The Language of Love

I am a big fan of the ghazals and sher-o-shayari or maybe im a fan of Urdu. Afterall, having parental roots from the city of nawabs 'lucknow', it was inevitable. A very common joke 'Pehle Aap, Pehle Aap mein gaadi nikal jati hai' tells how graceful Urdu is.

All languages convey a culture but, perhaps, no other language does this better than Urdu. The Punjabi brashness expresses in the crude swear words of its language; French,Italian or Latin can barely convey the depths of arts of the victorian era But Urdu... even the sighs of this beautiful language seem to encompass the courtly graces of Islamic-Indian culture which flourished in Awadh.

Urdu is the language of romance; it is the language of poetry, of diplomacy. I can’t help think that any language could be more poetic. Even a mere asking for introduction is called 'Aapki Taareef?'

When i listen to the ghazals, the longing and depth in the lyrics can anyday beat the mushiest Valentine's Day Card. Urdu is such an intense language - expresses the love,angst,betrayal of an hopeless romantic.

Here are a few couplets from Ghalib -

Dil na umid to nahi, nakam hi to hai,
Lambi hai gam ki shyam magar, shyam hi to hai.

Jis ki awaaz main salwat hoo nigahon main shikan
Aaisee tasveer ke tukde nahi joda karte

Yeh mere aasu jinhe koi pochne wala bhi nahi,
Koi aanchal enhe milta to sitare hote.

Taalim nahi di jaati parindo ko udaano ki,
Woh to khud hi samajh jaate hain oonchaai aasmano ki

Girte hai sahe sawaar hi maidan e jung mein
Wo tilf kya girenge jo ghutno ke bal chale

Saamne hai jo use log bura kehte hain
Jisko dekha hi nahi, usko khuda kehte hain

Poetically yours
Faded Glory