Dewan-E-Ghalib
Translated by Dr. Krishna Moorthy Mudigonda
The legendary Urdu poet, Mirza
Ghalib, needs no introduction. Many music buffs in the Indian subcontinent and a significant diasporic south Asian community have a loyal kinship with his ghazals,
biography, and his personal foibles. The bilingual poet, Dasaradhi (himself a
noted Urdu poet and translator of Ghalib) once quipped in exasperation: “How
come people throng to buy admission tickets to get into Urdu poetry
recitations? Even if we give free admission, hardly we get a sizeable crowd for
Telugu poetry gatherings.”
At any (performing) art event, a more
pertinent question is: How many in the audience can really understand a poet’s
intent? Or plumb into the depths of a word or phrase? A poet like Ghalib tries
to encapsulate many years of keen observation (of life, nature) into a few
lines of lyrical, at times rhyming succinct expression. Learned Urdu scholars
and academic professionals have spent entire lives in deciphering Ghalib’s
craft and musing.
Luckily, today in this modern
Internet age, there are quite a few helpful tools for Ghalib fans. Several
digital Urdu dictionaries and helpful devices for Urdu-to-English transliteration are available. The avid
admirer can also access numerous Ghalib songs on the Internet (both in video
and audio formats). From Suraiya to Jagjit Singh, many a singer has rendered the poet’s ghazals. Though I came late
to appreciate Urdu ghazals, by sheer accident two rare cassettes landed in my
lap: One contains ghazals with Talat Mahmood’s silky voice and the other has a
well known song by the late Jalib (dil ki baat).
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Dr.
Krishna Moorthy’s recent English translation of Ghalib’s magnum opus received several
encomiums both at the state level (Andhra Pradesh) and national level: It was
warmly received by Kakatiya University (Warangal), Osmania University, and the
Ghalib society (New Delhi). The massive 500 pages work not only contains
English translation of each ghazal, it includes the original Urdu version (in
Urdu script), followed by an English transliteration. Thus, it makes the Urdu
ghazals accessible to a wider readership across the English and Urdu (and Hindi) speaking
world, spanning several continents.
The
translator’s early life was spent in Warangal and Vijayawada. It was there
during his high school days, he got attracted to the Urdu language. He
continued his fascination with the language, its lyrical poetry, and Ghalib.
That he has been able to keep his abiding interest in Ghalib’s magnum opus,
despite his busy medical profession is itself a wonder. Dr. Krishna Moorthy
bestowed the same precision and finesse to the translation, as he would (bring
his professional skills) to a complex medical case.
Excerpts
The design
of creation is the complainant of whose mischief of creation?
The outfit
of every embodiment of the created picture is papery (perishable)
Delving deep
through the hard times in solitude! Don’t ask me about that!
To get
through from day to night is like the task of bringing the rivulet of milk
through mountain of Bastion by Farhad
The emotion
of lack of control on desire is only to be seen to be believed
It can be
seen that the desire has finally got out of bounds
….. ….
The scope of
the style of my poetry is very hard for you to find
Ghalib! Even
in the state of imprisonment, my feet are restless to get out
The iron chain of
imprisonment is very weak, like a singed hair that has no strength! (Page
1, Naqsh Faryadi…)
--- --- ---
For a sigh
to be effective, it needs a life time!
Who is going
to live, till your beautiful hair are subdued!
….. ….
I
understand, that you wouldn’t ignore me
But I would
be turned into dust, by the time you become aware of my message
(page 133)
---- --- ---
Oh innocent
heart! What has happened to you? At least you can tell me what is the remedy
for this pain?
….. ….
Oh God! When
there is no one except you in this world.
Then what is
all this tumult and uproar about?
(Page 274, Dile naadaan!)
--- --- ---
These
fragrant flowers and these green meadows! Where did they come from?
What is
cloud? What is air (wind)? What is the essence of the nature?
….. ….
I fully
realize that GHALIB is a sort of a useless person
But what
have you to lose! If you can get him as your slave without having to pay
anything, What’s so bad about it?
(Page 275)
--- --- ---
This world
is nothing other than an expression of uniqueness of the beloved. “GOD”
Where would
we all be if beauty itself is not seeking it’s own awareness?
….. ….
Watching the
spectacle with so much dejection, that I neither have an admonition nor an
enthusiasm.
So helpless
I am, that despite having a desire I am neither able to care for the world, nor
for the religion.
(Page 395)
--- --- ---
It is wrong
boast and Bragg about one’s smartness in worldly things and nor one is aware of
the benefits of worship.
The world
and faith are merely sediments in the cup of unknowing!
….. …
Union with beloved
is like a paint on the back of a mirror, that is essential for the mirror to
give an image!
….. …
Who has seen
the passionate feelings of people of the world?
Who has seen
the effect in the cries of broken hearts?
(Page 396)
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Copies are available from the author. Soon, the book will be available in digital form, suitable for reading on electronic readers. Certainly without a question, this is a valuable addition to anyone's personal library and an invaluable compendium for all Ghalib enthusiasts. The translator richly deserves kudos for expending extraordinary effort, time, and patience.The publisher, Mrs. Shakuntala and Dr. Vijay Mohan Rao must be commended for their unstinted support to the project.
Copyright 2012
