Slivers of a Mirror

For nearly three centuries the Urdu ghazal has been beloved of connoisseur and layman alike. Its hypnotic rhythmic qualities, its exquisite interweaving of human and divine love, its joy in the good things of life as well as its mystic austerity, and, finally, its irresistible wit, have made it equally popular whether recited at formal gatherings, or spontaneously quoted, or only read. This translation attempts to capture the best qualities of the ghazal in a contemporary voice. Many of the enduring names of the ghazal are to be found here-from the early mystic Siraj Aurangabadi, whose language had a touch of the Deccan, through the great ghalib to modern poets like Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi. Urdu and Devanagri renderings of the poems ensure that the originals are also accessible to may readers, retaining the essence of ghazals.