POST 25: Ibne Mariam Hua Kare Koi
ईबने-ऐ-मरियम हुआ करे कोई,
Today is Christmas and here is a ghazal, which starts with a salutation to Son of Marriam- Christ!
This ghazal was written by Mirza Ghalib. It probably is not very popular, but has profound philosophy, refers to Christ, as the Son of Marriam, but describes the problem a lover has with a strong headed beloved. Those were the days when a poet could refer to Christ, in a casual manner, without attracting an outcry!
I am mentioning a few less known facts about Ghalib here. Ghalib got much less than his due in his own life. He lived in, if not in poverty, but definitely in financial problems, except for a few years when he had been commissioned to write the history of Mughal dynasty. He was paid an annual stipend of Rs .600 from 1850 to 1854.
This ghazal has been sung by Begum Akhtar, in her soulful voice, probably influenced by her personal tragedies in early life. She was born on 7th October ,1914. Her given name was Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, popularly known as Begum Akhtar, She was raped at the age of 13 and gave birth to a girl child, whom, her mother claimed, was her child and so her daughter became her sister. Such was the sorry condition of women in those times and poverty added to their woes as it does even now!
Begum Akhtar stopped being a mehfil singer and started performing on stage. She was lucky and escaped this web of poverty.
She was honoured by the Government of India with the award of Padma Bhushan, posthumously in 1975. She was was also honoured by Sangeet Natak Academy for her contribution to Hindustani Vocal music.
Important Words:
शरीया-ओ-आईन : Islamic law’s constitution; मदार : Perimeter; कड़ी कमान : stiff, fully stretched bow; ज़ुनून: possessed;
हाज़तमंद : needy; हाज़त-रवा: Meet the need; ख़िज़्र : Khwaja Khizr “The Green Man”; रहनुमा : to guide,the one who shows the right path; तवकों : expectations; ग़िला : Complaints
ईबने-ऐ-मरियम हुआ करे कोई,
मेरे दुःख की दवा करे कोई.
May be there is a Son of Marriam-a God for some, but I would agree to that only if he cures my pain!
शरीया-ओ-आईन पर मदार सही,
ऐसे क़ातिल का क्या करे कोई.
Ghalib is making a comment on the religious dogma, when he says what do you do with a killer, meaning the beloved, when she is acting within the perimeter of Islamic law’s constitution?
चले जैसे कड़ी कमान का तीर ,
दिल मे ऐसे जा करे कोई...
Your eyes, bewitching manners ,pierce my heart like an arrow,
let loose from a fully stretched bow!
बात पर वहां ज़बां कटती है,
वो कहे और सुना करे कोई...
Speaking my piece, in your presence, is frowned upon!
Only she can talk and make everyone listen!!
बक़ रहा हूँ ज़ुनून मे क्या क्या कुछ,
कुछ ना समझें ख़ुदा करे कोई...
In my state of passion, madness, I am babbling, talking nonsense!
May God help and no one may understand my nonsense!!
ना सुनो ग़र बुरा कहें कोई ,
न कहो ग़र बुरा करे कोई...
Do not listen to bad utterances of anyone.
Do not talk about something abhorrent, done by someone else.
ऱोक लो गर ग़लत चले कोई ,
बख़्श दो ग़र खता करे कोई...
Stop someone who is going on a wrong path.
Forgive one who has made a mistake.
कौन है जो नहीं है हाजतमंद,
किस की हाजत- रवा करे कोई…
Who is not needy, in this World? Everyone is.
How does one meet the needs of others, while one himself is needy?
क्या किया ख़िज़्र ने सिकंदर से,
अब किसे रहनुमा करे कोई...
Khizr was one of the greatest guides in the time of Alexander the Great. Khizr took Alexander to the fountain of life but could not convince him to partake of this water of life.
What could Khizr do with Alexander?
If even Khizr failed, who can be taken as a guide ?
जब तवकों ही उठ गयी "ग़ालिब",
क्यों किसी का ग़िला करें कोई..
When there are no expectations left Ghalib!
Why should one express any complaints, any regrets!!
The same ghazal has also been sung by Abida Parveen, a prominent Pakistani Sufi singer, painter and entrepreneur. She is 66 years old now . She was designated as ‘Peace Ambassador’ by SAARC. She sings Ghazals, Thumri, Khayal, Sufi rock and her forte Kafis. Kafis is a solo genre accompanied with percussion and harmonium, singing songs of Sufi poets.
The same ghazal sung by legendary K.L.Saigal
A very Merry Christmas and hopefully a very Happy New Year. Hope that 2021 brings happiness, health and prosperity for everyone and this pandemic end soon!
All the best!!
25.12.2020
