MIR TAQI MIR

[Manish Modi]

|| ॐ ह्रीं श्रीपार्श्वनाथाय नमः ||

|| Auṃ Hrīṃ ŚrīPārśvanāthāya Namaḥ ||

Jay Jinendra

MIR TAQI MIR  

Mir Taqi Mir can justly lay claim to the title of the greatest poet of Urdu. He has been called the "Khudaye-Sukhan" of Urdu poetry. Some would claim that Ghalib was the greatest Urdu poet. But not only did Mir precede Ghalib, his poetry is endowed with a simplicity that one despairs of finding in Ghalib's works. For me, the simple honest verse of Mir is infinitely preferable to that of the self-confessed, difficulty-loving Ghalib!

Mir Taqi Mir was born in Agra and moved to Delhi after a failed affair of the heart. He was born in abject poverty and moved to Delhi to escape from it. But being a straightforward person, Mir was incapable of the obsequious manner that was expected at the royal court. Hence, he had to return from Delhi a pauper and spent his last years in Lucknow, serving under Navab Asaf Al Doulah for a monthly salary of Rs. 300.

Mir's poetry is known for its literary merit, sweetness of language, elegance of presentation amd sensitive depiction of passion and tenderness. No wonder Allama Niaz Fatehpuri called Mir the Shahenshah of Urdu poetry. I have selected some of my favourite shers from Mir Taqi Mir's rich oeuvre. 

~ Manish Modi

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इब्तिदा-ए-इश्क़ है रोता है क्या

आगे आगे देखिये होता है क्या

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

ibtidaa-e-ishq hai rotaa hai kyaa

aage aage dekhiye hotaa hai kyaa

~ Mir Taqi Mir

This is just the beginning, do not lose heart.

Hang in there and see what transpires.

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गोर किस दिलजले की है ये फ़लक़

शोला इक सुब्हा याँ से उठता है

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

gor kis diljale kii hai yeh falaq,

sholaa ik sub'ha yaan se uthtaa hai.

~ Mir Taqi Mir

The sky is like a lovelorn lover's tomb,

An ember rises here each day at dawn.

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शोख़ी तो देखो, आप आओ बैठो मीर

पूछो कहाँ, तो बोले की मेरी ज़बां पर

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

shokhii to dekho, aap aao baitho Mir

puchho kahaan, to bole ki merii zabaan par

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Look at the audacity!

They invited me to sit,

When I asked where,

"On my tongue", said they.

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क्या कहूँ तुम से मैं क्या है इश्क़

जान का रोग है, बला है इश्क़

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

kyaa kahuun tum se main ke kyaa hai ishq

jaan kaa rog hai, balaa hai ishq

~ Mir Taqi Mir

What can I say to you about what love is.

It is a fatal disease, and a huge problem. 

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मीर के दीनो-मज़हब को अब पूछते क्या हो, उनने तो

क़श्क़ा खेंचा दैर में बैठा कब का तर्क इस्लाम किया

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

Mir ke diino-mazhab ko ab puuchhte kyaa ho, unne to

qashqaa khenchaa, dair mein baithaa kab kaa tark Islam kiyaa

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Why do you ask of Mir’s religion. 

He has put a saffron mark on his forehead,

Sat in a temple

And given up Islam a long time ago. 

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उलटी हो गयीं सब तदबीरें कुछ ना दवा ने काम किया

देखा इस बीमारी-ए-दिल ने आख़िर काम तमाम किया

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

ultii ho gayiin sab tadbiirein kucch na davaa ne kaam kiyaa

dekhaa is biimaarii-e-dil ne aakhir kaam tamaam kiyaa

~ Mir Taqi Mir

All remedies have failed, no medicine has worked.

Look, this disease of the heart has brought me to this pass.

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फिर भी करते हैं मीर साहब इश्क़

हैं जवां, इख़्तियार रखते हैं

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

phir bhii karte hain mir saahab ishq

hain javaan, ikhtiyaar rakhte hain

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Despite that, Mir is in love.

He is young and has the right to do so.

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मीर उन नीमबाज़ आँखों में

सारी मस्ती शराब की सी है

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

Mir un niimbaaz aankhon mein 

saari mastii sharaab kii sii hai

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Mir, those half shut eyes,

Carry all the mischief of wine! 

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अब तलक भी मज़ारे-मजनू से

नातवाँ इक ग़ुबार उठता है

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

ab talak bhii mazaare-majnuun se

naatavaan ik ghubaar uthataa hai

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Even now, there rises from the tomb of Majnu,

A weak stream of dust

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यारो मुझे मुआफ़ रखो, मैं नशे में हूँ

अब जाम दो तो खाली ही दो, मैं नशे मैं हूँ

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

yaaro mujhe muaaf rakho, main nashe mein huun

ab jaam do to khaalii hii do, main nashe mein huun

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Friends, please excuse me, I am drunk.

If you give me a goblet, let it be an empty one, for I am drunk.

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या हाथों-हाथ लो मुझे मानिन्दे-जामे-मय 

या थोड़ी दूर साथ चलो मैं नशे में हूँ

~ मीर तक़ी मीर

yaa haathon-haath lo mujhe maaninde-jaame-may

yaa thodii duur saath chalo, main nashe mein huun

~ Mir Taqi Mir

Either support me, the way you would hold a brimming goblet. 

Else, walk with me for a bit, for I am drunk. 

Urdu verses by Mir Taqi Mir

English translation by Manish Modi

[Manish Modi]

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