The Evolution of Ghalib – Hasan Abdullah
Book Review

There are numerous books interpreting Ghalib’s divan and his often difficult to follow train of thought.  So, one more should normally elicit no more than a yawn, especially one by an engineer unschooled in the subtlety of literary finesse.  But perhaps it is exactly because of this that Hasan Abdullah has been able to bring a fresh approach to interpreting Ghalib.  In addition, he more than makes up for his lack for formal training in the arts and literature with his obvious love of Urdu poetry and especially of Ghalib, bringing to it a surprisingly insightful finesse.

Conventional interpretations of Ghalib are based on his final authorized divan in which Ghalib de-selected a substantial portion of his work and in which the sequencing of the ghazals is based on the radeef (the rhyme) with no bearing on chronology.  Hasan Abdullah makes use of the work done by Kalidas Gupta Raza who compiled Ghalib’s ghazals in chronological order.  He has selected ash’aar (couplets) from chronological stages of Ghalib’s maturation as a poet, philosopher and person.  This allows for a dynamic interpretation and enables comparison of different stages of evolution of Ghalib.  Such a perspective has enabled Hasan Abdullah to offer a unique interpretation using changing phases of Ghalib’s thinking and circumstances.

Hasan Abdullah’s sharp analytical mind also shows through his interpretations offering a clarity often lacking in others.  This does not mean that multiple interpretations, nuances and subtleties are not dealt with.  It means that they are explicated with clarity.  Thus Abdullah deals with “first reading” interpretation followed by interpretation based on sufi or other inclinations as appropriate.

Chronological sequencing also helps understand how Ghalib changed from a despondent poet thirsting for recognition by his peers to a confident master, unmindful of recognition, knowing that he is admired even by those who do not fully understand.  For example, Abdullah points out that a 19 year old Ghalib writes

maiN ne kaha ke bazm-e naaz chaahiye Ghair se tehi
sun ke sitam zareef ne, mujh ko uTha diya ke yuN

I said, Love’s assembly demands distance from the other
Hearing this the ruthless one evicted me saying, thus.

At one level this is the poet/lover in the gathering of the beloved demanding exclusive attention and getting insulted.  But Abdullah offers an interesting interpretation that a 19 year old, still not well recognized Ghalib is vying for the top spot as poet.  But the beloved (the audience) ejects him from the assembly.  Thirty years later, a 50 year old Ghalib is so confident that he writes

paata huN us se daad kuchh apne kalaam ki
roohul qudus agarche mera humzabaaN nahiN

I do get some praise from him of my verse
Even though the archangel does not speak my tongue

Abdullah points out that at this stage Ghalib is confident that he is getting appreciation from high quarters – roohul qudus – the archangel of god, even if he does not understand his language (agree with his views).  There is a similar evolution is Ghalib’s confidence in interpreting the mysteries of the universe, his rejection of conventional religiosity, his embracing of change and continuous struggle as an end in itself.  Rather than repeat these fine examples, I urge you to enjoy the book, “The Evolution of Ghalib”, Hasan Abdullah, Rupa Publications, ISBN: 978-81-291-3471-4.