Please go through this lesson before you read this one
About the Author
Born in 1937 in Lahore, now in Pakistan, Keki N.
Daruwalla has been a notable presence on the
literary
scene. Known more for his poetry than prose,
he has established himself as an important voice in Indian English
poetry. He is a poet with a powerfully developed social conscience
whose humanism is expressed in form that is evocative, subtle and
oblique. His poetry broadens the imaginative range of the reader
and adds a new experiential dimension to his life.
Location
The story "Love Across the Salt Desert" is set in the village of
Khavda, located in the Desert of Kutch, Gujarat, India.
Click
here to see its geographical location
Bollywood connection
J. P. Dutta's "Refugee" is said to be inspired by this story. Although the
movie did only moderately well on the box office, it is definitely
worth a watch. Debutants Abhishek Bachan and Kareena Kapoor have
acted their best under the exacting direction of J.P Dutta. The
director's attention to detail is evident from the choice of
locations, costumes, makeup and even the accent. Anu Malik has
given wonderful music to the beautiful and heart-touching lyrics by
Javed Akhter. My favourite song is ofcourse "Panchi nadiya…", it is
also the crux of the entire story. Watch the song on YouTube
Lyrics
Panchhi nadiyan pawan ke jhoken
Birds, rivers, gusts of wind
Koi sarhad naa inhe roke) - 2
No border inhibits them
Sarhaden insaano ke liye hain
Borders are for people
Socho, tumne aur maine
Think about it, what have you and I
Kya paaya insaan hoke
Obtained by being born as humans?
Jo hum dono panchhi hote
If we were both birds
Tairte hum is neele gagan mein
We would soar in this blue sky
Pankh pasaare
Spreading our wings
Saari dharti apni hoti
The entire Earth would be ours
Apne hote saare nazaare
Ours would be all sights
Khuli fizaaon mein udte - 2
In the open atmosphere we would fly
Apne dilon mein hum saara pyaar samaake
Taking all the love in our hearts
Panchhi nadiyan pawan ke jhoken
Birds, rivers, gusts of wind
Koi sarhad na inhe roke
No border inhibits them
Sarhaden insaano ke liye hain
Borders are for people
Socho, tumne aur maine
Think about it, what have you and I
Kya paaya insaan hoke
Obtained by being born as humans?
(Jo main hoti nadiyan aur tum
If I were a river and you
Pawan ke jhoken, to kya hota) - 2
Were a gust of wind, then what would happen?
Pawan ke jhoken nadi ke tan ko jab chhoote hai - 2
When a gust of wind touches the body of a river
Lahere hi lahere banti hai
Waves, waves are made
Hum dono jo milte to kuch aisa hota
If we would meet, then something like that would happen
Sab kehte yeh laher laher
Everyone says these waves
Jahan bhi jaaye inko na koi toke
Wherever they go, no one bumps against them
Khavda - A young village girl and her equally colorful home
A typical hut in the Rann of Kutch
Indian Army and BSF patroling
Tourists, locals and their camels
Tendu leaves hand rolled to make beedi
Bawal - Camelthorn
A jackal at Kala Dungar
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