{"id":2401,"date":"2020-04-22T13:40:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T13:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/idiagress.com\/vinaaypatil\/?p=2401"},"modified":"2021-08-08T11:58:03","modified_gmt":"2021-08-08T11:58:03","slug":"an-ode-to-qawwali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/idiagress.com\/vinaaypatil\/2020\/04\/22\/an-ode-to-qawwali\/","title":{"rendered":"An Ode to Qawwali"},"content":{"rendered":"

Qawwali’s are simple performances, without a wide array of instruments or orchestra, etc. A chorus of claps modulates the underlying rhythm. Human anatomy limits the maximum beat that can be created by clapping. Hence, Qawwals use a table to get around this limitation and introduce faster beats in between the claps. A Harmonium is mostly ornamental, and audible when the singer reaches the low notes and during those stretched a’s (aaaaaaaa\u2026)\u00a0<\/span>\\<\/p>\n

We can classify Qawwali’s into two broad categories. Now a trained singer or musician might dispute this and can go into lengths about the different structures in a Qawwali. However, I write this ode from the perspective of listeners, based on the wide opinion of ONE esteemed listener.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These categories are based on the way the audience involves itself in the Qawwali. One, when the audience is involved in the rhythm, the clapping, the vocals, the transitions. Two, when the audience is involved in the lyrics. Both need audience reaction, audience participation for a fulfilling performance, however the way they entice the reaction differentiates them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s look at the lyrics category first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some ground rules, the Qawwali ‘must’<\/strong> (this cannot be emphasized enough), use a word or a phrase that is not a part of the normal spoken language. It must have a word you need to google to find the meaning. Such words are borrowed from cousins of the Hindi language, Urdu, Farsi, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The second challenge is for the Qawwali is to have an overarching theme (usually heartbreak, divine love, etc), yet individual couplets or paragraphs must carry deep meaning emphasizing and reemphasizing the main theme.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is not merely scratching to write on a rock, Qawwali is akin to retracing, again and again, chiseling, until you get an inscription.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s see an example<\/p>\n

Qawwali:\u00a0Tu Bol Kaffara Kya Hoga written by Asim Raza<\/h2>\n

Devnagri Script Lyrics<\/h4><\/div>
<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0938\u0915\u0940\u0928 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u0916\u093e\u0924\u093f\u0930 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u092c\u093f\u091b\u0921\u093c\u0924\u0947 \u0935\u0915\u094d\u0924 \u092e\u0941\u0938\u094d\u0915\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0930\u0939\u094b \u0935\u094b \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u0947 \u0926\u0942\u0930 \u091c\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u092a\u0932\u091f \u0915\u0947 \u0928\u091c\u093c\u0930 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0930\u0939\u094b<\/p>\n

\u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0917\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u093e \u0939\u0948,\u0917\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0917\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u093e \u0939\u0948,\u0917\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0926\u093f\u0932\u0964 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0917\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u0924\u094c\u092c\u093e ,\u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u0924\u094c\u092c\u093e \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u0924\u094c\u092c\u093e ,\u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u0924\u094c\u092c\u093e \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u0924\u094c\u092c\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0905\u092c \u092a\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u094b\u092c\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0928\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e \u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0935\u094b \u092f\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0939\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u091c\u0941\u0917\u0928\u0942 \u091c\u0941\u0917\u0928\u0942 \u0915\u0930\u0915\u0947 \u0924\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0926\u0940\u092a \u091c\u0932\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u0939\u0948 \u0939\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u091c\u0941\u0917\u0928\u0942 \u091c\u0941\u0917\u0928\u0942 \u0915\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0924\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u0926\u0940\u092a \u091c\u0932\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u0939\u0948 \u0905\u0916\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092e\u094b\u0924\u0940 \u092d\u0930 \u092d\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0924\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0939\u093f\u091c\u093c\u094d\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u093e\u0925 \u0909\u0920\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u0939\u0948 \u0924\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0928\u093e\u092e \u0915\u0947 \u0939\u0930\u094d\u092b\u093c \u0915\u0940 \u0924\u0938\u094d\u092c\u0940\u0939 \u0915\u094b \u0938\u093e\u0902\u0938\u094b \u0915\u0947 \u0917\u0932\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u0939\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0926\u0941\u0928\u093f\u092f\u093e \u092d\u0942\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u093f\u0930\u094d\u092b \u0939\u093e \u0938\u093f\u0930\u094d\u092b \u0924\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u092c\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0930 \u0926\u0941\u0928\u093f\u092f\u093e,\u0926\u0941\u0928\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u092c\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0930 \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u092c\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0930 \u0926\u0941\u0928\u093f\u092f\u093e,\u0926\u0941\u0928\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u092c\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0930 \u0939\u092e\u0915\u094b \u0924\u0941\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u092c\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0930 \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u091c\u093e\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0928\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0935\u094b \u092f\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0939\u092e\u0947 \u0925\u0940 \u0917\u0930\u091c\u093c \u0924\u0941\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902 \u092c\u0947\u0917\u0930\u094d\u091c \u0939\u094b\u0928\u093e \u0925\u093e \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u0932\u093e\u0926\u0935\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0915\u0930 \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092e\u0930\u094d\u091c\u093c \u0939\u094b\u0928\u093e \u0925\u093e \u091a\u0932\u094b \u0939\u092e \u092b\u093c\u0930\u094d\u091c\u093c \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u0947 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948 \u092e\u0917\u0930 \u0907\u0938 \u092a\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u092d\u0940 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0939\u092e\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u092b\u0930\u094d\u091c \u0939\u094b\u0928\u093e \u0925\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0927\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0928 \u0927\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0928 \u0927\u0930\u0915\u0947 \u0927\u0930\u0915\u0947 \u0939\u092e \u0928\u0947 \u0927\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0928 \u0927\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0928 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0924\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u091c\u094b\u0930 \u0932\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0906\u0902\u0916\u094b\u0902 \u0928\u0947 \u0906\u0902\u0916\u0947 \u092a\u0922\u093c \u092a\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0947 \u0924\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0935\u093f\u0930\u0926 \u092c\u0928\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0924\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0924\u094b \u0924\u0942 \u0939\u0940 \u092c\u0924\u093e \u0939\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0924\u094b \u092d\u0940 \u092c\u0924\u093e \u092f\u0947 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u0947 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u0940 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0938\u091c\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0941\u092e \u091c\u093f\u0924 \u0917\u090f \u0939\u092e \u0939\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u0939\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u091c\u0940\u0924\u0947 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u091c\u093f\u0924 \u0917\u090f \u0939\u092e \u0939\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u0939\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u091c\u0940\u0924\u0947 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u091c\u0940\u0924 \u0917\u090f \u0939\u094b \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u0939\u092e \u0938\u093e \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u0939\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0928\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0924\u0942 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0935\u094b \u092f\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u092b\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e<\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div>\n

English Script with Translation<\/h4><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Taskeen-e-dil ki khaatir tum<\/i>
\nBicharrte waqt muskuraate raho<\/i>
\nO jaane wale door jaate huwe<\/i>
\nPalat palat ke nazar milaate raho<\/i><\/p>\n

For the sake of my heart\u2019s comfort.
\nplease keep smiling as we break apart
\nas you leave far away from me
\nturn around again and again, glance at my eyes again and again<\/p>\n

Dil ghalati kar betha hai<\/i>
\nGhalati kar betha hai dil<\/i>
\nDil ghalati kar betha hai<\/i>
\nGhalati kar betha hai dil<\/i>
\nDil ghalati kar betha hai<\/i>
\nGhalati kar betha hai dil<\/i>
\nDil ghalati kar betha<\/i><\/p>\n

My heart has made a mistake
\nA sin has been committed by my heart (3)<\/p>\n

Tu bol kaffara kya hoga<\/i><\/p>\n

Please tell me, what will be the penance for me<\/p>\n

Mere dil ki dil se tauba<\/i>
\nDil se tauba mere dil ki<\/i>
\nMere dil ki dil se tauba<\/i>
\nDil se tauba mere dil ki<\/i><\/p>\n

my heart bears apologies from my heart
\nheartfelt apologies from my heart (2)<\/p>\n

Dil ki tauba, aye dil\u00a0<\/span><\/i>
\nAb pyaar dobara na hoga<\/i><\/p>\n

as I repent from my heart,\u00a0<\/span>
\nit promises not to fall in love again<\/p>\n

Tu bol kaffara<\/i>
\nKaffara, bol kaffara<\/i>
\nTu bol kaffara<\/i>
\nKaffara, bol kaffara<\/i><\/p>\n

Please tell me, what will be the penance for me(2)<\/p>\n

Kaffara, bol na yaara
\nO yaara, bol kaffara kya hoga<\/p>\n

Oh dear, Please tell me, what will be the penance for me<\/p>\n

Ham ne jugnu jugnu kar ke<\/i>
\nTere milan ke deep jalaye hain<\/i>
\nHam ne jugnu jugnu kar ke<\/i>
\nTere milan ke deep jalaye hain<\/i><\/p>\n

one by one I collected individual glow worms (hopes)
\nto light the lamps for your embrace (2)<\/p>\n

Akhiyon mein moti bhar bhar ke<\/i>
\nTere hijr mein haath uthaye hain<\/i><\/p>\n

I have cried and cried, with tears in my eyes
\nI have prayed and prayed in my separation from you<\/p>\n

Tere naam ke harf ki tasbheeh ko<\/i>
\nSaanson ke galay ka haar kiya<\/i>
\nDuniya bhooli, aur sirf tujhe<\/i>
\nHaan sirf tujhe hi pyaar kiya<\/i><\/p>\n

I chanted your name again and again, creating a rosemary with beads of your name
\nwearing that rosemary in my each breath
\nthe world passed me, as I lost touch with it
\nonly to love you.<\/p>\n

Tum jeet gaye hum haare<\/i>
\nHum haare aur tum jeete<\/i>
\nTum jeet gaye hum haare<\/i>
\nHum haare aur tum jeete<\/i><\/p>\n

Your Victory was my loss
\nmy losses were your wins (2)<\/p>\n

Tum jeete hoo lekin<\/i>
\nHumsa koi haara na hog<\/i>a<\/p>\n

You may have simply won
\nyet, no one is as great a loser as me<\/p>\n

Mere dil ki dil se tauba<\/i>
\nDil se tauba mere dil ki<\/i>
\nDil ki tauba, aye dil<\/i>
\nAb pyaar dobara na hoga<\/i><\/p>\n

Tu bol kaffara<\/i>
\nKaffara,bol<\/i>
\nKaffara,kaffara<\/i>
\nBol na yaara<\/i>
\nO yaara, bol kaffara kya hoga<\/i><\/p>\n

my heart bears apologies from my heart
\nheartfelt apologies from my heart (2)
\nas I repent from my heart,\u00a0<\/span>
\nit promises not to fall in love again
\nPlease tell me, what will be the penance for me(2)
\nOh dear, Please tell me, what will be the penance for me<\/p>\n

Hamein thi gharz tum se<\/i>
\nAur tumhein begharz hona tha<\/i>
\nTumhein hi la dawaa hokar<\/i>
\nHamara marz hona tha<\/i>
\nChalo ham farz karte hain<\/i>
\nKe tum se pyaar karte hain<\/i>
\nMagar is pyaar ko bhi kya<\/i>
\nHami pe farz hona tha<\/i><\/p>\n

for me you became my life\u2019s purpose
\nbut you had to become disinterested in me
\nAs incurable as you were
\nyou had to become my disease
\nlets presume that\u00a0<\/span>
\nI had to fall in love with you
\nbut why this love\u00a0<\/span>
\nbecame an obligation for me<\/p>\n

Dharkan dharkan dharke<\/i>
\nDharke\u2026<\/i>
\nHam ne dharkan dharkan kar ke<\/i>
\nDil tere dil se jorr liya<\/i>
\nAankhon ne ankhain parh parh ke<\/i>
\nTujhe vird bana ke yaad kiya<\/i>
\nTujhe pyaar kiya to tu hi bata<\/i>
\nHam ne kya koi jurm kiya<\/i>
\nAur jurm kiya hai to bhi bata<\/i>
\nYeh jurm ke jurm ki kya hai saza<\/i><\/p>\n

with each heart beat
\nas I counted each beat of the heart
\nmy heart got attached to your heart
\nas I read into your eyes
\nI memorised you as the verses of prayer
\nYes I did love you, but can you tell me
\ndid I commit any crime by doing so
\nand if it was my crime, then you only tell me
\nwhat is the punishment for my crimes<\/p>\n

Tumhein ham se barh kar duniya<\/i>
\nDuniya tumhein hamain se barh kar<\/i>
\nTumhein ham se barh kar duniya<\/i>
\nDuniya tumhein hamain se barh kar<\/i><\/p>\n

more than me this world is more important to you
\nthis world is more valuable to you than me(2)<\/p>\n

Ham ko tum se barh kar<\/i>
\nKoi jaan se pyaara na hoga<\/i><\/p>\n

but for me, nothing will be greater than you
\nnothing will be lovelier than you<\/p>\n

Mere dil ki dil se tauba<\/em>
\nDil se tauba mere dil ki<\/em>
\nDil ki tauba, aye dil<\/em>
\nAb pyaar dobara na hoga<\/em><\/p>\n

my heart bears apologies from my heart
\nheartfelt apologies from my heart (2)
\nas I repent from my heart,\u00a0<\/span>
\nit promises not to fall in love again<\/p>\n

Tu bol kaffara<\/em>
\nKaffara,bol<\/em>
\nKaffara,kaffara<\/em>
\nBol na yaara<\/em>
\nO yaara, bol kaffara kya hoga<\/em><\/p>\n

Please tell me, what will be the penance for me(2)
\nOh dear, Please tell me, what will be the penance for me<\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div>\n

These lyrics pass our first check with words like kaffara<\/em> (penance), takseen-e-dil<\/em> (heat’s comfort), tasbeeh<\/em> (rosemary), vird<\/em> (repeated, prayer). The rest of the words will sound familiar for a typical hindi speaker, yet some oriental spices are embedded in this wordplay. Like easter eggs in a movie, these are for the nerds of the art form, like the word gharz<\/em><\/strong> in the lines Hamein thi gharz tum se<\/em>, Aur tumhein begharz hona tha<\/em>. ‘Gharz’ here can be easily interpreted at the hindi ‘Garaj’ meaning ‘Need’. And the lines will still make sense as in ‘You were my need’. Yet, the textbook meaning of the word ‘Gharz<\/em>‘ is ‘Purpose’. This transforms the line to ‘You were my purpose, my aim, my life’s purpose’. Thus adding more gravity and weight to the line, moving beyond a simple need, to a necessity.<\/p>\n

Talking of weight, the lyrics are laden with superlatives. You cannot be a simple loser, there has to be no greater a loser in this world than you (Humsa koi haara na hoga<\/em>). These are lines that carry the Qawwali from the performer to the audience, these are the lines that entice response from the audience, and these are the lines that create anticipation for the audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We can illustrate this with a simple example. The same lyrics above, first sung beautifully by the singer Sehar Gul Khan\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n