Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. hasrat mohani (1878-1951), freedom fighter who was jailed several times. He was a very devout, observant muslim, known as “maulana” for his orthodox practice. He went to hajj several times as well as to baGhdaad, najaf and karbala on pilgrimage. What is unusual is that he also did pilgrimages to mathura and nandgaam several times and wrote Ghazal style paens to krishn as well bhajans in the style of meera baaii. He also wrote bhajan style paens to sufi scholars/saints in colloquial language. At the same time, he declared himself to be a socialist/communist. This is linked to a series of Ghazal under ‘radeef-refrain’ to the icon ‘aahista aahista’ which includes more than 20 compositions with this radeef as well as ‘rafta rafta’, ‘dhiire dhiire’, ‘hote hote’ and ‘hallu hallu’.
1
ghaTega tere kooche¹ meN vaqaar² aahista aahista
baRhega aashiqi kaa e’tebaar³ aahista aahista   1.lane 2.respect, dignity, self respect 3.confidence
Right now the lane of the beloved throngs with helpless and hopeless lovers/admirers pining away for a glimpse of her. But gradually their confidence in themselves will increase and this will decrease the demand/respect of your lane.
2
bahut naadim¹ hue aaKhir² vo mere qatl³-e naahaq⁴ par
hui qadr⁵-e vafaa⁶ jab aashkaar⁷ aahista aahista    1.regretful 2.at last 3.killing 4.unjustified 5.value 6.fidelity 7.appear, manifest, revealed, realized
The beloved has killed the poet/lover. Gradually she realizes the value of his fidelity and regrets his unjustified killing.
3
jilaa¹-e shauq² se aaiina-e tasvir-e Khaatir³ meN
numaayaaN⁴ ho chalaa ruu⁵-e nigaar⁶ aahista aahista   1.brilliance 2.love, devotion 3.mind, heart 4.appear, emerge 5.face 6.beauty
Because of the brilliance/sincerity of love/devotion, the image/picture of the beauty of the beloved/divinity emerged gradually, in the mirror of the heart/consciousness.
4
mohabbat ki jo phaili hai ye nik’hat¹ baaGh-e aalam² meN
hui hai muntashir³ Khushbu-e yaar⁴ aahista aahista  1.fragrance 2.world 3.scatter, spread 4.friend, beloved
The fragrance that spreads in the “garden of the world” is nothing other than the fragrance of the beloved/divinity.
5
dil o jaan o jigar¹ sabr² o Khirad³ jo kuchh hai paas apne
ye sab kar deNge ham un par nisaar⁴ aahista aahista   1.liver – seat of courage, forbearance 2.patience 3.knowledge, wisdom 4.devotional offering
Whatever I have – my love, life, courage, patience and know – all of it I will make an offering of as time goes on.
6
ajab¹ kuchh haal² ho jaataa hai apnaa be-qaraari³ se
bajaate haiN kabhi jab vo sitaar aahista aahista   1.strange, unusual 2.condition 3.restless
Whenever the beloved plays the sitar gently, the poet/lover gets extremely restless.
7
asar¹ kuchh kuchh rahega vasl² meN bhi raNj³-e furqat⁴ kaa
dil-e muztar⁵ ko aayegaa qaraar⁶ aahista aahista   1.effect 2.union 3.sorrow, pain 4.separation 5.eager, restless 6.tranquility, peace of mind
The poet/lover has been separated from the beloved for a long time (probably because she did not let him get anywhere near her). Even though he has now gained union, the pain of separation will linger for a long time. He will get peace of mind only gradually.
8
na aayeNge vo hasrat¹ intezaar²-e shauq³ meN yuN hi
guzar⁴ jaayeNge ayyaam⁵-e bahaar⁶ aahista aahista   1.pen-name of the poet 2.waiting, anticipation 3.love 4.pass 5.days 6.spring
Spring is supposed to be a time of union, fulfilment of love. The poet/lover is anticipating such a union but is fearful that she will not come without some special effort. The days of spring will gradually pass and wasted in anticipation.