SUNIL KAUSHAL

 

 

Homeland

 

These days I resent my adulthood.

How can I forget my childhood

when green and saffron were just colours

I painted marigolds with,

that lent the same glow to skins,

dusky, yellow or fair.

A bouquet, an orchestra,

a kaleidoscopic melange

each flower diverse, each note a melody

embracing unity, splurge rainbows

not religious monochrome-icity.

Clothes, food, and language

didn’t light a matchstick

to bridges of communication.

‘Sevaiyaan’ offered, were received with love

Diwali sparkled in every home

families interacted, making time to bond

over platters of home-made sweets.

‘Langar’ served, high or low

seated together in the same row.

Next door lived Uncles and Aunties

not ‘Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh neighbours’

a call from whose temple

may suddenly snuff my life.

Thankfully Christmas is still an ongoing feast

I dread to think of riots

while carol singers reassure the snowy night,

‘Silent Night, holy night………all is calm, all is bright’.

 

‘Tis said that bygones are best forgotten

And I wonder-

do I even belong to this India?

Copyright@DrSunilKaushal

 

I Am Because You Are

 

Conceived alike, we’re born the same way,

coursing in our veins, red is the same.

First breath in, isn’t crying the same

last breath out, isn’t life’s end also the same?

Each perfectly carved finger, a function apart,

one less, new manoeuvres the hand will start.

If it wasn’t for shadows, who’d know what is light

till I burnt my fingers, I’d not searched for the cold

when my less became lesser, I learnt what was more.

 

I am I because you are

to grasp this,

I’ve yet to travel afar.

Copyright@DrSunilKaushal

 

SUNIL KAUSHAL

 

Dr. SUNIL KAUSHAL, gynaecologist, trilingual poet, author, translator, essayist, and editor, translated into French, German, Greek, Punjabi, Chinese, and Bengali, has won two awards for her memoir, ‘Gypsy Wanderings & Random Reflections’ – 1) The Nissim Non-Fiction Prose Award by The Significant League 2020 and, 2) The Golden Book Award by Wing’s Publication International, 2024. She is a winner of multiple awards, some of which are- Women Achiever’s Award 2019, Enchanting Muse & Fellow of the Regal World of Scribes, featured in the Limca Book of Records, featured in the Golden Book of Records, gold medalist in dramatics, and Best Lioness President Asia award.  She also dabbles in haiku, micro-poetry, and limericks. Published in a number of National, International anthologies and magazines, you can read her in Crumpled Voices 2, Feathers, Nature Poems, Forever a Lie, Bloodshot Eyes, Learning and Creativity, Love – A Divine Madness Vol.1&2, Episteme, Kafiyaa, On Fire Cultural Movement, Setu,  Storymirror, Kalaage, Muffled Moans, The International Multilingual Amravati Anthology,  Glomag, Quill Master, The Significant League’s Roseate Sonnets Anthology(International), Aatish 2, her memoirs Gypsy Wanderings & Random Reflections Part1, and her blog sunilkaushal44.blogspot.in. In October 2017 she was honored at the Indian World Poetree Festival with The Enchanting Muse Award (International) and Fellow of the Regal World of Scribes (FRWS), by The Pentasi B Poetree Group. She has been designated as Literary Brigadier by Story Mirror. Currently, ‘Gypsy Wanderings Part 2’, her book of poems and translation of her brother P.S. Gill’s book from German to English, keep her busy. An accomplished actor, she has done a number of stage plays, TV, and radio programs. Having been on the Advisory Committees of National TV and All India Radio, and as the medical doctor on board, All India Radio, Jalandhar, for 30 years, she brought about a number of changes for Women and Children’s Welfare for which she was awarded, ‘Best Lioness President, Asia in 1982. She has also been chairperson of a number of socially committed organizations for many years and is associated with Mother Teresa’s Home. Sketching, Yoga, meditation, Classical and Sufi music charge this 81-year-old with vitality, staying in love with life!