Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. naresh kumar shaad (1927-1969) prolific poet, writer, translater. Member Progressive Writers’ Association. Socialist/Communist. Educated and worked in rawalpindi and lahore before partition and then moved to India. This Ghazal is modeled beautifully after Ghalib’s “Khaak meN kya soorateN hoNgi ke pinhaaN ho gaiiN”, with a variation in the theme. Ghalib’s influence over poets, both renowned and not so well known poets, is profound. The publication date noted is 1949. I take the liberty of associating it with 1947 – marking 150 years of Ghalib’s birth.
1
jo nigaaheN¹ mahram²-e raaz³-e gulistaaN ho gaiiN
har mahakte⁴ phool ki rag rag⁵ meN kaaNTe bo⁶ gaiiN    1.eyes 2.familiar, intimate 3.secret 4.fragrant 5.veins 6.plant, sow
Those eyes that became familiar/intimate with the secret of the garden, sowed thorns in every fibre of the rose i.e. those who are familiar with the workings of the world know that pain is an integral part of pleasure.
2
aarzueN¹ azshdahaam²-e raNg-o-buu³ meN kho gaiiN
ye vo pariyaaN thiiN jo badmasti⁴ meN uryaaN⁵ ho gaiiN   1.desires, yearnings 2.onslaught 3.colour and fragrances i.e. attractions of the material world 4.intoxication, stone drunk 5.naked
Desires and yearnings (for higher aspirations) got lost in the onslaught of the material pleasures. These (yearnings) were angelic, but in the intoxication of this world they shed their clothes i.e. revealed their true selves.
3
ek jalva¹ ban ke jalvoN hi meN shaamil² ho gaiiN
phir kahaaN palTi³ vo nazreN teri jaanib⁴ jo gaiiN    1.image, beauty, glory 2.mingled 3.turned back 4.towards
The glances that the poet cast towards the beloved mingled with the glory of the beloved and into a part of her glory. They never turned back. Who is the beloved? god? social justice? You are free to decide.
4
ek shab guzri thi tere gesuoN ki chhaauN meN
umr bhar be-KhwaabiyaaN mera muqaddar ban gaiiN   1.night 2.passed 3.hair 4.life 5.sleeplessness 6.fate
The poet/lover had spent one night in the shadow of the beloved’s hair. Now he is left with life-long sleeplessness. Once again this begs the question, who is the beloved. Is it a single vision of social justice that has left the poet/revolutionary sleepless?
5
jab bahaaroN¹ ne na paaya² koii bhi apna maqaam³
tere chehre⁴ ke tabassum⁵ se lipaT kar so gaiiN   1.spring, flowers 2.acquired, received 3.place 4.face 5.smile
When spring (or spring flowers) did not received the place that was their due, they embraced the smile on your face and rested there. What a beautiful description of the beloved’s beauty.
6
baaGh-e-rizvaaN¹ ki fazaaeN² bhi na raas³ aaiiN jinheN
vo havaaeN jannatoN se baada-KhaanoN⁴ ko gaiiN   1.garden of the gate-keepers of heaven i.e. heaven 2.atmosphere 3.compatible, suitable 4.tavern
In urdu poetic tradition the tavern is an open and welcoming place where all ideas are accepted. Heaven is obviously a restricted/exclusive and excluding place. The breeze that did not find the atmosphere of heaven suitable for it, went to the tavern.
7
haaye vo alhaR pari-chehroN ke shiriN qahqahe
haaye haNsti hui raateN jo mujh se kho gaiiN   1.playful 2.fairy-faced, beautiful 3.sweet 4.laughter
The poet/lover recalls with poignant nostalgia that nights that he used to be able to spend with beautiful and playful friends with a sweet and ringing laughter. Alas, I have lost them.
8
jin tamannaaoN¹ se hai aye shaad² dil ki zindagi
vo tamannaaeN agar hoNToN³ pe aaiN to gaiiN   1.intense desires 2.pen-name of the poet 3.lips
The heart-felt desires that keep the poet alive, if he brings them to his lips i.e. gives them voice/expression, then it is as if he has lost them i.e. there are some delicate desires that should be left unsaid, kept to yourselves.