Date: Thu, 09 May 96 16:45:00 PDT
From: Ramesh Hariharan (rameshh@tp.ac.sg)
Subject: Ghazal by Momin!

Hi

A very famous & beautiful ghazal by Momin (Momin Khan Momin), arguably the
best shayar after Mir and Ghalib. Enjoy! Please feel free to correct my
translations. I have reservations about some of my own.

1. Woh jo ham mein tum mein qarar tha, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho
Wohi ya'ane wa'da nibaah ka, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho

[Our love-afflicted beings were once at peace/harmony, you may or may not recollect
Those promises made(by you) to be loyal to our love, you may or may not recollect]

2. Woh naye gile wo shikayatein, wo maze maze ke hikayatein
Wo har ek baat pe roothna, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho

[Those new complaints & fussing around, those really amusing/funny events
That anger/tantrum of yours every time I say something, you may or may not recollect]

3. Kabhi ham mein tum mein bhi chaah thi, kabhi ham mein tum mein bhi rah thi
Kabhi ham bhi tum bhi the aashna, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho

[Once, there was this desire in you & me; once, there was a path between us
Once, both you and me were acquaintances, you may or may not recollect]

[Once - There was a time when. That translation does not manage to convey the
exact meaning. When Momin says that there was once a path between us, I think
he means that the path treaded by his and his lover's heart in love, lead to
each other's heart; there was a path from his heart to her's]

4. Jise aap ginte the aashna, jise aap kehte the bawafa
Main wohi hoon 'momin'-e-mubtila, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho

[The one you counted as an acquaintance; the one you said was faithful
I am the same afflicted(by love) 'momin', you may or may not recollect]

Dictionary: hikayatein: waqayat/events; aashna = acquaintance, friend;
rah = path; bawafa = one who is faithful; mubtila = involved, afflicted

regards
Ramesh