Jigar: Aya Na Ras Nala-e-Dil

'Jigar' was the takhallus of the noted Urdu poet Ali Sikandar (1890–1960); technically, jigar means liver (the organ), though the implied meaning is 'something so unique that one cannot live without it'; hence a close friend is a 'jigri dost.'  'Jigar' was born Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh; he lost his father at an early age and did not have an easy childhood. At a madrassa he was taught Arabic and Persian. His poetry teacher was Rasa Rampuri, and in turn he taught the likes of Majrooh Sultanpuri. He never received any formal higher education, yet it was said of him no university could have taught him - he was only the second in the history of Aligarh Muslim University to be awarded an honorary D. Litt.  (the first one was Iqbal.) His fame has grown in the years since his death, and in the Urdu world he is already being mentioned in the same breath as Iqbal and Ghalib.

Below, Iqbal Bano renders Jigar:




हर सू दिखाई देते हैं वो जलवागर मुझे
क्या-क्या फरेब देती है मेरी नज़र मुझे

Har su dikhai dete hain wo jalwagar mujhe,
kya-kya fareb deti hai meri nazar mujhe.

Revealed in every street that charm-weaver
What deceptions my own eyes do make.

आया ना रास नाला-ए-दिल का असर मुझे
अब तुम मिले तो कुछ नहीं अपनी ख़बर मुझे

Aaya na ras nala-e-dil ka asar mujhe,
ab tum mile to kuch nahi apni khabar mujhe.

No solace get I from my heart's cries
Since we met,  know not I my own news.

डाला है बेखुदी ने अजब राह पर मुझे
आँखें हैं और कुछ नहीं आता नज़र मुझे

Dala hai bekhudi ne ajab rah par mujhe,
aankhen hain aur kuch nahi aata nazar mujhe.

Strange paths has bewilderment led me to,
I have my eyes, yet  fail to see a thing.

करना है आज हज़रत-ए-नासेह का सामना
मिल जाए दो घड़ी को तुम्हारी नज़र मुझे

Karna hai aj hazrat-e-naseh se samana,
mil jaye do ghadi ko tumhari nazar mujhe.

Have to face Exalted's chastisement today,
In that may Thy gaze meet mine for a while.

यकसाँ है हुस्न-ओ-इश्क़ की सरमस्तियों का रंग
उनकी ख़बर उन्हें है न मेरी खबर मुझे

Yaksan hai husn-o-ishq ke sarmastiyon ka rang,
un ke khabar unhen hai na apni khabar mujhe.

Unsteady are the colors of love's rapture,
Neither they aware of their selves, nor I of mine.

मैं दूर हूँ तो रू-ए-सुख़न मुझ से किसलिए
तुम पास हो तो क्यों नहीं आते नज़र मुझे

Main dur hun to ruh-e-sukhan mujh se kis liye,
tum pas ho to kyon nahi aate nazar mujhe.

If we be apart what use then the faces of words?
If we be close why then do not I see you?

दिल ले के मेरा देते हो दाग़-ए-जिगर मुझे
ये बात भूलने की नहीं उम्र भर मुझे

Dil leke mera dete ho daagh-e-jigar mujhe,
ye baat bhulane ke nahi umr bhar mujhe.

You take my heart, leave behind an ache in Jigar
This can't be forgotten tho' all my life be spent.

More of Jigar's ghazals can be found here.

मैं दूर हूँ तो रू-ए-सुख़न मुझ से किसलिए
तुम पास हो तो क्यों नहीं आते नज़र मुझे |