On Aphorisms and Youth!

I love aphorisms. They are the best examples of the use of language and make you realize deep truths; they also establish your reputation in wisecracks. The same goes with Urdu Shayari; one can impress many by reciting a relevant (or maybe not) couplet. 

One couplet of Jaun Eliya has stayed with me:

ज़िंदगी एक फ़न है लम्हों को 

अपने अंदाज़ से गँवाने का

It may mean that the art of life is only in doing things you like. One should never live anyone else’s life; many will feel inspired by this in following their passion. Beauty is one can derive the meaning that one wants. If it doesn’t inspire you, the couplet can mean it is okay to waste time but have your way to do it. If you prefer this meaning, you would also love another aphorism: ‘time enjoyed wasting is not wasted time. 

If you insist on my take on this couplet, I bring another aphorism to my rescue. Oscar Wilde said all art is quite useless and this was a sort of revolution at that time. It means the objective of art (and aphorisms/couplets) is just an expression of a beautiful art form. Some things are just for enjoyment, one should avoid finding usefulness in everything. 

A quote often attributed to George Bernard Shaw has got me thinking: ‘Youth is wasted on the Young.’ This gave rise to many questions; is this true, am I young and did I also get caught up in this?

A memory that I often repent of flashed up immediately. There was a beautiful day in Paris and I was there for a couple of days in my early twenties. I felt extremely tired and the choice was to go out to explore or crash out on the couch. The choice was easy for me and I spent the day sleeping. My younger self never even felt that I might not be there again soon. It has been more than twenty years and I am still to visit the city again. As and when there is a time machine delivering messages, I would tell my younger self to prefer exploring Paris over snoring. 

Before the scenario looks gloomy, my optimistic self assures me that I did crack two of the toughest exams (IIT and IAS) in my youth so I probably did not completely waste it. Leaving the humour aside, we often miss giving importance to things when time is on our side. Young are confident that life is only a one-way uphill drive and you can catch up with whatever you leave behind. 

Does the question also remain what is youth? Is it the age when your hair is not grey, your waistline has not yet started bulging and you are in your teens or twenties? Is youth having immense physical energy and unbounded dreams? Is youth falling in love, picking up new hobbies or not being afraid to take risks? Or maybe youth is an insatiably desire to explore whatever is on offer in this life? 

It is said, When our memories outweigh our dreams, it is then that we become old.' I carry my share of good-bad memories but they still in no way outweigh my dreams. So, I have my answer now. 

When I am in doubt, I read these lines by Javed Akhtar:

दिलों में तुम अपनी बेताबियाँ लेके चल रहे हो, तो ज़िंदा हो तुम

नज़र में ख्वाबों की बिजलियाँ लेके चल रहे हो, तो ज़िंदा हो तुम

हवा के झोकों के जैसे आज़ाद रहना सीखो

तुम एक दरियाँ के जैसे लहरों में बहना सीखो

हर एक लम्हें से तुम मिलो खोले अपनी बाहें

हर एक पल एक नया समा देखे यह निगाहें

जो अपनी आँखों में हैरानियाँ लेके चल रहे हो, तो ज़िंदा हो तुम

दिलों में तुम अपनी बेताबियाँ लेके चल रहे हो, तो ज़िंदा हो तुम

What is your definition of youth?