[Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem

[mahmood farooqui]

Despite Ghalib's avowed unorthodoxy he felt himself to be a part of the
Muslim community. Hali writes:

'Although he paid very little regard to the outward observances of Islam,
whenever he heard of any misfortune befalling the Muslims it grieved him
deeply. One day in my presence when he was lamenting some such occurrence,
he said, "I have none of the hallmarks of a Muslim; why is it that every
humiliation that the Muslims suffer pains and grieves me so much?"

(From Ghalib-Life and Letters, Ralph Russell and Khurshidul Islam.)

Bugger...khud to mar gaye aur hamare liye problem chhor gaye...