Meaning of
kalf
कलफ़ • کلف
English
starch; stiffness; formality
Hindi
कड़क; औपचारिकता; कठोरता
Urdu
کڑک; رسمی; سختی
Origin
Arabic
Ash'aar
sabab jab bhi udaasi ka kisi ne ham se poocha hai
zuba par be-takalluf phir tira hi naam aaya hai
nahin aata kabhi fann-e-sukhan gar saath vo hota
bichhadna yaar ka ashraf ke kitna kaam aaya hai
4
kya takalluf karen ye kehne men
jo bhi KHush hai ham us se jalte hain
105
bas ye hua ki us ne takalluf se baat ki
aur ham ne rote rote dupatte bhigo li.e
42
tum takalluf ko bhi ikhlaas samjhte ho faraaz
dost hota nahin har haath milaane vaala
36
tanqeed na taqraar badi der se chup hain
hairat hai mere yaar badi der se chup hain
goongon ko takalluq ke mawaaqe hain muyassar
ham maahir-e-guftaar badi der se chup hain
33
bhaai behnon ki mohabbat ka nasha mat poochiye
be-takalluf ho ga.e to gudgu
dii tak aa ga.e
32
mujh se bila-taqalluf ho ke milta hai
vo dost hai mira phoolon sa khilta hai
8
hai bais-e-kulfat yuñ kamaal apna dikhaana
be chashm-e-baseerat hai tamaashaai hamaara
5
ham taalluq jise samjhte the
vo taalluq nahin takalluf tha
4
ab taalluq ko taalluq se mil
aanaa kaisa
ho ga.e KHaak to phir laut ke aanaa kaisa
tumko milnaa hi nahin tha to bataa sakte the
be-rukhi ye ye takalluf ye bah
aanaa kaisa
4
sabab jab bhi udaasi ka kisi ne ham se poocha hai
zuba par be-takalluf phir tira hi naam aaya hai
nahin aata kabhi fann-e-sukhan gar saath vo hota
bichhadna yaar ka ashraf ke kitna kaam aaya hai
4
kya takalluf karen ye kehne men
jo bhi KHush hai ham us se jalte hain
105
Nuance
Originally, 'kalf' refers to the stiffness imparted by starch, a quality of rigidity and formality. In poetry, it evokes the tension between appearance and essence, the outer shell versus inner fluidity.
Poetic Usage
Poets often use 'kalf' to contrast the rigidity of societal norms with the fluidity of personal emotions. It can symbolize the facade people maintain or the stiffness in relationships.
Closing Insight
Kalf embodies the delicate balance between form and freedom, a reminder of the masks we wear.