ek raat, ek khayal

Ghalib zamana mujh ko mitaata hai kis liye,
Loh-e-jahaan pe harf-e-muqarrar nahin hoon main

-Ghalib

ek raat, ek khayal

tere vaade par jiye hum, to ye jaan jhooth jaana
ki khushi se mar na jaate, gar aetbaar hota

-Ghalib

this one is for you

ishq mujhko nahi vahashat hi sahi
meri vahashat teri shoharat hi sahi
[vahashat=madness; shoharat=fame]

kaata kije na ta'alluq ham se
kuchh nahi hai to adaavat hi sahi

ham bhi taslim kii khuu daalenge
beniyaazi teri aadat hi sahi
[taslim=greeting/salution; khuu=habit; beniyaazi=independence]

ham bhi dushman to nahi hai apne
ghair ko tujh se mohabbat hi sahi

ham koi tarq-e-vafaa karate hain
na sahi ishq musibat hi sahi

kuch to de ae falak-e-nainsaaf
aah o fariyaad ki rukhsat hi sahi

yaar se chhed chali jaaye Asad
gar nahi vasl to hasrat hi sahi

-Ghalib

ek raat, ek khayal

aate hain ghaib se ye mazameen khayal me
Ghalib, sareer-e-khaama nawa-e-sarosh hai

koi ummeed bar nahi aati

dint want to have an overdose of intense ghazals at this time of night but cant resist posting this one, yun laga ki haalat ko Ghalib ne pehle hi zubaan de rakhi hai-

koi ummeed bar nahi aati
koi soorat nazar nahi aati

maut ka ek din mu'ayyan hai
neend kyon raat bhar nahi aatee ?

aage aati thi haal-e-dil pe hansi
ab kisi baat par nahi aati

jaanta hoon sawaab-e-taa'at-o-zahad
par tabiyat idhar nahi aati

hai kuchch aisi hi baat jo chup hoon
warna kya baat kar nahi aati ?

kyon na cheekhon ki yaad karate hain
meri aawaaz gar nahi aati

daagh-e-dil gar nazar nahi aata
boo bhi 'ei chaaraagar ! nahi aati

[ chaaraagar = healer/doctor ]

ham wahaan hain jahaan se hamko bhi
kuchch hamaari khabar nahi aati

marte hain aarzoo mein marne ki
maut aatee hai par nahi aati

kaaba'a kis muh se jaaoge 'Ghalib'
sharm tumko magar nahi aati

kya qasam hai tere milne ki, ke kha bhi na sakoon

meherbaan hoke bula lo mujhe chaaho jis waqt
main gaya waqt nahi hoon ke fir aa bhi na sakoon

zauf mein taana-e-aghayaar ka shikawa kya hai ?
baat kuchch sar to nahi hai ke utha bhi na sakoon

[ zauf = weakness, taana = taunt, aghayaar = enemy,
shikawa = complaint ]

zehar milta hi nahi mujhko sitamgar, warna
kya qasam hai tere milne ki, ke kha bhi na sakoon

-Ghalib

This one looks incomplete, a ghazal is supposed to have at least 5 ashaar. Also, the maqtaa is missing. Dont know if its deliberate or Ghalib never completed it or the web reference had something missing. But its as powerful with these 3 couplets.
Also, reminds me of a Jagjit Singh's ghazal, had some lines like 'hum koi waqt nahi hain humdum, jab bulaoge chale aayenge'.

ki rone pe ikhtiyaar nahi hai

aa, ki meri jaan ko qaraar nahi hai
taaqat-e-bedaad-e-intezaar nahi hai

[ qaraar = rest/repose, bedaad = injustice ]

dete hain jannat hayaat-e-dahar ke badle
nasha ba-andaaza-e-khumaar nahi hai

[ hayaat = life, dahar = world, ba_andaaza = according to,
khumaar = intoxication ]

giriya nikaale hai teri bazm se mujh ko
haay ! ki rone pe ikhtiyaar nahi hai

[ giriya = weeping, ikhtiyaar = control ]

hamse 'abas hai gumaan-e-ranjish-e-khaatir
khaak mein ushshaaq ki ghubaar nahi hai

[ 'abas = indifferent, gumaan = suspicion, ranjish = unpleasantness,
khak = ashes/dust, ushshaaq = lovers, ghubaar = clouds of dust ]

dil se uthaa lutf-e-jalva haay ma'anee
ghair-e-gul aainaa-e-bahaar nahi hai

[ ma'anee = meanings, ghair-e-gul = blossoms ]

qatl ka mere kiya hai 'ahad to baare
waae ! akhar 'ahad ustuwaar nahi hai

[ 'ahad = promise, baare = at last, ustuwaar = frim/determined ]

tune qasam maikashee ki khaayi hai 'Ghalib'
teri qasam ka kuchch aetbaar nahi hai !

[ maikashee = boozing, aetbaar = trust/faith ]

Details to follow in the poetry blog(hopefully soon)

sab kahan kuch

Sab kahan kuch lal-a-o-gul me numayaan ho gayin
khaak me kya sooratein hongi, ki pinhaa ho gayin

vaan gaya bhi mai to unki gaaliyon ka kya jawaab
yaad thi jitni duaayein, sarf-e-darbaan ho gayin

ranj se khuugar hua insaan to mit jaata hai ranj
mushkilein mujh par padi itni, ki aasan ho gayin

yun hi gar rota raha Ghalib to ae ahl-e-jahaan
dekhna in bastiyon ko tum, ki veeran ho gayin!

-Ghalib

in fond memory

Wo firaaq aur wo visaal kahaan
wo shab-o-roz-o-maah-o-saal kahaan

thi wo ek shaks ke tasavvur se
ab wo raanai-e-khayal kahaan

muzamahil ho gaye quvaa 'Ghalib'
wo anasir mein aitadaal kahaan

Ghalib and Gulzar

If one enumerates the people who have made hindi cinema more beautiful and sensitive by their contributions, Gulzar would be a front runner in the list. His ingenius creativity has come alive on the screen so many times and he has created his own class. I can not help noticing his respect and recognition of another genius that we know of, Mirza Ghalib, in his works. His lyrics oft get leverage from his knowledge of urdu and sher-o-shayari. And his adoration for the language can be seen from this particular line in Dil Se - "wo jiski zabaan urdu ki tarah", where urdu has been used as a metaphor for softness and sophistication itself. He uses Ghalib's shayari in another song in Dil Se, - "ishq par zor nahi, hai ye wo aatish Ghalib. jo lagaye na lage, aur bujhaye na bane".

But the most direct connection can be seen in the TV drama series that he created on the poet in 90s which starred Naseeruddin Shah. I watched few episodes that were available on you-tube. It is a master-piece and brings out the best in Gulzar. His story-telling, direction and dialogues are epitome of artistic brilliance. The performance by Naseer lends that realistic touch to the character that lets the viewer feel the pang and inspiration behind the creations of Ghalib. Jagjit Singh's and Chitra Singh's renditions are commendable. It is a treasure for people who are passionate about Ghalib and urdu poetry in general. The way Gulzar has used shers in various suitable situations gives these shers that added romanticism that makes them all the more unforgettable.

Khair, Ghalib par koi kya khaak kahega, let me just quote this dialogue (as far as i can remember) from the drama-

The inspector: "Kya jaanti ho Ghalib ke bare me, karz me doobe rehte hain"
Navaabjaan: "Aur dilli par jo unka karz chadh raha hai, use dilli ki saat pushtein bhi nahi chuka payengi"


Overall, Ghalib's life was a distressed and sad one. His different viewpoint of God and religion, fondness for wine and bad credit did not make him an ideal person in the society during his times.
And again, I have digressed from the topic of 'Gulzar and Ghalib' to Ghalib!
So, let me finish here. Gulzar sahab is fantastic in his interpretations, presentations and simplicity. Oh, and this one more example-

"jee dhoondta hai phir wahi fursat ke raat din,
baithe rahein tasavvur-e-jaana kiye hue"

I am sure I do not need to tell you where was this used. There must be many more examples. If you can get hold of a copy of Mirza Ghalib dvd, it will be your lucky day!

Ghalib's 'dekhna kismet ki'

The urdu poetry's exploration project has achieved such unexpected depths that I've decided to separate it into another blog, in this case my old unused one. Phi has thrown some significant light on to the ghazal I posted 1-2 days ago and the ghazal analysis is far from over. Anyways, I shall pursue this ghazal's translation as well as any poetic topic on to my other blog.

Ghalib ki kalam se - yet again

I must say this is the best one so far

dekhna qismat ki aap apne pe rashk aajaaye hai
main use dekhoon, bhalaa kab mujhse dekha jaaye hai

[ rashk = envy ]

haath dho dil se yahee garmee gar andeshe mein hai
aabgeena tundee-e-sahbaa se pighla jaaye hai

[ andesha = suspicion, aabgeena = a crystal glass, tundee = heat, sahbaa = red wine ]

Ghair ko yaa-rab woh kyon kar mana'a-e-gustaakhee kare ?
gar haya bhee usko aatee hai to sharma jaaye hai

(dint get the meaning of this one)

shauq ko ye lat ke hardam naala kheenche jaayiye
dil ki woh haalat ki dam lene se ghabra jaaye hai

(dint get the meaning of this one)

door chashm-e-bad ! teree bazm-e-tarab se waah-waah
naghma ho jaata hai waan gar naala mera jaaye hai

[ bad = wicked, tarab = joy, naala = lamentation ]

Gharche hai tarz-e-taghaaful, pardaadaar-e-raaz-e-ishq
par ham 'eise khoye jaate hain ki woh paa jaaye hai

[ taghaaful = negligence, pardaadar = one who puts on a veil ]

uskee bazm-aaraaiyaan sunkar dil-e-ranjoor yaan
misl-e-naqsh-e-muddaa-e-ghair baitha jaaye hai

[ aaraaiyaan = decorations, ranjoor = sad/distressed, misl = record, naqsh = copy/print ]
(again I lose track here)

hoke aashiq woh paree-rukh aur naazuk ban gaya
rang khulta jaaye hai, jitna ki udata jaaye hai

[ paree_rukh = angel faced ]
(this one is totally awesome)

naqsh ko uske musawwir par bhee kya-kya naaz hai
kheenchta hai jis qadar, utana hee khinchta jaaye hai

[ naqsh = copy/print, musawwir = painter ]
(this one is magnificent too)

saaya meraa mujhse misl-e-dood bhaage hai 'Asad'
paas mujh aatish-bazaan ke kisse thehra jaaye hai

[ misl-e-dood = like smoke ]
(aur bazaan ka matlab abhi tak nahi mila :) )

Ghalib ki kalam se - continued

Taskin ko ham na roen jo zauq-e-nazr mile,
Huraan-e-khuld mein teri surat magar mile.

[taskin - consolation/soothing, zauq - delight
huraan-e-khuld - jannat ki hoor]

Apni gali mein mujhko na kar dafan baad-e-qatal,
Mere pate se khalaq ko kyon tera ghar mile?

[baad-e-qatl - after killing me
khalq - world]

Saqi gari ki sharm karo aaj warna ham,
Har shab piya hi karte hain, mai jis qadar mile.

[saqi gari - serving wine]

Tujh se to kuchh kalaam nahin lekin ai nadim!
Mera salaam kaheyo agar naama bar mile.

[nadim - close friend
this is tricky one, is used as a sarcasm on the friend who was appointed to deliver the message to beloved but the friend himself fell in love and did not deliver the message
in lack of better expression at the moment, if anyone can, please leave a comment]

Tum ko bhi ham dikhaenge Majnun ne kya kiya,
Fursat kashaakash-e-gham-e-pinhaan se gar mile.

[pinhaan - secret, concealed
kashaakash-e-gham-e-pinhaan - entanglement of hidden sorrows]

Laazim nahin ke khizar ki ham pairwi karen,
Maana ke ek bazurg hamen ham safar mile.

[laazim - obligatory, pairwi - following
bazurg - aged person]

Ai saaknaan-e-kucha-e-dildaar dekhna,
Tum ko kahin jo Ghalib-e-aashufta sar mile.

[saaknaan-e-kucha-e-dildaar - people living in the neighborhood of my beloved
aashuftaa - deranged
the neighbors of my beloved be warned, you might find the 'deranged' Ghalib lurking in your premises]

Ghalib ki kalam se - continued

aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak

daam har mauj mein hai halqaa-e-sad kaam-e-nahang
dekhe.n kyaa guzare hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak
[daam = net/trap; mauj = wave; halqaa = ring/circle]
[sad = hundred; nahang = crocodile; gauhar = pearl]

aashiqi sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa rang karoon Khoon-e-jigar hone tak
[sabr-talab=patient]

ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaayenge ham tum ko Khabar hone tak
[taGaaful=neglect/ignore]

partav-e-Khuur se hai shabanam ko fanaa ki taaleem
main bhi hoon ek inaayat ki nazar hone tak
[partav-e-Khuur = sun’s rays; shabanam=dew]
[fanaa = perish; inaayat = favour]

yak nazar besh nahin fursat-e-hasti Gaafil
garmi-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak
[besh = excess; Gaafil = ignorant]
[raqs = dance; sharar = flash/fire]

Gam-e-hasti kaa ‘Asad’ kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
shammaa har rang mein jalati hai sahar hone tak
[juz = other than; marg = death]
[I guess 'Asad' here is for Asadullah ie Ghalib's name]

in voice of Jagjit Singh