assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam
josh malihabadi

Click here for overall comments and on any stanza for meanings and discussion. Josh has written many marsias, several of which are posted on this website under “marsia Index”. This musaddas (nazm of six line stanzas) written as a tribute to Gandhi after his assassination, is modeled after his Karbala themed marsias. In fact the title “shaah-e shahiidaaN” – king of martyrs is often used for Husain. The whole tone of this composition is very much like his marsias.

1
aye zamiN ki jeb¹ ke aaiina-e almaas baar²
aye falak³ ki bazm⁴ ke mahr⁵-e daraKhsaan⁶-e bahaar⁷
aye vatan ki sarzamiN⁸ ke aasman-e zi-viqaar⁹
aye zamaane ki sadaf¹⁰ ke gauhar¹¹-e anjum¹² shikaar
aye safa¹³ ki mauj¹⁴ ke la’al¹⁵-e daraKhshaaN⁶ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah¹⁶-e shahiidaaN¹⁷ assalam1. pocket (in Urdu), bosom (in Farsi) 2. raining down diamonds 3. sky, heavens 4. assembly 5. sun 6. bright, shining 7. spring 8. homeland 9. dignity 10. oyster shell (pearl bearing) 11. pearl 12. star 13. purity/virtue 14. wave 15. ruby 16. king 17. martyrs
Josh is composing a series of adjectives/descriptions of the qualities of Gandhi. “jeb” in Farsi means bosom. Thus Gandhi is a shining mirror in the bosom of the earth that reflects brightly as if diamonds are raining down. When we look in the mirror it reflects our inner soul. In the assembly of the heavens, he is the sun that shines and is a harbinger of spring. The sky over the homeland hovers protectively over it. Gandhi does that with great dignity. He is the pearl in the oyster shell of the earth, that shines so brightly that it puts stars to shame (it can hunt down stars). My tribute to you, O shining ruby of the wave of purity/virtue. My tribute to you, O king of martyrs of India.

2
aye amir¹-e kaarvan-e puKhta kaaraan²-e vatan
aye faqir³-e taajdaar-e taajdaaran⁴-e vatan
aye umeed-o-himmat⁵-e naakam gaaran⁶-e vatan
aye halaak⁷-e ishwa⁸-e rangin-e yaaran⁹-e vatan
aye shikaar¹⁰-e kaj-ravaan¹¹ o koor-maGhzaaN¹² assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. leader of 2. caravan of leaders (senior/mature workers) 3. literally pauper (but in Sufi terms a faqir is one who has reached spiritual heights by giving up worldly possessions), saintly 4. crown wearers/leaders 5. hope and courage 6. unsuccessful, defeated, broken 7. killed by 8. lover’s playful style, conceit 9. friends, lovers 10. prey of 11. those on the wrong path 12. narrow minded
O leader of the caravan of leaders. O saintly leader of the country’s leaders. O hope and courage of the broken and defeated. O victim of the playful style of the country’s lovers. I am not sure but this misra can be interpreted in one of two ways. In a positive sense … the country’s leaders are lovers of the country and show playful loving style (ishwa). To be killed by this style is to fall in love with it. In the negative sense … the country’s lovers are showing conceit (ishwa can also mean conceit) and Gandhi is a victim of that. O prey of the narrow minded who tread the wrong path. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

3
haif¹ aye jaan-e karam², naKhcheer³-e paikaan⁴-e sitam⁵
haif aye sayyaad⁶-e anqa⁷-e massarat⁸, sayd⁹-e Gham
haif aye dood¹⁰-e chiraaGh-e kushta¹¹-e taaq-e sitam¹²
haif aye Khaakaster¹³-e parvaana¹⁴-e bait-ul-sanam¹⁵
aye shahiid-e ittehaad¹⁶-e nau-e insaaN¹⁷ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. alas 2. soul of benevolence 3. victim 4. arrow 5. oppression 6. hunter 7. legendary, unseen bird 8. happiness 9. prey 10. wisp of smoke 11. put out lamp/candle 12. alcove of oppression 13. ashes 14. moth 15. house of the beloved, country 16. unity 17. humanity
Alas, O soul of benevolence. O victim of the arrow of oppression. “anqa” is a legendary bird which no one has/can see. It brings good luck. “sayyad” is a hunter (in this case who catches birds). Thus Gandhi was out to catch this Utopian bird of happiness but became a prey of sorrow. He put out the lamp in the alcove of oppression but himself became like the wisp of smoke of that lamp, getting blown away. He was the moth encircling the lamp of the beloved (country) and got singed to ashes. He was the martyr of the one-ness of humanity. My tribute to you O king of martyrs of India.

4
dahr¹ par teri shahaadat ne ye saabit² kar diya
had³ se baRh kar nek⁴ hona kis qadar⁵ hai na-ravaa⁶
harf-e haq⁷ hai ahl-e baatil⁸ ke liye tabl-e viGha⁹
saKht hoti hai gunaah-e be gunaahi ki saza¹⁰
assalaam aye kushta¹¹-e Khair-e faraavaaN¹² assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. world 2. prove 3. limit 4. virtuous 5. how much 6. not permitted, not done 7. word of truth 8. people of untruth/evil 9. drum roll of war 10. punishment 11. victim of 12. abundant goodness
Your martyrdom has proved to the world how much harm unconditional virtue can do (it just not done, is not allowed). The word of truth is like a drum roll of war for the evil ones. The punishment of the crime of innocence is hard indeed. My tribute to you who was victim of his own abundant goodness. My tribute to you o king of martyrs of India.

5
qaatilauN¹ meN qatl-e insaani pe rona jurm² hai
tuKhm-e neki³, sarzamin-e dil meN bona⁴ jurm hai
jazba-e Khidmat⁵ se raatauN ko na sona jurm hai
mujrimauN⁶ ke darmiyaaN⁷ ma’asoom⁸ hona jurm hai
assalam aye paa’emaal⁹-e zauq-e isyaaN¹⁰ assalaam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. killers 2. crime 3. seed of virtue 4. sow 5. passion for service 6. criminals 8. innocent 9. trampled 10. taste/desire for sin/evil
We have to carryover the first misra from the previous stanza i.e. your martyrdom has proved to the world that … it is a crime to weep at the murder of humanity among killers. It is a crime to sow seeds of virtue in the heart. It is a crime to stay awake at nights with the passion of service. It is a crime to be innocent among criminals. My tribute to you who was trampled under the feet of evil. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

6
dard-e ehsaas-e yateemi¹ se har ek dil hai udaas
jaada-e raushan² pareshaaN³, roo-e manzil⁴ hai udaas
kaun ye maqtool-e aazam⁵ hai ke qaatil⁶ hai udaas
sadr-e mahfil⁷ uTh gaya, mahfil ki mahfil hai udaas
aye abul-hind⁸, aye Khadeev⁹-e kishwar¹⁰-e jaaN assalaam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. feeling of orphanhood 2. shining path 3. scattered, lost 4. face or vision of the goal 5. great martyr 6. killer 7. head of the gathering 8. father of India 9. overlord, monarch 10. domain
The pain of the feeling of being an orphan has made everyone sorrowful. The bright path (that you showed us) is blurred and even the face of the goal is crestfallen. Who is this great martyr that even the killer is sad. The leader of the assembly is gone and the whole assembly is sorrowful. O father of India, king of the domain of the soul, my tribute to you. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

7
tu anokha¹ chaara-farma², turfa-tar³ dam-saaz⁴ tha
teri palkauN ke jhapakne ka ajab andaaz⁵ tha
har jhapak meN Khushdili⁶ ka saaz⁷-e be-aavaz tha
rooh⁸ par teri ayaaN⁹ mehr-o-vafa¹⁰ ka raaz tha
masnad¹¹-e husn-e amal¹² ke aye Ghazal KhwaaN assalaam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. unusual, unique 2. healer 3. in addition to that 4. confidant, friend 5. style 6. loving heart 7. musical instrument 8. soul 9. evident, manifest 10. benevolence and faith/love 11. throne 12. beauty of action You were a unique healer and on top of that a friend and confidant. Your eyes had an unusual sparkle and each blink of the eye conveyed the love of your heart silently like a soundless harp. Benevolence and faith were evident from your soulful looks. My tribute to you O Ghazal KhwaaN of the throne of the beauty of action (he acted, not just spoke). My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

8
assalam aye seena-e aqwaam¹ ke dard-e nihaaN²
assalam aye marham³-e zaKhm⁴-e dil-e hindostaN
assalam aye dastgeer⁵-o-charasaaz⁶-e bekasaaN⁷
assalam aye aah⁸-e sard⁹-e teera baKhtaan¹⁰-e jahaaN
assalam aye ashk¹¹-e garm-e seena chaakaaN¹² assalaam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. communities 2. hidden pain 3. ointment, salve 4. wound 5. hand holder 6. healer 7. helpless 8. sigh 9. cold 10. unfortunate (dark fortune) 11. tears 12. rent, torn
Salaams to you, who felt the hidden pain of all communities, who was the salve of the wounded heart of India. You were the sad sigh of the unfortunate. You were the warm tears of those whose bosom was rent with sorrow. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

9
tere har aaGhaaz¹ meN ra’anaai²-e anjaam³ thi
tere maidaaN meN siyasat⁴ murGh⁵-e zer-e daam⁶ thi
tere dast-e aagahi⁷ meN nabz⁸-e Khaas⁹ o a’am¹⁰ thi
sitwat¹¹-e afraNg¹² tujh se larza-bar-andaam¹³ thi
aye gadaa¹⁴-e Khaana¹⁵ bar andaaz¹⁶-e shaahaN¹⁷ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. beginning, undertaking 2. brilliance 3. result, goal 4. politics 5. bird 6. (captured) under the net 7. knowing hand 8. pulse 9. special, privileged 10. ordinary, public 11. display of royalty 12. foreigner 13. trembling body 14. medicant, beggar 15. house, status 16. style 17. kings
Every undertaking of yours had a shining goal. In your field (of action) politics was like a bird captured in the net. You had your finger on the pulse of the privileged and the ordinary. The display of royalty of the foreigner trembled before you. O mendicant, who had the status of kings, my salaam. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

10
aye mariizauN¹ ke tabiib², aye Khasta-jaanauN³ ke kafeel⁴
aye ba Khilwat⁵ mauj-e zamzam⁶, aye ba jilwat⁷ rood-e neel⁸
aatish⁹-e namrood¹⁰-e asr-e nau¹¹ ke be parva¹² Khaleel¹³
hurriyat¹⁵ ke dars-e aazam¹⁶, haq¹⁷ ke paiGham-e jaleel¹⁸
aashti¹⁹ ke hukm²⁰, dildaari²¹ ke farmaaN²² assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. sick 2. healer, doctor 3. fragile lives 4. guarantor, sponsor 5. in solitude, inner self 6. wave of zamzam (a sping/well near Ka’aba supposed to have “holy” water), the gurgling of the spring used as a metaphor for music 7. in public 8. river Nile, mighty flow 9. fire 10. Nimrod 11. present times 12. fearless 13. another name for Abraham 15. freedom 16. great lesson 17. Truth 18. illustrious 19. peace, harmony 20. order 21. friendship 22. proclamation
O healer of the sick, protector of the fragile. You who have soft healing music in your soul, and the roar of a mighty river in public. Judeo-Christian and Islamic tradition believes that Nimrod set a mighty fire and “invited” Abraham to walk into it if he was confident that god would protect him. Abraham walked in fearlessly and the fires were miraculously put out. Gandhi is the present day Abraham stepping fearlessly into present day fires. You are the great lesson of freedom, the illustrous message of Truth. You who laid down the law for peace and harmony, proclaimed friendship for all. My tribute to you O king of martyrs of India.

11
tu amiin¹-e marhamat², aaiina³-e eesaar⁴ tha
sehat⁵-e afkaar⁶-e insaaN ke liye beemaar⁷ tha
barhaman ka chaara farma⁸, shaiKh ka GhamKhwaar⁹ tha
tu ravadaari¹⁰ ka devta, amn¹¹ ka avtaar¹² tha
assalam aye ka’aba-o-kaashi ke darbaaN¹³ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. keeper, protector 2. mercy, kindness 3. tradition 4. consideration for the other 5. health, strength 6. thought, reason 7. sick, pining for, desirous of 8. healer 9. sympathiser 10. tolerance 11. peace 12. manifestation 13. doorkeeper
You were the protector of the traditions of kindness and fellowship. You pined away to keep reason strong. The healer of the Brahmin and the sympathizer of the Shaikh. You were the god of tolerance, the manifestation of Peace. My salaam to you O doorkeeper of the Ka’aba and the temples of Kashi. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

12
aye gul-e afsurda¹-e bustaan²-e haqq-o-raasti³
aye surood⁴-e rafta⁵-e bazm⁶-e nishaat⁷-e zindagi
aye shab⁸-e masrooqa⁹-e zulf¹⁰-e daraaz¹¹-e dilbari¹²
aye chiraaGh¹³-e murda¹⁴-e mehraab¹⁵-e amn-o-aashti¹⁶
aye mataa¹⁷-e burda¹⁸-e geeta-o-qura’aN assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. wilted 2. garden 3. Truth and Righteousness 4. melody 5. past, gone by 6. assembly 7. exhilaration, happiness 8. night 9. stolen 10. hair 11. long 12. friendship 13. lamp 14. extinguished 15. alcove 16. peace and harmony 17. wealth, treasure, essence 18. appropriated
Gandhi is the wilted rose of the garden of Truth and Virtue, the melody of the days gone by when the assembly of life (togetherness of people) was pleasant and happy. “dilbari” – Friendship is personified as a maiden with long dark hair. Gandhi has stolen/taken them as his own. He is the extinguished lamp in the alcove of Peace and Harmony. He has appropriated (taken as his own) the essence of the Geeta and the Qura’an. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

13
assalam aye aasman-e sidq¹ ke mahr²-e mubiiN³
assalam aye mehfil-e aKhlaaq⁴ ke masnad⁵ nashiiN
assalam aye farsh⁶-e Khaak aalood⁷ ke arsh-e bariiN⁸
assalam aye Khaatim⁹-e mehr-o-mobabbat¹⁰ ke nagiiN¹¹
assalam aye asr-e haazir¹² ke sulaimaaN¹³ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. truthfulness 2. sun 3. clear, bright 4. gathering of culture 5. throne 6. floor 7. dust smeared, dusty 8. high heaven 9. signet ring 10. benevolence and love 11. jewel 12. present day 13. Solomon, wisdom and justice.
The bright sun of the sky of Truthfulness, Gandhi sits on the throne of the assembly of culture. He is on the and of the dusty floor but he is characterized as the seventh heaven of the dusty floor (downtrodden people). He is jewel of the signet ring of benevolence and love and the present day Solomon – wise and just. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

14
jaada-e haq¹ par daraKshaaN² haiN tere naqsh-e qadam³
par fashaaN⁴ hai aasman-e adl⁵ par tera alam⁶
aye husain ibn-e ali⁷ ke pairav⁸-e qudsi⁹ hasham¹⁰
aye yazid¹¹-e asr-e nau¹² ke kushta¹³-e zauq-e sitam¹⁴
aye saleb¹⁵-e taaza¹⁶ ke eesa¹⁷-e dauraaN¹⁸ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. path of Truth 2. shining 3. footsteps 4. flying high 5. sky of Justice 6. banner 7. Husain son of Ali, who was killed in Karbala, used here as a symbol of resistance/insistence on justice and self-sacrifice 8. follower 9. virtuous 10. grand 11. the tyrant who caused Husain to be killed, used as a symbol of tyranny 12. present day 13. killed by 14. taste/desire for oppression 15. cross 16. fresh, new 17. Jesus 18. present times
Josh compares Gandhi to Husain and Jesus. Your footsteps shine on the path of Truth. Your banner flies in the sky of Justice. O grand and virtuous follower of Husain ibn-e Ali who has been killed by the desire of oppression of present day Yazid. You are the present day Jesus who has been nailed again to a new cross. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

15
tere tabl-e jang¹ meN bhi saaz²-e mauj-e gaNg³ tha
tere sheeshe⁴ ke muqaabil⁵ zard⁶ ruu-e saNg⁷ tha
Khoon ki aloodagi⁸ se paak⁹ tera raNg tha
aslaha¹⁰ se beKhabar¹¹ tera mazaaq-e jaNg¹² tha
assalam aye faateh¹³-e be teGh¹⁴-o-paikaaN¹⁵ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. drums of war 2. music 3. waves of the Ganges 4. crystal – used as a symbol of something delicate and fragile 5. confronted by 6. pale 7. face of rock – used here as a symbol of hard and cruel 8. smear, stain 9. clean 10. weaponry 11. unknown, innocent of 12. way of war 13. victor 14. sword 15. arrow
Your declaration of war was like the music of the waves of the Ganges. The face of Injustice went pale when confronted by your gentle insistence. There was no stain of blood on your hands. Your ways of war were innocent of weaponry. My tribute to you O victor over sword and arrow. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

16
aye moharram¹ ke ufaq² ki raNg parvar³ subah eid
aye mahall⁴-e yaas⁵-o-naumeedi⁶ ki gulbaaNg-e umeed⁷
aye sanaKhwaan⁸-e husain o dushman-e shimr⁹-o yazid¹⁰
aye razeelauN¹¹ ki rizalat¹² ke liye zarb-e shadiid¹³
aye shariifauN¹⁴ ki sharaafat¹⁵ ke nigahbaaN¹⁶ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. the month of moharram used as a symbol for the tragedy of self-sacrifice in Karbala, repeated by Gandhi 2. horizon 3. colour giving, happiness giving 4. occasion, place 5. yearning, longing 6. hopelessness 7. declaration of hope 8. one who sings praises, admirer 9. the warrior/general who cut Husain’s head off – a symbol of cruelty 10. used as a symbol of tyranny and oppression 11. mean spirited 12. meanness 13. heavy blow 14. noble ones 15. nobility 16. protector
O light of happiness on the horizon of tragedy. O declaration of hope for those yearning for Hope. O supporter of Husain, opposed to tyranny, cruelty and oppression. You are heavy blow to the backs of the mean and cruel, the protector of the noble spirited. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

17
aye Khatiib¹-e dosti, aye dushman-e buGhz²-o-anaad³
aye vafa⁴ ki aarzu⁵, aye qalb-e rahmat⁶ ki muraad⁷
aye rasul-e a’afiyat⁸, aye kushta⁹-e dev-e fasaad¹⁰
bar tu¹¹ haif¹² aye saii¹³-e namashkoor¹⁴-e amn-o-ittehaad¹⁵
aye pareeda¹⁶ valvale¹⁷, pazshmurda¹⁸ armaaN¹⁹ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. orator, preacher 2. hatred 3. hostility 4. faith, keeping word, true to commitment 5. desire 6. heart/essence of benevolence 7. goal, purpose 8. preacher of well being, tolerance 9. victim of , killed by 10. demon of mischief 11. on you 12. alas, sorrow 13. attempt 14. thankless, unrecognized 15. peace and harmony 16. evaporated 17. zeal 18. wilted 19. desire
O preacher of friendship/love, destroyer of hatred and hostility. O goal of Faith, the essence of Benevolence. O preacher of tolerance, victim of the demon of miscief. What a pity that your effort at peace and harmony remained thankless, unappreciated. Your zeal/enthusiasm evaporated, your desires, wilted. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

18
tu hi ek daana-e kaamil¹, bazm-e nadaani² meN tha
raushni ka tu minaara³, bahr-e tuGhiaani⁴ meN tha
tere dam se zamzama⁵ gaNga ki jaulani⁶ meN tha
naGhma⁷ tujh se kausar-o-tasneem⁸ ke pani meN tha
aye Ghuroor-e hindu⁹ o faKhr-e musalmaaN¹⁰ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. perfect/unblemished wisdom 2. assembly of ignorance 3. minaret of light, light house 4. stormy ocean 5. music (from the gurgling sound of the spring of zamzam near the Ka’aba) 6. flow of the Ganges 7. music, song 8. legendary rivers in heaven 9. pride of the Hindu 10. pride of the Muslim
You alone showed wisdom in the sea of ignorance. You were like a light house guiding us through the stormy ocean. You gave soothing music (harmomy) to the flow of the Ganges and to the rivers Tasneem and Kauser (used here as symbols for Hindus and Muslims). O pride of the Hindu and of the Muslim, my tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

19
aye havaa-e garm se pazshmurda¹ baaGh-e mushk baar²
aye jafaa-e saNg³ se bishkasta⁴ jaam-e zarnigaar⁵
maut ke maare hue aye zindagi ke taajdaar
aye KhizaaN⁶ ki dhoop meN so’e hue paik⁷-e bahaar
aye ajal⁸ ki zulmatauN⁹ ke aab-e haivaaN¹⁰ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. wilted 2. spreading musk/fragrance 3. rocks of oppression 4. broken, shattered 5. golden 6. winter, fall 7. messenger 8. death 9. darkness 10. water/elixir of (eternal) life
You are the musk/fragrance spreading garden that has been wilted by hot desert winds. You are the golden cup that has been shattered by rocks of oppression. You the crown of Life that has been killed by Death. You bring warmth to winter with your message of the coming spring. O elixir of eternal life hidden in the darkness of death, my salaams. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

20
faqr¹ se tere barasta tha jalaal²-e qaisari³
haif⁴ aye laila-e hurriyat⁵ ke qais-e a’amiri⁶
har teri mauj-e nafas⁷ thi ek suroor-e rahbari⁸
tere seene meN dhaRakta tha dil-e paiGhambari⁹
aye navaa¹⁰-e ambia¹¹-e paak daamaaN¹² assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. poverty, giving up worldly possessions 2. grandeur 3. of Caesar 4. alas 5. Laila of Freedom 6. Qais (Majnun) of the tribe of aamir 7. (wave of) breath 8. melody of leadership/guidance 9. prophethood 10. voice of 11. prophets 12. clean/not stained hem/cloak i.e. virtuous
You gave up worldly possessions and yet had the grandeur of Caesar about you. The love of Laila and Majnun is legendary. Josh calls Gandhi the Majnun of the Laila of Freedom. Every breath/word of yours carried a melody of (righteous) guidance. The heart of prophethood throbbed in your bosom. Yours was the voice of virtuous prophets. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

21
aye mere ishrat nadeeda¹ rahbar-e ibrat ma’al²
aye mere gardan bureeda³ azm⁴-e itmaam o kamaal⁵
aye mere haivaaN dareeda⁶ yusuf⁷-e qudsi jamaal⁸
aye mere sarsar raseeda⁹ bostaan¹⁰-e jaal o qaal¹¹
aye mere Khaavar¹² guzeda¹³ shabnamistaaN¹⁴ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. could not see happiness 2. guide who met a sad end 3. neck cut off 4. determination of 5. completion and perfection 6. eaten/killed by wild animals 7. Joseph – the legend of Joseph is that his brothers in a fit of jealousy threw him in a well, went back home and told their father that he was eaten up by a wolf. Joseph is also considered to have been a very beautiful man 8. sacred/holy face/beauty 9. wilted in hot, dry desert winds 10. garden 11. web and “talk” i.e. deception and conspiracy 12. sun 13. torn i.e. destroyed 14. garden of mist/dew
The whole tenor of the stanza is to say how much Gandhi tried and met a sad end just before he could realize his goal. He was a guide who met a sad end without being able to see happiness, whose head was cut off in his determination to complete and perfect his task. Josh compares Gandhi to Joseph of a beautiful/virtuous face, who was unable to get back home. Gandhi was the garden that dried up in hot, dry desert winds and was filled with webs of deception and conspiracy. Gandhi was the garden of mist/dew that evaporated/disappeared even as the sun (of independence) rose. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

22
jab se tu aye bulbul-e shiiriiN zabaaN¹ Khaamosh hai
mohr bar lab² gulsitaaN hai, baaGhbaaN Khaamosh hai
boo-e gul aazurda³ hai, joo-e ravaaN⁴ Khaamosh hai
gulshan-e dereena⁵-e hindostaaN Khaamosh hai
assalam aye saakin⁶-e shahr-e KhamoshaaN⁷ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. sweet tongue 2. sealed lips 3. gloomy, dejected 4. flowing river 5. garden of the past 6. resident of 7. city of the (voiceless) dead
Ever since you, O honey voiced one, have been silenced it is as if the lips of the garden have been sealed and the gardener is silent. It is as if the fragrance of the rose is lost and the flowing river has stopped. The garden of India of yesteryear is silent. My salaam you O resident of the city of dead. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.

23
ahl-e kaif¹ o sahibaan-e hosh² ke aaram-e jaaN³
jumla⁴ mardaan⁵-e uKhuvvat kosh⁶ ke aaram-e jaaN
har dil-e pur shorish⁷ o Khaamosh⁸ ke aaram-e jaaN
qibla⁹-e rindaan-e aalam¹⁰, josh ke aaram-e jaaN
aye tab-o-taab¹¹-e imaam¹²-e baada noshaaN¹³ assalam
assalam aye hind ke shaah-e shahiidaaN assalam1. people of contentment, contented people 2. leaders of awareness, wisdom, wise people 3. comfort of the soul 4. total, all 5. men, people 6. trying to get brotherhood/harmony 7. tumult, disturbance 8. silent, at peace 9. focal point of obeisance and tribute 10. revelers/drinkers of the world 11. restlessness, impatience 12. leaders 13. wine drinkers, used here as a metaphor for those seeking goodness
Gandhi is described as the comfort of the soul of everyone … rich and poor, wise and those trying to achieve brotherhood/harmony among all. The comfort of the soul of those whose hearts are disturbed as well as those who are at peace. He is the focal point of homage that the revelers/drinkers of the world have to pay and the comfort of the soul of Josh, the poet. “rindaan-e aalam” is used in the Sufi spirit – drinkers of the wine of the love of the nation. The inclusion of “imaam-e baada noshaaN” also calls for some imaginative interpretation. These are leaders of the people who want to drink of the cup of Freedom. Gandhi is their restlessness – their eagerness. My tribute to you O king of the martyrs of India.