Urdu Literature

The Magic Of Gulzar Poetry

Simplify the complexities of life

Sampooran Singh Gulzar, popularly known as Gulzar, weaves magic with his words. To be true he doesn’t pen words, but feelings.

Gulzar is known to the world as a writer, lyricist, and director.

But he is a poet at heart.

When you read Gulzar’s poems you will understand that Gulzar doesn’t use words in the etymological sense.

He uses words like an artist uses colors in his paintings.

His perspective on life is unusual. His imagination is astonishing.

He has understood the complexities of human life and expresses them beautifully in his poems.

He amazingly describes the multiple factors associated with the struggle to survive, the optimism and the spirit to face the challenges in everyday life.

When it comes to expressing deep emotions and complex feelings in a simple manner, Gulzar Sahab has no match.

Through his poems, he takes us through a myriad of emotions which leave a strong impression in our hearts.

His words have an extraordinary power to carry us to another world. Gulzar Sahab rightly said,

I believe words should amaze or arouse only then will the listener want to understand the meaning of the song

Weave a beautiful relationship

Who else can beautifully, explain the delicate nature of our relationships in a metaphorical way but Gulzar Sahab?

He has written a wonderful poem about a weaver.

He admires how deftly the weaver handles delicate threads to weave the cloth. At times the thread breaks. He ties the broken thread making a knot but when he completes his work the knot is not visible and the cloth looks beautiful.

But there are a lot of relationships which are broken and however, we try to mend them the rift is always visible and it cannot be hidden.

Mujhko bhi tarkeeb sikha koi yaar julahe,
Aksar tujhko dekha hai ki taana bunte
Jab koi dhaga toot gaya ya khatam hua
Phir se bandh ke
Aur sira koi jod ke usme,
Aage bunne lagte ho
Tere is taane mein lekin
Iq bhi ganth girhe buntar ki
Dekh nahin sakta hai koi,

Meine to ik baar buna tha ek hi rishta,
Lekin uski saari girahein
Saaf nazar aati hain mere yaar julahe.

Dear weaver! Teach me this trick of yours,
I have often seen you weaving a warp
Whenever any thread broke or finished
You tied it again
and add to it another end
Keep on weaving forward
But in your warp
Not a single knitting knot
Is visible to others

I have only woven a relationship once,
But its all knots are clearly visible my dear weaver.

Sometimes, when a relationship goes bad, we try to find out what went wrong and then rectify the situation.

At times, we realize just how wrong the whole thing was, and that it will be better to forget the incident and continue our life with a clean slate. At such times, it becomes clear that it’s time to move on.

Gulzar Shab explains that poetically

Kuchh aur bhi ho gaya numaaya
Main apna likha mita raha tha

Never trust your eyes

Most people believe what they see. It may not always be the right thing.

Here are a few beautiful lines about eyes and how they can deceive us easily.

Naino ki mat maaniyo re, naino ki mat suniyo
Naino ki mat suniyo re
Naina thag lenge
Naina thag lenge, thag lenge, naina thag lenge

Don’t trust your eyes, do not listen to them
They’ll trick you.

Don’t trust everything your eyes show you. Because sometimes the outward appearances can fool us, and things are not what they seem to be on the first look.

Bhala-manda dekhe na, paraya na saga re
Naino ko to dasne ka chaska laga re
Naino ka zahar nasheela re

Eyes can’t differentiate between good and bad. Eyes can receive you easily.

Something actually bad within can have a beautiful and attractive appearance.

It is like poison having the appearance of nectar. If you just believe what the eyes show you will be fooled.

You should use your senses and judge whether it is good or bad.

Break down the walls

Gulzar Sahab was born on 18 August 1934 in Deena, which is in Pakistan now. His family shifted to India after the partition. In a poem, he speaks about the borders.

Lakeerein hain, to rehne do
Kisi ne rooth kar gusse mein shaayad khainch di thi..
inhi ko ab banao paala,
aur aao, kabbadi khelte hain
Lakeeren hain, to rehne do

It means, if there are boundaries, let them be.

Someone has etched those lines in a fit of rage.

Let us use the boundaries to define the field into two halves and play kabbadi.

He asks people to forget their differences and build a good relationship with our neighbors. This principle can be applied to our lives too.

Instead of building enmity with the people around us it will be better if we forget our anger and live peacefully.

Gulzar Sahab, an inspiration

Everything in life keeps changing. Nothing is permanent. Gulzar Sahab expresses this through his poems. He explains life becomes easy when we are ready to accept the changes around us. If we are not ready to change then life becomes difficult.

Though Gulzar Sahab belongs to the older generation he still resonates with the younger generation and his poems give us directions in how we should handle the difficult situations in life. We should be broad-minded and make use of the diverse opportunities accessible to us and create a better world to live peacefully.

Explore our products based on Gulzar poetry.

About the Author 

 This Article is written by Sharadha Devanath.

“I am an alphabet artist. I paint with words to express the feelings hidden deep in my heart. These words carry me to another beautiful world which cannot be seen by the naked eye.”

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One Thought to “The Magic Of Gulzar Poetry”

  1. Rahul Desai

    Gulzar saab’s full name is Sampooran Singh Kalra

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