Classical · 1778–1847 · Faizabad – Lucknow
Khwaja Haidar Ali Aatish was, with Nasikh, a founder of the Lucknow school of Urdu ghazal. Living plainly, almost as a dervish, he balanced the school’s love of ornament with directness and force of feeling. His couplets on self-respect and contentment are among the most quoted in Urdu.
naaz w andaaz w ada mein hai taraqqui da chand
fitna tafli thi quayaamat hai jawaani teri
kaun se ghala ka daana toh ai daana-e khaal
ham ne arzaani mein bhi paai giraani teri
garm joshi se jalaaya kare kashf w khirman
barque ho sakti nahi shokhi mein saani teri
jaan ki tarah se rakhta hai azeez ai gul ro
daagh dil laala ne samjha hai nishaani teri
masar tegh hai har masar mauzoon aatish
dekh li yaar miri seef zabaani teri
jab ke ruswa hue inkaar hai sach baat mein kya
ai sanam lutf hai parde ki mulaaquat mein kya
koi andha hi tujhe maah kahe ai khursheed
farque hota nahi insaan se din raat mein kya
yaar ne waada-e fardaaye quayaamat toh kya
shak hai ai naala-e dil teri karaamaat mein kya
koi but khaane ko jaata hai koi kaaba ko
phir rahe gabar w musalman hain tiri ghaat mein kya
ek muddat se hoon saail tire darwaaze par
bosa yaa gaali mile ga mujhe khairaat mein kya
aisi awanchi bhi toh deewar nahi ghar ki tire
raat andheri koi aawe gi na barsaat mein kya
do ghadi ki jo mulaaquat thi wo bhi mauquoof
aisa padta tha khalal yaar ki auquat mein kya
padh ke khat aur bhi maayoos hue wasl se ham
yaar ne bheja safar se hamein saughaat mein kya
aatish mast jo mil jaae toh poochhoon us se
toh ne kaifiyat uthaai hai kharaabaat mein kya
aaina khana karein ge dil naakaam ko ham
pheerin ge apni taraf roo dil aaraam ko ham
shaam se subh talak door sharaab aakhir hai
rote hain dekh ke khandan dahan jaam ko ham
yaad rakhne ki jagah hai ye tilism hairat
subh ko dekhte hi bhool gae shaam ko ham
aankh wo fitna-e dauran kise dakhlaata hai
shobda jaante hain gardish ayyaam ko ham
fitna angeezi bhi chhupti hai kahin parde mein
sunte hain gabar w musalman se tire naam ko ham
khoon quasid toh wo saffaak samajhta hai halaal
kisi ghammaaz se bhajwaayin ge paighaam ko ham