Kismet, Muqaddar, Luck, Destiny, Fate, Taqdeer

Life is a very interesting experience. It has been like a never-before-designed roller-coaster with the sharpest bends and falls, unmatched acceleration, resulting in extreme fear and excitement. Maybe it’s the newest extreme sport in the current recession era. This one is about my own career and life. I was looking to move on from my current job, having worked a good nine years, as the place developed a sinking atmosphere, aimless and without any challenges and excitement. I felt as if I was losing my sharpness by the day, which was unacceptable to me. The only problem was that with the entire economy in tatters, nothing meaningful was coming by. 

I worked on a two-pronged strategy; one – reaching out to my relationships and consultants and two – reaching out to almighty invoking him to set my destiny on the right path. I felt as if AR Rehman wrote this beautiful composition for me. 

Marrammat Muqqaddar Ki Kar De Maula 

Arziyaan Saari Main Chehre Pe Likh Ke Laaya Hoon 

Tumse Kya Maangu Main Tum Khud Hee Samajh Lo 

Dararein Dararein Hain Maathhe Pe Maula 

Marammat Muqqaddar Kee KAr Do Maula, Mere Maula 

Tere Dar Pe Jhukaa Hoon Meeta Hoon, Banaa Hoon 

Marammat Muqqaddar Kee Kar Do Maula, Mere Maula 

Submission to GOD or Guru gives you formidable strength, courage, and solace to bear and fight out moments of stress. Most importantly it brings peace to yourself. Having been a spectator of this sport myself, my mind wandered thinking where I am headed. I would casually answer to my friends, ‘Dekho Kismet Kahan Le Jaati Hai’ (let's see where does destiny takes me). 

And suddenly, I was filled with thoughts around this abstract concept of Kismet and its variances Taqdeer, Muqqaddar, Fate, Luck, Destiny… What went through my mind, was a storm of emotions and I captured it by writing this couplet. 

Mere Muqqddar Mujhe Yahan Se Kahin Aur Le Chal 

Mere Haath Kee Lakeeren Ab Bhi Tere Marammat Mein Hain 

Jodta Jaa Aur Inhe Us Manjil Ki Raah Dikhla De 

Jahaan Josh Ho, Umang Ho, Sukoon Ho, Sach Ho, Sach Ka Saath Ho Himmat Ho, Chaah Ho, Raah Ho, Tum Ho 

Nahin to Inhe Phir Se Likh 

Mere Muqqaddar Mujhe Yahan Se Kahin Aur Le Chal 

This is something that has nettled people all-around seeking answers in astrology, palmistry, gemstones, tarots, and whatnot. I gazed at my palms, wondering, whether actually one’s fate is captured in these lines. Do they really convey something? I generally come across people who take all the credit for good things happening to them and blaming their ‘Kismet’ for everything negative. 

Do you remember Jagjit Singh singing: Rekhaon Ka Khel Hai Muqqaddar Rekahon Se Maat Kha Rahe Ho To me, it's about the attitude you wear. Choosing to stay positive is tough but not impossible. Needs tons of energy otherwise, but if your foundation has been built on the strength of character, then it’s not all that tough. Something we should give to our kids as they prepare for this extreme sport. I recall, Emerson, clearly echoing similar thoughts.  "Sow a thought and you reap an act Sow an act and you reap a habit Sow a habit and you reap a character Sow a character and you reap a destiny."

One should easily expect two to three serious and derailing situations which will have the potential to make or break one’s life and threaten one’s career. Coming out of those depths will depend on an individual’s character, courage, positive thoughts, friends, spirituality, and positive thoughts. It’s about conditioning the mind. ‘Men are not prisoners of Fate, but only prisoners of their own mind’, said Franklin Roosevelt. If your driving desire is positive, destiny will always stay on the positive course. 

Picking up the famous quote from our Upanishads: "You are what your deep driving desire is; As your deep driving desire is, so is your will; As your will is, so is your deed; As your deed is, so is your destiny."

So the deed is basically your Karma. So one should practice the Yoga of Karma and choose to be Karma Yogi. Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta, is a good reference point, to understand this piece in detail. Rather than focusing on this, people fruitlessly tend to seek solutions elsewhere. Many reach out to astrologers, wearing a combination of gemstones, etc. Do you believe that these have the power to change the course of your life or absorb negative happenings? Maybe it helps one remains calm, having sought divine intervention. I am not totally against it, but shouldn’t get subordinated or only rely on them hope for miracles to happen, else it will only lead to desolation. 

Tune Ungli Mein Sajaa To Liya Patthar Lekin 

Teri Taqdeer Badal Jaye, Ye Jaroori To Nahin 

Moving on to something lighter, there is hardly any subject that has stayed untouched by Indian Cinema. Hence can’t resist taking examples from it. The most unforgettable for me was AB riding the bike and singing cheerfully. 

Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab, 

Hansta Hua Jo Jayega 

Woh Muqqaddar Ka Sikandar

Jaane-Man Kahlayaga 

Another one, where two friends, Shammi Kapoor Ji and Dilip Kumar Ji contradicting each other, talk about fate and planning. 

Haathon Ki Chand Lakeeron Ka 

Sab Khel Hai Bas Taqdeeron Ka 

Taqdeer Bhala Kya Main Kya Janoon 

Main Ashiq Hoon Tadbeeron Ka 

Treading into negative territory, this number challenges one to punt on one’s own ability. 

Tadbeer Se Bigdee Huyee Taqdeer Banaa Le 

Apne Pe Bharosa Hai to Daanv Lagaa Le 

Dartaa Hai Zamaane Ke Nighaahon Se Bhala Kyoon 

Insaaf Tere Saath Hai Ilzaam Uthaa Le 

The recent movie ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’ was on a very similar theme. The swindler-hero, high on self-belief, always ends up escaping from the clutches of law. The subject has been the fodder for ‘Shayars'. I am sure this subject would have ranked as their favorite had a poll been conducted. There is none, who has not touched upon and written extensively on this subject. Choosing to stay in Gam (Sorrow), sacrificing their love, deriving joy out of that sorrow, ultimately faulting their Kismet for what bechanced them. 

Many beautiful Ghazals and Shers have captured this concept. Can be a blog subject in itself. I put across a couple of them. 

Yeh Na Thee Hamaree Kismet Ke Wisaal-Ye-Yaar Hota 

Agar Aur Jeete Rehte, Yahee Intezaar Hota

( Was not my destiny to meet my love. Had I lived more, would have longed more…) 

Mere Haathon Se Gir Gai Lakeeren Kahin 

Bhool Aaye Hum Apni Taqdeerein Kahin 

Agar Mile Tumko Kahin To Utha Lena 

Mere Hisse Ki Har Khushi Apne Haathon Pe Saja Lena 

I love this one 

Aqal Waalon Ke Muqqaddar Mein Yeh Zauk-e-Junoon Kahan 

Yeh Ishq Waley Hain, Jo Har Cheez Lutaa Detey Hain 

Anyway coming back to me, my efforts of looking out did pay off. Closing two offers and both of my likings was such a morale-booster. I thank my Guru and Lord for loving me and bestowing their blessings on me. 

I close this blog with the powerful thoughts as they run my mind and aptly put across in the couplet. 

Bikhri Hooyee Umeedon Ko Jod 

Aaj Phir Se Nayaa Mukaam Paana Hai 

Har Dil Mein Padi Khamosh Dhadkan 

Mein Aaj Sahlab Laana Hai 

Is Andhere Se Nazar Aane Wale Us Taraf Ke Ujaale Ko 

Iraadon Se Yahaan Muqammal Kar Laana Hai 

Ik Saath Karke Apni Taqdeeron Ko 

Aaj Apna Ek Naya Muqqaddar Banaana Hai 

Fateh Kar Sabhi Jahaano Ko 

Sitaron Ki Tarah Chha Jaana Hai 

Mili Hui Is Shikast Ko Shikast Ka Rukh Dikhlaana Hai

Or as Sir Iqbal put it...

Khudi ko Kar Buland Itna, Har Taqdeer ke Pehle,

Khuda Bande se khud Puchhe, Bata Teri Razaa Kya Hai