POST 38: Aahat See Koi Ayae To Lagta Hai Ki Tum Ho
आहट सी कोई आए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
This is a beautiful ghazal penned by famous poet Jan Nisar Akhtar. He was an active participant in Progressive Writers Movement. He was also active in the Indian film industry. He is credited with having written more than 150 songs for the film industry. Some of the better known songs include:
Aankho hi aankoh mein ishara ho gaya ( CID 1956); yeh dil aur unke nighaon ke saye( Prem parbat 1974), Aaja re ( Noorie 1979) and his last song A dilae nadan in Kamal Amrohi’s Razia Sultan ,1983.
He was born in Gwalior in 1914 and died at Bombay in 1976. He completed M.A. in Urdu from Aligarh Muslim University. His father was also a renowned shayar.
He was the father of Javed Akhtar.
Some of his better known shers:
तमाम उम्र अजाबों का सिलसिला तो रहा
ये कम नहीं हमें जीने का हौसला तो रहा!
(अजाबों = मुसीबतें)
लब पे आहें भी नहीं आँख में आँसू भी नहीं
दिल ने हर राज मुहब्बत का छुपा रक्खा है!
समझ सके तो समझ जिंदगी की उलझन को
सवाल उतने नहीं है, जवाब जितने हैं!
Here is this delicate sensuous ghazal sung by Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh, in their soft silky voices
Important words: अजाबो: problems, misfortunes; संदल: Sandalwood; पुर-कैफ़: full of intoxication;
आहट सी कोई आए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
साया कोई लहराए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
Even the faintest of sound makes me feel you have come!
Any swirl of a shadow makes me feel you have come!!
( This translation is so inadequate! Does not convey the mindset of the lover)
जब शाख़ कोई हाथ लगाते ही चमन में
शरमाए लचक जाए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
Just on touching, if a green branch in the garden,
bends and blushes, it feels as though it is you!
संदल से महकती हुई पुर-कैफ़ हवा का
झोंका कोई टकराए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
even a gust of sandal scented breeze, full of intoxication,
accosts me, it feels as though it is you!
ओढ़े हुए तारों की चमकती हुई चादर
नद्दी कोई बल खाए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
A river glistening with twinkling of stars!
when it turns and twists, it seems as though it is you!!
जब रात गए कोई किरन मेरे बराबर
चुप-चाप सी सो जाए तो लगता है कि तुम हो
When in the waning hours of the night, a ray of light
quietly comes and sleeps besides me! it feels as though it is you!!
This is an excellent example of what in Urdu is called ‘बारीक ख्याली’. Unfortunately even for आहट there is no equivalent in English!
Same ghazal has been sung by Abida Parveen, giving it a Sufi interpretation. Abida is a Pakistani Sindhi, Muslim Sufi singer, composer and musician. Born in 1954, she is an entrepreneur and well known painter. she has been active in music conferences and concerts even in India.
Here is the same ghazal sung by Bhupinder. Most of us don’t realize that he is 81+ now. In 1962, famous Madan Mohan gave him a break and afforded him the opportunity to sing with Mohammed Rafi in the song “ Ho ke majboor usne bulaya hoga ” in the movie Haqueeqat . He had been active in the Indian cinema but has been concentrating on his own albums.
I have been attempting to introduce younger ghazal singers and here is one of them, the same ghazal sung by Bharathi Vishwanathan. She is a classical singer who trained in ghazal and vocal classical singing under Padmashri Ustad Abdul Latif Khan.
I hope I have been successful in adding to your pleasure of a relaxed weekend.
Happy weekend!
Happy Holi!!
hopefully a Happy new Financial Year!!!
27.03.2021.
