On Mirza Ghalib’s Birthday

Ghalib is the name which is synonymous with shayari not only in India, but also in many countries across the world. The beauty of his shayari was that it had a very profound meaning and at the same time the style of saying it was truly exceptional!

Today, on the occasion of his birth anniversary, one would surely remember this verse of his:

 When there was nothing, there was God;

Had there been nothing, there would have been God,

My sense of being has sunk me,

Had I not been, what would have been?

                                                                                                                                              

 Wow, Ghalib Saheb! You had revealed the very mystery of God in your unique poetic style.

 When there was nothing, that is, when I had just come into this world and was an infant, I had no sense of my being in this world. Therefore, only God was in existence. And, what is God? He who doesn't have a feeling of his individual existence. In other words, someone who doesn't have a sense of pride for his name, caste or religion. Meaning, when there was nothing, there was God.

But as I grew up, I fell into a trap. My family gave me a name, elders gave me religion. The society compelled me to work and I became Ghalib. But, if I hadn't masked myself with all this, then I would have surely been God!

And today, at this stage in life, I am beginning to the understand that the realisation of my existence has only sunk me; if I could have retained my childhood form which was devoid of the feeling of my existence, then just think what would I have been? ...Of course God!

...I applaud you Ghalib Saheb! It has been rightly said about you that your style of saying things was truly one of its kind! 

- Deep Trivedi