A collection of poems by Mandar Kokatay

Nirvana - Self enlightenment (Haiku-5-7-5)  No craving to speak Neither desire to listen Cherish this silence © Mandar Jayant Kokatay Note : The word 'Nirvana' has many meanings in different languages and cultures. In the Buddhist context nirvana refers to the imperturbable stillness of mind after the fires of desire, aversion, and delusion have been finally extinguished. [ 2] In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the divine ground of existence Brahman (Supreme Being) and the experience of blissful egolessness. Gautam Buddha attained 'Nirvana' while sitting under a Bodhi tree in Gaya, Bihar, India. Nirvana in Sanskrit literally means "blown out", as in a candle. Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away. 

Perception - Reflection (Haiku-5-7-5)  Why are you angry? Who can give all that you seek? search within and smile. © Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Immortal - A tribute to the Martyr (Haiku - 5-7-5) Fighting till the end Chose our country over life Eternal hero! © Mandar Jayant Kokatay It is since 1971 that a flame which is often known as Amar Jawan Jyoti (or the flame of the immortal soldier) is continuously burning under the shrine of India Gate at New Delhi, the capital of India.  It is a structure consisting of black marble plinth, with reversed rifle, capped by war helmet, bound by four urns, each with the permanent flame. It serves as India’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Amar Jawan Jyoti is manned round the clock by soldiers drawn from the three services of the Indian armed forces. Wreaths are placed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti on Vijay Diwas, and on 26 January, by the Prime Minister of India, Chiefs of Armed Forces, and other dignitaries. More recently, an online portal has been launched by our veterans to honour the Martyrs. You can visit it at :-   https://honourpoint.faujipoint.com

The banyan tree The banyan tree stood tall on the hill behind my house I watched it with awe and respect as a child It was a symbol of infinite strength, firmly rooted to the earth If someone would try to pull it, the entire hill would come along As I was growing up, it was also growing stronger So I thought until one day a gust of wind came along and it fell It was just a gust, mind you, neither gale nor storm And yet it lay broken, totally hollow from inside I felt deceived , heartbroken People came, cut it and took away the pieces And as the banyan tree slowly disappeared so did my childhood © Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Perpetual Questions (Haiku - 3-5-3) Who am I? A tick, cross or dot? Mark, or blot? © Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Holi - Festival of Colours ( Haiku ) Painted faces smile Water pistols, wet balloons colours riot in peace © Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Jeevan Chakra - Cycle of life (Haiku - 5-7-5) Dark, deep , wet abyss light seeps in through the far end beginning or end? © Mandar Jayant Kokatay

The Happy Atheist - Haiku (5-7-5) Punish the sinner! How dare he enjoy this life? Guilty of pleasure... © Mandar Jayant Kokatay Let us not equate happiness with sin. Someone may not worship God and yet be religious. The path to a holy life is often construed as a difficult one full of hardships and someone who enjoys his daily life is construed as a sinner.The key to a fulfilling life would be to find happiness in all that we do - first be happy ourselves and then spread that happiness all over!

Poverty, Probably - Haiku (5-7-5) Silent and shameful hunger engulfs mind to soul body seeks release © Mandar Jayant Kokatay This poem is dedicated to the hundreds of poor debt ridden farmers who commit suicide each year. 'Poverty, probably' is generally construed as the cause of suicide.

Worth (Reflections of a War Veteran) - Haiku series (5-7-5) What all did I lose? my youth? dream? friends? family? No home to return.... What all did I gain? Pride, honour, valour, respect.... life worth my nation © Mandar Jayant Kokatay This poem is dedicated to the hundreds of war veterans who give the prime years of life to the service of their nation. They sacrifice their personal lives, lose contact with dear ones, unflinchingly face death to defend their country. When they retire with worn out bodies, often with missing limbs, they sometimes do not get the respect and support that they deserve. Is their loss worth it?

The Yearning - Haiku [5-7-5] The angel went back. Unworthy devotee sat on his pile of want. ©Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Update and reboot - Haiku series [5-7-5] Using lessons learnt  during the journey of life want to start again correct past mistakes recapture long lost moments taking the right path but it cannot be choices given only once select them wisely ©Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Silence - Dedicated to Earth day Branches scoured fruits devoured bark crumpled roots shriveled The tree is silent Trees chopped shrubs cropped vegetation vanished animals banished The forest is silent Soil eroded rocks abraded inners hollowed toxins swallowed The mountain is silent Water corrupted flow disrupted motor boating filth floating The river is silent submerged ships wrecked Oil spills unchecked species near extinction killed by pollution The sea is silent billion spouts smoked aerial routes choked stars intangible climate unpredictable The sky is silent flooding population nuclear radiation weapons of mass destruction Humans - God's own creation The Earth is silent The silence has a meaning The silence is threatening The silence is deafening Is anybody listening? © Mandar Jayant Kokatay

Sanskar (Moral code, Ethics) The child refused to obey when the priest asked him to pray "We respect his religious sentiments" proclaimed the proud modern parents playstation instead of sports field chips for breakfast with cola chilled "Oh! welcome to the fast food age" "Where's the time to cook now-a-days?" The child spends hours on the pc "We respect his wishes and his privacy" Chatting with strangers or downloading porn "How could we have even known?" Watching the idiot box at bedtime Instead of fairy tales,stories of crime shows of voilence, hatred and brutality "Oh! Honesty loses, wickedness wins, that's reality" A liqour filled cabinet Unlimited access to internet adult movie dvds, social apps on mobile phone With this at home, the child is left alone "Oh! He will jump over the gate" "He is usually out till late" "Must be partying with his friends"