Citation : Singh AR (2023) Ghalib Making Fun of Himself.In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 1 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 21:1.pg 9-10
ہوا ہے شہ کا مصاحب پھرے ہے اتراتا
وگرنہ شہر میں غالبؔ کی آبرو کیا ہے
हुआ है शह का मुसाहिब फिरे है इतराता
वगरना शहर में ‘ग़ालिब’ की आबरू क्या है
hu.aa hai shah kaa musaahib phire hai itraataa
vagarna shahr me.n ‘Ghaalib’ kii aabruu kyaa hai
(DG 179:10:1124)
Meaning
Having become a courtier of the King. He is strutting about.
Otherwise, what prestige does ‘Ghalib’ have in the city?
Explanation:
You find this happen all the time.
When some people come to power, they develop a coterie of sychophants and hypocrites around them. (the chamchas). Such people strut around, assuming airs, since they are in the good books of the ruler/boss/leader. And others are afraid of them, since they are known to be close to the boss.
Once such a boss is gone, such sychophants also lose their powers and sink into oblivion. And are replaced by a new coterie which does exactly the
same sycophancy (chamchagiri).
Ghalib makes fun of himself by saying how he is strutting about being in the King’s good books. But in making fun of himself, he is making fun of all those who do this. And pointing out a universal phenomenon.
Don’t assume airs riding on someone’s back. Be someone on your own merit.