Ai mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aayaa…
This ghazal of Shakeel Badayuni, that has failed love for its central idea, acquired, in the gaayaki of Begum Akhtar, an impact that extended beyond the connoisseurs, turned it reasonably popular. The reason: the innate sadness in Begum’s gaayaki finding an obvious affinity for the sentiments in this ghazal. This was a creative confluence of the highest order.
I also have a feeling that this gem of a ghazal of early fifties at least inspired the opening lines of a later day Sahir ghazal that muses, generally, on a life coming unstuck: kabhi khud pe kabhi haalat pe rona aaya / baat nikali to har aik baat pe rona aaya…
But this Shakeel ghazal is one of the best on the point of failed love, rendered timeless by Begum’s gaayaki.
The ghazal with its rendering in English:
kabhī taqdīr kā mātam kabhī duniyā kā gila
manzil-e-ishq meñ har gaam pe ronā aayā
Lamenting the fate now
And remonstrating with the world the moment next
I cried at every step to my destination love!
yuuñ to har shaam umīdoñ meñ guzar jaatī hai
aaj kuchh baat hai jo shaam pe ronā aayā
Though I survive the evenings in anticipation
What snapped today that I lament the evening itself!
mujh pe hī ḳhatm huā silsila-e-nauhagarī
is qadar gardish-e-ayyām pe ronā aayā
As all mourning sat on me, finally
I thus lamented my own vicissitudes!
jab huā zikr zamāne meñ mohabbat kā ‘shakīl’
mujh ko apne dil-e-nākām pe ronā aayā
When the world at large alluded to love
Shakil lamented his own heart distraught!
ai mohabbat tire anzaam par rona aayaa…
jaane kyuuñ aaj tire naam pe ronā aayā
More to read
Mehdi Hassan: Touching the Finer Chords of Emotion in Music
Mujhe Le Chalo: An Ode to the Lost World by Rajinder Krishan
Bipade More Rakkha Karo: The Prayer to Be Fearless (Translation of Tagore Song)
One of my very favorite Begum Akhtar ghazals. Somehow didn’t realize this was Shakeel!
Loved your connect with Sahir and the interpretation of this.
Will hear it more carefully now.
Vijay ji please likhte rahiye.
Thanks, Monica