Citation : Singh AR (2024). I am Not a Stone at Your Door. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 32-33
دائم پڑا ہوا ترے در پر نہیں ہوں میں
خاک ایسی زندگی پہ کہ پتھر نہیں ہوں میں
दाइम पड़ा हुआ तेरे दर पर नहीं हूँ मैं
ख़ाक ऐसी ज़िंदगी पे कि पत्थर नहीं हूँ मैं
daa.im pa.Daa hu.aa tere dar par nahii.n huu.n mai.n
KHaak aisii zindagii pe ki patthar nahii.n huu.n mai.n
(DG 111, 1: 657)
Meaning
I do not always lie at your doorstep
Woe to such a life, for I am not a stone
Explanation/Comment:
This sher’ has been variously interpreted. I will share what appeals to me.
Ghalib is telling someone to stop treating him like a piece of stone lying at her/his doorstep.
When we take for granted that someone is meek and devoted to us, we often tend to treat her/him as a piece of stone with indifference and callousness.
To such as these, Ghalib says, “Dont you think that I will always lie at your door. Fie on such a life, for I am not a stone unfeeling, and one who can be kicked aside.”
Many a times the powerful (and leaders) have a tendency to ‘use and throw’ treat people like disposable syringes. To such as these, Ghalib says that he is loyal and devoted, true, but not ready to abandon his self-respect under any circumstances. For such an existence is worthless.
Re-read the “sher’ and this meaning will dawn upon you.
More importantly, you will never treat anyone with such disdain and arrogance.
Citation : Singh AR (2024). I am Not a Stone at Your Door. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 32-33
دائم پڑا ہوا ترے در پر نہیں ہوں میں
خاک ایسی زندگی پہ کہ پتھر نہیں ہوں میں
दाइम पड़ा हुआ तेरे दर पर नहीं हूँ मैं
ख़ाक ऐसी ज़िंदगी पे कि पत्थर नहीं हूँ मैं
daa.im pa.Daa hu.aa tere dar par nahii.n huu.n mai.n
KHaak aisii zindagii pe ki patthar nahii.n huu.n mai.n
(DG 111, 1: 657)
Meaning
I do not always lie at your doorstep
Woe to such a life, for I am not a stone
Explanation/Comment:
This sher’ has been variously interpreted. I will share what appeals to me.
Ghalib is telling someone to stop treating him like a piece of stone lying at her/his doorstep.
When we take for granted that someone is meek and devoted to us, we often tend to treat her/him as a piece of stone with indifference and callousness.
To such as these, Ghalib says, “Dont you think that I will always lie at your door. Fie on such a life, for I am not a stone unfeeling, and one who can be kicked aside.”
Many a times the powerful (and leaders) have a tendency to ‘use and throw’ treat people like disposable syringes. To such as these, Ghalib says that he is loyal and devoted, true, but not ready to abandon his self-respect under any circumstances. For such an existence is worthless.
Re-read the “sher’ and this meaning will dawn upon you.
More importantly, you will never treat anyone with such disdain and arrogance.