Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza haadi rusva (1858-1931). He was an accomplished poet but is better known as a novelist, writer and critic. Among his novels, ‘umrao jaan ada’, an entirely fictional character, became so popular that it is now commonly (but mistakenly) believed that this was a real person. He learnt faarsi, arabi, Greek and sankrit, astronomy and mathematics. He taught in a school and later as a professor in Christian College, lukhnau. He also worked in the Department of Translations, Osmania University, hyderabad under josh malihabadi. This Ghazal is clearly written in the style of mir taqi mir and there is a specific tribute to him in the maqta. But I make bold to link it to ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’, with profuse apologies to all three – Ghalib, mir and rusva.
1
husn¹ shaahed² hai meri raNgiini³-e tahriir⁴ ka
ek adaa⁵-e shooKh⁶ hai jo raNg³ hai tasviir⁷ ka   1.Beauty 2.witness, testimony 3.variety, beauty, aspect 4.writing, verse 5.style, coquetry, grace 6.mischievous, playful 7.picture, description
Beauty herself bears testimony to my style of versification. Every aspect of the picture that I sketch/describe is a graceful mischief.
2
z’of¹ meN shikva² abas³ hai gardish-e-taqdiir⁴ ka
ban paRa vo ham se kab jo kaam tha tadbiir⁵ ka   1.weakness, incapability 2.blame 3.useless 4.vicissitudes of fate 5.plan, intention
This is probably a reflection on how often people blame fate when they cannot get/do something. When you yourself are incapable, there is no used in blaming fate. When have we been able to accomplish/get done any task that was a part of our plan/intention when we don’t have the capability to do so.
3
dekh mera haal¹ agar tu jhooT samjhe ishq ko
sun meri faryaad² agar qaa’el³ na ho taa’siir⁴ ka    1.condition, state 2.appeal, lament 3.agree with, believe in 4.effect, fulfilment
The beloved is hard-hearted. She does not think that the poet/lover is true/steadfast in his love. She also does not believe in catering to entreaties, fulfilment of his desires. So, he is appealing to her – look at my condition and see if you can still not think that I truly love you. Listen to my lament if you still believe that my entreaties should not be fulfilled.
4
yaad kar lena keh aksar¹ bastiyaaN viiraaN² huiN
is Kharaabe³ meN Khayaal aaye agar taa’miir⁴ ka 1.often, many times 2.desolate, ruins 3.ruinous world 4.building, establishing
Recall mir taqi mir …
rahguzar sail-e-havaadis ka hai be-buniyaad dahr
is Kharaabe meN na karnaa qasd tum t’aamiir ka
If you ever think of building something (interpret this to mean accumulate wealth) remember that many times established settlements have been rendered desolate ruins.
5
tham¹ gaye aaNsu numaa’esh² jab hui madd-e-nazar³
ruk gaya naala⁴ jo andesha⁵ kiya taa’siir⁶ ka    1.stopped 2.exhibiting, showing off 3.focus of attention 4.wailing 5.fear, concern 6.fulfillment
This is similar in sentiment to Ghalib’s …
taa’at meN taa rahe na mai o aNgahiiN ki laag
dozaKh meN Daal do koii le kar behisht ko
Whenever the focus of my attention was simply exhibiting my love then suddenly my tears stopped and I could not show how sad I was when my love was not reciprocated. Whenever my concern was fulfilment of my desires, my wailing stopped.
6
alhazar ye kaam duniya meN tumhiiN se ho saka
chaahne vaale par apne khaiNchna shamshiir ka    1.I am afraid, god forbid 2.sword
I am afraid that this was possible only for you (the beloved) to do – pull a sword on your own admirer/suitor.
7
tab’a¹ naazuk² par giraaN³ kyuN hai mera sar phoRna
hum na kahte the na chheRo tazkera⁴ taqdiir⁵ ka    1.nature 2.delicate, refined 3.heavy, disagreeable 4.narration, story 5.fate
The poet/lover thinks that his fate has been particularly bad, that he has been dealt a poor hand. He does not want to be reminded of it. So, he has repeatedly told the beloved not to talk about his fate. But she did and he was so perturned by it that he banged his head against the wall. Now her delicate/refined nature finds his behaviour disagreeable/disturbing.
8
vaz’a¹ ke paaband² hum diivaanagi³ jiddat⁴ pasand
phir galaaya⁵ jaaye loha qais⁶ ki zanjiir ka    1.tradition 2.observant, bound by 3.madness, passion 4.innovation 5.melt 6.majnuN
The poet/lover is bound by tradition and madness of passion likes innovation. So, he calls for melting the iron of the chains that held the mad passionate majnuN and fashion a new chain with it. Thus, he wants to satisfy both tradition and innovation.
9
is Ghazal-goii¹ meN vo taa’siir² hai mirza³ ke aaj
sau baras⁴ ke b’aad aalam⁵ nauha-KhwaaN⁶ hai miir ka 1.reciting Ghazal 2.effect 3.pen-name of poet 4.years 5.world 6.mourning 7.mir taqi mir
The poet, mirza rusva, writes/composes in the style of mir taqi mir. There is such effect in his Ghazal recitation that today, even after 100 years of his passing, the world remembers and mourns mir taqi mir.