Date: Sat, 15 Feb 1997 09:15:26 +0800
From: Ramesh Hariharan (rameshh@tp.ac.sg)
Subject: Ghalib : dil se teree nigaah...

Hi all

Who-else-but Ghalib time once again! Enjoy! I found 2
angles/interpretations to the 2nd sher. I would like opinions from the
IDD ghazalers.

1. dil se teree nigaah jigar tak utar gayee
donoN ko ik adaa meiN razaamand kar gayee

[Your glance/stare left my heart and went down to my liver.
This one gesture/manner of yours satisfied both of them simultaneously]

So much is lost in the translation! Ghalib's "mehboob", out of her
shyness, lowers her eyes. The manner in which she does it, or her
expression is such, that Ghalib feels thrilled to the core. The heart
and liver feeling good are symbolic representations of the fact that his
whole being felt good.

2. woh baada-e-shabaana kee sar mastiyaaN kahaN?
uthiye bas ab ki lazzat-e-KHwaab-e-sahar gayee

Interpretation 1
[From where can one derrive the pleasure from drinks of the night now?
It is better to get up (and go back) for the tasteful dreams of a bright
morning have gone]

Basically saying that the interest in night drinking no longer exists
for it is already morning. So it is time to get up and go home.

Interpretation 2
[From where can one derrive the pleasure from drinks of the night now?
It is better to die for the tasteful dreams of a bright morning have gone]

Basically saying that he is no longer interested in anything. Even by
drinking he is not getting drunk. Everything is tasteless. It is better
to leave this world, than to stay here.

3. farda-o-dee ka tafarqa yak baar mit gaya
kal tum gaye ke ham pe qayaamat guzar gayee

[The difference between yesterday and tomorrow got wiped out in a flash
You went yesterday and it felt like the day of judgement was here upon me]

Ghalib seems to be saying "There is no differenece between yesterday and
tomorrow. People say that tomorrow will be the day of justice. But since
you left me, it is as good as the day of judgement. So I perceived
Qayaamat from yesterday."

4. maara zamaane ne 'Asadullah KHaaN' tumhe
woh walwale kahaaN, woh jawaanee kidhar gayee ?

[The world's/life's ups and downs have beaten you/made you tired 'Asadullah Khan'
Where is that enthusiasm, where did the youth/young days go?]

Ghalib's actual name being Asadullah Khan, he has used this as the
thakkalus, and so this sher is unique.

Dictionary : baada = wine; shabaana = night; sahar = morning;
walwale = enthusiasm; farda = yesterday; dee = tomorrow; tafarqa = difference