Bashir Badr - II

As I have said many times earlier, one of the things I admire about ghazal (as a form of poetry) is that it does not restrict itself to one single theme – different couplets may express different ideas. One couplet may be sufficient to express one idea, so it is very concise and powerful.

Many of Badr’s ghazals provide beautiful examples of these characterstics. To post here, I have selected one or more couplets from many ghazals, the ones that I found best. [If someone wants to read a complete ghazal, going by the couplet(s) I have posted, do let me know. I’ll send you the complete version, and in hindi fonts, if possible/preferred.]

Akhlaak wafa, chaahat sab kimti kapDe hai.n
Har roz na oDha kar in reshmi shaalo.n ko
[Akhlaak = Naitikta]

Maula mujhe paani de, maine nahi.n maangaa tha
Chaandi ki surahi ko, sone ke pyaalo.n ko

Ethics, loyalty, affection – all are expensive garments
Do not wear these silken shawls everday

Lord, give me just water
I didn’t beg for silver jug or golden cups

It’s beautiful the way the second couplet presents a simple [though not easily understood, or rather followed, idea] – that riches may not be sufficient to fulfil one’s needs!

Yahaa.n libaas ki kimat hai aadmi ki nahi.n
Mujhe gilaas baDe de, sharaab kam de

The dress [appearance] is valued more than the person
Give me a larger glass, even if you give me less wine

And this one presents quite a contradictary view to the previous one!

Muhabbat se inaayat se wafa se chot lagti hai
Bikharta phool hoo.n mujhko hawa se chot lagti hai

Meri aankho.n mei.n aansoo ki tarah ik raat aa jaao
Takalluf se, banavaT se, ada se chot lagti hai

Love, benevolence, loyalty – they hurt me
I’m a shedding flower, the wind hurts me

Come into my eyes like a teardrop one night
Formality, superficiality, style, hurt me

I specially liked the second of these couplets. It is so tender, so vunerable – only a tear can represent the true emotion, even if it is brought about by grief, rest of the feelings and expressions can’t be so pure.

Wo farishte aap talaash kariye kahaaniyo.n ki kitaab mei.n
Jo bura kahei.n na bura sunei.n, koii shakhs unse khafa na ho

Wo firaak ho ki visaal ho teri aag mehkegi ek din
Wo gulaab banke khilega kya, jo chiraag banke jala na ho

For those angels, search in the fairy tales
Who do not hear or speak evil, noone is angry with them

Whether it is separation or confluence, your fire will be fruitful some day
How will he bloom like a rose, he who has not burnt like a lamp

How true! It is only angels who can be so ideal! A normal, mortal cannot hope to please everyone in this world!