Ghazals

The Ghazal is an ancient poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets, and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. The Ghazal has specific form; it deals with just one subject: Love. Ghazals speak specifically about one kind of love-. an illicit and unattainable love. The Ghazal is the unrequited lover’s rendition of love for his unattainable beloved. The lyrical impetus of the Ghazal lies in the fact that in spite of the love being unrequited, the lover continues to love. The Ghazal portrays the beauty of unrequited love in spite of pain.

The Ghazal is a form of Persian and Urdu poetry. However, today it is found in other languages as well. The beauty of the Ghazal lies in the depth of its meaning. It is not something that is sung off your sleeve. A Ghazal is soul stirring and one must be in tune with it to comprehend its profound meaning. Ghazal singers like Pankaj Udhas, Jagjit Singh continue to keep this art form alive but with today’s youth being constantly bombarded with Bollywood ‘masala’ music, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract younger audiences.

It is sad that mindless music which has no soul but is sung by scantily dressed teenagers is more popular than soul stirring Ghazals. Modern day Ghazal singers like Jaswinder Singh are rare but their interest in this dying art form is what will keep this art form alive. For any music form to stay alive it has to be actively promoted. Television should cover Ghazal shows so that teenagers are more aware of this art form which is a part of our rich heritage.