FWP:
For background see S. R. Faruqi's choices.
What does it mean to compose poetry? To the heart, it's a way of opening a gate or door-- perhaps even a rather forceful way. How violent is the process? It's not quite clear. The word istikaak can mean 'striking' or 'clashing'-- perhaps of the door rattling and groaning against the door-frame, but also with some suggestion of strong blows on the door. This martial possibility is enhanced by the meaning of fat;h as not only 'opening' but also 'conquering'. Perhaps poetry lets us force our way through some barrier. What kind of a gateway is it? Where does it take us? Who or what is behind it? As so often, we're left to decide for ourselves.
But the main emphasis is on the sound of the the creaking or groaning of the rusty metal door-hinges as they reluctantly give way. This is the sound that's identical to the scratching of the pen. In fact just such sound effects are already precisely and most enjoyably built into the word .sariir (see the definition above).
And all that takes place 'here'. Does that mean 'here' on earth, among us humans? Or 'here' among poets? Or 'here' among some special group of poets who have the right 'style/manner'? Or perhaps simply 'here' where Ghalib himself sits writing? The verse gives us no information about how many poets can pull off this remarkable door-opening feat.
Compare {169,13}, in which the 'scratching of the pen' is, more melodiously, the 'voice of an angel'.
Imagine-- Ghalib had verses like this in his early manuscripts, and he didn't even deign to publish them.
Gyan Chand:
i.s:tikaak is for noise to be created by two harsh things clashing together. The i.s:tikaak of a door is the sound of a stiff door opening. The sound of the sliding of the pen is the sound of door-panels opening. That is, through poetry our individuality opens and comes before us, or our 'closed' [unsuccessful] tasks/projects begin to 'open' [succeed]. (300)