Khwaja Mir Dard (1721 - 1785) is one of the three major poets of the Delhi School - the other two being Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Sauda - who could be called the pillars of the classical Urdu ghazal. Dard is first and foremost a mystic, who regards the phenomenal world as a veil of the eternal Reality, and this life as a term of exile from our real home. Dard inherited his mystical temperament from his father, Khwaja Mohd. Nasir Andlib , who was a mystic saint and a poet. Dard received his education in an informal way at home, and in the company of the learned, acquiring, in due course, a command of Arabic and Persian, as also of the Sufi lore. He also developed a deep love of music, possibly, through his association with singers and qawaals who frequented his father's house. He renounced earthly pleasures at the young age of 28, and led a life of piety and humility.

The secret of Dard's sppeal as a poet lies not in his mysticism, but in his ability to transmute this mysticism into poetry, and to present transcendental love in terms of human and earthly love. Although he has written ghazals which are unambiguously mystical in their intent, his best couplets can be read at both the secular and spiritual levels, and are, for this reason, acceptable to all and sundry. In addition, Dard had also written ghazals which deal with a patently sensuous and earthly love, and deserve to be classed with the best poetry of this kind. Dard generally excels in short ghazals of about seven to nine verses, written in comparatively short measures. His style is simple, natural and musical; his content, thoughtful and thought-provoking. He is not a voluminous writer. His publications include a collection of Urdu ghazals, a divan in Persian, and some articles in Urdu and Persian prose. [1]

Example Work

dosto dekhaa tamaashaa yaaNakaa bas.
tum raho ab ham to apane ghar chale

My friend, we've seen enough fine sights, through which we loved to roam.
You stay on to enjoy them; we are ready to go home.

• Translated by David Matthews [2]

External Links

• Khwaja Mir Dard
• Khwaja Mir Dard: Life and Ghazals