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This nazm was contributed by one of the subscibers of the mailing list and since 
this week we have been enjoying Sahir Ludhianvi's nazms, we thought it 
appropriate to present it here.


maadaam (Urdu equivalent of Madam)

aap bevajah pareshaan-sii kyo.n hai.n maadaam
log kahate hai.n to phir Thiik hii kahate ho.nge
mere ehabaab ne tahaziib na siikhii hogii
mere maahaul me.n i.nsaan na rahate ho.nge

[ehabaab = friends; maahaul = environment/surrounding]

nuur-e-saramaayaa se hai ruu-e-tamaddun kii jilaa
ham jahaa.N hai.n vahaa.N tahaziib nahii.n pal sakatii
mufalisii hiss-e-lataafat ko miTaa detii hai
bhuuk aadaab ke saa.Nche me.n nahii.n Dhal sakaltii

[nuur-e-saramaayaa = light of wealth; ruu-e-tamaddun = face of civilization]
[jilaa = shine/brightness; hiss-e-lataafat = finer feelings]
[aadaab = genteel/civilized/politeness]

log kahate hai.n to logo.n pe t'ajjub kaisaa
sach to kahate hai.n ki naadaaro.n kii izzat kaisii
log kahate hai.n - magar aap abhii tak chup hai.n
aap bhii kahiye Gariibo.n me.n sharaafat kaisii

[naadaaro.n = poor]

nek maadaam! Bahut jald vo daur aayegaa
jab hame.n ziist ke adavaar parakhane ho.nge
apanii zillat kii qasam, aap kii azamat kii qasam
hamako taa'ziim ke me_aar parakhane ho.nge

[ziist = life; adavaar = values; zillat = humiliation]
[azamat = greatness; taa'ziim = respect; me_aar = level]

hamane har daur me.n tazaliil sahii hai lekin
hamane har daur ke chehare ko ziyaa baKhshii hai
hamane har daur me.n mehanat ke sitam jhele hai.n
hamane har daur ke haatho.n ko hinaa baKhshii hai

[tazaliil = insult; ziyaa = brightness/brilliance]

lekin in talKh mubaahis se bhalaa kyaa haasil
log kahate hai.n to phir Thiik hii kahate ho.nge
mere ehabaab ne tahaziib na siikhii hogii
mere maahaul me.n i.nsaan na rahate ho.nge

[talKh = bitter; mubaahis = arguments]


A very satirical piece of poetry by Sahir on the importance that present day 
society places on the amassment of wealth, and the condescendng and 
contemptuous attitude of the rich towards the poor.