Ghalib-A-Day-Series: An Alcoholic

Couplet: 

ye masaail-e-tasawwuff , ye tera bayaan Ghalib

Tujhay ham Walli samajhtay jo na baada khwar hota 

Translation: 

Such matters of spirituality and your deep analysis on them, Ghalib


We would have considered you a saint, if you were not an alcoholic

Explanation:

Ghalib seems to be inspired by himself due to his remarkable insight on the complex matters of spirituality and religion. He says that he has all the qualities of being a saint except one - that he's an alcohol consumer. If he was not an alcoholic, people would have considered him a saint due to his broad vision and deep understanding of the spiritual matters.

Ghalib-A-Day-Series: Lover's Street

Couplet:

Phir tere kuche ko jaata hai khayaal

Dil-e-Gum gashta magar yaad aaya

Translation:

Once again my thoughts have taken me back to your street

But as I thought about it, I just remembered my lost heart

Explaination:

Ghalib's imagination takes a walk back to the street of his loved one where he seems to have some sweet memories. He now has not been in touch with his loved one so he is sentimental about his lost heart - the heart which he lost in that street of his loved one.

Ghalib-A-Day-Series: Silence

Couplet:

Hai kuch aisi he baat jo chup hoon

    varna kya baat ker nahi aati

Translation:

This matter is such that I am prevented from speaking of it


Otherwise what is there that I cannot speak of

Explanation:

Ghalib speaks about his helplessness on a complicated and a controversial matter which can raise many eye brows. Ghalib understands the sensitive nature of the matter so he decides to keep silent in order to avoid any controversy. He reminds his readers in the second part of the couplet that it's not as if he doesn't know how to play with words, but the sensitivity of the matter has silenced him altogether

Ghalib-A-Day Series: Better Expression of Love

Couplet:

Ya Rabb Na Wo Samjhay hain na Samjhaingay meri baat

Dey Dil Aur he unko, Jo na dey mujhko zubaan aur...

Translation:

O God, she doesn't, nor will understand me

Give her a wiser heart, if you wont give me a better expression.


Explainantion:

Ghalib seems to be dejected by the fact that his loved one is unable to understand the hidden hints of love and affection that he has been trying to give her. He expects things not to change either and is hopeless in her regard. But the next thing he does is to pray to God that either He would soften her heart and make her wise enough so that she could understand his love for her, Or either God teaches him a better way of expessing his feelings, so that she is able to understand the love he has been trying to show.

Ghalib-A-Day-Series: Hypocricy

Couplet:

Kahan maykhaanay ka darwaaza Ghalib aur kahan waaez

Par itna jaantay hain kal wo jataa tha ke ham niklay

Translation:

Door of the Tavern and a preacher are two entirely different things

 but I saw a preacher going inside a tavern yesterday as I was coming out of it.


Explanantion:

Ghalib describes the double-faced nature of some of the preachers or so called molvi's of his time. This couplets tries to explain that idealy, a saint and a place like tavern- where alcohol is consumed, should be poles apart. But in reality, those hypocrites who mask their faces and hide them under the cover of religion, are themselves involved in the activities which they tell others not to do.

Ghalib tries to indicate that even though he himself may not be a pious one, as he visits the tavern as well, but atleast he does not hide it from anyone because he does not fear what people say. He is trying to say that he visits the tavern at a public time without any fear unlike the preachers, who wait for the dusk to take control before going to the tavern, so that no one is able to recognize them. This act, according to Ghalib, is an act of hypocricy which according to him, is a graver sin than the consumption of alcohol.

Ghalib-A-Day-Series: Prison of Life

Couplet:

Qed-e-hayat o band-e-gham asal mai dono ek hain


Maut se pehle aadmi gham se nijaat paaye kyun.....


Translation:

The prison of life and the bondage of grief are one and the same

Before the onset of death, how can man expect to be free of grief?

Explanation:
Mirza Ghalib has gone philosophical in this couplet by describing life as a 'prison'. An imprisonment which is imposed on every soul without a warrant and a crime.

Ghalib describes the prison of life and the bondage of grief as one and the same. In his view, it is impossible for a person to set himself free from the harsh prison of life and the cruel tragedies that are encountered throughout the life itself. The only way out or perhaps the only bail out of the jail of life and bondage of grief is death; the death which has no specific time.