Poetry owes it’s appeal not only to the beauty of it’s thought, but also to the music of it’s language. This is specially true of the Ghházál, which conventionally, is a poetic form meant to be recited and heard, rather than merely to be read and reflected upon. Clearly, translation cannot produce the harmonies of the original, until read or recited in it’s original language.
My attempt at preparing a ROMAN SCRIPT, is essentially a labour of love. It is prompted by my desire to make Ürdů Ghházál, available to the lovers of poetry who are unfamiliar with the Urdū language.

It is hard work, difficult and risky; for in the quest of the right phonetics, for the correct pronunciation one is liable to sacrifice, or at least dilute the sense of the original. I have tried to make it simple, direct and easy for the reader to comprehend and come out with the correct pronunciation.

I shall feel amply rewarded if I am able to propagate through the ROMAN SCRIPT my love and zeal for Urdū Ghházál among the non Urdu speaking readers.

Before I close this prefatory note, I must record my sense of affectionate gratitude to Hasan Bhai, who was generous with his time and attention throughout the preparation of this work. I am also thankful to

Feroz Ahmed-ud-din for his English translation of the Ghházáls,

Ghufran Farooq,

Mr. Akhter Hussain,

I. A. Hussain,

Shafiul Quader,

Najmul Huq Chaudhury,

Tanvir Haider,

Manzoor Ul Hossain and

Karimul Hasan for their moral support.

I should, in the end, express my sense of deep appreciation for my uncle Janab Z.H. Qutubuddin, M. A. Ghaffar Bhai, Ataur Rahman Jamil Bhai and my uncle M.H. Hussamuddin for their encouragement and guidance.

Waliul Hamid Aziz