About Me

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Archana Kapoor Nagpal is an internationally published author of four books. She often participates in the short story competitions, and her winning stories are now part of international anthologies. She has seen her short stories, poems and Haiku published in other anthologies as well She has also been actively involved in the editing, proofreading and book designing of various anthologies. You can read more about her writing career at the below link: https://www.facebook.com/archanaknagpal/

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

A New Video on my Youtube Channel!

These two are made for each other. Have a look!

Love is an unspoken language. Short and simple love story of Gracia and Luna:)


About the video:

A Video to tell that 'Love is beyond barriers'. Birds also have emotions and they do not need a free sky to fly and love. Gracia is the yellow bird inside the cage. I took my favourite white bird 'Luna' out of the cage (actually their home). She had the choice to fly and be a free bird. But she chose to go back to the cage. I loved the efforts of Gracia to get Luna inside their home. He was restless inside the cage and the video shows that. You need to live and love the feeling of being in 'LOVE'. I love their love - Gracia and Luna:)

Cheerio!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Mournful Moment!!

"Kehte hain din ke 24 ghante main ek dua zaroor qubool hoti hain. Meri dua hain mera rab mujhe agala janam main beti mat banane." - Amen!!!

After reading the tribute of legend Amitabh Bachan to Delhi rape victim, I am really moved. I am crying while I blog the poem for my readers in India.


I almost burst into tears. Every line somewhere touched a chord. A moment where you feel claustrophobic!

Few lines, I read about Nirbhaya, and I share it on my blog. I feel mournful!

Maa bahut Dard sah kar..
bahut dard de kar..
tujhse kuch kah kar main jaa rahi hoon........

Aaj meri vidai main jab Sakhiyaan milne aayengi...
Safai­d Jode main lipti dekh sisak sisak mar jayengi...
Ladki­ hone ka khud pe fir wo Afsos jatayengi.....

M­aa tu unse itna kah dena Darindo k duniya main Sambhal kar rahna..........­­.....
Maa Raakhi par jb Bhaiya Kalai suni rah jayegi..
yaad mujhe kar kar jab unki Aankh bhar ayegi....
Tilak mathe par karne ko Maa rooh meri bhi Machal jayegi...
Maa tu bhaiya ko rone na dena...
Main sath hu har Pal unse kah dena.......­...­..

Maa Papa bhi chhup chhup bohot royenge...
main kuch na kar paya ye kah k khud ko kosenge....
Maa dard unhe ye hone na dena..
Ilzaam koi lene na dena...
Wo Abhimaan hai mera samman hai mera..
tu unse itna kah dena........

Maa­ tere liye ab kya kahu..
dard ko tere shabdon main kaise bandhu...
fir se jeene ka mauka kaise maangu......

Maa­ log tujhe satayenge....
mu­jhe azaadi dene ka tujhpe ilzaam lagayenge....
Ma­a sab sah lena par ye na kahna
"Agle janam Mohe Bitiya na dena

Shukriya Zindagi!

What am I reading these days?

I am reading a book - 'Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times' by David Viscott. Interesting and simple things that the author has shared in this book. Every chapter delivers a message. I may take couple of more weeks to complete this book. I am busy writing my book as well. It does not matter, if I get a publisher to publish it. What makes me happy at the moment is - I am engaged in my work. I am giving my 100% to this book. 

The idea is my readers should get a chance to read my book. Money/royalty does not matter to me, anymore!

Yes, I feel good when my readers who read my first book - '14 Pearls of Inspiration' shared their feedback. I never thought it would be so much appreciated and acknowledged. One common feedback was - 'You made me cry. It is a very emotional book. Every story touched my heart'. (my mother, husband, husband's friends, my friends, my neighbours and many others had the same feedback.)

I share lyrics of a very inspiring song - Shukriya Zindagi

Chan ke aayi toh kya chaandni toh mili
Chan ke aayi toh kya chaandni toh mili
Chand din hi sahi yeh kali to khili
Shukriya zindagi -
Teri meharbaaniyan, teri meharbaaniyan
Shukriya zindagi - 

Sirf ik rang se tasveer hoti kahin
Gham nahi toh khushi ki keemat nahi
Sirf ik rang se tasveer hoti kahin
Gham nahi toh khushi ki keemat nahi
Dhoop chaaon hain dono toh dilkash jahaan
Kya shikaayat karein, fursat kahaan
Shukriya zindagi -
Teri mehrbaaniyan, teri mehrbaaniyan
Shukriya zindagi - 

Apni taqdeer ki hai yeh daastaan
Kabhi qatilaana, kabhi meharbaan
Apni taqdeer ki hai yeh daastaan
Kabhi qatilaana, kabhi meharbaan
Meharbaani jo dil ko karaar aa gaya
Apne qaatil pe bhi pyaar aa gaya
Shukriya zindagi - 
Teri mehrbaaniyan, teri mehrbaaniyan
Shukriya zindagi - 

Monday, January 7, 2013

At Loss For Words.... (Contd.).....

When I blogged the post - http://doyouthinkyouareliving.blogspot.in/2013/01/at-loss-for-words.html in the morning, I was constantly thinking about a fact. 

In India, in every home, a woman is mentally and emotionally raped by her own people. Now, the condition is little more severe, when doors are open for men to physically rape women in buses et al.

I realised from our childhood, we go through height of discrimination. Our brothers are given more importance and we are neglected, as we are meant to be married to another family. Is it our fault?

If you ask a pregnant woman - son or daughter? The instant response to your question would be - son in 85% cases!

The day you get married and your parents could not meet the requisite demands of your husband's family - your life is screwed up. You have two choices to listen or revolt. If you listen, you are heading to many major problems. If you revolt, you are shown the doors with a list of allegations.

God forbid, if you sponsor a child and you are childless then please get ready to be addressed as whatever you could have never imagined to be called - I am short of words here. Your family and world will not spare you. You are treated worse than anything!

Where shall we go, a question to all my readers in India? Can you change a bit of our lives and make us feel safe in our homes and on roads? 

The religious leader spoke a hurtful and highly regretful statement about Nirbhaya case. He stated it was victim's fault as in any crime there are two parties to be blamed. The culprits should not be punished brutally. Indeed, the victim should have made the culprits as her 'brothers'.

Highly shameful to listen to all this! Firstly, rape is a word in English that clearly explains one forcing himself physically on someone else. So, there are no two people involved in this crime. Secondly, how can someone tell her rapists - please do not rape me, I will tie you a rakhi:). And, would the wolves like these 6 rapists would have understood this request. They were wolves disguised as 'men'. 

A question - why is that we always find a reason to blame women in major rape cases? 

Like, do not wear skimpy or western clothes. It prompts men. 
Do not travel at night.
Do not travel in buses or autos
And now make the rapists as your brothers

If a rape happens two things are always clear - Woman would be at fault. She is designated as a prostitute or called names by people around. She is simply told in polished language - we cannot help you. She is considered as 'culprit' of selling herself rather than a victim of something highly shameful.

Think! Think! And Just Think!

It is high time to change and voice out our rights and opinions - strongly!

At a loss for words...............

After the 16th December gang rape, the never ending protest of safety of women in India, has portrayed our country as the most unsafe country on the world map.

Other than that the interview of Nirbhaya's friend highlighted the fear of a comman man to support them that night. People are scared to help others in our country and to an extent, they are justified. If you help, your family/identity is questioned. BUT, if one could not help them, could have arranged help by calling the ambulance or cops?

The behaviour and concern of cops towards two of them clearly indicates we have multiple loopholes in our safety and jurisdiction.  Nirbhaya died with a wish to punish her culprits. If situation is not controlled, we should be ready for many more such cases. One case shook the nation and many are still pending in the records of HC/SC for justice. A strict law is necessary. 

Helplines : 181 for Delhi and 1091 for Bangalore cannot make a woman walking/travelling safe. Indeed, I just read in today's paper that 1091 for Bangalore (24*7) does not function on Sundays. Reason, the caller does not speak - English/Hindi but only Kannada as no officers are working on Sunday!....

At a loss for words, we never demand people visiting Delhi to speak in Punjabi etc. Why are people staying in southern part of the country ignored, if they cannot speak their language. Autorickshaws are a big nuisance here. They demand extra money, and if you do not speak Kannada, they know how to abuse one in their language. 

Nirbhaya was an Indian. We all are fighting for justice together. We should look India as one. Stop this act of discrimination for the sake of improving the picture of India.

I have written that only one thing can stop rapes - the day, men will learn to change their attitude towards women. I do not know how but I hope!

But at the same time, I have immense respect for Nirbhaya's friend who is fighting for her. We need more people like him, who are not scared to help and fight for others. 

Friday, January 4, 2013

My Second Poem - Let Me Be Born!

This poem is an effort to express a thought – ‘Say No to Female Foeticide’. In the poem, a female fetus is expressing her desire to live and come into this world. Sex determination of fetus is legally banned in India. Female Feticide is the act of aborting a fetus because it is female. This is a major social problem in India. As per Wikipedia statistics, it is estimated that more than ten million female fetuses have been illegally aborted in India. Researchers for the Lancet journal based in Canada and India stated that 500,000 girls were being lost annually through sex selective abortions.


I tried to feel what would be the desires of a female fetus and ‘Let Me Be Born’ is a poem dedicated to this social problem of ‘Female Feticide’ in India.

It is a sin more than a crime. I took two days to write this poem with complete dedication. When my husband read it, I could see tears in his eyes. I asked him, "Was it so boring that you cried?"....LOL:)

It touched him maybe his soul or his heart or as a reader he liked it..my weird guesses?


Female Feticide is a sin more than a crime!



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A New Year - Year of Hope


What a beautiful day
The blue sky
The sun bright rays
The wind blowing 
The trees swaying 
The smell of flowers

What a beautiful day

Fill with happiness
Peace
Hear the kids laughing and playing
People talking

What a beautiful day

The night falls
The dark skies
The moon glows
As crime begins

What a dark night
Filled with crime
Drugs 
Violence
Shootings
Killings

Hear sirens
Hear guns going off
Hear crying
Hear fighting

As the sun comes out
What a beautiful day 

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