Revisiting Ghalib

It was in the year 1992 when I was in Bahrain that I happened to listen for the first time to a few ghazals by Jagjit & Chitra Singh from their album entitled “Mirza Ghalib”. At that time I hardly paid any attention to the poetry as I was simply mesmerized by Jagjit’s soulful & mystical voice complimented by Chitra’s unique crystal clear and sweet vocals.

It was after a gap of almost 16 years that I listened again to the same ghazals but this time Ghalib’s poetic genius was what swept me off my feet. And I started wondering and imagining what kind of a person in real life he must have been. Luckily the entire serial on his life, produced and directed by Gulzar was available on video.google.com.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching it – it was the first time that I was doing that & some of the scenes enacted by Naseerudin Shah, who plays Ghalib & Tanvi Azmi, who plays his wife were so beautiful and realistic that I have nothing but appreciation for them and Gulzar. The entire story about Ghalib’s life has tragic underlying connotations, but nevertheless there are some moments that evoke a smile & even a giggle perhaps. There is a scene where his wife challenges Ghalib to go and marry a second time to which he responds

Paaon ki ek hi beidhee ne mushkil mein daal diya hai

Doosri bhi pehen lee to chalne se hi nachaar ho jaoonga

Meaning

Even the one shackle on one of my feet is causing me problems

If I wear another shackle then I won’t be able to walk at all

Once Ghalib tells his wife that he is very sad, to which she retorts that he never seems to look sad & to this Ghalib replies

Unke dekhe se aa jaatee hein muhn par raunak

Wo samajhte hein ke beemaar ka haal achcha hai

Meaning

As soon as my beloved sees me, my face starts glowing

And she thinks that I am all right & not ill any more

In another scene, Ghalib’s wife nudges him and asks him if he is not even afraid of God? To which he replies with a smile

Darta wohi hai jiske paas koi poonji ho

Tumhare paas eemaan hai is liye darti ho

Aur hamaare paas siwaaye is eemaan wali ke kuch nahin hai

Meaning

The only person who is afraid is the one who has some possessions

You possess faith & therefore you are afraid

And I have nothing except you - the possessor of faith