Walls and openings...

I recall writing this and today for some reason it has come back...

“Iss anjuman mein aapko aana hai baar-baar
Deewaron-dar ko ghaur se pehchaan lijiye…”*

Whenever I hear these lines a few thoughts cross my mind. If someone has to be a part of your life (anjuman), then why the need to ask her/him to understand the terrain? Should not their just being there lend itself to a slow evolution and comprehension?

I would have thought that walls were the biggest barriers. If we are to understand them then we would be stuck in the room. Trapped thus, is there any scope to change? Isn’t every interaction about some changes? About finding new meanings?

I hate this bit about “aana hai baar-baar” (you have to keep returning). Is it mandatory? Besides, I find it demeaning that it has to be stated…I think one only comes once. That is the concept of a true anjuman - where life is the vast expanse.

In my case, the other song works better…

“na dastak zaroori, na awaaz dena
mere ghar ka darwaaza koi nahin hai…”**

Even more poignant are the following lines…

“main saanson ki raftaar se jaan loongi
havaaon ki khushboo se pehchaan loongi …
tere haathon mein chehra chhupaake jeena hai jeena
jeena zindagi
mere ghar aana”**

Every breath of a breathing being offers me
some shelter. Sometimes from myself.
- - -

*Film Umrao Jaan; Lyrics Shahryar; Music Khayyam

*Film Dooriyan; Lyrics Sudarshan Faakir; Music Jaidev