Word Meaning
मय-कशी
mai-kashī
Meaning
The act of drinking wine; imbibing alcohol.
Detailed Meaning
'May-kashi' literally denotes the drinking of wine. In classical Urdu poetry, it frequently symbolizes a liberation from rigid orthodoxy and the pursuit of mystical intoxication or spiritual ecstasy. In this couplet, Ghalib defends wine-drinking against being dismissed as a futile pursuit, contrasting genuine wine with ordinary willow-water.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'may' (wine) and 'kashī' (from 'kashīdan', meaning to pull, draw, or drink).
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, mai-kashi functions as a standard trope of ecstatic non-conformity, defying societal hypocrisy in favor of authentic spiritual and emotional experience.
Examples
May-kashi remained the sole solace for the sorrowful lover.
The night was spent in continuous may-kashi and poetic contemplation.