Jigar's ghazal: Muddaton royaa karenge jam-o-paimaana mujhe

Ali Sikandar Jigar Moradabadi, who was born in 1890, was arguably the most popular Urdu poet of his era in the 20th century. Masses loved him for his romanticism. Jigar passed away in 1960.

Jigar left an indelible mark on Urdu poetry, especially, the genre of ghazals. The presence of Jigar ensured the success of mushairas. People came from far and wide to see and listen him. Jigar sahab passed away in Gonda [UP] in 1960.

Read this famous ghazal, which has, at least, three unique couplets that are on the lips of poetry lovers and are oft-quoted across Urdu world.

जान कर मिन-जुमला-ए-खासाना-ए-मैखाना मुझे
मुद्दतों रोया करेंगे जाम-ओ-पैमाना मुझे

सब्ज़ा-ओ-गुल, मौज-ए-दर्या, अंजुम-ओ-खुर्शीद-ओ-माह
एक ताल्लुक सब से है लेकिन रकीबाना मुझे

नंग-ए-मैखाना था साकी ने ये क्या कर दिया
पीने वाले कह उठे 'या पीर-ए-मैखाना' मुझे

जिंदगी में आ गया जब कोई वक्त-ए-इम्तेहान
उसने देखा है जिगर बे-इख्तियाराना मुझे

जिगर मुरादाबादी


Now read the ghazal in Roman script:


jaan kar min-jumla-e-khasaana-e-maikhaana mujhe
muddatoN royaa karenge jaam-o-paimaana mujhe

sabza-o-gul, mauj-e-daryaa, anjum-o-khurshiid-o-maah
ek taalluq sab se hai lekin raqiibaana mujhe

nang-e-maiKhaanaa thaa saaqii ne ye kyaa kar diyaa
piine waale kah uThe 'yaa pir-e-maikhaana' mujhe

zindagii meN aa gayaa jab koii waqt-e-imtehaaN
usne dekhaa hai Jigar be-ikhtiyaaraana mujhe

Jigar Muradabadi