“Men who never get carried away should be” is a quote attributed to Malcolm Forbes, the owner-publisher of Forbes magazine.
On the other hand, the Buddha suggested “If a man going down into a river, swollen and swiftly flowing, is carried away by the current — how can he help others across?”
Faced with making a choice, most of us tend to first “jump to” a conclusion and then proceed to seek re-affirmation of our views. On discovering resources conforming with our line of thinking, our view is transformed into a “belief.” On the other hand, dissenting opinions are treated as false narratives and unworthy of further consideration. Quietly in the background, algorithms nudge us along to influence our thought process and shape our behaviour. When everyone around us is baying for blood, is it any surprise that we do not get carried away?
Anger is a very powerful energy but channeled right, can produce very significant and positive outcomes. It is within each of us to use this effectively to shape our narrative for the public good.
Now is the time to pause, reflect and not be swept away by jingoism.
So, for this blog I have extracted the following recitals by the legendary Gulzar sahib from his most insightful and moving collection – Aman ki Asha (Hope for Peace):
| Aankhon ko visa nahin lagtaa Sapnon kii sarhad hotii nahiin | There is no visa for the eyes (to roam) dreams are not confined by borders |
| Band aankhon se roz mein sarhad paar chalaa jaataa huun milne Mehdi Hassan se | Eyes shut, I go across the border each day … … to meet Mehdi Hassan1 |
| Suntaa huun unki awaaz ko chot lagi hai aur ghazal khamosh hai saamne baithi hui Kaanp rahen hain honth ghazal ke | I heard that his voice is hurting2 and before him the ghazal lies silent … … lips aquiver |
| Phir bhi un aankhon kaa lehjaa badlaa nahin Jab kehte hain “Sookh gayen hain phool kitaabon mein … … Yaar Faraz bhi bichhad gaye hain, shaayad milen woh khaabon mein“ | Still, the cadence of those eyes remains unchanged When he says “Flowers lie dried up in books …3 … buddy (Ahmed) Faraz has also departed, perhaps to now meet in our dreams …” |
| Band aankhon se aksar sarhad paar chalaa jaataa huun | Eyes shut, often I go across the border … |
| Aankhon ko visa nahin lagtaa Sapnon kii sarhad koii nahiin | … There is no visa for the eyes (to roam) dreams are unfettered by borders |
Notes:
1 (Late) Mehdi Hassan was a legendary Pakistani ghazal singer with a worldwide fan following
2 Lung and breathing complications before he passed away
3 Referencing Mehdi Hassan’s all-time favourite ghazal “Abke hum bichhade..” penned by the immortal Ahmad Faraz
| Subah, subah ik khaab ki dastak par darwaazaa khola, dekha … | Early morning, dreaming of someone knocking, I opened the door and saw … |
| Sarhad ke uss paar se kuchh mehmaan aaye hain | Some visitors from across the border had arrived |
| Aankhon se manoos they saarey … … chehre saare sunney-sunaaye | I knew them intimately … their visages known to me, their voices familiar |
| Paaon dhoye, haath dhulaaye Aangan mein aasan lagwaaye Aur tannoor pe makki ke kuchh motay-motay rot pakaaye | Washed their feet and hands Laid out seats for them in the courtyard and baked thick bread of cornmeal (maize) in the tannoor (tandoor – earthen oven) (by way of traditional welcome rituals in the Punjab) |
| Potli mein, mehmaan mere pichhley saalon ki faslon ka gur laaye they | In their small (cloth) bundles, my visitors had carried for me jaggery from yesteryear’s crop |
| Aankh khulii toh dekha ghar mein koyi nahin thaa … … haath lagaa are dekha to tanduur abhi tak bujhaa nahin thaa | Upon opening my eyes, I saw the house was empty … touched the tandoor and it was still warm |
| Aur hothon pe meethey gur ka zaayikaa ab tak chipak rahaa thaa | The flavour of sweet gur (jaggery) still lingered on the lips |
| Khaab thaa shaayad … Khaab hi hogaa | Perhaps it was only a dream … It must be a dream |
| Sarhad par kal raat sunaa hai chalii thii golii | It is said there was shooting at the border last night |
| Sarhad par kal raat sunaa hai, kuchh khaabon kaa khuun huaa hai | Shots were fired at the border last night … … a few dreams were slaughtered |
| Subah, subah ik khwaab ki dastak par darwaazaa khola, dekha | Early morning, dreaming of someone knocking, I opened the door and saw … |
wealthisnotmoney 
These past couple of days I’ve been thinking of writing to you to say that we rewatched Shyam Benegal’s Mammo and that the song Yeh faasle teri galiyon ke humse tayy na hue is so, so moving. Didn’t get around to doing so and here you are with a beautiful post with Gulzar’s poetry.
Can’t be “just a coincidence” or if it is, I refuse to believe it!
Here’s a link to Mammo on YouTube.
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Thanks for your comment and for bringing up Mammo; will view it again.
In line with the current theme, I might post something around Dosti ka Haath, that I had shared with you earlier.
Now, Mary, Mary … watch your (lovely) garden grow!
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Wars are waged by those who think nations are about borders, not people.
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True!
I am reminded of Sahir’s composition for the movie Taj Mahal …
Zameen bhi teri hain hum bhi tere …
This land is yours, as are we …
… yeh milkiyat kaa savaal kyaa hai
… why then this question of ownership and possession
Ye katl-o-khoon kaa rivaaz kyun hai …
What are these traditions of bloody murder …
… ye rasm-e-jang-o-jadaal kyaa hai
… whence these rules of wars and encounters
Jinhe talab hai jahaan bhar ki …
Those that covet the entire world …
… unheen kaa dil itanaa tang kyun hai
… why are their hearts so constricted/troubled
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What a thought provoking piece and illustrated through music. Thank you!
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