For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مزارِ غالب پر ۔ آلِ احمد سرورؔ
۱
زندہ قوموں کے لئے شعر و ادب نعمت ہے
ان کو رکھتا ہے جواں گر تو یہی آبِ حیات
۲
اس کے خوابوں میں ہے جادو تو خیالوں میں جمال
اس کی مستی میں معارف ہیں، نشے میں ہے نجات
۳
بزمِ تہذیبِ چراغاں ہے اِسی کے دم سے
لالہ کاری سے اسی کی ہے بہاروں کو ثبات
۴
اس کے اک معجزۂ فکر و نظر کے آگے
سر نگوں اہلِ سیاست کے سبھی لات و منات
۵
نااُمیدی میں جلاتا ہے اُمیدوں کے دئیے
زہر کے جام کو دیتا ہے یہی کیفِ نبات
۶
اِس کے قدموں میں مچلتا ہے طلسمِ مہ و سال
اس کے ہاتھوں میں سرا پردۂ اسرارِ حیات
۷
جاوداں اس کی ہر ایک نیم نگاہی کا شہید
بے اماں تیغ ہے یہ دلبرِ شیریں حرکات
۸
اس کے ہر رمز میں فطرت کے صحیفوں کا نچوڑ
دفترِ علم پہ بھاری ہیں اِسی کے آیات
۹
یہ وہ شعلہ ہے جو مدّہم نہ ہوا پر نہ ہوا
یہ وہ سورج ہے کہ جس پر کبھی آتی نہیں رات
۱۰
عکسِ اِمروز ہوا جاتا ہے پانی پانی
آئینہ خانے میں اس کے ہے وہ ماضی کی برات
۱۱
مرجعِ اہل بصیرت ہے مزارِ غالب
ہم بھی لے آئے ہیں کچھ جذب و جنوں کی سوغات
मज़ार-ए ग़ालिब पर – आल-ए अहमद सुरूर
१
ज़िन्दा क़ौमौं के लिये शे’र ओ अदब ने’मत है
उन को रखता है जवां गर तो यही आब-ए हयात
२
उस के ख़्वाबौं में है जादू तो ख़यालौं में जमाल
उस की मस्ती में मु’आरेफ़ हैं, नशे में है नजात
३
बज़्म-ए तहज़ीब-ए चराग़ां है उसी के दम से
लाला-कारी से उसी की है बहारौं को सबात
४
उस के एक मोजेज़ा-ए फ़िक्र ओ नज़र के आगे
सर निगूं अहल-ए सियासत के सभी लात ओ मनात
५
नाउमीदी में जलाता है उमीदौं के दिये
ज़हर के जाम को देता है यही कैफ़-ए नबात
६
इस के क़द्मौं में मचलता है तिलस्म-ए मह ओ साल
इस के हाथौं में सरा-पर्दा-ए अस्रार-ए हयात
७
जावेदां इस कि हर एक नीम-निगाही का शहीद
बे-अमां तेग़ है ये दिल्बर-ए शीरीं हरकात
८
इस के हर रम्ज़ में फ़ितरत के सहीफ़ौं का निचोढ
दफ़्तर-ए इल्म पे भारी हैं इसी के आयात
९
ये वो शो’ला है जो मद’हम न हुआ पर न हुआ
ये वो सूरज है के जिस पर कभी आती नहीं रात
१०
अक्स-ए इम्रोज़ हुआ जाता है पानी पानी
आइना-ख़ाने में इस के वो है माज़ी कि बरात
११
मरज’अ-ए अहल-ए बसीरत है मज़ार-ए ग़ालिब
हम भी ले आये हैं कुछ जज़्ब ओ जुनूं कि सौग़ात
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. aal-e ahmad suroor (1911-2002) academic, critic, writer, editor and poet. MA in English and urdu literature. He taught at aligaRh and lakhnau universities, serving as head of the department of urdu at aligaRh. He was associated with, if not an active member of the Progressive Writers’ Association. His poetic compositions tend to be thoughtful and philosophical. This Ghazal, a tribute to Ghalib, is linked to ‘Ghalib Khiraaj’ on the Theme page.
1
zinda qaumoN1 ke liye she’r o adab2 ne’mat3 hai
un ko rakhta hai javaaN gar4 to yahi aab-e-hayaat5 1.alive/vibrant communities 2.literature 3.blessing 4.if 5.water/nectar of life
Poetry and literature are a blessing for vibrant communities. If there is anything that keeps them vigorous it is this nectar (poetry and literature) of life.
2
us ke KhwaaboN meN hai jaadu to KhayaaloN1 meN jamaal2
us ki masti3 meN mu’aarif4 haiN, nashe5 meN hai najaat6 1.thought, imagination 2.beauty, glory 3.intoxication 4.mystic 5.intoxication 6.deliverance
There is magic in its dreams, glory in its imagination. Mystics are intoxicated with it, there is deliverance in such inebriation.
3
bazm1-e tahziib2-e charaaGhaaN3 hai usi ke dam4 se
laala-kaari5 se usi ki hai bahaaroN6 ko sabaat7 1.gathering, assembly 2.culture 3.lights 4.power 5.embellishment, decoration 6.spring 7.permanence
The assembly of the cultured is lit up because of the power of poetry. Its embellishment grants spring a long life.
4
us ke ek mo’jeza1-e fikr2 o nazar3 ke aage
sar-niguuN4 ahl-e-siyaasat5 ke sabhi laat-o-manaat6 1.miracle 2.thought, reason 3.discerning eye 4.head bowed 5.politicians 6.pagan godesses
Before the miracle of its reason and its discerning eye, politics and orthodoxy bows its head.
5
na-umiidi1 meN jalaata hai umiidoN2 ke diye3
zahr4 ke jaam5 ko deta hai yahi kaif6-e nabaat7 1.hopelessness 2.hope 3.lamp 4.bitter poison 5.cup 6.pleasure 7.sweetness
It lights the lamp of hope in the darkness of hopelessness. It grants the pleasure of sweetness to the cup of bitter poison.
6
us ke qadmoN1 meN machalta2 hai tilasm3-e mah-o-saal4
us ke haatoN meN sara-parda5-e asraar6-e hayaat7 1.feet 2.roll on the ground, begging obstinately 3.magic, secret 4.months and years, time 5.main curtain 6.mysteries 7.life
The secret/mystery of time rolls on the ground at its feet i.e., poetry is for all time. It holds in its hand the curtain of the mysteries of life i.e., it reveals those mysteries.
7
jaavedaaN1 us ki har ek niim-nigaahi2 ka shaheed3
be-amaaN4 teGh5 hai ye dilbar6-e shiiriiN7 harakaat8 1.eternal, immortal 2.side-long glance 3.martyr 4.unsparing, unforgiving 5.sword 6.heart pleasing, beloved 7.sweet 8.movements, actions
Here poetry is presented as a beloved, a mischievous damsel, whose sidelong glance kills, but the prey lives forever i.e., the poet is immortal through their words. It is a beloved that acts sweetly, mischievously, but is like an unsparing sword.
8
us ke har ramz1 meN fitrat2 ke sahiifoN3 ka nichoR4
daftar5-e ilm6 pe bhaari7 haiN usi ke aayaat8 1.secret, clue, hint, symbol 2.nature 3.page 4.essence 5.register, account 6.knowledge 7.heavier, more valuable 8.signs, mark, pointer
In every metaphor and simile is squeezed out the essence of the page of nature. Its symbols and signs convey more value than an encyclopedia of knowledge.
9
ye vo sho’la1 hai jo mad’ham2 na hua, par na hua
ye vo sooraj hai keh jis par kabhi aati nahiN raat 1.flame 2.faded
This is a flame that never fades. This is a sun that never sets.
10
aks1-e imroz2 hua jaata hai paani-paani3
aaiina-Khaane4 meN us ke hai maazi5 ki baraat6 1.reflection, image 2.today 3.paani-paani hona is an expression meaning melt in shame 4.house of mirrors 5.past 6.procession
Images of the day melt in shame. Reflected in the house of memories is the process of the past i.e., memories sketched in poetry are far more beautiful than today’s images.
11
marj’a1-e ahl-e-basiirat2 hai mazaar3-e Ghalib
ham bhi le aaye haiN kuchh jazb4 o junooN5 ki sauGhaat6 1.asylum, refuge 2.people of discerning eye 3.tomb 4.short for jazba-emotion 5.passion 6.gift, present
The tomb of Ghalib is a refuge for people of discerning sight. I too have brought back a gift of emotion and passion.
aal-e ahmad suroor (1911-2002) academic, critic, writer, editor and poet. MA in English and urdu literature. He taught at aligaRh and lakhnau universities, serving as head of the department of urdu at aligaRh. He was associated with, if not an active member of the Progressive Writers’ Association. His poetic compositions tend to be thoughtful and philosophical. This Ghazal, a tribute to Ghalib, is linked to ‘Ghalib Khiraaj’ on the Theme page.
1
zinda qaumoN1 ke liye she’r o adab2 ne’mat3 hai
un ko rakhta hai javaaN gar4 to yahi aab-e-hayaat5
1.alive/vibrant communities 2.literature 3.blessing 4.if 5.water/nectar of life
Poetry and literature are a blessing for vibrant communities. If there is anything that keeps them vigorous it is this nectar (poetry and literature) of life.
2
us ke KhwaaboN meN hai jaadu to KhayaaloN1 meN jamaal2
us ki masti3 meN mu’aarif4 haiN, nashe5 meN hai najaat6
1.thought, imagination 2.beauty, glory 3.intoxication 4.mystic 5.intoxication 6.deliverance
There is magic in its dreams, glory in its imagination. Mystics are intoxicated with it, there is deliverance in such inebriation.
3
bazm1-e tahziib2-e charaaGhaaN3 hai usi ke dam4 se
laala-kaari5 se usi ki hai bahaaroN6 ko sabaat7
1.gathering, assembly 2.culture 3.lights 4.power 5.embellishment, decoration 6.spring 7.permanence
The assembly of the cultured is lit up because of the power of poetry. Its embellishment grants spring a long life.
4
us ke ek mo’jeza1-e fikr2 o nazar3 ke aage
sar-niguuN4 ahl-e-siyaasat5 ke sabhi laat-o-manaat6
1.miracle 2.thought, reason 3.discerning eye 4.head bowed 5.politicians 6.pagan godesses
Before the miracle of its reason and its discerning eye, politics and orthodoxy bows its head.
5
na-umiidi1 meN jalaata hai umiidoN2 ke diye3
zahr4 ke jaam5 ko deta hai yahi kaif6-e nabaat7
1.hopelessness 2.hope 3.lamp 4.bitter poison 5.cup 6.pleasure 7.sweetness
It lights the lamp of hope in the darkness of hopelessness. It grants the pleasure of sweetness to the cup of bitter poison.
6
us ke qadmoN1 meN machalta2 hai tilasm3-e mah-o-saal4
us ke haatoN meN sara-parda5-e asraar6-e hayaat7
1.feet 2.roll on the ground, begging obstinately 3.magic, secret 4.months and years, time 5.main curtain 6.mysteries 7.life
The secret/mystery of time rolls on the ground at its feet i.e., poetry is for all time. It holds in its hand the curtain of the mysteries of life i.e., it reveals those mysteries.
7
jaavedaaN1 us ki har ek niim-nigaahi2 ka shaheed3
be-amaaN4 teGh5 hai ye dilbar6-e shiiriiN7 harakaat8
1.eternal, immortal 2.side-long glance 3.martyr 4.unsparing, unforgiving 5.sword 6.heart pleasing, beloved 7.sweet 8.movements, actions
Here poetry is presented as a beloved, a mischievous damsel, whose sidelong glance kills, but the prey lives forever i.e., the poet is immortal through their words. It is a beloved that acts sweetly, mischievously, but is like an unsparing sword.
8
us ke har ramz1 meN fitrat2 ke sahiifoN3 ka nichoR4
daftar5-e ilm6 pe bhaari7 haiN usi ke aayaat8
1.secret, clue, hint, symbol 2.nature 3.page 4.essence 5.register, account 6.knowledge 7.heavier, more valuable 8.signs, mark, pointer
In every metaphor and simile is squeezed out the essence of the page of nature. Its symbols and signs convey more value than an encyclopedia of knowledge.
9
ye vo sho’la1 hai jo mad’ham2 na hua, par na hua
ye vo sooraj hai keh jis par kabhi aati nahiN raat
1.flame 2.faded
This is a flame that never fades. This is a sun that never sets.
10
aks1-e imroz2 hua jaata hai paani-paani3
aaiina-Khaane4 meN us ke hai maazi5 ki baraat6
1.reflection, image 2.today 3.paani-paani hona is an expression meaning melt in shame 4.house of mirrors 5.past 6.procession
Images of the day melt in shame. Reflected in the house of memories is the process of the past i.e., memories sketched in poetry are far more beautiful than today’s images.
11
marj’a1-e ahl-e-basiirat2 hai mazaar3-e Ghalib
ham bhi le aaye haiN kuchh jazb4 o junooN5 ki sauGhaat6
1.asylum, refuge 2.people of discerning eye 3.tomb 4.short for jazba-emotion 5.passion 6.gift, present
The tomb of Ghalib is a refuge for people of discerning sight. I too have brought back a gift of emotion and passion.
