Today marks Mirza Ghalib’s 225th birthday
Today on 27th December marks Mirza Ghalib’s 225th birth anniversary. Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, one of the finest Urdu poets, is regarded as the final outstanding and important poet of the Mughal era. Ghalib was born on December 27, 1797, and is renowned for being a gifted letter writer.
Mirza Ghalib’s first pen name, Asad, was derived from his given name, Asadullah Khan. Early in his poetry career, he also made the decision to use the pen name Ghalib (meaning all conquering, superior, most excellent). It is also well known that Mirza Ghalib was affected by the West and the ideals of the Indian Renaissance.
The teachings of Ghalib on life, love, and loss continue to enlighten people and soothe their spirits. His poetry offers you life in addition to teaching you about extremely complex emotions. Mirza Ghalib is also known to have been influenced by the West and the spirit of the Indian Renaissance
He wrote in Persian and Urdu. His renown is based on his Urdu poetry, even though his Persian Divan (body of work) is at least five times longer. Ghalib is still one of the most well-known poets today, not only in Pakistan but also among South Asians worldwide and those who speak Urdu.
Mirza Ghalib had a talent for writing letters. Mirza Ghalib is responsible for prose as well as poetry in Urdu. His writings laid the groundwork for modern, simple Urdu. Letter writing in Urdu was quite beautiful before Ghalib. By selecting phrases and sentences that would be appropriate for a conversation with the reader, he gave his letters a “talk” As stated by Ghalib:
ہزار کوس سے بہ زبانِ قلم باتیں کرو
ہجر میں وصال کے مزے لیا کرو
From a thousand miles, talk with the tongue of the pen,
and enjoy the joy of meeting even when you are separated.
His letters were fairly casual; on occasion, he would simply begin with the recipient’s name. He had a great sense of humour and wrote some fascinating letters. “Main koshish karta hoon ke koi aisi baat likhoon jo padhe khush ho jaaye,” he wrote in one letter. (I want to write lines that are enjoyable for the reader.) According to some academics, based solely on his letters, Ghalib would hold the same position in Urdu literature. Ralph Russell of The Oxford Ghalib has translated them into English.
Ghalib wrote a history of a difficult time. Ghalib witnessed the disappearance of each bazaar, including Khas Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, and Kharam-ka Bazaar, as well as entire mohallas (localities) and katras (lanes). The mansions or havelis of of his friends were razed to the ground. Ghalib wrote that Delhi had become a desert. Water was scarce. Delhi was “a military camp”. It was the end of the feudal elite to which Ghalib had belonged. He wrote
ہے موجزن اک قلزم خوں کاش یہی ہو
آتا ہے ابھی دیکھیے کیا کیا مرے آگے
The future will show what more remains for me to see.”
An ocean of blood churns around me – Alas! Was this all?
Ghalib’s poetry or shayari had smitten Mughal Badshah of Delhi, Bahadur Shah Zaffar. During the reign of the British, the badshah became a British pensioner. He was kept under strict supervision by the British along with his visitors including Ghalib as they grew suspicious of him. The shayari maestro’s pension was suspended by the British. This made Ghalib take a long journey to Calcutta to make an appeal about his pension to the British Governor General.
Mirza Ghalib’s journey to Kolkata, or erstwhile Calcutta made a huge difference in his literary journey. Mirza Ghalib came to the city of joy and fell in love. His love for Kolkata is depicted in one of his creations, Safar-e-Kalkattah where he talks about his stay in his humble abode, Haveli No 133 situated in the Simla Market Area during his stay in Kolkata. He used to write his verses in Urdu but started writing his poetry in Persian after this visit. He realized that the literary circle of Calcutta was very different from his known world. During his stay in Kolkata, he attended many literary gatherings which were not courtly in nature unlike Delhi. These were far liberal and flexible in nature which is imperative for any individual with a creative bent of mind.
Mirza Ghalib’s sojourn in Calcutta widened the horizons of his literary journey. He established himself as one of the renowned poets in Calcutta and received both appreciation and criticism from the enlightened audience of the city. During this time, he penned two masnavis in Persian like Chiragh-e Dair (Lamp of the Temple) and Bad-e Mukhalif (Adverse Winds). His letters bear a testimony of his tale of love with Calcutta. In a letter that he wrote to Mirza Ali Bakhsh Khan, he says how the city has stolen his heart and left him mesmerized. He referred to the city as a place which offered a remedy for everything except death and also praised the talented people of the city.
The poet died on February 15, 1869.
The most famous couplets of Mirza Ghalib are shared below
Bazicha-e-Atfal Hai Dunya Mere Aage
Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha Mere Aage
Ranj Se Khugar Hua Insan To Mit Jata Hai Ranj
Mushkilen Mujh Par Padin Itni Ke Aasan Ho Gayin
Maut Ka Ek Din Moayyan Hai
Neend Kyun Raat Bhar Nahi Aati
Mohabbat Me Nahi Hai Farq Jeene Aur Marne Ka
Usi ko Dekh Ke Jeete Hain Jis Kafir Pe Dum Nike
Iman Mujhe Roke Hai Jo Kheenche Hai Mujhe Kufr
Qaba Mere Peeche Hain Kaleesa Mere Aage
Humne Mana Ke Tagaful Na Karoge Lekin
Khaq Ho Jayenge Hum Tumko Khabar Hone Tak
Dil Se Teri Nigah Jigar Tak Utar Gayi
Dono Ko Ik Ada Me Razamand Kar Gayi
Aaina Dekh Apna Sa Muh Leke Reh Gaye
Sahab Ko Dil Na Dene Pe Kitna Guroor Tha
Humko Malum Hai Jannat Ki Haqeeqat Lekin
Dil Ke Bahelane Ko Ghalib Ye Khayal Acha Hai
Rago Me Daudte Phirne Ke Hum Nahi Qayal
Jab Aankh Hi Se Na Tapka To Phir Lahu Kya Hai
Dard Ho Dil Me To Dava Kijiye
Dil Hi Jab Dard Ho To Kya Kijiye
Hain Aur Bhi Dunya Me Sukhan War Bahut Acha
Kahete Hain Ke Ghalib Ka Hai Andaz-e-Bayan Aur
