Meer Taqi Meer

During some singing competition in college the most talented singer on Campus sang a Jagjit Singh Ghazal,

Thukarao ya ab ke pyaar karo,
Main Nashe mein hoon,
Jo Chaho mere yaar karo,
Main Nashe mein hoon,

Ab bhi Dila Raha hoon yakeen-e-wafa magar,
Mera na aitabaara karo,
Main Nashe mein hoon

I can't recall the rest of the lyrics, but I loved that song.

Sometime ago I caught a Pankaj Udhas song on iTV - which did go "Main Nashe Mein hoon" but it wasn't quite the same. The lyrics were difficult to follow.

Around that time I was reading "Delhi" by Khushwant Singh. In that there is a chapter "Meer Taqi Meer" , in which the poet Meer Taqi Meer, who lived in the 18th Century, narrates the story of his life in Delhi and Agra and his ardent love for one woman. (The whole of "Delhi" is written in the first person)

The chapter is full of Khushwant Singh's translations of Meer's poems and one of them happened to be,

...For I am a little Drunk

I found the translation quite nice and it reminded me of " Thukrao ya..." so the next weekend I searched for "Main Nashe mein hoon" and "Meer Taqui Meer" and I got to know about this Album by Pankaj Udhas called "In Search of Meer". Ah! Now that Video on iTV made sense.

I have the casette with me now. The Ghazals are quite nice.

Here's Main Nashe Mein Hoon from the casette. The English Translations are a joint effort by me and Khushwant Singh, without his knowledge. Check out the punch-couplet (sic) in the end.


Main Nashe Mein Hoon

Yaron mujhe muaaf rakho, main nashe mein hoon
Ab do to jaam khali hi do, main nashe mein hoon

Masti se bad-hami hai meri guftagoo ke beech ( guftagoo=conversation)
Jo chaho tum bhi mujh ko kaho, main nashe mein hoon.

Ya haaton-haat lo mujhe manind-e-jaam-e-mai,
Ya thodi der saat chalo main nashe mein hoon

Nazuk mizaaj, aap kayamat hai Meer-ji,
Jon Sheesha mere mooh na lago main nashe mein hoon.

****
I am a little Drunk

Friends please forgive me, for I am a little drunk,
If you do hand me the glass, make sure its empty,
for I am a little drunk.

If out of excitement, there is a rudeness in my speech,
You too can call me what you like, for I am a little drunk

Either hold me a bit, like you hold the wine glass
Or at least walk a bit with me, for I am a little drunk

The glass-like, delicate-tempered Meer is a dangerous fellow
Don't you mess with me, for I am a little drunk