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Oh how I feel sad for the people of the world who never tasted the Hala(Wine) that is Madhushala. The greatest book of poetry ever written.

The poetry is revolutionary, rebellious, and driven by a sense of freedom. It's about finding your path in life. It's about breaking old traditions and narratives that plague divisions in society. It's about passion in the face of social objections. It's about losing the passion and finding it again. It's about existential dread and death. It's life expressed with the analogy of Hala (Wine), Saaki (Server), Pyaala (wine cup) and Madhushala (Tavern). Hala is often used as a placeholder for your passion and Madhushala as one for your goals. Saaki is often referred to signify the seductions of life once you accomplish your goal.


Here are a few of the hard-hitting portions although almost the entire book would have to included if I sit to select my favourite.

मदिराल�� जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवल��,
'कि�� पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस मे�� है वह भोलाभाला,
अल��-अल�� पथ बतलाते सब पर मै�� यह बतलाता हू�� -
'रा�� पकड़ तू एक चल�� चल, पा जाएग�� मधुशाला।

Seeking wine, the drinker leaves home for the tavern.
Perplexed, he asks, "Which path will take me there?"
People show him different ways, but this is what I have to say,
"Pick a path and keep walking. You will find the tavern."

धर्मग्रन्थ सब जल�� चुकी है, जिसक�� अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदि��, मसजि��, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि��, मोमि��, पादिरयों के फंदो�� को जो का�� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।

He who has burnt all scriptures with his inner fire,
Has broken temples, mosques and churches with carefree abandon,
And has cut the nooses of pandits, mullahs and priests ---
Only he is welcome in my tavern.

ना�� अग�� को�� पूछे तो, कहना बस पीनेवाला
का�� ढालन��, और ढालन�� सबको मदिर�� का प्याला,
जाति प्रिये, पूछे यद�� को�� कह देना दीवानो�� की
धर्म बतान�� प्यालो�� की ले माला जपना मधुशाला।

If anyone asks my name, say it was, "The Drunkard".
My work? I drank and passed the goblet to everyone.
O Beloved, if they ask my caste, say only that I was "one of the crazy ones".
Say my religion worshipped goblets and then chant with your rosary, "The tavern, the tavern!"



It's the literature that like wine will keep calling you back to have another taste of it, to feel intoxicated about life, and give you the zeal to make your life worthwhile.