Literature (Card Game)

This is a card game, i have played but only once or maybe twice in my life. But it was so amazing and mentally intriguing that i have tried every opportunity to play this. The rules are pretty complicated, in the sense that there is a lot of thinking and logical analysis that is required. The rules are just rules, but the play is how this game is defined. In terms of intrigue and challenge, i find this close to another game i frequently play, called the Twenty-Eight. More about the latter, another time.

After first playing it in 1991, i attempted to lay out the rules and play it again in 1994. But the second time, the team being smaller didn't have the same impact as the first one, which had about 8 players. And then many years later, i had another opportunity to play, but then my mind was wiped clear of most rules. A wasted attempt at trying to explain the strategy and process, in a bid to see if some members of the group i was with are able to remember and add to the rules.

I took to the internet soon after, and spend quite a bit of time trying to find this game and its rules. The biggest problem was i didn't know what we called it. I used to call it "Sequence", but that was not the real name by which this game was referred to. Finally, after several attempts that ran over a few days and months, i was able to narrow down to this beautiful site that had a collection of rules and strategy for many different card games. Pagat, showcased the rules of this game Literature, but now the problem was finding a group to play this. A recent visit to this site showed that Wikipedia hosted a page for the game too.

I am still waiting for an opportunity to play this game.

ref: http://www.pagat.com/quartet/literature.html
ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature_(card_game)
 

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge - Varun Grover

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Varun Grover

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Tana Shah Aake Jayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Tana Shah Aake Jayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Tum Aazun Gas Ujaloge

Tum Zeher Ki Chai Ubaloge

Hum Pyar Ki Shakkar Gol Ke Usko

Gut Gut Gut Pee Jayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Ye Desh Hi Apna Haazil Hain

Jahan Ram Prasad Bhi Bismil Hain

Mitti Ko Kaise Batoge

Sabka Hi Khoon To Shaamil Hain

Tum Pulis Se Latt Padadhoge

Tum Metro Bandh Karodhoge

Hum Paidal Paidal Aayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Hum Manji Yehi Bichayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Hum Samvidaan Ko Bachayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Hum Jan Gan Mann Bhi Gayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Tum Jaath Paath Se Baatonge

Hum Baath Mangthe Jaayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge

Where the mind is in fear

Where the mind is in fear

and the head is in gloom and pain

Where knowledge is enslaved

Where the world is being broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from manufactured lies

Where hollow praises and gloating attain puerile crescendo

Where the stream of reason is a muddy quicksand

In the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by coterie

Into submission and eternal flattery

Into this hell bent fiefdom, dear father

let not this country awake.

Hindutva - The Cancer Within

Long back, when i was still in the habit of reading vociferously, a paragraph from a Robin Cook novel, caught my fancy. My love for words and phrases and concepts expressed beautifully with language leave a mark in my memory. I scoured the internet, since i didn't quite remember the title, and finally fount it, Fever. In the prologue, he elegantly described cancer cells.

The poisonous molecules of benzene arrived in the bone marrow in a crescendo. The foreign chemical surged with the blood and was carried between the narrow spicules of supporting bone into the farthest reaches of the delicate tissue. It was like a frenzied horde of barbarians descending into Rome. And the result was equally as disastrous. The complicated nature of the marrow, designed to make most of the cellular content of the blood, succumbed to the invaders. Every cell exposed to the benzene was assaulted. 

After the benzene molecules had been washed away by repeated surges of clean blood, the marrow could have recovered except for one stem cell. This cell had been busy for years turning out an impressive progeny of white blood cells whose function, ironically enough, was to help the body fight against foreign invaders. When the benzene penetrated this cell’s nucleus, it damaged a very specific part of the DNA but did not kill the cell. It would have been better if the cell had died because the benzene destroyed the fine balance between reproduction and maturation. The cell  instantly divided and the resulting daughter cells had the same defect. No longer did they listen to the mysterious central control and mature into normal white blood cells. Instead they responded to an unfettered urge to reproduce their altered selves. Although they appeared to be relatively normal within the marrow, they were different from other young white blood cells. The usual surface stickiness was absent, and they absorbed nutrients at analarmingly selfish rate. . 

They had become parasites within their own house.

Today when i look around me, i see something very similar. Friends, family and ordinary people, in almost every way, they look or feel not any different from me. In all respect, they look almost a very good duplicate copy. But like the story above, there is something very different in their DNA now. They have been changed into a cancerous being, like the white blood cells that were laced with benzene.

Hindutva is cancer that is spreading in India, amongst the Hindus. Claiming to be exactly the same as Hindu religion, supposedly espousing the dharma of righteousness, these cancerous beings are actually seeking the blood of other populace, be it the Muslims, Dalits or rational thinkers. Akin to the cancer cells within the human body, Hindutva supporters are multiplying at a very fast rate, virtually taking over the thinking space.

How do you cure yourself of cancer? It is a tough fight, where you have to literally sacrifice parts of your own body, even if it only provides a slightly better chance of recovery. Hindutva eradication is possibly tougher and virtually impossible. Nazi Germany had to be cleansed through a world war. Hindutva cleansing will possibly require something very similar within India. The cancer is all prevading and multiplying at a great rate. Ironic as it seems, it only fair to say "God help us!"

Why is the world we live in, unfair



Why is the world we live in, unfair

Sitting in luxury, high over the road

Inside my car, blowing cool conditioned air

Driven around my town, life passing by

Looking thru the window, hidden i spy

Honk blaring, the driver guns thru traffic

Weaving left then right, gifting an odd scare

The window, insulates me with its pane

Insecure within, but allowing me to feign

Soon i notice, my neighbor, just outside

On a bike, in the bus, or just standing there

I shiver and shudder, at the sheer vulgarity

Its loud and clear, no evading the disparity

Blood for blood, we are just the same

Shame builds inside me, tellingly unfair

 There's someone outside, not that fortunate

And could this be passed, as a quirk of fate

Grant me this, when i discern these things

That i be able, willing to help and care

Guide me then, to quit thinking and act

Count my blessing, and go make some impact

Lest i forget

A candle lit held high,  

Honouring the dead

Stood a silent forty seconds, 

Paying homage the martyred

Posts of scorn on facebook

I demand my revenge

Forwards on whatsapp

Want my pound of flesh, to avenge 

 

Soldiers and people killed

Where's the justice I yell

Anger rages deep inside

All thats required, one bombshell

Tiring, its mid-day at work

Messages and posts repeat

My stomach churns, damn

Got to run, forgot the biryani treat

 

Modern Age

Modern Age

Supposedly, we live in a modern age

Where technology, information is the rage

Everyone, seems to know everything

Knowledge fountains, on every internet page

No matter, what we read, hear or observe

Blurred lines, separating the true from false

People they see, what they want to see

No time to question, or find some sense

Right against Left, we fight one another

Nation, people divided, brother against brother

A majority, discontent with sacrifices made

The rest stay quiet, uneasy midst this pother

Democracy we claim, many privileges we wave

A choir full of voices, unity in diversity we rave

Choked, suffocated and masked to a murmur

Sanity silenced, shaming people to behave

Mercy and peace, brotherhood and respect

Oft acquiesced, or all of it very suspect

An ogre inhuman, biting hands that fed

Teary trail of blood, all thats left to inspect

Shooting, lynching like there is war to wage

Shouting rioting mobs, very difficult to gauge

Everything, is now local and very very vocal

Surely, this must be signs of a modern age

Poem Hunter (Modern Age). Inspired from Modern Times by Bobby Sands

I am...

I am straight
I am gay
I am trans
I am les
I am homosexual
I am hetrosexual
I am black
I am white
I am woman
I am jew
I am muslim
I am christian
I am buddhist
I am hindu
I am dalit
I am brahmin
I am chinese
I am polish
I am nigerian
I am irish
I am catholic
I am sunni
I am sikh
I am poor
I am illiterate
I am underprivileged
I am ...
I am not ....


I am human
I am you
And when roles are reversed,
You are I

I am what you dont know.
I am not any different, than you.
Know me and when i know you,
We can overcome this I vs You.

- Poem Hunter (I am)

Naan Yaar?

Who am i? What am i? Why am i different from you? What makes me so abhoring that you cannot touch me? Why do you hate me so much that you stay away from me? We look up to the same gods, but you keep me away from them. We live together, but you build a wall to seperate me.

Why did i choose to color myself blue? Why in this sea of blue, do i find some solace? Why? Oh why? I only ask for the same dignity to life, that you grant to yourself. Grant that unto me. Jai Bhim!

Lyrics to the Song:
Adaipadum Kadhavukkul Udaipadum Uyir

Vidigindra Pozhuthilum Posungidum Uyir

Paranthidum Paravaiyum Thurathidum Uyir

Poothidum Nilathilum Nasangidum Uyir

Peigindra Mazhaiyilum Erinthidum Uyir

Sirikkindra Manitharum Veruthidum Uyir

Paarkindra Kadavulum Maranthidum Uyir

Varukindra Saavaiyum Poruthidum Uyir

Naan Yaar?

Naan Yaar?  Nee Oli…

Naan Yaar? Nee Mazhai…

Naan Yaar?

Rayil Thedi Vandhu Kollum, Naan Yaar?

Pookkum Maramengum Thookkil Thongum, Naan Yaar?

Nadhiyil Sethu Meenaai Mithakkum, Naan Yaar?

Kudisaikkul Kathari Yerindha, Naan Yaar?

Ther Eradha Saamyingu, Naan Yaar?

Unkai Padaamal Thanneer Parugum, Naan Yaar?

Oor Suvarkatti Dhooram Vaikka, Naan Yaar?

Malakkuzhikkul Moochaiyadakkum, Naan Yaar?

Arasan Yendru Solvorumundu

Adimai Yendru Ninaipporumundu

Yer Piditha Vazhvum Undu

Por Seitha Kadhaiyum Undu

Marithapin Udal Engum Neelam Paravum, Naan Yaar?

Pudhaithapin Neela Kadalil Neendhum, Naan Yaar?

Meaning (Not literal, but poetic as per the lyricst)

A life breaking down within closed doors

A life ashed down As the sun comes out

A life hunted down By birds that chase

A life trampled upon Even on fertile land

A life burning down Even when it rains

A life pressed down By the happy people

A life taken down By the God himself

A life that handles its death

Who am I? You are light!

What might I be? You are rain!

What am I then?

Oh, WHAT? WHAT?

Who am I that trains chase to mow down?

Who am I that hangs dead from blossoming trees?

Who am I that floats up dead in rivers?

Who am I that died burning inside my hut?

The God your chariots refuse, Who am I?

I drink water without touching you, Who am I?

A village keeps me away with a wall, Who am I?

I breathe my last in a shithole, Who am I?

Some say I ruled.

Some think I am a slave

Our hands that ploughed.

Are the same that warred!

In death I turn blue Who am I?

Bury me. I float in blue sea Who am I?

In death I turn blue Who am I?

 Bury me and I float in blue sea Who am I?

Humanity Wins