Even if you’re not an ardent fan of Urdu shayari, you cannot look away at a Mirza Ghalib couplet if you stumble upon one. Mirza Ghalib spent the entirety of his life near a Masjid, listening to Mushairas, interpreting love and life. After so many years since he passed away, the couplets in which he poured his heart and intellect out continue to touch the chords of our hearts. Today, Urdu aficionados are celebrating the 220th birth anniversary of the most celebrated Urdu poet ever lived.
aah ko chāhiye ik umr asar hote tak
kaun jiitā hai tirī zulf ke sar hote tak
Hamko unse wafa ki hai umeed
Jo nahi jaante wafa kya hai
Zindagi yun bhi guzar hi jaati
Kyun tera raahguzar yaad aaya
Mehrbaan hoke bula lo mujhe chaaho jis waqt
Main gaya waqt nahi hoon ki phir aa bhi na sakun
Zikr us parivash ka, aur phir bayan apna
Ban gaya raqib aakhir tha jo raazdan apna
Qata kiijye na ta’alluq ham se
Kuch nahin hai to adavat hi sahi
Naqsh fariyaadi hai kis ki shokhi-e-tahreer ka
Kaagzi hai pairahan har paikar-e-tasveer ka
Qaid-e-hayat-o-band-e-gam asl mein dono ek hain
Maut se pahle aadmi gam se nijat paye kyun
Hain aur bhi duniya mein sukhanvar bahut achche
Kahte hain ki ‘Ghalib’ ka hai andaaz-e-bayan aur
Hain aur bhi duniya mein sukhanvar bahut achche
Kahte hain ki ‘Ghalib’ ka hai andaaz-e-bayan aur
