Yaad 

Faiz Ahmad Faiz 

dasht-e-tanhā.ī meñ ai jān-e-jahāñ larzāñ haiñ 

terī āvāz ke saa.e tire hoñToñ ke sarāb 

dasht-e-tanhā.ī meñ duurī ke ḳhas o ḳhaak tale 

khil rahe haiñ tire pahlū ke saman aur gulāb 

uTh rahī hai kahīñ qurbat se tirī saañs kī aañch 

apnī ḳhushbū meñ sulagtī huī maddham maddham 

duur ufuq paar chamaktī huī qatra qatra 

gir rahī hai tirī dildār nazar kī shabnam 

is qadar pyaar se ai jān-e-jahāñ rakkhā hai 

dil ke ruḳhsār pe is vaqt tirī yaad ne haat 

yuuñ gumāñ hotā hai garche hai abhī sub.h-e-firāq 

Dhal gayā hijr kā din aa bhī ga.ī vasl kī raat

دشت تنہائی میں اے جان جہاں لرزاں ہیں

تیری آواز کے سائے، تیرے ہونٹوں کے سراب

دشت تنہائی میں دوری کے خس و خاک تلے

کھل رہے ہیں تیرے پہلو کے سمن اور گلاب

اٹھ رہی ہے کہیں قربت سے تیری سانس کی آنچ

اپنی خوشبو میں سلگتی ہوئی

مدھم مدھم

دور افق پر چمکتی ہوئی

قطرہ قطرہ

گر رہی رہے تیری دلدار نظر کی شبنم

اس قدر پیار سے اے جان جہاں رکھا ہے

دل کے رخسار پے اس وقت تیری یاد نے ہاتھ

یوں گماں ہوتا ہے گرچہ ہے ابھی صبح فراق

ڈھل گیا ہجر کا دن آ بھی گئی وصل کی رات

دشت تنہائی میں اے جان جہاں لرزاں ہیں

تیری آواز کے سائے، تیرے ہونٹوں کے سراب

Translation 

In the desert of my solitude,

my love, 

quivers the shadows of your voice, 

the mirage of your lips.

In the desert of my solitude,

beneath the dust and ashes

of separation, 

jasmines and roses of your presence bloom.

From somewhere here

rises the warmth of your breath

smouldering in its own perfume

gently, gingerly 

And on the horizon

glistens the dew of your

beguiling glance

drop by drop.

With such tenderness,

my love,

has your memory placed its hand

on the cheek of my heart

That it feels as if 

at the dawn of our farewell, 

sun has set on our separation

and the night of our union

is already at hand.

In the desert of my solitude,

my love, 

quivers the shadows of your voice

the mirage of your lips

Mere Dil Mere Musafir by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Dil e man Musafir e man

Faiz Ahmed Faiz 

English Translation L K Atheeq

 

Meray dil meray musafir

hua phir sey hukm sadir

ke watan badar hon hum tum
 

dein gali gali sadain

karein rukh nagar nagar ka

ke suraagh koi paein

kisi yar e nama bar ka
 

 har ik ajnabi sey poochein

jo pata tha apney ghar ka

sar e kooey nashenayan

hamein din sey raat karna
 

kabhi iss sey baat karna

kabhi us sey baat karna

tumhein kya kahoon key kya hey

shab e gham buri balaa hey
 

hamein yeh bhi tha ghaneemat

jo koi shumaar hota

hamein kya bura tha marna

agar eik baar hota

******
 

My heart, my fellow traveler

It is out again, the order.

We should be exiled, you and I.

 

We roam the streets, calling.

We head from city to city, searching.

For clues of the messenger

of my beloved.

 

We stop every stranger

to ask for way home.

We traverse this street unfamiliar,

turning the day into night.

 

We talk to this stranger now,

that stranger then.

To you what can I say

night of sorrow makes me cry.

 

We would count it our blessing,

had there been a count.

Why would we fear death?

Had it come, but once.

 

Watch and listen the amazing Tina Sani sing this poem of Faiz on youtube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLwc5Wcs-9c

 



Hum Ke Tehre Ajnabi by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Faiz Ahmad Faiz

English Translation by L K Atheeq

Hum ke tehrey ajnabi itni madaraatoon ke baad 

phir banain gain aashnaa kitni mulaqatoon ke baad
 

Kab nazar main aaey ge baidagh sabzey ki bahar 

Khoon ke dhabbey dhulain ge kitni barsaatoon ke baad
 

dil to chaaha par shikasht-e-dil nay muhlat he na di 

kuch giley shikvey bhi kar laitey manajaatoon ke baad
 

thay buhat bai_dard lamhey Khatm-e-dard-e-ishq ke 

theen buhat bai_mehar subhain meherbaan raatoon ke baad
 

un se jo kehney gaey thai "faiz" jaan sadqa kiye 

unkahee he reh gai voh baat sab baatoon ke baad

 *********

Strangers we remain, past several hospitable exchanges,

How many interactions does it take to be friends?

When can we witness the spring of spotless green?

How many rains does it take to wash the bloodstains?

I had the will but the failed heart betrayed the time

Complaints and grievances now follow prayers and entreaties
 

Heartless were the moments that followed the end of love's pain

Unkind were the mornings that followed benevolent nights

 

Faiz, upon your life, you had gone to convey

Unspoken remained your words after all you had to say

 

 

You can listen to Ustad Moin Khan sing this ghazal on youtube. This Ghazal of Faiza is interspersed with a Bangla poem of Khazi Nazrul Islam sung by Shorju Bhattacharya


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_90dhHsllM

Alternatively you could enjoy listening to the magnificient Nayyar Noor as she renders this Ghazal of Faiz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB7aZ8RYTD4

This Ghazal is apparently romantic but has deep political meanings. I hate to be the spoiler, but we must keep in mind the fact that Faiz wrote this after returning from a trip to Dhaka

 

 

 

 

Ghazal

Maqdoom Moinuddin

Translated to English by L K Atheeq

 

Ye kaun aata hai tanhayiun mein jam liye

Dilon mein chandani raaton ka ehtemam liye

 

Chatak rahi hai kisi yaad ki kali dil mein

Nazar mein raqse baharan ki subah-o-sham liye

 

Mehek mehek ke jagati rahi naseem-e-sahar

Labon pe yaar-e-maseeha nafaz ka naam liye

 

Kisi khayal ki khushboo kisi badan ki mehak

Dar-e-qafas pe khadi hai saba payam liye

 

Baja raha tha kahin door koi shehnai

Utha hoon aankhon mein eik khwab-e-natamam liye

 

*********

 

Who comes in my solitude bearing wine?

Hearts bearing an array of moonlit nights

 

In my heart the bud of some memory blooms;

in its vision dance the dawn and dusk of spring

 

The dawn’s breeze woke me with its fragrance;

your name, O messiah, O friend, on its lips.

 

Fragrance of some thought, the sweet smell of a body;

the morning breeze knocks my prison’s door bearing a message.

 

Someone was playing Shehnaai somewhere.

I woke with my eyes bearing an unfinished dream.

 

*********

 

 

Please listen to Abida Parveen sing the above Ghazal at -
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8yKyGs1cgc

Ghazal

(Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz)

 

English Translation by

L K Atheeq

Hijaab-e-fitna parwar ab utha leti to achha thaa
Khud apne husn ko parda bana leti to achha thaa

Teri neechi nazar khud teri ismat ki muhafiz hai
Tu is nashtar ki tezi aazma leti to achha thaa

Tere maathe ka tika mard kee kismat ka taara hai
Agar tu saaz ye bedari utha leti to achha thaa

Tere maathe pe ye aanchal bahut hi khoob hai lekin
Tu is aanchal se ik parcham bana leti to achha thaa

Agar khilwat me tune sar uthaaya bhi to kya haasil
Bhari mehfil me aa kar sar jhukaa leti to acchha tha

Dil-e-majrooh ko majroohtar karne se kya haasil
Tu aansU ponchhkar ab muskura leti to acchha tha

**********

If you had lifted that troublesome veil,

it would have been great.

If you had made your beauty your veil,

it would have been great.  

Your downcast eyes

are your protector.

If you had tried the power of this weapon,

it would have been great.

 

The ‘teeka’ on your forehead,

 is the star of your man’s destiny.

If you had weilded the trumpet of wakefulness,

it would have been great.

 The veil on your forehead

is very good but,

if you had made a flag of this veil,

it would have been great.

 You hold your head high when alone,

but to what avail?

If you had taken a bow in a congregation,

it would have been great.

 Why make a sad heart,

 sadder?

If you had wiped that tear and smiled,

it would have been great.    

 ************

Asrarul Haq Majaz or Majaz Lukhnowi (1911-1955) was a progressive Urdu poet of the 1940s and 50s. He hailed from family of poets and Litterateurs. Jan Nisar Akhter was his brother in law and that makes him the maternal uncle of poet and lyrcist Javed Akhter. Majaz was a very popular poet who was loved by critics and masses alike. His personal life was tragic. He took to heavy drinking and died early. Jagji Singh's rendition of the above poem can be viewed at -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzxRXM1TwsE

This poem addresses women and subtly exhorts them to become free. Today we may find the poem not progressive or feminist enough, but we must consider the context of the Muslim society and Aligarh during the mid-1940s, when the poem was written and read, and appreciate Majaz's call to women to make their veil their parcham (Flag).

 

Washington DC, November 11, 2013  

Ghazal

 (Makhdoom Moinuddin)

Translation by L K Atheeq

aap kii yaad aatii rahii raat bhar
chashm-e-nam muskuraatii rahii raat bhar

raat bhar dard kii shammaa jalatii rahii
Gam kii lau tharatharaatii rahii raat bhar

baansurii kii surilii suhaanii sadaa
yaad ban ban ke aatii rahii raat bhar

yaad ke chaand dil me.n utarate rahe
chaandanii jagamaatii rahii raat bhar

koii diivaanaa galiyon mein phirtaa rahaa
koii aavaaz aatii rahii raat bhar

*********

Your memory keeps me awake through the night.

A happy tear lingers in the eye through the night.

 The lamp of pain is aglow,

the flame of sorrow flickers through the night.

The lovely melodious flute, your thought,

haunts me through the night?

 The moons of remembrance endear my heart

Moonlight shines through the night

 Is there a vagabond roaming the street?

Is there a voice filtering through the night?

*************

 

Maqdoom Moinuddin, a revolutionary Urdu poet during the 1940s to 1960s, was born in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh and studied in the Osmania University. He later taught Urdu literature at Osmania. His primary interest however was working for peasants and workers. Maqdoom fought against the Nizam of Hyderabad. He was one of the heroes of the Telegana agrarian movement of 1946-1951. He spent years in jail or in exile from home and family. His romantic poetry is very sensitive and rich in imagery.

He became Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Legislative Council during the 1958-63 period.

The above Ghazal of Maqdoom has been sung by many singers. Chaya Ganguli sang the Ghazal for the film "Gaman": a haunting rendition indeed.  You may watch and listen on this youtube link -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFXtzd4o38

  

Potomac

November 10, 2013

Intezaar 

(Maqdoom Moinuddin) 

English Translation by L K Atheeq

Raat bhar deeda-e-namnaak mein lehraate rahe
saans ki tarah se aap aate rahe, jaate rahe

khush thhey hum apni tamannaao’n ka khwaab aayega
apna aramaan bar-afganda naqaab aayega

nazarein neechi kiye sharmaaye hue aayega
kaakulein chehre pe bikharaaye hue aayega

aa gaee thi dil-e-muztar mein shakebaai si
baj rahi thi mere gham-khaane mein shehnaai si

Pattiyan khadki to samjha ki lo aap aahi gaye

Sajde masroor ke masjood ko hum paa hi gaye

shab ke jaage hue taaro’n ko bhi neend aane lagi
aap ke aane ki ek aas thi ab jaane lagi

subah ne sej se uthate hue li angadaee
o saba tu bhi jo aaee to akele aaee .

Mere Mahboob meri neend udane wale

Mere masjood mere rooh pe chane wale

Aabhi ja ta ke mere sajdoon ka armaan nikle

Aabhi ja ta ke there qadmoon pe meri jaan nikle

 ****
 

Waiting

 

Eyes fluttered through the long night,

salty and wet.
You came and left,
as did every breath.  

I was happy O dream of my desire,

You will come encrusted, in sapphire.

Reticent eyes shying to ground,

you will come, smiles abound.

 

Yet in my restless heart rise,

tides of gloom.
The lonesome shehnai cries,

through my house of blues.

The leaves rustle and I think

you have arrived.

My devout prostrations I think,

reached my beloved.

 Vigilant through the night,

the stars now need sleep.

There was a hope of your arrival

that now sinks deep.

 

The dawn awake

from its slumber shone.

O breeze you came,

but you came alone.

 My darling the enemy of my sleep,

object of my worship, master of my soul.

Please come, so my worship and desires may meet.

Please come, so death may come, at your feet.

 

                                                                                                                   Editor: Fahad Khan 

 

November 9, 2013

Potomac Maryland

 

You can listen to the amazing rendition of the above poem of Maqdoom by Jagjit Singh and Asha Bhosle at this youtube link -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdy3t0r1SC8