To Blog or Not to Blog is the Question

18. Laalaait adharon se jisne,
haay nahi choomi haalaa
harsh-vikampit kar se jisne,
haa na chhuwaa madhu ka pyaalaa
haath pakad lajjit saaki ka,
paas nahi jisne kheenchaa
vyarth sukhaa daali jeevan ki,
usne madhumay MADHUSHAALAA.

The poet is playful again and says that one who has not kissed the wine with his thirsty lips, one who has not touched the cup with his trembling hands , one who has not held the shyful saaki’s hand and pulled her towards oneself , he has wasted this lovely life (Madhushala).

Here I remember Ghalibs poetry
go haath ko jumbish nahi aankhon mein to dum hai
rahne do saagar-o-meena mere saamne.

Ghalib says that what if I dont have the strength in my numb hands to get the cup , I have strength in my eyes. So he tells the bartender(saaki) to let the wine stay in front of him.

19. bane pujaari premi saaqi,
gangaajal pawan haalaa
rahe pherata avirat gati se,
madhu ke pyaalon ki maalaa
aur liye jaa, aur piye jaa,
isi mantra ka jaap kare
maen Shiv ki pratimaa ban baethun,
mandir ho yeh MADHUSHAALAA.

This is the poets imagination running wild. He imagines his lover saaki as priest, the wine as the holy Ganges water, and the saaki by making the rosary bead of wine glasses uttering the mantra of ‘Take more and drink more’ . He imagines himself as the Lord Shivas idol and the Madhushala(tavern) as the temple.

I faced some ire from some religious people whenever I uttered this to them .
And for them I have this sher, I guess it is Ghalib again.

zaahid, sharaab peene de masjid mein baithkar
ya woh jagah bathaa jaha khuda na ho

Ghalib(???) says O priest ,lemme have wine/liquor in the mosque or tell me where there is no God.

20. baji na mandir mein ghadiyaali
chadi na pratima par maala ,
baitha apne bhuvan muazzin
dekhar masjid mein taala
lutey khajaane narpatiyo ke
giri gado ki deevaren
rahe mubaarak peenevaale,
khuli rahe yah madhushaala

The poet says that it doesnt matter to him if the bells doesnt toll in the temple,nor if the idol is not decorated with flowers , nor if the imam (Islamic priest) sits at home adn doesnt open the masjid for prayers. It doesnt matter to him if the treasures of the rich are looted nor if the fortress is felled . He only wishes the drinker to remain fit and fine and the Madhushala to remain open.

21.bade bade parivar mitey yo,
ek na ho ronevaala,
ho jaaye sunsaan mahal be,
jaha thirakti surbaala,
rajya ulat jaaye, bhoopo ki
bhagya-sulakshmi so jaaye;
jame rahenge peehevaale,
jaga karegi madhushaala

The poet says that even if big families perish without trace, even if palaces become empty where once there was a lot of show, even if the regimes change ,even if lady luck goes to sleep , even then the drinkers will rule and the Madhushala will remain open.

22.sab mit jaaye, bana rahega
sundar saaki,yam kaala
soonkhe sab ras,bane rahnege,
kintu, halaahal aur haala,
dhoomdhaam aur chahal-pahal ke
sthaan sabhi sunsaan bane,
jaga karega avirath marghat,
jaga karegi madhushaala

The poet says Madhushala and the death(cemetery) are the only truths in this world.

The poet here says even if the world perishes ,the black God of death(yam) and the beautiful saaki will remain, even if all the oceans dry , poison (a/c to Hindu mythology, this poison,halaahal was created out of churning the ocean by Gods and demons) and wine will remain ,even if all the places of entertainment are deserted , the cemetry will be alive(???) and the Madhushala will be abuzz.

23.bura sada kehlaayega jag mein
baanka, mad-chanchal pyaala,
chail-chabila, rasiya saaki.
albela peenevaala;
patey kaha se , madhushala aur,
jag ki jodi theek nahi -
jag jarjar pratidin, pratikshan,par
nitya naveli madhushaala

The world will always say bad things about the nice cup , the voluptous saaki and the lively drinker. How can there be similarities between this world and Madhushala ? The world is decaying day by day whereas Madhsuhala is always fresh .

24.bina piye jo madhushala ko
bura kahe , vah matvaala,
pee lene par toh uske muh
par jaayega taala;
daas drohiyo dono mein hai
jeet suraki, pyaale ki,
vishvavijayini bankar jag mein
aayi meri Madhushaala

One who has never tasted wine and says harsh words about Madhushala, once he tastes wine he becomes speechless. The wine and the cup always wins in every battle. Madhushala has come in this world as the king(world beater).

I remember one of Ghulam Ali’s nice songs where he says
naa tajrubakaari se vaiz ki ye baaten hai
is rang ko kya jaane poocha jo kabhi pee hai

The poet here says not to mind the preacher as the preacher is in-experienced in drinking and doesnt know the beauty of alcohol.

25.hara bhara rahta madiraalay,
jag par padh jaaye paala,
vaha muharram ka taam chaaye,
yaha holika ki jvaala;
svarg lok se seedhi uthari
vasudha par, dukh kya jaane;
padhe marsiya duniya saari,
id manaati madhushaala

The poet wishes the madhushala to be evergreen and let the world has calamities . Let the world mourn as if it were Muharram, and let Madhushala celebrate the fire and color festival Holi (Indian festival). The poet claims that the Madhushala has descended straight from heaven and hence it doesnt know sadness. The poet further says the world is reading marsiya, and the Madhushala is celebrating Id.

Muharram is an Islamic ocassion where 10 days of mourning is observed in memory of Karbala tragedy ,where the grandson of Prophet Mohammed was martyred(One can compare this martyrdom to that of Christ). This is a Shiite festival and some very vivid poetic accounts of this tragedy, named marsiya, are told by some great poets. My personal favorite is Babar Ali Anees .Check him out at here http://urdupoetry.com/anees.html.
Id is again an Islamic festival in which there is happiness and lots of feasting.

Have been thinking about how to end this. Its better I end it with a great Hindi poem about one of the great Indian warriors ,Rani Lakshmi Bai,queen of Jhansi, the Joan of Arc of India. Rani Laksmi Bai fought for independence of India during the revolution of 1857 against the British and the legend is as big as that of William Wallace of Scotland(movie Braveheart of Mel Gibson).

The famous lines of this poem is known to probably more than 50% of all Indians

bundelo harbolo ke muh
hamne suni kahaani thi
khoob ladi mardaani wah to
jhansi waali rani thi

(From the singers of Bundelkhand we heard this story, the queen of Jhansi fought like a man)

Dont remember all of the poem but know a few relevant lines .

lakshmi thi ya durga thi vah svayam veertha ki avtaar
…..
….
(Was she Goddess Lakshmi or Goddess Durga or was she an epitome of courage)

ghayal hokar giri singhni
usey veer-gati paani thi
bundelo harbolo ke muh
hamne suni kahaani thi
khoob ladi mardaani wah to
jhansi waali rani thi

(During the ensuing fight with the british, she attained martyrdom. The poet compares her to a lioness.)

dikha gayi path , sikha gayi
hamko jo seekh sikhaani thi
bundelo ….
…..
….
…..

(She showed us the way, and taught us some good lessons)

jaao rani yaad rakhenge ham kruthagya bharatvaasi
…
…..
….
…..

(the author bids good bye to the queen saying the people of the country will be indebted to her)

tera smaarak tu hi hogi
tu khud amit nishaani thi
bundelo harbolo ke muh
hamne suni kahaani thi
khoob ladi mardaani wah to
jhansi waali rani thi

(The authors says that she will be her own tomb , she will always be remembered)

This edition of Madhushala to the Madhu-baala (the intoxicating girl)

11. jaltarang bajta, jab chumban
karte pyaale ko pyaala,
veena jhankrut hoti , chalti
jab runjhun saakibaala
daant dapat madhuvikreta ki
dhvanit pakhaavaj karti hai
madhurav se madhu ki madakta
aur badhaati madhushaala

The poet is getting into playful mood here. He says when the two glasses of wine strike one another , its is as if the sound of Jaltarang(a musical instrument) and the walk of winebearer’s (and the ensuing sound of the anklet and the various other jewellery she is wearing) is like the sound of veena(another classical Indian instrument) , the scoldings of the wine seller is like the sound of Pakhavaj(another Indian musical instrument). The poet says all these makes the wine even more intoxicating in a Madhushala(tavern).

As an aside, to all those people, who crib at the premium (400% or more) extracted by a pub now do you understand?

12. mehendi-ranjit mrudul hatheli
par maanik madhu ka pyaala,
anguri avgunthan daale
svarn-varn saakibaala,
paag bainjani,jaama neela
daanth date peenevaale;
indradhanush se hodh lagaati
aaj rangeeli Madhushaala

The poet here describes Madhushala, saaki’s red mehendi-colored red soft-hands in which she is carrying the diamond’ish wine cup, fair skinned saaki with the grapes(flowers) nicely braided in her hair. Further the drinker with a purple turban, and his blue cup is getting scolded by the saaki. (not sure about this interpretation) . This lively Madhushala(tavern) in its vivid colors is competing with the rainbow.

13. haatho mein aane se pehle
naaj dikhaayega pyaala,
adharo par aane se pehle
ada dikhaayegi haala,
bahuterre inkaar karega
saaki aane se pehle
pathik, na ghabra jaana, pehle
maan karegi madhushaala

Before coming to your hand the cup will play around and before the wine touches your lips it will also show some grace ,the saaki before coming to you will also show some shyness .Addressing the traveller, the poet says despite all this, dont worry Madhushala will always welcome you.

14. lal sura ki dhaar lapat si,
keh na ise dena jwalaa
fe-nil madira hai mat isko,
keh dena ur ka chhaalaa
dard nashaa hae is madira ka,
vigat smritiyan saaqi hai
peeda mein anand jise ho,
aaye meri madhushaala

The poet says that the flow of red wine is like that of flames, dont call it fire. This is the frothy wine dont call it the abscess of heart .The pain is its intoxicant and old memories are its saaki (wine-bearer), only one who enjoys pain is welcome to Madhushala.

My interpretation : Old memories of your loved ones will keep coming back as saaki to give you constant pain (wine). So start enjoying pain .

15. jagti ki sheetal haala-si
pathik,nahi meri haala,
jagti ke thande pyaale-sa
pathink,nahi mera pyaala,
jvaal-sura jalthe pyaale mein
dagdh hruday ki kavita hai
jalne se bhaybheet na jo ho
aaye meri madhushaala

The poet says in my Madhushala you wont find the wine or the cup as cold as you see elsewhere. In the cup the wine is in flames , like poems from a broken heart. So, O traveller come to my Madhushala only if you are not afraid of burning.

My Interpretation : The poet is warning people that life is not as easy as one thinks. So get ready to be burned if you want to come to my Madhushala(life).

16. bahti haala dekhi , dekho
lapat uthaati ab haala,
dekho pyaala ab chuthe hi
honth jalaa denewaala;
‘honth nahi, sab deh dahe, par
peene ko do boondh mile’-
aise madhu ke deewano ko
aaj bulaati madhushala

The poet says that look at the wine which is bursting into flames, and as soon as the cup touches lips it burns it. The Madhushala is calling for all those wine crazy drinkers who say ‘ Not just lips,even if the whole body is burned , I want just two drops of wine’

17. dharm granth sab jalaa chuki hai,
jiske anthar ki jwalaa
mandir, masjid, girje sab ko,
tod chuka jo matwaalaa
pandit, momin, padariyon ke,
phandon ko jo kaat chuka
kar sakti hae aaj usi ka,
swaagat meri madhushala

The person whose inner fire has burned down all religious scriptures one who has demolised all religious structures temple,mosque and church, one who has broken himself free of pandit, imam and preist , only that person is welcome to my Madhushala.

Here are the poems 6 to 10 , I will try to arrange these into one logical group.

6. madiraalay jaane ko ghar se,
chaltaa hae peene waalaa
kis path se jaaoon asamanjas,
mein hae woh bholaabhaalaa
alag alag path batalaate sab,
par maen yeh batalaataa hun
raah pakad tu eka chalaachal,
paa jaayaega madhushaalaa

The poet says that the drinker has taken off from home for the wine-house. But the poor chap is unsure of which route to take .Everyone asks him to take a different route to take ,but the author appeals ‘Take just one route and follow it religiously and you will find the house of wine’

The poet is slowly getting into some philosophical/preaching route here , here the house of wine is ones goal and although one will be distracted by others to take a different paths but one should stick to one path and one will achieve ones goal.

7. chalne hi chalne mein kitna
jeevan, hai , bitha daala !
‘door abhi hai’, par kehta hia
har patha bathlaane vaala;
himmat hai na badhu aage ko
saahas ahi na-firu peeche;
kimkarthavyavimud mujhe kar
door khadi hai madhushaala

This is the continuation of the last stanza, the traveller says that I have been travelling for the better part of my life , but everyone I meet has been telling me ‘its(tavern) still far’. I dont have the strength to go forward nor the courage to go back . The traveller says that the Madhushala is at a distance and is not letting me do any other tasks.

This person has probably listened to other people and has been led astray by them and hence he says that even though he has been pursuing his goal for a long time, his goal looks too tough to attain.

8. mukh se tu avirath kahta ja
madhu,madira, maadak haala,
haatho se anubhav karta jaa
ek lalit kalpit pyaala,
dhyaan kiye jaa man mein sumadhur,
sukhkar, sundar saaki ka;
aur badha chal, pathik , na tujhko
door lagegi madhushaala

The poet advises the drinker that he should constantly utter words of wine (as if one utters the word of God) , feel an imagniary cup with his hands , imagine the sweet and beautiful wine-bearer and keep walking , he will find that the tavern is not too far.

The poet comes back to advice this lost person that he should constantly think about his goal and go for it, then the goal will seem very achievable.

9. madhira peene ki abhilaasha
hi ban jaaye jab haala
adharo ki aaturta mein hi
jab aabhasit ho pyaala
bane dhyaan hi karte-karte
jab saaki saakar, sakhe,
rahe na haala,pyaala ,saaki,
tujhe milegi madhushaala

The poet says that when drinking of wine becomes an obsession, your lips can feel the cup, you can imagine the wine-bearer then o friend even though there would be no wine,cup or wine-bearer you will still find the tavern.

Its very difficult for me to interpret the philosophy but I guess the poet here is saying that if one can feel for ones goal one is going to surely achieve it .

10. sun kalkal chhalchhal,
madhughat se girti, praanon mein haalaa
sun runjhun runjhun jal vitaran,
karti madhu saki baalaa
bas aa ponhche door nahin kutchh,
chaar kadam ab chalna
chahek rahi sun peene-waale,
mahek rahi le madhushaalaa

The poet here urges the drinker by telling him not to give up, for cant you hear the sound of wine falling from the wine-pots and giving life to the other drinkers or cant you hear how the intoxicated wine-bearer is moving like a river. He is telling the drinker that the tavern is just a stones throw away. Listen to all the cheers of the drinkers and smell the pleasant tavern.

The poet here is urging the goal-seeker not to give up, when the goal is very much achievable.

Been busy with a lot of stuff . School is off for a couple of 10 days . Have recieved a lot of mail regarding my initial post some nice, some not so nice, some restive asking when I will start. So here I am back to my Madhushala and all that nice stuff.

For all you teetotallers, let me once again re-iterate that the author here doesnt elevate alcoholism, but the poet uses the Madhushala(House of Wine) to talk about life in general and also preaches about some stuff. Also before I start, everyone will interpret this poetry in a very different way and this is my interpretation

As Mr. HarivanshRai Bacchan himself says in one of his stanzas

“Jiski jaisi ruchi thi, usne waise dekhi madhushala”

( One will interpret Madhushala as one wishes or as one has experienced life)

The very first post I am dedicating it to my very intellectual friend with whom I suddenly cant see i-2-i on an issue.

1. Mrudu bhaavo ke anguro ki
aaj bana laaya haala
priyatam, apne haatho se
aaj pilaaonga pyaala ;
pehle bhog laga loo tujhko
fir prasad jag paayega
sabase pehle tera swagat
karti meri madhushala

The author here welcomes the reader to his book by telling him/her that he has made this wine(book) with great care and love just for him/her and that he will himself will offer this wine.

2. pyaas tujhe to, vishv tapaakar
poorn nikaalonga haala,
ek paanv se saaki bankar
naachunga lekar pyaala
jeevan ki madhuta to tere
upar kab ka vaar chuka
aaj nyochavar kar doonga mai
tujhe par jag ki madhushaala

The poet here again is telling the reader that he will go to any extents, like boiling this world to make wine or dance on one leg with an empty cup, to make this collection of Madhushala pleasing to the reader

3. priyatam, tu meri haala hai ,
mai tera pyaasa pyaala,
apne ko mujhme bharkar tu
banta hai peenevaala;
mai tujhko chak chalka karta
mast mujhe pee tu hota
ek doosre ko ham dono
aaj paraspar madhushala

The poet is still in welcome mood. He says that the reader is the wine and he himself is the cup and by filling the cup , the reader will become an alcoholic . Also by having the reader(wine), the author (cup) is brimming with joy and that the book(Madhushala) is incomplete without the author and the reader.

4. bhavukta angur latha se
kheench kalpana ki haala
kavi saaki bankar aaya hai
bharkar kavita ka pyaala
kabhi na kan bhar khaali hoga
lakh piye do laakh piye
paathak gan hai peene vaali
pusthak meri madhushala

The authors asks the reader to let his imaginations run wild,as if u r drunk while reading this book. The author says he is the wine-bearer and he is passing on his poetry(wine-filled cup) in this Madhushala (world). The author here is getting a little egoistic and praising himself by saying that even if u have(read) this wine(poetry) a million times it will not go empty (with meaning)(I for one will agree, it is replete with meaning) He finally reveals that this book is the Madhushala and the readers are the drinkers.

5. madhur bhaavnaaon ki su-madhuar
nitya banaata hoon haala
bharta hoon is madhu se apne
antar ka pyaasa pyaala
utha kalpana ke haatho se
svayam use pee jaata hoon
apne hee mein hoon mai saaki,
peene vaala , Madhushala

The author says that he has been making wine(poetry) of all the nice feelings and experiences of his life. He has been filling his inner self with this wine and has been consuming it through his imaginations. The authors declares that he himself is the wine-bearer, drinker and the Madhushala.

And while I am at it as Mr Bacchan himself says “let your imagination run wild” . One sher(urdu poem) comes to my mind

Ghalib chuti sharaab par ab bhi kabhi-kabhi
peeta hoon roz-o-abr shab-e-mahtaab mein

Ghalib says that he has quit drinking, but he does only on two ocassions when there are clouds during the day or if there is moon at night.

Its cloudy here today and a prediction of a clear night

One more on quitting this time on quitting smoking

Mark Twain once said ” Quitting smoking is easy, I have quit a million times” .

What is Madhushala?

Madhushala or ‘House of Wine’ can be considered as one of the greatest literary masterpieces in Hindi Poetry. Its author Harivansh Rai Bacchan primarily used 3 words Haala(wine), pyaala(cup) and saaki(wine-bearer) to create his collection of 135 stanzas. These stanzas primarily deal with philosophy of life and the various phases one goes through i.e. the honeymoon stage, depression and an indifferent stage and grief and hope. Also through this collection the poet challenges the widely held social conventions , hypocritical religion , morality , greed in his own unique way and at the same time gives some valuable and much needed preaching . I read somewhere that this whole compilation is inspired by a Persian poet Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyyat .

Why Madhushala?

Its my favorite book and one hardly finds more than a few of his poems on the net and I will try to put his entire collection on the net in my blog. Whether I succeed or not,I will try. It will require a lot of effort given my busy schedule, but at the end I hope to satisfy my ego by giving this great book its due.

What will be its format ?

It will be in Hindi in English words and if I do get some time I will try to scan the book and put it on the net. Dont know if I will be violating any copyrights, will check. I will try to get as much help as possible from the net and I will give the credit wherever it is due in my posts. Whenever I get time I will add a couple or more stanzas in each post and add my own commentary(right or wrong) on these stanzas. It will all be categorized under Madhushala.

Disclaimer

I am no expert in Madhushala nor in Hindi literature. I am just trying to interpret Madhushala in my own way and I apologise to Harivansh Rai bacchan and all other Hindi literature luminaries for any faux passes.

I am getting a hang of Marketing class despite driving for almost 2.5 hours just before the class. The Chicago traffic is not getting any better . Anyway looks like we did good on the case atleast we distinguished ourselves from the whole class. Had no good company after class. Went around but decided Lady luck had deserted me for the day. Slept well woke up and went to the Forwards,Futures and Swaps class and I was just swamped with a lot of jargon. Boy after that it was refreshing to see the FTSA class to be not too boring. Anyway after the class went to a Bio-pharma club meet, where I learnt some basics about Biology ahem ahem !!!! DNA , double helix,Amino Acids, Protein , ACTG and all other bio-sh*t.

Well drove back home watched Saturday night live with Tom Brady. Saturday Night Live and the first 15 mins of Jay Leno are which I hate to miss.

Sunday:

This is a mystery to me , every weekday, it is so tough for me to get up even at 8 and bang on Sunday I am up at 6. I completely hate it hate hate it . It just goes on to prove once again that life is not fair Went to gym messed around had lunch at Chinese and did study a bit .

Had some nice company Sunday evening. Had a bloody Mary after a loooong time , was very spicy and was the only good thing about the evening. Had a sizzling apple pie on recommendation from this ol lady, who was in the table next to me . The apple pie was yucky , not yuckier than the company though. The company was very arrogant and I wanted to get the hell out of there even before I got there.

While I was driving back home I saw this big azz accident on the other side. The other side of the highway was fully blocked for miles and the emergency helicopter just landed on the highway. There must have been atleast 15-20 vehicles involved in the accident and from the looks of it, it didnt look good.

I thought of these Kabir dohas when I tried to summarize the experience of Sunday evening , Arrogance and death.

Kabira garv na keejiye ucha dekh aavas
kal paro bhuin letna upar jamsi ghaas.

(Kabir says dont feel proud of your palatial residence , cos death will get you sooner or later and you will have to lay on land and grass will grow on you)

Kabira garv na keejiye kaal gahe kar kes
Na jaane kit mare hai kya des kya pardes

(Kabir says dont be arrogant , as life is very ephemeral, you can die anywhere ,either at home or in some other country)

Poets always had revolutionary ideas. They believed in God but have spoken against religion, in anger and the way religion is taken in contemporary society.

Kabir, the great Indian saint and poet wrote this against Hindu religion

Paahan pooje hari miley to mai pooju pahaad
tat yad chakki bhali pis khaaye sansar

(He says that if by praying to an idol (stone) leads to God then I will pray to a mountain and ridicules the concept of God in Hindu religion by saying that a stone flour mill is better as it feeds people)

Likewise Kabir takes pot-shot at Islam too.

kankar pathar jod ke masjid liya banaay
ta chad mullah baang de kya behra hua khudaay

The priest calls for prayer by calling out for followers 4-5 times a day.

(Kabir says why is the mullah(priest) shouting at the top of his voice. Has his God become deaf ?)

Kabir takes a blanket pot-shot at all religions by saying this

jyu naino mein putli, tyu maalik ghat maahi
murakh log jaahi, baahar dhondan jaahi.

(Kabir says that God resides inside us like pupil in our eye. All the followers of religion are ignorant as they try to search for God outside while He resides inside us.)

Another of great poets Mir taqi Mir ,considered Khuda-e-sukhan(God of Urdu poetry), also wrote against religion

Mir ke deen-o-mazhab ab poochte kya ho, unne to
qashqa kheencha dair mein baitha kab ka tarq islam kiya.

(Mir, here says dont ask me my religion I have relinquished Islam long back and have accepted Hinduism.).

This poem has to be understood in the context of Islam. Converting from Islam to any other religion is considered blasphemy and in Islam the person is condemned to death for having done so. One cannot convert from Islam to any other religion without facing wrath of Islamists even now in India. Mir here challenges all the Islamic religious fanatics by openly claiming that he has relinquished Islam and accepted Hinduism.

Another famous poet , Sir Iqbal, one of the founding fathers of Islamic state of Pakistan, wrote this and created a furore. If I remember correctly this is from his book Shikva(complaint against God).

Kabhi hamse kabhi gairo se shaanasai hai
kehne ki baath nahi par tu bhi to harzaai hai .

(Sir Iqbal complains to God that sometimes He is with us(Muslims) sometimes with others(other religions) and calls God unfaithful for doing so.)

Now can anyone dare to call God Unfaithful ?