The Seeing Eye: Selections From the Urdu and Persian Ghazals of Ghalib

by Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, Ralph Russell (Translator/Editor)

This book presents a comprehensive selection of the poetry of Ghalib (1797-1869). The preface details the main themes of his verse, some of which need explanation to a modern English reader. The book presents his poetry with the English translation on the left-hand page opposite the Urdu and Persian original. The title is taken from one of Ghalib's own verses:

"Unless the sea within the drop, the whole within the part Appear, you play like children; you still lack the seeing eye".

515 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Mirza Ghalib (Urdu: مرزا غالب) born Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan (Urdu/Persian: مرزا اسد اللہ بیگ خان) was a classical Urdu and Persian poet from India during British colonial rule. He used as his pen-name Ghalib (Urdu/Persian: غالب, ġhālib means dominant) and Asad (Urdu/Persian: اسد, Asad means lion. His honour title was Dabir-ul-Mulk, Najm-ud-Daula.

During his lifetime the Mughals were eclipsed and finally deposed by the British following the defeat of the Indian Revolt of 1857, events that he wrote of. Most notably, he wrote several ghazals during his life, which have since been interpreted and sung in many different ways by different people. In South Asia, he is considered to be one of the most popular and influential poets of the Urdu language. Ghalib today remains popular not only in India and Pakistan but also amongst diaspora communities around the world.

Mirza Ghalib is also known as the last great poet of the Mughal Era.