Home | October '99 Index

Date: 26-Oct-99
Poet: Ahmed Faraz

ab kis kaa jashn manaate ho us des kaa jo taqsiim huaa 
ab kis ke giit sunaate ho us tan-man kaa jo do-niim huaa 

[taqsiim = divided; do-niim = cut in two] 

us Khvaab kaa jo rezaa rezaa un aa.Nkho.n kii taqadiir huaa 
us naam kaa jo Tuka.Daa Tuka.Daa galiyo.n me.n be-tauqiir huaa 

[rezaa-rezaa = pieces; be-tauqiir = disrespect] 

us parcham kaa jis kii hurmat baazaaro.n me.n niilaam hu_ii 
us miTTii kaa jis kii hurmat ma.nsuub uduu ke naam hu_ii 

[parcham = flag; hurmat = respect/honour; niilaam = auction] 
[ma.nsuub = nominated/appointed; uduu = enemy] 

us ja.ng ko jo tum haar chuke us rasm kaa jo jaarii bhii nahii.n 
us zaKhm kaa jo siine pe na thaa us jaan kaa jo vaarii bhii nahii.n 

[ja.ng = war; vaaranaa = to offer in sacrifice] 

us Khuun kaa jo bad-qismat thaa raaho.n me.n bahaayaa tan me.n rahaa 
us phuul kaa jo be-qiimat thaa aa.Ngan me.n khilaa yaa ban me.n rahaa 

[ban = jungle] 

us mashriq kaa jis ko tum ne neze kii anii marham samajhaa 
us maGarib kaa jis ko tum ne jitana bhii luuTaa kam samajhaa 

[mashriq = east; nezaa = spear; anii = spear's point] 
[marham = salve/ointment; maGarib = west] 

un maasuumo.n kaa jin ke lahuu se tum ne faraazo.n raate.n kii.n 
yaa un mazaluumo.n kaa jis se Kha.njar kii zubaa.N me.n baate.n kii.n 

[farozaa.N = illuminate; mazaluum = oppressed] 

us mariyam kaa jis kii iffat luTatii hai bhare baazaaro.n me.n 
us isaa kaa jo qaatil hai aur shaamil hai Gam-Khvaaro.n me.n 

[iffat = chastity] 

in nauhaagaro.n kaa jin ne hame.n Khud qatl kiyaa Khud rote hai.n 
aise bhii kahii.n dam-saaz hu_e aise jallaad bhii hote hai.n 

[nauhaagar = mourner; dam-saaz = supporting; jallaad = executioner (cruel)] 

un bhuuke na.nge Dhaa.Ncho.n kaa jo raqs sar-e-baazaar kare.n 
yaa un zaalim qazzaaqo.n kaa jo bhes badal kar vaar kare.n 

[Dhaa.Nchaa = skeleton; raqs = dance; qazzaaq = dacoit] 

yaa un JhuuTe iqaraaro.n kaa jo aaj talak aifaa na hu_e 
yaa un bebas laachaaro.n kaa jo aur bhii dukh kaa nishaanaa hu_e 

[aifaa = to fulfill] 

is shaahii kaa jo dast-ba-dast aa_ii hai tumhaare hisse me.n 
kyo.n na.ng-e-vatan kii baat karo kyaa rakhaa hai is qisse me.n 

[shaahii = royal] 

aa.Nkho.n me.n chhupaaye ashko.n ko ho.nTho.n me.n vafaa ke bol liye 
is jashn me.n bhii shaamil huu.N nauho.n se bharaa kashkol liye 

[nauhaa = lamentation; kashkol = beggar's bowl]