Amroha Blog

Last month I was discussing with a publisher about a book on dreams. In reply, he showed me a quotation, ‘There are two kinds of dreams. There are dreams that we have while asleep and dreams that we have while we are awake. What is the connection between the two types?

Both kinds of dreams are about the yearnings that are held deep inside us. Some of these desires are so secret that we dare not share them even with our closest friends. Those of us that dare to put our dreams down on paper are showing the courage and faith that they will come true.” So, I decided, then and there, to write something on the subject.

Being a hopeless flop in almost every sphere of life except where God’s unseen hands pulled my life to a respectable survival, I have always been a dreamer by choice. I believed that a bed of solitude and a room with a ceiling fan is heaven upon earth. Unfortunately, as the famous Urdu poet Joun Alia has said, “Apne ander se ab nikal aao, ghar men saman ki zaroorat hai.” Come out of your self-imposed habitat, home needs something to satisfy the basic needs. So, like a reluctant traveler who have had no specific purpose for his imposed terrestrial journey I searched and did spend some reasonable time to make the both ends meet.

But bed had always been the heaven and the best rendezvous, an escape from all the worries, ugliness and frustrations of life. I dream and love to dream as this is only one avenue where God is not asking my choice. Here is a diorama played by no one but God and I just have to watch without moving in my bed with my eyes closed. Then you see good dreams, pleasant dreams, mysteries, bad dreams and of course horrible dreams.

However, after dreaming the whole span of life, for me dreams still remain a mystery and we still don’t know as to why we dream, where dreams come from and what is a dream. Is it a physiological or a psychological phenomenon? How we dream? Is it the spontaneous self activation of brain which swings our thoughts to-and-fro into different zones of our past, present and future? The Holy Books communicate some make-believe ideas about dreams and their interpretations which could be acceptable to a dreamer in proportion of his religious zeal and faith.

It is my habit that I discuss every issue and every plan of my life with my wife as it is the most durable trusted safety valve in case of failure. You can always blame her if the situation is discomfited. So, when I discussed with her that I wanted to write a book about ‘dreams’ her guards of wisdom were alert. In this state of physical debilitation what is that much left in you and who is coming to your dreams? Having assured that no one had ever appeared in my dreams except Her Majesty she came with a better idea.

First who will buy your book?” She is also ardent admirer of poetess Parveen Shakir and narrated her couplet spontaneously – “Neend jab khwabon se pyari hon to aise waqt men, khwab dekhe koun aour khwabon ke de tabeer koun.” In times when people prefer sleep over dreaming, who will dream and who will interpret the dream. I reminded her that that old saying ‘behind every successful man there is a woman’ was corrupted by powerful women of past and the original one was – ‘behind every unsuccessful man there is a woman.’ She was not bemused but refused to give up. She came with an instant new advice – “Better write a short essay about SLEEP, may be some people would care to read.” I had another chance to confirm that she was still wiser and the following passages are to be credited to her persuasion and my pen was just a catalyst.

When we put ourselves to bed we don’t know when sleep would visit. It just happens and we have no say in it. Even an ordinary zhola chap doctor could tell you that a sound sleep is necessary for a good health. However, according to science sleep helps to consolidate our memories. It deletes unnecessary information which clutters in the day. In sleep most of our senses come to full stop. It is the time when mind takes stock of the happenings and helps consolidate the most needed events. It invigorates and charges our batteries.

The studies of brain in Electroencephalography (EEG) reveal that in deep sleep low frequency Delta waves are generated which produce life and mood enhancing chemicals. This phenomenon is assigned to the freshness we feel when we get up after the deep sleep.

In deep sleep most of the peripheral neuron activities of brain are reduced and almost shut down. Only the central portion of the brain-seat of the autonomous nervous system works. According to science it is the area where our long term memories are restored. As the peripheral brain shuts down unnecessary memories get dissolved.

When we are disturbed in our deep sleep we feel like assaulting the intruder. Why ? The cycle of dissolution of memory process is broken while the memory knots keep growing. It creates irritability and short tempers.

At present I have something to save for the future project of my dreams as too much material is not available in this nebulous field. Here I conclude with the following poem written by Michelle McGath: