Video Editor : Prashant Chauhan
The Urdu word ‘Raabta’ means connection. Connection' is an emotion – it decides and shapes so much of who we are and what we do, every day.
Urdu poet Qateel Shifai has used the word 'raabta' in ghazal he wrote.
Raabta laakh sahi qaafila salar ke saath
Humko chalna hai magar, waqt ki raftar ke saath
Qaafila salar means the 'chief of the caravan', the leader. The poet is trying to say that regardless of the equation you share with the leader. Regardless of how impressed you are with your leader, do not follow them mindlessly. It's very natural for us to look up to the one who leads us. And as a result we end up following everything they say, do, or even believe, without thinking much or questioning anything.
The poet says this in the second line.
Humko chalna hai magar waqt ki raftar ke saath.
The poet here says that he wants to progress ahead but with the times, rather than with the leader of his caravan.
Lafz chunta hu toh mafhoom badal jaata hai
Ik na ik khauff bhi hai, jurrat-e-izhar ke saath
Mafhoom is 'meaning’. Jurrat means courage, izhar is to express.
It means no matter what words we choose to express ourselves, they'll be misunderstood. Which is why there is fear in the poet's heart as much as there is courage to speak up. It also means that we have to make a choice between fear and courage.
What would you prefer to have 'raabta' with – that which scares you, or that which strengthens you?
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