Ek Akela Iss Sheher Mein

“The city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo.” – Desmond Morris

Ek akela is sheher mein

Raat mein aur dopahar mein

Aab-o-daana dhoondhta hai

Aashiyana dhoondhta hai

People from faraway places continue to migrate to cities for a variety of reasons. Cities are little more than concrete jungles that are as cold, rigid, and cruel as the structure itself. A city is like that gleaming glass skyscraper, where everyone is confined to a certain place with few opportunities for connecting.

The concrete jungle is considered a competitive and unwelcoming place; unlike the natural jungle, it does not return anything. This one-sided connection can be draining on one's life.

Gulzar depicts the misery of an immigrant to the city, where he loses all his identity and becomes a part of the city mechanics.

In a big city, one is merely a lone wanderer looking for livelihood. Despite being bound by social ties, it becomes a very individual trip for each of us, where one's identity is lost in fueling the day-to-day running of life; where the search for survival becomes the most essential thing in one's existence.

Life has devolved into an unceasing search for means of survival.

“I said that life (sweet life), Must be somewhere,

Sweet life to be found, somewhere, somewhere for me,

Instead of a concrete jungle, Where the living is hardest”– Bob Marley in Concrete Jungle

Gulzar takes the song at a much deeper level than the premise of the film, as he does in most of his songs, and brings out a new meaning for those who are intrigued.

In a deeper sense, this song appears to be about the journey known as "life," on which each of us is traveling alone.

That is a journey of the Soul.

'Akela' represents the soul, while 'Sheher' represents the entire world.

This song, in reality, is about the journey of a soul wrapped in the story of a body in the physical world.

The body holding the soul may be socially bound to many individuals, but the soul within is alone.

It's a fascinating idea. What is fleeting provides the source of all demands and requirements, whilst what is permanent does not!

Because eternity is sustaining what is temporary, it must cross the path to be on that eternal voyage.

The famous poet Nida Fazli also said, “Har taraf, har jagah beshumaar aadmi, phir bhi tanhayiyon ka shikaar aadmi.”

Din khaali khaali bartan hai

Aur raat hai jaise andhaa kuaan

In sooni andheri aankhon mein

Aansoo ki jagah aata hai dhuaan

Jeene ki wajah to koi nahin

Marne ka bahaana dhoondhta hai

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is no greater sorrow than losing hope; for hopelessness is a slower road to death.

Being hopeless may be a terrible and overpowering sensation, and it is one that many people face at some point in their life.

Gulzar expresses this emotion in his trademark style.

He comes up with some unique phrases to depict a state of hopelessness. He emphasizes the suffering that results from conflicts and uncertainties in life by using metaphors.

Din khaali khaali bartan hai

'Bartan' (Utensil / Vessel) represents hope, a positive mood, something we consider when we are in desperate need. The utensils satisfy us not only physically but also emotionally. A look inside an empty vessel during a moment of need can be immensely disheartening and frustrating.

The phrase "din khali khali bartan hai" can be used symbolically to convey the emptiness and lack of joy that we sometimes feel. It is a symptom of the day being as ineffective as an empty vessel, resulting in a sensation of unfulfillment. The empty day, like an empty vessel, resonates deeply to announce that the day after day, and thus the life, is just going barren.

This can be disappointing.

This phrase also reminds us that, just as an empty vessel can be replenished, we can fill our days with valuable and rich experiences and relationships. We must take a step back and assess what is important in life.

Aur raat hai jaise andhaa kuaan

‘Raat hai jaise andha kuan' describes the experience of being trapped in a dark abyss of uncertainty and helplessness.

Life is full of moments when all of our plans and efforts seem pointless, and we find ourselves stranded in a blind well, unable to find a way ahead. ‘Raat hai jaise andha kuan’ is attempting to capture this mood. It is a phrase that describes the worry and anxiety that we all experience from time to time in our lives.

This phrase accentuates not just the physical darkness of night, but also the emotional element of it, bringing out the feelings of dread, mystery, and trepidation that are frequently associated with darkness.

In some way, the term also encourages us to remain hopeful and to believe in our strengths and determination to get through difficult situations.

The night will pass, just like a blind well, and the sun will rise again.

In sooni andheri aankhon mein, Aansoo ki jagah aata hai dhuaan

The phrase "Aansu ki jagah aata hai dhuaan" expresses how we all cope with our grief and despair. One has sobbed so much over the situation that no amount of crying will bring out the tears.

It is a state in which the tears have faded and have been replaced by smoke. This is the state of greater grief.

Though tears and smoke both signify emotional release and both fade away after a while, each represents a different emotion.

Tears are the physical flow of emotions that finally result in the release of emotional sediments.

On the other hand, Smoke is related to fire; it creates an increased burning sensation and long-lasting irritability. As a result, the smoke emerging from the eyes represents a far deeper level of sorrow and pain. Just like an extinguished fire releases smoke for a longer period, unfinished but suppressed desires give birth to the smoke that emerges from the eyes.

After experiencing so much suffering that even tears have dried up, when tears are replaced by empty smoke, i.e. nothing, it is time to reconsider the situation. Because one has to pick it up from there.

When there is nothing to lose and nothing to look forward to, it is time to restructure one's life and discover a cause to live. It's a way of reminding us that even in the darkest of circumstances, we can find strength and courage.

'Jeene ki wajah to koi nahin' is a powerful reminder to be fearless in the face of life. It reminds us that no matter what has happened in our life, we can still find joy and purpose. We may not always be able to pinpoint the source of our happiness, but that doesn't imply it doesn't exist.

We need to take a step back and appreciate small things while also looking at the big picture. It reminds us that we can improve our lives and that there is always something to be thankful for.

In umr se lambi sadkon ko

Manzil pe pahunchte dekha nahin

Bas daudti phirti rehti hain

Hum ne to theherte dekha nahin

Is ajnabii se sheher mein

Jaana pehchaana dhoondhta hai

“It is not the man who has little, but he who desires more, that is poor.” - Seneca

What are these seemingly endless roads?

What are these roads that do not cross despite the life that runs on them?

What is this road that is longer than a life cycle?

These are the roads of our desires.

In human existence, desires govern our actions, aspirations, and dreams. Our desires, like those never-ending roads, appear infinite, leading us on a never-ending quest for fulfillment.

Life is nothing more than a voyage of desires that never reaches somewhere.

We all have desires in life, things we hope for and long for. It can be materialistic or non-materialistic, and it can be short-term or long-term. But, whatever our desires are, they never seem to cease. ( In umr se lambi sadkon ko Manzil pe pahunchte dekha nahin…).

It has been said that having desires is a sign of life and progress. We would remain stagnant if they did not exist. Even if we do achieve our goals, our joy is frequently fleeting. We soon find ourselves wanting more. This is the essence of the human mind: it is always looking for something more & more.

The fulfillment of one wish gives birth to another desire.

This need for more can effectively motivate us to keep going. It could inspire us to work hard and aspire to achieve greater heights. However, it can also be a source of dissatisfaction and disappointment.

When our ambitions are unsatisfied or unachievable, we can experience dissatisfaction and depression.

So, how do you walk this path of never-ending desires?

The secret is to be aware of our desires.

We all want familiarity on our journeys through life. We all want to be in an environment that is familiar to us, whether it is a familiar face, emotion, taste, or anything else. After all, our reliance on familiarity stems from our comfort zone.

Jaana pehchaana dhoondhta hai, iss ajnabii se sheher mein.

But, when it comes to the journey of souls, aren't we all similar and familiar?

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Einstein

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpbjO-Qdfuc