Renowned Urdu poet Adbullah Kamal's ghazal

Abdullah Kamaal was one of the most prominent Urdu poets of his generation in the country.

Though his ancestors belonged to UP, Kamaal had made Mumbai, his home. Known for his straightforwardness and his ego, Kamaal gave a new diction to Urdu poetry in the modernist era.

Kamaal didn't care about fame and publicity. But his contribution towards Urdu literature can't be forgotten. Read his ghazal that shows the poet's confidence, literary ego and his command over language.

कोई उस शहर में कब था उसका
उसे यह ज़ोअम कि रब था उसका
[zo'm= pride]

उसकी रग रग में उतरती रही आग
उसके अन्दर ही गज़ब था उसका

वही सिलसिला-ए-तार-ए-नफस
वही जीने का सबब था उसका
[sidq=truth]

सिद्क़-जादा था वोह शाहज़ादा कमाल
बस यही नाम-ओ-नसब था उसका

अब्दुल्लाह कमाल

Now read the ghazal in Roman English:

koii us shahar meN kab thaa uskaa
use yah zom ki rab thaa uskaa

uskii rag rag meN utartii rahii aag
uske andar hii ghazab thaa uskaa

vahii silsila-e-taar-e-nafas
vahii jiine kaa sabab thaa uskaa

sidq-zaada thaa voh shahzaada Kamaal
bas yahii naam-o-nasab thaa uskaa

Abdullah Kamal