'Yeh Dil Yeh Pagal Dil and Awargi'

I have always had the highest respect for Ghulam Ali as a Ghazal singer. Part of this lies in my affinity towards this form of music.Ghulam Ali is one of the finest artists in this genre of music and I can never tire listening to his Ghazals. Whether at home or while driving these Ghazals provide me with solace from the maddening Delhi traffic.My favourite among all his Ghazals is 'Yeh Dil Yeh pagal Dil mera', it is a beautiful Ghazal with wonderful classical overtones sung by a master at his peak. It evokes sheer poetry with metaphors like 'Kal Shab mujhe Beshakl si Awaaz ne Chaunkan diya'(I was surprised by a faceless voice yesterday). Now the translation is a bit ordinary and anyway no use in translating beautiful Urdu poetry into mundane English.I would daresay people like Ramgopal Varma and his ilk can even find some movie title out of this (in the horror genre).

The point is about how langour and leisure are beautifully captured in the Ghazal with comparisons of a Dasht(desert) and an imaginary town.This Ghazal is a rendition of the human soul troubled by constant changes and the necessity to adapt to them.When Ali sings 'Sehra ki tapti ret par maine likha Awargi' you revel not only in the poetry but also the rendition by a maestro singing about loneliness being fought and at times accompanied by blissful leisure.

The verses of the Ghazal show the various moods of a man on the path of identification of his soul and aim in life ; so a Dasht(desert) is a desolate path in his heart which is parched. The 'Awargi' theme is the balm with which this man consoles himself. Poignant the Ghazal is , but is not without tenderness and joy.

Ghulam Ali's mastery over the form and his rendition embraces you and also provides joy . You are secure in the knowledge that you are listening to the sonorous and yet playful tones of a secure 'master'.