POST 13: Sarakti jaye hai rookh se nakab
सरकती जाये है रुख़ से नक़ाब
This is a ghazal sung by Jagjit Singh in such a melodious voice and such soft bass that it has become an all time favourite. It was first sung in early 70’s in a hugely popular album “purkaif-ghazlen”. The music of the album was composed by Jagjit Singh himself. It used to be one of the first requests from the audience in Jagjit Singh’s stage performances!
The Ghazal has been written by Ameer Minai. He was a nineteenth century Indian poet. He was born on 21.02 .1829 and lived up to 13.10.1900. He belonged to a family of Sufies. He was a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib, Daag Dahelvi.
Some of the more popular sher written by Ameer Meenai:
कश्तियाँ सब की किनारे पे पहुँच जाती हैं
नाख़ुदा जिन का नहीं उन का ख़ुदा होता है
उल्फ़त में बराबर है वफ़ा हो कि जफ़ा हो
हर बात में लज़्ज़त है अगर दिल में मज़ा हो
अभी कमसिन हैं ज़िदें भी हैं निराली उन की
इस पे मचले हैं कि हम दर्द-ए-जिगर देखेंगे
Important words:आफ़्ताब Sun;यक-लख़्त suddenly, instantly; शबाब youth;शब-ए-फ़ुर्क़त night of separation;सवाल-ए-वस्ल question of meeting, tryst;
सरकती जाए है रुख़ से नक़ाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
निकलता आ रहा है आफ़्ताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
The veil is sliding from the face slowly, slowly,
As though the Sun is rising gradually
जवाँ होने लगे जब वो तो हम से कर लिया पर्दा
हया यक-लख़्त आई और शबाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
With the first stirrings of youth,
turning her in a young lady,
she started concealing herself in a veil, making herself scarce,
Shyness overcame her suddenly
but glow of beauty, youth appeared gradually, slowly.
शब-ए-फ़ुर्क़त का जागा हूँ फ़रिश्तो अब तो सोने दो
कभी फ़ुर्सत में कर लेना हिसाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
I have just gone to sleep after being awake,
since the night of separation,
At least now please let me sleep, Oh messengers of God,
We can settle the accounts at leisure by and by.
सवाल-ए-वस्ल पर उन को अदू का ख़ौफ़ है इतना
दबे होंटों से देते हैं जवाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
Even in telling me the details of our proposed assignation,
She is under such fear and terror of the rival,
She replies so softly, slowly
With lips compressed and in such undertones!
वो बेदर्दी से सर काटें 'अमीर' और मैं कहूँ उन से
हुज़ूर आहिस्ता आहिस्ता जनाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
She is beheading me mercilessly, callously,
and I am requesting her to do it slowly, gradually.
Hope you enjoy this translation and the ghazal.
The same ghazal has been sung as a duet by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, for the movie Deedar-e- Yaar, released in 1982. The lead actors were Rishi Kapoor, Jitendra and Tina Munim. The music was directed by Laxmikant PyareLal. This probably is not the traditional way of singing a ghazal but then that is the beauty of creativity!
Happy long weekend!
03.10.2020
