;  She placed her luggage down there, looking for a place to stay. "Excuse me, can you help me out?" They scrutinised her in doubt.  Hair unbound, curls falling back on her waist,  "Tie it up, good girls don't let their hair loose." They said. Her skin was dark; she didn't care.  They told her, "Oh, true beauty is always fair!" Her attire was short and sassy,  "Clothes often make a girl easy." Her opinions strong, her determination fiery,  "Opinionated feminists are intimidating and scary." She stood strong, ready to do a man's job.  "You can't do what nature has decided as a man's work." She smiled at them, ready to take their leave,  "Oh, wait, where are you going, giving up so easily?" She stared back at the idol, almost ready,  "I will come back in a few days,  Or when you are less heady anyway." They frowned at her, got back to work, u...

 I rose from fire and fire I am,  Witness my fight for right  Against this society and your scam; Everything you build in pride of might  All will turn to ashes in my sight. I stand alone, a pawn in your game,  Stripped, with all of you to blame.  Silent, shocked, watching them claim,  You can now hang your heads in shame,  But it won't bring back my lost name. I vow to God that you will pay;  You who stare at my tears in dismay,  You thought I would bear your little trick;  Here I am, a woman and 'weak',  Lest you forgot, I am Adi Shakti. Here I am cursing your Virtue,  And each one who stands today like a statue. You will compensate for the overdue respect.  Burn you will, in my flame,  I will smile and see your end. ~ Suranya

The sun rose blood red, as conch shells blew The thirteenth day had come through. His eyes shone, like the rays themselves,  Son of the greatest, a fierce warrior himself Father to the future he changed the course of war.  He had entered the vicious circle  Leaving the others behind by far. Kins turned enemies, battle against blood,  Away from his own even, alone, he stood.  He pulled out the sword, arrow and knife,  Picked up the wheel, refusing to give up his life. Seven against one, how great was he?  Laid down at sunset, lifeless at sixteen. The darkest night followed,  Broken rules, cruel killings.  Blood shook the throne of Dharma,  Or was it Adharma finally unveiling? The darkest night is here again,  To remind us of the thirteenth night,  How a brave heart fought with honour,  Against and for the people  Who weren't just as brave. ~ Suranya

I had waited from dawn to dusk  Prayed for one more day.  Will you please come back to me? Just for another stay? Instead of a murder of demons,  Blood-soaked and silent, you lay. You dreamt of a future,  I have him in my womb. Only now, he will never know his father  And you will never guide him.  Strange how this wheel of Dharma, That you uplifted every day, Where is my Justice? Why am I its prey?  Led to such a tragic injustice to us  You left me here stranded  Almost like a curse. ~ Suranya

She frowned eagerly as something reached her hand A dried seed; she stared in awe. Across the river, there was a crowd The man in meditation wore garlands of it. Who was He? Long locks, falling over his shoulder, his body smeared in ashes, A face so calm and expressionless, almost like a foreigner to feelings He seemed to come from beyond the mountains. Tribal attire, posture of glow and grace She stared mesmerised at his face. He looked up at the delicate one, who dared to chant His name At the palace that treated him like a nomad, he was now God. She chanted His name like she owned Him; a shiver ran down His spine.  Young and gentle, in meditation; she was a princess so divine. Rich clothes, materialistic life, she was brave enough to look beyond Her warrior-heart chose Him. He taught her soul-searching; she sought her purpose in life, He smiled in composure and hidden pain, for the Timeless knew the future. Even He was not beyond Fate; still He called her His. Love was such a tw...

 I walk the path unknown; I wait from dawn to dusk. Looking at the horizon with eager eyes. You rode away once to fulfil your purpose. You promised me love, the one love I waited for The kind that changed the world, beyond this lifetime. You were so different yet so similar, a mystery yet familiar, The Light in my Darkness of Life. You are my God, I, Your humble Devotee, You are Love; I, your faithful Lover. You called me the muse to your Music, I danced to the tune of your flute. Years turned to decades, and I waited for you with hope, My eyes fixed on the horizon, hearing your lore. I hear You made a home of palaces and cities of your own. I hear You battled in wars; ran away from some unscathed. I prayed every day for You. But I wonder, in my own grief and loneliness at times, Do you ever want to know my wishes? I wished to have a corner of your heart to myself. I wish we could tell the world about Love, How a simple woman my age could fall for the cowherd boy. How Love bloomed ...

 She burnt in rage; the fire engulfed her soul. Her body was ablaze with the guilt that broke An audience stood in awe, as the smoke rose. Cries and wails of her mother and sisters The soul formed a shape, with a thousand hands Three eyes shining, vermillion fiery red Everyone froze as her calm face spoke In a voice of power, echoing cold and wise, "Maybe in another life, in another time, I will have the strength to fight for you To be fit for you, to complete us." She lay lifeless as everyone gasped. Her voice reached his ears; enraged, he stood Losing Himself in love and loss The dance of destruction burnt His heart. Years passed by and a sixteen-year-old, Stood in front of a Yogi, wise and old One who had lost His worldly longings She folded her hands, pleading: "Accept me for who I am, and You will see, I am strong enough to hold on, To fight for us, to choose you against all odds." He opened His eyes, and His heart skipped a beat, For before Him stood the wife ...

 She was shocked, speechless and aghast, At the revelations happening before her. In the forest she once called home,  She was left abandoned. He, who once held her hand,  Vowed to love and protect her Left her homeless, without words, in despair. His silence spoke a thousand truths Which were disguised lies. His blood in her womb, she thought he cared But her love had failed, her heart shattered. Sad and dejected, she built a cocoon Calling it home, she nurtured her womb. He who once fought the world for her, Could not fight his own. Her hands pained from holding on, Year after year of waiting on, Hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But now she waited no longer. The Daughter of the Earth,  Warrior heart of Mithila, Decided to be brave again. He was now King; her husband was the past. A queen in her hermitage,  Follow Dharma, she must. She taught her children his deeds,  All wonderful and brave, She taught them Dignity was greater Than love and faith. She saw...

 Dancing in His glory tonight, Is the Blue-Necked Man. His rhythm makes the oceans create waves, His Dumru creates the roar of thunder. There He is, smiling like a lightning That hit my heart like an arrow of Kama. I drench in his love like the earth quenched, Waiting for the rain in summer. His hair sways like the floating grey clouds, There He is, the one who destroys all the sin in me. He moves to the beat of music, That aches my heart with longing and pain. I, the Princess of the Mountain,  Find myself yearning in tears and smiles. This may just be rain to you, O innocent human. To me, this is His Love, chosen carefully With letters from Nature, Carefully scribing His feelings. To me, this rain is divine. Once I was a child, naive and ordinary, I knew not the word for what I felt. Yet I was smitten by the ash-smeared Man. Today, a maiden of sixteen, Gauri waits Daring to call my emotions Love. Tonight, sleepless as I am, Restless for his words of approval; Prakriti answer...

One was lost in the fire. Another emerged from it. But who saw the fire in society? In the Agni Pariksha, each one of us survives. The thousands and hundreds of women everyдау. Some, the outspoken protesting Sita. Some, the silent bearer of wrongdoing, like Draupadi. Yes, History sadly repeats itself. ~ Suranya

 The fire has its own magic. It stands witness to the greatest oaths. It stands witness to the greatest vows. Always hungry, always angry, It engulfs everything that comes its way. It is calmed only by Swaha, Daughter of the Prajapati, Granddaughter of Brahma. To control him, she is summoned. With Agni, we always join Swaha. The fire has its own magic. It burns away memories, good and bad. It burns away bodies full of sins. It releases the soul from within. With its destruction, new worlds are created. With its help, man learned skills. Of food and alloys. Cooking and bending metals. Ruling the world with cuisine and weapons. The fire has its own magic. Coz it burns within you and me. Our thoughts and opinions burn. As raging as it should be. To those who stir that fire, Their souls become greater than the body. And fire thus could not touch their souls. Immortals become heroes. The fire has its own magic. One is born from it. Another perished in it. It is that taker who takes ever...