Diwan-e-Ghalib

Diwan-e-Ghalib is for me the very source of all the inspiration regarding the humankind. I could not stop myself still from looking through the pages of this book.

Ghalib is one of the very few poets who has successfully managed to blend more than one themes in his Ghazals. Himself a complete institution in philosophy, ethics, theology, classical literature, grammar and history, his works have been acknowledged in the past and reach out to the future as well. Endowed with unique transcendental vision and a rare intellect Ghalib not only encompassed the inner turmoils of his being within the verses but also recognized the agitations and difficulties of others of his time.



Ghalib’s personal perception of life is definitely influenced by the hardships and struggles faced by him in his earlier days. This is reflected in his ghazals where his grief at times is so intense that he becomes like a dispassionate observer to his sufferings. Not only will the readers relish the artistic and creative genius of the man in portraying the cries of his broken heart and his contempt for the world, embedded within the verses one will also find minute details from the life and times of Ghalib.

Although some of his poetry has been in Urdu, most of Ghalib’s earlier works have been penned in Persian. It is astonishing to comprehend that the poet after 30 years of absence reverted back to Urdu poetry with the greatest of ease, producing gems of Urdu literature that still sparkle to this day.

kisii ko deke dil koii navaa_sa.nj-e-fuGaa.N kyo.n ho
na ho jab dil hii siineme.n to phir muu.Nh me.n zubaa.N kyo.n ho
[navaa_sa.nj-e-fuGaa.N=to cry out]

vo apanii Khuu na chho.De.nge ham apanii vazaa kyo.n
badale.n subuk_saar banake kyaa puuchhe.n ki ham se sar_giraa.N kyo.n ho
[Khuu=habit; vazaa=behaviour; subuk_saar=embarassed; sar_giraa.N=arrogant/proud]

kiyaa Gam_Khvaar ne rusavaa lage aag is muhabbat ko
na laaye taab jo Gam kii vo meraa raazadaa.N kyo.n ho
[Gam_Khvaar=one sho consoles; taab=patience; raazadaaN=confidante]

dil-e-naadaa.N tujhe huaa kyaa hai
aaKhir is dard kii davaa kyaa hai

ham hai.n mushtaaq aur vo bezaar
yaa ilaahii ye maajaraa kyaa hai
[mushtaaq=interested; bezaar=displeased/sick of]
mai.n bhii muu.Nh me.n zabaan rakhataa huu.N
kaash puuchho ki muddaa kyaa hai

jab ki tujh bin nahii.n koii maujuud
phir ye ha.ngaamaa, ai Khudaa kyaa hai

This book, I love a lot.