[Q]: Detailed meaning of Ghalib's "Aah ko chahiye"
Vallury Prabhakar
I'm looking for a full explanation of Ghalib's "Aah ko chahiye ik umr
asar honay tak". I've scanned various websites but am able to find only
word meanings and partial references - I'd really like to understand the
context, background and relevance of this poem.
Thanks in advance,
VP
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Sudhir
It is very difficult to explain Urdu Shayari to someone who is
not familiar with muslim culture. I am not muslim, but have
lived in Punjab and my family people migrated from, what is
now Pakistan. I am somewhat familiar, but not an expert.
I will try to explain the meaning in mixed, Hindi + English
language.
Original: Aah Ko Chahiye Ik Umar Asar Hone Taq
Kaun Jeeta Hai teri Zulf Ke Sar Hone Taq
It takes a long time for the lover's wishes to be acknowledged by
the beloved
(The lover) But I am not going to wait that long (i.e: Kaun Jeeta Hai)
for you to be 'Mehrban' (respond) (i.e: Zulf Ke Sar Hone Taq)
Original: Hum Ne Mana Ki Tagaful Na Karoge Lekin
Khak Ho jayenge Ham Tum Ko Khabar Hone Taq
I know your won't reneg. on your promise
But, I will be dead (i.e: khak = dust to dust, Ho Jayene Hum) before
you fullfil it + You come to know my desires (i.e: Tum Ko Khabar Hone Taq)
The second half of the second line (i.e: Tum Ko Khabar Hone Taq),
has two references, one to the first line (Hum Ne ..Lekin) +
also to the first line of first para (Aah Ko ... Taq)
Please note the above para, is the 2nd para of this ghazal
I will try to write a follow-up for the balance two paragraphs,
at a later date - Insha Allah
# 1: Ashiqi Sabar Talab Aur Tamanna Betaab
Dil Ka Kya Rang Karoon Khoon-e-Jigar Hone Taq
# 3: Gham-e-Hasti Ka 'Asad' Kis Se Ho Juzmarg Ilaaz
Shama Har Rang Mein Jalti Hai Sahar Hone Taq
'Asad' was an alternate 'Takhalus' for Ghalib Saheb
The best rendering of this Ghazal is by Suraiya for film: Mirza Ghalib
Music: Ghulam Mohd. It is available on CD + Tape
Hain Aur Bhi Duniya Mein Sukhanwar Bahut Achchhe
Kahte Hain Ki Ghalib Ka Hai Andaz-e-Bayan Aur
Sudhir
P.S.: Please post a message if you need examples of 'Fair Usage'
In many Hindi / Urdu films, Ghalib's couplets (sometimes only
one line) have been used as dialogues. One of the most
popular one was:
'Woh Aaye Hamare Ghar Mein Khuda Ki Kudrat Hai'
--------------------------
Vallury Prabhakar <le...@htdconnect.com> wrote in message news:<3B9F7AEB...@htdconnect.com>...
Abhay Phadnis
news:c2632c6.01091...@posting.google.com...
> Sept 13, 2001
>
>
> Original: Hum Ne Mana Ki Tagaful Na Karoge Lekin
> Khak Ho jayenge Ham Tum Ko Khabar Hone Taq
>
>
>
> I know your won't reneg. on your promise
>
> But, I will be dead (i.e: khak = dust to dust, Ho Jayene Hum) before
> you fullfil it + You come to know my desires (i.e: Tum Ko Khabar Hone
Taq)
>
I thought "taGaaful" meant indifference or neglect. The meaning thus being:
I know you will not ignore me, but I will have turned to dust by the time
you notice me!
> The best rendering of this Ghazal is by Suraiya for film: Mirza Ghalib
> Music: Ghulam Mohd. It is available on CD + Tape
Have heard either Begum Akhtar's rendition (perfection itself!) or Ghulam
Ali's (not on par with the Malika-e-Ghazal's, but one of his best
renditions - and way better than the Suraiya version).
Warm regards,
Abhay
vsr...@mailandnews.com
Excellent Sudhir ji, It made it very clear.
There are more ashaars, i guess. one i partly recall is "katre ke guhar
hone tak".
does any one has full ghazal?
> # 3: Gham-e-Hasti Ka 'Asad' Kis Se Ho Juzmarg Ilaaz
> Shama Har Rang Mein Jalti Hai Sahar Hone Taq
Hasti: life
marg: death
juz-marg: other than death
sahar: morning
What, other than death, is the cure of sorrows of life?
The candle burns in all the colors overnight till morning arrives, even
then it is extinguished in the morning. Then it finds peace.
-Rawat
Vandana Sharma
http://chandra.astro.indiana.edu/isongs/urdu/ascii/ghalib.itx. For your
reading pleasure, I have formatted it and reproduced it below.
Ah ko chAhiye ik 'umr asar hone tak
kaun jItA hai terI zulf ke sar hone tak ?
dAm har mauj me.n hai halqA-e-sad-kAm-e-naha.ng
dekhe.n kyA guzare hai qatre pe guhar hone tak
dAm = net/trap,
mauj = wave,
halqA = ring/circle,
sad = hundred,
naha.ng = crocodile,
sad-kAm-e-naha.ng = crocodile with a hundred jaws,
guhar = pearl
AshiqI sabr talab aur tamannA betAb
dil kA kyA ra.ng karU.N KUn-e-jigar hone tak ?
sabr = patience,
talab = search
ham ne mAnA ke taGAful n karoge, lekin
KAk ho jAye.nge ham tumako Kabar hone tak
taGAful = neglect/ignore
partav-e-khur se hai shabanam ko fana'A kI tAlIm
mai.n bhI hU.N ik inAyat kI nazar hone tak
partav-e-khur = sun's reflection/light/image,
shabanam = dew,
fana'A = mortality,
inAyat = favour
yak-nazar besh nahI.n fursat-e-hastI GAfil
garmI-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak
besh = too much/lots,
fursat-e-hastI = duration of life,
GAfil = careless,
raqs = dance,
sharar = flash/fire
Gam-e-hastI kA `asad' kis'se ho juz marg ilAz
shamma'A har ra.ng me.n jalatI hai sahar hone tak
hastI = life/existence,
juz = other than,
marg= death,
sahar = morning
-Vandana
<vsr...@MailAndNews.com> wrote in message
news:3BA0C5BC...@MailAndNews.com...
Vijay Kumar K
>
> Original: Aah Ko Chahiye Ik Umar Asar Hone Taq
> Kaun Jeeta Hai teri Zulf Ke Sar Hone Taq
>
>
> It takes a long time for the lover's wishes to be acknowledged by
> the beloved
>
> (The lover) But I am not going to wait that long (i.e: Kaun Jeeta Hai)
> for you to be 'Mehrban' (respond) (i.e: Zulf Ke Sar Hone Taq)
IIRC a thread last year had discussed the meaning of the phrase "sar hona" and
Urzung or Afzal had stepped in to clarify that "sar hona" means to conquer or
to achieve. Thus, Ghalib's use of zulf ke sar hone tak is a very clever play on
the meaning of the phrase.
So, the correct meaning should read
(when even) a sigh needs a lifetime to find its mark
who lives long enough to reach you...
agar har aah ko asar hone me.n ek umr lagataa hai, to tere zulf tak pahu.Nchane
me.n kaii umar lag jaaye.nge, aur itane din kaun jiitaa hai?
> The second half of the second line (i.e: Tum Ko Khabar Hone Taq),
> has two references, one to the first line (Hum Ne ..Lekin) +
> also to the first line of first para (Aah Ko ... Taq)
Naah... the couplet is quite self-contained. The only "reference" to the opening
lines is in the rhyme scheme, and of course in the overall tenor of the ghazal.
> 'Asad' was an alternate 'Takhalus' for Ghalib Saheb
Asad was his name... Asadullah Khan.
> The best rendering of this Ghazal is by Suraiya for film: Mirza Ghalib
> Music: Ghulam Mohd. It is available on CD + Tape
>
And may I draw your attention to the Saigal version? The "kaun jiitaa hai"
phrase in itself is loaded with the despair and hopelessness of ever finding
that happy world of his loved one's tresses... Wonderfully sung. The thing I
find in Saigal's ghazals is the great attention to the words. The tune and the
instrumentation is minimal. In most cases, Saigal does not even repeat phrases
(not even the customary mukha.Da) and yet he manages to render it in such a
precise way as to highlight the words, the mood and generally presents the
"punch line" pretty much as a sparkling diamond neckalce in a tiffany setting.
Vijay
Sudhir
===============================
Thanks Mr. Vijay Kumar. Your explanation is correct. I made mistakes.
I forgot about Saigal Sahib's. His version is very good. The reason
why I like Suraiya's version is that it has non-traditional
instrumentation.
Tagaful = Neglect (not re-neg)
Sudhir
vijay...@my-deja.com (Vijay Kumar K) wrote in message news:<f9e9d452.01091...@posting.google.com>...
Afzal A. Khan
Vijay Kumar K wrote:
>
> sudh...@hotmail.com (Sudhir) wrote in message news:<c2632c6.01091...@posting.google.com>...
> >
> > Original: Aah Ko Chahiye Ik Umar Asar Hone Taq
> > Kaun Jeeta Hai teri Zulf Ke Sar Hone Taq
> >
> >
> > It takes a long time for the lover's wishes to be acknowledged by
> > the beloved
> >
> > (The lover) But I am not going to wait that long (i.e: Kaun Jeeta Hai)
> > for you to be 'Mehrban' (respond) (i.e: Zulf Ke Sar Hone Taq)
>
> IIRC a thread last year had discussed the meaning of the phrase "sar hona" and
> Urzung or Afzal had stepped in to clarify that "sar hona" means to conquer or
> to achieve. Thus, Ghalib's use of zulf ke sar hone tak is a very clever play on
> the meaning of the phrase.
It was indeed Yours Truly. For ready reference, that
explanation/interpretation is reproduced below :
QUOTE
Aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
Kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak
In this sher, most people find difficulty with the last
4/5 words i.e. "zulf ke sar hone tak". I think this
difficulty can be resolved if we insert the word "muhim"
in between, while trying to understand the meaning of
the sher.
Mehboob ki zulf tak rasai (ya wisaal-e-mehboob kah
leejiye) koi aasaan marhala nahin. Mehboob ko manaana,
use apni taraf maail karna--- is men muddaten guzar jaati
hain. Hamen go ke yaqeen hai ke ek din hamaari aahen asar
laa ke rahengi, mehboob ka dil paseejega aur hamaare dil ki
tamanna poori hogi, magar kya us waqt ke aane tak hum zinda
bhi rahenge ? Iski koi ummeed nahin. Is liye hamaara yeh
yaqeen (ke hamaari aahen asar
dikhaengi) ek tarah se la-haasil hai.
Is men ek lateef nukta yeh bhi hai ke ho sakta hai mehbbob
ko apni taraf maail karne men zyaada muddat darkaar na ho.
Ho sakta hai woh jald maan jaye. Magar yeh arsa chaahe
kitna hi mukhtasir kyon na ho, hamaare liye bahut ziyaada
saabit hoga. Hum us waqt se pehle hi is jahaan se guzar
jaayenge.
Mehboob ki zulf tak rasai (ya wisaal-e-mehboob) ko ek hausla
- shikan muhim se taabeer kiya hai. Ek din yeh muhim sar
zuroor hogi magar us waqt tak bahut der ho chuki hogi. Is
lafz (muhim) ko yahaan "mehzoof" samajhna chaahiye.
UNQUOTE
This explanation was communicated in response to a request
from a friend who was quite active in both Newsgroups (RMIM
and ALUP) but who somehow has not been finding the time to
participate these days.
I am quite conscious of one difficulty with this interpreta-
tion. Some of the Urdu words used may by themselves require
some explanation ! For starters, let me clarify that
"mehzoof" means "deleted" i.e. "meant but not explicitly
stated".
> > 'Asad' was an alternate 'Takhalus' for Ghalib Saheb
> Asad was his name... Asadullah Khan.
"Asad" in fact was his first takhallus. As stated
above, it is taken from his name, Asadullah Khan.
Later, he began using "Ghalib" as his takhallus.
The point to be noted is that both words relate to
Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's nephew and son-in-law
(who subsequently became the fourth Caliph). He was
a great warrior and his popular appellation was
"Sher-e-KHuda" (God's Lion). "Asad" means "Lion".
Hazrat Ali's full appellation was "Asadullah-ul-
Ghalib" i.e "God's All-Conquering Lion". This would
explain the poet's choice of his second takhallus.
>
> > The best rendering of this Ghazal is by Suraiya for film: Mirza Ghalib
> > Music: Ghulam Mohd. It is available on CD + Tape
> >
> And may I draw your attention to the Saigal version? The "kaun jiitaa hai"
> phrase in itself is loaded with the despair and hopelessness of ever finding
> that happy world of his loved one's tresses... Wonderfully sung. The thing I
> find in Saigal's ghazals is the great attention to the words. The tune and the
> instrumentation is minimal. In most cases, Saigal does not even repeat phrases
> (not even the customary mukha.Da) and yet he manages to render it in such a
> precise way as to highlight the words, the mood and generally presents the
> "punch line" pretty much as a sparkling diamond neckalce in a tiffany setting.
>
> Vijay
IIRC, you had posted a very long and most commendable
compilation of Saigal's songs some 3 years back.
But in this particular case, I am inclined to think
that Suraiyya's rendition, to my ears, is much more
enjoyable. What I find a little jarring in Saigal's
ghazal-singing is that he seems to be singing all of
them in the same tune and "taal". This holds good
even for some of his Farsi Ghazals ! Just my
opinion. I am a fan of Saigal, and I am sure you must
be a much more devoted fan. Even so, I hope you would
not hold this against me.
Afzal
naniwadekar
Afzal A. Khan <il_...@yahoo.com> wrote -
> enjoyable. What I find a little jarring in Saigal's
> ghazal-singing is that he seems to be singing all of
> them in the same tune and "taal". This holds good
> even for some of his Farsi Ghazals !
>
What do you mean by 'seems to be singing
in the same "taal" ' ? Do you want to imply 'same
laya' or 'much slower laya' or the absence of
rhythmic element ?
As 1940s progressed, the laya of songs did
quicken. Mukesh had to up the tempo, and
suffered for it. But at slower speeds of Saigal's
day, there was greater scope for suppressing
rhythm aspect and 'reading' rather than singing
songs. Not that I am complaining, for both
Saigal and Mukesh excelled at it.
- dn
vsr...@mailandnews.com
>
> "Sudhir" <sudh...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c2632c6.01091...@posting.google.com...
> > Sept 13, 2001
> >
> >
> > Original: Hum Ne Mana Ki Tagaful Na Karoge Lekin
> > Khak Ho jayenge Ham Tum Ko Khabar Hone Taq
> >
> >
> >
> > I know your won't reneg. on your promise
> >
> > But, I will be dead (i.e: khak = dust to dust, Ho Jayene Hum) before
> > you fullfil it + You come to know my desires (i.e: Tum Ko Khabar Hone
> Taq)
> >
>
> I thought "taGaaful" meant indifference or neglect. The meaning thus being:
> I know you will not ignore me, but I will have turned to dust by the time
> you notice me!
It does make better sense with this meaning of tagaaful=indifference
I think tagaaful is some relative of Gaafil.
>
> > The best rendering of this Ghazal is by Suraiya for film: Mirza Ghalib
> > Music: Ghulam Mohd. It is available on CD + Tape
>
> Have heard either Begum Akhtar's rendition (perfection itself!) or Ghulam
> Ali's (not on par with the Malika-e-Ghazal's, but one of his best
> renditions - and way better than the Suraiya version).
>
> Warm regards,
> Abhay
I feel that the music of suraiya version was quite monotonous and
somewhat fast for a ghazal, but still there was a pain in suraiya's
voice which was missing in other two versions. Other two versions are
indeed classics.
-Rawat
pard...@webtv.net
Afzal A. Khan
> Afzal A. Khan <il_...@yahoo.com> wrote -
>
> > enjoyable. What I find a little jarring in Saigal's
> > ghazal-singing is that he seems to be singing all of
> > them in the same tune and "taal". This holds good
> > even for some of his Farsi Ghazals !
> >
>
> What do you mean by 'seems to be singing
> in the same "taal" ' ? Do you want to imply 'same
> laya' or 'much slower laya' or the absence of
> rhythmic element ?
> - dn
Actually, I meant the percussion accompaniment.
As regards my feeling that KS seems to be singing
in the same tune, one can listen to, say,
a) Rehmat pe teri mere gunaahoN ko naaz hai
b) Bazaar se guzra hooN KHareedaar nahiN hooN and
c) .....qaza ra bahaana saaKHt (Mirza Qateel's Farsi
ghazal)
Also, I had read somewhere that, sometime before his
death, Saigal recorded a few ghazals with the
gramaphone company, with a view that the royalties
would help his family after he was gone. If this is
true, it is possible that some of these ghazals were
recorded at more or less the same time.
In any case, ghazal singing in those days was a much
simpler affair. One can listen to ghazals sung by
Begum Akhtar and even Talat Mahmood. There was no
"over-elaboration", as we see in the last few years
in the singing styles of Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali
etc.
Afzal
vsr...@mailandnews.com
Agree with your feelings, but it is knowledge of urdu, not of mirza
ghalib.
-Rawat
eye.c...@gmail.com
topk...@gmail.com
Valleru, it is untranslatable. Most poetry is so - but this is Ghaalib.
A translator can give you general meaning - but meaning is nothing, word choice makes Urdu poetry great. Esp Ghaalib.
Ghaalib never used difficult words - but at word play, he is the master (not was, still is)- and language makes a culture an culture makes a language. Without knowing both meanings are hard to grasp.
You have to be able to understand the connotations behind each word - then Ghaalib will make you cry..
Let me just illustrate one word AAH
aah is like a sigh.
an almost silent lamentation. When you loose something dear a silent cry come out - you can not even lament loudly. imagine your beloved tells you she's going to marry that doctor her dad chose for her.
An aah can shake up Allah's throne - it reaches him and is answered. So it can act like a powerful prayer. They say do not be responsible for a poor person's aah. ghariib ki aah na lo.
Now Ghaalib says even his aah needs a life time to get result. to be answered.
kaon jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak
who will live till you are finished fixing your hair.
meaning he is impatient for her.. lamenting mourning her absence, she is busy - not giving him immediate attention, even his aahs are ineffective - it seems like a life time - why is his aah not working right away .
do not take so long to take care of things - life is too short.
Imagine some guy telling you, a girl, that.. such beautiful way of saying how much he cares..
Ghazal actually is poetry that a man says to a woman..
topk...@gmail.com
a graphite record had three minutes recording time - you had to finish your business quickly.
Please do not compare the great artists against each other.
I love Mehdi Hasan saheb. "khuli jo aankh to wo thha na wo zamaana thha" kya baat hai incomparable. jawaab nahi.
My gran's favourite was "ab ke ham bichRey to shaayad kabhi"
And Kundan Lal saigal saheb's "Gham diye mustakhil kitna naazuk hai dil" incomparable.
Talat Mehmood "aasman waale teri",
Madam Noor Jahan "mujhhse pehli si mohabbat"..
It is wonderfull to be born in Sub continent where such rich poetry culture and music take birth...
Naseer
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.language.urdu.poetry/aah$20ko$20chaahiye/alt.language.urdu.poetry/cU5h1pd1A5E/6k6aqUnmzuoJ
Naseer
shu...@gmail.com
chaudhary....@gmail.com
shu...@gmail.com
> Very nicely put..many a time people come up with all sorts of absurd interpretations of zulf ke sar hone tak...this makes sense..
Kaun jita he tiri umr ke sar hone tak.
I for one fail to understand what AAH has to do with conquering ZULF even after all these explanations.
magic...@gmail.com
fan...@gmail.com
Here Aah means prayer . Prayer takes time to get answer .
Kaun jeetA hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak.
Here sar does not mean head . Here sar mean finishing or reaching the epitome.
There is a phrase in urdu Maidaan sar kar lena... Means covering the entire ground.
chin...@gmail.com
1981....@gmail.com
engr.h...@gmail.com
Who would wait so long to see you fixing the tangles in your hair
A hundred dragon mouths create a net of waves from a single ocean
Oh what a task it is for a drop to turn into a pearl
Love needs patience but lust is restless
What color should my heart be, till it bleeds to death
Each drop of dew is aware that it can be destroyed with the rays of the sun
I will survive similarly, till you glance at me
Your glances can bring my life to end
As dancing sparks bring an end of a fun filled gathering
Life is all suffering, Asad, it can be cured with death
The candle burns in many colors till the morning comes
shaikhab...@gmail.com
-aashiq ki aah mashooq k dil me pahuch to jati hai magar use ek muddat darkar hoti hai
Kon jeeta hai tere zulf k sar hone tak...
-lekin mujhe ye nahi pata k tere zulfo tak pahuchne tak zinda ragege ya nahi
Hum ne mana k taghaful na karoge lekin...
-jab hamare haal ki khabar tum tak pahuchingi to tum ghaflat nahi karoge
Khaak hojayege hum tum ko khabar hone tak...
-jab tumhe khabar hogi hamara kaam tamam ho jayega