For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مِنّت کشِ درباں ہونا ۔ قمرؔ جلالوی
۱
روز جانا ترے کوچے میں پریشاں ہونا
ہم سے آتا نہیں مِنّت کشِ درباں ہونا
۲
کیسے چھپ جائے گا وحشت کا نمایاں ہونا
اک نہ اک دن ہے مرے دامن کو گریباں ہونا
۳
بے سبب بتکدۂ دہر سے پھرنے والے
کُفر جب بات نہ پوچھے تو مسلماں ہونا
۴
تم نے گردن مرے مرنے پہ جھکائی کیا خوب
خود مجھے کوسنا اور خود ہی پشیماں ہونا
मिन्नत-कश-ए दरबां होना – क़मर जलालवी
१
रोज़ जाना तेरे कूचे में परेशां होना
हम से आता नहीं मिन्नत-कश-ए दरबां होना
२
कैसे छुप जाएगा वहशत का नुमायां होना
एक न एक दिन है मेरे दामन को गरेबां होना
३
बे-सबब बुत-कदा-ए दहर से फिरने वाले
कुफ़्र जब बात न पूछे हो मुसलमां होना
४
तुम ने गरदन मेरे मरने पे झुकाई क्या ख़ूब
ख़ुद मुझे कोसना और ख़ुद हि पशेमां होना
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed husain qamar jalaalavi (1887-1968), was born in jalaali, near aligaRh, moved to pakistan after partition/independence. He was popularly known as ‘ustad’, for his expertise in repairing bicycles, which is how he earned his living and lived in penury, in spite of his excellence as a poet. He wrote Ghazal is chaste classical style, many of which have been put to music. This is one of several that he has composed using the same radeef-qaafiya as Ghalib. In this case, ‘aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahiN insaaN hona’ and is linked to that icon under ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’ on the Theme page.
1
roz1 jaana tere kooche2 meN pareshaaN3 hona
ham se aata nahiN minnat-kash4-e darbaaN5 hona 1.daily 2.lane 3.distressed, perplexed 4.obliged to 5.doorkeeper
The poet/lover goes to the lane of the beloved every day and comes out perplexed (not knowing what to do) and distressed (unable to get any access to the beloved). He is too proud to come under the obligation of the doorkeeper.
2
kaise chhup jaa’ega vahshat1 ka numaayaaN2 hona
ek na ek din hai mere daaman3 ko garebaaN4 hona 1.wildness, madness 2.apparent, visible 3.hem of the robe 4.collar
‘daaman garebaaN hona’ i.e., the hem and the collar becoming one implies that the lover, in his distress, will tear his collar all the way down to the hem, making them one and the same. Thus, how can this madness be hidden; how can it be prevented from being visible to all. One day or the other you are going to tear your collar all the way down to the hem.
3
be-sabab1 but-kada2-e dahr3 se phirne4 vaale
kufr5 jab baat na poochhe6 to musalmaaN hona 1.without basis/reason 2.idol house, house of temptations 3.world 4.turn away 5.non-belief 6.ask after you, cater to your pleasure
This is addressed to the observant, who deny themselves the temptations of this world. ‘kufr’ also implies the same set of temptations. O you, who turn away from the house of temptations that is this world, without any reason, without even trying; if these temptations do not give you any pleasure, then by all means turn away from them and become a muslim.
4
tum ne gardan mere marne pe jhukaaii kya Khoob1
Khud mujhe kosna2 aur Khud hi pashemaaN3 hona 1.well, good 2.curse 3.regret
The poet/lover is dead (but he can still write) and the beloved has come to his funeral to pay her respects. With such elegance you lower your head at my funeral! You curse me yourselves and when your curse bears out, you regret it.
mohammed husain qamar jalaalavi (1887-1968), was born in jalaali, near aligaRh, moved to pakistan after partition/independence. He was popularly known as ‘ustad’, for his expertise in repairing bicycles, which is how he earned his living and lived in penury, in spite of his excellence as a poet. He wrote Ghazal is chaste classical style, many of which have been put to music. This is one of several that he has composed using the same radeef-qaafiya as Ghalib. In this case, ‘aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahiN insaaN hona’ and is linked to that icon under ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’ on the Theme page.
1
roz1 jaana tere kooche2 meN pareshaaN3 hona
ham se aata nahiN minnat-kash4-e darbaaN5 hona
1.daily 2.lane 3.distressed, perplexed 4.obliged to 5.doorkeeper
The poet/lover goes to the lane of the beloved every day and comes out perplexed (not knowing what to do) and distressed (unable to get any access to the beloved). He is too proud to come under the obligation of the doorkeeper.
2
kaise chhup jaa’ega vahshat1 ka numaayaaN2 hona
ek na ek din hai mere daaman3 ko garebaaN4 hona
1.wildness, madness 2.apparent, visible 3.hem of the robe 4.collar
‘daaman garebaaN hona’ i.e., the hem and the collar becoming one implies that the lover, in his distress, will tear his collar all the way down to the hem, making them one and the same. Thus, how can this madness be hidden; how can it be prevented from being visible to all. One day or the other you are going to tear your collar all the way down to the hem.
3
be-sabab1 but-kada2-e dahr3 se phirne4 vaale
kufr5 jab baat na poochhe6 to musalmaaN hona
1.without basis/reason 2.idol house, house of temptations 3.world 4.turn away 5.non-belief 6.ask after you, cater to your pleasure
This is addressed to the observant, who deny themselves the temptations of this world. ‘kufr’ also implies the same set of temptations. O you, who turn away from the house of temptations that is this world, without any reason, without even trying; if these temptations do not give you any pleasure, then by all means turn away from them and become a muslim.
4
tum ne gardan mere marne pe jhukaaii kya Khoob1
Khud mujhe kosna2 aur Khud hi pashemaaN3 hona
1.well, good 2.curse 3.regret
The poet/lover is dead (but he can still write) and the beloved has come to his funeral to pay her respects. With such elegance you lower your head at my funeral! You curse me yourselves and when your curse bears out, you regret it.
