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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 48th
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 verses (She’r) & its
explanation in Urdu, Gujarati,
and English
For past issues and much more please do visit my site
www.Mirza-Ghalib.org. I
guarantee, you’ll enjoy it
These are
the 8th 9th & 10th verses of Ghalib’s
14th Ghazal.
Verse 8
Kyon andheri hai
shab-e-gham? Hai bala-oN ka nuzul
Why this night of grief is so dark? Demons are landing.
Aaj udhar hi ko rahega
deeda-e-aKHtar khula
Alas! Tonight, eyes of stars will keep facing upper havens (away
from me on earth)
Shab-e-gham=
night of grief, night away from beloved
Bala-oN ka nuzul= landing of
troubles/demon
Deeda-e-aKHtar= stars’
eyes, light from stars
Verse 9
Kya rahuN ghurbat meiN
khush? Jab havadis ka ho yeh haal
How can I be happy even in a foreign land? When heavenly and
earthly troubles are in such (terrible) state
Nama lata hai vatan se nama bar aksar khula
Mailman brings mail, from my hometown, mostly as an open letter
(signifying death of a dear one).
Ghurbat= a
lonely place away from home, a foreign land
Naama bar=Postman or letter carrier
Nama khula= during previous centuries in India the news of death of
family member or a friend were carried in as an open letter, not in any
envelope. Open letter was sign of a catastrophe.
Verse 10
Us ki ummat meiN huN
meiN, mere raheN kyoN kaam band?
I follow prophet; why my longings may remain unfulfilled
Vaste jis
sheh ke ‘Ghalib’, guNbad-e-be-dar khula
Oh Ghalib! He is that prophet for who the secured dome of sky, opened
Us ki Ummat
meiN huN meiN= I follow him Gumbad-e-be-dar=the
door less dome of sky.
On 27th night in month of
Rajab, Angle Gabriel brought a horse named Buraq to Prophet Mohammed and
took him first to Jerusalem, and then to seventh heaven, the seat
of Allah called Arsh. On the way, Prophet Mohammed met many other
prophets including Jesus and Moses. This revered incident is called
M’eraj
Meaning:
In above three verses Ghalib has
charted his troubled state of mind.
Verse 8:-
Why the present night so is dark? The reason seems to be that stars in
the sky have turned their faces towards upper heaven from where the
grand show of bombardment of troubles on me, is on. The plethora of
troubles, which are reserved for me, are shooting at me with such a fury
that stars will not move their eyes from this grand entertainment.
Therefore, my night will remain dark with no letup in sight.
Verse 9:-
Ghalib moves out from his town his country tired of meanness of people
there. Thinking he will be happy in a far land. However, he could not.
The letters that mail man brought to him were mostly open. Meaning, a
family person, or friend had died. His countrymen do not let him live in
peace even in a foreign land
Verse 10:-
Surrounded by so many calamities Ghalib says: Oh Ghalib! I am a follower
of Prophet Mohammed. Why should doors to my happiness remain closed?
Ghalib! Mohammed is that prophet for who on the night of M’eraj the door
less dome of sky opened and allowed him to be near the seat of Allah.
Followers of Prophet Mohammed will be always rewarded.
Asghar Vasanwala
asgharf@roadrunner.com
June 24, 2008
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