GHULAM ALI-THE USTAD OF GHAZALS

Dr(Major) Nalini Janardhanan

Panchi, Nadiyaan, Pawan ke Jhonke
Koi Sarhad na inhe roke
Sarhad insaano ke liye hai
Socho tumne aur maine, kya paya insaan hoke.
Whenever I listen to these beautiful lyrics born from the magic pen of the great poet
Gulzar (Film:Refugee), I visualize music as a phenomenon beyond boundaries. It is a fact that
borders created by humans could never stop the flow of music just like the flow of winds and
rivers. Music is always enjoyed and appreciated by music lovers irrespective of whether they
belong to India or Pakistan or any other state. We have welcomed and encouraged the artists
from Pakistan with open heart.
audience in their country.

Similarly our artists get a warm welcome and respectful

This proves that when it comes to music, we are all ONE!

Connoisseurs of music who listen to music from heart!

Ustad Ghulam Ali is a legendary singer of Ghazals from Pakistan who earned popularity
in India also. He was born on 05 Dec 1944 in Kaleke, a village which belongs to Sialkot District
of Punjab (which is now in Pakistan).

Being from a family of musicians he could get a solid

foundation in Hindustani classical music. Ghulam Alis father, who was a Sarangi player and a
Vocalist, initiated him to the world of classical music. Ghulam Ali is named after the renowned
singer of Hindustani classical music Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, of Patiala Gharana.
At the tender age of 15 yrs Ghulam Ali was sent to Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in
Lahore for learning classical music. Since the Ustad was quite busy with his programmes, his
brothers (Barqat Ali Khan, Mubarak Ali Khan and Amanat Ali Khan) provided training to Ghulam
Ali. Little Ghulam Ali mastered the nuances of classical music, various ragas and Thumris. This
training later helped him in giving a classical touch to his soulful rendition of Ghazals.
Ghulam Alis style of singing with a harmonious mix of enchanting ragas, unforgettable
lyrics and enthralling rhythm is well known and appreciated by singers and music lovers.
Blending classical music with meaningful Ghazals and embellishing them with diverse rhythms
on Tabla, he created his own unique style of Ghazal gayaki. .
Ghulam Ali started singing for Radio Lahore in 1960.He also sings Punjabi Geet (Songs)
and Bhajans. His Punjabi songs are popular in India as well. Ghulam Ali has to his credit many
Ghazals in Hindi films too. His famous Ghazal Chupke chupke raat din was included in Hindi
Film Nikah directed by B.R. Chopra. This was his first Ghazal in Indian Cinema.
He has also sung a couple of Ghazals in Nepalese language. Those songs were written
by King Mahendra of Nepal and composed by Deepak Jangam.

An album named Narayan

Gopal Ghulam Ali Ra Ma was released in Nepal in which those Nepali Ghazals were rendered by
Ghulam Ali along with a Nepali singer Narayan Gopal.
Ghulam Ali has given innumerable music performances in India, Pakistan and various
other countries. One of his most memorable concerts in India was at the great monument of
love, Taj Mahal. He is blessed with a mellifluous voice and is noted for his clear and distinct

pronunciation as well as soft rendering of words. Ghulam Ali always manages to capture the
hearts of audience irrespective of the place, be it Pakistan, India or abroad.
Some of his famous Ghazals are :

Dil mein ek laher si uthi hai abhi(Nasir Kazmi]

Chupke chupke raat din (Poet: Hasrat Mohani]
Mai nazar se pee raha hoon
Hum tere shaher main aaye hai
Woh kabhi mil jaaye to
Hungama hai kyun barpa

Dil dhadakne ka sabab [Nasir Kazmi )

Faasle Aise Bhi Honge

Humko Kiske Gham Ne Mara (Masroor Anwar)

Itni muddat baad mile ho

Jin ke honton pe hansi

Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi (Ebn e Insha)

Kal Raat Bazm mein jo mila

Kiya Hai Pyaar Jise

Koi humnafas nahi hai

Mehfil Mein Baar Baar (Agha Bismil)

Patta Patta Boota Boota (Meer Taqi Meer)

Tumhare Khat Mein Naya Ik Salaam

Who Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qarar Tha [ Momin Khan Momin]

Yeh Dil Yeh Pagal Dil (Poet: Mohsin Naqvi]

Ghulam Alis wonderful Ghazal Dil main ek lehar si uthi hai abhi creates ripples in the
hearts of listeners when he sings the line (Dil main ek lehar si) in different styles giving a
beautiful stress to the word lehar (wave).

Audience sits spellbound listening to the great

maestros experiments with various ragas blending with meaningful Ghazals. Music lovers enjoy
the journey of music along with Ustad Ghulam Ali. They are taken to a marvellous world where
solitude speaks the language of love, passion and the anguish of separation of lovers.

I am trying to give meaning in English to some of the outstanding Ghazals sung by

Ghulam Ali, for the benefit of readers who are not well versed with Urdu:
Itni Muddat Baad
Itni muddat baad mile ho
Kin sochon mein ghum rahte ho?
Tez hawaa ne mujh se poocha
Reth pe kya likhte rahte ho?
Kaun si baat hai tum mein aisi
Itni achchi kyun lagti ho?
Hamse na poocho hijr ke kisse
Apni kaho, ab tum kaise ho?
Meeting after such a long time.
Which thoughts are you lost in really?
Strong blowing wind asked me
What do you keep writing on sand?
What is that thing in you?
Why do I like you so much?
Ask me not the tales of our separation.
You tell me, Now how are you doing?
Woh Kabhi Mil Jaye
Woh kabhi mil jaye toh kya kijiye
113052

Raat din surat ko dekha kijiye

Chandni raato mein ek ek phool ko
Bekhudi kehate hai sajda kijiye
Ishq ki rangeeniyo mein doob kar
Chandni raato mein roya kijiye
Hum hi uske ishq ke qabil na the
Kyun kisi zaalim ka shikwa kijiye
If happen to meet her what to do?
Day and night to be spent looking at her face
During the moonlit nights, the unawareness of myself tells me to offer each flower to her
worship
Immersing in the colors of love, cry during the moonlit nights
In fact, I was only the one who was not good enough for her love
Then why complain about that heartless person?
Chupke Chupke Raat Din

Chupke chupke raat din aansu bahaana yaad hai

Humko ab tak aashiqui ka voh zamaana yaad hai
Tujh se milte hi woh kuch bebak ho jana mera
Aur tera daanton mein woh ungli dabana yaad hai
Chori chori hum se tum aakar mile the jis jagah
Muddatein guzari par ab tak woh thikana yaad hai
Khench lena voh mera parde ka kona daffatan
Aur dupatte se tera voh munh chhupaana yaad hai
Do paher ki dhoop mein mere bulaane ke liye
Voh tera kothe pe nange paaon aana yaad hai
I remember the crying silently days and nights
Till date I remember those days of love
The sanctification of me on coming across you
And the soft biting of your fingertips, I still reminisce
Without anybodys notice, the place where you used to come to meet me
Decades passed by, yet I remember that place
My sudden pulling of the corners of those curtains
Seeing which, your act of veiling your face,
I still remember it all
In the scorching heat of noon just to call me, the way you used to come barefoot to my house
I still remember those days of love
Faasle Aise Bhi

Faasle aise bhi honge yeh kabhi socha na tha

Saamne baitha tha mere aur woh mera na tha
Woh to khushboo ki tarah phaila tha mere char soo
Main use mehsoos kar sakta tha chhoo sakta na tha
Raat bhar pichhlee hi aahat kaan mein aatee rahee
Jhaank kar dekha galee mein koi bhi aaya na tha
Yaad kar ke aur bhi takleef hoti thi Adeem
Bhool jaane ke siwa ab koi bhi chaara na tha
Distance of such sort was never thought about.
He was in front me, yet he was not mine!

Like fragrance he was spread all around me.

I could feel him but I could not touch him
All night long I could hear noises from the backside of my
house
But when I looked out into the side lane, there wasnt
anybody.
Remembering him just caused more and more pain Adeem
Except forgetting him there was no other way!
Dil Mein Ek Lehar
Dil mein ek lehar si utthi hai abhi
Koi taaza hawa chali hai abhi
Shor barpa hai khana-e-dil mein
Koi deewar si giri hai abhi
Kuchh to nazuk mizaaj hain hum bhi
Aur ye chott bhi nayi hai abhi
Yaad ke be-nishaan jazeeron se
Teri awaaz aa rahi hai abhi
Shehar ki be-charaagh galiyon mein
Zindagi tujh ko dhoondti hai abhi
In my heart, arose a wave just now
A fresh breeze has passed just now
Commotion arose in the room of my heart
It somehow feels as if a wall has fallen now
Somewhat a sensitive person I also am
And the wounds are also fresh as of now
From the unnamed ruined islands of my memories
Your voice beckons me even now!
Along the lightless lanes in the town
You are still searched by my life!
Main Nazar Se
Main nazar se pee raha hoon ye samaa badal na jaaye
Na jhukaao tum nigaahein kahi raat dhal na jaaye
Mere ashk bhi hain is mein ye sharaab ubhal na jaaye
Mera jaam chhoonewaale tera haath jal na jaaye
Abhi raat kuchh hai baaqi na utha naqaab saaqi
Tera rind girte girte kahi phir sambhal na jaaye
Mere zindagi ke maalik mere dil pe haath rakhna
Tere aane ki khushi mein mera dam nikal na jaaye
Mujhe phoonkne se pehle mera dil nikaal lena
Ye kisi ki hai amaanat kahi saath jal na jaaye

I am drinking with my eyes, let this ambience never change

Please dont lower your eyes, what if the night comes to an end?
My tears are also there in this drink, hope it doesnt come to boil
Oh, the one who happen to be touching my drink, hope your hand doesnt get burnt
The night is still somewhat left, Oh lady serving the drinks! Dont lift your veil
What if your drunkard ends up getting in control while staggering and falling down?
Oh! the owner of my life, please keep your hand over my heart
What if my breath stops because of the joy of your arrival!
Before cremating me, please take out my heart
It is somebodys prized possession, let it not burn along with my body!!!

Kathin Hai Raahguzar

Kathin hai raahguzar thodi door saath chalo
Bahut kada hai safar thodi door saath chalo
Tamaam umr kahan koi saath detaa hai
Main jaanta hoon magar thodi door saath chalo
Nashe mein choor hoon main bhi,tumhe bhi hosh nahi
Bada mazaa ho agar thodi door saath chalo
Ye ek shab ki mulaqaat bhi ghanimat hai
Kisey hai kal ki khabar, thodi door saath chalo
Abhi to jaag rahe hain chirag raahon ke
Abhi hai door sahar thodi door saath chalo
Tavaaf-e-manzil-e-jaana hame bhi karna hai
Faraz tum bhi agar thodi door saath chalo
Difficult this path is, please come along with me for a while
Tough the journey is, yet come along with me for a while
Whole life who is going to give you company?
I know that fact, yet come along with me for a while
Disintegrated in hands of intoxication I am, also you are not in your senses
Fun it would be if you come along with me for a while

This meeting of one night is also much better

Who has any news about tomorrow? Come along with me for a while
As of now, lights along the paths are still on
Dawn is still far away, come along with me for a while
Circumambulation of my beloveds house, even I have to do
Faraz , you too please come along with me for a while.
Let me quote some amazing words:
Parindon ne kabhi firqa parasti nahi dekhi
Kabhi mandir mein jaa baithe
Toh kabhi masjid mein jaa baithe
As truly observed by the poet, birds never follow any religion or caste. They fly freely in
the sky and sometimes sit near temples or they may take rest near mosques. Just like birds,
rivers and nature, music also never discriminate between colors, creed, castes or religions.
Music is a panacea for the mind, tranquillizing the mind in distress, wiping away tensions
and filling the void in hearts! Music is definitely the heartbeat of world and the rhythm of our
life.

We are always enchanted by the mesmerizing power of music flowing like a river and

touching all the countries.

Ghulam Ali represents music beyond boundaries.

Let us salute the Ustad a versatile

singer par excellence who proved that music truly travels beyond frontiers touching the chords
of our hearts irrespective of our nationality, making us feel that we are all, though distant, but
one family of music lovers !