THE EVOLUTION OF GHALIB by Abdullah & Hasan

Author:Abdullah & Hasan [Abdullah & Hasan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mobilism
Published: 2017-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Ghazal

Lust is engaged in many a different delightful tasks

If there had been no death, life would have held no joy

hawas ko hai nishaat-e kaar kyaa kyaa?

nah ho marnaa, to jeeney kaa mazaa kyaa?

This verse was mentioned when discussing ‘affirmation emerges out of negation’. And the two verses being from the same period does not appear to be a coincidence. It reflects that Ghalib understood quite well, even if not in all its dimensions, or in the form of a rigorously worked-out philosophy, that affirmation, or advancement, or meaning is derived through negation, or upturning, or antithesis.

The first line gives no hint of the theme, which is revealed by the second, as the normal human desire to live longer and a fear of death. But, and rightly so, Ghalib terms that as rapacity. Life would lose all charm if it were eternal; in fact, the very same death, which ordinary people dread, makes life enjoyable for those who strive for positive change and understand that ‘affirmation emerges out of negation’.

With regard to life, there are two mutually exclusive extreme views. The hedonists want to live forever and dread death, whereas the life, here and, now, does not interest the classical theists, for whom real and eternal life begins after death and their focus is on the imagined post-death life.

Ghalib, however, steers clear of both these views and comes up with a highly desirable alternative. For him, the permanence, whether that of verifiable earthly life or imagined heavenly bliss, is highly boring and unacceptable.

Here, life and death, both, are understood as complements, and life is to be savoured because of its impermanence. What a wonderful interpretation of death has been presented here. Life is infused with meaningfulness only through its negation, that is, death. So, life is to be lived to its fullest and savoured in all its varied hues, as death imparts impermanence and thereby charm to it.

Death is a complement of life; it is a natural phenomenon, a part of evolution. Post death, one lives in the form of the work that one does during one’s life. Succeeding generations, in addition to savouring the rewards of their own toil, also reap the fruits of the cumulative labour of preceding generations. One becomes a part of the historical evolution. That is how society evolves. So, the continuity of life is maintained through concrete work.

In the ultimate, death is inevitable for anything that is born. Nothing, not even this world, is forever. Every beginning has to have an end; and that end is not to be dreaded or bemoaned, nor is it to be longed for. Because the present, the period of existence, needs to be optimally utilized and savoured; and this gives rise to the philosophy of striving to transform society as per one’s vision.

I am aware of favours being showered on the unworthy

Why grumble about jocular plaint made by the beloved?

nawaazish haaey bejaa dekhtaa hoon

shikaayat haaey rangeen kaa gilaa kyaa?

The lover asks what is there to feel bad about when his beloved makes friendly charges against him.

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