Daag Dehlvi - I

Daag Dehlvi was a close relative of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and a very well known poet. I had bought a Ghazal collection by Daag, quite some time back, but had not had a chance to post on it earlier. The time factor apart (it was quite a while before I finished reading it), I did not like it much - Of the 100+ ghazals in this collection, I could find relatively few ghazals/couplets I enjoyed. At places, his work seems to be inspired by Ghalib.

In this post, I am sharing a ghazal, that I had come across a long while back. It is a lovely one, and I think it has been sung by one of the contemporary singer, though I am not sure about this.

tumhaare Khat me.n nayaa ik salaam kis kaa thaa
na thaa raqiib to aaKhir vo naam kis kaa thaa

vo qatl kar ke har kisii se puuchhate hai.n
ye kaam kis ne kiyaa hai ye kaam kis kaa thaa

vafaa kare.nge nibhaaye.nge baat maane.nge
tumhe.n bhii yaad hai kuchh ye kalaam kis kaa thaa

rahaa na dil me.n vo be-dard aur dard rahaa
muqiim kaun huaa hai maqaam kis kaa thaa

na puuchh-paachh thii kisii kii na aav-bhagat
tumhaarii bazm me.n kal ehatamaam kis kaa thaa

hamaare Khat ke to purze kiye pa.Dhaa bhii nahii.n
sun jo tum ne baa-dil vo payaam kis kaa thaa

i.nhii.n sifaat se hotaa hai aadamii mashahuur
jo lutf aap hii karate to naam kis kaa thaa

guzar gayaa vo zamaanaa kahe.n to kis se kahe.n
Khayaal mere dil ko subah-o-shaam kis kaa thaa

har ek se kahate hai.n kyaa "Daag" bevafaa nikalaa
ye puuchhe in se ko_ii vo Gulaam kis kaa thaa


Whose greeting was there in your message ?
Whose name was it, if not my rival's ?

After killing me, she asks everyone -
Who was it who did this act ?

I'll be faithful, I'll do what you wish
Do you remember whose words were these?

That hearless one didn't stay in my heart, only the pain remained
Whose destination it was, and look, who resides here

There was neither warm reception, nor weclome
Who made arrangements at your gathering yesterday?

You tore off my letter without even reading it
Whose message was it that you listened to whole-heartedly?

That time has gone past, now who do I tell
Whose thoughts filled me day and night

She asks everyone, was "Daag" unfaithful?
Let someone ask her, whose slave he was.