ASAD - 72

Originally posted on rec.music.indian.misc in 1997

We have been discussing Radeef for quite some time now. Today's article is the last on Radeef. The word itself, comes from Arabic, where it's a feminine word, with plural "Radeefa" and meaning "pillion rider on a camel" ! In a way, it is a "pillion rider" as it comes after Qaafiyaa.

Today's Radeef is one of the longest I know ! From a fascinating GHazal by Momin which has a Radeef - "tumhe yaad ho ke na yaad ho".

The entire GHazal contains "memories of a forgotten love". The small things, which a lover cannot forget. Wo nazar, wo ishaare, wo hasana aur wo ruTHana ! At the risk of sounding sexist I will say that, "ruTHana" is a very feminine "nakhara". It's a Birth Right of women, and boy, they know really well how to exercise it !! In a way, it's fun too :-)

Here is a sher from this masterpiece ...

wasl ki raat = milan ki raat
har aaN sadaa = every time the same reply/sound
[ "Sadaa" means 1.sound 2.voice 3.call and I don't know how to precisely put the
complete phrase in English. But it's not at all difficult to guess what the Shayar intends
to say ...]
wo bigadana wasl_ki raat_ka,
wo na maanana kisi baat_ka,
wo "nahiN, nahiN" ki har aaN sadaa,
tumhe yaad ho ke na yaad ho
- Momin

Such simple words ! Such great poetry ! That's Momin. To understand and appreciate this sher, all you need to know is "what is it to have fallen in love" ! If you have loved, this sher will touch your heart. If you haven't loved, well, then what's the point in talking Shayari to you :-)

- Abhay.
ASAD _also_ stands for "A Sher A Day" !