How to "waste" 9 hours procrastinating
So, with an impending exam this week I've found new ways to procrastinate, including writing this blog that I'm sure no one but me reads.
But a more effective "waste" of time is searching for translations to various ghazals. I absolutely love ghazals - poetry (couplet form) usually written in Urdu and sung with traditional indian instruments like a tabla and santoor (string instrument) in the background. Ghazals are heartbreaking tales of lost love but sometimes with a double meaning that is humourous and upbeat.
My hindi is pretty sub-standard so I can barely understand the couplets hence the search for translations. If anyone reading this knows a good site where ghazals sung by Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali or Abidha Parveen are translated please let me know. (of course, since the lyrics are centuries old the translations need not be of the versions sung by the people above).
Btw, when no one is around I usually sing ghazals along with my stereo. It feels really good to belt out such beautiful verses (although I'm sure at least one neighbour of mine disagrees).
Alright, a translation for a ghazal from my brother-in-law and lyrics to another favourite ghazal of mine:
Song: Tum nahin gham nahin sharaab nahi
Singer: Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh
Album: Come Alive
Listen: http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/9/s/album.2854/
Tum Nahii.n Gam Nahii.n Sharaab Nahii.n Aisii Tanhaa_ii Kaa Javaab
Nahii.n
YOU ARE NOT HERE, SORROW IS NOT HERE, ALCOHOL IS NOT HERE (YOU ARE NOT
HERE, BUT THERE IS NO SORROW, PERHAPS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ALCOHOL...)
Gahe Gahe Ise Pa.daa Kiije
Dil Se Bahatar Ko_ii Kitaab Nahii.n
AFTER A LONG SEARCH, WE HAVE COME TO THE REALISATION THAT THERE IS NO
GREATER BOOK THAN THE HEART
Jaane Kis Kis Kii Maut Aa_ii Hai
Aaj Rukh Pe Ko_ii Naqaab Nahii.n
DONT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR WAY (TO DEATH) BECAUSE TODAY
SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE A VEIL ON THEIR FACE
Vo Karam U.ngaliyo.n Pe Gi.nte Hai.n
Zulm Kaa Jinake Kuchh Hisaab Nahii.n
SHE CAN COUNT HER GOOD DEED USING THE FINGERS OF ONE HAND BUT THERE IS
NO COUNT OF HER 'ZULMS' OR HER TREACHERY (IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT
RECIPORCATING HIS LOVE...)
Song: Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon
Singer: Anup Jalota
Album: Live in Fiji
Listen: http://www.dishant.com/album/anup_jalota_-_live_in_fiji.html.
No translation given but pretty close to hindi to understand the surface meaning. Use an online urdu dictionary for the rest of the words.
maiN nazar se pee raha hooN ye samaaN badal na jaay
na jhukaaO tum nigaahaiN kaheeN raat Dhal na jaay
mere ashk bhee haiN iss meiN ye sharaab ubal na jaay
mera jaam Choonay waaley tera haath jal na jaay
abhee raat kuch hai baaqee, na uTha naqaab saaqee
tiraa rind girtay girtay, kaheeN phir saNbhal na jaay
mere zindagee ke maalik, mere dil pe haath raKhna
tere aanay kee khushee meiN mera dam nikal na jaay
mujhay phooNknay se pehlay, mera dil nikaal lainaa
ye kisee kee hai amaanat, mere saath jal na jaay
But a more effective "waste" of time is searching for translations to various ghazals. I absolutely love ghazals - poetry (couplet form) usually written in Urdu and sung with traditional indian instruments like a tabla and santoor (string instrument) in the background. Ghazals are heartbreaking tales of lost love but sometimes with a double meaning that is humourous and upbeat.
My hindi is pretty sub-standard so I can barely understand the couplets hence the search for translations. If anyone reading this knows a good site where ghazals sung by Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali or Abidha Parveen are translated please let me know. (of course, since the lyrics are centuries old the translations need not be of the versions sung by the people above).
Btw, when no one is around I usually sing ghazals along with my stereo. It feels really good to belt out such beautiful verses (although I'm sure at least one neighbour of mine disagrees).
Alright, a translation for a ghazal from my brother-in-law and lyrics to another favourite ghazal of mine:
Song: Tum nahin gham nahin sharaab nahi
Singer: Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh
Album: Come Alive
Listen: http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/9/s/album.2854/
Tum Nahii.n Gam Nahii.n Sharaab Nahii.n Aisii Tanhaa_ii Kaa Javaab
Nahii.n
YOU ARE NOT HERE, SORROW IS NOT HERE, ALCOHOL IS NOT HERE (YOU ARE NOT
HERE, BUT THERE IS NO SORROW, PERHAPS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ALCOHOL...)
Gahe Gahe Ise Pa.daa Kiije
Dil Se Bahatar Ko_ii Kitaab Nahii.n
AFTER A LONG SEARCH, WE HAVE COME TO THE REALISATION THAT THERE IS NO
GREATER BOOK THAN THE HEART
Jaane Kis Kis Kii Maut Aa_ii Hai
Aaj Rukh Pe Ko_ii Naqaab Nahii.n
DONT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR WAY (TO DEATH) BECAUSE TODAY
SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE A VEIL ON THEIR FACE
Vo Karam U.ngaliyo.n Pe Gi.nte Hai.n
Zulm Kaa Jinake Kuchh Hisaab Nahii.n
SHE CAN COUNT HER GOOD DEED USING THE FINGERS OF ONE HAND BUT THERE IS
NO COUNT OF HER 'ZULMS' OR HER TREACHERY (IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT
RECIPORCATING HIS LOVE...)
Song: Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon
Singer: Anup Jalota
Album: Live in Fiji
Listen: http://www.dishant.com/album/anup_jalota_-_live_in_fiji.html.
No translation given but pretty close to hindi to understand the surface meaning. Use an online urdu dictionary for the rest of the words.
maiN nazar se pee raha hooN ye samaaN badal na jaay
na jhukaaO tum nigaahaiN kaheeN raat Dhal na jaay
mere ashk bhee haiN iss meiN ye sharaab ubal na jaay
mera jaam Choonay waaley tera haath jal na jaay
abhee raat kuch hai baaqee, na uTha naqaab saaqee
tiraa rind girtay girtay, kaheeN phir saNbhal na jaay
mere zindagee ke maalik, mere dil pe haath raKhna
tere aanay kee khushee meiN mera dam nikal na jaay
mujhay phooNknay se pehlay, mera dil nikaal lainaa
ye kisee kee hai amaanat, mere saath jal na jaay
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