Strings Of Heart




Sometimes our eyes miss the most obvious of facts and other times, we experience a vision like it's happening right before our eyes! Urdu poetry known as Shayri is one such mirage that can take us into a mesmerizing world of deep human emotions like love, longing, romance, anguish, pain, existentialism and devotion.

Even though Urdu prose, both religious and non religious has been around for some time, poetry in Urdu had its nascent around the 13 century and found its peak in the 18th century. Aamir Khusroo, was probably the first poet to write a few verses in Hindavi, (a precursory dialect of Urdu n Hindi) though most of his works were in Persian language. Wali Mohammed Wali, a 15th century poet was the first to write ghazals in Rekhta, Urdu's old name. This exquisite style of poetry reached its zenith much later during the late Mughal era around 17th and 18th centuries. This Golden period of Urdu poetry saw the rise of stalwart poets like Mir Taqi Mir, Mohammed Zouq, Daagh Dehlvi, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadurshah Zafar himself and of course, Mirza Ghalib. Sufism, with its mystical philosophies and musical form of devotion had been the greatest contributor to poetic literature in Urdu. 

Modern poets have deviated from this format into many other styles ranging from orthodox religious to more secular formats. Poets like Allama Iqbal,  Kaifi Azmi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz belong to the intellectual reformist genre. Bollywood too, had in its own way patronized poetry in Urdu as many the likes of poets, Sahir Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Nida Fazli, Shahryar, Gulzar,  Rahat Indori and Javed Akhtar are also well known as lyricists. Many playback and ghazal singers have immortalized these beautiful lafz through their soulful voices. 

Like all other kinds of poetry, Shayri has many classifications, Ghazal, Masnavi, Qasida, Rubai, Nazm, etc. Ghazal n Nazm being the most popular types. But this blogpost is certainly not about the technicalities of Urdu poetry. I'm no way qualified to write about it with my limited knowledge of the subject or the language. All I know is, though poetic writing is equally beautiful in all the languages, none other has struck the chords of my heart like Shayri in Urdu did. This is a tiny compilation of a few of my favourite couplets ( Ishaar) including the verses that pulled me into this fascinating journey and the precious gems I discovered along my way..


Patta patta boota boota haal hamara jaane hai

jaane na jaane gul hi na jaane baagh to sara jaane hai

Every leaf and plant my plight knows
Wonder why only the blossom is oblivious to what the entire garden knows

Ibteda e ishq hai rotaa hai kya 
Aage aage dekh hota hai kya

Whine not, for this is the beginning of love
Watch for what's in store as you on move

-Mir Taqi Mir , known as Khuda e Sukhan ( God of Poetry) his verses are perfect examples of intricate flow of words. Some of his ghazals are part of the soundtrack for the movie, Bazaar. 

There isn't a single ghazal, sher, verse or even a syllable of Mirza Ghalib that I came across and wasn't in awe. It is impossible for me to pin point any as my favourites...a deeply flawed attempt to chose a few lines..

Aah ko chahiye ik umr asar hone tak
Kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak

A sigh of love takes a lifetime to get noticed 
Who can survive till your hair is untangled 
( the literal translation doesn't convey the real meaning. It is like saying who can survive till it has the desired effect on you)

Hum ne maana ke tagafful na karoge lekin
Khak hojayenge tumko khabar hone tak

I admit you will never ignore me
I would have turned into ashes by the time you notice me

Hazaaron khwahisheh aisi ki har khwaish pe dum nikle 
Bahut nikle mere armaan lekin phir bhi kam nikle

Kaha mai khaane ka darwaza Ghalib aur kaha wa'iz
Par itna jaante hai ki kal wo jaata tha ke hum nikle 

The first verse needs no introduction, perhaps the most famous in Urdu

A thousand desires, each worth dying for
Realized so many of such, yet I seem to want more

Can you ever fathom seeing a preacher at a bar's entrance?
But I know I saw one yesterday going in while I leave

Razor sharp words that question the hypocrisy of so called moral police. This was 18th century, mind you! But it is equally relevant in the present times. 

Hum ke thahre ajnabi itne mulaqatonke baad
Phir banenge aashna kitne muda'arotonke baad

Strangers, we remain even after so many meets
Friends, we may become after how many such rhetorics

-Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a left wing intellectual poet, was perhaps referring to the distance of cultures between Pakistan and Bangladesh

Talking about the most prolific of contemporary poets, Gulzar is like opening a box of invaluable jewels. How can I dare to choose any one over the other? This small verse is just a micro spark from that treasure....

Tune toh aakash bichaya, mere nange pairon pe zamee hai
Paake bhi tumhari aarzoo hon, shayad aise zindagi hasee hai

Honestly, couldn't translate the first line, so quoting a senior journalist, Mr.Madhavan Narayanan for it

You laid out the sky for me so high, but my feet are on the ground enough to satisfy
Yearning for you though you are mine, perhaps life if more beautiful this way


These couplets aren't even a drop in this ocean of Shayri, but hope they are enough to intrigue any human heart to take a dip or dive deep inside.

 Drown in, is all I can say
 For once in, it is hard to afloat stay!













































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