Citation : Singh AR (2024). The Silent Suffering of love. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 50-51
کسی کو دے کے دل کوئی نواسنج فغاں کیوں ہو
نہ ہو جب دل ہی سینے میں تو پھر منہ میں زباں کیوں ہو
किसी को दे के दिल कोई नवा-संज-ए-फ़ुग़ाँ क्यूँ हो
न हो जब दिल ही सीने में तो फिर मुँह में ज़बाँ क्यूँ हो
kisii ko de ke dil ko.ii navaa-sanj-e-fughaa.n kyuu.n ho
na ho jab dil hii siine me.n to phir mu.nh me.n zabaa.n kyuu.n ho
(DG 127:1:793)
Meaning
On giving away one’s heart,
why should someone be a song-singer/wealth-gatherer of laments/sighs/groans
(navasanj-e-fughan)
When there is no heart left in the chest,
why should there be a tongue in the mouth?
Explanation/Comment:
This ‘sher’ extols the silent suffering of the true lover.
When you have given your heart willingly to someone, why do you make a song and dance about it? You did it willingly, isn’t it? So why sing to the whole world about it, or gather the wealth of laments and groans?
The true lover knows that laments, sighs and groans are integral to love, and doesn’t lament to the world about it. Rather, she/he suffers in solitude, silently. – not for gaining the sympathy of the world. Loud proclamations to the world of the pain of love is the method of the false lover.
Further, if there is no heart left with you, why should there be a tongue in your mouth? Meaning, why talk about it? It’s better to suffer silently, or at least not crib to the world.
A second meaning of the second line is also noteworthy. When there is no heart in the chest, meaning no compassion or love, why should a person make a show of love and compassion towards others by loud proclamations? It’s only if you have a heart that you have the right to talk.
Ghalib extols the virtues of lamentless suffering and wants the true lover to stop seeking others sympathy. The groans and sighs are to be suffered, but no crying to the world about it.
Also, only that person has the right to talk about love and compassion who has the heart to back it up wit action.
Citation : Singh AR (2024). The Silent Suffering of love. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 50-51
کسی کو دے کے دل کوئی نواسنج فغاں کیوں ہو
نہ ہو جب دل ہی سینے میں تو پھر منہ میں زباں کیوں ہو
किसी को दे के दिल कोई नवा-संज-ए-फ़ुग़ाँ क्यूँ हो
न हो जब दिल ही सीने में तो फिर मुँह में ज़बाँ क्यूँ हो
kisii ko de ke dil ko.ii navaa-sanj-e-fughaa.n kyuu.n ho
na ho jab dil hii siine me.n to phir mu.nh me.n zabaa.n kyuu.n ho
(DG 127:1:793)
Meaning
On giving away one’s heart,
why should someone be a song-singer/wealth-gatherer of laments/sighs/groans
(navasanj-e-fughan)
When there is no heart left in the chest,
why should there be a tongue in the mouth?
Explanation/Comment:
This ‘sher’ extols the silent suffering of the true lover.
When you have given your heart willingly to someone, why do you make a song and dance about it? You did it willingly, isn’t it? So why sing to the whole world about it, or gather the wealth of laments and groans?
The true lover knows that laments, sighs and groans are integral to love, and doesn’t lament to the world about it. Rather, she/he suffers in solitude, silently. – not for gaining the sympathy of the world. Loud proclamations to the world of the pain of love is the method of the false lover.
Further, if there is no heart left with you, why should there be a tongue in your mouth? Meaning, why talk about it? It’s better to suffer silently, or at least not crib to the world.
A second meaning of the second line is also noteworthy. When there is no heart in the chest, meaning no compassion or love, why should a person make a show of love and compassion towards others by loud proclamations? It’s only if you have a heart that you have the right to talk.
Ghalib extols the virtues of lamentless suffering and wants the true lover to stop seeking others sympathy. The groans and sighs are to be suffered, but no crying to the world about it.
Also, only that person has the right to talk about love and compassion who has the heart to back it up wit action.