Beauty of books

Titles and captions are a hook
They get tired masses to look
Does it matter where you look?
What matters is, what you see!

Intent is to share, so it spreads
Some even turn a few heads
Does it matter what you hear?
What matters is, what you listen!

Content mostly is curated & inside
Time to read or hear will decide
Does it matter how you interpret ?
What matter is, you don't fret!

Purpose, often is to drive a message
Wide acceptance makes authors a sage
Does it matter when you will apply?
What matters is, will you comply!

Back cover is an absolute must to sell
Highlights nice words, people tell
Does it matter, what is the price?
What matter is, it makes you feel nice!

Titles and captions are a hook
They get tired masses to look
Does it matter where you look?
What matters is, what you see!

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©Balaji Palanidurai

I wrote this poem in an hour on the morning of 30th Sep 2018 while waiting for the priest whom we had asked to come to pray for my father on his 6th death anniversary.

Idle mind of current times look for something to get it engaged. So, i dipped into the whatsapp group to get inspired by heritage! There was a forward of a youtube video recording of an open house with Sadhguru for some law students. The title was interesting and hooked me to to see the 24 mins video. 

Interesting perspective shared in that and is subject to interpretation.

I have signed up for the Author Launch Pad by Success Gyan to publish a book. The kickoff session taught me a few facts about marketing a book, which I could correlate to my experience with this video title.

Result is this poem.

The anchor picture of this poem includes books that defined what I want to do next! 

Beauty of learning

You can listen to this poem ..click here

A time comes in our life, often at that
When we ponder "What am I good at?'
We daunt ourselves with that query
No answer to that makes us worry

As a child of seven, with full of energy
No fear, nor ego; just curiosity & synergy
Explore we do with our mother & nature
Learn we do, carefree of the future

Then comes the teen, full of life and colors
No mercy, no feeling; just inquiry & dollars
Explore we do with our friends and foes
Learn we do with no pain on our toes

Dawns upon us our youth, full of vigor
No tension, no reason; just freedom to figure
Explore we do with peers & strength
Learn we do with no one skill at length

Awaken we get as adults, full of responsibility
No peace, nor joy; just earning to our ability
Explore we do with everything & an illusion
Learn we do, with no clarity nor a vision

Then comes a time in our life, rare at that

When we realize "What we are good at!"

Explore we do with everyone and a mission

Learn we do, happiness thru' deep immersion


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©Balaji Palanidurai
I wrote this poem after attending a deep immersion session on The Chola Heritage organized by Heritage Inspired.

Please bear with the quality of video as I did it myself using a trail version :-)

Thanks to Vikas Madaan for giving voice to my poem.

Me, myself and WhatsApp

There was a time, in recent past 

WhatsApp took over me & fast
Instant replies to a beep from far
Distant, felt my folks close & for

Bin, block, hide or uninstall

My duel with it was, an order tall
Sin, i did by giving it a divorce
My life; saved from getting worse

21 days, lasted our blissful separation
Reengaged we were with negotiation
Limited touch agreed; work or pleasure
Habituated I got; no metric, no measure

Time is now & I live in the present
Ignore, I do, those beep with no resent
I even made a new circle of friends
Explore we do & I wish it never ends

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©Balaji Palanidurai

I wrote this on my 44th birthday for which I had made dinner plans with family and then a movie night with my wife (after a long time!!) to see the newly released Hindi movie Karwaan. We both like Irrfan Khan & Dulquer Salman both great actors in their own category.

Unfortunately, we had to drop all plan as Mr Karunanidhi late Chief Minister of Tamilnadu passed away in the evening. State mourning was declared in his honour and the least we could do was skip our party plans. 

After some Quality time with family and nice home cook food l started browsing thorugh my birthday wishes on social media. WhatsApp was overwhelmed as I had reconnected with my school(s) friends and made a new circle of friends. This positive effect of technology prompted me recollect the opposite effect it once had and what I did to neutralize. Outcome is Me, myself and WhatsApp!!

I am sure most of you will relate to this... 

Beauty of compassion

Streets many he roamed, with
lens in hand; held with passion
Retreat home he did; tanned, with
heart in hand dipped in compassion

To bring those landscapes to life
he added color to the canvas
To see life in his portait still
in b&w he clicked one, as it was

In acts of life he zoomed & clicked
angles many, at times even twice
Facts of life, subtle but there!
beauty, he knew, lies in beholders eyes

Scanned them all in order & at ease
Stumbled, he did, upon a master piece
A pair of friends sharing a drink
Looks differed, but needs in sync

Friendship day it was,
weather sunny & clear
Inundate with it, many, i did
whether, near or dear

Streets many, in quest, we roam
Ears plugged & eyes sans emotion
Free them once and feel at home
Hear, see & live with compassion

Picture taken by Shrinath Vs 

https://www.facebook.com/shrinath.v

©Balaji Palanidurai

கண்டுகொண்டேன், கண்டுகொண்டேன்

கண்டுகொண்டேன், கண்டுகொண்டேன்

இப்பிறப்பின் இலக்கை நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன்

பாரம்பரியத்தை நோக்கி "ஒற்றன் பாதை" 

என்ற விளம்பரம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்

அச்சுற்றுப்பயணத்தின் நடத்துனர் என் நண்பன் 

என்பதில் பெருமிதம் கொண்டேன்

தமிழ் பாரம்பரியத்துக்கு உரிய 

அழகையும் பெருமையையும் கண்டேன்

அதை பார்த்து, உணர்ந்து மகிழ 

புதியதோர் உற்சாகம் கொண்டேன்

உலகம் போற்றும் இலக்கியம் மற்றும்

 பேரரசர்களின் சிலைகள் கண்டேன்

அவற்றை அறிந்து, உணர்ந்து வாழ 

மனதிலோர் உறுதி கொண்டேன்

நமது வரலாறு மற்றும் கலாச்சாரத்தை 

விவரிக்கும் கல்வெட்டுகள் பல கண்டேன்

இவை மரபுவழியில் தொலைைந்து விடுமோ என்ற அச்சம் கொண்டேன்

பயணத்தில் இரு சிட்டுகள் தம் தந்தையின் 

தோள்களில் உலா வருவதை கண்டேன்

இளைய தலைமுறை இனி தலைதூக்கி

திகழும் என நிம்மதி கொண்டேன்

பழமையின் புதுமையை அறிய உணர்த்தும்

கருவிகள் உபயோகத்தில் கண்டேன்

பழமையில் புதுமை காணும் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை 

ஊக்குவிக்க உறுதி கொண்டேன்

கண்டுகொண்டேன், கண்டுகொண்டேன்

இப்பிறப்பின் இலக்கை நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன்


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©Balaji Palanidurai

This poem is inspired by the "Beauty of our heritage" poem I wrote. I received a lot of positive feedback and appreciation for the deep meaning in that. I also received few requests to write a similar one in Tamil and this is it. I wrote this in a few hours on the morning of 28th July when I stumbled upon a WhatsApp message from a friend that had links to an article about Tamil influence in Japan and Thailand.

So, I would like to dedicate this poem to my friends Clement Anand Rajaratnam (father of Ottran Padhai) and Sandhya Aravind (Founder of ChapterTwo Life coaching) whose WhatsApp message expedited this creation.

Beauty of our heritage

Beauty of heritage is in the synergy

of tradition, buildings & language
Duty of people lies in their energy
to cascade it with pride & assuage

Diverse, are cities we live in, where
time & people move rampant & fast
Immerse, they do in routines, their 

yesterday seems like a distant past

No wonder, traditions with hardly
any existence or of age
Becomes a fashion and smartly
many call it their heritage

Buildings, preserved over ancestry
through care and diligence
Transformed into abode with luxury
throw culture in negligence

Tradition & values etched on stones
narrate to us many a story
Expeditions far & many, for thrones
curate for us a hearty history

Big temples & forts of supremacy
defied laws of nature & invasions
Stand testimony to our democracy
defined rules for modern inventions

Beauty of heritage is in the synergy
of tradition, buildings & language
Duty of people lies in their energy
to cascade it with pride & assuage

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©Balaji Palanidurai
I wrote this poem after a heritage tour I went on 20-22 July 2018 Ottran Padhai (#OttranPadhai). It was to visit heritage sites of The Cholas and beautifully curated by a good (and crazy) friend of mine, themed on a famous novel "Ponniyin Selvan" by Kalki.

I started feeling like someone from that era. It kicked off an urge to find my ancestry, which I kind of know I have that roots. This, in turn, added fuel to my quest for my heritage!

Beauty of Freedom

Freedom is beautiful, isn't it?
To say yes, one has to experience it

For some, it might be freedom of speech
Not, if all they want it for, is to preach

For some, it might be freedom of the press
Not, if all they want to share, is  news to depress

For some, it might be freedom from parenthood
Not, if all they want it for, is to look under the hood

For some, it might be freedom from their occupation
Not, if all they want it for, is to complain about the nation

For some, it might be freedom from a current relationship
Not, if all they want it for, is to flaunt another courtship

For some, it might be freedom from suffering and pain
Not, if all they want it for, is to be able to do it again

And for some, it might be freedom from life
Not, if all they want to do, is to end it with a knife

For all you know, life is beautiful and we live it once
Let's make it joyful before we become past-tense

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© Balaji Palanidurai

I wrote this poem on 30th June 2018 onboard flight BA 36 sitting in a (windowless) seat 21A in the premium economy that I paid to upgrade!!
Incidents on the plane and in-flight experience inspired me to write this poem. I dedicate this to the nice cabin crew member by name Janet who said i have something in my smile to make others feel good. I have to live up to that now..no pressure.