To Die in Love…

Hmmm….so it is said that true love is timeless. And to die in the name of love – beautifully tragic. So noble, so pure.

Such is the message conveyed in several age-old classics – irrespective of culture – namely Romeo & Juliet (European), Heer Ranjha (Indian), Laila Majnu (Arab) etc etc.

The modern world does not wish to be left behind. New love stories are spun all the time, adopting new names, but all with the same message – to die in love is the height of chahat (liking). Here is a clip from the movie Devdas, released in 2002:

In Devdas, the main character (Devdas played by Shah Rukh Khan) is a law graduate who returns to India after attending boarding school in England. It is still the rule of the British Raj. Devdas meets up with his childhood sweetheart Paro, who has waited for him all these years, and the two rekindle a love which even the mist of the yesteryears couldn’t extinguish. This love soon turns into a raging fire, and when Devdas’s family opposes the marriage, Devdas, in a moment of ‘weakness’, asks Paro to forget him and just abide the family’s wishes. He soon regrets his words, but alas, it is too late. Paro has married someone else, and Devdas, in his despair, takes to drinking in order to drown his sorrows. He ruins himself, and finally dies on Paro’s doorstep, pining for a glimpse of her.

Devdas is considered a classic, the epitome of love. The audience sympathises with the character, who dies waiting for his beloved, whom he has already lost due to circumstances. We are touched by the depth of Paro and Devdas’ love for each other, which begins in childhood, and continued right up to Devdas’ tragic, despondent death.

Personally, I think it’s a great love story. However, being the cynic I am, I would like to raise a point.

Is it not selfish to destroy yourself, and all your talents, just because you can’t get who you want? Do you have a responsibility towards your own beloved only? Should you not also consider your responsibility towards the rest of the world, who is in need of your talents (and contribution) in order to make it a better place for everyone?

Yes, Devdas did love Paro deeply. But should he not have loved his country too? Did Devdas not owe something to his country, and the world in general? It was the time of the Raj, and his poorer fellow Indians were being oppressed. Being a law graduate from England, he could have used his degree and education to fight for better rights for his people. Improved lives, saved futures. Instead of drowning in self-pity, he should have donned the armour of zeal, and fought for justice, alongside characters such as Bhagat Singh and Shaheed Uddham Singh (both freedom fighters).

Personally, I think Devdas was an unintentionally selfish character, one who only seeked self-gratification. He failed to look beyond his own needs and wants. Please do not perceive me as a person who is unsympathetic, or unappreciative of true love. Devdas was a great lover. However, he failed to realise that it is not just Paro who had a claim to his love. His countrymen did too. But he failed to fulfill them both.

In this world, we must remember that we live not just for ourselves. There are several other lives which are linked to ours, and which can be affected by our actions. It is crucial that we always remember our roles as citizens of the world, and try to use the talents God has given us in order to improve the world. We have no right to waste them just for our own sorrows, because these talents were given to us not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of our fellow human beings in general.

Here’s a poem by Pakistani poet Faiz-Ahmad Faiz which I came across a few days ago. It speaks of this theme:

And Allah knows best. May He guide and protect us always, Ameen.

~ by Samira on November 4, 2007.