People often hear songs when they feel lonely. Isolation is an inseparable part of human life, especially for strange individuals. Every day, queer individuals go through a phase of isolation due to the non -acceptance of their identity. At a time when songs fail in their “project feminism” and offering queer people in isolation, the classic ghazals serve as a home of many queer people. Some of these ghazals are gender -neutral and often express the idea of isolation, express the queers and strive to express.
Here are 5 ghazals that perfectly express the isolation queers of today’s feeling.
1. Chand Tanha from Meena Kumari
Chand Tanha was originally a poem from a collection of written by Meena Kumari. After her death in 1972 it was published in an album entitled “I Write, I Recite”. It is the only album by the actress on which she recites her selected poems. The album composer, Khaiyyam, adds magic to the Ghazal. There is a tone of melancholy in the Ghazal, which reflects the isolation that is exposed to Kumari in her own life.
“Zindagi Kya isi Ko Kehte Hain
Jism Tanha Hai Aur Jaan Tanha
Hamsafar Koi even Mile Bhi Kahin
Donon Chalte Rahe Tanha-Tanha
Jalti Bujhti Si Rausushani K Pare
Sima Simta Sa Ek Makan Tanha
Rah Dekha Karega Sadiyon Tak
Chhod Jayenge Ye Jahan Tanha “
The above lines are part of the poem. The first stanza shows how both the soul and the body experience deep isolation and project the realities of many queer lives. How many closed queers experience this isolation, where you long for someone but cannot be with him? The second stanza indicates how there are times when we get a partner but still have to run separately. It can be because of being in a closet or a social non -acceptance towards queer love.
The last stanza is a clear manifestation about how many queers accept death and long to go open to keep the hand of your lover before everyone. The isolation takes her to death, but love still rejects her.
2.
Dil-e-Nadan is a Ghazal written by the legendary Mirza Ghalib. The Ghazal talks about the longing for love and the pain of separation. It can be a clear manifestation of pain and isolation that are experienced by people who have to hide their true identity from others.
“Dil-e-Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai
Aakhir is dard ki dawa kya hai
Hum Ko Unse Wafa Ki Hai
VO Nahi Jaante Wafa Kya Hai.
The lines above express the pain that you experience at deep insulation. It can be seen through a strange lens how a heart wounded by society is looking for love, care, affection and a partner, but cannot find it due to its identity.
3. Time itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho from Kaifi Azmi
The Ghazal is in the playlist of so many genzs and is more known in the name of Jagjit Singh than Azmi itself. The Ghazal expresses wonderfully how many strange people live a double life in which they are isolated and painful deep inside, but project that they are happy.
“Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho
Kya Gham Hai Jisko Chhupa Rahe Ho
Aankhon my Nami, Hansi Labon Par
Kya Haal Hai Kya Dikha Rahe Ho
Prohibited Jayenge Zehar Pete Pete
Yeh Ashk jo pite yes RAHE HO
Jin Zakhmon Ko Waqt Bhar Chala Hai
Tum kyon untacher chhedhe yes rahe ho “
The above lines talk about the different forms of trauma that can be seen through a strange lens. How strange children are exposed to many traumatic experiences at a young age and how society keeps trying to scratch these wounds.
Despite many trauma, the queer people are expected to adapt in a heteronormative society that many queers do for various reasons.
4. From Kya Ghazal Sunaoon by Jagjit Singh
“Kaise Sukoon Paoon
Tujhe Dekhne Ke Baad
From Kya Ghazal Sunaoon
Tujhe Dekhne Ke Baad “
From Kya Ghazal Sunaoon is a Ghazal composed by Jagjit Singh and sung by Talat Aziz in 1981. It can be seen by a strange lens that referred to after a look at your beloved strange isolation. The strange lover is confused after he has a look at the person you love, who can also be heterosexual. You don’t know what Ghazal sings after looking at your lover.
There is a deep feeling of isolation because the image of her lover is still in her head.
5. Chupke Chupke Raat Din by Maulana Hasrat Mohani
Chupke Chupke Raat Din is originally a classic poem that represents the culture of the Mogul dynasty. It became famous after it was sung by Ghulam Ali. Famous Indian Singer Jagjit Singh also transferred his voice to the Ghazal.
“Aur duptatte se tera
Munh Chhupa Na Yaad Hai
Humko from Tak Aashique
Ka Who Zamana Yaad Hai
Chupke Chupke Raat din
Aansu Bahana Yaad Hai.
The Ghazal can be at the timer where the lover misses the person they loved. You could have lost this person through social pressure or hatred against LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The lover remembers the dupatta very nicely with which her lover hid her face. They still remember the countless nights that they have spent to meet their lover.
Jatin Chahhar (he/she) is a student of philosophy at the Ramjas College of the University of Delhi. His letter is based on critical reflection on various sociopolitical topics, especially about gender and politics. Art is resistance for him. He loves art that serves the masses and the realities of the power structure of contemporary societies that excludes marginalized parts of society. It also stands for photography and filmmaking. His main areas of the research interest are caste, class and their intersection with sexual fantasies.
