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Mirza Ghalib: A Biographical Scenario
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July 1, 2012
I just finished reading Mirza Ghalib: A Biographical Scenario by Gulzar. There is a lingering sadness that the book came to an end. However, there is also a fulfilling warmth inside. It was a beautiful journey. It was so calming that Time walked with me hand in hand and we were glad to have each others’ company. I wasn’t running away from Time and it wasn’t flying away from me. I lived each moment fully while I read the book, and each moment took notice of me. Life was, once again, as fresh as a dew drop on a petal at dawn. Gulzar Saab does that to you. Or like he mentioned in the Preface, Ghalib can do that to you. After reading the book, I’m not sure the book was magical because of which of these giants. Either way, a cheerful liaison it was.
If I had the capacity to idolize a human being, Gulzar Saab would be my idol. Since, I cannot (which I’m not sure is a good or bad thing) I still consider Gulzar Saab as the greatest Urdu poet alive in India today. Given that I am watching Gulzar Saab make history as I live, I must admit it is my good luck to be alive at this period in history. I am watching him write and beautify this world with as much splendid Urdu poetry as he can, and I believe that the generation to come shall be deeply indebted to him. It is only fitting that a poet as great as Gulzar would write the biography of another great poet who once lived–Mirza Ghalib. I wasn’t fully aware of how massive Ghalib’s poetry was back then, while India was being imprisoned under the clutches of foreign rule. I have been made mildly aware while reading this book. What’s more, it makes me yearn to meet Gulzar Saab in person.
Not only should one read this book because it has some really amazing poetry but also for the love stories that it brings with it. The love that Ghalib has for his wife; unending and more passionate than his affair with his words. The love that he has for the city of Delhi which berates him, tests him and then accepts him in a way that it still hasn’t let him go. The unrequited love that a kothe wali has for Ghalib and his poetry; and how she dies longing for him to visit her house just once, finally taking with her only his poetry on her tombstone. The love that Indians show to each other when their near and dear ones are being hanged by the British “traders”. Against the backdrop of time when division was rife and India were being severed with a honey-coated knife in the name of religion, Ghalib lived—in sorrow, wisdom and unacknowledged love. Ghalib’s house-help, Wafadar (which means loyal) says in the biography that Ghalib is a poet that the future generations would be indebted to; she has no idea how right she was. The book says Ghalib died in February 1869, only that I don’t think he did. He still lives in Chandni Chowk (in the house that the government reconstructed recently)—only that he doesn’t come home often. Just as always.
P.S: I can only wish that a great poet would one day write Gulzar’s biography. We owe it to him as well.
If I had the capacity to idolize a human being, Gulzar Saab would be my idol. Since, I cannot (which I’m not sure is a good or bad thing) I still consider Gulzar Saab as the greatest Urdu poet alive in India today. Given that I am watching Gulzar Saab make history as I live, I must admit it is my good luck to be alive at this period in history. I am watching him write and beautify this world with as much splendid Urdu poetry as he can, and I believe that the generation to come shall be deeply indebted to him. It is only fitting that a poet as great as Gulzar would write the biography of another great poet who once lived–Mirza Ghalib. I wasn’t fully aware of how massive Ghalib’s poetry was back then, while India was being imprisoned under the clutches of foreign rule. I have been made mildly aware while reading this book. What’s more, it makes me yearn to meet Gulzar Saab in person.
Not only should one read this book because it has some really amazing poetry but also for the love stories that it brings with it. The love that Ghalib has for his wife; unending and more passionate than his affair with his words. The love that he has for the city of Delhi which berates him, tests him and then accepts him in a way that it still hasn’t let him go. The unrequited love that a kothe wali has for Ghalib and his poetry; and how she dies longing for him to visit her house just once, finally taking with her only his poetry on her tombstone. The love that Indians show to each other when their near and dear ones are being hanged by the British “traders”. Against the backdrop of time when division was rife and India were being severed with a honey-coated knife in the name of religion, Ghalib lived—in sorrow, wisdom and unacknowledged love. Ghalib’s house-help, Wafadar (which means loyal) says in the biography that Ghalib is a poet that the future generations would be indebted to; she has no idea how right she was. The book says Ghalib died in February 1869, only that I don’t think he did. He still lives in Chandni Chowk (in the house that the government reconstructed recently)—only that he doesn’t come home often. Just as always.
P.S: I can only wish that a great poet would one day write Gulzar’s biography. We owe it to him as well.
March 18, 2015
A tribute of sorts
Humko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin,
Ghalib tere dilaase pai jeena ab hamai jachta hai
tere darr par marke hamai aata qaraar,
khud ke darwaza se nikalne mai darr lagta hai
jaam na pehle na akhir mai rang badalti hai,
khud ko badalte dekh, isse thaamne ko jee karta hai
Kya paa lenge hum yeh jahaan paake,
teri ek nazm mai Jo na mil saka hai
lekin is jooth se ab door kaha jaaye,
joothon mai hi yaaro ka milna banta hai
neend toh milon duur hai ab humse,
mau ka khwab hi jab hamay aahgosh mai liye baitha hai
maine apni aawaz mai tujhe sunna hai ,
aur tu kisi aur ki yaad mai tadap raha hai
maykhaana gaye hue hai barso,
wahin rindon ne mere misaaj ko samjha hai
Ghalib tere bharose ek aur shaam kat gayi,
kal phir mujhe tujhe dhoodne nikalna hai
rindo =drunkard, the intoxicated
Humko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin,
Ghalib tere dilaase pai jeena ab hamai jachta hai
tere darr par marke hamai aata qaraar,
khud ke darwaza se nikalne mai darr lagta hai
jaam na pehle na akhir mai rang badalti hai,
khud ko badalte dekh, isse thaamne ko jee karta hai
Kya paa lenge hum yeh jahaan paake,
teri ek nazm mai Jo na mil saka hai
lekin is jooth se ab door kaha jaaye,
joothon mai hi yaaro ka milna banta hai
neend toh milon duur hai ab humse,
mau ka khwab hi jab hamay aahgosh mai liye baitha hai
maine apni aawaz mai tujhe sunna hai ,
aur tu kisi aur ki yaad mai tadap raha hai
maykhaana gaye hue hai barso,
wahin rindon ne mere misaaj ko samjha hai
Ghalib tere bharose ek aur shaam kat gayi,
kal phir mujhe tujhe dhoodne nikalna hai
rindo =drunkard, the intoxicated
April 17, 2017
This is a beautiful book by Gulzar and about the precious works of Ghalib. And if you have ever loved Ghalib's ghazals, please do read it.
While reading the book, specially the ghazals, all the beautiful lyrics in the voice of Jagjit Singh was resonating in the mind.
Frankly, I am out of words, such was this experience for me.
While reading the book, specially the ghazals, all the beautiful lyrics in the voice of Jagjit Singh was resonating in the mind.
Frankly, I am out of words, such was this experience for me.
December 21, 2020
ہوئی مدت کہ غالبؔ مر گیا پر یاد آتا ہے
وہ ہر اک بات پر کہنا کہ یوں ہوتا تو کیا ہوتا
یہ ہندوستان کے سب سے مشہور اردو شاعروں میں سے ایک ، مرزا غالب کی ایک یادگار کہانی ہے۔ اس میں غالب کی زندگی ، اُنکی مختلف مشکلات اور آخری مغلیہ دور کے حالات کی تفصیل ہے جس میں وہ زندہ رہے۔ اس کہانی کے مختلف پہلو ہیں۔ مرزا کی اپنی اہلیہ سے محبت اور ان کی ایک دوسرے کے ساتھ لازوال عقیدت۔ الفاظ کے ساتھ ان کا نہ ختم ہونے والا جذباتی پن، شہردہلی کے لیے غالب کی عقیدت، جو اُنہیں آزماتا ہے ، اُنہیں عاجز بھی کر دیتا ہے اور آخر میں اُنہیں قبول بھی کرتا ہے ۔
دوسری طرف ، اُن کی زندگی کے تلخ پہلو ہیں۔ جوئے اور شراب سے اُن کا لگاؤ، اور اُس سے اُن کے لواحقین کو پہنچنے والی تکلیف، عدالت کی سیاست؛ غالب کے لئے کوٹھے والی کی بلاجواز محبت ، اور اس کی موت جب وہ صرف ایک ہی ملاقات کی آرزو مند تھی۔
کہانی میں جابجا غالب کے اشعار اور غزلیں ہیں جن سے بلا شُبہ اِس کی خوبصورتی دو بالا ہو گئی ہے۔
یاسیت، غُربت، اور غم سے بھرپور یہ زندگی ایک ایسے وقت کی عکاسی کرتی ہے جب برطانوی ہندوستان پر تقریباً قابض ہوچُکے ہیں،اور غالب کی زندگی ٹوٹ پھوٹ کا شکار ہے، اُنہوں نے غدر کا سانحہ دیکھا، اپنے محبوب شہر دہلی کو لُٹتے دیکھا، اور عظیم مُغلیہ سلطنت کا سورج غروب ہوتے دیکھا، 1869 میں غالب کا جسم اس دنیا سے رخصت ہوگیا۔ لیکن کیا اُن کی روح اور میراث اس دنیا کو کبھی چھوڑ دے گی؟
یہ کہانی سردیوں کی دوپہر میں کھڑکی سے چھن کر آنے والی دھوپ کی مانند محسوس ہوئی، جیسے ایک عجیب سی اُداسی نے اپنی گرفت میں لے لیا ہو، بہت پہلے گزرے ہوئے ماضی کا ایک نامعلوم سا نوسٹلجیا۔
وہ ہر اک بات پر کہنا کہ یوں ہوتا تو کیا ہوتا
یہ ہندوستان کے سب سے مشہور اردو شاعروں میں سے ایک ، مرزا غالب کی ایک یادگار کہانی ہے۔ اس میں غالب کی زندگی ، اُنکی مختلف مشکلات اور آخری مغلیہ دور کے حالات کی تفصیل ہے جس میں وہ زندہ رہے۔ اس کہانی کے مختلف پہلو ہیں۔ مرزا کی اپنی اہلیہ سے محبت اور ان کی ایک دوسرے کے ساتھ لازوال عقیدت۔ الفاظ کے ساتھ ان کا نہ ختم ہونے والا جذباتی پن، شہردہلی کے لیے غالب کی عقیدت، جو اُنہیں آزماتا ہے ، اُنہیں عاجز بھی کر دیتا ہے اور آخر میں اُنہیں قبول بھی کرتا ہے ۔
دوسری طرف ، اُن کی زندگی کے تلخ پہلو ہیں۔ جوئے اور شراب سے اُن کا لگاؤ، اور اُس سے اُن کے لواحقین کو پہنچنے والی تکلیف، عدالت کی سیاست؛ غالب کے لئے کوٹھے والی کی بلاجواز محبت ، اور اس کی موت جب وہ صرف ایک ہی ملاقات کی آرزو مند تھی۔
کہانی میں جابجا غالب کے اشعار اور غزلیں ہیں جن سے بلا شُبہ اِس کی خوبصورتی دو بالا ہو گئی ہے۔
یاسیت، غُربت، اور غم سے بھرپور یہ زندگی ایک ایسے وقت کی عکاسی کرتی ہے جب برطانوی ہندوستان پر تقریباً قابض ہوچُکے ہیں،اور غالب کی زندگی ٹوٹ پھوٹ کا شکار ہے، اُنہوں نے غدر کا سانحہ دیکھا، اپنے محبوب شہر دہلی کو لُٹتے دیکھا، اور عظیم مُغلیہ سلطنت کا سورج غروب ہوتے دیکھا، 1869 میں غالب کا جسم اس دنیا سے رخصت ہوگیا۔ لیکن کیا اُن کی روح اور میراث اس دنیا کو کبھی چھوڑ دے گی؟
یہ کہانی سردیوں کی دوپہر میں کھڑکی سے چھن کر آنے والی دھوپ کی مانند محسوس ہوئی، جیسے ایک عجیب سی اُداسی نے اپنی گرفت میں لے لیا ہو، بہت پہلے گزرے ہوئے ماضی کا ایک نامعلوم سا نوسٹلجیا۔
March 3, 2018
दिल्ली ने आगरा से तक़रीबन 200 साल पहले एक क़र्ज़ लिया. ऐसा क़र्ज़ जिसको शायद हमारे देश की आने वाली सेकड़ो पीढ़िया न चूका सकेगी. उस क़र्ज़ का नाम है मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब. गुलज़ार साहब के कलम से लिखी हुई ग़ालिब चचा की जीवनी पड़ते हुए न जाने कब, में भी उस क़र्ज़ का भागीदार बन गया.
Loosely translates into -
Nearly 200 years ago Delhi took a loan from Agra. A debt that our next hundred generation will find difficult to pay off. The name of that loan is Mirza Ghalib. Somewhere in between reading this biography and finishing it, I become a part of this debt.
Good poets never become popular they become immortal. Ghalib, one of them, knew this mortal world more than anyone of his time. This book made me realize this. And when I realized it, I stopped regretting that his lineage ended with him leaving this world.
Loosely translates into -
Nearly 200 years ago Delhi took a loan from Agra. A debt that our next hundred generation will find difficult to pay off. The name of that loan is Mirza Ghalib. Somewhere in between reading this biography and finishing it, I become a part of this debt.
Good poets never become popular they become immortal. Ghalib, one of them, knew this mortal world more than anyone of his time. This book made me realize this. And when I realized it, I stopped regretting that his lineage ended with him leaving this world.
July 5, 2017
I was first introduced to Mirza Ghalib by a college friend. He was a big fan of ghazals and shayaris and I had a little interest in ghazals and shayaris at that time. One day he gave me Ghalib's 'Hazaron Khwashishen Aisi' sung by Jagjeet Singh, and it was enough, enough to add a very small asteroid in the solar system where Ghalib is the sun (as Gulzar saahab says it) , an asteroid who now likes to revolve around the sun and enjoys it's warmth and still trying to understand it.
A scenerio means a written outline of something giving details of the plot and individual scenes. But this book was more than an outline of Mirza Ghalib, it's a deep insight into his life. The way Gulzar saahab described Ghalib's life and the way he constructed Ghalib was mind blowing. Sometimes you feel pity for him, sometimes he seems like a victim of destiny, circumstances and life, sometimes he seems a yearning artist, a husband who loved and respected his wife, a father who has been a father yet never enjoyed fatherhood, a lover of an incomplete love story. The Ghalib I knew before reading this book was different and the Ghalib I know after reading this book is different. Gulzar saahab has covered each and every aspect of Ghalib's personality and life. I always wanted to know about the source of inspiration behind Ghalib's deep, imapctful and relatable poetry. I found his life as the inspiration behind his poetry.
The other thing I liked very much about Mirza Ghalib's character is his smile. A smile which remains on the lips of Ghalib throughout, the smile which comes on one's lips when life tries its hardest to make one cry but one gives back answer to life's every attempt with a simple smile. The smile was Ghalib's weapon against all the cruelties of life and I think on the other hand it was also the reason for his fight against his own life because life had never been easy for him.
Every Ghalib fan must read this.
Perfect 5 Stars.
A scenerio means a written outline of something giving details of the plot and individual scenes. But this book was more than an outline of Mirza Ghalib, it's a deep insight into his life. The way Gulzar saahab described Ghalib's life and the way he constructed Ghalib was mind blowing. Sometimes you feel pity for him, sometimes he seems like a victim of destiny, circumstances and life, sometimes he seems a yearning artist, a husband who loved and respected his wife, a father who has been a father yet never enjoyed fatherhood, a lover of an incomplete love story. The Ghalib I knew before reading this book was different and the Ghalib I know after reading this book is different. Gulzar saahab has covered each and every aspect of Ghalib's personality and life. I always wanted to know about the source of inspiration behind Ghalib's deep, imapctful and relatable poetry. I found his life as the inspiration behind his poetry.
The other thing I liked very much about Mirza Ghalib's character is his smile. A smile which remains on the lips of Ghalib throughout, the smile which comes on one's lips when life tries its hardest to make one cry but one gives back answer to life's every attempt with a simple smile. The smile was Ghalib's weapon against all the cruelties of life and I think on the other hand it was also the reason for his fight against his own life because life had never been easy for him.
Every Ghalib fan must read this.
Perfect 5 Stars.
February 25, 2016
Ghalib's life in Gulzar's words - an Urdu connoisseur's delight. Like a Spring morning walk in a Mughal garden - you wish that the time stands still and you remain forever there amidst the most beautiful flowers and delighfully fragrant air
Not that the Ghalib's story is a very "happy" one but remarkable is the fact that he managed to live happily amidst all the misery and vicissitudes that life threw at him. Loss of his children (not one survived out of seven), penury & debt, tragedy that the Gadar of 1857 was - when he lost all he loved, all make his life rather a sad one but he lived every moment with the same zing and cheerfulness composing most wonderful poetry ever (before or after).. Like he said - दर्द का हद से गुज़रना है दवा हो जाना...
Read it & cherish it..
Not that the Ghalib's story is a very "happy" one but remarkable is the fact that he managed to live happily amidst all the misery and vicissitudes that life threw at him. Loss of his children (not one survived out of seven), penury & debt, tragedy that the Gadar of 1857 was - when he lost all he loved, all make his life rather a sad one but he lived every moment with the same zing and cheerfulness composing most wonderful poetry ever (before or after).. Like he said - दर्द का हद से गुज़रना है दवा हो जाना...
Read it & cherish it..
August 17, 2014
There is no point trying to rate what Mirza Ghalib wrote. I am only trying to rate this book as a screenplay of the episodic show on television.
The book is straight-forward and is written in a manner that it showcases Ghalib's verses and the simple narrative does it well. The only reason to not give it a 5 star is that the narrative just couldn't rise enough to fully make use of Ghalib's poetry in the book.
I am now really looking forward to all other books written about Mirza as well as seeing the television series again.
The book is straight-forward and is written in a manner that it showcases Ghalib's verses and the simple narrative does it well. The only reason to not give it a 5 star is that the narrative just couldn't rise enough to fully make use of Ghalib's poetry in the book.
I am now really looking forward to all other books written about Mirza as well as seeing the television series again.
Read
June 9, 2013A quick overview to Mirza's life, just enough to gauge his unremitting wit, no matter what hardships he faced - he 'lived' as an artist!
A few verses weren't correctly interpreted (or may be I had the wrong impression of them - which in fact was the better one) That's his mojo. You read it and try to make something out of it, some times you understand something else - magical!
A few verses weren't correctly interpreted (or may be I had the wrong impression of them - which in fact was the better one) That's his mojo. You read it and try to make something out of it, some times you understand something else - magical!
September 29, 2016
A very comprehensive account of Ghalib's life. The biography is an amalgam of urdu and hindi, and is presented with ghazals and couplets that make this book a very fulfilling read.
May 14, 2021
The story, the narration, and the character all are awesome. This book is basically the script of the TV show which was about Mirza Ghalib's life and casting nasiruddin shah which was produced and directed by gulzar.
I had watched the series before, it's available on YouTube. So I could read the whole book in the sounds of Jagjit singh , Nasiruddin shah, neena gupta .
Some of the incidents and ghazals stick to your mind. As this is book is like a script you'll always feel it like you're watching a bollywood movie dialogues recited by ghalib 'on point' , ghazals playing by the scenario in the story.
Talking about the ghazals some of my favourites are :
✨Har ek baat pe kehte tum...
✨Laayi hayaat aaye ...(ibrahim zauk)
✨Karz ki peete the mein...
✨Aah ko chaahiye ek umra...
✨Hazaaron khwaishe aisi...
✨ Dialogue - (Kya kahe is aadmi ka janaab, sir se paav tak dil hi dil hai)
You can just Google these as keywords and rekhta will come to you...
Thanks a bunch to rekhta.org for helping me out whenever I want to figure out the meanings of the ghazals. It wil not just let you know the translation but also tells meaning and sometimes even find some one who can recite that for you. ❤️✨
In (Pune ,maharashtra,India )Om Bhutkar and Natak Company organizes a theatre show on Ghalib its also a great show. Dont miss that show if you ever get a chance to watch it.
I had watched the series before, it's available on YouTube. So I could read the whole book in the sounds of Jagjit singh , Nasiruddin shah, neena gupta .
Some of the incidents and ghazals stick to your mind. As this is book is like a script you'll always feel it like you're watching a bollywood movie dialogues recited by ghalib 'on point' , ghazals playing by the scenario in the story.
Talking about the ghazals some of my favourites are :
✨Har ek baat pe kehte tum...
✨Laayi hayaat aaye ...(ibrahim zauk)
✨Karz ki peete the mein...
✨Aah ko chaahiye ek umra...
✨Hazaaron khwaishe aisi...
✨ Dialogue - (Kya kahe is aadmi ka janaab, sir se paav tak dil hi dil hai)
You can just Google these as keywords and rekhta will come to you...
Thanks a bunch to rekhta.org for helping me out whenever I want to figure out the meanings of the ghazals. It wil not just let you know the translation but also tells meaning and sometimes even find some one who can recite that for you. ❤️✨
In (Pune ,maharashtra,India )Om Bhutkar and Natak Company organizes a theatre show on Ghalib its also a great show. Dont miss that show if you ever get a chance to watch it.
August 13, 2024
in the preface, Gulzar pens down, with one or two biographical trivia here and there— what ends it with a rather ambiguous and rhetorical question— “did i make his life or mine?”. for me that's asad-e-magnum opus, after all. his oeuvre was and counties to make him one of us, and us all, his (muse).
Read
September 18, 2022Kuch kitabon ki rating karna bhi tauheen sa lagta hai. Ye unmein se ek hain.
April 5, 2018
Gulzar made a T.V series and then it came out as a book. This book takes us through life of Ghalib. How Mirza Nausha turned Mirza Ghalib. Fighting most of his prime years to get the case of pension settled Ghalib fell into debt. Add to this are his habit of drinking and gambling. But this man remained true to his nature, Writing "ghazals" on every little instances of his life.
The best thing that this book shows are:
First, a man should be the same man inside and out. He should neither be defeated by poverty and bad phase of life amd neither be blind with joy when he gets fame.
Second, to remain true to your love.( In spite of being loved by Nawab Jaan Ghalib remained true to Umraaw.)
Third, to live life on your own terms.
Fourth, to have the ability to make jokes and laugh at yourself even in failure.
The picture and politics of India when English came for the first time and fall of Badshahs and Nawabs and the Revolt of 1857 is well described.
Worth reading.
The best thing that this book shows are:
First, a man should be the same man inside and out. He should neither be defeated by poverty and bad phase of life amd neither be blind with joy when he gets fame.
Second, to remain true to your love.( In spite of being loved by Nawab Jaan Ghalib remained true to Umraaw.)
Third, to live life on your own terms.
Fourth, to have the ability to make jokes and laugh at yourself even in failure.
The picture and politics of India when English came for the first time and fall of Badshahs and Nawabs and the Revolt of 1857 is well described.
Worth reading.
August 23, 2024
Sometimes an old book that you have read and while cleaning your bookshelf you find it and you go through it again and you realise that whatever you have liked it long ago you like it again. I think that continuity is a good sign because it speaks of the merit of the book and also it speaks of your own consistency and your own taste and temperament. I think Gulzar saab worked on this book during the 90s when he came out with kind of series on Mirza Ghalib and that is the time these notes were later on produced as a book by Rupa Publications.
I like everything about this book, its sepia kind of look, it’s divided into chapters but they are more like scenes from the film. Its also cinematic and its very simple and everything that you need to know about this legendary poet its there. His best poems, his emotions, his personality, his vision of life. So, for somebody like me who does not know so much about Urdu and the distinguished Urdu poets, this was a treat the first time in 2005 and it’s a treat again in 2022. Gulzar saab thank you for this wonderful book. And Rupa Publications has published many books with Gulzar saab and all the books are wonderful, this one is particularly nice. I think there’s a chemistry between the publisher and the author and also the author and the subject. He has been soft on the writer for ages and its natural. In Gulzar saab’s study room there’s a statute of Ghalib saab and whoever goes to meet Gulzar saab at his study is always encountering the legendary poet.
I like everything about this book, its sepia kind of look, it’s divided into chapters but they are more like scenes from the film. Its also cinematic and its very simple and everything that you need to know about this legendary poet its there. His best poems, his emotions, his personality, his vision of life. So, for somebody like me who does not know so much about Urdu and the distinguished Urdu poets, this was a treat the first time in 2005 and it’s a treat again in 2022. Gulzar saab thank you for this wonderful book. And Rupa Publications has published many books with Gulzar saab and all the books are wonderful, this one is particularly nice. I think there’s a chemistry between the publisher and the author and also the author and the subject. He has been soft on the writer for ages and its natural. In Gulzar saab’s study room there’s a statute of Ghalib saab and whoever goes to meet Gulzar saab at his study is always encountering the legendary poet.
February 8, 2023
گلزار صاحب نے غالب کی زندگی کا منظر نامہ بیان کیا اور کہا شاندار نیان کیا ہے۔سن 1988 میں گلزار صاحب نے انڈیا کے قومی ٹیلی ویژن دور درشن کے لئے غالب کی حیات کو ایک سیریل کی صورت میں ڈھالا اور کیا ہی شاندار انداز میں فلمایا۔ یہ اسی سیریل کی کتابی شکل ہے
۔
غالب کی گھریلو زندگی، ان کی بیگم امراؤ سے ان کے تعلقات، دلی میں شاعر کی پہچان بنانے کی جدو جہد سے دلی کیا ہندوستان کے سب سے مہان شاعر تک کا سفر، مغل دربار تک رسائی، پنشن کے حصول کے لئے کی جانے والی کوششیں۔ پینشن ہی کے حصول کے لئے کلکتہ کا سفر، جوا کھیلنے اور شراب نوشی، قرض خواہی، غالب کی قید ، دوستیاں غرض غالب کی زندگی کے ایک ایک سے ایک پہلو کا بیان ہے وللہ ہی کیا خوبصورت بیان ہے۔ غالب جیسے نابغہ کی زندگی کا ایک تفصیلی منظر نامہ آنکھوں کے سامنے سے گزر جاتا ہے۔ یہ سب واقعات اور ان سب مواقع پہ غالب کی مشہور عالم شاعری کا جڑاؤ بے ساختہ منہ سے واہ نکلتی ہے۔ غالب کی تقریباً ساری بے مثال اردو شاعری کو اس کتاب میں کامیاب ہنرمند کی طرح جڑ دیا گیا۔ نثر اور شاعری کا ایک خوبصورت مرقع نظر آتی ہے یہ کتاب۔
۔
اس کتاب کو پڑھنے کے بعد آپ کے دل میں غالب کی عظمت اور زیادہ بڑھ جاتی ہے۔ اور یہ کہ یہ جینئس انسان کیوں مس فٹ تھا اس سوسائٹی میں۔۔۔۔ ہائے۔۔۔ غالب رے غالب۔۔۔ بلا شبہ ہندوستان کا سب سے عظیم شاعر اور بے مثال انسان
۔
۔
غالب کی گھریلو زندگی، ان کی بیگم امراؤ سے ان کے تعلقات، دلی میں شاعر کی پہچان بنانے کی جدو جہد سے دلی کیا ہندوستان کے سب سے مہان شاعر تک کا سفر، مغل دربار تک رسائی، پنشن کے حصول کے لئے کی جانے والی کوششیں۔ پینشن ہی کے حصول کے لئے کلکتہ کا سفر، جوا کھیلنے اور شراب نوشی، قرض خواہی، غالب کی قید ، دوستیاں غرض غالب کی زندگی کے ایک ایک سے ایک پہلو کا بیان ہے وللہ ہی کیا خوبصورت بیان ہے۔ غالب جیسے نابغہ کی زندگی کا ایک تفصیلی منظر نامہ آنکھوں کے سامنے سے گزر جاتا ہے۔ یہ سب واقعات اور ان سب مواقع پہ غالب کی مشہور عالم شاعری کا جڑاؤ بے ساختہ منہ سے واہ نکلتی ہے۔ غالب کی تقریباً ساری بے مثال اردو شاعری کو اس کتاب میں کامیاب ہنرمند کی طرح جڑ دیا گیا۔ نثر اور شاعری کا ایک خوبصورت مرقع نظر آتی ہے یہ کتاب۔
۔
اس کتاب کو پڑھنے کے بعد آپ کے دل میں غالب کی عظمت اور زیادہ بڑھ جاتی ہے۔ اور یہ کہ یہ جینئس انسان کیوں مس فٹ تھا اس سوسائٹی میں۔۔۔۔ ہائے۔۔۔ غالب رے غالب۔۔۔ بلا شبہ ہندوستان کا سب سے عظیم شاعر اور بے مثال انسان
۔
January 6, 2023
"Hum ko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat, lekin
Dil ke khush rakhne ko, Ghalib ye khayal accha hai. "
Although I know the truth about Paradise
What's the harm if I thus amuse myself
...
Based on the TV show Gulzar wrote in the 90s, this book entails Ghalib's slice of life when he rose to become the Ghalib we have come to know. Against the backdrop of the colonial conquest in India, Ghalib, our Dilliwala, takes a simple truth and then spins his poetry. A lot of it is lost in translation, but this was definitely something I should have gotten to earlier given how much of his shayari I keep quoting.
Dil ke khush rakhne ko, Ghalib ye khayal accha hai. "
Although I know the truth about Paradise
What's the harm if I thus amuse myself
...
Based on the TV show Gulzar wrote in the 90s, this book entails Ghalib's slice of life when he rose to become the Ghalib we have come to know. Against the backdrop of the colonial conquest in India, Ghalib, our Dilliwala, takes a simple truth and then spins his poetry. A lot of it is lost in translation, but this was definitely something I should have gotten to earlier given how much of his shayari I keep quoting.
January 24, 2019
The main reason I liked this book was because it adds context to Ghalib's poetry. Even though it is a loose adaptation of his life, the sutuational poetry really does help in realizing the magic in Ghalib's thoughts.
As this is a translation from Urdu to English, there are some grammatical errors in the book and a non Urdy speaking person may have some trouble understanding context, but these are practically non issues.
Even in the non poetic parts of the book, Gulzar has shown us who Ghalib was as a person and just that was impressionable enough, at least for me.
As this is a translation from Urdu to English, there are some grammatical errors in the book and a non Urdy speaking person may have some trouble understanding context, but these are practically non issues.
Even in the non poetic parts of the book, Gulzar has shown us who Ghalib was as a person and just that was impressionable enough, at least for me.
December 7, 2021
Ghalib's life in Gulzar's words. What's not to like about this book!
What I absolutely treasure about this book is that even though Ghalib's life is not a happy one, you appreciate his wit, his humor and his spirit all along. I admit, I don't understand much of Urdu and the translations may not have technically aided me in understanding his words, but just like anything else written and explained by Gulzar, this book has been a good first step towards understanding the world of Ghalib.
On my way to reading more about him and his work.
What I absolutely treasure about this book is that even though Ghalib's life is not a happy one, you appreciate his wit, his humor and his spirit all along. I admit, I don't understand much of Urdu and the translations may not have technically aided me in understanding his words, but just like anything else written and explained by Gulzar, this book has been a good first step towards understanding the world of Ghalib.
On my way to reading more about him and his work.
May 28, 2024
It's been a delight reading this gem by Ghulzar saheb. The prose runs as the daily events in the life of Ghalib unfold. It has the conversations of Ghalib with his family and aquaintances to whom he is cast and bits of occasional musings wherein Ghalib recollects the moments from the memories of the past. You will, therefore, get to know in what context the various couplets of Ghalib have been said or framed.
August 9, 2017
Read the Urdu version - hindi script.
The text is ridden with spelling mistakes, that's all I found irritating. It is not a biography, but a glimpse into Ghalib, the poet. Does not say much about the other facets of his life but one that is related with poetry. It is far better to watch the series - 12 episodes - than read it. Though reading takes less time than the series.
The text is ridden with spelling mistakes, that's all I found irritating. It is not a biography, but a glimpse into Ghalib, the poet. Does not say much about the other facets of his life but one that is related with poetry. It is far better to watch the series - 12 episodes - than read it. Though reading takes less time than the series.
May 6, 2022
One of the best written biographies about one of the best recent historical figure.
And now coming to the main person, for the one who loves poetry and him, it's such a humbling read to know the person's details. You start loving him more the way his life is captured by the author(Gulzar)....
Will come up with more details and augment this review sooner or later may be..
And now coming to the main person, for the one who loves poetry and him, it's such a humbling read to know the person's details. You start loving him more the way his life is captured by the author(Gulzar)....
Will come up with more details and augment this review sooner or later may be..
February 16, 2019
This book is a must read for all poetry lovers. This is not just a book it's pierian spring. Witnessing Ghalib's journey with the words of Gulzar Sahab is so precious that you will consider yourself lucky whilst reading this book. Thank you Gulzar Sahab.
Read
February 21, 2023Gulzar is Gulzar and Ghalib is Ghalib. A book having both of them is a treasure for those who wants to know about both of them closely.
Life of Ghalib is fully described in Hindi with the couplets he has written throughout the Life.
Loved it ❤️
Life of Ghalib is fully described in Hindi with the couplets he has written throughout the Life.
Loved it ❤️
February 7, 2018
"Ghalib was Dilli, and Dilli was Ghalib"
April 23, 2018
Excellent learning of screenwriting
October 11, 2019
Beautifully written
November 18, 2019
Charming until the last turn.
February 9, 2020
The three stars are not for Mirza Ghalib's shayari of course; they are beyond stars and ratings.
March 17, 2020
It's a painful and wonderful story. One has to have little knowledge of Urdu to understand the book completely.
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