Jigar Moradabadi's ghazal: Kya kashish husn-e-be-panaah mein hai...

Ali Sikandar 'Jigar' Muradabadi* was the foremost Urdu poet in 20th century. He was extremely popular and was loved by the masses.

Jigar attended thousands of 'mushairas' across the sub-continent. He was born in Moradabad in 1890. This famous poet passed away in 1960. Read his ghazal:

क्या कशिश हुस्न-ए-बेपनाह में है 
जो क़दम है उसी की राह में है 

मैकदे में न ख़ानक़ाह में है 
जो तजल्ली* दिल-ए-तबाह में है 

हाय वोह राज़-ए-ग़म कि जो अब तक 
तेरे दिल में मेरी निगाह में है 

इश्क़ मैं कैसी मंज़िल-ए-मक़सूद
वोह भी एक गर्द है जो राह में है

हुस्न को भी कहाँ नसीब 'जिगर'
वोह जो एक शै मेरी निगाह में है

जिगर मुरादाबादी 

Now read the same ghazal in Roman transliteration:

kya kashish husn-e-be-panaah meN hai
jo qadam hai usii kii raah meN hai

maikade meN na Khaanqaah meN hai
jo tajalli dil-e-tabaah meN hai

haai, voh raaz-e-Gham ki jo ab tak
tere dil meN merii nigaah meN hai

ishq meN kaisii manzil-e-maqsuud
voh bhii ek gard hai jo raah meN hai

husn ko bhii kahaaN nasiib 'Jigar'
voh jo ek shae merii nigaah meN hai

Jigar Muradabadi

Mini Dictionary

[Tajalli=light, shine, gleam of light]
[The town is spelt Moradabad in English but its original name in Urdu is 'Muradabad', hence both the spellings are used in t his case viz. Muradabadi, Moradabadi]

Classical Urdu poet Qaim Chandpuri's ghazal: Dil hai ya rab ki paara-e-seemab....

Sheikh Qaimuddin alias Qaim [pronunciation Qaa'em] Chandpuri is a major classical poet, who hailed from Chandpur [Bijnor]. His birth year is often described as 1722 and also as 1725.

Initially, he showed his 'kalaam' to Hidayatullah, but later got islaah from Mir Dard, and then Sauda. No one disputes his greatness, yet, he is not given his due place along with giants. Qaim passed away in 1794. Read his ghazal:

रात को चैन है न दिन को ताब 
दिल है या रब कि पारा-ए-सीमाब* 

जाए बूदन नहीं ये बहर-ए-जहाँ
ख़ानः बरदोश रह तू मिस्ल-ए-हुबाब**

हम दिवानों को बस है पोशिश से
दामन-ए-दश्त-ओ-चादर-ए-महताब

दिल के ताबेए हैं जो हुआ सो किया
हम समझते नहीं सवाब-ओ-अज़ाब

अब कहाँ मैं किधर है मय, नासेह!
ये भी था मुतक़ज़ाए अहद-ए-शबाब

क़ायम चांदपुरी 

Now read the ghazal in Roman script:

raat ko chain hai na din ko taab
dil hai yaa-Rab ki paara-e-Seemaab

jaaye buudan nahiiN yeh bahr-e-jahaaN
khaana-bardosh ra tuu misl-e-hubaab

ham divaanoN ko bas hai poshish se
daaman-e-dasht-o-chaadar-e-mahtaab

dil ke taabe' haiN jo huaa so kiyaa
ham samajhte nahiiN savaab-o-azaab

ab kahaaN maiN kidhar hai mai naaseh
ye bhii thaa mutaqazaae-ahd-e-shabaab

Qaim Chandpuri

[Alternative spellings: Qayam, Qaaem, Qaem]

Mini Urdu-English dictionary [Meanings]

*Seemab=Mercury, mercurial (character, condition)
**Hubaab=bubble, short-lived like a bubble

Legendary poet Aatish's famous ghazal: Gardish mein jab paimana aata hai...

Legendary poet Khwaja Haider Ali Aatish Lucknowi is one of the giants of Urdu literature who was born in 1778 and died in 1848.

Aatish and Nasikh were contemporary poets whose rivalry is well-known. Imam Bakhsh 'Nasikh' was another legend. The era of Aatish and Nasikh was a golden era for Urdu poetry in Lucknow.

Now read his famous ghazal:

मगर उसको फ़रेब-ए-नरगिस-ए-मस्ताना आता है
उलटती हैं सफ़ें, गर्दिश में जब पैमाना आता है

खुशी से अपनी रुसवाई गवारा हो नहीं सकती
गिरेबाँ फाड़ता है, तंग जब दीवाना आता है

फ़िराक़-ए-यार में दिल पर नहीं मालूम क्या गुज़री
जो अश्क आता है आँखों में सो बेताबाना आता है

तमाशागाह-ए-हस्ती में, अदम का ध्यान है किसको
किसे इस अंजुमन में याद ख़िल्वतख़ाना आता है

खुदा का घर है, बुतख़ाना हमारा दिल नहीं आतिश
मुक़ाम आश्ना है, याँ नहीं बेगाना आता है

ख्वाजा हैदर अली 'आतिश' 




Now read the ghazal in Roman Urdu script:

magar usko fareb-e-nargis-e-mastaana aata hai
ulaT-ti haiN safeN, gardish meN jab paimaana aata hai

Khushii se apnii rusvaaii gavaaraa ho nahiiN saktii
girebaaN phaaDtaa hai, tang jab diivaana aata hai

firaaq-e-yaar meN dil par nahiiN maaluum kyaa guzrii!
jo ashk aataa hai aaNkhoN meN so betaabaana aata hai

tamashagah-e-hastii meN adam ka dhyaan hai kisko?
kise is anjuman meN yaad KhilwatKhaana aata hai?

Khudaa ka ghar hai, butKhaana hamara dil nahiiN Aatash
muqaam-aashnaa hai, yaaN nahiiN begaana aata hai

Khwaja Haider Ali 'Aatish' [also Aatash]

Makhdoom Mohiuddin's famous ghazal: Aapki yaad aati rahi raat bhar....

Makhdoom Mohiuddin was among the post popular poets of his generation. He was a rebel in his poetry as well as life.

A Marxist, he took active part in Telangana agitation.Ironically he is more remembered for his verse 'Ek chameli ke mandve tale...' sung by Rafi and Asha, that got immense popularity.

Read his ghazal:

आप की याद आती रही रात भर
चश्म-ए-नम मुस्कुराती रही रात भर

रात भर दर्द की शमा जलती रही
ग़म की लौ थरथराती रही रात भर

बाँसुरी की सुरीली सुहानी सदा
याद बन बन के आती रही रात भर

याद के चाँद दिल में उतरते रहे
चांदनी जगमगाती रही रात भर

कोई दीवाना गलियों में फिरता रहा
कोई आवाज़ आती रही रात भर

मखदूम मुहीउद्दीन 



Now read in Roman English script:

aapkii yaad aatii rahii raat bhar
chashm-e-nam muskuraatii rahii raat bhar

raat bhar dard kii shamaa jaltii rahii
Gham kii lau thartharaatii rahii raat bhar

baaNsurii kii suriili suhaani sadaa
yaad ban ban ke aatii rahii raat bhar

yaad ke chaaNd dil meN utarte rahe
chaaNdnii jagmagaatii rahii raat bhar

koii diivaana galiyoN meN phirtaa rahaa
koii aavaaz aatii rahii raat bhar

Makhdoom Mohiuddin

Renowned Urdu poet late Miraji's verse: Asha Aur Aansoo

Modernist Urdu poet Miraji's real name was Sanaullah Khan 'Saani' Daar. He was born in 1912. He fell in love with a girl, Mira Sen, whose friends addressed her as 'Miraji', and this was the name the poet adopted for the rest of his life.

Miraji was associated with All India Radio. Later, he shifted to Mumbai. He died in 1949, when he was just 37. Miraji [and Noon Meem Rashid] had a tremendous impact on Urdu poetry and the entire generation of writers were influenced by him.

Litteratuer Haider Qureshi has published a special issue of Jadid Adab, dedicated to Miraji recently. Here is among the few verses in traditional format, which he wrote:

प्यारे लम्हे आयेंगे और मजबूरी मिट जायेगी
हम दोनों मिल जायेंगे और सब दूरी मिट जायेगी
हर दम बहने वाली आँखों की माला भी टूटेगी
तेरी मेरी हस्ती इस बैरी बंधन से छूटेगी

लेकिन ये सब बातें हैं अपने जी के बहलाने की
दुख की रात में धीरे धीरे दिल का दर्द मिटाने की
रोते रोते, हँसते हँसते, रुकते रुकते गाने की

सुख का सपना सूखा है और सूखा ही रह जाएगा
सूनी सेज पे प्रेम कहानी प्रेमी यूं कह जाएगा
होते होते सारा जीवन आँखों से बह जाएगा

सनाउल्लाह खां सानी डार 'मीराजी' 

Now read the Nazm in Roman English script:

pyaare lamhe aayenge aur majbuurii miT jaayegii
ham donoN mil jaayenge aur sab duurii miT jaayegii
har dam bahne vaalii aankhoN kii maalaa bhii TuuTegii
terii merii hastii is bairii bandhan se chhuuTegii

lekin ye sab baateN haiN apne jee bahlaane kii
dukh kii raat meN dhiire dhiire dil kaa dard miTaane kii
rote rote, haNste haNste, rukte rukte gaane kii

sukh kaa sapna suukha hai aur suukhaa hi rah jaayegaa
suuni sej pe prem kahaani, premii yuuN kah jaayegaa
hote hote saaraa jiivan aankhoN se bah jaayegaa

Sanaullah Khan Saani Daar 'Meeraji'

Poet Nushoor Wahidi's ghazal: Dil ki ek daastan suna na sake...

Nushoor Wahidi, whose real name was Hafizur Rahman, was born in Balia district in Uttar Pradesh in 1912. He spent his youth in Kanpur.

A well-known poet, he attained fame as well as critic's appreciation. He was also popular in the mushairas. Nushoor Wahidi [also Vahidi] passed away in 1983. Now, read his ghazal:

याद आती रही भुला न सके 
शमा जलती रही, बुझा न सके 

चाँद तारे, गुल-ओ-चमन मिल कर 
दिल की एक दास्ताँ सुना न सके 

आस बांधी थी जिन सितारों से
देर तक वोह भी जगमगा न सके

नग़मा क्या, मुतरिबान-ए-अहद-ए-जदीद
तार टूटे हुए मिला न सके

आज वोह रहबर-ए-खलाएक हैं
खुद को जो आदमी बना न सके

ग़म  के मारे हुए क़ुलूब नुशूर
दर्द की सरहदों को पा न सके

नुशूर वाहिदी 

Read the ghazal in Roman English:

yaad aatii rahii bhulaa na sake
shamaa jalti rahii, bujhaa na sake

chaand taare gul-o-chaman mil kar
dil kii ek daastaaN sunaa na sake

aas baandhii thi jin sitaaroN se
der tak voh bhii jagmagaa na sake

naGhma kyaa, mutribaan-e-ahad-e-jadiid
taar TuuTe hue milaa na sake

aaj voh rahbar-e-Khalaaeq haiN
Khud ko jo aadmii banaa na sake

Gham ke maare hue quluub Nushoor
dard kii sarhadoN ko paa na sake

Nushoor Wahidi

Eminent poet Meraj Faizabadi's ghazal: Mujhko thakne nahi deta ye zaroorat ka pahaaD...

Meraj Faizabadi was a famous Urdu poet. His real name was Syed Merajul Haq. He was born in Faizabad in 1941.

However, he later settled in Lucknow. Known for his unique style, he attained fame across the Urdu speaking world, especially, in Mushairas.

A man who never compromised on his values, he was quite blunt in his poetry. Meraj Faizabadi was associated with the Waqf Board in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

After a period of illness, he passed away on November 3, 2013. Read his ghazal that is remembered for the oft-quoted couplet, 'mujhko thakne nahiiN deta ye zaroorat ka pahaad/mere bachche mujhe booDha nahiiN hone dete'.

हम ग़ज़ल में तेरा चर्चा नहीं होने देते 
तेरी यादों को भी रुसवा नहीं होने देते 

कुछ तो हम खुद भी नहीं चाहते शोहरत अपनी
और कुछ लोग भी ऐसा नहीं होने देते

आज भी गाँव में कुछ कच्चे मकानों वाले 
घर में हमसाये के फ़ाक़ा नहीं होने देते 

ज़िक्र करते हैं तेरा नाम नहीं लेते हैं
हम समंदर को जज़ीरा नहीं होने देते

मुझको थकने नहीं देता ये ज़रुरत का पहाड़ 
मेरे बच्चे मुझे बूढ़ा नहीं होने देते 

मेराज फ़ैज़ाबादी 

[hamsaaye=neighbours]

Now read the same Ghazal in Roman script:

ham Ghazal meN teraa charcha nahiiN hone dete
terii yaadoN ko bhii rusvaa nahiiN hone dete

kuchh to ham Khud bhii nahiiN chaahte shohrat apnii
aur kuchh log bhii aisaa nahiiN hone dete

aaj bhii gaa.nv meN kuchh kachche makaanoN waale
ghar meN hamsaaye ke faaqa nahiiN hone dete

zikr karte haiN teraa naam nahiiN lete haiN
ham samandar ko jaziiraa nahiiN hone dete

mujhko thakne nahiiN detaa ye zaroorat ka pahaaR
mere bachche mujhe booRhaa nahii hone dete

Meraj Faizabadi