What is the meaning of bazeecha e atfal by Ghalib?

Answer 1

baaziichaa-e-atfaal hai duniyaa mere aage

hotaa hai shab-o-roz tamaashaa mere aage

bazeecha-e-atfal = Kinder-garden

These are the opening lines of a very beautiful 'ghazal'. This is a lament (shikva) to the creator whoever that might be.

This world is a kinder-garden as far as I am concerned

The passing of night and day is merely a show ( tamaashaa)

Ik khel hai aurang-e-suleman mere nazdeek

Ik baat hai ijaz-e-massiha mere aage

aurang-e-suleman = King Solomon's splendour

ijaz-e-massiha = miracles of jesus

King Solomon's magnificence is a mere 'play'

The miracles of Jesus are just a story

hota hai nihan gard main sehra mere hote

ghista hai jabee-e-khak main darya mere aage

nihan = to disappear

The great deserts are lost in the sand

rivers carve them selves deeper in the land

( Neither the great deserts nor the great rivers impress me, ghalib sees nothing profound)

Mat pooch ke kya haal hai mera tere peeche

Tu dekh ke kya rang hai tera mere aage

Don't ask me how I am in your pursuit

You just look at what you are trying to show me.

This 'sher' is the essence of this 'ghazal' and it is quite vivid in it's description. In short Ghalib is not impressed by the orthodox religion's explanations about God)