Date: Sat, 06 Jul 96 11:46:00 PDT
From: Ramesh Hariharan (rameshh@tp.ac.sg)
Subject: Ghalib: kisee ko de ke dil.....

Hi
Who-else-but Ghalib can write such poetry. We will, now define a 'Matla' ?
The first Sher in the Ghazal *must* have 'Radif' (same ending words)in its
both lines. This Sher is called 'Matla' of the Ghazal and the Ghazal is
usually known after its 'Matla'. There can be more than one 'Matla' in a
Ghazal. In such a case the second one is called 'Matla-e-saani' or
'Husn-e-matla'. In this ghazal, the first Sher is the 'Matla'.

We have seen uptil now that in a ghazal a "Beher" is the meter of the sher,
a "Maqta" is the last sher, a "Takkallus" is an alias used by the poet,
"Radif" are the *same* words that end a sher, and now a "Matla", which is the
first sher of the ghazal, and *must* have the "Radif" on both of its lines.

1. kisee ko de ke dil koee nawaa_sanj-e-fuGHaaN kyoN ho ?
na ho jab dil hee seene meiN to fir muNh meiN zubaaN kyoN ho ?

[After giving the heart to someone, why should one become a crying/clamouring singer
When the heart itself is not there in the chest, then why should there be a mouth on the face]

[The heart in the chest & mouth on the face are symbolic in meaning. Not literally!]

2. wafa kaisee ? kahaaN ka ishq ? jab sar phoDna THehra
to fir 'ei sang_dil tera hee sang-e-aastaaN kyoN ho ?

[What loyalty? Which love? when one has get his head broken
Then o stonehearted, why should it be only your threshhold?(why your house-front)]

[Reference to Majnu. Majnu was stoned for harbouring his love for Laila.
Majnu(Ghalib) says that, in your love, when I have to get my head broken
anyway, then why should it be in front of your house?]

3. qafas meiN mujh se roodaad-e-chaman kehte na Dar hamdam
giree hai jis pe kal bijlee woh mera aashiyaaN kyoN ho ?

[In captivity, don't be afraid to give me the news about the garden, my dear
Why need it be, that the place where the lightning has struck, be my house?]

4. yahee hai aazmaana to sataana kis ko kehte haiN ?
`adoo ke ho liye jab tum to mera imtihaaN kyoN ho ?

[If this is your test/challenge for me, then what do you call torture/oppression
When you have become one with the enemy, then why should I be tested?]

5. nikaala chaahata hai kaam kya taa'anoN se too 'GHalib'
tere be_mehar kehne se wo tujh par meharabaaN kyoN ho ?

[What do you wish to achieve/derrive with your taunts, "Ghalib"?
Why should he/she be obliged to you, when your words have been unkind?]

Dictionary : nawaa_sanj = singer; fuGHaaN = clamour; sang_dil = hard hearted/merciless;
sang-e-aastaaN = threshold; qafas = cage/prison; roodaad = report/statement;
chaman = flower garden; aashiyaaN = nest/house; 'adoo = enemy;
imtihaaN = examination; taa'an = taunter; be_mehar = unkind/repulsive