Word Meaning
चंग
chang
Meaning
A harp or curved multi-stringed musical instrument; lute.
Detailed Meaning
Chang designates an ancient Persian angular harp, known for its curved wooden frame. In this couplet, Ghalib compares the bowed shape of the instrument to the subdued exterior of a lover, noting that its bending does not make it devoid of music. It serves as an allegorical image for how inner passion and harmony persist despite external restraint or veil.
Etymology
Persian (چنگ), originally denoting a harp or grasping claw.
Usage
In classical ghazal poetry, the chang is frequently invoked alongside the flute (nai) or lute (rabab), with its curved structure serving as a poetic metaphor for a lover bowed by sorrow or age.
Examples
The gentle notes drifting from the chang in the gathering
Bowed like the frame of a chang under grief