Citation : Singh AR (2024). Don’t be A Nuktachin (Nit-picker). In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 20-21
نکتہ چیں ہے غم دل اس کو سنائے نہ بنے
کیا بنے بات جہاں بات بنائے نہ بنے
नुक्ता-चीं है ग़म-ए-दिल उस को सुनाए न बने
क्या बने बात जहाँ बात बनाए न बने
nukta-chii.n hai gham-e-dil us ko sunaa.e na bane
kyaa bane baat jahaa.n baat banaa.e na bane
(DG 192,1: 1189)
Meaning
She/He is a nuktachin
(a nit-picker a carper, a niggler someone who constantly criticises in a petty way).
What’s the use of telling her/him of the sorrows of one’s heart?
And what’s the use of trying to mend matters with someone where no effort works?
Explanation/Comment:
We find this in life all the time.
There are some perennial critics, some nit-pickers, whose only business in life is to keep criticising others and carping over petty matters. God forbid if you have to live with one such.
Ghalib talks of such a nuktachin. He says – what’s the use of narrating the sorrows of your heart to her/him? Rather than applying any balm, she/he will hurt you further by pointing out it’s all your fault.
How can one mend matters with such a person where every effort to do so only leads to further criticism?
There are husbands who keep doing naktachini of their wives; and wives are also not far behind in the race.
Spouses try to mend matters throughout life, but a nuktachin carries on with niggling all through life.
Therefore, stop being nuktachin yourself. And maintain a safe distance from one who is.
Citation : Singh AR (2024). Don’t be A Nuktachin (Nit-picker). In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 20-21
نکتہ چیں ہے غم دل اس کو سنائے نہ بنے
کیا بنے بات جہاں بات بنائے نہ بنے
नुक्ता-चीं है ग़म-ए-दिल उस को सुनाए न बने
क्या बने बात जहाँ बात बनाए न बने
nukta-chii.n hai gham-e-dil us ko sunaa.e na bane
kyaa bane baat jahaa.n baat banaa.e na bane
(DG 192,1: 1189)
Meaning
She/He is a nuktachin
(a nit-picker a carper, a niggler someone who constantly criticises in a petty way).
What’s the use of telling her/him of the sorrows of one’s heart?
And what’s the use of trying to mend matters with someone where no effort works?
Explanation/Comment:
We find this in life all the time.
There are some perennial critics, some nit-pickers, whose only business in life is to keep criticising others and carping over petty matters. God forbid if you have to live with one such.
Ghalib talks of such a nuktachin. He says – what’s the use of narrating the sorrows of your heart to her/him? Rather than applying any balm, she/he will hurt you further by pointing out it’s all your fault.
How can one mend matters with such a person where every effort to do so only leads to further criticism?
There are husbands who keep doing naktachini of their wives; and wives are also not far behind in the race.
Spouses try to mend matters throughout life, but a nuktachin carries on with niggling all through life.
Therefore, stop being nuktachin yourself. And maintain a safe distance from one who is.