Word Meaning
रुसवाई
ruswaa'ee
Meaning
Disgrace, infamy, dishonor, or public scandal, especially born of love.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'ruswaai' refers to public disgrace, scandal, or infamy, typically arising from the revelation of unrequited or forbidden passion. In this couplet, it represents the heart's loud humiliation when a deeply concealed lament of desire is stripped of all secrecy and revealed nakedly to the world. It is both a dreaded consequence and a badge of honor for the passionate lover.
Etymology
Persian (ruswā'ī), derived from 'ruswā' (disgraced, notorious) + suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'ruswaai' frequently appears alongside concepts like parda (veil) and raaz (secret), representing the inevitable public exposure of private devotion.
Examples
Fear of disgrace in love kept the secret hidden.
The lover accepted infamy as the ultimate fate of passion.