ESL Blogs

The Melancholic Poet

This topic given by Eva in her writing challenge reminded me a very famous Urdu poet Meer Taqi Meer from 18^th century. He had been attributed as Shair-e-Gham, (The Melancholic Poet) of his time, which is till his even after centuries.

Mirza Ghalib, another renowned poet of that time once said this about Meer Taqi Meer,

“Reekhta kay tumhi ustaad nahi ho Ghalib, Kehte hain agle zamane me koi Mir bhi tha. “(You are not the only master of Urdu Poetry, Ghalib. They say there used to be a Mir in the past).”

Born in Agra on September 20, 1723, Meer is as important a milestone in Urdu poetry as Ghalib is, and the two have given us couplets and ghazals that will always feature on top of any poetry lover’s list of unforgettable works. From cutting-edge socio-political commentaries to human relations, most works of this poet from the 18th century continue to be relevant even today.

Meer wrote four centuries ago and has left behind a vast repository of poems and couplets. Following is a list of some couplets from the vast treasury of his poems and ghazals that are still relevant today, more than three centuries after they were written:

Let’s take a look

1. Ibtidaa-e-ishq hai rotaa hai kyaa, Aage aage dekhiye hotaa hai kyaa

(It’s the beginning of Love, why do you wail; Just wait and watch how things unveil)

This is perhaps the most-used couplet by Meer in today’s time. Whenever we face a demanding situation, we quote Meer, often without even knowing!

 2. Patta patta, boota boota, haal hamaaraa jaane hai, Jaane na jaane gul hi na jaane, baagh to saaraa jaane hai.

(Every leaf and bud knows my situation; the flower (beloved) doesn’t know but the whole garden (all the people) knows it)

This couplet is unarguably the favorite for all those who’ve fallen in love in their life.

3. Baad marne ke meri qabr pe aaya wo ‘Mir’, Yaad aai mere Isa ko dawa mere baad’’

(O Mir, he came to my grave after I’d died; My messiah thought of a medicine after I’d died)

When someone comes to your rescue a little too late, you can always put on the literary hat and rattle out these lines.

4. Subah hoti hai shaam hoti hai, umra yoonhi tamaam hoti hai

(Days turns into nights and nights turns into days, so as the entire life passes.)

5. Bekhudi le gai kahaan humko, Der se intezaar hai apna

(Where has selflessness taken me, I’ve been waiting for myself for long)

Apt for both negative and positive situations, this can be quoted anytime you feel lost and want people to know.

6. Laga na dil ko kya suna nahi tune, jo kuch Meer ka aashiqui ne haal kiya

(Didn’t you hear what has done ‘falling in love’ (Aashiqui)  to Meer?)

It is a warning for others especially young ones, what happens when fall in love)

7.Yaron mujhe maaf karo main nashe mein hun, Ab do tu jaam khali hi do main nashe mein hun

(Friends forgive me I am drunk. Now if give me the glass give it empty coz, I am drunk)

8. Kya kahun tum se main ke kya hai ishq, Jaan ka rog hai bala hai ishq

(What I can say to you what is ishq (love), it is a sickness of heart, and problem to the life).

9) Ashk aankh mein kab nahi aata, Lahu aata hai jab nahi aata

(From my eye, when doesn’t a tear fall, Blood falls when it doesn’t fall)

10) Latai he naam unka sotay say jaag uthay, hai khair meer sahib kiya khawab koi daikha 

(Is everything okay meer sahib? You woke up abruptly, when someone say the name of your beloved, did you see any dream?

There are thousands of others couplets for which this place is not enough. Please be noted I have taken help from books/internet to write this blog.