Home | February '99 Index

Date: 16-Feb-99
Poet(ess): Meena Kumari

Today's Gazal is by someone who was known more as an actress in Hindi 
films than as a poetess. Nevertheless, she did write quite a bit, though 
only a few of her writings have survived. This Gazal is from the album 
"Mere Nazm, Meri Zabani", presented by Gulzar wherein she recites her 
own writings. Meena Kumari (or Mahajabeen, to call her by her original 
name) also wrote under the pen-name "Naaz". Almost all her writings 
reflect pathos, melancholy - perhaps as a reflection of the sadness of 
the latter years of her life.


chaa.Nd tanhaa hai aasmaa.N tanhaa 
dil milaa hai kahaa.N kahaa.N tanhaa 

[tanhaa= lonely]

bujh gaii aas chhup gayaa taaraa 
thar-tharaataa rahaa dhuaa.N tanhaa 

[aas = hope]

zi.ndagii kyaa isii ko kahate hai.n 
jism tanhaa hai aur jaa.N tanhaa 

hamasafar koii gar mile bhii kahii.n 
dono chalate rahe tanhaa tanhaa 

jalatii bujhatii sii raushanii ke pare 
simaTaa simaTaa saa ek makaa.N tanhaa 

[pare = beyond]

raah dekhaa karegaa sadiyo.n tak 
chho.D jaayenge ye jahaa.N tanhaa