Ghalib,
“Now go and live in a place…” (587-601)
Ghalib:
·
From 1797 to 1869
·
Could be considered to be the most
frequently quoted poet of the nineteenth and twentieth century in India and
Pakistan
·
His popularity grew since his death
·
His phrases, images, and ideas have
become part of the common speech of Urdu and Hindi
·
Wrote haunting poems
·
Born in Agra in December 1797
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His real name is Asadullah Khan
·
Ghalib is just his literary pseudonym
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Ghalib means “Conqueror”
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Descendant of Turkish Military settlers
in north India
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For most of his life, he suffered
through many bitter disappointments
Real life sorrows showing up in his poetry:
·
“It was essential’-remains one of his
most famous poems today, a memorable mourning of human mortality and a
celebration of family life and familial love” (588).
·
“…but old age, deteriorating eyesight
and hearing, and long illness increasingly confined him to his dilapidated him
in Delhi; much of this is foreshadowed in his first poem in our selection, ‘Now
Go and Live in a Place” (588).
·
His poetry could represent the Indian
subcontinent transitioning from tradition to modern style/life. This makes
Ghalib’s poetry more complex because of the time at hand. This also seems to
include the blending of cultures, which adds more to the complexity of his
poetry.
“Now go and live in a place”:
·
In this poem, we can clearly see the
pain in his words and how his sufferings really held him back socially and
more. You can see the mix of emotions he is feeling, like loneliness for
example. Ex: “If you fall ill, no one to nurse you there-and if you die, no one
to mourn you there” (591). It also seems that he fears the coming of death and
the results of his death.
“It was essential”:
·
Ex: “What would have gone so wrong if he
hadn’t died for a few more days” (598). In my eyes, it is like he is asking the
“what if’s”, which asking these questions typically sadden people more. So we
can see the sadness behind the poem.
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