DMSUNDERLINES: Ghalib: Part : 15 Dadasaheb Sanadi
This part begins with an interesting anecdote related to Socrates. Once a man went and complained to him that ‘All the men living in Cicily lie’ Socrates, the wise man, asked him if he himself lived in Cicily. The man answered him in a positive way. Socrates just smiled and told him, that if it is so, he also must be lying. The present ‘sher’ is a very famous one of Ghalib:
Ishq Ne Ghalib Nikamma Kar Diya
Varna Hum Bhi Aadami The Kaam Ke
The present ‘sher’ stands on a very elevated level of understanding if taken metaphysically. In Suifism, the relation between God and worshipper is like that of lover and beloved. However, this 'sher' is often taken on a very ordinary level. But in any context, the words have remained immortal and are very closely connected to Ghalib. The use of words in various languages for love is different. In Hindi or Urdu, they are loosely called Pyar, Ishq and Mohabbat. In the English language, they can be Love Lust, and Romance and in the Marathi Language, they are Prem, Pranay, and Vasana. (All are not exact- equivalent)The narrator makes a point here that, in any language of the world all the sensible things cannot be put with only application of logic. Effort of any language to catch the truth is like a puppy trying to catch its tail. Likewise, is our life and love. They remain beyond logic and reason. Words can dance around life, they cannot embrace life. The narrator brings one fact to our notice, if this sher is said to anyone- lover or beloved- the person feels extremely happy about it. Because this sher states the condition of the one, who is in love. The journey of one-sided love usually is like this. One person becomes ‘Nikamma’ meaning useless in it. Ghalib has used this in Revelation of Almighty; however, we apply it in common sense. Traditionally speaking, this sher expresses the pangs of love love-stricken lover. But, today the concepts are changing. Today, the search for other partners goes on immediately. As the social norms are undergoing changes, cultural changes are included in it. Cultural mix has become a daily and regular thing. The narrator says- the base of love is the heart. This ‘sher’ is perhaps an expression of the lover telling the beloved about how far he has gone in matters of love; where he has become a ‘nikamma’ It is hoped that this condition of the lover be better understood and rewarded back with mutual love…!