Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. The third part of his long nazm, parchhaaiyaaN, the poet describes the turn of conditions with the advent of war.
1
vo lamhe¹ kitne dilkash² the, vo ghaRiyaN³ kitni pyaari theeN
vo sehre⁴ kitne nazuk⁵ the, vo laRiyaN⁶ kitni pyaari theeN
basti ki har ek shadaab⁷ gali, KhwaboN ka jazira⁸ thi goya
har mauj e nafas⁹, har mauj e saba¹⁰, naGhmoN¹¹ ka zaKhira¹² thi goya 1.moment 2.pleasant 3.moment 4.garlands 5.delicate 6.strings (of flowers) 7.verdant 8.island of dreams 9.wave of breath 10.gust of morning breeze 11.songs 12.treasure
The poet reminisces about how life was simple and happy before the advent of colonial forces and the beginning of occupation. Those fleeting moments so beautiful, those times so lovely, happy moments strung delicately together like garlands of flowers. Every lane of the village, a refreshing island of dreams, every breath, every gust of morning breeze a treasure house of melody and celebration.
2
nagaah¹³ lahakte¹⁴ khetoN se TaapoN¹⁵ ki sadaeN¹⁶ aane lagiN
barood ki bojhal¹⁷ boo le kar pachhim¹⁸ se havaeN aane lagiN
taamir¹⁹ ke raushan²⁰ chehre par, taKhrib²¹ ka badal phail gaya
har gaauN me vahshat²² naach uThhi, har shahr meN jangal phail gaya 13.suddenly 14.lush 15.hooves 16.sounds 17.faint 18.west 19.civilization 20.brilliant 21.desolation 22.fear, terror
Suddenly amid lush fields, the tapping of hooves, winds from the west with the faint smell of gunpowder, the brilliance of peaceful life, clouded with desolation. Terror danced in every village, fear gripped every city.
3
maGhrib²³ ke muhazzib²⁴ mulkoN se kuchh Khaaki vardi posh²⁵ aaye
iThlaate²⁶ hue maGhrur²⁷ aaye, lahrate²⁸ hue madhosh²⁹ aaye
Khaamosh³⁰ zamiN ke seene men KhaimoN³¹ ki tanaabeN³² gaRne lagiN
makkhan si mulayam rahoN³³ par booToN ki KharaasheN³⁴ paRne lagiN 23.west 24.civilized 25.brown uniformed 26.menacing 27.proud 28.staggering 29.intoxicated 30.silent, peaceful 31.tents 32.tent poles 33.pathways 34.scratches
From the civilized countries of the west they came, clad in khaki uniforms. They came with a menacing gait, drunk with power. Tent poles dug into the bosom of the silent earth. The gentle byways of the village, scratched by hard boots.
4
faujoN ke bhayanak band tale charKhon³⁵ ki sadaeN³⁶ Doob gayiN
jeepoN ki sulagti dhool tale phuloN ki qabaen³⁷ Doob gayiN
insaan ki qeemat girne lagi, ajnas³⁸ ke bhau chaRhne lage
chaupal³⁹ ki raunaq⁴⁰ ghaTne lagi, bharti⁴¹ ke dafaatir⁴² baRhne lage 35.spinning wheels 36.sounds 37.apron, field 38.grains 39.village square 40.brilliance 41.recruitment 42.offices
The fearsome marching band, drowned out the sound of spinning wheel, fields of flowers were blanketed in the hot dust of jeeps. Life itself was devalued even as the price of grain went up. The glory and fellowship of the village square gave way to busy recruiting centres.
5
basti ke sajile shooKh⁴³ javaaN, ban ban ke sipahi jaane lage
jis raah se kam hi lauT sakey us raah pe raahi jaane lage
un jaane vaale dastoN⁴⁴ meN, Ghairat⁴⁵ bhi gayi barnaai⁴⁶ bhi
maaoN ke javaaN bete bhi gaye, bahnoN ke chaheetey bhai bhi 3.playful 44.platoon 45.respect 46.youth, vigour
Fast forward to war and conflict – young men recruited away and sent off as fodder of war. With the departure of young men there are further changes in life, loss of loved ones, loss of dignity, loss of local traditions, shortages resulting in extreme want and famine. Handsome, playful young men of the village were sent off to war, on a path from which few return. With the departing units also went all vigor and self-respect. Mothers saw their sons depart, sisters too their beloved brothers.
6
basti pe udaasi chhaane lagi, melauN ki bahaareN Khatm huiN
aamoN ki lachakti shaKhon se jhooloN ki qataareN⁴⁷ khatm huiN
dhool uRne lagi bazaroN meN, bhook ugne lagi khaliyaanoN⁴⁸ meN
har cheez dukaanoN se uTh kar ruuposh hui tehKhaanoN⁴⁹ meN 47.lines, queues 48.grain stores/silos 49.hidden underground storehouses
Gloom descended on the village. No more throngs at the village fair. Playful swings disappeared from supple mango branches. Dust blew in the bazar, granaries turned into store-houses of hunger. Everything disappeared from shops into the underground.
7
bad haal⁵⁰ gharoN ki bad haali baRhte baRhte janjaal⁵¹ bani
mahangaai baRh kar kaal⁵² bani, saari basti kaNgaal⁵³ bani
charvaahiyaN rasta bhool gayiN, panhaariyaN⁵⁴ panghaT⁵⁵ chhoR gayiN
kitni hi kuNwaari ablaaeN⁵⁶, maaN baap ki chaukhaT⁵⁷ chhoR gayiN 50.destitute 51.entangled, mired 52.famine 53.paupered 54.girls fetching water 55.river bank for getting water 56.violated woman 57.threshold, home
Already destitute homes, becoming more so, were mired in want. Rising prices spiraled into famine, whole villages were paupered. No more tending of cows or fetching water, many a young maiden, left the shelter of her parents homes.
8
iflaas zada⁵⁸ dahqaanoN⁵⁹ ke hal bayl bikey, khaliyaan⁶⁰ bikey
jeene ki tamanna⁶¹ ke haathoN, jeene hi ke sab saamaan bikey
kuchh bhi na raha jab bikne ko, jismoN ki tijaarat⁶² hone lagi
Khalvat⁶³ meN bhi jo mamnuN⁶⁴ thi vo, jalvat⁶⁵ meN jasaarat⁶⁶ hone lagi 58.poverty stricken 59.farmer 60.grain store 61.desire 62.trade 63.privacy 64.forbidden 65.openly 66.daring
Pauperized farmers lost their plough, their oxen and their granaries. The very means of survival sold, to meet the demands of survival. When there was nothing else to sell, bodies were traded. That which was forbidden even in secret, was now done openly.