For those who have joined now, let me say few words about this Ghalib series.

Ghalib, his Ghazals, his poems, his genius, and his wits have always fascinated millions of Urdu lovers including myself. Those who want to read my previous work please send me an email request; I will email back my previous explanations just for asking.

This is my 47^th installment. I have received excellent response from many friends; both Urdu and non-Urdu speakers. Please know that this is my own, Asghar Vasanwala’s, work and not a forwarding of someone else’s work as some of you might have thought. Please forward this to your friends. Also, please send me your comments/complements. I will appreciate if you forward me email addresses of your Urdu/non-Urdu friends.

Here is today’s verse (She’r) & its explanation in Urdu, Gujarati, and English

For past issues and much more please do visit my Ghalib website  www.Mirza-Ghalib.org. I guarantee, you’ll enjoy it 

 ग़ालिब की ४१ वीं ग़ज़ल का सातवां शेअर है।                                                        दर पे रहनेको कहा और कहके कैसा फिर गया
जितने अर्से में मेरा लिपटा  हूवा बिस्तर खुला                       दर=दरवाज़ा,  दरवाज़ेमें दाखिल होनेसे पेहलेकी जगेह  अर्सा=वक़त, क्षण

तशरीह: ग़ालिब ने इस शेअर में , एक ख़ूबसूरत अंदाज़ में महबूब की वाअदा खिलाफी, तल्लवुन मिज़ाजी। शोख़ी और सितम ज़रीफ़ी का और अपनी ख़ाना बदोशी का खूब पुर लुतफ़ नक़्शा खींचा है। कहता है कमाल मेहरबानी से इस ने मुझ से कहा कि तुम को मेरे दर पर पड़े रहने की इजाज़त है। येह सुन कर मैंने अपना लिपटा हुआ बिस्तर खोलना शुरू किया। लेकिन उसकी शोख़ी देखिए, जितनी देर में मैं ने लिपटा हुआ बिस्तर खोला ) यानी बहुत ही जल्दी वो अपने अलफ़ाज़ से फिर गया और मुझे अपना बिस्तर लपेटना पड़ा
शेअर की खूबियां: ग़ालिब की ख़ूबी येह है कि वो एक शेअर में पूरी कहानी कह डालता है। इस शेअर का तसव्वुर कीजिए: महबूब दरवाज़े में खड़ा ग़ालिब को दफ़ा हो जाने को कह रहा है और ग़ालिब मुंह लटकाए अपना बिस्तर बग़ल में दबाये वापिस जा रहा है। बेचारा!

This is the 7^th verse of Ghalib’s 14^th Ghazal. 

Dar pe rehne ko kaha, aur keh ke kaisa phir gaya!                                                                     She permitted me to stay in her foyer; but, see how she turned back on her words                                                         Jitne    arse   may   mera   lipTa  hua  bistar  khula                                                                    Just during moments my folded bedroll unrolled                                                                                                              Dar=door, space before entrance-door  Arsa= time, duration  

Meaning: In this She’r, Ghalib in an extraordinary style describes his beloved’s promise breaking habit, her fickle nature, her cruel pranks, her teasing, and his own homeless situation. He says, “With surprising kindness she had said I was permitted to stay by her door. Hearing this, I started to unroll my bedroll. However, look at her fickle nature! During the space of moments I unrolled my bedroll, she turned back on her words and I had to repack my bedroll”  

Finer aspects of this verse: It is Ghalib’s art telling a whole story in just one verse. Imagine the situation described in this verse: beloved is standing in her door; and, Ghalib with depressed face, holding bedroll under his armpit, leaving. Poor Ghalib!

AsgharVasanwala                                                                                               asgharf@roadrunner.com                                                                                                               April 27, 2008