A few days ago, a non-Muslim friend of mine asked me to clarify the two very commonly used words – Aadmi and Insan. In all probability, he did not seem to be quite aware of the true meaning of ‘Insan’ and how far this differs from ‘Aadmi’. It also appeared from his talk that he knew well that the word ‘aadmi’ is derived from Aadam, who in the Hindu scripture is called ‘Manav’ which means ‘Aadam’. Besides, the words ‘Manush’ and ‘Man’ are also used in the same meaning. However, just to make him fully understand the real meaning of the word ‘insan’, I thought it better to write a short article highlighting the aforementioned two words.
It is known to all that every human being is ‘Aadmi’. But, everybody is not sure about the real meaning of ‘Insan’. So, in most of the cases, a majority of people take the mentioned two words in the same sense. It is right to say that every Insan is definitely an Aadmi but, every Aadmi may not be an Insan also. The original sources from which these two words came into being are entirely different. Hence, they carry two different meanings and features. Let us elaborate this and make it more comprehensible.
After the creation of seven skies and the earth, Almighty God created a human figure out of clay and gifted the figure with soul. The first creation was called ‘Aadam’. He was the first man and the first messenger of God. This word is made of ‘Aa+Dam’ (‘dam’ means ‘soul/spirit) and when ‘dam’ entered the figure made of clay, it came to be called ‘Aadmi’.
Now, let us come to the word ‘Insan’. It is a Persian word and is derived from the word ‘Uns’ which means ‘love/affection/compassion. Thus, it is clear that the man who has the feeling of love and attachment is an ‘insan’ also, besides being an ‘aadmi’. It is to be kept in mind and fully understood that each and every human being is an ‘aadmi’ by birth. But, on the contrary ‘insan’ is an attributive word, a quality, which lifts a person well above the level of an animal. And, as such, a human being is not an ‘insan’ by birth.
The word ‘Insaniyat’ is born out of ‘insan’ and it, like a light, embellishes one’s mind and heart. It helps mould and shape a strong moral character of man. Insaniyat is a quality which is well projected by one’s own conduct, deeds, words and behaviour. Secondly, when we say ‘aadmiyat’ here also we use this word in the sense that the particular man is an embodiment of the qualities that go together to make man a man.
The most celebrated Urdu poet, Mirza Ghalib says, “Baskey Dushwar Hai her Kaam ka Aasa’n Hona / Aadmi ko Bhi Moyasser Nahi Insa’n Hona”. (It is difficult to make every work easy and (similarly) man has not been able to attain the quality of an ‘insan’). When a person’s activities resemble those of animals, we say ‘insaniyat/aadmiyat sey door hai woh’ (the person is away from humanity). Let us use ‘aadmi’ and ‘man’ in the same sense.
What I have said above is enough to make a clear distinction between ‘aadmi’ and ‘insan’. When a man remains only a man in the sense of having the root connected with ‘Aadam’, the first creation of Almighty God, and remains confined to such limited sphere of vision and thinking, his activities become self-centred. In most of the cases such persons do not think of others. It is because the qualities that make man a man in the real sense emanate from inner human feelings and enlivened conscience. A man, who remains indulged in anti-human and anti-social activities, is simply a man in the figurative sense; but not a man in the literal sense. And, on wrong-doing, people in general say about such wrong-doer ‘what kind of a man he is!’ When Brutus, the central character in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar died in the civil war in Rome, Antonio, Brutus’s opponent, reached near his corpse in the battlefield and declared ‘nature will itself proclaim here lies a man’. Shakespeare means to say that Brutus was an embodiment of all the qualities that go together to make man a man. And, ultimately such a man is called an ‘insan’ too.
Looking at the prevailing situation, depicting man’s thoughts and activities, we are confronted with man’s callousness and apathetical disposition in numerous cases. No right thinking person can deny the fact that a majority of we Indians, especially city-dwellers, seem to have lost the spirit of brotherhood and human feelings to some extent. Such a striking feature is commonly marked and observed in big cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, to name only a few.
Kindness begets kindness. Similarly, sympathy and humanity has its own reward. And, these qualities are essential attributes to make a man an ‘insan’. It must be noted that whenever an encounter or a clash occurs between the help rendered to one with money only and the help rendered with acts and words also, we give preference to the latter help. It is because the former projects one’s richness only which comes from external elements. But, such a person can’t be called a big man. Bigness comes from internal qualities, such as sympathy, compassion, truthfulness and an enlivened conscience. Mahatma Gandhi was not rich, but he was certainly a big man.
I do not mean to say that a rich man cannot be a big man also. There are a lot of persons who are rich and at the same time big also. What I mean to say is simply this – a man must be a ‘man’ in the real sense i.e. an ‘insan’. As I have started writing this feature with a famous Urdu couplet, I will focus on this particular heading.
In a city like Kolkata, Delhi and some other metropolis, most of us avoid taking any notice of the person who becomes victim of certain misfortune. Are we not adopting the tendency of total callousness in regard to one lying on the road profusely bleeding and crying in intolerable pain? Don’t we become stone-hearted, projecting listlessness toward the victim of an accident caused by a vehicle? Don’t we move onward, taking long stride, when we hear a cry for help from someone lying by the way side? All these sorrowful and rotten-mindset highlight the callousness and apathetical disposition of one who is simply a man, devoid of manly qualities. And, such person can never be called ‘insan’.
All the afore-mentioned narratives are not baseless. In most of the above mentioned situations and cases we portray our deplorable listlessness so far as yeoman’s service is concerned. It is because of two reasons. One is related to man’s own natural tendency to remain aloof from such incidents. Such a person does not appear to have possessed compassionate attitude at all. The second reason, and vital one in most of the cases, is the truth that a majority of we city dwellers want to avoid the legal complications as well as the rude and indecent behaviour and humiliation that we are often subjected to by the police force at the police station, if not always then at least on most of the occasions.
To prove the above, I cite here one striking example. Sometime in the first quarter of the year 2014, a motorcyclist in Jaipur was hit by a truck. The rider remained alive but he lost his wife and 8-month old daughter. The lady and the infant would have survived had they got help and been reached any nursing home or hospital on time. The unfortunate man’s heart-rending cry for help proved a mere cry in the wilderness. Passers-by slowed down to have a glance upon the dying but did not take them to any hospital. Obviously, the passers-by felt that the present legal procedures would definitely throw them into the pits of harassment and troubles and once fell into this it would not be easy to come out of this situation easily (this heart-rending incidence was focused upon in almost all the leading dailies in India).
In conclusion, I must say that one must always be ‘insan’ and extend his helping hand to the needy, irrespective of caste, creed, language and religion, in all situations. “Dard-e Dil Kay Wastey Paida Kiya Insan Ko / War-na Ta’at Kay Liye Kuchch Kum Na They Karro-Baya’n”. The poet, Mirza Ghalib, through this couplet highlights the Creator’s objective behind creating human beings, saying “human beings are brought to existence but for projecting compassion, otherwise there was no dearth of angels for bowing head before God in obedience”.