Chintu and the Rolling Modak

Once upon a time, in a cheerful village surrounded by the Sahyadri hills, there lived a mischievous boy named Chintu. Chintu was known for his love of modaks, the sweet dumplings made especially during Ganesh Chaturthi.

One sunny morning, Chintu’s mother prepared a plate of piping hot modaks. Their sweet aroma filled the house, and Chintu’s stomach growled loudly.

"Chintu, don’t touch them yet! They’re too hot," his mother warned before leaving the kitchen.

But Chintu couldn't wait. “How can I resist this yumminess?” he whispered to himself. He tiptoed into the kitchen and picked the biggest, roundest modak from the plate. But as soon as he touched it—BUMP!—the modak sprang to life!

“Oh no, you don’t!” shouted the modak in a squeaky voice. “I’m too special to be eaten just yet!” And before Chintu could react, the modak rolled off the plate and out the door.

“Come back!” yelled Chintu as he dashed after it.

The modak rolled down the lane, past the mango tree. Pari the squirrel peeked out. “Where are you running, Chintu?” she asked.

“My modak is escaping!” Chintu shouted.

Pari squeaked with laughter. “An escaping modak? This I have to see!” She joined the chase, leaping from branch to branch.

The modak rolled past the river, where Moti the buffalo was splashing in the water. “What’s going on?” Moti asked, shaking off droplets.

“My modak is on the run!” Chintu huffed, still chasing it.

Moti chuckled and trotted along. “This is too funny to miss!”

The modak rolled through the marketplace, causing chaos as it zoomed under carts, toppled vegetables, and sent chickens squawking. Vendors shook their heads in disbelief, and villagers laughed and cheered.

Finally, the modak rolled straight into the temple courtyard. It zig-zagged between flower baskets and came to a stop at the feet of Lord Ganesha’s idol.

“Phew, I caught you!” Chintu exclaimed, scooping up the modak.

The modak wiggled in his hands. “Fine, you caught me! But first, offer me to Bappa. I am, after all, a special modak.”

Chintu smiled and placed the modak on the offering plate before the idol. “Bappa, this one’s for you,” he said.

After the prayers, Chintu’s mother handed him another modak—one that wasn’t running away this time. “See, Chintu? Patience always brings sweeter rewards.”

Chintu grinned and took a big bite. It was the best modak he had ever tasted!

Moral of the Story: Sometimes, a little patience leads to the yummiest rewards—and the best adventures!

Krishna and the Mighty Mountain

One day, a terrible storm began to brew over the village of Gokul. The villagers were frightened, as the storm threatened to destroy everything in its path. The people turned to King Indra, the god of rain and storms, asking for his mercy. But when King Indra was angered, he decided to punish the villagers by sending a mighty storm.

The rains came down heavily, and the winds howled. The villagers were afraid their homes would be washed away. But then, young Krishna stood up, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Don’t worry, everyone!” Krishna said confidently. “I will protect you.”

The villagers looked at Krishna, unsure how a little boy could help. But Krishna walked toward the mountain called Govardhan, smiled, and with his little finger, he lifted the entire mountain!

Krishna held the mountain above his head like an umbrella, and all the villagers took shelter under it. The storm raged on, but Krishna stood firm, protecting everyone with the mountain.

For seven days, Krishna held the mountain, never letting it drop. The villagers watched in awe as Krishna, small but mighty, protected them all. Eventually, the storm stopped, and Indra realized that Krishna was no ordinary boy—he was a divine protector!

Moral of the Story: Sometimes, even the smallest of us can do the greatest things when we have courage and faith!

Krishna’s Butter Thief Adventure

In the village of Gokul, little Krishna was famous for being playful, clever, and always full of mischief. His mother, Yashoda, loved him dearly, but Krishna had a habit of stealing butter!

Every time Yashoda would churn fresh butter, Krishna would sneak into the kitchen, quietly open the jar, and gobble up all the butter. One day, Yashoda caught him with his hands covered in butter, smiling with his mouth full.

“Krishna! What did I tell you about stealing butter?” Yashoda scolded, shaking her head.

Krishna giggled and gave a cheeky smile. “But I didn’t steal it, Mother! It was calling out to me to eat it!”

Yashoda laughed, but she wasn’t fooled. “I’ll teach you a lesson! Let’s see if you can stop stealing butter!”

Yashoda decided to tie Krishna to a big mortar (a heavy stone tool used for grinding grains). “Now, you can’t run off and steal butter again!” she said, tying the rope tightly around his waist.

But Krishna was clever. He started rolling the mortar, dragging it behind him. As he rolled it around, he discovered a group of cows who were stuck in the mud. With a quick twist of his hand, he freed them, and the cows followed him, mooing happily.

When Yashoda came to check on him, she was surprised to see Krishna surrounded by cows, with the mortar nowhere in sight!

Krishna smiled and said, “I didn’t steal the butter, Mother. I was busy helping the cows!”

Yashoda couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re clever, Krishna, but next time, no butter stealing!”

And from that day, Krishna became known as the butter thief, but he always used his cleverness for good, helping others when they needed him.

Moral of the Story: Even when we’re playful, we should always use our cleverness for good!

Little Hanuman and the Mischievous Mango Hunt!

Long ago, in the beautiful forests of Kishkindha, little Hanuman was a playful monkey. He was not only strong but also very mischievous. One sunny morning, Hanuman woke up feeling very hungry.

“I want something juicy and sweet to eat!” he said, rubbing his tummy. Suddenly, he saw a bright yellow ball in the sky.

“Ooh, that must be a giant mango!” he exclaimed. Hanuman stretched his arms, jumped high, and flew toward the sky.

But as he got closer, he realized it wasn’t a mango—it was the sun! The fiery ball of light shone brightly, but little Hanuman thought it was still a delicious fruit.

“I’m going to eat it anyway!” Hanuman giggled and sped toward the sun.

Just then, Lord Indra, the king of the gods, saw Hanuman flying dangerously close. “Stop, little one! That’s the sun, not a mango!” he shouted.

But Hanuman didn’t listen. He kept flying closer. Indra had no choice but to throw his thunderbolt. “Boom!” The thunderbolt struck Hanuman, and he fell to the ground.

When Hanuman woke up, he was surrounded by gods. Lord Shiva, Brahma, and Indra felt sorry for the little monkey.

“You’re brave, little Hanuman,” said Lord Brahma. “From now on, you will have incredible strength and the ability to fly as high as you wish!”

Hanuman clapped his hands happily. “Yay! But next time, I’ll be more careful before chasing mangoes!”

From that day, Hanuman became the bravest and strongest devotee of Lord Rama, using his powers to help others.

Moral of the Story: Clever thinking and teamwork can solve even the toughest problems!

Bunny and the Greedy Crocodile

Once, in a beautiful village with lush green fields, there lived Bunny, a clever little rabbit. Bunny loved hopping around and eating juicy carrots. Near the field flowed a wide, sparkling river where a crocodile named Makku lived.

One warm afternoon, Bunny hopped to the riverbank to munch on some grass. Just as Bunny was about to leave, Makku the crocodile popped out of the water.

“Hello there, Bunny! Why don’t you come closer? The grass here is much tastier!” Makku said with a wide grin, his sharp teeth glinting in the sun.

Bunny twitched his nose. “Tastier grass? Hmm, why are you smiling so much, Makku?”

Makku chuckled nervously. “Oh, I’m just happy to see you. Come closer!”

But Bunny was no fool. He noticed something fishy about Makku’s grin. “If you really want to help, bring the grass to me!”

Makku frowned. “Oh, uh… I can’t leave the water. Why don’t you just come over?”

Bunny thought quickly. He spotted a pile of dry leaves nearby and had an idea. “Alright, Makku. Let’s play a game! Open your mouth as wide as you can, and I’ll jump right in!”

Makku’s eyes gleamed. “This is my chance!” he thought, opening his mouth as wide as possible.

But Bunny didn’t jump in. Instead, he quickly stuffed the pile of dry leaves into Makku’s mouth and hopped away, laughing.

Makku spat out the leaves and growled. “Bunny, you tricked me!”

Bunny giggled from a safe distance. “That’s what you get for being greedy, Makku! Maybe next time, try being a friend instead of a trickster!”

From that day on, Makku stopped trying to trick animals, and Bunny continued hopping happily in the fields, always staying clever and cautious.

Moral of the Story: Quick wit and clever thinking can outsmart even the strongest foes!

Chikki Crow Outsmarts Kallu Snake

Once upon a time in a busy little village in Bengal, there lived a clever cat named Mithu. Mithu was not just any ordinary cat—she had a very important job! Every day, Mithu would visit the village marketplace, where the shopkeepers would leave their carts full of delicious fish and sweets.

One day, the kind shopkeeper, Mr. Das, placed a basket of juicy fish right outside his shop and went inside to take a nap. Mithu smelled the fish from far away and knew it was her chance for a treat! But she also knew that Mr. Das would get upset if she took the fish. So, she hatched a clever plan.

Mithu ran around the basket, meowing and purring loudly. She pretended to be very, very hungry, so the other animals in the market heard her. The crows, monkeys, and even the dogs gathered around, looking at Mithu and wondering why she was so loud.

"What's wrong with you, Mithu?" asked the crow, "Why are you making so much noise?"

"Oh, I am so hungry!" Mithu said. "If only someone could help me!"

The animals felt sorry for her. The monkey tossed a banana, the dog gave a bone, and the crows brought some crumbs of bread. Mithu, happy with all the food, ate a little of each, but didn’t touch the fish.

Just then, Mr. Das woke up and saw Mithu sitting with all her food. He laughed and said, "Mithu, you are clever! You made sure everyone helped you before you went near my fish."

Mithu smiled, and from that day, she became the most beloved cat in the village, known for her cleverness and kindness.

Moral of the Story: Clever thinking and teamwork can solve even the toughest problems!

The Clever Cat of Bengal

Once upon a time in a busy little village in Bengal, there lived a clever cat named Mithu. Mithu was not just any ordinary cat—she had a very important job! Every day, Mithu would visit the village marketplace, where the shopkeepers would leave their carts full of delicious fish and sweets.

One day, the kind shopkeeper, Mr. Das, placed a basket of juicy fish right outside his shop and went inside to take a nap. Mithu smelled the fish from far away and knew it was her chance for a treat! But she also knew that Mr. Das would get upset if she took the fish. So, she hatched a clever plan.

Mithu ran around the basket, meowing and purring loudly. She pretended to be very, very hungry, so the other animals in the market heard her. The crows, monkeys, and even the dogs gathered around, looking at Mithu and wondering why she was so loud.

"What's wrong with you, Mithu?" asked the crow, "Why are you making so much noise?"

"Oh, I am so hungry!" Mithu said. "If only someone could help me!"

The animals felt sorry for her. The monkey tossed a banana, the dog gave a bone, and the crows brought some crumbs of bread. Mithu, happy with all the food, ate a little of each, but didn’t touch the fish.

Just then, Mr. Das woke up and saw Mithu sitting with all her food. He laughed and said, "Mithu, you are clever! You made sure everyone helped you before you went near my fish."

Mithu smiled, and from that day, she became the most beloved cat in the village, known for her cleverness and kindness.

Moral of the Story: Sometimes, being clever means thinking of the right way to solve a problem, and a little kindness can bring lots of help!

Raju Rabbit and Tarun Tortoise: The Big Village Race

In a lively village near a beautiful mango orchard, lived Raju Rabbit, the fastest in all of Maharashtra. He loved to show off. “I can hop faster than the wind!” Raju boasted, thumping his feet.

Tarun Tortoise, who lived by the river, listened patiently. “Speed is great, Raju, but let’s see who can win a race,” said Tarun with a cheeky smile.

Raju burst out laughing. “You? Win against me? Alright, Tarun, let’s race tomorrow!”

The next morning, the villagers gathered to watch. The race started at the banyan tree, went around the pond, and ended at the big temple. “Ready, set, go!” shouted Meena the myna.

Raju shot off like an arrow, leaving a dust trail. Tarun, meanwhile, calmly took one step at a time. “Steady wins the race,” he muttered.

Raju sped ahead but got bored. “I’m so fast, I have time for a nap!” He dozed off under a shady neem tree, dreaming of laddoos and applause.

Meanwhile, Tarun plodded along steadily. Some kids cheering for Tarun encouraged him with a dhol beat: Dha dhin dhin dha!

When Raju woke up, he saw Tarun far ahead near the temple. “What? How is he so close to winning?” Raju dashed as fast as he could.

But it was too late! Tarun had already reached the finish line. The villagers cheered, and the temple bells rang loudly.

“How did you beat me?” Raju asked, panting.

“Slow and steady, Raju. Patience and focus always win,” said Tarun with a grin.

From that day, Raju learned an important lesson and stopped underestimating others. The villagers celebrated with sweets, and Tarun became the village hero.

Moral of the Story: Steady steps and a focused mind can outpace even the fastest feet!

Bhima’s Tug-of-War with Gajendra the Elephant

Once upon a time, in the grand kingdom of Hastinapur, lived Bhima, the mighty son of Kunti. Bhima was known for his strength and his love for food. He would eat as much as ten people! One day, the royal family had a grand feast, and all the children of Hastinapur were invited.

“Bhima, you’ve eaten more than anyone else again!” laughed his brother Arjuna, as Bhima devoured his twelfth plate of sweets.

But Bhima wasn’t full. He wanted more! As he looked around the palace grounds, he noticed something huge in the distance. It was an enormous elephant named Gajendra, roaming through the fields.

“I want to show off my strength!” Bhima declared. He quickly rushed over to the elephant, who was munching on grass.

“Hello, Gajendra! How about a friendly competition? Let’s see who’s stronger—me or you!” Bhima challenged with a big smile.

The elephant raised its trunk and snorted. “I’m very strong, little Bhima. But if you want to try, I won’t stop you!”

The two began their friendly tug-of-war. Bhima grabbed the elephant’s trunk, and Gajendra tugged back with all his might. The ground shook with each pull, and the royal family watched in amazement.

With a mighty roar, Bhima gave one last tug—and whoosh! The elephant was pulled off its feet and onto the soft grass!

Everyone cheered! “Bhima, you’re the strongest!” Arjuna said, clapping his hands.

Bhima beamed proudly. “Gajendra was a good sport! But next time, maybe I’ll try tugging with a tree!”

And so, Bhima’s strength became famous all over the kingdom, and he was known as the mightiest warrior of Hastinapur.

Moral of the Story: True strength comes from kindness and fair play, not just muscle!

The Great Cookie Adventure

In a small village at the edge of the forest, there was a bakery known for its magical cookies. The bakery was run by a cheerful young baker named Timmy, who was famous for making the best cookies in town. Every morning, a line of villagers gathered outside, eager to taste the sweet treats.

One sunny day, a little squirrel named Nutty visited the bakery. Nutty had heard rumors about the magical cookies, and he was very curious. He decided to sneak inside the bakery to find out if the rumors were true.

As Nutty tiptoed into the bakery, he noticed something strange—there were cookies floating in the air! They were twirling and spinning like they were dancing to a secret tune only they could hear. Nutty's eyes grew wide, and he couldn't resist the temptation. He grabbed one of the cookies, and the moment he took a bite, he felt like he could fly!

"Wow!" Nutty exclaimed, looking around. "This is amazing!"

But then something unexpected happened. The cookie began to giggle! "Hey, put me down!" it squeaked. Nutty was so surprised that he dropped the cookie. The cookie landed on the floor, and to Nutty’s astonishment, it stood up on its own!

"You're not supposed to eat me yet!" the cookie said, shaking its crumbly head. "I'm a Cookie Adventurer, and I have a mission to complete!"

Nutty, still in shock, decided to help the cookie with its mission. Together, they went on a wild adventure through the bakery, dodging flying flour, outsmarting mischievous doughnuts, and racing through piles of sugar. Along the way, Nutty discovered that the cookies were actually magical beings, each with their own tiny adventure to live out before being eaten.

At the end of the day, Nutty learned an important lesson: some cookies are meant to be eaten, but others have bigger dreams to chase first!

Moral of the Story: "Not all cookies are meant to be eaten; some are here to share their sweet adventures—some are born to dance and dream!!"

एक पगली लड़की के बिन

अमावस की काली रातों में दिल का दरवाजा खुलता है,
जब दर्द की काली रातों में गम आंसू के संग घुलता है,
जब पिछवाड़े के कमरे में हम निपट अकेले होते हैं,
जब घड़ियाँ टिक-टिक चलती हैं,सब सोते हैं, हम रोते हैं,
जब बार-बार दोहराने से सारी यादें चुक जाती हैं,
जब ऊँच-नीच समझाने में माथे की नस दुःख जाती है,
तब एक पगली लड़की के बिन जीना गद्दारी लगता है,
और उस पगली लड़की के बिन मरना भी भारी लगता है।

जब पोथे खाली होते है, जब हर्फ़ सवाली होते हैं,
जब गज़लें रास नही आती, अफ़साने गाली होते हैं,
जब बासी फीकी धूप समेटे दिन जल्दी ढल जता है,
जब सूरज का लश्कर छत से गलियों में देर से जाता है,
जब जल्दी घर जाने की इच्छा मन ही मन घुट जाती है,
जब कालेज से घर लाने वाली पहली बस छुट जाती है,
जब बेमन से खाना खाने पर माँ गुस्सा हो जाती है,
जब लाख मन करने पर भी पारो पढ़ने आ जाती है,
जब अपना हर मनचाहा काम कोई लाचारी लगता है,
तब एक पगली लड़की के बिन जीना गद्दारी लगता है,
और उस पगली लड़की के बिन मरना भी भारी लगता है।

जब कमरे में सन्नाटे की आवाज़ सुनाई देती है,
जब दर्पण में आंखों के नीचे झाई दिखाई देती है,
जब बड़की भाभी कहती हैं, कुछ सेहत का भी ध्यान करो,
क्या लिखते हो दिन भर, कुछ सपनों का भी सम्मान करो,
जब बाबा वाली बैठक में कुछ रिश्ते वाले आते हैं,
जब बाबा हमें बुलाते है,हम जाते में घबराते हैं,
जब साड़ी पहने एक लड़की का फोटो लाया जाता है,
जब भाभी हमें मनाती हैं, फोटो दिखलाया जाता है,
जब सारे घर का समझाना हमको फनकारी लगता है,
तब एक पगली लड़की के बिन जीना गद्दारी लगता है,
और उस पगली लड़की के बिन मरना भी भारी लगता है।

दीदी कहती हैं उस पगली लडकी की कुछ औकात नहीं,
उसके दिल में भैया तेरे जैसे प्यारे जज़्बात नहीं,
वो पगली लड़की मेरी खातिर नौ दिन भूखी रहती है,
चुप चुप सारे व्रत करती है, मगर मुझसे कुछ ना कहती है,
जो पगली लडकी कहती है, मैं प्यार तुम्ही से करती हूँ,
लेकिन मैं हूँ मजबूर बहुत, अम्मा-बाबा से डरती हूँ,
उस पगली लड़की पर अपना कुछ भी अधिकार नहीं बाबा,
सब कथा-कहानी-किस्से हैं, कुछ भी तो सार नहीं बाबा,
बस उस पगली लडकी के संग जीना फुलवारी लगता है,
और उस पगली लड़की के बिन मरना भी भारी लगता है।

- कुमार विश्वास

इर्दगिर्द

काहे आग लगाए फिरता

अंदर जो बसता है सांई

बांझ नज़र से बीज तू बोए

दुश्मन दुनिया लहु बियाही

धोखे से ही हुआ जो पैदा

और बढ़ा धोखा ही देकर

धोखा सिर पर मुकुट जड़ा तो

अंधा राजा मूढ़ सिपाही

वार करे सो वार मिलेगा

"कुर्सी" को इतवार मिलेगा

देखनवाला चैन से बैठा

तूने ही सब सुनि सुनाई

तेरी चादर तेरी रोटी

मां तेरी हर कोई बेटी

तेरा शक है कर्म की बाधा

तेरी शर्म ही तेरी लुगाई

जितना उलझा उतना भागा

तू धागा तुझे दिखे ना तागा

छिपा के मुंह जो बुनतर बैठा

तुहि उधेड़े तेरी बुनाई

पढ़ लिख कर तू ज्ञान बनेगा

चला जो भीतर ध्यान बनेगा

आप मिटे और जात मिटे तो

कण कण प्रेम का दिए दिखाई

– जितेंद्र शकुंतला जोशी

(14 Feb 2024)