ASAD [4]

One thing Ghalib is well known for are his philosohical ash'aar (= plural of "sh'er"). However, it isn't like he has a monopoly on them. Other poets also produce quite an admirable number of worthy philosophical couplets. Here is one from a contemporary of Ghalib's, Ustad Ibrahim Zauq:

लाई हयात आए, क़ज़ा ले चली चले
अपनी ख़ुशी न आए, न अपनी ख़ुशी चले!
laayi hayaat aaye, qazaa le chali chale
apni Khushi na aaye, na apni Khushi chale

हयात, hayaat = life
क़ज़ा, qazaa = death

The striking simplicity of this sh'er was a hallmark of Zauq's poetry.

- Abhay.
ASAD _also_ stands for "A Sher A Day" !

[(c) Abhay Avachat. Editor: U.V. Ravindra]

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EDITORIAL COMMENTS

[1] Ustad Zauq was known as 'ustaad' (teacher), because he was appointed the official poetry guru of the then Mughal ruler of Delhi (who was a pretty decent poet in his own right), Bahadur Shah 'Zafar'.

[2] Another very popular sh'er by Zauq is the following, which is not only philosophical, but also fiercely critical of the self-proclaimed protectors of society's religious mores:

ज़ाहिद! शराब पीने से काफ़िर हुआ मैं क्यों?
क्या डेढ़ चुल्लू पानी में ईमान बह गया?
zaahid! sharaab peene se kaafir huaa mai.n kyo.n?
kyaa DeRh chulluu paani me.n eemaan bah gayaa?

zaahid = religious teacher; kaafir = blasphemer
DeRh = 1-1/2 (meaning, a few); chulluu = palmful;
eemaan = faith