Home | April 2000 Index

Date: 10-Apr-2000
Poet: Wali Mohammed Wali

Wali Deccani, as he is better known as, was born in 1667 
in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He loved travelling, which he 
regarded as a means of education. His visit to Delhi in 1700 
is considered to be of great significance for Urdu Gazals. 
His simple, sensuous and melodious poems in Urdu, awakened 
the Persian loving poets of Delhi to the beauty and capability 
of Urdu as a medium of poetic expression. 

Wali Deccani specialized in Gazals and wrote a total of 473 
Gazals, comprising of 3225 couplets (ashaar). He died in 
Ahmedabad in 1707, and is buried there. 


The translation given below is from K.C.Kanda's
book titled "Masterpieces of Urdu Ghazal".


kiyaa mujh ishq ne zaalim ko.n aab aahistaa aahistaa
ke aatish gul ko karatii hai gulaab aahistaa aahistaa

** My love has melted that despot step by step
As fire distils the essence of rose step by step **

[mujh (mere) = my; zaalim = tyrant/oppressor; aatish = fire]


vafaadaarii ne dilbar kii bujhaayaa aatish-e-Gam ko.n
ke garmii dafaa karataa hai gulaab aahistaa aahistaa

** My faithful love has quenched the fire of my grief
as the rose dispels the effect of heat step by step **

[dafaa = repel/ward off]


ajab kuchh lutf rakhataa hai shab-e-Khilvat me.n gul_ruu so.n
Khitaab aahistaa aahistaa javaab aahistaa aahistaa

** There is a rare delight in lonely nights
To address one's love and hear replies step by step **

[lutf = enjoyment/pleasure; shab = night; Khilvat = solitude]
[gul_ruu = rosy faced; Khitaab = to address; javaab = reply]


mere dil ko.n kiyaa beKhud terii a.nkhiyan ne aaKhir ko.n
ke jiyo.n behosh karatii hai sharaab aahistaa aahistaa

** Your eyes at last have entranced my heart
As wine benumbs our wit step by step **


huaa tujh ishq so.n ai aatishii.n_ruu dil meraa paanii
ke jiyo.n galataa hai aatish so.n gulaab aahistaa aahistaa

** Your love has melted my heart, O blazing face
As fire dissolves the rose step by step **

[tujh (tere) = your; galanaa = to melt/dissolve]

[I am sure a better translation than "Blazing Face" is 
possible for 'aatishii.n_ruu'. Also, the second line of 
this sher seems to contradict the second line of the 
second couplet.] 


adaa-o-naaz so.n aataa hai vo roshan_jabii.n ghar so.n
ki jiyo.n mashriq se nikale aaftaab aahistaa aahistaa

** There comes that radiant face, decked in pride and grace
Like the Eastern sun springing step by step **

[jabii.n = forehead; mashriq = East; aaftaab = Sun]

[The Eastern Sun does not seem right. The poet talks of 
the Sun rising from the East, not the Eastern Sun. After 
all there is only one Sun. :-)]


"Wali" mujh dil me.n aataa hai Khayaal-e-yaar-e-beparavaah
ke jiyo.n a.nkhiyan me.n aataa hai Khvaab aahistaa aahistaa

** The thought of my mindless love thus visits my heart
As a dream visits our eyes step by step **

[beparavaah = one who does not care]


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