Kal Chaudhvi Ki Raat Thi

कल चौदहवी की रात थी! ( Yesterday it was the full moon night!) - Ibn-e-Insha

Those who love Urdu Shayari must have heard or read the first sher of this ghazal. It is famous and have used in various movies also. I discovered today that this was written by the best humorist of Urdu language Ibn-e-Insha. I have posted complete ghazal along with its translation by me. It's in admiration of the poet's beloved and about his one sided love to her. He is comparing her face with that of the full moon on fourteenth day of the month and expressing his love in rest of the ghazal. You can understand it better here.

कल चौदहवी की रात थी,शब भर रहा चर्चा तेरा,

कुछ ने कहा यह चाँद है, कुछ ने कहा चेहरा तेरा। 

Kal chaudhvi ki raat thi, shab bhar raha charcha tera,

kuch ne kaha yeh chand hai, kuch ne kaha chehra tera.

You were discussed on yesterday's full moon night,

Some said, ' It is moon.' , Some said that it was your face.

हम भी वहीँ मौजूद थे , हमसे भी सब पूछा किये,

हम हंस दिए, हम चुप रहे, मंज़ूर था पर्दा तेरा। 

Hum bhi wahin maujood the, humse bhi sab poocha kiye,

Hum hans diye, hum chup rahe, manzoor tha parda tera.

I was also present there, my opinion was also asked,

I smiled, I kept quiet, your veil I embrace.  

इस शहर में किस से मिलें हम से तो छूटी महफ़िलें,

हर शक़्स तेरा नाम ले, हर शक़्स दीवाना तेरा। 

Is shahar mein kis se milein hum se to chooti mehfilein,

Har shaqs tera naam le, har shaqs diwana tera.

Whom to meet in this city, I skipped gatherings,

Every person recite your name, to you every person chase.  

कूचे को तेरे छोड़ कर जोगी ही बन जाएं मगर,

जंगल तेरे, पर्बत तेरे, बस्ती तेरी, सेहरा तेरा। 

Kooche ko tere chod kar jogi hi ban jaayein magar,

Jungle tera, parbat tere, basti teri, sehra tera.

Ready to become a hermit leaving your street but,

forests, mountains, towns, deserts have your base.

हम और रस्मे-ए-बंदगी, आशुफ़्तगी? उफ़तादगी?

एहसान है क्या-क्या तेरा, ऐ हुस्न-ऐ-बेपरवाह तेरा। 

Hum aur rasm-e-bandagi, ashuftagi? Uftadgi ?

Ehsaan hai kya-kya tera, ae husn-e-beparwaf tera.

I and these rituals of worshiping, worrisome? Troublesome?

O ! Careless beauty, these all are your grace.

दो अश्क़ जाने किसके लिए, पलकों पर आ कर टिक गए,

अल्ताफ़ की बारिश तेरी, इकराम का दरिया तेरा। 

Do ashq jaane kiske liye, palko par aa kar tik gaye,

Altaaf ki barish teri, Ikraam ka dariya tera.

For whom two drops of tears settled on eyelids, 

Your rain of kindness, your river of praise.

ऐ बेदरीग़-ओ-बेइमां, हमने कभी की है फ़ुगन?

हमको तेरी वेहशत सही, हमको सही सौदा तेरा। 

Ae Bedarig-o-beimaan, humne kabhi ki hai fugan?

Humko teri wehshat safi, humko sahi sauda tera.

Have I mourned? O! unmerciful and dishonest fellow,

Accepted your horror and deal with solace.

हम पर ये सख़्ती की नज़र? हम हैं फ़क़ीर-ए-रहगुज़र,

रस्ता कभी रोका तेरा ? दामन कभी थामा तेरा ?

Hum par ye sakhti ki nazar ? Hum hain faqir-e-rehguzar,

Rasta kabhi roka tera ? Daman kabhi thama tera ?

Why look of strictness on me? I am a beggar on a way.

Have I restricted your way ? Have I touched you cloth surface?  

हाँ-हाँ तेरी सूरत हसीन, लेकिन तो ऐसा भी नहीं,

इस शक़्स के अशार से शोहरा हुआ क्या-क्या तेरा।  

Haan-Haan teri surat hansin, lekin to aisa bhi nahin,

Is shaqs ke ashaar se shohra hua kya-kya tera.

It's true that you are beautiful, but it's not like that,

But your popularity from this man's liveliness you can't replace.

बेदर्द सुननी हो तो चल, कहता है क्या अच्छी ग़ज़ल,

आशिक़ तेरा, रुस्वा तेरा, शायर तेरा, 'इंशा' तेरा। 

Bedard sunni hai to chal, kehta hai kya achchi ghazal,

Aashiq tera, ruswa tera, shayar tera, 'Insha' tera.

O! Ruthless I f you want to hear, how beautiful couplets recited by, 

Your 'Insha', Your lover, your poet, your disgrace.

Few couplets of this ghazal were sung by legends like Ghulam Ali and Jagjit Singh. Here is youtube video for the same.