I am listening to this ghazal by Jagjit Singh today and pondering upon the first couplet.
हर तरफ़ हर जगह बे-शुमार आदमी
फिर भी तन्हाइयों का शिकार आदमी
In every place, every direction
there are so many people
yet this person
is so lonely
[full translation below]
The first couplet succinctly captures this ever increasing truth of our age - that we find ourselves lonely in a world bustling with people. Advancements in technology and connectivity have paradoxically not helped. I might even say they have made things worse because we seem to have fewer real interactions these days.
Social media platforms offer but an illusion of connection. As we curate our online personas, we end up comparing ourselves to idealized representations, which deems our lives as lacking, resulting in increased isolation. On top of this, the frenetic pace of contemporary life leaves little room for genuine human interactions. Work pressures, long commutes, and digital distractions make it challenging to foster meaningful connections, perpetuating the loneliness depicted in the couplet.
हर तरफ़ हर जगह बे-शुमार आदमी
फिर भी तन्हाइयों का शिकार आदमी
In every place, every direction
there are so many people
yet this person
is so lonely
सुब्ह से शाम तक बोझ ढोता हुआ
अपनी ही लाश का ख़ुद मज़ार आदमी
अपनी ही लाश का ख़ुद मज़ार आदमी
From morning to evening
carrying this baggage
this person is its
own grave
हर तरफ़ भागते दौड़ते रास्ते
हर तरफ़ आदमी का शिकार आदमी
In every direction
the roads are on the run
... and in every direction
people are hunting people
रोज़ जीता हुआ रोज़ मरता हुआ
हर नए दिन नया इंतिज़ार आदमी
Living everyday
and dying everyday
Every new day brings
a brand new expectation
घर की दहलीज़ से गेहूँ के खेत तक
चलता फिरता कोई कारोबार आदमी
चलता फिरता कोई कारोबार आदमी
From the house's doorstep
to the wheat fields
This person is
a business
ज़िंदगी का मुक़द्दर सफ़र-दर-सफ़र
आख़िरी साँस तक बे-क़रार आदमी
आख़िरी साँस तक बे-क़रार आदमी
Journeys are
the fate of life
Until his last breath
this person finds no peace
Singing oneness!
0 Comments