Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. krishn mohan lal bhaaTia (1922-2004) mohan was born in sialkot. BA (Hons) in English and faarsi, followed by MA in English. Family migrated to India upon partition. Editor of “aavaaz” at lucknow and dehli, and later in the Indian Government Revenue Department. Twenty eight books of collection of his nazm and Ghazal. Here he pays tribute to Ghalib composing in the bahr of his “shikast ki aavaaz”.
1
ek shaa’er jaliil¹ aur aziim²
ek saahir³ jadiid⁴ aur qadiim⁵     1.glorious 2.great 3.magician 4.modern, new 5.ancient
A great and glorious poet whose words, though from ages ago, are still relevant.
2
gul-e-naGhma¹ bhi tha vo parda-e-saaz²
shaa’er-e raaz-haa³-e siina-gudaaz⁴      1.fragrance/beauty/blossoming of song 2.source/tone/harmony of music 3.secrets, mysteries 4.bosom melting/burning
This is modeled after Ghalib’s own she’r posted on this site. See “shikast ki aavaaz”. He was the beauty of song and the source of harmony, a poet who revealed mysteries that boggle our minds.
3
hama-giir¹ us ke sh’er ki e’jaaz²
aur falak-bos³ fikr⁴ ki parvaaz⁵     1.all conquering 2.miracle 3.heaven kissing 4.thought, reason 5.flight
The miracle of his verse conquered everything and the flight of his thought/imagination was as high as the seventh heaven.
4
gulshan¹-e hind ka vo zamzama-saaz²
munkashif³ jis pe the haqiiqat⁴-e raaz⁵     1.garden 2.music maker 3.revealed 4.truth, reality 5.secrets, mysteries
He was the music-maker/Ghazal composer of India. To him were revealed mysteries of nature.
5
jis ko aaraa’esh¹-e Kham²-e kaakul³
vajah⁴-e andesha-haa⁵-e duur-daraaz⁶     1.adornment 2.curls 3.ringlets, forelocks 4.reason 5.fears, apprehensions 6.distant future
When he saw the beloved adorning her curls, he could see far beyond the immediate scene foretell the (fearful) future.
6
aaj tak goonjti¹ hai duniya meN
us ke dil ki shikast² ki aavaaz     1.echoing 2.breaking
Even today the sound of the breaking of his heart echoes in the world. The sound of breaking of his heart can be interpreted to mean his disappointment that he did not receive due recognition during his time. It could also be interpreted more broadly as his pain at the condition of the world/society.
7
jalva¹-afgan² hai us ke she’roN meN
jaada³-e ziist⁴ ke nasheb-o-faraaz⁵      1.glory, beauty 2.spreading/scattering/throwing/showing 3.pathway 4.life 5.highs and lows
His verse showed the glory/beauty of the ups and downs (mysteries) of the pathway of life.
8
us ki taKh’eel¹ tarahdaar² o jamiil³
us ka ehsaas⁴ ek paikar⁵-e naaz⁶     1.thought, imagination 2.good, of a high standard 3.elegant, beautiful 4.sentiment, feelings 5.embodiment 6.dignity
The elegance of his imagination set standards for poets of the time and future poets. His sentiments were the embodiment of dignity.
9
dar-haqiiqat¹ zabaan-e urdu hai
us ke dam² se jahaaN meN sar-afraaz³     1.in truth 2.strength 3.holding head up high
In truth, because of his strength, urdu can hold its head up high.
10
krishn mohan, vo shaa’er-e Khush-fun¹
tha haq-aagaah² jis ka raNg³-e majaaz⁴    1.beautiful art 2.aware of truth/reality 3.style 4.illusion, maaya
O, krishn mohan, that shaa’er of beautiful artistry, created illusions that were a reflection of reality.
11
aek¹ tha aek hi rahega vo
hai kahaaN aur aisa husn-taraaz²    1.one and only, unique 2.beauty creating/enhancing
He was unique and will remain unique. Where is there another creator/enhancer of beauty, like him.
12
us ka hamsar¹ hua nahiN paida
sub pe Ghalib² hai Ghalib-e mumtaaz³       1.equal 2.overwhelming, surpassing 3.eminent, distinguished
His equal (another one like him) has not been born. The distinguished Ghalib eclipses everyone else.