Ghalib: English Translation of Mirza Ghalib’s popular Urdu couplets

by Swati Sani

Mirza Ghalib’s most popular poetry is the ghazals that he wrote in Urdu, or Rekhta, as it was called in his era. Ghalib's poetry not only mirrors his own life but also shows the trials and tribulations of the common man in those times, which resonate with us even today, making his poetry timeless. His poems depict love, loss, betrayal and tragedy, and such wide-ranging concerns that every reader finds it relatable. The sophistication of Ghalib’s Shayari is apparent not just in the language and rhythmic quality of his poetry but also in his khayal, or imagination, and themes. He expresses himself in the simplest words, and his thoughts echo that of the reader. Wit and sarcasm remain beautifully woven in matters of heartbreak, despair, and philosophy, making Mirza Ghalib and his poetry immortal.

This book also contains chapters on Urdu Poetry, a Timeline, Urdu Poetry & Literary Movements, Forms & Structure of Urdu Poetry, and a short biography of Mirza Ghalib, along with a selection of 50 popular couplets from Diwan-e-Ghalib presented in Roman Urdu, Devanagari, and Urdu script, followed by its English translation.

90 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2022

About the author

An Urdu poetess and an author, Swati Sani is also an Advertising professional and a software entrepreneur. She is currently translating famous couplets of popular Urdu poets in colloquial English for those who love Urdu poetry but struggle with the finer nuances of the language.

The books, a series titled “Famous Urdu Poets” include poets Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmad Faiz (already published), Seemab Akbarabadi, Firaq Gorakhpuri (soon to be published) and a few more. Each book has a collection of popular couplets of the poets translated in English with the original in Urdu, Devanagari, and Roman script.

A postgraduate in Advertising and Public Relations from the Indian Institute of Mass Communications, New Delhi she completed her Master’s degree in Urdu Literature at 50.
A person with many talents, She decided to switch to being an author after running a software company for 22 years, which was her second career after being an advertising professional. She is also known to document the recipes of the food she cooks, which she intends to bring out in a book form soon.