THE TALE
It is a story of a poem and its muse by Shiv Kumar Batalvi “Ikk Kudi”, whose pen has given us evergreen songs like aaj din chadaya and the viral haye re mereya dadeya rabba. The story goes back to the time when Shiv was a boy when he and his friends planned a trip to the holy fair of Baijnath in Himachal. There are instances when your eyes get locked with another stranger’s eyes in a public place, you both know you are never going to meet again so you just admire the eyes and move on. This is exactly what happened to shiv when he saw a girl named mainain the fair
The fair was of 12 days so everyday they used to come and see each other with no conversations and leave. The 80 grams tongue felt very heavy to be lift and talked so the eyes did the job. After 10 days of this ‘nain matakka’ shiv decides to confess to maina on the 11thday as only two days were left for the fair but to his surprise Maina dosent shows up at the 11th day. He searches for her in the whole fair and its surrounding but no good news so he writes a poem like an article for a missing person and describes maina in that poem. He publishes that poem the next morning in the local newspaper and starts his search for mainawith that poem as it was going to be the last day of the fair.
The poem goes like “Ikk kudi jida naam mohabbat
Gum hai, gum hai, gum hai
O.. Soorat oss di, pariyaan wargi
Seerat di o.. mariyam lagdi
Hasti hai taan phul jhad’de ne
Turdi hai taan ghazal hai lagdi
Lamm salammi saru de kad di haaye..
Umar aje hai marke agg di
Par naina di gal samajh di
Ik kudi jida naam mohabbat
Gum hai, gum hai, gum hai”
Yes the song we are talking about is a poem written by Shiv for Maina in 65
THE MAN and HIS WORK
Jagjit singh-Chitra singh, Nuasrat Fateh Ali Khan, Surinder Kaur, Hans Raj Hans and Ghulam Ali have sung many of his poems. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s rendition of one of his poems “Maye Ni Maye” is known for its soulfulness and imagery.
In 2005, a compilation album was released, titled after his poem “Ikk Kudi Jihda Naam Mohabbat Ghum Hai”, with numbers sung by Mahendar Kapoor, Jagjit Singh and Asa Singh Mastana, In 2014, the rap duo Swet Shop Boys, consisting of Himanshu Suri and Riz Ahmed, released a song entitled “Batalvi” which sampled Batalvi’s own recitation of “Ikk Kudi JihdaNaam Mohabbat Ghum Hai” from an interview done with Aikam TV in the early 1970s. In 2016, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap’s album “Kaagaz” featured a song entitled Pind Bewafaayiyaan, which was inspired and conceptualized from the same poem. The song’s lyrics concluded from the lost girl named ‘Mohabbat (Love)’ belonging to the village named ‘Bewafaayiyaan (Betrayal)’ thus, giving birth to a new theory based on Batalvi’s poem with a different set of consequences.
Several of his poems have been adapted for films, e.g. “Ajj Din Chhadeya Tere Rang Varga”, was adapted in 2009 for the hindi film Love Aaj Kal and became an instant hit. His poem “Ikk Kudi Jihda Naam Mohabbat Ghum Hai” was made into a song for the 2016 film UdtaPunjab. Featuring Alia Bhatt, it was sung by Shahid Mallya and later covered by Diljit Dosanjh.
Jasleen Royal’s 2012 album Panchee Ho Javan is based on Batalvi’s poem of the same name, the album also contains another song “Maye Ni” based on the poem “Maye Ni Maye”. Also in 2014, Pakistani pop singer Sarmad Qadeer scored a hit single on the official Asian Download chart in the UK with his interpretation of “Maye Ni Maye”.
In 2020, Punjabi singer Wazir Patar made his debut with a tribute to Batalvi by producing Batalvi’s only available vocal recording, “Ki Puchde O Haal Fakiran Da.” He later continued to reference him in several of his other songs.
In 2022, his poem “Thabba Ku Zulfa Waleya” was made into a song, sung and with additional lyrics by Arjan Dhillon. In 2025, his poem “Jindey” was also made into a song, sung by Dhillon. In August 2025, Dhillon released his album “Shikhar” which included songs based on poems of several famous Punjabi poets. The first song on the album was “Tu Vida Hoya” written by Batalvi.
CONCLUSION
Every flame has its fuel, every wave has its disturbance and every art has its muse. This is not just the story of Shiv and Maina it is a story of that beautiful stranger which we saw once and never again.
It is a type of story which makes us pause in our life and smile, which reminds us that humans have consciousness not only to make AI and be around that but to witness, write, listen and experience the old and original forms of expression poetry,music, dance and etc.
And remember if you think you are missing out on Mohabbat then make sure to find your ikk kudi.
FAQ’s
1. What is the story behind “Ikk Kudi Jida Naam Mohabbat Ghum Hai”?
The poem is believed to have been inspired by Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s brief encounter with a girl named Maina at the Baijnath fair. Her sudden disappearance led him to express his emotions through this timeless poem.
2. Who was Shiv Kumar Batalvi?
Shiv Kumar Batalvi was one of the greatest Punjabi poets, known for his soulful poetry on love, longing, and heartbreak. His works continue to inspire singers, writers, and readers across generations.
3. How did “Ikk Kudi” become so popular?
The poem gained worldwide recognition after being adapted into the 2016 film Udta Punjab. Its emotional lyrics and timeless appeal introduced Batalvi’s poetry to a new generation.
4. Is the story of Maina a true story?
The story is widely shared in Punjabi literary circles, but there is no definitive historical evidence confirming every detail. It is cherished as a beautiful tale that reflects the emotions in Batalvi’s poetry.
5. Why is “Ikk Kudi” still loved today?
“Ikk Kudi” beautifully captures the universal emotions of love and separation, making it relatable across generations. Its poetic depth and musical adaptations continue to keep it alive in popular culture.
