ASAD - 83

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

The "Lata sings GHalib" album has some very difficult tunes by the MD Hridaynath. On top of it, the poetry is by GHalib, which has never been simple to understand. Here is a sher from this combination, which I found to have both these qualities.

The way I see it, it's a great/very good Sher, but GHalib has made it difficult by using contrasting words. As an aside, I think Gulzar picked up only this habit from his Idol and forgot to learn other qualities :-) Khair, jaane do. :-)

mudda'i = enemy [Remember "mudda'i laakh bura chaahe to kya hota hai" ?]

qayaamat hai ! ki howe mudda'i ka ham_safar, 'GHalib'
wo kaafir, jo KHuda ko bhi na sauNpaa jaaye hai mujh_se
- GHalib

Give this a thought before you proceed. What is GHalib trying to say ?

IMHO, this is a difficult sher. Let me offer my interpretation. The poet is in love with someone. He sees her going (or coming) along with a person whom GHalib considers his enemy (in love). Hence in frustration, he says, "I won't trust even God Himself to take care of her, and here
she is - with my enemy. Kya qayaamat hai !".

Interesting to note here is the usage of contrasting words like 'muddai' and 'ham_safar', also 'kaafir' and 'KHuda'.

The idea of not trusting even God, has been used in atleast one Hindi song. Can you figure out the song ? :-) Here are some hints. It's a SJ-Rafi-Shammi song. Enough ? :-) Ok, the movie *ed Sadhana. Now ? :-) Ok, let me give you the way the stanza starts ....

maiN kaise khuda haafiz keh duN,
mujh_ko to kisi ka yakin nahiN .....

That should be enough :-)

- Abhay.
ASAD _also_stands for "A Sher A Day" !