Nearly two years ago now, after a long day of shooting for my film (14 hours – adrenalin’s kicked in – cast and crew sticky with sweat), a poem was performed on a terrace, by two performance preservationists who travel around India performing Dastan, a traditional form of theatrical story telling. One thing about India that’s truly amazing to experience, is living tradition that dates back before christ, existing in real time along with levis jeans, iphones, and leica cameras – the juxtaposition lends itself to a much larger scope of feeling and emotion…to me at least. I’ve laughed harder, and cried harder than ever, on this soil.
To set the scene, there were around 10 of us sitting on the terrace of an old bungalow in South-Mumbai. The sun was coming up, the air was cool and still, the smell of Raat Ki Raani lingered just near enough for us to catch it’s scent if we paid attention. My two friends Mahmood and Danish then recited this poem…swapping lines…eyes smiling…and often crying…words that echo a feeling that no man is stranger to.
Fear, and the joy of overcoming it. I carry this poem with me even now, years later….
I’ve included the urdu (because it’s beautiful), and my own not so great English translation.
BLESS!
Zindagi Se Darte Ho?
Zindagi se darte ho
Zindagi to tum bhi ho
Zindagi to hum bhi hain
Aadmi se darte ho
Aadmi to tum bhi ho
Aadmi to hum bhi hain
Tum abhi se darte ho
Aadmi zabaan bhi hai
Aadmi bayaan bhi hai
Harf aur maani ke rishta haaye aahan se
Aadmi hai waabasta
Aadmi ke daaman se zindagi hai waabasta
Us se tum nahi darte ho
Ankahi se darte ho
Jo abhi nahi aayi
Us gharri ki aamad ki
Aagahi se darte ho
Tum abhi se darte ho
Pehle bhi to guzre hain
Daur na rassai ke
Be-riya khudaai ke
Phir bhi yeh samajhte ho
Hech aarzumandi
Yeh shab e zubaan bandi
Hai rah e khudaawandi
Tum yehi samajhte ho
Tum mager yeh kya jaano
Lab agar nahi hilte
Haath jaag uthte hain
Haath bol uthte hain
Subh ki azaan ban kar
Roshni se darte ho
Roshni to tum bhi ho
Roshni to hum bhi hain
Tum abhi se darte ho
Raah- e- shauq mein jaise
rahru ka khoon lapke
Ek nayaa junoon lapke
Aadmi chhalak uthe
Aadmi hanse dekho
shaher phir base dekho
Tum abhi se darte ho
________________________
You are afraid of life?
But, you too are life
We too are life
You are afraid of man?
But, you too are human
We too are human
Still you are afraid?
Man is speech
Man is expression
To the iron bond
Uniting utterance and meaning
Man is connected
Life is tied to his sleeves
You must not be afraid of that
Afraid of the unsaid
Afraid of the moment
That has not yet arrived
Afraid of even the awareness
Of the coming of that moment
Even now, you accept fear?
We have seen the times
Before
Of inaccessibility
Of guileless divinity
And yet you believe
To desire is worthless
This night of silenced tongues
Is the path
To divinity
How will you know though
if those lips don’t move
Hands begin to stir
Hands begin to call
Like the Azan at dawn
You’re afraid of Light??
But, you too are light
We too are light
Still you are afraid of light?
As in the journey of love
The traveler’s blood soars
A new passion leaps
Man is consumed with it
though he laughs, look!
The city is reborn in love
Still you are afraid??
