Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. jaikishan chaudhry habiib (1904-xxxx), born in Dera ismail KhaaN, in pakistan. Lived in jabalpur. He was a scholar of sanskrit, English, faarsi and urdu, and was an active participant in the independence struggle, most notably with Khaan abdul Ghaffaar KhaaN. MA from aligaRh and later LLB, law practice 1929. He migrated to India after partition in 1947. IAS – Collector and later Education Secretary. Early retirement in 1960, but recalled later to serve three more years in jabalpur and retired there. In 1969 he served on Ghalib shataabdhi naagarik samiti which organized four ‘tarahi’ mushaa’era over that year and published a book. He composed several Ghazal in the style of Ghalib. Compared to many other shu’ara, he started composing rather late in life, 1947, affected by having to leave home and the death of his mother. He composed until 1972.
1
yaad ayyaam¹-e rafta² yuN aa’e
dhuNdle dhuNdle se jaise kuchh saa’e   1.ayyaam 2.past, gone by
Emerging memories of days gone by
Like faint shadows floating by
2
jaise uRte hue parinde¹ ka
naGhma² dam³ bhar faza⁴ meN lahraa’e⁵     1.bird 2.song 3.moment 4.air 5.wave, sway
Like the notes of a bird in flight
For a fleeting moment leaving trills of delight
3
jaise viiraan¹ dil ke gulshan² meN
chupke chupke bahaar³ aa jaa’e   1.destroyed, desolate 2.garden 3.spring
Like in the heart’s garden of desolation
Spring tiptoes in with healing restoration
4
suuni suuni¹ si jaise mahfil² meN
daf’atan³ jaan-e-intezaar⁴ aa’e   1.lonely, cheerless 2.gathering 3.suddenly 4.the soul of anticipation i.e., the beloved
Like in the gathering of cheerless pall
The long awaited beloved answers the call
5
jaise abr-e-siyah¹ ke parde² meN
chaaNd ki ek kiran³ thirak⁴ jaa’e     1.dark clouds 2.veil 3.ray of light 4.dance
Like through the veil of dark clouds, gleaming bright
The moon’s dancing rays light up the night
6
jaise sunsaan¹ rahguzaaroN² meN
yak-ba-yak³ ek charaaGh jal jaa’e   1.desolate, dark 2.path 3.suddenly
Like in a dark path, where desolation holds sway
A lamp suddenly lights up showing the way
7
ya koi riNd¹-e tishna-lab² jaise
dast³-e saaqi se jaam⁴ pa jaa’e   1.wine lover 2.thirsty 3.hand 4.cup
Like a wine lover, lips dry and thirsty
Gets a brimming cup from the hand of the saaqi
8
jaise mahjoor¹ ek Ghazal gaa kar
apne Ghamgin² dil ko bahlaa’e³     1.exiled, rejected 2.sorrowful 3.console
Like the song of a banished lover rejected
A lilting tune of love to console his heart dejected
9
jaise taariik¹ shab² ka sannaaTa³
naGhma⁴-e lai⁵ se TooTta jaa’e   1.dark 2.night 3.silence 4.song 5.melody
Like the silence of a dark night
Is broken with the melodies of a song so bright
10
ek toofaaN-zada¹ musaafir² ke
jaise saahil³ qariib⁴ aa jaa’e    1.storm-struck 2.traveler 3.shoreline 4.near
Like a storm-struck seafarer
Sees the shoreline of its own accord, come nearer
11
jaise tapte¹ se regzaaroN² meN
abr³-e rahmat⁴ zara baras⁵ jaa’e   1.heated, baking 2.sand desert 3.cloud 4.benevolence 5.rain
Like on desert dunes in the sun baking
Benevolent clouds shower their blessing
12
jaise pahli¹ kiran² savere³ ki
rauzan⁴-e shab⁵ se jhaaNkti⁶ jaa’e   1.first 2.ray 3.dawn 4.peephole 5.night 6.peep
Like the first ray of dawn ushers a hopeful sight
Peeping through the darkness of the night
13
jaise baad-e-saba¹ ke jhoNkoN² se
Gham ke maaroN ko niiNd aa jaa’e    1.morning breeze 2.gusts of wind
Like the morning breeze on its cool breast
Rocks the grief-stricken to sleep and rest
14
jaise Ghurbat¹ meN bhaTke² raahi³ ko
ek payaam⁴-e habib⁵ aa jaa’e   1.exiled, away from home 2.wandering 3.traveler 4.message 5.pen-name of the poet, loved one
Like a wandering traveler, uprooted and lost
Receives a message of love from home, long lost