Altaf Husain Hali's famous ghazal: Hai justujoo ki Khoob se hai Khoob-tar kahaan!

Khwaja Altaf Husain 'Haali' (1837-1914) was a master poet, litterateur and social reformer who hailed from Panipat in today's Haryana state.

Hali used poetry as a medium to interact with masses and eradicate social evils. He extensively wrote for the rights of women and destitute. 

The status of women in the society and the lack of education pained him. This is visible throughout his works. A close friend of Sir Syed, Hali played a reformist role with his poetry [as also prose] that gave impetus to Urdu literature.

First, read the ghazal in Hindi:

है जुस्तजू कि खूब से है खूबतर कहाँ 

अब ठहरती है देखिये जा कर नज़र कहाँ 

या रब इस एख्तिलात का अंजाम हो बखैर 

था उसको हमसे रब्त मगर इस क़दर कहाँ 

कौन-ओ-मकाँ से है दिल-ए-वहशी किनारा-गीर 

इस खानमाँ खराब ने ढूंढा है घर कहाँ 

हम जिस पे मर रहे हैं वोह है बात ही कुछ और 

आलम में तुझ से लाख सही, तू मगर कहाँ 

होती नहीं कुबूल दुआ तर्क-ए-इश्क की 

दिल चाहता न हो तो जुबां में असर कहाँ 

मौलाना अल्ताफ हुसैन 'हाली' पानीपती 

Now read the Roman transliteration:

hai justujuu ki khoob se hai khoob-tar kahaaN
ab Thahartii hai dekhiye jaa kar nazar kahaaN

haiN daur-e-jaam-e-awwal-e-shab meN Khudii se door
hoti hai aaj dekhiye hamko sahar kahaaN

Ya rab! is iKhtelaat kaa anjaam ho ba-Khair
thaa usko ham se rabt magar is qadar kahaaN

ham jis pe mar rahe haiN, voh hai baat hii kuchh aur
aalam meN tujh se laakh sahi, tuu magar kahaaN

hotii nahiiN qubuul duaa tark-e-ishq ki
dil chaahtaa na ho to zubaaN meN asar kahaaN

Altaf Husain 'Haali' Panipati