Connecting Ghalib with the realities of life encountered by contemporary readers, this volume departs from the traditional approach and abandons the?<em>ghazal</em>?as the primary medium for introducing this extraordinary poet to new readers. With a selection of couplets from Ghalib?s?<em>ghazals</em>?that best exemplify his power as a source?of insight, knowledge, and wisdom, these are presented in Urdu, Hindi, and Roman transliteration along with a literal translation, and interpretation, relating it to the central social, political and economic issues of our times. It is the creative timelessness of his poetry that makes this a ?brilliant contribution to understanding the past in the present.?