Revered by people for almost seven centuries, Amir Khusrau is one of the biggest and most important names of the South Asian cultural history. His words have been adopted by many, translated by hundreds, and still taught in schools and universities. He wrote mainly in Persian and introduced the ghazal to the subcontinent. He’s also regarded as the father of qawalli. His words have been sung by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab, Abida Parveen, Aziz Mian Qawal, amongst some of the biggest names in the musical history of this part of the world. His work also frequents itself into international media and films (predominantly the Hindi film industry). His words will never leave us, and we have tried putting together just some of his work that will make your day a little better.

1.

i have become you, and you have become me

i am the body, you the soul

so that no one can say, hereafter,

that you are someone else and I am someone else…

2.

if there is a paradise on earth,
it is this, it is this, it is this…

3.

the dust at your doorstep is just the right thing to apply,
if kohl fails to work in the eyes…

4۔

oh Khusrau, the river of love runs in strange directions.
the one who jumps into it drowns, and one who drowns is the one who gets across…

5۔

the creaking of the chain of Majnun is the orchestra of the lovers,
to appreciate its music is well beyond the ears of the wise…

6۔

how can her eyes reflect any sympathy for the nights I have spent awake?
for she herself knows of nothing in the night, except sleeping…

7.

Khusrau, the bride spends the eve of her wedding awake with her beloved,
the body belongs to her, but heart to him…the two have become one

8.

Khusrau, what you need to do is concentrate hard, like the Hindu does –
he even burns himself to offer to God…

9.

day and night, I see the empty bed, and cry
calling for my beloved, I will forever remain restless…

10.

with my beautiful face all adorned when I went to the beloved
I saw his face and forgot all about my own beauty…

11.

I, Khusrau, play the game of love with my beloved
if I win, the beloved’s mine, and if defeated, I’m his…

12.

you’ve taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance.
by making me drink the wine of love…

13.

I give my life to you, Oh dyer of colour,
you’ve dyed me in your colours, with just one look…

What’s your favorite work of Amir Khusrau?