Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. This is one of a series of Ghazal written as a tribute to Ghalib by the Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! The samiti conducted mushaa’era over two years, each inviting Ghazal modeled after selected Ghazal of Ghalib. The poet, baldev krishn sahgal asar, was the Divisional Manager of the Food Corporation. This series shows the range of occupations of hindu poets who were lovers of urdu even to 1969. Times have changed.
1
shauq¹ rusvaa²-e intehaa³ na hua
dard minnat-kash⁴-e dava na hua     1.desire, love 2.ashamed by 3.extreme 4.beholden to
Love was not ashamed by extreme pain. It gladly faced/suffered it. His pain did not come under the obligation of any cure i.e. he did not get cured and continued to suffer pain and is proud of it.
2
ab to ashkoN¹ ne saath chhoR diya
tere Gham² ka bhi aasra³ na hua      1.tears 2.sorrow/longing for love 3.support, hope
The poet/lover has lived in the hope that his longing will be fulfilled. But now he no longer has that hope/support and even his tears have dried up.
3
un ko dekha to dekh bhi na sake
un se bole to bolna na hua      Finally, the poet/lover seems to have come face to facee with the beloved. But he was so overwhelmed by the sight that he could not even see her (either because she was so dazzling or because he was so timid). He could not open his mouth to say anything.
4
tuu ne Daali na ek nigaah¹-e karam²
varna³ duniya meN kya se kya na hua     1.glance 2.kindness, benevolence 3.otherwise
This can be interpreted as addressed to god and/or the beloved. She did not even cast a single glance of kindness at him. Otherwise there are so many things (even difficult or impossible things) that are done this world.
5
kya bura kya bhala hai duniya meN
aaj tak is ka faisla¹ na hua      1.decision, judgement
Even to this day the world has not been able to decide/judge betwee good and bad, false and true.
6
ho gaya maa’el¹-e karam² vo kyuN
imtehaaN³ sabr-aazma⁴ na hua     1.inclined towards 2.kindness 3.test, trial 4.patience trying
The poet/lover is an inveterate complainer. He complains if the beloved does not show any kindness and as in this case, he complains if she does! Suddenly she seems to be inclined to be kind to him. But he has gotten used to her torturing him and considers it a mark of prestige that he can bear this trial patiently. Now that she is showing kindness his patience has not been put to the ultimate test. He complains.
7
maiN huN vo naamuraad¹-e shauq² asar³
ek tabassum⁴ jise ataa⁵ na hua      1.unfulfilled desire, deprived 2.desire/love 3.pen-name of the poet 4.smile 5.grant
O, asar, I am that unfortunate lover who has not been granted even a single smile.