Tuesday 18 December 2018

Moomal and Rano: A love story that blossomed in Thar deserts


I was in Jaisalmer Fort with guide, who was telling me the glorious past of this fort.A question flashed in my mind and asked him “Jaisalmer is situated in Thar Desert. Is there any legendary love story “He promptly replied yes there is a story of Moomal andRano.Wow: I got a new story to share with readers, my friends.

So I am posting this legendary love story of Moomal and Rano , as narrated by the guide.This story is of that time when the great India was one subcontinent.It dates back to sixteenth century.During that period this area was known as Sindh province, the two cities “UMER KOT’ now in PAKISTAN and; JAISALMER” in INDIA.
In India it is called a love story of Rajasthan, in Pakistan it is known as a love story of Sindh. Rano is now sung during mehfils of Pakistan. It is most frequently requested musical piece in a mehfil of kafi genre.
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689 – 1752).A noted Sindhi Sufi scholar, mystic, saint, and poet, widely considered to be the greatest Muslim poet of the Sindhi language.He has also compiled love story of Mumal and Ranoin his collection of poems” Shah Jo Risalo”-- or Poetry of Shah. This is one of the most popular tragic romances from Sindh, Pakistan.


Introduction of main characters of this story.

1. Moomal Rathore:--She was a legendary gorgeous and intelligent princess. Living in Kak Palace, weaved on a web of magic. Built in village Ludarva (Jaisalmer-India).
2. Rano Mahendro:- A minister in royal court of Umerkot (now in Pakistan)
3. Soomal:-- Sister of moomal.Soomal was too beautiful but most cleavers.
4. Hamir Soomro:--He was ruler of Umerkot (now in Pakistan)
During sixteenth century in the Sukkar district of Sindh near Mirpur Mathelo (Now in Pakistan). Gujjar chieftains Nand used to rule over that area.He had nine daughters but amongst all Moomal was most beautiful and Soomal was most clever. 

And Love Story Starts As-----Mumal was an extremely beautiful Rajput girl whose beauty and charms were famous not only in Jaisalmer but also far and wide. She wanted to marry someone who would win her heart with his bravery and intelligence. Mumal, along with her seven sisters and attendants would weave a web of magic in Kak Mahal to test them. Several kings and princes tried their luck but in vain.
The reputation of this palace and of Mumal’s dazzling beauty soon became a legend. Once Rana Mahendra Sodha, the ruler of UmerKot in Sindh (now in Pakistan), reached the banks of the river while hunting. He too was attracted by the magical Kak. From the window of her palace Mumal saw Mahendra and his friend resting by the river bank, so she sent water and some refreshments for them. She invited them to rest in the palace till next morning.
Like others, Mahendra also had to cross the labyrinths and other hurdles to reach the palace. He was an intelligent and courageous man which led him to succeed in reaching the palace, unharmed. Mumal was very impressed and decided to accept him as her consort. Mahendra spent the night at the palace and returned to Umer Kot in the morning.
Eventually their love blossomed. Mahendra found a camel which was fast enough to cover long distance from Umer Kot to Kak & back in few hours. Each night Cheetal, the camel, used to take him to spend time with Mumal and they would return to Umer Kot by dawn. He could not keep his mind off Mumal and would keep humming “हाले नी मूमल म्हारी अमराणे रे देश” (Come with me to my Umer Kot, Oh Mumal).
One day, when Mahendra’s family got to know of his love for Mumal, they ordered to break the legs of Cheetal. That night another camel was arranged for him by his friends. The camel was not as fast and experienced as Cheetal. Mahendra didn’t have any option and started his journey. After a while he whipped the camel in order to make her go fast. The camel started running. In the dark Mahendra couldn’t figure out the direction and the result was that he reached Barmer instead of Jaisalmer.
At the same time at Medhi, Mumal kept waiting for Mahendra and started playing games with her sisters. One of her sisters Sumal dressed like a man. Time passed and they were tired and sleepy. Sumal slept in man’s attire with Mumal on her bed.
At Barmer, on realizing his mistake, Mahendra raced towards Jaisalmer and when he reached Kak Mahal, he mistook Sumal as Mumal’s paramour. Disgusted, he left his riding cane besides Mumal’s bed and returned to Umer Kot. He was highly distraught that Mumal had cheated on him.


Mumal pleaded Mahendra to forgive her but he ignored her requests. To prove her innocence, Mumal set a fire and jumped in it. When Mahendra came to know of this, he rushed to the place where Mumal was already in flames; he joined her to be consumed by the fire along with Mumal.
And that was the end of a fervent legendary love story of Mumal and Rano that blossomed in thar Deserts. It is said: Death does not kill love, nor do prisons prevent love!
Posted by Engr Maqbool Akram with help of story available on net and photos are also from sources of net with thanks.


Friday 14 December 2018

Black December: A killer Bullet: White December: I Am Alive: The Destiny

Again it is month of December; December overwhelms me. I am remembering that Black December, sitting in cosy winter sunshine of December, in my lawn.The dry leaves were rustling in the breeze.That killer bullet was shot at to snatch the bag filled with Government cash, lacs of Rupees.Destiny played its role, Rajoo was killed, and I am alive to share this real story.I am alive, hence I say it white December.
Rajoo entered in my life for a reason.It seems that he was a godsend angel in my life to sacrifice himself; to keep me alive.This happened in a Black December 28 years ago.It was destiny that brought us together.

That was a cold and bright day of December.The railway crossing, which most of the time would have been closed, strange it was open. This railway track has high railway traffic, from Calcutta to Jammu .The National highway leads to Nainital and far ahead to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir.
Surprisingly by the time we reached here, it was open. My office from this point was hardly 300 meters away.Suddenly a killer bullet bursted the silence. Rajoo was lying fell down on railway line.Two boys riding on motorcycle were running away after snatching government cash bag having lacs of Rupees.


We were carrying salary cash of field and office staff from Bank. Rajoo was sitting with cash bag, behind Mr “Z “on his Motorcycle. I was behind Mr “X” .Seeing wounded Rajoo lying on Railway line, I ran away crying and shouting on foot to Division office.
With the help of my Executive Engineer and other staff , unconscious  Rajoo was carried to district Hospital,where Doctors  advised to carry him  to King George Medical College Lucknow.In an ambulance,and one night journey we reached Lucknow ,where Doctors declared him dead.We came back with dead Rajoo.
Entry of Rjoo in my life
I was lying on my bed trying to sleep; mind was blown out to decades back when I was a young bachelor Engineer.


After completing my Engineering degree, I got a job in Steel Authority of India (SAIL) ,posted in Rourkela (Orissa).From there my officers shifted me to a coal field mines area to look after construction work of a conveyor belt, for carrying coal from mines .That was a tribal area , surrounded by thick forest.
I was a homesick boy and unfamiliar to that life. I was not comfortable there at a distance of about 1500 Km.I remembered the day, in one trip to home, when first; my father introduced me to Rajoo. I was in need of a boy for my domestic and kitchen work.


I liked him. His education was upto class 10th, a soft spoken boy.Before joining SAIL, in Rourkela, I appeared in State Engineering Services .By the grace of Almighty, my name was in successful candidates.Without any hesitation, and I joined state Engineering services.Needles to mention that Rajoo came with me.
The loot of govt money and murder of a govt employee was taken seriously by the state and district administration. An F.I.R was already lodged .Now it became a normal system to interrogate me by police, and press reporters. In any such statement, it may be that I told “They were looking young people by their bodily physique of normal height”.

Next day this was main headline of all local and state level news papers, adding more salt and pepper .It fuelled and fanned to me and my family’s tension and greife.The climax to it, that within few days, I received a  threatening letter stating....

“Tumne bahut badi galti ki hai, mujhe pehchan kar, ab tumhare aur tumhare bachchon ki khariat nahi hai”(You have done a gt.mistake by recognising us, now we will not leave you and yr family). 
I am thankful to my higher officers, District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, to provide police protection. A sub inspector ranked police officer was my shadow.From that day, to my great pain and tension; it was a normal routine of police to call me in police station at any time to sit me idle. By the grace of Allah that days passed away.After few weeks shadow was removed.


One fine day I was checking my official letter Dak pad.The same threatening letter was in my dak pad.Again, I was under police security, a police shadow for me.I requested my senior officers to transfer me, other district far away from this city.
One day, I was asked by police to come in district jail for shanakht parade of culprits in jal. I was unable to recognize any one of them. “Dhanyawad, Namaste”, some one among them shouted happily.


In the meantime, I got my transfer orders to a remote Eastern district. I with my family shifted to that place .This ended my fearful days.
Destiny of Rjoo’s Family
Raju’s wife got a Govt. job as a peon on humanitarian ground. They hired a room and lived.
After many years, I got a horrifying story of Raju’s wife. She married her brother in law (Rajoo’s younger brother).During some illness she died.His husband (Rajoo’s brother) an educated man, M.A.in Economics, got a govt job in place of her wife (Raju’s wife). This happened decades before. I don’t know where is Rajoo’s brother, and his children .I pray for their happy life.Ameen

Moral of Story
“Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our “protector.” And in Allah let the believers put their trust.Thank Life for Happening, Thank Every Twist and Turn. There Is A Reason For Every Single Thing; There Is A Reason For Every Worry And Concern.”
Yes: it is true that everything in life happens for a purpose, and always for our own good. If we think about it, all our past experiences actually happened to bring us to where we are today and it is always for the good. All the past experiences make us a better person.
What to say about the tragedy happened with Rajoo, it was his fate, his destiny.That was the month of December, when Rajoo was killed by killer bullet, that is why I remember this month as  Black December.It was my destiny that I am alive ,so that was a white December for me.
Hamlog khilona hai, ek aise khiladi ke

Jisko abhi sadiyon tak ye khel rachana hai.

Written and posted by Engr Maqbool Akram.Photos used are symbolic, taken from net with thanks.








Saturday 8 December 2018

Learn to Maintain Self Respect: If You Don’t Respect Yourself, Why Should Anyone Else?

While growing up, everyone repeatedly told you to respect others. And because of this, you may have became obsessed with pleasing everyone else, putting yourself last. Hence it is important to learn to Maintain Self Respect: If You Don’t Respect Yourself, Why Should Anyone Else?
If you truly want to respect yourself, then you have to accept yourself, and work on becoming the person you always dreamed of becoming. Take steps to maintain self respect,to know how to feel happy with whom you are and make the world treat you as you deserve to be treated as a respected personality.
Respect starts from within, so if you wish to be respected, you have to do what it takes to respect yourselfthat is, living in a way that demonstrates self-respect. Would you speak to a respected friend the way you speak to yourself? Your treatment of yourself sets the standards for how others will treat you.If you have no self-respect you can't respect others, because what value would you offer someone by giving the respect of o“The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.” (Mark Twain)
If you want self-respect, don't stagnate. Seek out meaning and passion in your life. Look for opportunities for growth and positive change, even if you feel scared. Jump into the river of life and keep moving. You'll find self-respect comes naturally if you do.
Why Self Respect is Important
On the other hand, Self Respect is a positive emotion. It is all about honoring yourself and honoring what you stand for. It makes you independent and it comes only when you follow the path of discipline. Self Respect makes you respect your boundaries; it helps you define and honor your own opinion as distinct from others. It makes you respect the choices you make in your life and above all, it gives you independence of thoughtRespecting Your Mind, Body, and Spirit. Don’t look in a mirror and say, “I’m not attractive” or “I’m so stupid.” That’s not what matters. Don’t you think your loved ones love you unconditionally? Of course! They love you because of what’s inside of you. They respect you for who you really are and you can learn to respect yourself too.
Respect your body because it is the home of your mind and spirit, then harness that spirit and love it because it is who you are.Loving your body, mind, and spirit is the key to gaining self-respect. It is then that you can extend yourself out to meet the needs of others.

Look After Your Appearance, Without Being a Slave to Fashion. Our appearance is important. It can give us confidence or it can make us feel awkward. Take care of our appearance; dressing smart for the right occasion gives us self confidence. At the same time, we don’t want to be the slave of fashion trends. Dress for your own benefit; don’t dress in the expectation of pleasing others and receiving compliments.
Learn to Handle Criticism.We are sensitive beings. Nobody likes criticism and when we are criticized, either directly or indirectly, we feel bad about yourself – even if the criticism is not justified. To maintain a sense of self respect, we need to learn how to deal with criticism. Don’t take criticism personally.

Look at it from a detached perspective. Maybe it is false, in which case we should ignore it. If their is some truth, we can use it to develop our character. However, it is important not to take criticism too personally. Just because we are not very good at a particular task, doesn’t mean we need to lose our self respect.
Spend time with respectful people.We tend to attract people in our lives who reflect our state of mind. If you're lacking in self-respect, you might be reinforcing your feelings by surrounding yourself with people who don't respect you. Begin to create boundaries for yourself that show others you have self-respect. Release people from your life who don't honor your boundaries. Actively seek out people who treat you the way you want to be treated.
Believe in your choices. If you want to respect yourself, then you have to believe in the decisions you've made. You have to be firm in your beliefs and make an effort to understand yourself and to know what will really make you happy. Give yourself the reward of a decision well-made and stick to it, no matter how difficult it may be.
It's okay to ask other people for advice, and this can actually help you gain a more balanced perspective, but you shouldn't spend your time doubting yourself, thinking that what you've done is all wrong, and wishing that you had done something else.

Work on building your confidence. Achieving self-respect is difficult if you're not happy with who you are, how you look, or what you're doing. Building true confidence takes a lot of work, but doing a few simple things every day can start you on your way.
·  Start by maintaining positive body language and good posture, smiling more, and thinking at least three good thoughts about you each hour.If someone compliments you, accept their statement by saying, “Thank you.”
Maintain a positive attitude. A positive attitude can make or break your success in life, as well as your thoughts about who you are. Even if things aren't going your way, be confident about the fact that something good is bound to happen eventually. Be pleased with your everyday life and all that it can offer you. If you feel overly negative about everything and only imagine the worst in every situation, then you're bound to never feel good about who you are or to give yourself the respect you deserve.
Stop trying to keep up with everyone. One of the reasons you may be lacking self-respect is because you feel bad that you're single while all of your friends are engaged, or that you feel inadequate that you don't make as much money as other people you know. Maintain your own standards and work on achieving the goals you want to achieve.

Don’t waste your time doing what you think will impress your Facebook friends or give you bragging rights. It's much more impressive to succeed at doing what you want to do instead of following the path that everyone else has taken.
Respect Others. If you have no respect for others, how can you have self-respect? Self respect means we have an inner confidence and inner assurance, but this is not a confidence built on superiority. It is the wrong approach to try and feel better by putting others down. If we look for the good qualities in other people, it is easier to remember the good qualities in ourselves.
Maintain your environment. If you can’t take care of your home, your table or car, you can’t take care of yourself. Clean up, declutter and surround yourself with beautiful things that are a reflection of your beauty and character.
Show your hobbies.Stop hiding your hobbies. Openly share your passions. There are plenty of people who will be interested in the real you.
People will value you less when they realize you’re spineless and easily manipulated. Understand your limits and learn to say no.

Self respect comes when we value our attitude to life and other people. Even if things go badly don’t lose your self respect. Work with the best of intentions and gain your self respect from that.

Hence from above lines it is clear importance of Self respect, so learn to Maintain Self Respect:If You Don’t Respect Yourself, Why Should Anyone Else? If you don’t have respect for yourself, you won’t get it anywhere else.Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. Abraham Joshua Heschel

Saturday 1 December 2018

10-Mystic Crazy Love Quotes of Rumi Explained by By Kamaljeet Grewal (Part-3)

Rumi: Was a superstar of his and his poems were POP music of that  time. Admired loved and cherished in the East ever since and in the West and globally since the 1990s. Thirteenth Century mystic Rumi's  love poems has taken the world by storm.

Rumi -The great sufi Poet of mystic Love, of the 13th century has composed his mystic poems and prose works in Persian. Rumi was the most famous personality in the region and his fame and unique mystic poetic style full of Romance had already spread 3,000 miles away to India during his lifetime.
Translation is an art but to explain the poem in simple words, expressing what the poet wants to convey is a science.It is difficult to follow in depth the message and spirit of Rumi's poems, based only on translations.Kamal Jeet Grewal has filled this gap by explaining the real spirit of Rumi’s poem by her explanations. 
Here in this Blog: “ 10-Mystic Love quotes of Rumi Explained by By Kamaljeet Grewal”, I have selected Rumi’s ten couples –explained by Kamaljeet Grewal .Though she is not a Sufi scholar, she has elaborated Rumi's poems in graceful words that hit the hearts of its readers.
It's impossible today to imagine how popular poetry of Love with a mix of mystic was at the time of Rumi. It was the pop music of its time. Rumi is sometimes called the Master of Mystic Love because the Sufi path strives for ecstatic ego and annihilation in the fires of Divine Love.
His Sufi poems and works have the real essence of union with Beloved God, " the primal - The God", the concept of tauhid (Indivisible Oneness of God).
In his poems he added mystical references, direct emotional expressions, issues involving maturity and growth of the soul and even anecdotes about daily life.There are four major themes that run in his Sufi words: Heartache, Drunkenness, Disagreeable Lover and Aloneness.
(1)-I thought, "First I'll know you, then I'll die."
            He replied, “Whoever knows me never dies."
Explained by Kamal Jeet
Man works in a structured way with planning and organising each piece of work. 

There is always a 'first ' a 'second ' a ' third ' and yet a ' fourth ‘...And so on and so forth...
Even meeting God, he plans in steps and seriation!
But God's reply supersedes all His plans!

One who knows God...never dies...the soul lives on ...meeting God everyday ....in all his moments..as the man who has been successful in knowing God ..Sees Him in all His creations around him ...
 he no more remains a seeker ...he feels God in every atom around him ..
(2)-Love is when God says to you,
"I've created everything for you. "

And you say,
 "I have left everything for you."

Explained by Kamal Jeet
God has showered us with blessings ...that we can never count and thank Him for.

These things sometimes are so attractive that we get immersed in their beauty and take for granted and forget the Provider!

But a blessed soul is aware that all these are only second to The Beloved!
And he expresses this thought!
This soul stands delivered!!!!
Wish you dear friends...a pleasant evening..
(3)-Your Love has filled me with the madness 

no one could ever know.
Your gaze has enchanted my heart with a poem
no one could ever write. 

Explained by Kamal Jeet
The crescendo and ecstacy in Love reaches the peak ...and the outburst of the heart in Love expresses his uncontrollable feelings...

The 'madness ' in the Love of the Beloved surpasses all other madness...

One supposedly, piercing look from the Beloved
is likened to an intensely touching poetry ..that no Lover could ever have written !Magical is the Love of the Beloved!

Love is the most powerful emotion that captivates not only senses but heart and soul. Poetry is the spontaneous flow of emotions that love generates from eyes, captures the whole self and ultimately transformed into poetry.All the melodies , spiritual verses, are full of love . 
If one doesn't get mad in love that's is not love and if one writes poetry without love that can't touch the heart and soul. 
(4)-Nothing can nourish the soul 
but light.
Explained by Kamal Jeet
The Divine Light is the origin from where we have emerged...and that only nourishes the soul.... Nothing can substitute it.
The Divine Light is the origin from where we have emerged...and that only nourishes the soul.... Nothing can substitute it!
(5)-Do not ask what
Love can make or do...
Look at the colours
of the earth.

Explained by Kamal Jeet
The marvels of Love are indescribable..Unthinkable...Unimaginable..
What Love can do is unquestionable!

To see what Love can do ...it is enough to look around to see what the Love of God for His creation has done!

If that is what Love can do ...why shirk away from Love...or shy away from it ...or even stop the flow of this emotion!

It is this Love of God for us...that turns buds to fragrant blossoms ...that sprinkles the dew on each blade of grass ...that brings the string of raindrops racing down ...that brightens the sky with the rainbow ...that sprinkles the twinkling stars in the night sky ...
Spread your Love for God and mankind !
See the magic that you can create!
(6)-You smell...
...like Love.
Explained by Kamal Jeet
Love has an intoxicating fragrance!
It fills the heart, mind, and body with an essence divine !
Spread Love..
It's the perfume, which when sprinkled, can charge the environment with positivity!!!
(7)-I can sense Your
presence in my heart
although You belong
to the whole world.

Explained by Kamal Jeet
The Beloved is Omnipresent...
In our conversation to Him...one feels that He is only listening to him...little realising that each one feels similar as The Beloved listens to each one of us...

Similarly Lord Krishna gave the same feeling to each of His seekers.

It is said that each 'gopi' felt that Lord Krishna was solely dancing with her...in the Raas Lila..

He belonged to the whole world...That was His Magnanimity...

Thousands flock to the temples, mosques, gurdwaras and churches...and in prayer each seeker feels His presence within...

The Beloved belongs to everyone as much as each one belongs to Him...
(8)-What is the heart?
...A flower opening..
Explained by Kamal Jeet
Man is sent to the earth with a pure and fresh heart...the function being to Love..

to be compassionate ...to nurture positive emotions ...to pour out generosity...to shower kindness .....

Rumi calls the heart a flower...Which is to open layer after layer...Blossoming and spreading its fragrance around...

A question to ask ourselves...Am I allowing the heart to carry out the functions that God intended it to???
Food for thought!
(9) She breathes into my ear...
until my soul takes on her fragrance.
She is the soul of my soul. 
Explained by Kamal Jeet
Another one of deep lines of Rumi...
He takes a peep deeper than a normal one ..
He calls on the soul of the soul...
The soul of the soul whispers Love into its ears..and fill the soul with a divine fragrance ..
Meaning that the Soul is a living spirit ...and like a human lives and breathes because of the soul present in him .Similarly the soul's soul keeps it alive ..
In these lines Rumi treats the soul as a complete entity within itself..
(10)--Do not worry if all the candles
in the world flicker and die..
..We have the spark
that starts the fire.
Explained by Kamal Jeet
Rumi expresses hopefulness even in the most hopeless situation.
As worldly possessions have an expiry date ...they may get exhausted and become extinct!

But there is no need to worry...Because the spark of the Beloved is inexhaustible...it never has an end!
As the Guru Granth Sahib describes it as
'ANAHAD' .that which has no end!
Kamaljeet Grewal