Ghalib: More Than a Poet

He remains unparalleled for his intellectual curiosity, as also for his wit and humour.

We bring you some lateefas (jokes) that will bring a smile to your lips. But they will also make you sad.

He lived a life of helplessness. But he also had the courage to make fun of miseries.

This is what Ghalib was.

If we are able to get even an inch closer to this emotional turmoil, it will be a huge tribute to his soul.

Tumne mere paiyr daabe, maine paise!

Ek roz Mirza Sahab ke shagird Mir Mehdi Majrooh Unke makaan par aaye. Dekha Mirza palang par paDe karaah rahe hain. Ye unke paanv dabaane lage. Mirza bole “Bhai tu sayyad-zaada hai, mujhe kyun gunahgaar karta hai?” Mir Mehdi Majrooh na mane aur kaha “aap ko aisa hi khayaal hai to paiyr daabne ke paise de dijiyega” Mirza bole “Haan ye Theek hai” Jab paiyr daab chuke to Mir Mehdi Majrooh ne Az-raah-e-mazaaq Mirza Sahab se aise maange. Mirza ne kaha “Bhayya kaise paise, tumne mere paiyr daabe maine tumhaare paise daabe!”

Botal ki Dua

Ek shaam Mirza ko sharaab na mili, to namaaz paDHne chale gye. Itne mein unka ek shagird aaya. Use maloom hua Mirza ko sharaab nahi mili hai. Wo masjid ke saamne pahuncha aur wahan se Mirza ko botal dikhayi. Mirza vazu karne ke baad masjid se nikalne lage to kisi ne kaha “Ye kya miyaa’n ki baGHair namaaz paDHe hi chal diye” Mirza bole “Jis cheez ke liye dua maangni thi wo yunhi mil gyi”

Aadha Musalmaan

GHadar ke hangamon ke baad jab pakaD dhakaD shuru hui to Mirza Sahib ko bhi bulaya gaya. Carnal ke saamne peshi hui. Hasb-i-mamool ko bhi Mirza apni kulah pahne huye the, jiski wajah se kuch ajeeb-o-GHareeb wazaa-qataa maloom hoti thi. Mirza ko dekh kar Carnal ne kaha “Mirza sahab tum musalmaan ho?” Mirzra Sahab ne baDi mataanat se jawaab diya “Aadha musalmaan hun sahab” Carnal ne ta’ajjub se kaha “Aadha musalmaan! Iska matlab… ?” “Sharaab peeta hun, su’ar nahin khaata” Mirza fauran bole, Ye sunkar carnal bahut mahzuuz hua aur Mirza ko aizaaz ke saath ruKHsat kar diya.

Khaane ka ‘Gham’ to hai

Aamdani ke saare raaste band ho jaane ki wajah se Mirza bahut pareshaan the. Log roti khaate hain to baqaul Mirza wo KHud kapDa khaate the (GHurbat ki wahaj se ghar mein kapDe, oDHna bichhauna jo kuch tha sab beich ke khaana paDa) Pareshaani ki is haalat mein Mirza apne dost Mir Mehdi Majrooh ko likhte hai
“Miyaa’n be-rizq jeene ka DHab mujhko aa gaya hai. Iss taraf se KHatir jama rakhna. Ramzaan ka maheena roze kha kha kar kaaTa. Aage KHuda Razzaaq hai kuch aur khaane kko na mila, to ‘GHam’ to hai hi”

Main BaaGHi Kaise?

GHadar ke hungame ke baad jab Mirza Ghalib ki pension band thi, ek din Pandit Moti Lal, Mir Munshi Leftinent governor Mirza ke makaan par aaye. Guftugu ke dauraan pension ka bhi zikr aaya. Mirza sahab ne kaha
“Tamaam umr agar ek din sharaab na pi ho kaafir aur ek dafa namaaz paDHi ho to gunahgaar. Phir main nahi jaanta ki sarkaar ne kis tarah mujhe baaGHi musalmaano mein shumaar kiya”