Date: Sat, 07 Sep 96 12:45:00 PDT
From: Ramesh Hariharan (rameshh@tp.ac.sg)
Subject: Ghalib: laazim tha ke dekho....

Hi

Who_else_but Ghalib time once again, after a long break! Enjoy!

1. laazim tha ki dekho mera rasta koee din aur
tanha gaye kyoN ? ab raho tanha koee din aur

[It had to be/became necessary that you wait for me for some more days
Why did you go alone?; now remain alone for some more days]

2. aaye ho kal aur aaj hee kehte ho ki jaaooN
maana ki hamesha naheeN, achchaa, koee din aur

[You came only yesterday, and today you say "shall I go?"
I agree that you are not there forever; alright, at least for some more days?]

3. jaate huve kahte ho, qayaamat ko milenge
kya khoob ! qayaamat ka hai goya koee din aur ?

[When leaving, you say that we will meet on the day of judgement
This is great! isn't this as good as the day of judgement?]

4. naadaaN ho jo kehte ho ki kyoN jeete ho 'GHalib'
qismat meiN hai marne ki tamanna koee din aur ?

[You are innocent, to say "why are you living, Ghalib?"
Is it fated that my wish to die is on some other day?]

The last sher requires some more interpretation. Here is a acquaintance of
Ghalib, who keeps asking him, ki "mar kyoN nahiN jaate"/"kyoN jee rahe ho
Ghalib?". To which Ghalib replies, "You are a fool to ask such a question.
Everyday, I wish that I die. Now, you tell me, is there any day that I have
not so wished? Is it there in my fate, that my wish that I should die, come
on some other day??"

Dictionary: laazim = necessary; tanha = alone; dar = door; naasiyaa = forehead;
farsa = to kneel down and touch the forehead on the ground as in prostrate