Selected Ghazals of Ghalib

Mirza Ghalib (1797 - 1869)

Mirza Ghalib, full name Mirza Asadullah Khan Beig, pen name ‘Ghalib’ (1797-1869) was a famous Urdu- and Persian-language poet of India. He is best known for his lyrical and spiritual ghazals. Ghazal is a form of poetry in couplets. In a ghazal, each couplet is self-contained and generally unconnected with the next.

Ghalib was born in Agra, in northern India, and was raised by his uncle. Ghalib had no formal education, but was tutored in Persian by Muhammad Mu'azzam, a noted scholar of the time. He was married in 1810 to Umrao Begum, the niece of Nawab Ahmad Baksh Khan who was the ruler of Ferozepur and Loharu at that time. Ghalib was introduced to the elite circle of intellectuals and artists that surrounded the Indian royal family in Delhi because of his father in law. In 1821 he compiled his first collection of Urdu verse. Deewan e Ghalib, Nuskha e Hamida was Published in 1828. soon after the publication of his Urdu poetry collection Ghalib switched to writing entirely in Persian, also known as Farsi. In 1826, on the death of Ghalib's uncle, the British government began providing Ghalib and his family with a small pension for the military services of his uncle. Despite this income, Ghalib remained nearly destitute for most of his life.

Ghalib was also a poetry teacher of the King, Bahadur Sha Zafar, who himself was a very nice poet.

Ghalib led a miserable life for he started taking wine at a very young age when he was just a boy whereas his financial condition was not good, and moreover he had no children of his own. All of his children died during infancy. He then adopted his nephew called ‘Arif’ who also died at the age of 16. He collapsed emotionally because of the death of his adopted son. (Summary by Ahkam)

This recording was made from a printed copy of Deewan e Ghalib, Nuskha e Hamida published in 1828.

Genre(s): Poetry, Single author

Language: Urdu

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Aahko Chaahyea Ahkam
00:01:35
Play 02 Aashiq Ahkam
00:01:25
Play 03 Aeinakyun Ahkam
00:01:50
Play 04 Baghtujhbin Ahkam
00:01:38
Play 05 Bisateijz Ahkam
00:01:30
Play 06 Chahiyeachon Ahkam
00:01:28
Play 07 Damanedil Ahkam
00:01:29
Play 08 Dardsay Ahkam
00:02:32
Play 09 Deherman Ahkam
00:01:47
Play 10 Dilhinaheen Ahkam
00:01:53
Play 11 Dyayaronnay Ahkam
00:01:27
Play 12 Garkhamshi Ahkam
00:01:24
Play 13 Ghuncha Ahkam
00:01:31
Play 14 Ishiqsay Ahkam
00:01:50
Play 15 Jabbataqreeb Ahkam
00:01:29
Play 16 Jabtakdahan Ahkam
00:01:35
Play 17 Jehantera Ahkam
00:01:22
Play 18 Kabhinaki Ahkam
00:01:37
Play 19 Karkhanaysay Ahkam
00:01:31
Play 20 Kehtayho Ahkam
00:01:24
Play 21 Kohkay Ahkam
00:01:25
Play 22 Kyatanghum Ahkam
00:01:21
Play 23 Masjidkay Ahkam
00:01:54
Play 24 Mudathuihey Ahkam
00:02:30
Play 25 Nagulenghma Ahkam
00:01:26
Play 26 Naqshfryadi Ahkam
00:02:04
Play 27 Paonmay Ahkam
00:01:11
Play 28 Phermujhay Ahkam
00:01:20
Play 29 Phirkuchisdil Ahkam
00:02:14
Play 30 Safayhayrate Ahkam
00:01:35
Play 31 Sergushtagi Ahkam
00:01:31
Play 32 Shokherrang Ahkam
00:01:41
Play 33 Warsta Ahkam
00:01:54
Play 34 Washat Ahkam
00:01:27
Play 35 Woakaykhab Ahkam
00:01:23