Remembering Ghalib: Hoga koi aisa bhi jo Ghalib ko na janey?
Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib.–File Photo
ہیں اور بھی دنیا میں سخنور بہت اچھے
کہتے ہیں کہ غالب کا ہے انداز بیاں اور
(In the world, we do not refute, are many poets of good repute;
Ghalib, however is beyond dispute, surpasses semantic expressions)
February 15 marks the death anniversary of Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, one of Urdu’s most celebrated and accomplished poets.
Ghalib, an all-time great classical Urdu and Persian poet, was born on December 27, 1796 in Agra.
Many of his well-known ghazals have been sung and recorded by numerous performers in Pakistan and India. Poetry was his passion and his work revolves around wanting to create the perfect form and structure.
In South Asia, Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib is considered as one of the most popular and influential poets in the Urdu language.
His work had a huge impact and led a drastic revolution in Urdu poetry.
Ghalib started composing poetry at the age of 11. His first language was Urdu, but Persian and Turkish were also spoken at home. He received his education in Persian and Arabic at a very young age.
He died in Delhi on February 15, 1869. His house was situated in Gali Qasim Jaan, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, in Old Delhi and it has been turned into ‘Ghalib Memorial’ and houses a permanent Ghalib exhibition.
Ghalib today remains popular not only in India and Pakistan but also amongst South Asian diaspora communities around the world.
ہوگا کوئی ایسا بھی جوغالب کو نہ جانے؟
شاعر تو وہ اچھا ہے، پر بدنام بہت ہے
(There is hardly anyone who would not be acquainted with Ghalib.
He is a great poet, though equally ill-reputed.)
(With input from APP)
شاعر تو وہ اچھا ہے، پر بدنام بہت ہے
Hui muddat ke Ghalib mar Gaya par yaad aataa hai, woh har ik baat par kehna ke yun hota to kya hota.
Wah Syed Asib, Wah…Bohot Achey
huii muddat ke ‘Ghalib’ mar gayaa par yaad aataa hai
wo har ek baat pe kahanaa ke yuu.N hotaa to kyaa hotaa
The most beautiful mind
In 1970 Ibrahim Khaleeq made a film on Ghalib which got excellent reviews but was never released as it coincided with the version of history that Pakistani establishment wants it subjects to believe. Not many copies are available. One i traced in American Congress Library but they refused to share due to copyright issues. With 33 years passed I hope someone with a heart at the right place will release it.
hai kaum humaree jehan mein badnaseeb kitnee
jo samjh ke na samjhee kalaam-e-ghaalib teri tarah, meri tarah!
I always have tears in my eyes whenever Meer, Ghalib or Chekhov is mentioned.
hai kaun aur kaum jehan mein khushnaseeb itnee
jo samjhey kalaam-e-ghaalib teri tarah, meri tarah!
“ہوگا کوئی ایسا بھی جوغالب کو نہ جانے؟”
How about Pakistan. Does Lahori Pakistan remember Ghalib Dehlavi?
A Lahori living in UAE remembers him almost every day!!
Mirza Ghilb’s style of Urdu poetry and literature was unique and everlasting. His wit and sense of humour was also a true reflection of his unique personality. Subcontinent has not produced another Mirza Ghalib in one and a half century.
U can not appreciate Ghalib (the one of the greatest poets the sub-continent has produced ) , even though he was a Muslim and wrote in Urdu (your national language ) only because he was not from from an area that is today part of Pakistan . It would be to much to expect u to appreciate Kabir’s poetry !