Word Meaning
मज्लिस
majlis
Meaning
An assembly, gathering, company, or formal meeting.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'majlis' signifies a social gathering, salon, or courtly assembly where the beloved, lovers, and rivals convene. In this couplet, it denotes the beloved's gathering where the lover is now forced to sit at a distance, contrasting painful present alienation with former intimacy. It serves as the physical setting for social decorum and unexpressed heartbreak.
Etymology
Arabic (مَجْلِس), noun of place from the root j-l-s (جَلَسَ), meaning 'to sit'; literally 'a place of sitting'.
Usage
In the ghazal, the 'majlis' is often depicted as the public space where the lover must endure the presence of rivals (raqīb) while concealing their passion.
Examples
Gaye the ham bhi us majlis mein kal shab
Majlis-e-yaar mein sab jaam-ba-dast baithe the