Word Meaning
हम-पेशा
ham-pesha
Meaning
A colleague, coworker, or person sharing the same profession or vocation.
Detailed Meaning
In Persian-Urdu literary tradition, 'ham-pesha' denotes someone belonging to the identical trade, occupation, or craft. In this couplet, Ghalib humorously refers to himself through a persona as a fellow practitioner of poetry and bohemian living, demanding tolerance for him. It invokes the unspoken solidarity and empathy that exists between craftsmen of the same pursuit.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'ham' (same, mutual) and 'pesha' (trade, profession, vocation).
Usage
In ghazal poetry, it is often paired with terms like 'ham-mashrab' (fellow drinker/of like mind) to express deep intellectual, artistic, or social comradeship.
Examples
A companion of the craft and fellow artisan
Only a colleague truly understands the trials of this work