People around the world see the Taj Mahal as a symbol of eternal love. Poets too have described the Taj Mahal as a monument of love and praised its enchanting beauty and grandeur.
Shaqueel Badayuni wrote:
EK Shahenshah ne banwake hasin taj mahal sari dunia ko muhabbat ki nishani de di
(An emperor built the Taj Mahal and gave the world an eternal symbol of love)
But here is a verse with a contrary view – the poet says, “In building the Taj Mahal, an emperor has made a mockery of the love of all the poor lovers of the world”
Taj tere liye ek mazar-e-ulfat hi sahi
tujhko is vaadi-e-rangi.n se aqidat hi sahi
meri mehboob kahi.n aur mila kar mujhse
bazm-e-shaahi me garibo.n ka guzar kya maani.
Naqsh jis raah pe ho.n satvat-e-shaahi ke nishaa.n
us pe ulfat bhari rooho.n ka safar kya maani
Ye chamanzar, ye Jamna ka Kinara, ye mahal
Ye munaqqash dar – o – deewar, Ye mehrab, ye taq,
Ek Shahenshah ne daulat Ka sahara le kar,
Hum gharibon ki muhabbat, Ka Udaya hai mazaq
Mere Mehboob Kahin aur Mila Kar Mujhse.
(Sahir Ludhianvi)
The poet urges his sweetheart that they meet at some other place – not the Taj Mahal.
(I agree) Tajmahal is the monument of love for you,
you have (a lover’s) faith in its beautiful gardens (you believe our love will blossom here)
but my love, meet me elsewhere – not here.
What meaning do the lives of the impoverished have to the congregation of royals?
The road which is marked with the signs of imperial cruelty
the travails of lovers’ souls have no meaning
These gardens, the bank of river Jamuna, this palace
These intricate carvings on the doors, walls, arches and alcoves
An emperor, on crutches of wealth
has ridiculed the love of us commoners.
My love, meet me somewhere else (not here)
Interesting…
Hey, neat work on the translation! (Applause, applause!)
Shah Jahan ordered that the hands of all artisans be chopped off after the Taj Mahal was completed. Did he have the right to shed the blood of others in order to express/prove his love? Within the Taj Mahal, can one hear the screams of the poor artisans, amidst the silence? The Taj Mahal is but a tomb. Think about it…
Didn’t they have Swiss chocolates during the Mughal rule? 🙂
Re: Interesting…
No historical proof that the hands of the artisans were cut off… so i am inclined not to believe on this story.
You are good at paraphrasing; translating poetry is not an easy task.
The meaning of love and romance has changed today as we are becoming increasingly materialistic. A snazzy vehicle, latest model of mobile phone, wads of cash and you are ready to woo. Sad but fact.
Beautiful verses. Lovely translation:-)
How are you feeling now?
Yes, the Nazm is beautiful. Sahir Ludhuianvi is one who wrote it so it had to be good 🙂
I am better now, thanks.
Nice translation
– Vibhendu
Thanks
There’s no proof of the artisans’ hands not being chopped off either. And, going by the sanguine legacy of the Moghuls, I’m inclined to think that the Taj artisans may have paid quite a heavy price for the labour of love.
The proof is that there are descriptions of the construction of the Taj, and payrolls that are extant. Chandar Bhan Brahman oversaw maintenance of the imperial gardens and his memoir describes in detail how and where laborers, gardeners and craftsmen were hired. He makes no mention of this idiotic blood bath.
mine and my father’s favourite nazm….
Buht haseen nazm hay yay.
Thank you for the lovely share