This is Dastan-e-Ghalib a story of Ghalib, an Urdu poet, whom everyone relates to, at least once in a life time while describing certain life situation. It may be either challenging situations of life, love or profession. The Ghalib shayaris come naturally to those fellows during normal conversations for a particular life situation. Here I am refering about “those” who are ardent fans or who have studied Ghalib shayaris as a hobby or as a curious reader during student years. I am the curious reader category.

Hindustan ki pak sarzamin par ek bahut hi nayab fankar hue jinka naam tha Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. Uttari Hindustan main koi aisa shakhs nahin hoga, jisne faqat ek bar Ghalib ka sher na ajmaya ho. Wah Urdu aur Turki juban ke jankar the aur Mughal saltnat ke akhiri saalon ke akhiri shayar. Mirza Ghalib ki paidaish Hindustan mein Agra ke Kala Mahal ,December 27, 1797 ki hai.

Unke walid sahab Mirza Abdullah Baig Khan aur walida Izzat- Ut-Nisa -Begum Ji thi. Ghalib ne bahut dard bhare din dekhe vahi dard unki shayari ban kar nazar aate hain. Wah panch bhai bahan mein sabse bade the. Wah jab panch baras ke the tab unke walid ka intekaal ho gaya tha. Uske baad ke saalon mein bhi, kuch gam kam nahin the, jisne unke jindagi bahut udas aur tanha bana di thi.

Kahte hain jab dard ki inteha ho jati hai, to wah dard, ya to ashquon se, ya phir juban se shayari ke jariye bahar nikalta hai.

Mirza Ghalib ke turki juban ke ustad the janab Abdul Samad. Unki shayari mein farsi juban ka istemaal bahutayat aur bakhoobi se hua hai. Wah apne aaas paas hone wale jindagi ke pechide rangon ko shayari mein bhakhoobi jagah dete the. Unki shayari mein mazak ka bhi put tha aur bateine dilchasp aur sanjidgi se bhari bhi hoti thi.

Ghalib ka nikah ek Nawab ki bayti, Umrao Begum ke saath hua tha.

February15, 1869 ko Ghalib ka intekaal hua. Es beech unhone apne fun se aanewali naslon ke liye apni shayari ka nayab tohfa diya. Aaj bhi shayari jubaan pe aate hi bas Ghalib ki yaad dila dete hain, aur utne hi tarotajja hain aur jindagi ki gahrai liye hue hain.

Translation: Indian sacred land saw a very precious artist/poet named Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. Not a single North Indian person must be there who have never used the Ghalib’s Shayari/Poem in their conversation. He was scholar/poet of Urdu and Persian languages and was the last poet of Mughal Empire’s last years in Hindustan. Mirza Ghalib was born in Kala Mahal in Agra situated in North India on December 27, 1797.

His Father was Mirza Abdullah Baig Khan and Mother was Izzat- Ut-Nisa -Begum. Ghalib had very troublesome and painful childhood, the same pain is reflected in his shayaris. He was eldest in five siblings. The loss of his father in childhood when he was just five and later painful incidents made his life made him lonely and miserable.

It is said that when pain becomes unbearble it comes out through tears or in the form of poem/Shayari.

Mirza Ghalib was tutored Persian by Sir Abdul Samad. He used Persian language in his shayari in abundance and in beautiful style. He used to write the complex colors of life in beautiful style in his shayaris and used bits of sattire in his writings . He used to write in a way that they seemed interesting and full of serious intentions.

Ghalib was married to a Nawab’s daughter named as Umrao Begum.

Ghalib took his last breath on February 15, 1869. During this time he gave precious gift of his shayaris to future generations. These shayaris remind of Ghalib as they are spoken during day- to- day conversations. These shayaris are as fresh, new and apt in today’s environment as these were then. These shayaris have depth and are full of life!

1: There are other poets too in this world; though people say that Ghalib has a different style of expression!

2: I know the truth of heavens but; Ghalib says, this fantasy is good to please the heart!

3: Hey innocent heart what happened to you; however what is the medicine for this pain?

4: Feelings take a lifetime to start its magic; who lives that long to see the effect?

5: Pain not improved from any prayers or medicine; neither I improved nor I became worse!

Mirza Ghalib’s Shayari is also weaved in the form of Ghazals by various new age Ghazal Singers/ Artists in India and neighbouring countries respectfully. This has also played a major role in positive cultural exchange between countries . This requires a special mention!

Shayari or Poetry is a form of meditation and helps in pain management as it did for Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib!

Shikha Saxena

Nov 27, 2020·4 min read