Ghalib - Decoded & Sung's video: Bazeecha-e-atfal I Ghalib I Ajai R Singh I Recitation and Interpretation

Bazeecha-e-atfal by Mirza Ghalib Ghazal 209 from Deewan-E-Ghalib Recitation, meanings of difficult words & interpretation by Ajai R. Singh Opening Remarks Most ‘shers’ in this ghazal manifest the trivial nature of the activities that engage us, along with the massive ego that sustains such effort. बाज़ीचा-ए-अतफ़ाल बाज़ीचा-ए-अतफ़ाल है दुनिया मेरेआगे होता है शब-ओ-रोज़ तमाशा मेरेआगे बाज़ीचा-ए-अतफ़ाल – Children’s playground Like a children's playground is this world before me Night and day, the same grand show, fuss & commotion (tamasha ) unfolds. . इक खेल है औरंग-ए-सुलैमाँ मेरे नज़दीक इक बात है एजाज़-ए-मसीहा मेरे आगे औरंग-ए-सुलैमाँ – King Solomon’s throne एजाज़-ए-मसीहा – Miracles of the Messiah [Christ] A plaything is the throne of Suleiman [Solomon] near me. It’s just a talk, the miracles of the Messiah. जुज़ नाम नहीं सूरत-ए-आलम मुझे मंज़ूर जुज़ वहम नहीं हस्ती-ए-अशिया मेरे आगे जुज़ नाम – Except in name जुज़ वहम - Except an illusion Except for being a name, this universe, as a reality, is unacceptable to me. The existence of entities therein is but an illusion before me. [Compare this with Advaitin concept 'Maya']. होता है निहाँ गर्द में सहरा मेरे होते घिसता है जबीं ख़ाक पे दरिया मेरे आगे निहाँ – Hide गर्द – Dust, become a trifle सहरा -Desert जबीं – Forehead The desert hides itself in the dust [गर्द - becomes a trifle] because of me. The river rubs its forehead into the dust/ashes [ख़ाक - becomes worthless] before me मत पूछ कि क्या हाल है मेरा तेरे पीछे तू देख कि क्या रंग है तेरा मेरे आगे Don’t ask what is my state at your back i.e. in your absence. You see what’s your colour in front of me i.e., in my presence. सच कहते हो ख़ुद-बीन ओ ख़ुद-आरा हूँ न क्यूँ हूँ बैठा है बुत-ए-आइना-सीमा मेरे आगे ख़ुद-बीन ओ ख़ुद-आरा – One who blows one's own trumpet, self-centered बुत-ए-आइना-सीमा – Idol [Beloved] mirroring my feelings You are right, I am blowing my own trumpet, why shouldn’t I? In front on me, sits the idol I worship, who mirrors my feelings. फिर देखिए अंदाज़-ए-गुल-अफ़्शानी-ए-गुफ़्तार रख दे कोई पैमाना-ए-सहबा मेरे आगे गुल-अफ़्शानी – scattering of flowers, flowery गुफ़्तार – Conversation पैमाना-ए-सहबा – Decanter of wine Then see the flow of the flowery language that I speak. Just keep a decanter of wine before me. नफ़रत का गुमाँ गुज़रे है मैं रश्क से गुज़रा क्यूँकर कहूँ लो नाम न उन का मेरे आगे गुमाँ –Appearance, illusion रश्क – Jealousy, Envy It only appears like hatred, actually its jealousy. Why at all should I otherwise say, ‘Don’t take her/his name in front of me?’ Imagine someone praising Zauq in Ghalib’s presence. And vice versa. ईमाँ मुझे रोके है जो खींचे है मुझे कुफ़्र काबा मेरे पीछे है कलीसा मेरे आगे ईमाँ – Faith, Religious belief कुफ़्र – Disbelief, heresy Faith stops me when disbelief tries to pull me away. The Kaaba [holy place of the Muslims] is behind me, as I see the Church [Modern Western influence] in front of me. आशिक़ हूँ प माशूक़-फ़रेबी है मेरे काम मजनूँ को बुरा कहती है लैला मेरे आगे माशूक़-फ़रेबी – Deception/guile of the beloved I am a lover, yet deception of the beloved is my work. Even Laila bad-mouths Majnu in front of me. [We expect a lover to be true and faithful, but he can also deceitful & full of guile.] ख़ुश होते हैं पर वस्ल में यूँ मर नहीं जाते आई शब-ए-हिज्राँ की तमन्ना मेरे आगे शब-ए-हिज्राँ – Night/s of separation This is a reply to the figurative statement, ‘I may die of happiness’, probably said when Ghalib & his beloved meet during a re-union. Which reminds him of his desire during the nights of separation, when he had often entertained the thought, ‘ I may die of this separation’. है मौजज़न इक क़ुल्ज़ुम-ए-ख़ूँ काश यही हो आता है अभी देखिए क्या क्या मेरे आगे मौजज़न – Roiling waves ल्ज़ुम-ए-ख़ूँ – Sea of blood Alas, woe these roiling waves in a sea of blood remain only thus, & go no further. Let me see what more will present itself before me. Interpret this in the wake of the bloody events of 18.57. गो हाथ को जुम्बिश नहीं आँखों में तो दम है रहने दो अभी साग़र-ओ-मीना मेरे आगे जुम्बिश – Flicker of movement Although the hand doesn't have even a flicker of movement, the eyes still have life. Let the decanter and goblet of wine remain before me. Even when all power is lost, the desire to enjoy earlier pleasures remains. हम-पेशा ओ हम-मशरब ओ हमराज़ है मेरा ‘'ग़ालिब’' को बुरा क्यूँ कहो अच्छा मेरे आगे हम-पेशा - Co-professional हम-मशरब - Co-believer, drinking companion He is my co-professional, a co-believer & a confidante. Why do you call Ghalib bad, & that too in front of me? Or Why call Ghalib bad, why not call him good in front of me? We are often prone to speak ill of a co-professional, people of our own faith, those who may be our close friends. Ghalib reminds us to be more charitable towards them. Pause Reflect Transform This बाज़ीचा-ए-अतफ़ाल Dr Ajai R. Singh MD is a Psychiatrist, Editor, Researcher, Poet, & exponent. Official website http://ajaisingh.org/ ………………………………………..