Hawaon Pe Likh Do

“If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature’s way.” – Aristotle

Nature is an intrinsic part of a life. It takes care of all the living beings.

The air we breathe, the greenery we see, the delightful sounds of birds chirping, the vibrant rainbow—everything around us, that is not man-made is nature.

It provides us with the means to live, including resources like food, water, clean air, and land. Our best companion and teacher, nature is considerably more powerful than anything manufactured. Still, it is incredibly modest.

Humanity cannot survive without the natural world.

By making a god out of nature, we express our thankfulness to it through a variety of ways and rituals.

Water is a priceless natural resource, vital to human life. We make a god out of rivers.

The sun is revered as a god.

We also worship plants.

In essence, the foundation of our entire religious system is gratitude for nature.

“By discovering nature, you discover yourself.”- Maxime Lagacé,

Each component of nature has its own microcosm, and all of these microcosms combine together to make what we refer to as, The Universe. This is something that is only possible in nature, where these tiny universes cohabit in a friendly setting.

Nature has occasionally inspired a variety of authors, poets, and artists to express their love & admiration. Each of them has found a unique way to convey their feelings about the natural world.

Gulzar also crafts a jewel by delving deeper into the colourful natural world and viewing it from an unique angle.

Gulzar is a master of imagery. He would take any visual, combine it with his views, and paint a picture on the canvas with his words. These imagery, in his songs, always convey something novel and fresh on a deeper level.

One such song where he exhibits his prowess in painting a picture with words is “Hawaaon pe likh do.”

This song is full of imagery, just like the most of his other songs. That way, it is easily comparable to John Keats’ “To Autumn,” William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils,” and James Stephens’ “The Shell”.

This song is an ode to the Nature by Gulzar. It’s his way of showing gratitude for all Mother Nature does to us. The three elements of nature, he wants to pay his tribute to are, gratitude for nature, harmony/co-existence in nature, and the innocence in nature.

hawaaon pe likh do hawaaon ke naam, hum anjaan pardesiyon ka salaam

‘I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or in the next. Neither body nor soul. First, last, outer, inner, I am only breathe, Breathe.’ – Rumi

Breathing is a sign of life and nature provides fresh air for that. Gulzar illustrates how to express our gratitude to the air.

But since air is not static and spread all over, how does one communicate with it?

A fragrance that has been released in the air at a spot, is then easily dispersed everywhere by the wind.

Gulzar employs wind only as a medium when he wants to send his thankful salute to the winds. Once it is inscribed on the wind itself, his gratitude to the winds will disseminate itself, just like a scent (hawaaon pe likh do hawaaon ke naam).

To send a thank you note to postmen, one has to use a postman only.

What a lovely way to put it! If not sent through the wind itself, how would one communicate with the wind?

The Nature owns the planet. No living creature is here forever; they are here only for a finite amount of time. Simply, nature can be considered permanent on our planet; we humans are passing through and will eventually be regarded as strangers, thus Gulzar calls us that ( ‘Anjaan pardesiyon ka salaam’).

To the mother nature, we all are nothing more than strangers.

ye kiske liye hai, bataa kis ke naam o panchhi tera ye surilaa salaam

Have you ever pondered for whom a bird sings? Does he convey a message through his songs?

Giving is part of what “Nature” is by definition. In nature, every single action is done for the benefit of others rather than for oneself. Every single beauty of nature is for others, including the beauty of a flower in bloom, the colours of hope cast over a rainbow, and the soft, comforting breeze. Even a bird’s exquisite symphony is not for itself. The natural world just gives everything to others.

‘A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.’

– Maya Angleou

The reason the bird sings, is that it lives in the moment, enjoying itself. That bird desires for its singing to awaken everyone and usher in a new day. It also sings to honour the splendour of the nature.

It doesn’t sing for itself.

Nature is a great teacher, it always teaches us something. There is a learning from this as well. We can be at ease and one with nature by practising present-focused living and showing great gratitude for everything around.

shaakh par jab dhoop aayee, haath chhoone ke liye, chhaon chham se neeche utri, hans ke boli aayiye’ yahaan subah se khela karti hai shaam

“Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.” —Isaac Newton

Nature uses the sunrise to mark the beginning of a new day. That brand-new day, which is brimming with new vitality and eagerness. Sunset, on the other hand, symbolises the value of the pauses, one needs to take. It also leaves behind the optimism of the following daybreak. Although sunrise and sunset are diametrically opposite, they are interconnected to one another cyclically.

In contrast to life, in nature, there is no clash between opposites, rather they coexist side by side in a very playful manner. The harmony seen in nature cannot be found anywhere else.

Gulzar sees the sunrise and sunset as more than just a natural phenomenon. He views it as the coexistence of opposites in harmony, and he does so in a very light-hearted way.

When the Sun rises, the night embraces it wholeheartedly rather than blocking it. When the first Sun ray comes, the darkness begins to fade on its own. Without encountering any resistance, Dawn and Dusk play together just like two children.

Gulzar has captured the playfulness & co-existence & harmony existing in nature in a very spellbinding manner ( shaakh par jab dhoop aayee, haath chhoone ke liye chhaon chham se neeche utri hans ke boli aayiye).

We all live in a world that is full of contrasts, whether they be in terms of race, gender, geography, lifestyle, etc. But do we embrace the contrary in a joyful way, as it does in nature? Or, do we resist when we encounter any opposite?

We have a lot to learn from nature.

chulbula ye paani apni raah bahna bhoolkar letey letey aainaa chamka raha hai phool par ye bhole se chehre hain masoom naam

According to Tagore, Nature is the melody of God. He says, Nature and God are two aspects of Absolute.

The water droplets that have accumulated overnight on the leaves resemble those easily distracted children. Instead of just slipping away, those droplets would remain there to greet the Sun.

Those droplets are known as dew drops.

The beauty of a flower and nature are reflected in the dew drops (chulbula ye paani apni raah bahna bhoolkar,letey letey aainaa chamka raha hai phool par).

The dew drop doesn’t worry about the subsequent moment when it would disappear after the Sun shines brighter; instead, it playfully enjoys the present. Gulzar compares it with kids; who just enjoy the moment without worrying about the next one.

That is innocence in nature, which is akin to a child’s innocence. We all desire that level of innocence. Whatever the moment may be, adopting a fun attitude and a childlike perspective can make it worthwhile.

“Let your life float on the borders of time like dew on a leaf’s tip.” Tagore

While this song expresses gratitude to nature, it also emphasises the importance of thankfulness and ways to coexist peacefully with the nature.

Don’t we all aspire to be more like nature?

Gulzar has just shown a way to how to get there.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”. Einstein

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3CU4rAK4e8