A 19th century poet, known for his Persian and Urdu writings, and prominently famous for the poetry in Urdu of love, life and pain, which has always been the fuel to fire and admire the writings of Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, popularly known as Ghalib.
My introduction to Ghalib was in my college days, with a course in Modern India. I simply had no idea about him or his writings, let alone the choice of wanting to know more about him. In time I was greatly influenced by the readings of Ghalib’s Delhi. However, I can only remember fragments of what I had read, but I do remember the impression he had left on me.
Which in later years invigorated my love for Urdu language. It is always a satisfaction to understand the meaning, or the least, to be able to figure out the meaning if we have an idea about things.
Well, it couldn’t continue for long. As life passes by, most of the times we don’t even realise the pleasure we had of investing our time and most importantly, ourselves in doing something that we thoroughly enjoyed. In my case, I did learn the basics of Urdu that makes me feel good to have a grasp after all.
Out of all the couplets, most of them could be found on social media posted every now and then, to savour his humour and thoughts on love. Although some parts of his life and the limitations of living; first in Mughal rule and then in British rule, may not be reflected explicitly in his writings but one can find the glimpses throughout.
Kitna khauf hota hai shaam ke andheron mein,
Pooch un parindon say jin kay ghar nahi hotay
How much terrified does one feel in darkness of sunset,
Go and ask the birds, who do not own a house!
For every situation, there is a deep contemplation of life that anyone could easily relate to. Beyond the romantic love there are many phases in life, which comes along in time. With a fondness for Delhi, what is more delightful to have known someone through his poems who lived and dived deep into the bottom?
Hazaron Khwahishein aisi ki har khwahish pay dum nikale
Bahut nikle meray armaan lekin phir bhi kam nikle.
Thousands of desires, each worth dying for…
Many of them I have realised…yet I yearn for more…
Out of countless poems, many of them, I may not be aware of, but this one sums up life in a few sentences for me.
Unreal as it may seem to achieve. Desire of not having any desires is also, in fact, a desire.
With every longing in life while it seems to be the end of everything, it is not. For we realise it much later in life that it was not THE END. But there come’s another wish — only if this time my wish comes true, I may be truly content and happy. Let’s see how game changer that turns out to be…
