Selected couplets of Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, one of the greatest poets of India, sub-continent and the world, was born on December 27, 1797. Here is a selection of 25 couplets of Ghalib. People are entitled to their own preferences and there are hundreds of other 'ashaar' that can be termed the best of Ghalib's couplets.

maiN ne chaahaa thaa ki andoh-e-wafa se chhuuTuuN
voh sitamgar mere marne pe bhii raazii na huaa

kii mere qatl ke baad usne jafaa se toba
haae us zuud-pashemaaN ka pashemaaN honaa

koii mere dil se poochhe tere tiir-e-niimkash ko
yah khalish kahaan se hotii jo jigar ke paar hotaa

bandgii meN bhii voh aazadah-o-khudbiiN haiN ki ham
ulTe phir aaye dar-e-kaaba agar waa na huaa

zindagii yuuN bhii guzar hii jaatii
kyuuN teraa raahguzar yaad aayaa

pakDe jaate haiN farishtoN ke likhe par naahaq
aadmii koii hamaaraa dam-e-tahriir bhii thaa

zikr us parii-vash ka aur phir bayaaN apnaa
ban gayaa raqiib aakhir, thaa jo raazdaaN apnaa

mohabbat meN nahiiN hai farq jiine aur marne kaa
usii ko dekh kar jiite haiN jis kaafir pe dam nikle

jaate hue kahte ho qayaamat ko milenge
kyaa Khuub, qayaamat ka hai goyaa koii din aur

hamne maanaa ki taGaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaayenge ham tumko Khabar hone tak

aataa hai daaG-e-hasrat-e-dil kaa shumaar yaad
mujh se mere gunah ka hisaab aye Khudaa na maang

hai pare sarhad-e-adraak se apnaa masjuud
qible ko ahle nazar qibla-numa kahte haiN

meherbaaN hoke bulaa lo mujhe chaaho jis waqt
maiN gayaa waqt nahiiN huuN ki phir aa bhii na sakuuN

niiNd uskii hai dimaaG uskaa hai raateN uskii haiN
terii zulfeN jiske baazuu par pareshaaN ho gayiiN

ranj se Khuugar huaa insaaN to miT jaataa hai ranj
mushkileN mujh par paDiiN itnii ki aasaaN ho gayiiN

is saadgii pe kaun na mar jaaye aye Khudaa
laDte haiN aur haath meN talwaar bhii nahiiN

jab maikada chhuTaa to phir ab kyaa jagah kii qaid
masjid ho, madarsa ho, koii Khaanqaah ho

mai se Garz-e-nishaat hai kis ruu-siyaah ko
ek guuna be-Khudii mujhe din raat chahiye

zindagii apnii jab is shakl se guzrii Ghaalib
ham bhii kyaa yaad karenge kii Khudaa rakhte the

dekhnaa taqdiir kii lazzat ki jo usne kahaa
maiN ne yah jaanaa ki goyaa yah bhii mere dil meN hai

apnii galii meN mujhko na kar dafan baad-e-qatl
mere pate se Khalq ko kyuuN teraa ghar mile

siikhe haiN mahrukhoN ke liye ham musavvarii
taqriib kuchh to bahar-mulaaqaat chaahiye
(musavvari=art, painting)

ragoN meN dauDte phirne ke ham nahiiN qaayal
jab aaNkh hii se na Tapkaa to phir lahuu kyaa hai

unke dekhe se jo aa jaatii hai muNh par raunaq
woh samajhte hai ki biimaar kaa haal achchhaa hai

chand tasviir-e-butaaN chand hasiinoN ke khutuut
baad marne ke mere ghar se yah saamaaN niklaa

Read five selected Ghazals of Mirza Ghalib in Urdu, Hindi [devanagri] and Roman English scripts at Best Ghazals.

Azamgarh Ijtima: That's the photo of India, not Bangladesh

The photo on the left shows a train on its way to Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh).

The nondescript Sherwan village near Sarai Meer in Azamgarh district is hosting an Aalami Tablighi Ijtima.

Special trains have been run, cell phone towers installed, hundreds of makeshift eateries set up and dispensaries opened for the devout who will gather here for the congregation.

Though we have seen photos of passengers sitting atop trains and hanging by the door of the compartments in Bangladesh where the Biswa Ijtema is held, it's not common to see such level of overcrowding in India. The Tablighi Jamat is holding the meet which will purely be dedicated to self-improvement in the light of Islamic teachings. The Jamat's congregations are totally non-political.

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated: Whither Pakistan?

One of the most charismatic leaders of our times, Benazir Bhutto was killed in a terrorist attack in Rawalpindi in Pakistan on Thursday.

Few leaders evoke the sort of admiration as Benazir did. Though she is often accused of squandering her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's legacy and the fact that despite being Prime Minister of Pakistan, she failed to fulfil the expectations during her stints, Benazir was a people's leader and a champion of democracy.

The charges of corruption against her husband Asif Zardari had tarnished her image. But the Daughter of the East was loved outside her country as well. She was a courageous woman, no doubt and after several years in exile came back to her country despite the threats to her life.

Ironically she was assassinated at the same place in Rawalpindi where the first Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan was killed. Truly this is a defining moment in the history of Pakistan.

The Pakistan state, its leaders and its citizens have to introspect of what future course they want their country to take. With the cult of fidayeen flourishing the Islamic state of Pakistan and suicide attacks becoming the order of the day, Pakistan has become one of the most dangerous places in the world.

With her politics, some agreed and others didn't. But such a tragic death! In her interview to Karan Thapar she had said that there was a major battle between the moderates and the extremists going on in Pakistan and that's why she came back. Sadly, she is no more. Along with her 30 others died in the attack.

Just like Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated when he had appeared to have become more mature, Benazir was also assassinated when she seemed to have learnt from her mistakes and was back to her homeland as a crusader for democracy.

Zakir Naik's comments on Battle of Karbala and Yazid

The speech of Dr Zakir Naik during the Aman Conference organised by Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai has truly been shocking. Regarding his opinion on the battle of Karbala, as 'just another fight for attaining political clout', I am not as astonished as I am with the use of the word 'Raziallah Anhu' with the name of Yazid.

As we all know, the term 'Raziallah anhu' ie RH (or often Raziallahtala anahu) is used as suffix mostly with the name of either the companions of Prophet Muhammad or other leading figures in Islamic history as a mark of respect. It means, one whom God is pleased with.

Though some scholars of a bit of standing here and there have held these views on the battle of Karbala, it is the use of this suffix (RH) with Yazid's name which is absolutely unacceptable to majority of Muslims. I have never listened to Zakir Naik's speeches for long. But this comment will surely damage his reputation.

It is unthinkable to eulogize and glorify Yazid. Dozens of Muslim organisations and scholars have condemned the statement. Says Hafiz Syed Tahir Ali, 'the battle between Hazrat Imam Husain and Yazid was a fight between good and evil'.

Muslim leaders have questioned how a person like Yazid, who was responsible for the brutal killings of the grandson of Prophet and his family & companions, and the person who led the destruction at Medinah, could be held in such a high esteem by Naik.

Such thinking has nothing to do with Shia-Sunni difference as non-Muslims also take inspiration from the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Husain. I remember once a guy was expressing similar sentiments about Yazid in a drawing room conversation and all of us were outraged(of course, everybody was a Sunni there).

He was trying to justify the tyrant's conduct, when Comrade Khalid Saifuddin, who wanted to end the discussion, told the guy, "if you are such a staunch supporter of Yazid why don't you name your son after him". That silenced him. [Zakir Naik is president of Islamic Research Foundation that owns the Peace TV Network]

Post-script:

A year after I wrote this post, Zakir Naik is again in the midst of a controversy. Clerics in several Cities in UP are up in arms against him. Also, a fatwa has been issued by a Lucknow mufti against him.

Naik said that one should seek help from Allah alone, not even the Prophet (PBUH). A few other statements were also responsible for this wave of anger against him. Naik says that there is a conspiracy against him.

Though he is an oustanding speaker with a strong memory, Muslims of Indian sub-continent often feel pride when he compares religions and subtly puts the other religions down. Islam is the second biggest faith in the world in terms of believers and the fastest growing religion.

We have no reason to be insecure or have any sort of compex that we need a fluent English speaking guy to rundown others. Non-Muslims see arrogance in his style. He can be a bit more humble and appreciative of other faiths and also traditions like the Sufi and Islamic sects while Muftis can also keep their cool and contain the habit of issuing fatwas.

Eid preparations: Two photos

Eidul Adha or Eidul Azha (Baqrid, as we call in sub-continent) is round the corner. The photographs of bakras are appearing in newspapers. Later we will se photos of prayer.

I found two nice photos in the context of Iduzzuha. The first is photo of a youth trying out his cab (topi) and the other of a girl who is looking at a necklace.

Winning Brass Crescent Award

I am quite far away from my place, a sort of hibernation, and couldn't access net also when a friend rang me up and said that this blog (An Indian Muslim's Blog: By Indscribe) had won the award in the category of 'Best South/South East Asian blog'.

Frankly, I thought I had little chance. I am thankful to all of you, friends and co-bloggers, who have written mails to me, congratulated and also voted for this blog. Over the last couple of years I did spend quite a lot of energy on this blog even when I was occupied elsewhere.

It is heartening to see IndianMuslims.in, emerging as winner in the category of Best Group Blog. All the contributors to the blog, especially Mohib , who founded it and has been a driving force behind it, have reason to be delighted. Thanks to IndianMuslims.info, the pioneering website of Indian Muslims, which published the news of the nomination and also the results. Of course, Shukria is due to Brass Crescent. A blogger loves nothing more than recognition in blogosphere and more hits.

The list of winners in all the categories of the Fourth Brass Crescent Awards is available at their site.

Immortal Couplets of Moin Ahsan Jazbi

Moin Ahsan Jazbi's eight immortal couplets:

na aaye maut Khudaayaa tabah-haalii meN
yah naam hogaa Gham-e-rozgaar sah na sakaa

tere karam kii bhiik le aisaa haqiir Gham nahiiN
jaa O sitam-sh'aar jaa, aarzuu-e-karam nahiiN

tuu giraa degii mujhe apnii nazar se varnaa
tere qadmoN pe to sajdaa bhii ravaa hai mujhko

ho na ho dil ko tere husn se kuchh nisbat hai
jab uThaa dard to kyuuN maiN ne tujhe yaad kiyaa

jisko kahte haiN mohabbat jisko kahte haiN Khuluus
jhopDoN meN ho to ho, puKhtaa makaanoN meN nahiiN

terii nazar meN rah ek raaz ban gayaa thaa
gir kar terii nazar se afsaanaa ho gayaa maiN

aah kii dil ne na phir shikva-e-bedaad kiyaa
jab se sharmiilii nigaahoN ne kuchh irshaad kiyaa

daastaan-e-shab-Gham qissa tuulaanii hai
muKhtasar yah hai ki tuu ne mujhe barbaad kiyaa

Past posts on Jazbi:
His famous nazm 'Maut' in Roman and Devanagari sripts
Obituary and the circumstances when he wrote Maut
His Ghazal in Urdu, Roman and Devanagari scrips at bestghazals.blogspot.com

Culture fest begins with Milad & Hari Katha: Remembering Tansen, India's great Musician

Legendary musician, Tansen, is considered the greatest singer-musician ever born in India.

One of the nau-ratnas (nine jewels) in the court of Emperor Akbar, Tansen was born around 1505 AD near Gwalior.

Though a Hindu by birth, the 'Sangeet Samrat' was also a believer in Islam. He was a disciple of Sufi Saint Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, and after his death the great musician was buried near his spiritual master's mazaar.

The annual Tansen Cultural Festival started in Gwalior recently. The four day long event was inaugurated with Hari Katha, Milad and recital of verses from Holy Quran, as per the age-old tradition.

The bhajan 'Ek raaii ke hazaar hisse, us mein bhii Khudaa basey' was sung. After Naat Sharif and Qawwali, the 'chaadar' was ceremonially brought to the Mazaar of Sufi Saint Muhammad Ghaus. With 'chaadar-poshi' on Miyan Tansen's mazaar, the function started.

Tansen's real name was Ramtanu Pandey. He learnt music under the tutelage of Saint Hari Das, also a Bhakti Sant. (The painting above shows him in the company of his guru Sant Hari Das and the Emperor Akbar). It is commonly believed that this singer-instrumentalist could bring rains with Raga Megha Malhar and candles would light immediately when he started singing the Deepak Raga.

Even till the early part of 20th century, it said that were a couple of exponents who could turn a a place warmer with the raga. Truly Tansen's Ragas laid the foundation of Classical Hindustani music and all the mausiqui (sangeet) gharanas of India trace their linkage to him. Tansen is the most important person in creating the genre of classical North Indian music. Abul Fazl called him the greatest musician since Bharat, the son of King Dhushyant and Shakuntala.

Legend has it that his Pir Ghaus had placed a drop of paan juice from his mouth on the child Tannu's tongue. And the boy after receiving the blessing went on to become be the Emperor of music.

Five centuries have elapsed but the tamarind tree (Imli) under the shade of which he practiced music, still stands though it has dried down and there were plans to cut it recently, which met resistance.

KL Saigal came to Gwalior and tasted the leaves of the tree. Tansen popularised rubab. He created dhrupad style of Hindustani vocal music and invented ragas like Miyan ki Tori, Mian ki Malhar and raga darbari. This great composer musician died in 1589. His tomb is in Gwalior and every year the Sangeet Samaroh is held in his memory. (The photo of Tansen's tomb on the left. The tomb of Mohammad Ghous is close to it)

Tansen had both Hindu and Muslim wives. In Gwalior court, the legendary Queen Mrignayani got friendly to him. Also, there are tales about his affair with Akbar's daughter Mehrunnisa. In popular folklore Baiju Bawra is considered another musician of the era who challenged Tansen and they had a musical duel in the court of Akbar.

Listen to some of Tansen's ragas sung by modern musicians.

The Law of Jungle

'This man has no regard for constitution, how can he be allowed to take oath as head of a state, if he wins the election', a senior police official told me the other day.

I didn't want to discuss Gujarat with him but the officer who generally avoids political discussions was genuinely concerned. And worried about the way a politician can simply disregard the constitution, openly declare his contempt for the law and still get away without even censure from top institutions of the nation including the Election.

Other officials I spoke to were also stunned by the statement. In fact, Modi's justification of the killing of Sohrabuddin has stunned even those who had slight BJP leanings. After all, it is the question of how Indian state can afford to have a Chief Minister whose who doesn't believe in any legal framework. Communal polarisation is nothing new for the country but such a statement from the head of state of a province is dangerous for everybody.

Even Tavleen Singh, who is considered a bit of BJP sympathiser, had this to write in Indian Express, "When I heard Narendra Modi boasting that his policemen killed a man in cold blood because they suspected he was a terrorist, I thought I had heard wrong. It was not possible, I said to myself, that a man who swore to uphold the Constitution of India when he was elected to public office would admit proudly to treating it with contempt."

Titled 'Our irrelevant state, she further wrote, "It was not until I watched him repeat his comments in bulletin after bulletin and heard translations by those whose Gujarati is better than mine that I accepted that Modi is the first Indian official to admit publicly that the rule of law, as enshrined in our Constitution, is meaningless. Others have broken the law, others have ignored the Constitution, but nobody has boasted of this as an achievement as a reason to be voted back to office".

She goes on to write, "All the killers are out on bail, living happy, normal lives, while those who lost loved ones in the Odh massacre live in terror. Why? This is the question we need to ask. Why are the courts not working as they should? If a mere chief minister is in a position to subvert the process of justice, then we are in real trouble."

Read the article.

And of course, Sunetra Chowdhury's report on how Mohammad Habib becomes Munna and Anwar takes a Hindu name Manu to avoid identification in Gujarat. They even put Hindu stickers to stay in business as there are not many takers for a taxi driven by a Muslim.

Read the article.

The Failure of Ulema and Muslim leaders: Mere words, No action

Urdu papers are full of statements from Maulana Anzar Shah to Jama Masjid Imam Ahmad Bukhari on the issue of Taslima Nasreen. There are all kinds of demands and assertions that she should not be allowed to stay in India because she hasn't apologised for her writings. Also, illogical demands that better not be quoted here, fill the newspaper columns.

Who should she ask for pardon? She is an atheist (not a Muslim) and has announced it many times. And this is a democracy. If any Maulana Sahab has any objection to what she has written, they should avoid issuing statements or behaving like politicians.

Rather they (Ulema) are learned people, they can read her books, find what particular lines are obscene or offensive to any community and then go to the court and under particular sections of IPC, get case registered against her. Hurting religious sentiments is a serious crime in IPC. Let the courts decide. But nobody will do that.

By wasting energies and surcharging atmosphere on such issues they unnecessarily create problems for common Muslims and the image of intolerant community only gets strengthened. Why always make emotional appeals that don't lead us anywhere and paint the entire community bad. This makes the job of non-Muslim secularists too difficult to convince others or take a stand.

Strangely, these Muslim leaders (including Ulema) would never make any effort to do anything for pursuing their demand or securing interest of community through legal and constitutional ways but would simply cry and shout, always demanding things from government. And in process instilling the sense of persecution among Muslims. Why don't you act?

The statements are emotional and sharp but when it comes to legwork, they are simply not interested. Take the case of Narendra Modi. Entire Indian Muslim leadership including clergymen who make strong-worded statements and the MPs, MLAs never made efforts to get criminal cases registered against him.

If they felt Modi allowed the genocide, they could have got him booked. It was not that tough. It could be done in any court in any other state in India. Prosecution may not be easy but FIR registration is not that tough. There were evidences. Tehelka tapes are there. Testimonies can at least point towards complicit or conspiracy.

Former officers like Harsh Mander and retired ADG Sree Kumar are just few of the officers who can testify about the collusion of administration and orders from the top. And if not murder, at least case of section 120 (B) or other similar sections of Indian Penl Code could be registered.

When police station doesn't register case, the court can be approached and directly private complaint can be filed (through Istighasa). But is anybody interested. Nobody says that a verdict may come immediately but at least, a legal process can create serious problems for such politicians. Even prosecution could be remote possibility but the tongues worked, not brains.

Even after Narendra Modi's speeches during the recent poll campaign, the election commission says that nobody has complained as yet.* Now why these Maulana Sahiban don't do that. And if they can't they should not always complain inaction by government. Will Centre and Courts always take cognizance suo-moto?


Will Muslims not do anything except beating their chests?



Either this leadership should take these issues properly and take them to their logical end. If they can't do it, they should simply shut up. It is better for secular Indian set up that will anyhow deal with the grievances, sooner or later, but at least then the atmosphere will not be vitiated.



Let us only focus on development and introspect what is wrong will us. Muslim women's literac rate was 1.49% in Firozpur Jhirka and below 3% in entire Mewat region, that is close to Delhi. What a shame!



And we have seen that it is Teesta Setalwad, Harsh Mander and many others who will fight for victims of violence, in much better way than the Muslim leaders. (*Late development: Again Teesta Setalvad approched the EC that has now issued notice)

Indian Fair: Halwa, Haleem, Biryani and Books

Across the country wherever I have attended fairs, halwa-paratha is the most ubiquitous sight.

If you take urbane friends who haven't been to small towns and seen such fairs, they are quite amused and excited by such shops and the desi delicacies.

Seeing the size of the huge oily paratha my friend remarked, 'yaar cholestrol badh jaayega' and an old man with a long beard who was listening gave him a piece of advise, 'khaoge to sab hazam ho jaayega, sochoge to diabetes ho jaayegi' (If you eat, the stomach will take care of every thing, if you think this much you will suffer from diabetes). The halwa is tasty and you can't get it anywhere else other than such fairs.

Second comes the Biryani Deg. In the pix, just see the kids, one of them has got a cucumber with chutney on it and another having an ice-cream.

Apart from Haleem, Kababs and other food articles, stall of Urdu books are also a permanent feature at fairs in towns that have a substantial Muslim population.


Over the years I have noticed the decline in titles. In the past one could get all sorts of books, novels, poetry and literature but now religious books form the major chunk of them. Books that scare the hell out of you with their titles alone!!!
Not surprisingly, books about Azab-e-Qabr and Qayamat mein kya hogaa (What will happen in afterlife) seem to sell most. Also, Aadab-e-Mubashrat (Etiquettes of Sexual intercourse), Jinsi Masail and Paanch Gunahgar Auratein are most commonly found at every fair that I have attended in the last couple of years. And then their are calendars, diaries and almanacs (jantri) that sell a lot.


Coming back to Halwa Paratha makers. Their paraphernelia is most impressive and whenever I see them, I instantly recall the basic reader of Maulvi Ismail Merathi, which was widely used to learn Urdu till recent past. It was around 1979-80 when I read it and the books that had seen umpteen editions, remained same until then and still mentioned that 'bachcho, hamare mulk ka darul-hukuumat Kalkatta hai'.

As the book was perfect for learning Urdu, with cute Nazms on Gaai (Cow) and Panchakki, publishers never felt the need to revise them and the old chapter of Calcutta being capital of India (it was capital of British India until 1911) continued seven decades later. I have drifted from the subject. In the text books, we read Zo for Zuroof and the sight of Halwa-Paratha shops reminds me of the childhood. (Very few words start from Zo in Urdu)

I forgot the Seekh ke Kabab. Where you can get them these days, the Kabab that are cooked on slow burning coal. Though in a way all these fairs are same from Badaun to Barabanki. But they do have a different feel, an earthy touch of real country, away from the neon-lit multi-storeyed landscape of urban India.

[I used my cellphone camera and that's why the quality of photos is not good]