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