Bahadur Shah Zafar Poetry!

The last Mughul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Bahadur Shah Zafar  was the last Mughal emperor and a member of the Timurid Dynasty. Bahadur Shah Zafar was the son of Mirza Akbar Shah II and became Mughal Emperor when his father died on 28 September 1837. He used Zafar, a part of his name, meaning “victory”, for his nom de plume (takhallus) as an Urdu poet, and he wrote many Urdu ghazals under it. After his involvement in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British tried and then exiled him from Delhi and sent him to Rangoon Burma where he died on November 7, 1962. Bahadur Shah Zafar was a prolific Urdu poet and accomplished calligrapher. Under his patronage Urdu poetry flourished.

A Friend is he, who pre offers Friendship's hand

When Care or grief our kindred feelings claim

Not he whom prosperous days alone command

And is a Friend or Brother but in name.

 

Composed by the Emperor Bahadoor Shah and addressed to the Governor-General’s Agent at Delhi February 1843.

[Poem in Urdu, with the archaic transcription, and the literal and poetical translation.]

Diloun se pas haen – Zahir me go Judayee hai

Tamasha may isee Alam ke ek Khudayee hay

Pas teray hee rahega – Dil nashad Moodam

Eh Dil aeega meree Eead tooje Eead Moodam

In heart we are united, tho’ in appearance there is disunion

And this circumstance is perceptible to the whole world.

Near you, will always remain my anxious heart.

This will remind you of me always.