Citation : Singh AR (2023) Death and Sleep.In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 1 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 21:1.pg 22-23
موت کا ایک دن معین ہے
نیند کیوں رات بھر نہیں آتی
मौत का एक दिन मुअय्यन है
नींद क्यूँ रात भर नहीं आती
maut kaa ek din mu.ayyan hai
niind kyuu.n raat bhar nahii.n aatii
(DG 162:2:977)
Meaning
A day is fixed for death
Why don’t I sleep every night?
Explanation:
Not getting sleep every night is like dying every night. Anyone who has insomnia will vouch for this. In fact, the first and vital sign of a mental health issue is lack of night’s sleep.
So Ghalib asks: I know a day is fixed for my death and I’m ok with it. Not getting sleep is like dying every night. When will this stop?
Ghalib raises an important mental health issue by comparing lack of sleep every night with death every night.