"You Needn't Accept All That I Say. At Least, Let Me Finish My Sentence"
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
27 February
2024
"You don't have to love me but please
throw yourself into the world with me."
Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet
"You needn't accept all that I say. At
least, let me finish my sentence...."
Sappho, Greek poetess
"Zamana Meri Har Baat Maane, Ye Zaroori
Nahin
Meri
Baat Suni Jaaye, Faqat Itni-Si Iltija Hai"
(It's not incumbent upon the world to agree
with whatever I say in my speech / Just listening to me is what I
beseech)......yours truly's shadow-translation
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, legendary Pakistani Urdu
poet
I just
finished reading Hikmet's two compilations of poetry in Turkish, Sappho's
'Fragments' in Greek and Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi's poetry in Urdu. Strangely, I came
across the aforementioned thoughts which, though similar, are expressed in a
very unique manner by the three greats of world literature.
In this
quote, Nazim Hikmet beautifully encapsulates the essence of true companionship
and shared experiences. He acknowledges that love may not always be guaranteed,
but he implores others to embark on life's journey alongside him. Hikmet's
words emphasize the importance of forming bonds and connections with one
another, transcending the bounds of individual desires and instilling a sense
of unity. By inviting others to throw themselves into the world with him,
Hikmet beckons them to embrace all that life has to offer, together. This quote
reflects the poet's yearning for genuine human connections and highlights the
power of collective experiences in enriching our existence.
When Sappho
implores 'Let me finish my sentence' and Qasmi requests that he should at least
be heard, we all find ourselves agreeing with both the greats. We may disagree
with the speaker, but we must be polite as well as generous to let others
present their versions of truth. All the conflicts in the world are because
we're not ready to listen to the entire viewpoints of others. We butt in with
our subjective perceptions of a situation or issue. Ludwig Wittgenstein says,
"Truth surfaces only when you finish your whole sentence."
Listening
to others is an exercise in patience and compassion. You needn't agree with
what others say and vice versa but you can at least show a modicum of respect,
courtesy and decorum to conflicting views. To respect contrasting and
contradicting views is to be respectful of people. Humanity thrives in a
non-confrontational set-up. Vulgar and violent disagreements are always the
wet-blankets.
What a
nudge serves, a knock doesn't. Too much assertiveness leads to bitterness and
bad-blood. Poet Derek Walcott puts it so sublimely, "Mankind has a common
destiny. When you suffer, the world suffers with you. When you rejoice,
everyone rejoices with you." This brings all of us together regardless of
caste, class, creed and complexion.
It may
sound utopian but it can be a universal reality in future when evolved humans
will learn to live harmoniously, something that's not happening at the moment
and we're all sparring over petty issues of religion, god, temple, politics,
nation and nationalism. When people of all hues, shades and views will be able
to come together, shelving all their differences and prejudices, what Hikmet,
Sappho and Qasmi stated long ago, will be a reality. I'm hopeful. Aren't you?
------
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages
including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/hikmet-sappho-qasmi/d/131808
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