Meg Index | October 2001 Index

Date: 04-Oct-2001
Poet: Fehmida Riyaz


Fehmida Riaz is a celebrated poetess who 
started the first women's publishing house 
in Pakistan. She launched a magazine, Awaz, 
which criticized the government. As a result, 
14 cases including sedition were filed 
against her. She was exiled from Pakistan by 
Zia ul-Haq for her liberal views regarding 
Muslim women, and has since lived in India. 
She has published two collections of prose, 
and a book of 'prose poems'. 


The title of the nazm is 'apane dost ke liye'

ye zard mausam ke Khushk patte
havaa jinhe.n le ga_ii u.Daakar
agar kabhii in ko dekh paao
to soch lenaa
ki in me.n har barg ke namuu me.n
ziyaa.N gayaa arq shaaKh-e-gul kaa
kabhii ye sar_sabz ko.npale.n the
kabhii ye shaadaab bhii rahe hai.n
khule huye ho.nTh kii tarah narm aur shaguftaa
bahut dino.n tak
ye sabz patte
havaa ke relo.n me.n bebasii se ta.Dap chuke hai.n
magar ab ye Khushk ho rahe hai.n
magar ye ab Khushk ho chuke hai.n
agar kabhii is taraf se guzaro
to dekh lenaa
barahanaa shaaKhe.n havaa ke dil me.n ga.Dii hu_ii hai.n
ye ab tumhaare liye nahii.n hai.n


[barg = leaf; namuu = growth; ziyaa.N = lessening]
[arq = sweat/essential juice; barahanaa = naked]
[shaaKh = branch]