English Translation Of A Ghalib Ghazal

[Afzal A. Khan]

Here is the original ghazal :


Sab kahaaN kucch lala-o-gul men numaayaaN ho gayeeN
KHaak men kya soorateN hoNgi jo pin'haaN ho gayeeN

Yaad theeN hum ko bhi raNgaa-raNg bazm~aaraaiyaaN
Lekin ab naqsh-o-nigaar-e-taaq-e-nis'yaaN ho gayeeN

Joo-e-KHooN aaNkhoN se behne do k(e) hai shaam-e-firaaq
MaiN yeh samjhooNga k(e) do sham'eN farozaaN ho gayeeN

In pari~zaadoN se leNge KHuld men hum intiqaam
Qudrat-e-haq se yehi hooreN agar waaN ho gayeeN

NeeNd us ki hai, dimaaGH us ka hai, raateN us ki haiN
Teri zulfeN jis ke baazoo par pareeshaaN ho gayeeN

JaaN~fiza hai baada(h) jis ke haath men jaam aa gaya
Sab lakeereN haath ki goya rag-e-jaaN ho gayeeN

Hum muwahhid haiN hamaara kesh hai tark-e-rusoom
MillateN jab miT gayeeN aj'zaa-e-eemaaN ho gayeeN

RaNj se KHoo-gar huwa insaaN to miT jaata hai raNj
MushkileN mujh par paReeN itni k(e) aasaaN ho gayeeN

YooN hi gar rota raha Ghalib to ai ahl-e-jahaaN
Dekhna in bastiyoN ko tum k(e) weeraaN ho gayeeN

************************************************************

Some, not all, came back as tulip and rose;
What faces must lie beneath dust, who knows.

What colourful gatherings I would recall,
Now pictures in oblivion's niche, they repose.

Let my eyes shed blood, this night of parting:
As two lighted candles I shall imagine those.

On those beauteous women shall fall my revenge
In paradise: they'll be houris, forever close.

To him belong sleep, peace, the fullest nights
On whose arms, dishevelled, your hair flows.

Wine rejoices the heart. To whom the cup came,
His hand's lines like the vein of life arose.

I profess one God, I abandon old rites,
When all sects die away, one faith follows.

When man is used to sorrows, sorrow fails;
Many hardships have made easy hardship's blows

Should Ghalib still weep, you will find, O world
These dwellings drowned in ruin, where nothing grows.


M. A. R. Habib


Only nine ash'aar from Ghalib's ghazal have been quoted above;
these correspond to those that have been rendered into English
by the translator. There are six more ash'aar in the original
ghazal.

The translated version too is somewhat akin to a ghazal, inasmuch
as there is a rhyming pattern.

The translator is Prof. M. A. R. Habib. He obtained his Ph.D
from the University of Oxford and is now a Professor of English
at the Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. He has published
five books and is currently working on a volume of his own poetry.




Afzal

[Naseer]

janaab-i-Afzal SaaHib, tasliimaat.

Thank you for posting this delightful translation of one of Ghalib's
most famous Ghazals, of which he himself was rightly proud. He
expresses his sentiments about this Ghazal in one of his letters. The
quotation below is from that letter, translated by Professor F.W.
Pritchett and presented in her online site, "A Desertful of Roses".

[1852:] Brother! For the Lord’s sake, do this ghazal justice! If this
is Rekhtah, then what did Mir and Mirza [Sauda] compose? And if that
was Rekhtah, then what is this? The circumstances of it are that one
gentleman among the princes of the House of Timur brought this ground
from Lucknow, and Huzur [Bahadur Shah Zafar] himself composed a ghazal
in it, and commanded me also [to compose one]. Thus I carried out the
order, and wrote a ghazal.

I believe the translator has on the whole succeeded in providing an
accurate translation in verse, in the Ghazal mode but I do think that
when one compares it with the original, the intensity there is not
wholly apparent in the translation. But, one should not hold this
against him, for he has carried out an extremely difficult task, very
well.

For interested parties, here is a link to an anthology of translators
of this Ghazal, taken from the same site.

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ghalib/111/translations_111.html?

Naseer

[Afzal A. Khan]

On 9/23/2012 6:15 AM, Naseer wrote:


> janaab-i-Afzal SaaHib, tasliimaat.
>
> Thank you for posting this delightful translation of one of Ghalib's
> most famous Ghazals, of which he himself was rightly proud. He
> expresses his sentiments about this Ghazal in one of his letters. The
> quotation below is from that letter, translated by Professor F.W.
> Pritchett and presented in her online site, "A Desertful of Roses".
>
> [1852:] Brother! For the Lord’s sake, do this ghazal justice! If this
> is Rekhtah, then what did Mir and Mirza [Sauda] compose? And if that
> was Rekhtah, then what is this? The circumstances of it are that one
> gentleman among the princes of the House of Timur brought this ground
> from Lucknow, and Huzur [Bahadur Shah Zafar] himself composed a ghazal
> in it, and commanded me also [to compose one]. Thus I carried out the
> order, and wrote a ghazal.

Naseer Saheb,

{I am assuming that the above translation of Ghalib's letter, as
done by FWP, has been accurately quoted. I have no reason to
believe otherwise.}

This is another instance of the fact that these "orientalists"
are not always aware of the myriad nuances of the Urdu language
and its poetry. In the fourth line above, one finds the word
"ground", which I think purports to be a translation of the Urdu
word "zameen". Now every genuine Urdu practitioner knows what
this word signifies, in the context of Urdu poetry. FWP has
given a totally erroneous sense to what Ghalib had originally
written.

And I think you ought to have pointed this out.



Afzal

>
> I believe the translator has on the whole succeeded in providing an
> accurate translation in verse, in the Ghazal mode but I do think that
> when one compares it with the original, the intensity there is not
> wholly apparent in the translation. But, one should not hold this
> against him, for he has carried out an extremely difficult task, very
> well.

> Naseer

[Naseer]

muHtaram Afzal SaaHib, aadaab 3arz hai.

I copy pasted Professor Prichett's translated piece taken from
Ghalib's letter. The word "ground" did catch my eye but the sentence
immediately following it makes it clear that the translator did have
"zamiin" (in the context of poetry) in mind. To be fair to Professor
Prichett, the word "ground" is a link (in blue) in itself and clicking
on it expounds the actual meaning.

zamiin (ground) — The specification of a certain rhyme and refrain;
two ghazals in the same zamiin will be similar but not necessarily
identical, since their meters may differ. (Only ghazals in the
same :tar;h are always formally identical.) == {11,3x}*; {52,1}; a
‘stony’ ground, {58,3}; another ‘stony’ ground, {59,1}; {111,1};
{115,8}; {125,1}; {125,10}; {173,4}; {193,1}

The fault is mine and I should have made this clear.

Naseer

[Afzal A. Khan]

On 9/23/2012 12:51 PM, Naseer wrote:

> muHtaram Afzal SaaHib, aadaab 3arz hai.
>
> I copy pasted Professor Prichett's translated piece taken from
> Ghalib's letter. The word "ground" did catch my eye but the sentence
> immediately following it makes it clear that the translator did have
> "zamiin" (in the context of poetry) in mind. To be fair to Professor
> Prichett, the word "ground" is a link (in blue) in itself and clicking
> on it expounds the actual meaning.
>

> zamiin (ground) � The specification of a certain rhyme and refrain;

> two ghazals in the same zamiin will be similar but not necessarily
> identical, since their meters may differ. (Only ghazals in the
> same :tar;h are always formally identical.) == {11,3x}*; {52,1}; a

> �stony� ground, {58,3}; another �stony� ground, {59,1}; {111,1};

> {115,8}; {125,1}; {125,10}; {173,4}; {193,1}
>
> The fault is mine and I should have made this clear.
>
> Naseer

Naseer Saheb,

It is very difficult for me to examine the maze of links and
sub-links on FWP's site. Could you please furnish the exact
link where the aforementioned explanation occurs. Thanks.

Afzal

[Naseer]

On Sep 24, 12:33 am, "Afzal A. Khan" <me_af...@privacy.net> wrote:
> On 9/23/2012 12:51 PM, Naseer wrote:
>
> > muHtaram Afzal SaaHib, aadaab 3arz hai.
>
> > I copy pasted Professor Prichett's translated piece taken from
> > Ghalib's letter. The word "ground" did catch my eye but the sentence
> > immediately following it makes it clear that the translator did have
> > "zamiin" (in the context of poetry) in mind. To be fair to Professor
> > Prichett, the word "ground" is a link (in blue) in itself and clicking
> > on it expounds the actual meaning.
>

> > zamiin (ground) — The specification of a certain rhyme and refrain;

> > two ghazals in the same zamiin will be similar but not necessarily
> > identical, since their meters may differ. (Only ghazals in the
> > same :tar;h are always formally identical.) == {11,3x}*; {52,1}; a

> > ‘stony’ ground, {58,3}; another ‘stony’ ground, {59,1}; {111,1};

> > {115,8}; {125,1}; {125,10}; {173,4}; {193,1}
>
> > The fault is mine and I should have made this clear.
>
> > Naseer
>
>       Naseer Saheb,
>
>       It is very difficult for me to examine the maze of links and
>       sub-links on FWP's site.  Could you please furnish the exact
>       link where the aforementioned explanation occurs.  Thanks.
>
>       Afzal

You are right in your observation of the "maze of links". It is not an
easy task.

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ghalib/111/111_01.html?

After the "Notes", please take a look at the first "GHALIB". After
reading it, you can click on the word "ground".

Naseer

[Afzal A. Khan]

Thank you for furnishing this link. There is so much material
available on FWP's site, but still.......

Ghalib has referred to this ghazal (and "mazmoon", inter alia) in
one letter. But, from FWP's quote, one doesn't get the name of
the addressee. Also, she could have given the Urdu script quote.
Now, how does one go about finding out the letter from the collec-
tion of Ghalib's letters ? Also, I couldn't understand why FWP
chose to translate "zameen" as 'ground' in the first place ?

Anyway, I have already bothered you a good deal, so thanks are due
for all the troubles you take for me........


Afzal

[Vijay Kumar]

I too chuckled at the translation of 'zamiin' as 'ground' but it did
set me thinking. How DOES one translate into English an Urdu word like
'zamiin' which is so 'Urdu' specific, and even more so, 'ghazal'
centric? I am sure there was a time when the word only meant 'earth'
'ground' etc. (My two dictionaries of Urdu, a basic one, and one by
Dr. Abdul Haq, still provide only these meanings and have no comment
on the poetic meaning of this word). Imagine, then, the firs time
someone decided to use it in the sense of 'foundation' of a ghazal.
There likely was some scepticism, perhaps even some sniggers. But as
this meaning spread through frequent usage, it became part of the
language. That is how language develops.

Now, I have been racking my brains as to what would be an equivalent
English word for this sense of 'zamiin'? As English poetry doesn't
have anything like 'ghazal' in its repertoire, one would have to
invent a word to represent the approximate meaning. (One would do the
same for qafiia, for instance, or radiif). So used only occasionally,
'ground' does jar but I would imagine that if it came to be used
frequently, it will find acceptance. (Personally, I feel 'foundation'
comes closer to representing 'zamiin' without altering the literal
meaning too much). I wonder what other word/words can be employed from
the English language to translate 'zamiin'?

I have a book that includes a selection of Ghalib's letters but this
particular letter, unfortunately, is not there. It does give me ideas,
however, to post some, if not all, of these on ALUP. I am not sure if
this has been done before but I am sure, Naseer sahib, you will know
or find out. I wouldn't want to replicate.

Regards,

Vijay

[Naseer]

This is no trouble at all Afzal SaaHib.

ba-naam Munshi Nabi BaKsh Haqiir,

bhaa'ii xudaa ke vaaste Ghazal kii daad denaa. agar rextah yih hai to
Miir-o-Mirza kyaa kahte the? agar vuh rextah thaa to phir yih kyaa
hai!

suurat is kii yih hai kih ek SaaHib Shahzadagaan-i-Taimuuriyah meN se
Lakhnauu se zamiin laa'e. Huzuur ne xud bhii Ghazal kahii aur mujhe
bhii Hukm diyaa, so maiN Hukm ba-jaa laayaa aur Ghazal likhii. pahle
tum ek baat merii suno, phir Ghazal paRho.....

..........

Naseer

[Afzal A. Khan]

Thank you for your prompt assistance. But I am sure about the
pains you must have taken to ferret out the exact letter, and
then quote from it.

Perhaps (and you can blame it on my irritating habits !) one
word "Sahib" can be amended to "sahib" ! What do you think ?


Afzal

[hashm...@gmail.com]

Tasleemaat!

It was great to find this thread here. A look at the posts prompted me to post a translation of this ghazal that I did with a friend at columbia.

Not all withered- some became visible as tulip and rose!
What a myriad of faces would be there, that became concealed in the dust!

I could also thence recall those colorful festive assemblies,
but they are now mere decorative carvings in the niche of oblivion.

Even the Heaven's Daughters of the Bier were hidden behind a veil, throughout the day!
What thought provoked them that they got naked as the night approached!

Though Jacob didn't inquire about Joseph in his imprisonment,
Still, his eyes became crevice-work in the wall of the penitentiary!

Let all lovers be unhappy with their rivals, however, with the women of Egypt Potiphar's wife is well-pleased for they got enchanted by the Moon of Canaan!

Let the stream of blood flow from the eyes, for it's the night of separation.
I will simply consider that two tapers have illuminated.

Once in Paradise, I'll take revenge on these Fairy-born ones;
If, by the Almightiness of the Eternal Truth, I get them as Houries there!
His are the states of sleep, his are the thoughts, his are the nights,
on whose shoulders your locks of hair disheveled!

While I entered into the garden, as if a school had opened
Hearing my laments, the nightingales turned into poetry reciters.

Oh Lord, why do those glances keep penetrating the heart,
which, due to my deficient fortune, became eyelashes!

As much I held them back, they surged up one after another in the breast.
My sighs became the stitches on the ripped off collar.

Even if I went there, what would have been the response to her insults?
All the blessings I could remember were showered on the doorkeeper!

In whomever's hand the glass is held, wine becomes life-enhancing.
All the lines on the palm, as if, become the jugular veins!

A monotheist I am, renunciation of customs being my creed!
Once beliefs erased, they became parts of faith.

Once a person becomes accustomed to grief, then grief is effaced.
Difficulties consumed me to such an extent that they became easy!

If Ghalib kept on weeping like this, then O' people of the world!
Just watch these habitations- that they would become desolate!
(c) Arshad Masood Hashmi

[sajida...@gmail.com]

Very nice

[Prashant Singh]

huzuur ghazal share karne ka shukriyah..

it is no doubt a mushairah type ghazal whose ash'aar give a lot of pleasure if recited in a mushairah..

My favourite she'r ---

1) NeeNd us ki hai, dimaaGH us ka hai, raateN us ki haiN

Teri zulfeN jis ke baazoo par pareeshaaN ho gayeeN

And

2) ranj se khoo-gar huaa insaaN to miT jaata hai ranj
mushkileN itnii paRii ham par k aasaaN ho gayii !!

Huzoor aap ne 'mujh par paRii itnii' likhaa hai she'r meN... I have doubt .. Hmmmm

[Naseer]

Prashant Singh SaaHib.

If you take a look at the opening post, you will have your answer.

Naseer

[faiza....@gmail.com]

Hey guys salam ....
Plz ghalib ki ghazal "jahan tera naqshe qadam dailhty hain" k 2nd shayr
"Dil aashafta gaan khaal-e-kanj-e-dehan ke
SAWEEDA mai sair-e-adm dekhty hain"
Ki translation kr din plz ....
Specialy "saweda" word ka proper mening bta din mjhy...ma kafi arsay sy icka mening dhund ri hn but nae mila :(
Plz help me to knw the mening plzzzz :(

[Naseer]

Take a look at this link.

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ghalib/096/index_096.html?

Naseer

[faiza....@gmail.com]

hey naseer thanx alot ,,, i have noo words to say thnx to you..
thanx alot mri help krny k leay ,,, so nice of you :)
thanx again and again :)