When MEN Cry

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 27 September 2022 Rone Se Aur Ishq Mein Bebaak Ho Gaye Dhoye Gaye Hum Aise Ke Bas Paak Ho Gaye Mirza Asadullah Khan 'Ghalib' (Tears in love made me all the more uninhibited/ It cleansed and purified me) “Tears Aren't Male or Female Emotions Have No Gender Let It Be A Happy Or A Sad Tale We All Cry Whether Tough or Tender” My translation of Rumi's one of the last quatrains written in Ottoman Turkish A poignant picture of all-time greats Federer and Nadal with tears in their eyes, has moved the world. TOI carried the picture on the front page of its Sunday edition. Men shedding tears isn't a very common sight. But when they cry (in public) they make themselves endearingly humane as crying is a humanising act that transcends gender stereotypes and perceived emotional rigidity. We've a fixed belief that men don't cry. Rather, they shouldn't cry. “Aankhein Hain Toh Ashk Bhi Honge Hi/ Insaan Hain Toh Royenge Bhi “(When there're eyes, there must be tears/ When we all are humans, we must also shed tears). Men are as emotional and sensitive as women are. In fact, now behavioural science has begun to believe that men are more emotional and sensitive (than women). Valmiki cried when two mating birds were arrowed (Kronch-Vadh) by a hunter and the resultant pathos, created by the anguished heart, made him a Mahakavi. Crying is cathartic. Men must cry because when they hold their tears back, the pent up sorrow breaks them. Cry whenever emotions overwhelm you. Men often don't cry in public lest people should call them sissy. This is an erroneous belief. Cry for your own sake. Cry for your mental, physical and emotional well-being. Remember, men have shed more tears than all the water lying in the great oceans. There's a Persian adage, ' One who doesn't cry is capable of committing the most heinous crimes.' Tears are catalysts of humane aspects that constitute our persona and make all of us humans. Rafi sang, ' Ye Aansoo Mere Dil Ki Zubaan Hain/ Main Rouun Toh Ro Dein Aansoo, Main Hans Doon Toh Hans Dein Ye Aansoo.' They (tears) cleanse the firmament of our turbid existence and the azure blue sky of our life paves the way for a bright and rejuvenating sunshine. ----- 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 world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/crying-federer-nadal-ghalib/d/128044 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism