Celebrating the Best of Urdu Poetry

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Celebrating the Best of Urdu Poetry Page 8

by Khushwant Singh


  To masjid hila key dikha

  Gar naheen to do ghoont pee

  Aur masjid ko hilta dekh

  Desire

  We mortals will make our world the envy of paradise, come what may

  Let those who have no faith in us go to their heaven, they don't have to stay.

  Faith

  In the new world, our ancient past too will have a place

  In our museums, our faiths and creeds will be given some space.

  Drunkard

  O holy man, if there is power in your prayer

  Let me see you make the mosque’s walls shake,

  It not, come, take a swig or two of wine

  And watch how the mosque quakes.

  रात का फ़साना

  ये उड़ी उड़ी सी रंगत ये खुले खुले से गेसू

  तेरी सुबह कह रही है तेरी रात का फ़साना

  Raat ka fasaana

  Ye uree uree see rangat ye khuley khuley sey gesoo

  Teree subah keh rahee hai teree raat ka fasaana

  मोहब्बत

  मुद्दतें गुज़रीं तेरी याद भी आई न हमें

  और हम भूल गये हों तुझे ऐसा भी नहीं

  सर में सौदा भी नहीं दिल में तमन्ना भी नहीं

  लेकिन इस तर्के-मोहब्बत का भरोसा भी नहीं

  Mohabbat

  Muddatein guzreen teree yaad bhee aaee na humein

  Aur hum bhool gaye hon tujhey aisa bhee naheen

  Sar mein sauda bhee naheen dil mein tamanna bhee naheen

  Lekin is tark-e-mohabbat ka bharosa bhee naheen

  The Morning After

  The pallor of your face, your ruffled unruly hair are a sight

  Your morning tells the story of how you passed the night.

  Love

  Ages passed and I did not even think of you

  That I have forgotten you is also not true.

  No bargain in my head, nor in my heart desire,

  But of this logic of love, too, who can be sure?

  BALMUKAND ARSH MALSIYANI

  (1908–1979)

  Balmukand began writing poetry at an early age. Despite his father’s opinion—that he did not have it in him to become a great poet— he persisted in his efforts and won a place for himself among the poets of his time, using the pseudonym ‘Arsh’. He had modest formal education. After passing the college intermediate examination, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs in different government departments till he succeeded Josh Malihabadi as editor of Aaj Kal in the publication division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Malsiyani’s anthologies of verse, Haft Rang, Chango- Ahang, Aahang-e-hazaaz and a satirical work Post Mortem, are popular even today. He died in 1979 in Delhi.

  हक़ीक़त

  फ़िरदौस के चश्मों की रवानी पे न जा

  ऐ शैख़ तू जन्नत की कहानी पे न जा

  इस वहम को छोड़ अपने बुढ़ापे ही को देख

  हूरन-ए-बहिशती की जवानी पे न जा

  Haqeeqat

  Firdaus key chashmon kee ravaanee pey na ja

  Ai shaikh too jannat kee kahaanee pey na ja

  Is vahm ko chhor apney burhapey hee ko dekh

  Hooraan-e-bahishtee kee javaanee pey na ja

  Reality

  Do not get taken in by tales of streams that flow in paradise

  Old sheikh, do not be fooled by stories of heavenly delights;

  Forget this make-believe, be your age, see your gray hair forsooth

  Don’t dream of houris in the bloom of their youth.

  ABDUL HAMEED ADAM

  (1909––)

  Adam’s poetry is conventional, following the traditional rules of metre and rhyme. Bold and provocative, Adam has several collections of poetry to his credit.

  Here, again, we will quote just a single, brilliant couplet.

  अमीर-ग़रीब

  अमीरों को एज़ाज़-ओ-इक़बाल दो

  ग़रीबों को फ़िरदौस पर टाल दो

  Ameer–ghareeb

  Ameeron ko aizaaz-o-iqbaal do

  Ghareebon ko firdaus par taal do

  The Rich and the Poor

  Give the rich respect and glory as their prize

  Fob off the poor with promises of paradise.

  FAIZ AHMAD FAIZ

  (1911–1984)

  Faiz Ahmed Faiz was born in Sialkot (now in Pakistan). He attended the Scottish Mission High School and went on to Government College, Lahore, to take a master’s degree in English and Arabic. He taught English literature in Amritsar and Lahore before joining the Indian army in 1941. He rose to the rank of Lt Colonel and was awarded an MBE in 1944. He was the first editor of Pakistan Times and held the position till the paper was taken over by the Government and he was put behind bars.

  Faiz began composing poetry when he was in his teens. His first public appearance was at a mushaira held in Murray College, Sialkot. Faiz was awarded several honorary doctorates of literature and received the Lenin International Peace Prize in 1962. Kala Qadir, the village Faiz’s family came from, was renamed Faiz Nagar after the poet’s death.

  बेक़रारी में क़रार

  रात यूं दिल में तेरी खोयी हुई याद आई

  जैसे वीराने में चुपके से बहार आ जाये

  जैसे सहराओं में हौले से चले बाद-ए-नसीम

  जैसे बीमार को बेवजह क़रार आ जाये

  Beqarari mein qarar

  Raat yoon dil mein teree khoyee huee yaad aaee

  Jaisey veeraney mein chupkey sey bahaar aa jaaye

  Jaisey sahraaon mein hauley sey chaley baad-e-naseem

  Jaisey beemaar ko bevajah qaraar aa jaaye

  Hope in Despair

  Last night the lost memory of you stole into my mind

  Stealthily as spring steals into a wilderness;

  As on desert wastes a gentle breeze begins to blow

  As in one sick beyond hope, hope begins to grow.

  पहली सी मोहब्बत

  मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब न मांग

  मैंने समझा था कि तू है तो दरख्शां है हयात

  तेरा ग़म है तो ग़म-ए-दहर का झगड़ा क्या है

  तेरी सूरत से है आलम में रक्खा क्या है

  तेरी आंखों के सिवा दुनिया में रक्खा क्या है

  तू जो मिल जाये तो तक़दीर नगूं हो जाये

  यूं न था मैंने फ़क़त चाहा था यूं हो जाये

  और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा

  राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा

  अनगिनत सदियों के तारीक बहीमाना तिलिस्म

  रेशम-ओ-अतलस-ओ-कमख़्वाब के बुनवाये हुए

  जा-ब-जा बिकते हुए कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार में जिस्म

  Pehlee see mohabbat

  Mujh sey pehlee see mohabbat meree mehboob na maang

  Main ney samjha thha
ki too hai to darakhshaan hai hayaat

  Tera gham hai to gham-e-dehr ka jhagra kya hai

  Teree soorat sey hai aalam mein bahaaron ko sabaat

  Teree aankhon key sivaa duniya mein rakkha kya hai

  Too jo mil jaaye to taqdeer nagoon ho jaaye

  Yoon na thha mainey faqat chaahaa thha yoon ho jaaye

  Aur bhee dukh hain zamaaney mein muhabbat key siva

  Raahatein aur bhee hain wasl kee raahat key sivaa

  Anginat sadiyon key taareek baheemaanaa tilism

  Resham-o-atlas-o-kamkhwaab key bunvaaye huey

  Jaa-ba-jaa biktey huey koocha-o-baazaar mein jism

  The Love We Had Before

  Beloved, do not ask me for the love I had before

  Then I had thought life was worth living because of you!

  If I was in pain, I did not care what others went through

  Your face gave the world assurance of springs to come;

  Besides your eyes, to me the world meant nothing

  And I would triumph over everyone if I won you.

  It was not meant to be, I only wished it so

  There are sorrows other than love’s sorrow;

  There are joys other than the joy of union with the beloved.

  Countless centuries have witnessed tragedies

  Interwoven in fabrics of silk, satin and gold lace:

  Human flesh on sale in bazaars and in the market place

  Smothered in dust and soaked in blood and gore

  ख़ाक में लिथड़े हुए ख़ून में नहलाये हुए

  जिस्म निकले हुए अमराज़ के तन्नूरों से

  पीप बहती हुई गलते हुए नासूरों से

  लौट जाती है उधर को भी नज़र क्या कीजे

  अब भी दिलकश है तेरा हुस्न मगर क्या कीजे

  और भी दुख हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा

  राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा

  मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब न मांग

  Khaak mein litharey huey khoon mein nehlaaye huey

  Jism nikley huey amraaz key tannooron sey

  Peep bahtee huee galtey huey nasooron sey

  Laut jaatee hai udhar ko bhee nazar kya keejey

  Ab bhee dilkash hai tera husn magar kya keejey

  Aur bhee dukh hain zamaaney mein mohabbat key sivaa

  Raahatein aur bhee hain wasl kee raahat key sivaa

  Mujh sey pehlee see mohabbat meree mehboob na maang

  Corpses pulled out of ovens of diseases

  Puss oozing out of festering sores—

  If my gaze turns to these things, what can I do?

  Your beauty is still heart-bewitching, but what can I do?

  There are other sorrows in the world besides the pangs of love

  There are other joys in life besides the fulfilment of love.

  Beloved, do not ask me for the Love I had before.

  वह दौर

  कुछ रमज़ान पहले इन आंखों के आगे क्या-क्या न नज़ारे गुज़रे थे

  क्या रौशनी हो जाती थी गली जब यार हमारे गुज़रे थे

  वह कितने अच्छे लोग थे जिनको अपने ग़म से फ़ु्रसत थी

  जो पूछे थे जब कोई दर्द का मारा गुज़रा था

  Voh daur

  Kuchh Ramzaan pehley in aankhon key aagey kya kya na nazaarey guzrey thhey

  Kya roshnee ho jatee thhee galee jab yaar hamaarey guzrey thhee

  Voh kitney achhey log thhee jinko apney gham sey fursat thhi

  Jo poochhtey thhey jab koee dard ka maara guzra thha

  Once upon a Time

  There were days when many a spectacle passed before my eyes

  Then my street lit up when my beloved happened to pass by;

  How good were people who had time to think of others? woes

  They had time to ask them how they coped with their sorrows.

  हम देखेंगे

  हम देखेंगे

  लाज़िम है कि हम भी देखेंगे

  वो दिन कि जिसका वादा है

  जो लौह-ए-अज़ल पे लिखा है

  हम देखेंगे

  जब ज़ुल्म-ओ-सितम के कोह-ए-गिरां

  रूई की तरह उड़ जायेंगे

  हम महकूमों के पांव तले

  ये धरती धड़-धड़ धड़केगी

  और अहल-ए-हुक्म के सर ऊपर

  जब बिजली कड़-कड़ कड़केगी

  हम देखेंगे

  Hum dekhengey

  Hum dekhengey

  Laazim hai ki hum bhee dekhengey

  Vo din kee jiska vaada hai

  Jo lauh-e-azal pey likkha hai

  Hum dekhengey!

  Jab zulm-o-sitam key koh-e-giraan

  Ruee kee tarah ur jaayengey

  Hum mahkumon key paaon taley

  Yeh dhartee dhar-dhar dharkeygee

  Aur ahle-e-hukum key sar upar

  Jab bijlee kar-kar karkegee

  Hum dekhengey

  Calls to Arms

  We will see!

  We are also duty-bound to see!

  What happens on the day of promise,

  Written on tablets of history

  We will see!

  When massive mountains of cruelty and tyranny

  Will be blown sky-high like fluffs of cotton;

  When marching steps of the downtrodden

  Will make the earth beneath their feet quake and shudder

  When skies above the heads of tyrant rulers

  By streaks of lighting are split asunder

  We will see!

  जब अर्ज़-ए-ख़ुदा के काबे से

  सब बुत उठवाये जायेंगे

  हम अहल-ए-सफ़ा मरदूद-ए-हरम

  मस्नद पे बिठाये जायेंगे

  सब ताज उछाले जायेंगे

  सब तख़्त गिराये जायेंगे

  हम देखेंगे

  बस नाम रहेगा अल्लाह का

  जो ग़ायब भी है हाजिर भी

  जो मंज़र भी है नाज़िर भी

  उट्ठेगा अनलहक़ का नारा

  जो मैं भी हूं और तुम भी हो

  और राज करेगी ख़लक़-ए-खुदा

  Jab arz-e-khudaa key kaabey sey

  Sab buth utthvaaye jaayengey

  Hum ahle-e-safaa mardood-e-haram

  Masnad pey bithaaye jaayengey

  Sab taaj uchhaaley jaayengey

  Sab takht giraaye jaayengey

  Hum dekhengey

  Bas naam rahega Allah ka

  Jo ghaayab bhee hai haazir bhee

  Jo manzar bhee hai naazir bhee

  Utthega analhaq ka naaraa

  Jo main bhee hoon aur tum bhee ho

  Aur raaj karegee khalq-e-khuda

  When from the sacred square of the Kaaba

  Idols of false Gods will be uprooted;

  When to us rootless and unwanted

  Seats of power will be granted.

  All crowns will be tossed into the air

  All thrones
ground to dust

  We will see!

  Only the name of Allah will prevail

  Allah who is invisible and yet omnipresent,

  Who is the scene and its viewer—

  Then ‘I am the truth’ will be the cry

  That will rend the sky,

  Which includes both you and I!

  जो मैं भी हूं और तुम भी हो

  हम देखेंगे

  लाज़िम है कि हम भी देखेंगे

  हम देखेंगे

  Jo main bhee hoon aur tum bhee ho

  Hum dekhengey

  Laazim hai ki hum bhee dekhengey

  Hum dekhengey

  And the people of God will rule the earth

  Which includes both you and I.

  We will see!

  We are duty-bound to see!

  We will see!

  निजात पाई

  शैख़ साहब से रस्म-ओ-राह न की

  शुक्र है ज़िंदगी तबाह न की

  Nijat paayi

  Sheikh saahab sey rasm-o-raah na kee

  Shukr hai zindagee tabaah na kee

  फुर्सत-ए-गुनाह

  इक फ़ुर्सत-ए-गुनाह मिली वो भी चार दिन

 

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