by ASGHAR VASANWALA
Dear friends,
Ghalib, his Ghazals, his poems, his genius, and his wits have always fascinated millions including myself.
This is my 60th installment. This is my own, Asghar Vasanwala’s, work and not a forwarding. Please forward this email to as many friends you can. Also, please send me your comments/complements. I will appreciate if you forward me email addresses of your Urdu/non-Urdu friends. This Ghalib explanation is my interpretation based on work of various Ghalib experts. English and Gujarati are my own work. Hindi is transliteration of Urdu.
Here are today’s verses (she’r) & its explanations.
For my past work from beginning, please click the following link
http://www.mirza-ghalib.org/ghalib_series.html and then on left column click Ghalib series.. Please click 1 to 65 numbers one by one and read my past explanations and enjoy.
For Guajarati and Hindi scripts click http://lists.elistx.com/archives/blank/201105/docx9ddASqnGAa.docx
This is the 1st verse of Ghalib’s 20th Ghazal.
Dost Gham-khavri meiN meri, Saii farmaeveNge kya?
In what way efforts of my sympathizing friends would work.
Zakhm ke bharne talak, naKHun na baRah javeyNge kya?
If they clip my nails discouraging me scratching my wounds, won’t my nails regrow before healing of wounds?
Gham-KHvari=Sympathizing Saii=efforts FarmaveyNge= this is of 19th century Urdu meaning Farmayenge
Meaning:
Ghalib has multiple love-wounds. Ghalib’s sympathizers and friends came to help him. They found Ghalib was scratching his wounds with his overgrown nails and wouldn’t allow them heal. Therefore, his compassionate friends clipped his nails and disabled him scratching.
Ghalib tells his friends, Oh. My friends, your efforts, and technique will not bear fruits. For, my nails will grow back before my wounds heal and I would scratch my wounds again and make them fresh
Finer aspects: Ghalib gives proof of his love affair with pain. Lovers wish that their wounds of love always remained fresh.
This is the 2nd verse of Ghalib’s 20th ghazal.
Be niyazi had se guzri, banda-parvar! kab talak
Your inattention has crossed limit. My master! After all how long will this sequence continue? i.e.
Ham kaheN-ge hal-e-dil, aur aap farmaveN-ge “kya?”
I will describe my heart’s woes, and you will repeatedly say, “What did you say, say it again”
Be-niyazi=inattention had se guzri=has crossed limit “kya?” =what (did you say)?, please repeat
Meaning:
Ghalib is telling his heart’s troubling story to his beloved. However, she in not all ears; engrossed in makeup, she is not paying any attention at all. She frequently interrupts Ghalib and says “What did you say? Say it again”. Ghalib is tired of this inattention and says to his beloved, “My master! Your inattention is too much to bear; it has crossed limits. After all how long this sequence will continue when I will describe my heart’s troubles and you would again and again say “what did you say? Say it again”
Finer aspects:
Good play on words. This is very famous verse. The verse brings forth the picture of beloved neglect.
This is the 3rd verse of Ghalib’s 20th ghazal.
Hazarat-e-naseh gar aaveyN, dida-o-dil farsh-e-rah
If his holiness preacher arrives, he will be most welcome; I will pave my eyes and heart on his path
Koi mujh ko yeh to samjha do, ke salaveN-ge kya?
However, can anyone explain to me what is he going to explain?
Dida-o-dil farsh-e-rah=most welcome, I will pave my eyes and heart on his path
Meaning 3rd verse:
A preacher came to know that Ghalib is lost in love, and has forgotten God. He announces his arrival to Ghalib’s friends. They in turn break the news to Ghalib. Ghalib says if his Holiness is coming, he is most welcome. My eyes and heart will be his carpet. I will greet him with most respect. However, for God’s sake can someone tell me what he going to counsel? Meaning my fire of love is beyond preaching. Preacher’s words cannot stop me. In matter of love, I am beyond control. Therefore, all preaching, counseling, and advice are useless.
Ghalibologists’ Opinions:
BeKHud opinion: In way of taunt, in first line, Ghalib says he will welcome his holiness preacher with great honor; he will pave his eyes and heart on his path; but in second line, he changes the tone, roars with contempt, and says, “What can he teach me. He doesn’t have the power to wean me from my love”
Asghar Vasanwala can be reached at asgharfv@gmail.com