Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Oct 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
I hope you liked my choice for Song #35 – Aaj sajan mohe ang laga le in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #36.
Song #36
Hawas-naseeb nazar ko kahin qaraar nahin
Theme-word: Occurs thrice in the ghazal, the first one in the misra: Abhi hayat ka mahaul khushgavar nahi
The Advantages I Gained in My Formative Years
I lived during my childhood and boyhood in Himachal since my father was posted there. After the primary school, we had to take up Urdu as the second language. This helped me a lot to understand the intricacies of this language that I call ‘The Language of the Heart‘ (If you have time, please go through two of my essays on it: 1. Urdu – A Language of the Heart and 2. Hasya Panktiyan of the Day #48 – Zaalim Ustaad Urdu Ka
It doesn’t end there. Having been born in a Sikh family, I acquired the love for Sri Guru Granth Sahib from my parents. Among other things, this helped me gain a basic understanding of Raagas (there are sixty raagas in SGGS including the one devised by the ninth Guru: Guru Tegh Bahadur).
Most Hindi songs of the era were penned in Urdu or at least contained considerable Urdu words. Even typically Hindi poets and lyricists like Neeraj and Bharat Vyas too delved in Urdu. It wasn’t considered necessary to leave this indigenous language of India only to a particular community.
These advantages, therefore, brought me closer to lyricists and poets who wrote beautifully in Urdu. Thanks to this love, my favourite continues being Shakeel Badayuni and others such as Sahir, Majrooh, Hasrat Jaipuri and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan continued to influence me throughout.
Ghazals of Sahir Ludhainvi
Sahir Ludhianvi
(08 Mar 1921 – 25 Oct 1980)
Sahir was his takhallus. If Shakeel means Handsome, Sahir means Magician. He was born as Abdul Hayee on 08 Mar 1921 in Ludhiana (Punjab). He emerged as one of the greatest poets and lyricists of his era. If his poetry and lyrics often favoured women and women’s causes, eg, his famous poem/song Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko; there was a strong reason for it. He was only 13 when his father married again. His mother, Sardar Begum, took the bold step of leaving his father renouncing all rights in the property. The father was not satisfied and wanted possession of young Abdul. As early as in 1935 in India, the mother won!
I know a number of anecdotes of his in Khalsa High School, Ludhiana. He was fined Rupees Five for sitting with a female in principal’s lawn. He took out ten rupees and said he would do it again! He was expelled and shifted to Lahore.
His most talked about love affair was with the writer Amrita Pritam who became an ardent fan of his poetry.
He has written some of the finest lyrics for Hindi movies such as Taj Mahal, Hum Dono, and Gumraah.
His non filmy ghazals and nazams are equally famous.
Here I give you a favourite of mine (I reckon it is his greatest).
As a Lyricist, your ambit is small (as dictated by the plot). However, as a Poet your writings often reflect the state of your mind and your own personal emotions. I would urge you to consider that whilst reading further.
HAWAS NASEEB NAZAR KO KAHIN QARAAR NAHIN
Havas-nasib nazar ko kaheen qarar nahi
Main muntazir hun magar tera intazar nahi
(Havas-nasib = destined for lust; qarar = rest, repose; muntazir = expectant)
Hamin se rang-e-gulistan hamin se rang-e-bahar
Hamin ko nazm-e-gulistan pe ikhtiyar nahi
(rang-e-gulistan = colour of garden; rang-e-bahaar = colour of spring; nazm-e-gulistan = poem of garden; ikhtiyaar = control)
Abhi na chhed mohabbat ke geet ae mutarib
Abhi hayat e mahaul khushgavar nahi
(mutarib = singer, minstrel; hayat = life; mahaul = atmosphere; khushgavar = agreeable, pleasant)
Tumhare ahd-e-wafa ko ahad main kya samajhun
Mujhe khud apni mohabbat ka aitabar nahi
(ahd-e-wafa = promise of fidelity; ahd = promise; aitbaar = belief)
Na jane kitne gile is mein muztarib hai nadim
Wo ek dil jo kisi ka gilagusar nahi
(Gile = complaints; muztarib = restless; nadim = favourite courtier of a king; gilagusar = complainant)
Gurez ka nahi qayal hayat se lekin
Jo sach kahun to mujhe maut nagavar nahi
(Gurez = escape, evasion; qayal = agree, consent; hayat = life; nagavar = unpleasanr)
Ye kis maqam pe pahuncha diya zamane ne
ki ab hayat pe tera bhi ikhtiyar nahi
(maqam = place, position; hayat = life; ikhtiyaar = control)
My Own Poetry
MERA WAFA PE SHAQ NA KARNA
अपनी ही ज़िन्दगी पर अब मुझे इख़्तियार नहीं,
इलाज ए मरीज़ मेरा हो, मुझे इंतजार नहीं ।
दिल की बेक़रारी जब मुझे समझ आने लगी,
देखता क्या हूँ मैं अब दिल – ए – बेक़रार नहीं ।
जाने क्या राख के ढेर में खोजते रहते हो,
इन खिज़ाओं में अब कहीं कोई बहार नहीं ।
मोहब्बत में बस यही रह गया था देखने को,
अपनी ही मुहब्बत पर मुझे ऐतबार नहीं I
जाम तेरा लब पे आने से पहले ही सूख गया,
फिर भी तेरे मैखाने से मैं बेज़ार नहीं I
मेरे मरने के बाद तुम्हे खुद एहसास होगा,
जुर्म हुआ ज़रूर है, पर मैं गुनहगार नहीं I
तमन्नाओं का किया खून, आरज़ूओं को जला डाला,
अपने किये का मैं फिर भी शर्मसार नहीं I
तू न समझे पर लोग समझ जायेंगे, रवि,
मैंने मर के भी निभाई है, मैं बेवफा दार नहीं I
The Ghazal
Ladies and gentlemen, for once I have tried not to give you Mohammad Rafi’s rendition of the greatest ghazal by this great poet and lyricist. I am giving you the one sung by Bharathi Vishwanathan.
Please enjoy: Hawas naseeb nazar ko kahin qaraar nahin…
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #36 in the series.
Please await Song #37 – Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya.
