Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. This Ghazal is in the style of Ghalib’s ‘aisa kahaaN se laauN keh tujh sa kaheN jise’ and is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
vo josh¹-e Khiiragi² hai tamaasha³ kaheN jisay
be-parda⁴ yuN⁵ huay ho keh parda kaheN jisay   1.boiling over, overflowing 2.dazzling 3.spectacle 4.unveiled 5.like this
The beloved is so beautiful that brilliance overwhelms/dazzles whoever looks at her, such is the spectacle/scene when she is unveiled. Her brilliance dazzles the eye of the observer and essentially acts like a veil. This is also said about the divine beloved.
2
allah-ri¹ Khaaksaari²-e rindaan³-e baada-Khwaar⁴
rashk⁵-e Ghuroor⁶-e qaisar⁷ o kasra⁸ kaheN jisay    1.by god 2.humility 3.tavern patron, irreligious 4.wine-drinker 5.envy 6.pride 7.Caesar 8.Kaiser
By god, look at the humility of the irreligious, wine-drinking rebel. Even Caesar and Kaiser’s pride would be envious of this humility.
3
bijli¹ giri voh dil peh jigar² tak utar gaii
uss charKh³-e naaz⁴ se, qad⁵-e baala⁶ kaheN jisay     1.lightning 2.liver-seat of courage 3.wheel, globe, sky 4.coquetry 5.stature 6.tall
Lightning (the beloved’s glance) struck the poet/lover’s heart and penetrated right through to the liver (winning his love and breaking his resolve). Where did this lightning bolt come from – from that sky high coquetry that can be called the beloved’s tall stature. Said Ghalib …
dil se teri nigaah jigar tak utar gaii
donoN ko ek adaa meN razaa-mand kar gaii
4
zulf¹-e hayaat²-e nau-e-bashar³ meN hai aaj tak
voh Kham⁴, gunaah⁵-e aadam⁶ o havva⁷ kaheN jisay   1.hair 2.life 3.human species, humanity 4.curl 5.sin 6.Adam 7.Eve
According to legend, Adam and Eve, in heaven, disobeyed divine edict and as punishment they were banished from there to earth. Humanity is still bound to that earthly life/existence. Thus, the life of humanity is like long hair which is curled and the curls are due to the sin of Adam and Eve. While this can be interpreted as an undesirable situation (because heaven is supposed to be better than earth), it can also be interpreted as a beautiful thing … because curly hair are considered beautiful.
5
kitni haqiiqatoN¹ se fuzooN-tar² hai voh fareb³
dil ki zabaaN⁴ meN vaada⁵-e farda⁶ kaheN jisay     1.truth, reality 2.higher, stronger, better 3.deception 4.language 5.promise 6.future
The beloved promises to meet the lover ‘in the future’ but everyone knows that this is deception, that she will never keep her promise. But this deception, which in the language of the heart, is called ‘promise’ is much better than bitter truth.
6
mera nafas¹ hai jis ka laqab² hai shamiim³-e zulf⁴
meri nazar⁵ hai chehra⁶-e zeba⁷ kaheN jisay     1.breath 2.title, another name 3.fragrant breeze 4.hair 5.discerning sight 6.face 7.beautiful
The fragrance of the breeze is often compared to the fragrance of the beloved’s hair and beauty is attributed to her face. But the poet claims credit for both. It is his description of the fragrance of the beloved’s hair and the beauty of her face that makes it real. Thus, fragrance of the beloved’s hair is another name of my breath (words). It is my discerning eye that is called beauty of the beloved’s face.
7
vo bhi hai aek asl¹ meN bahki² hui vafa³
ahl⁴-e jahaaN⁵ adaavat⁶-e aa’da⁷ kaheN jisay    1.reality 2.gone astray 3.fidelity 4.people of 5.world 6.enmity, rivalry 7.enemy, rival
The true lover is steadfastly faithful to the beloved regardless of whether she shows favours to the rival or not. He is focussed on love of her disregarding rivals or rivalry. In reality, that which the world calls rivalry of rivals is true faithfulness gone astray.
8
lo aa raha hai voh koii mast¹-e Kharaam²-e naaz³
iss chaal⁴ se keh larzish⁵-e sahba⁶ kaheN jisay    1.intoxicating 2.gait, style of walking 3.pride, coquetry 4.walk 5.ripples, trembling 6.wine
When the saaqi walks with a wine glass in hand her walk sets up ripples on the surface of the wine. This is considered a thing of beauty. Here the beloved is approaching with an intoxicating gait – her proud and aloof style of walking. This is the walk that can be called the ripples of wine in a glass/cup.
9
meray nishaat-Khaana¹-e imroz² meN nahiN
voh buzdili³ keh Khatra⁴-e farda⁵ kaheN jise    1.house of joy/pleasure 2.today, present 3.cowardice 4.fear 5.future
The poet lives in the joy of the present, enjoying every moment that he has. He has no room for fear of the future.
10
Khanjar¹ hai josh² haath meN, daaman³ lahu⁴ se tar⁵
yeh uss ke taur⁶ haiN keh masiiha⁷ kaheN jisay    1.dagger, knife 2.pen-name of the poet 3.hem of the garment 4.blood 5.wet, dripping 6.ways, methods, style 7.healer
The beloved is sometimes called the healer because if she were to lay her hand over the wounds of the lover, he would be miraculously cured. O josh, she cuts you down with a knife in her hand; the hem of her garment drips with blood (of slain lovers). Such is her style and we call her a healer.