Ghazal : Har Ek Baat Pe Kahate Ho Tum Ki Tu Kya Hai
Singer : Jagjit Singh
Poet : Mirza Ghalib
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(1) Har Ek Baat Pe Kahate Ho Tum Ki Tu Kya Hai
Tumhin Kaho Ke Yeh Andaz E Guftagu Kyaa Hai
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At everything that I say you say Who art thou
Tell me what kind of talk is this

Ghalib protests saying that anything that he says,
He is insulted by the constant refrain, “who art thou
The ‘kya’ here is not meant to ask a question but to express a taunt.
The emphasis should be read on ‘har ek’ and ‘tum’
I.e. he is being taunted on everything that he says.
In this verse ghalib is not insulting to his beloved,
But kind of tells her that if she disagrees with him,
She could argue, but not shut him up )
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(2) Ragon Mein Dau Date Phirane Ke Ham Nahin Qaayal
Jab Aankh Hi Se Na Tapakaa To Phir Lahu Kya Hai
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We do not believe in only running through the viens
When it does not drip through the eye, then is it blood at all

That blood that merely flows in the veins is not worthy of anything.
It becomes ‘blood’ only when in the grief of passion/trials and tribulations of life,
It flows out of the eyes i.e when the eyes cry the tears of blood, it is worthy of praise.
Only then is the resolve of love complete )
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(3) Chipak Raha Hai Badan Par Lahu Se Pairaahan
Hamaarii Jeb Ko An Haajat-E-Rafuu Kyaa Hai
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[pairaahan: dress/cloth/robe]
[jeb: collar, haajat: need, rafuu: darning]

Sticking to the body is the dress with blood
What is the need now to darn the collar

This verse is peerless. One of Ghalib’s best.
The dried blood causes the clothing to stick to his body and keeps the torn collar in place.
Ghalib does not explain the reason for his bleeding in this verse though.
However when the whole body is bleeding and hurting,
Is there a need to be worried about the torn collar
Some scholars have also interpreted this verse to mean that soon all blood would flow
Out of his body and he would need a shroud,
So why worry about the torn collar
This verse is also a pointer to the harsh realities of life
Where bigger misfortunes make smaller misfortune appear trivial )
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(4) Jalaa Hia Jism Jahaan Dil Bhi Jal Gaya Hoga
Kuredate Ho Jo Ab Raakh Justajuu Kya Hai
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Where the body has burned, the heart too must have been burned,
Raking/poking the ashes, what do you desire for (search for) now?

The fire (of love) has consumed the body and the heart.
What are you looking for now by shifting the ashes
Another wonderful verse from ghalib subject to different interpretations.
The word “kuredna” is like at the center of this verse.
While some scholars interpret it as trying to search something lying in the ashes, ‘kuredna’ can also Mean like poking up a fire, stirring up or rekindling old passions, like we say in hindi, ‘purane Zakm Kyon Kuredte ho?’ So this verse can be interpreted either to mean that the beloved is looking For the Heart in the ashes either to check that it is fully burnt with the body,
Or to see if it can be retrieved. It can however also be taken to mean that when
Ghalib seems to be getting over her, she is trying to rekindle the old passions )
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(5) Rahi Na Taaqat-E-Guftaar Aur Agar Ho Bhi
To Kis mmiid Pe Kahiye Ke Aarazu Kya Hai
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The strength to speak has gone; and even if it existed
With what expectation would one say “What is my desire?”

With a lifetime of waiting, my strength to speak is gone.
Even if I could muster enough strength to speak, with what expectations can
I say what I desire? Having been ignored all along, what point will it serve )