Revisiting a Poet-King

I am thru with reading the ‘Last Mughal’, William Dalrymple’s latest book and needless to say, as with all of WD’s writing, I found the book to be an immensely captivating read. For me the book has been as much about the ‘Indian Mutiny’ of 1857 as it was about Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last of the great Mughals to rule this country, a reign that lasted about 350 years. God in his wisdom chose to have a sensitive and mystical person, in Bahadur Shah Zafar, to be the last flickering light of the Mughal dynasty, long shorn of its wealth and military power.

Bahadur Shah Zafar was as an extremely sensitivity person - a poet, an intellectual, a lover of arts and a religious mystic, whose biggest fallacy was his inability to take a any decision, at even the most crucial junctures, instead relying on his trusted (sic) advisors and allowing himself to be manipulated. Great leaders create history, but in Zafar’s case, he let himself become a pawn in the hands of history. He did not want to be a part to the mutiny but was instead dragged to become its commander-in-chief; he had no part in killing of the Europeans under his protection but was instead willed to be a mute spectator. The mutiny tore through his family and kingdom, ejecting him from his beloved home, city and country, to spend his remaining days in exile, in far away Rangoon (Yangon), bidding his Lord to relieve him from the burden of existence.

My real introduction to Zafar was through one his beautiful ghazals, hauntingly sung by Mohd. Rafi, one of India’s biggest singers. While WD does not attribute the ghazal to Zafar (it is popularly believed that the ghazal was written by Zafar during his captivity in Burma (Myanmar), which can’t be true since he was denied access to pen and paper) I would tend to believe (and I can be miles from the truth) that Zafar wrote this poem much before his exile when he clearly saw the writing on the wall.

Here’s the ghazal.

Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujde Dayar Mein
Kiski Bani Hai Aalam-e-Napaidar Mein

Kehdo In Hasraton Se Kahin Aur Ja Basen
Itni Jagah Kahan Hai Dil-e-Daagdaar Mein

Umr-e-Daraz Mang Ke Laye The Chaar Din
Do Aarzoo Mein Kat Gaye Do Intezaar Mein

Itna Hai Badnaseeb "Zafar" Dafn Ke Liye
Do Gaz Zameen Bhi Na Mili Koo-e-Yaar Mein

Here’s my translation, which was difficult to do since Urdu is such a beautiful and at the same time difficult language where the same word can be interpreted in multiple ways!

This desolate land interests me no more,
(and) Who has had his say in this transient world

Let my aspirations (wishes) go find place elsewhere,
This broken heart has no room for them

Of the four day lease of life I got from Him,
Two were spent petitioning (wishing) and two waiting in anticipation

(look) How ill-fated Zafar is! Even two yards of burial ground,
Is not available in his beloved land