KHUDA JAB HUSN DETA HAI.....

KHUDA JAB HUSN DETA HAI NAZAKAT AAHI JATI HAI…

    Indeed; when God blesses one with beauty ( power ) the delicacies ( tantrums!)  come along with it! The second line of the couplet sums up the thought ! Kadam ruk ruk ke chalte hain kamar bal khahi jati hai!  Meaning that  the feat move slowly and there comes grace in one’s gait! Superficially the couplet is addressed to  women, but it is implicit far and wide. It applies to all men and women who falter on attaining  power. Be it in terms of money or  fame. This  simple  couplet contains the truth behind the fallacy of the world and cautions us to be restrained and controlled. And yet we all ,naturally move toward arrogance ,haughtiness , detachment with elevation in our station! The degree varies but change there is definite. Few may be able to hide their new born status but it is difficult to escape this change.

  

   This change is manifested physically in the style of living, tastes, wearing of  clothes etc which is understandable but is visible in the intellectualization. These newly cast rich and powerful have an opinion on many matters of State. They are philosophical on issues and the most harmful and despicable are those who start lecturing on  the subject of honesty, harmony in society , cleanliness, causes of unemployment, reasons of the poverty of our Nation. Many may have been corrupt to the core and may still be but their public face changes. So many leaders of the organization I have observed  who are victim of such dualism. They may be  parochial , perennially  prejudiced and castist ( racist!)but sermonise on merit and efficiency. This is what ‘nazakat’ means! The sub-text of the couplet is very strong!

    Perhaps some examples would be appropriate : take the Cinema. We have had so many stars/directors/writers rising from humble background. First they become actors, initially they are shaky, gawky, unsure . During such times they touch feet of all prominent directors, address them as sir! Are embodiment of politeness, dedication , attentiveness and what not! Cometh power and there is distinct change, and as success increases the change ( or deterioration ) is proportionate . There is money, then they start interfering in the script , some of them become writers  and producers themselves, for more control and power and money and then they are full of themselves. They stop acting but imitating themselves. This is called ‘kamar ka bal khana’. If we assess their contribution to cinema it would be of that period when they were finding their feet or when they were not affected by ‘nazakat’.

    Have we not witnessed this among the Industrialists/politicians. Many have come from humble background. By illicit means they expand and acquire power and pelf. Then they open schools ,colleges, hospital and other charitable/profitable institutions. On their death the Prime Minister and the President mourn. And on their death anniversary the national dailies are full of tribute and they are hailed as ‘Karmyogis!’ This is what I implied by ‘nazakat’ and ‘kamar ka bal khana’ when God gives us beauty ,meaning power.

   Rahim has very succulently  said in his couplet ( doha): jo Rahim  Ocho  badhyo  so ati  itraye;  jaise  pyada  farzi  banyo  ter o mero  jaye (  Rahim says that shallow people  show- off/ get intoxicated ( nazakat !) by power similar to the pawn in a game of chess when it becomes a knight and goes in all the directions! ).