By Michele Leight

It is a wonderful thing to receive an e-mail in New York City from a young person living in a country thousands of miles away (India) in which he offers his own original poem to Ashraya-New York dedicated to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Nikhil Agwan lives in Maharashtra, India, and his beautiful gift is intended to comfort and inspire, and most of all to offer hope to those who might be suffering in silence - especially the young. This is proof that there are people out there, like Nikhil, who care about you, wherever you live.

Here is Nikhil Agwan's poem, in Hindi, in honor of World AIDS Day, November 28, 2007. Translations in English and other languages will follow.

We are deeply grateful to Nikhil for his very special gift.

(Since this poem was posted, Nikhil's friend Jateen offered a second poem, that is also stunningly beautiful and heartfelt. Please scroll down).

" HUM HAIN TUM"

By Nikhil M. Agwan

Murzha gaya jeevan ke kusum ka pyara sa guldasta
ozhal ho gaya manzil tak pahuchanewala khushiyoun ka rasta,
jab kaha kisine ki tum ho HIV+ve,
aur ho gaya hai tumhara jevan aab bahut hi sasta!

Aajkal to bit jata hain sara din ye sochte-sochte,
ki kya hain in sabme humara dosh?
agar nahi the humare maa-baap unke jevan main savdhan,
to kyun hain samaj ka hum masoomon pe rosh?

Har pal jagti hain man main eek choti si aans,
ki ye duniya bulaye hume apne paas,
pyar se bithakar apni karuna ki godd main kahe humse, ki, "BACCHHO",
aaj se tum sab ho humare leye sabse khas!

Aab suniye aap sab eek baat humari,
ki,bin gulab ke kabhi nahi felti hain uski khushboo pyari,
aao aur lagalo hum sab ko apne sine se,
kyunki keval sparsh se kabhi nahi karti shikar, ye AIDS namak bimari!

Karte hain hum saab apse eek fariyad barbar,
ki jeevan main hamesha raho eek dusre ke prati imandar,
lo sahara is vijyan ke prakash ka,
aur kar do humesha ke liye band is bimari ke liye apne jevan ke dwar!

Hum bhi rahena chahate hain is sansar main,
jaise reheta hain jal main kamal ka phool,
hume bhi arambh karni hain apne jevan ki sunhari kitab,
aao aur kar lo hum sab ko pyar se kabool,
taki,
raha na jaye sapno ki dori adhuri,
ho sake hamari bhi har khwahish puri,
apnake hume mitado ye anchahi duri,
aur,
keheke eek bar "HUM HAIN TUM",
banjo ishwar ke mukh ki "

English Translation (by Anumpam Kataria)

By Nikhil Agwan (Maharashtra)

Since being informed of our HIV+ve status,
The effervescent & beautiful bouquet of life has wilted
The path of happiness to our destination has become arduous
And life now appears valueless

Now, endless days are spent trying to understand how we are at fault?
If our parents were careless / reckless, why is society punishing us?

There is a constant yearning to be cradled in the 'lap of care' and be reassured that "CHILDREN", you are most special to us!

Just as it is common knowledge that the presence of roses is imperative for a pleasant fragrance,
Similarly it is common knowledge that AIDS cannot spread simply by touch…so come & give me a hug!

We plead with you to be loyal to each other/your partners,
Use the progressive knowledge of science that enables you to exercise precaution and therefore shut all possibilities of letting this illness into your lives

Since this poem was posted on the web site, Nikhil Agwan has emailed that he was honored by his college, Vidyabharti Mahavidyalaya, Amarvati, for his poem, as an extra-curricular activity. He wrote movingly that his principal and his parents are "so very happy that he has done something caring and wise for HIV-positive people."

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL, ORIGINAL POEM DEDICATED TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Nanhe dulare......falak ke naye nazare (Little Angels….the harbingers of happiness)

By Jateen Ashokkumar Harwani

(English translation by Anupam Kataria)

Sapno k sagar main chal raha tha jeevan,
kamal ki tharah khil uth,
aur bahe raha tha jeevan,
par kyun adeept ne apni aahat sunayi?
kyun surya ki jhalak main bhi,
adeept ne apni jhalak dikhye?

Translation:
Life flowed freely & blossomed in the River of Dreams,
Oh! Why did sorrow & grief cast a shadow on the ever effervescent sunshine of their (the children's) lives.

shyam to abhi door hain,
ankhon main dhundali si dhool hain,
chal raha hoon us raha par,
jaha kantak sa jahan hai,
par phir bhi manzil ka mahal banakar,
ankhon main bana eek naya noor hain.

Translation:
They can see a foggy path to the distant sunset through their dust-laden eyes,
But continue to walk down the path with the alluring (self-created) illusion that their destination is a grand & opulent palace

kyun woh khud k jeevan k meheman ban gaye?
kyun kahi se khushiyan milne par,
woh ehesanmand rahe gaye?
kaunsa woh shamshan jaisa pal tha,
ki HIV+ve ne unke jeevan main aagman kiya,
ki unke aasal jeevan jene ke sapne,
darpan main rahe gaye.

Translation:
Why are these children guests in the domicile of their own lives? ,
Why do they have to be eternally grateful for being recipients of basic happiness & joys.
Under which bad omen did they contract the HIV virus, which has now resulted in their will to live a life of normalcy seem like a distant dream.

galat karm ki gati kisi aur ne ki,
aur bhoogatna kisi aur ko pade,
kyoun saza un jameen par bikhare sitaron ko mili?
jo aab tak aasal jeevan ki seede nahi chadhe,
jinhone aab tak duniyan ke nazare nahi padhe,
jinhone aab tak rab ke kalakte jharne se,
apne kahi gagar nahi bhare.

Translation:
Why are the children, who haven't yet even experienced life in its true & complete form, being made to bear the brunt of someone else's irresponsible actions?

bacchhe hain bhagwan ka roop,
phir bhi na mili unhe,kisi khas aur pyare maa-pitah ke pyar ki,
unke aashirwad ki dhoop!
andhare main simat gaye hain zindagi,
bass!.....kuch aur kadam aage le jakar.unhe dikahna hain,
chanda aur sitaron se nikalti roshandan jaisi dhoop!

Translation:
Even though these children are a form of God, yet their illness has robbed them of the care, love & blessings of parents, they so deserve.
Life for them (the children) is now plunged in darkness & remains a curtailed and shortened journey.

aap bacchhe sabhi khas ho,
hum sab k jaise ho,
mat samjho hume alag apne aap se,
jaise aalag nahi,
roshni nenon se,
sangeet shabdon se,
par chahe ho farkk aap assmaan aur hum dharti sa,
par chamke hain bhoomi,
jab ho falak tej behete roshandan sa...

Translation:
Children, you will always be very special to us….forever close to our hearts…
And though you may reside in the heavens above, you will remain the light that brings brightness to our lives…

 

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"Harvest of Innocence," a book by Michele Leight, founder of Ashraya-New York, available now on www.amazon.com, seeks to raise awareness about risky behavior, health, poverty and AIDS

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