Word Meaning
ग़म्माज़ी
ghammāzī
Meaning
Talebearing, backbiting, informing, or malicious betrayal of secrets.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'ghammaazi' denotes the act of tale-bearing, backbiting, or divulging someone's secrets maliciously. In the couplet, it refers to the hazard of a rival or spy reporting the lover's complaints against the friend/beloved, prompting the lover to preemptively make the enemy a confidant.
Etymology
Arabic (derived from the root 'ghamaza' meaning to make malicious gestures or cast aspersions, through 'ghammaz' meaning tale-bearer, with the Persian/Urdu abstract noun suffix '-i').
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, ghammaazi represents the hostile act of rivals (raqeeb) or spies revealing the lover's hidden passion and vulnerabilities to society.
Examples
Fear of the informer's betrayal
To engage in malicious talebearing