Thursday, August 7, 2008
Time for a timeless classic by Ghalib. I am particularly impressed with Ghalib's scorn and immodesty at times. Humility is the only way with which celebrities can handle the fame gracefully for the simple reason that no one tolerates a braggart. The way Ghalib has used his verses and work to vaunt his achievements is a sheer delight to read.
The world is merely a child's playground for me, I see this routine phenomenon (of) day and night all the time. I definitely see a sense of superiority or boredom here for nothing excites Ghalib. He is habituated to the events. What a mind set could lead to such an idea - probably a frustration.
This is confusing. First line says that worldly achievements such as that of Solomon (referring to his throne or power) is a banality for me. Second line's 'ek baat hai' might mean that same is the case with aijaaz-e-maseeha ie miracle of Almighty. However, 'ek baat hai' could also be a contrast?, something like but the real thing is the miracle of God (supposedly referring to His ability to revive the dead).
juz = other than
Other than a name, I dont give any significance to this world (soorat-e-aalam) ie I defy to give high importance to the world. And except for being an illusion, these temporal joys do not exist for me. It seems Ghalib has proclaimed himself to be the ultimate judge of everything.
In first 3 verses, Ghalib beautifully creates his self-importance. This verse, again centred around his personage, proves that he knows what he is doing. He says the desert vanishes in dirt in his presence. Desert consisting of dirt itself losing into dirt is height of metaphorism? Similarly, the sea rubs off in nothingness 'mere aage'. Either Ghalib is refering to his immense sorrows that create a deluge of tears running till the floor or he is ridiculing himself by giving such statements. He is showing off his own insanity and thereby wittingly re-asserting his gibes from these 4 verses.
Dont ask me how am I (feeling) after you. Just see how you behaved in front of me. Does it need any more simplification? And yet, I think this is one of the best verses by Ghalib. Who else can so straight-forwardly describe those wounds of love?
This is poetic genius again. You (the beloved) are right, I am self-appraising and self-regarding. (Probably someone has bought it to the notice of the beloved that Ghalib is extremely self-regarding and thinks too much of himself). Why shouldn't I be? The one sitting in front of me is a mirror-faced soul. Ghalib is being accused of either being self-conscious (ie all the time talking about himself) or self-regarding (thinks his is the only opinion). He justifies by saying that his beloved is having this effect on him because she makes him self-aware so that he wants to be properly presentable or that is the only time when he can think about himself now that he is facing his beloved. His beloved reflects his aura to him and makes him conscious? I am just getting short of a proper expression here but hope I conveyed the multiple facets of the verse.
afshaani = scattering
guftaar = coversation
Oh, you will see the beauty of my words when almost roses flow out of my mouth. (For that) just place a glass of wine before me. Ghalib, a known drinker, leaves no excuses to get a glass of wine. Also, he accredits it for his jugglery of words. Well, if wine has that effect, God knows why we dint get any more Ghalibs afterwards.
Weirdly enough, kaleesa = church is used as a metaphor of desires or infidelity (probably towards his own religion). Ghalib is not counted amongst very religious minded people. He says the faith stops me but kofr = infidelity lures me. How? Its like I am standing in front of a kaabah which calls me and stops me, the church in front draws me. Its probably a mere description of his indecisiveness and not that he was dissatisfied with his religion. From whatever I have read about him, he was not the kind to be bound by anything be it religion or faith.
Again a pompous Ghalib. He says yes I am a lover and what a lover at that. I have the magic of turning all the other beloveds infidel. When my charm works, Laila prefers me over Majnun. This is terrific :)
When lovers unite, they are very happy but they dont die in that happiness. Again, Ghalib can be taken to scorn at other lovers who dont even die in their happiness of metting with their desired one. But the second line makes him even more of a genius. He said the lovers dont die 'yun' and yun refers to the death wish that Ghalib had made when he was longing for his love in a night of separation. That is to say, the death he had longed for in those nights of disunion has now presented itself at the most wicked time when he has finally met his beloved.
Another interpretation is that in his moment of extreme ecstasy, he is also thinking of how dead he felt in those nights of separation. Overall, proving himself superior to other lovers and that all his emotions surpass that exhibited by anyone else.
The oft-quoted verse. Even if my hands are fragile or weak now, my eyes are still strong. So even though I cant pick and bring the wine glass to my lips, dont take it away; mere sight of them helps me (getting intoxicated). This verse is quoted in the context when the user wants to say that everything is not finished.
Another variation is that I am soo drunk that physically drinking anymore is impossible (my hands are not stable enough to pick up the wine) but the sight of alcohol itself is providing me toxication.
We share the same profession, same drink and even the secrets. (So if I am acceptable to you) why should you debase Ghalib, that too in front of me!
The context seems to be that the beloved is not aware of the true identity of Ghalib and is vilifying him in his own presence thinking he is someone else. Even if Ghalib is just making this context up, its the perfect one to end this ghazal on again a high note about himself.
From the drama Mirza Ghalib
Labels: ghalib