"Aawaargi" - Yeh Dil Ye Pagal Dil Mera

A Masterpiece by a Master of poetry, "Mohsin Naqvi" and Brilliantly emoted by Ghulam Ali Saahab in his inimitable style. I beleive one can really enjoy this Ghazal, if one can relate to it. "Aawargi" is not "Loneliness", and in any case not even closer to it. If one tries hard, one can relate "Aawargi" to "Carefree state of Mind". Supreme form of Leisure. Well, truly speaking, its a state to be felt rather than described!

Ye dil ye paagal dil mera, kyun bujh gayaa awaargi
is dasht mein ek sheher tha, woh kya hua aawaargi..

Kal shab mujhe beshakl ki awaaz ne chaunka diya,
Main ne kaha tu kaun hai, usne kaha aawaargi..

Ik tuu ki sadiyon se mere, hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi,
Ik main ki tere naam se naa aashnaa aawaargi..

Ek ajnabi jhaunke ne jab poocha mere gham ka sabab
sehera ki bheegi ret per, maine likha aawaargi..

Ye dard ki tanhaiyaan, ye dasht kaa viraan safar
hum log to ukta gaye apni suna, aawaargi..

Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum jahaan
ho jurm tanhaa sochnaa, lekin sazaa aawaargi..

Kal raat tanha chaand ko dekha tha maine khwaab mein
“Mohsin” mujhe raas aayegii shaayad sada aawaargi..

Ye dil ye paagal dil mera, kyun bujh gayaa awaargi
is dasht mein ek sheher tha, woh kya hua aawaargi..

Mohsin Sa'ab realizes the Carefree State of Mind in these opening lines. He says, "I do not understand what is wrong with my heart, with what I am feeling. Its totally crazy and out of this world! Until recently there was so much chaos within me( "is dasht mein ek sheher tha", meaning, the chaos within the heart compared to the hustle bustle of a City), but where is that today? Today what I feel is only "Aawargi" !

Kal shab mujhe beshakl ki awaaz ne chaunka diya,
Main ne kaha tu kaun hai, usne kaha aawaargi..

Carrying on with his realization of this state of mind, Poet says, "Kal shab mujhe beshakl ki awaaz ne chaunka diya".

Wonderfully put! "Beshakl" meaning, Not having an Identity(face). He says, that he was alarmed(chaunka diya), on hearing a non familiar voice from within, which had no identity. Meaning to say, the feeling of Wandeness(Aawargi) was a stranger to him. He goes to on say, that when he questioned the stranger about his identity, he said "Aawargi".

What a subtle way of portraying a state of mind!

Ik tuu ki sadiyon se mere, hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi,
Ik main ki tere naam se naa aashnaa aawaargi..

One of the most expressive lines of the Ghazal! Wah!

"Ik tuu ki sadiyon se mere, hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi". You(Aawargi), have always been my companion and my confident(hamraah bhi hamraaz bhi). Here the poet means to say, that he is now realizing how he always found solace in himself. How he never found himself alone, and how he always had someone within to speak his feelings to.

"Ik main ki tere naam se naa aashnaa aawaargi..". But I never realized this that you were always with me. I was so much lost in the worldly matters that I never had time to look within! You were there for me whenever I needed, but its a sad truth that I was so unaware(naa aashnaa)!

How beautifully Mohsin Sa'ab emotes his feelings in the above lines! And How true. We are so much involved with the noise outside of us, that we hardly realize of what we are. What we like, and where would we want to go. It would be wonderful to take time out for ourselves and enjoy that Carefree state of mind where one lets his mind wander! As i said earlier, such a state can not be described but only felt!

Ek ajnabi jhaunke ne jab poocha mere gham ka sabab
sehera ki bheegi ret per, maine likha aawaargi..

A little difficult to interpret, but I will try.

"Ek ajnabi jhaunke ne jab poocha mere gham ka sabab", meaning to say, "A stranger ("ajnabee jhaunke" meaning a stranger wind) asked me the, Reason of my Sorrows (gham ka sabab).

"Sehera ki bheegi ret per, maine likha aawaargi.. On the Wet Sand of the Desert (Sehera ki bheegi ret ), I wrote "Aawargi".

Now for the meaning within. Poet is trying to show how much he is lost into this state of "Aawargi". Now when he has found this state of mind, he is so much in love with it that he is unable to come out of it. He is not liking anything else that is happening around him and perhaps this state of mind is dragging him to a cut-off from the world. This whole state of his thoughts, appear to be a Sorrowful state of mind to an Ajnabee, stranger, who is not able to understand what is going within the poet."Sehera ki bheegi ret per", the wet sand of the desert, meaning to say, he is lamenting, he is crying and these tears are making the sand of the desert wet. Desert here is symbolic of the sufferings of the people and the hardships, and "Aawargi" a balm/solution to them!

Ye dard ki tanhaiyaan, ye dasht kaa viraan safar
hum log to ukta gaye apni suna, aawaargi..

Amazingly put! These two lines need to be interpreted in a casual way.

Now that he is in this state he shares what's happening to him. "Dard ki tanhaiyaan", Pain of Loneliness. and "dasht kaa viraan safar", meaning, The Lonely journey(viraan safar) through the Desert(dasht). This means to say, in the state of Aawargi, the poet has stayed for so long that he is now casually speaking to Aawargi about how he has become lonely due to him. How he is travelling alone in his journey of life amidst the hardships(dasht=desert) that are at offer.

"Hum log to ukta gaye apni suna, aawaargi.." Imagine the poet sitting with the Aawargi, and smilingly asking him, that I am bored of all this now, how about you?

The above lines tend towards giving a feel that the poet has made friends with his Inner Self and is talking to himself. The Supreme state of Mind!

Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum jahaan
ho jurm tanhaa sochnaa, lekin sazaa aawaargi..

These lines have been beautifully sung by Ghulam Ali Saahab. In a way that brings out the meaning of the sher.

"Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum jahaan, ho jurm tanhaa sochnaa, lekin sazaa aawaargi..", meaning, Please tell me how is it possible to live in a place where it is Loneliness is a crime, but the punishment is "Aawargi"!

Wah!!

Making a mockery of the Worldly setup, Poet says, that it is strange that no one respects and understands the "Carefree State of Mind" and people sometimes compare it to state of Madness and call it Crime. Only if you are one among the many and are interacting, everything seems good and valid. Once you enter this state of Aawargi, no one understands you. As a result, everyone leaves you alone. Aloof. (lekin sazaa aawaargi..). Poet says, if you leave someone aloof, lonely, he will do what else if not speak to himself !

So the poet says, he is finding very difficult to stay with this state of mind in this world.(Logon bhala us sheher mein kaise jiyenge hum)

Kal raat tanha chaand ko dekha tha maine khwaab mein
“Mohsin” mujhe raas aayegii shaayad sada aawaargi..

The Concluding and the most heartening lines. Beautiful, Simple and Touching.

Poet says, in his dreams the other day, he saw the Moon shining brightly in the sky.(Kal raat tanha(lonely) chaand ko dekha tha maine khwaab(dream) mein). Tanha Chaand, because, in the vast Sky spread, it seemed very lonely. But it was bright. It was shining. It was giving Light to the world. And This made the poet think, "“Mohsin” mujhe raas aayegii shaayad sada aawaargi..". Raas ayegi shaayad sada, meaning - Will Like Always.

Poet speaks to himself, "Mohsin, I think, be whatever, I have found happiness in Aawargi, and I will enjoy being with it forever".

No Words can describe the happiness that this Ghazal leaves you with. It pokes you within and tempts you to delve closer to the Euphoric state of "Aawargi".

-Amit

Hungama Hai Kyun Barpa..

One cannot help but soak in divine euphoria, when listening and relating to the poet's thought, as in this Ghazal, by Akbar Allahabadi. 'Hungama Hai Kyun Barpa', is beautifully crafted by Akbar Sa'ab, and this lyrical magnum opus has been equally well treated, vocally, by Ustaad Chote Ghulam Ali.

As one makes an attempt to delve deeper in the meaning behind the words, and as each word unfolds, one's left numb !

Just a little note from the pages of history which are said to be an inspiration for this Ghazal. This was written by Akbar Allahabadi during the time when there was Hindu Muslim conflict going on and the British were thriving on their 'Divide and Rule' Policy. Muslim League and the Congress were in disagreement. During this phase, Akbar, the poet, was all for Hindu Muslim Unity. Several leaders had taunted Akbar saying that this person is speaking nonsense as maybe Hindu's have offered him some wine. It was in reply to these tauntings that the poet wrote this lyrical piece.

Hungama Hai Kyun Barpa,
Thoree See Joe Pee Lee Hai
Daaka To Nahin Daala,
Choree To Nahin Kee Hai

Why is there so much hue and cry if I have had some alcohol?
I haven't robbed someone, nor have I commited any theft.

Us Ma’ay Say Nahin Matlab,
Dil Jis Say Ho Baygaana
Maqsood Hay Oos Ma’ay Se,
Dil Hee Main Jo Khinchtee Hai

(Here in these lines he tries to answer the dogmatic politicians)
Ma'ay here meaning, Wine.
I am not cocerned with that wine, whose consumption does not touch the heart. It does not bother me as it is just for the sake of drinking.
I am bothered with, or by saying 'wine', I intend(maqsood) that entity, using which some people are trying to play dirty politics and dividing hearts. (Dil hi me jo khinctee hai).

Na Tajurba-Kari Se,
Va’iz Kee Ye Batain Hain
Us Rung Ko Kya Jaanay,
Pucho To Kabhee Pee Hai?

Inexperienced are the words of the preacher/saintly(Va'iz).
For someone who has never tasted alocohol, can never rightly comment about it.

Sooraj Main Lagay Dhabba,
Fitrat Kay Karishmay Hain
Butt Hum Ko Kahain Kaafir,
Allah Kee Marzee Hai

Sooraj me lage dhabba. Here he tries to say, that during a Solar Eclipse, even the Sun is shadowed, as if a black spot is formed on it. Black spot is signifying a black mark here. (Again in context of the taunting that the poet was subjected to, these lines portray the poet in a carefree/not bothered kind of attitude). 'Butt humko kahe Kaafir', as in, the feelingless souls, who are not more than a stone statue(butt), are saying me a traitor(kaafir). Let it be, I take this also as God's wish ! (Allah ki marzi hai).

Har Zarra Chamakta hai,
Anwar-e-Elaahi Se..
Har Saans ye kehti hai,
Hum Hai to Khudaa Bhi Hai..

Every thing that exists (har zarra) in this universe, is due to the grace of the almighty.(Anwar-e-Elaahi, meaning Grace of God).Then very beautifully the poet says, Har Saans ye kehti hai, Hum hai to Khuda Bhi hai..Its like we are a part of the Lord, and we exist and breathe within his shadow of Divinity.

Har 'Aatma' us 'Parmaatma' ki chaaya hai..So every breath(har saans) we take reminds us that the Almighty exists(khuda bhi hai) !

How beautifully the poet silences the false speaking mass and at the same time maintains the gravity and elegance that just makes it a special piece of work. I beleive, when taken in the right context this Ghazal makes so much more sense. I have just tried to translate as per my little understanding. Hope the esscence of this lyrical beauty comes across !

-Amit

Yeh na thee hamari qismat..

Yeh na thee hamari qismat keh wisaal-e-yaar hota

Agar aur jeete rahtay yahi intezaar hota

Tere waade par jiyee ham to yeh jaan jhoot jana

Keh khushi se mar na jaate agar aetbaar hota

Yeh masaael-e-tasavvuf yeh tera bayan ghalib

Tujhe ham wali samajhate Joh na badaakhwar hota.

These are few lines from a poem by Mirza Ghalib. As the lover soakes into a tragic mood, he lyrically laments about the agony of a lost love..

Yeh na thee hamari qismat keh wisaal-e-yaar hota
Agar aur jeete rahtay yahi intezaar hota

The lover says, he trusted his misfortune, and he knew that he did not stand a chance to embrace his love,So even if he lived longer, he knew it was a gamble, already lost..

Tere waade par jiyee ham to yeh jaan jhoot jana
Keh khushi se mar na jaate agar aetbaar hota

O my love, if you think that I am living for the promise you made to me..Understand that its a lie my dear, for wouldn't have I died out of joy had I really beleived you..

How beutifully the poet brought out a divine aspect of love.. as if the lover whispers, " O my love, never think that my love is blind, its just that I have chosen to be blindfolded.." Ah, beautiful..

Yeh masaael-e-tasavvuf yeh tera bayan ghalib
Tujhe ham wali samajhate Joh na badaakhwar hota.

Lover speaks to himself, " Your understanding of the wordly problems and ethical conflicts are very well justified by your statements, O Ghalib...

You could have qualified as a saint Ghalib, had you not loved the alcohol..

An Emotional dual where lover's self praise conflicts his reality..

Such is Ghalib's emotional outburst, I am bound to think, that Love is not an emotion itself.. its a cradle, a bed where Emotions germinate..

-Amit