For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
معانی کی تلاش ۔ وحیدؔ اختر
۱
ہمارے پاس اور کیا ہے
زیست کو سنوارنے کا بے قرار حوصلہ
حیات و کائنات کو نئے معانی بخشنے کی جستجو
طلب کے جام میں فگار مقصدوں کا کچھ لہو
شکستِ خواب میں بھی خواب دیکھنے کی آرزو
نظر کی آگ لاکھ بجھنے پر بھی آفتاب خو، زمین و آسمان جو
۲
ہمارے پاس اور کیا ہے
خود سے اور اپنےخواب دیکھنے کے حوصلہ سے عمر بھر نباہنے کا ولولہ
۳
ہمیں دیا ہی کیا ہے زندگی نے
زخم کھانے، مرنے، اور مر کے زندہ رہنے کے سوا
۴
مگر یہ ہم بھی جانتے ہیں
زخم کا شمار اور بار بار موت کا حساب ہی نہیں ہے زندگی
جو ایک بار کُل کی کُل لکھی ہوئی مِلی ہے وہ کتاب ہی نہیں ہے زندگی
جو لمحہ لمحہ ٹوٹتا ہے جسم و جاں پہ وہ عذاب ہی نہیں ہے زندگی
فضائے بے کراں و بحرِ بے کنار بھی ہے، اک حباب ہی نہیں ہے زندگی
۵
ہمیں ملا ہی کیا ہے آگہی سے
جہل کا فروغ، بے بصیرتی کا اوج، دیکھ دیکھ کر سُلگتے رہنے کے سوا
۶
مگر یہ ہم بھی جانتے ہیں
روشنیِ طبع اُن جہنموں کا قہر اور بلا نہیں، کچھ اور ہے
فروغِ جہل اہلِ دہر کے لئے سزا نہیں، کچھ اور ہے
یہ بے بصیرتی کا اوج روشنی کا مدّعا نہیں، کچھ اور ہے
سلگتے رہنا، کچھ نہ کہنا، آگہی کا منتہا نہیں، کچھ اور ہے
۷
ہم آگہی و زندگی کے رمز خوب جانتے ہیں ناقدانِ جستجو
محققانِ مُردہ جو
مدرسانِ کہنہ خو
۸
تمہارے پاس اور کیا ہے
اقتدار کی ہوس
بلند کرسیوں کی تشنہ آرزو
رٹے رٹائے کچھ سبق
کتاب، دوسرے جو تم کو لکھ کے دے گئے ہیں، اُس کے کچھ ورق
وہ زندگی جو رایگاں فضول عیش کی طلب
فروغِ جہل نے جو تم کو دی ہے بے بصیرتی کے ہاتھ سے، وہ اک سند
۹
تمہارے پاس اور کیا ہے
مستعار فلسفے
جو میٹھی گولیوں کی طرح گُھل سکیں
نہ منہ کا ذایقہ خراب ہو نہ تلخ ہو زباں
۱۰
تمہیں دیا ہی کیا ہے زندگی نے
دور کارزارِ وقت سے بھٹکتے رہنے، قبریں گننے کے سوا
اور دوسروں کے زخم کی ہنسی اُڑاتے رہنے کے سوا
۱۱
تمہیں کوئی خبر نہیں
کہ زخم کا شمار اور بار بار موت کا حساب بھی ہے زندگی
نئے سرے سے جس کو لکھنا ہے، وہ اک کتاب بھی ہے زندگی
نئے معانی کی تلاش میں جو لمحہ لمحہ ٹوٹتا ہے وہ عذاب بھی ہے زندگی
جو ٹوٹ ٹوٹ کر بھی بار بار سر اُٹھا سکے وہ اک حباب بھی ہے زندگی
۱۲
تمہیں مِلا ہی کیا ہے آگہی سے
کھوکھلی شکستہ سیپیوں، چمکتے شوخ سنگریزوں کے سوا
۱۳
تمہیں کوئی خبر نہیں
کہ روشنیِ طبع اپنی آگ کے جہنموں کا قہر ہے
فروغِ جہل امتحانِ دہر ہے
ہوس کا اقتدار، اقتدار کی ہوس کا زہر ہے
خود اپنے دل کی بات کہنے کی اُمنگ خوں کی ایک لہر ہے
۱۴
ہمارے پاس کچھ نہیں
تمہارے پاس سب سہی
مگر تمہارا سب کا سب نہ آج کو بدل سکا، نہ کل کے کام آئے گا
۱۵
ہمارے پاس جو بھی ہے
وہ آج کی ہے آگہی
ہم اپنی خود کتاب ہیں، ہم اپنے خود کتاب خواں
ہم آج لکھ سکیں اگر
تو آج ہی کی آگہی بنے گی کل کی زندگی
मुआनी कि तलाश – वहीद अख़्तर
१
हमारे पास और क्या है
ज़ीस्त को संवारने का बे-क़रार हौस्ला
हयात ओ काएनात को नये मुआनी बख़्शने कि जुस्तजू
तलब के जाम में फ़िगार मक़्सदौं का कुछ लहू
शिकस्त-ए ख़्वाब में भी ख़्वाब देखने कि आर्ज़ू
नज़र कि आग लाख बुझने पर भी आफ़्ताब ख़ू, ज़मीन ओ आस्मान जू
२
हमारे पास और क्या है
ख़ुद से और अपने ख़्वाब देखने के हौसले से उम्र भर निबाहने का वल्वला
३
हमें दिया हि क्या है ज़िन्दगी ने
ज़ख़्म खाने, मरने, और मर के ज़िन्दा रहने के सिवा
४
मगर ये हम भी जानते हैं
ज़ख़्म का शुमार और बार बार मौत का हिसाब ही नहीं है ज़िन्दगी
जो एक बार कुल कि कुल लिखी हुई मिली है वो किताब ही नहीं है ज़िन्दगी
जो लम्हा लम्हा टूटता है जिस्म ओ जां पे वो अज़ाब ही नहीं है ज़िन्दगी
फ़िज़ा-ए बेकरां ओ बहर-ए बे-किनार भी है, एक हबाब ही नहीं है ज़िन्दगी
५
हमें मिला हि क्या है आगही से
जहल का फ़रोग़, बे-बसीरती का औज, देख देख कर सुलगते रहने के सिवा
६
मगर ये हम भी जानते हैं
रौशनी-ए तब’अ उन जहुन्नुमौं का क़हर और बला नहीं, कुछ और है
फ़रोग़-ए जहल अहल-ए दहर के लिये सज़ा नहीं, कुछ और है
ये बे बसीरती का औज रौशनी का मुद्दोआ नहीं, कुछ और है
सुलगते रहना, कुछ न कहना, अगही का मुंतहा नहीं, कुछ और है
७
हम आगही ओ ज़िन्दगी के रम्ज़ ख़ूब जानते हैं नाक़दान-ए जुस्तजू
मोहक़’क़ान-ए मुर्दा-जू
मुदर्रसान-ए कोहना-ख़ू
८
तुम्हारे पास और क्या है
एक़्तेदार की हवस
बलंद कुर्सियौं कि तिश्ना आर्ज़ू
रटे रटाए कुछ सबक़
किताब, दूसरे जो तुम को लिख के दे गये हैं, उस के कुछ वरक़
वो ज़िन्दगी जो राएगां, फ़ुज़ूल ऐश की तलब
फ़रोग़-ए जहल ने जो तुम को दी है बे-बसीरती के हाथ से वो एक सनद
९
तुम्हारे पास और क्या है
मुस्त’आर फ़ल्सफ़े
जो मीठी गोलियौं कि तरह घुल सकें
न मुंह का ज़ा’एक़ा ख़राब हो, न तल्ख़ हो ज़बां
१०
तुम्हें दिया हि क्या है ज़िन्दगी ने
दूर कारज़ार-ए वक़्त से भटकते रहने, क़ब्रें गिनने के सिवा
और दूसरौं के ज़ख़्म की हंसी उढाते रहने के सिवा
११
तुम्हें कोई ख़बर नहीं
के ज़ख़्म का शुमार और बार बार मौत का हिसाब भी है ज़िन्दगी
नये सिरे से जिस को लिखना है, वो एक किताब भी है ज़िन्दगी
नये मुआनी कि तलाश में जो लम्हा लम्हा टूटता है वो अज़ाब भी है ज़िन्दगी
जो टूट टूट कर भी बार बार सर उठा सके वो एक हबाब भी है ज़िन्दगी
१२
तुम्हें मिला हि क्या है आगही से
खोखली शिकस्ता सीपियौं, चमकते शूख़ संग्रेज़ौं के सिवा
१३
तुम्हें कोई ख़बर नहीं
के रौशनी-ए तब’अ अपनी आग के जहन्नुमौं का क़हर है
फ़रोग़-ए जहल इम्तेहान-ए दहर है
हवस का एक़्तेदार, एक़्तेदार की हवस का ज़हर है
ख़ुद अपने दिल कि बात कहने की उमंग ख़ूं की एक लहर है
१४
हमारे पास कुछ नहीं
तुम्हारे पास सब सही
मगर तुम्हारा सब का सब, न आज को बदल सका, न कल के काम आएगा
१५
हमारे पास जो भी है
वो आज की है आगही
हम अपनी ख़ुद किताब हैं, हम अपने ख़ुद किताब-ख़्वां
हम आज लिख सकें अगर
तो आज ही कि आगही, बनेगी कल की ज़िन्दगी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. vaheed aKhter (1935-1996), hyderabad, poet, writer and critic. He did his PhD in philosophy from osmania university and later taught at aligaRh. His compositions are very thoughtful and thought provoking. His ‘free verse’ nazm are extremely musical. Several examples of it are posted on this site. This nazm is particularly cerebral and required some thinking and discussion for me to understand. It reflects the dynamism of continuous learning, the pain of consciousness of our limits, but the energy to keep trying.
1
hamaare paas kya hai
ziist1 ko saNvaarne2 ka be-qaraar3 hausla4
hayaat5 o kaa’enaat6 ko naye muaani baKhshne7 ki justaju8
talab9 ke jaam10 meN figaar11 maqsadoN12 ka kuchh lahu13
shikast14-e Khwaab15 meN bhi Khwaab dekhne ki aarzu16
nazar17 ki aag bujhne par bhi aaftaab-Khuu18, zamiin-o-aasmaan-juu19 1.life 2.embellish, streamline 3.eager, restless 4.courage, determination 5.life 6.universe 7.grant 8.search, effort 9.desire 10.cup 11.torn, wounded 12.objectives, goals 13.blood 14.break, defeat 15.dreams 16.desire, longing 17.vision 18.nature of the sun, burning, shining 19.searching/reaching for heaven and earth
What else do we have, except the eagerness, courage, and determination to make our lives better; to give a new meaning to the universe and existence; carrying the blood of our wounded goals in the cup of desire; the longing to keep dreaming even when our dreams fail; keep shining and reaching for heaven and earth even when the fire of vision is extinguished.
2
hamaare paas kya hai
Khud se aur apne Khwaab dekhne ke hausle1 se umr-bhar2 nibaahne3 ka valvala4 1.courage, determination 2.life-long 3.keeping promise/commitments 4.fervour, ardour
What else do we have except a life-long desire to keep our courage/commitment to dream our own dreams.
3
hameN diya hi kya hai zindagi ne
zaKhm1 khaane, marne, aur mar ke zinda rahne ke siva2 1.wound 2.except for
In spite of this, what have we received/learnt from life except getting wounded, dying (defeated) and living lifelessly/meaninglessly like corpses.
4
magar ye ham bhi jaante haiN
zaKhm1 ka shumaar2 aur baar-baar3 maut ka hisaab4 hi nahiN hai zindagi
jo ek baar kul-ki-kul5 likhi hui mili hai vo kitaab hi nahiN hai zindagi
jo lamha-lamha6 TooTta7 hai jism-o-jaaN8 pe vo azaab9 hi nahiN hai zindagi
fizaa10-e be-karaaN11 o bahr12-e be-kinaar13 bhi, ek habaab14 hi nahiN hai zindagi 1.wounds 2.counting 3.again and again 4.reckoning 5.complete and perfect 6.every minute 7.used here to mean ‘afflicts’ 8.body and soul 9.torment, curse 10.atmosphere 11.limitless 12.ocean 13.without shores, boundless 14.bubble
But we also know that life is not just counting misfortunes and constantly reckoning with death i.e., constantly giving up and being fatalist akin to dying; it is not just a complete and all encompassing book that was written and received a long time ago; it is not just a curse that descends every moment on body and soul. It is also a limitless sky of possibilities, a vast and boundless ocean, not just a bubble.
5
hameN mila hi kya hai aagahi1 se
jahl2 ka faroGh3, be-basiirati4 ka auj5 dekh dekh kar sulagte6 rahne ke siva7 1.knowledge 2.ignorance 3.brilliance, fame, honour 4.blindness 5.climax 6.burning, getting irritated 7.except for
What have we ever gained/learnt from knowledge (in spite of the powerful concepts and opportunities that the shaa’er has described in stanzas 1-4) except for burning as we helplessly watch the increasing honour (power) of ignorance (blind belief in the received word) and the climax/elevation of blindness (lack of vision/knowledge).
6
magar ye ham bhi jaante haiN
raushni1-e tab’a2 un jahunnamoN3 ka qahr4 aur balaa5 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
faroGh6-e jahl7 ahl-e-dahr8 ke liye saza9 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
ye be-basiirati10 ka auj11, raushni1 ka muddu’aa12 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
sulagte13 rahna, kuchh na kahna, aagahi14 ka muntahaa15 nahiN, kuchh aur hai 1.light 2.innate character 3.hell 4.curse 5.calamity 6.light, fame, respect, dignity 7.ignorance 9.punishment 10.blindness, lack of vision 11.climax 12.claim (from idde’aa) 13.burning, annoyed 14.knowledge 15.completion
But we also know this, that the light of innate character (to seek meaning, daring to question) is not a curse and calamity of hell, but something else; that the respect for ignorance is not a (hellish) punishment/condemnation for the people of the world, but something else. The climax of lack of vision (not daring to see beyond the horizon) cannot be a claim of knowledge, but something else. Burning/getting irritated, not being open to discussion, is not the culmination of knowledge, but something else.
7
ham aagahi1 o zindagi ke ramz2 Khoob jaante haiN naaqidaan3-e justaju4
mohaqiqaan5-e murda-juu6
mudarrisaan7-e kohna-Khuu8 1.knowledge 2.secrets, hidden meaning 3.critic 4.search, effort 5.one who examines/searches/seels 6.dead waters 7.teacher 8.ancient/obsolete habits/customs
O critics of the search for meaning (critics of questioning, promoters of blind belief), O examiners/seekers in dead-end flows (still waters instead of a flowing river of knowledge), O teachers of obsolete customs, we are well aware of the secrets of knowledge and life (stop trying to deceive us).
8
tumhaare paas aur kya hai
eqtedaar1 ki havas2
baland3 kursiyoN ki tishna4 aarzu5
raTe raTaaye kuchh sabaq6
kitaab, doosre jo tum ko likh ke de gaye haiN us ke kuchh varaq7
vo zindagi jo raa’egaaN8, fuzool9 aish10 ki talab11
faroGh12-e jahl13 ne jo tum ko dii hai be-basiirati14 ke haath se vo ek sanad15 1.office, power 2.greed 3.high, respected 4.thirsty, insatiable 5.desire 6.lessons, platitudes 7.pages 8.wasted 9.trivial 10.comforts 11.demand 12.glory, fame 13.ignorance 14.blindness 15.certificate
What else do you have except for the greed for power, an insatiable thirst for high office, a few lessons/platitudes memorized by rote, a few pages of the book that someone wrote and gave you, an ineffective and wasted life, the demand for luxurious comfort (in refusing to search for meaning). What else do you have except for the certificate that the honour accorded to ignorance which has robbed you of vision has accorded you.
9
tumhaare paas aur kya hai
muste’aar1 falsafe
jo meeThi goliyoN ki tarah ghul2 sakeN
na muNh ka zaa’eqa3 Kharaab ho, na talKh4 ho zabaaN 1.borrowed 2.dissolve, melt 3.taste 4.bitter
What else do you have except for a few borrowed philosophies/platitudes which melt in the mouth like sweet candy so that you may never spoil your tastebuds nor taste the bitterness of truth on your tongue. Said Ghalib … ‘dil ke Khush rakhne to Ghalib ye Khayaal achchha hai’.
10
tumheN diya hi kya hai zindagi ne
duur kaarzaar1-e vaqt se bhaTakte rahne, qabreN2 gin’ne ke siva
aur doosroN ke zaKhm3 ki haNsi uRaate rahne ke siva4 1.worshop, field of action 2.graves 3.wounds, defects 4.except for
What else have you received/learnt from life except for purposeless wandering far away from the field of action of the times, counting graves (obsolete thoughts); and making fun of the wounds/defects of others.
11
tumheN koii Khabar1 nahiN
keh zaKhm2 ka shumaar3 aur baar-baar4 maut ka hisaab5 bhi hai zindagi
naye sire6 se jis ko likhna hai, vo ek kitaab bhi hai zindagi
naye mu’aani ki talaash7 meN jo lamha-lamha8 TooTta9 hai vo azaab10 bhi hai zindagi
jo TooT TooT11 kar bhi baar-baar4 sar uTha sake vo ek habaab12 bhi hai zindagi 1.awareness, knowledge 2.wounds 3.enumeration 4.again and again 5.reckoning with 6.new beginning 7.search 8.every moment 9.used here to mean – afflicts 10.curse, calamity 11.broken, burst 12.bubble
(Compare this with stanza 4) You have no awareness/knowledge that enumerating your own wounds/defects/defeats (in the search for meaning) and constantly reckoning with death is also life. You do not know that making a new beginning of the book or meaning of life is also living. You do not know that the calamities that descend on us every moment in the search for meaning is also life. Breaking up and bursting like a bubble on the surface of waves, and rising up again, is also life i.e., life is also a struggle in the search for meaning.
12
tumheN mila hi kya hai aagahi1 se
khokhli2 shikasta3 siipiyoN, chamakte shooKh4 saNgrezoN5 ke siva6 1.knowledge 2.hollow 3.broken 4.playful 5.pebbles 6.except for
What did you get/learn from (the ocean of) knowledge except for a few hollow, broken shells and a few shiny pebbles to play with.
13
tumheN koii Khabar1 nahiN
keh raushni2-e tab’a3 apni aag ke jahannumoN4 ka qahar5 hai
faroGh6-e jahl7 imtehaan8-e dahr9 hai
havas10 ka eqtedaar11, eqtedaar ki havas ka zahr12 hai
Khud apne dil ki baat kahne ki umaNg13 KhooN ki ek lahr14 hai 1.awareness, knowledge 2.light 3.inner nature 4.hell 5.curse 6.respectability 7.ignorance 8.test 9.world, humanity 10.greed 11.power, status 12.poison 13.passion, ecstacy 14.stream, wave
(Compare this with stanza 6) You are not even aware that the fire of our innate light (curiosity, desire to learn) is like the fire of hell (it keeps burning with the desire to keep searching for meaning). Ignorance (lack of knowledge) is a test of humanity; that the greed for power is like a poison for us that makes us greedy for more power. You are not even aware that the passion to express ourselves is like blood throbbing in our veins. (Editorial comment – ‘test of humanity’ – a ‘test’ does not have to be externally imposed. The implication here is that lack of knowledge tests us and we keep searching for meaning – mu’aani ki talaash).
14
hamaare paas kuchh nahiN
tumhaare paas sab sahi
magar tumhaara sab ka sab, na aaj ko badal sakaa, na kal ke kaam aayega We may not have anything; you my have everything, but your everything has not been able to change anything today, nor will it be useful tomorrow.
15
hamaare paas jo bhi hai
vo aaj ki hai aagahi1
ham apni Khud kitaab haiN, ham apne Khud kitaab-KhwaaN2
ham aaj likh sakeN agar
to aaj hi ki aagahi1, banegi kal ki zindagi 1.knowledge 2.book reader
Whatever little we have is an awareness of what is going on today. If we are able to write our own book (of meaning), then today’s knowledge will guide tomorrow life.
vaheed aKhter (1935-1996), hyderabad, poet, writer and critic. He did his PhD in philosophy from osmania university and later taught at aligaRh. His compositions are very thoughtful and thought provoking. His ‘free verse’ nazm are extremely musical. Several examples of it are posted on this site. This nazm is particularly cerebral and required some thinking and discussion for me to understand. It reflects the dynamism of continuous learning, the pain of consciousness of our limits, but the energy to keep trying.
1
hamaare paas kya hai
ziist1 ko saNvaarne2 ka be-qaraar3 hausla4
hayaat5 o kaa’enaat6 ko naye muaani baKhshne7 ki justaju8
talab9 ke jaam10 meN figaar11 maqsadoN12 ka kuchh lahu13
shikast14-e Khwaab15 meN bhi Khwaab dekhne ki aarzu16
nazar17 ki aag bujhne par bhi aaftaab-Khuu18, zamiin-o-aasmaan-juu19
1.life 2.embellish, streamline 3.eager, restless 4.courage, determination 5.life 6.universe 7.grant 8.search, effort 9.desire 10.cup 11.torn, wounded 12.objectives, goals 13.blood 14.break, defeat 15.dreams 16.desire, longing 17.vision 18.nature of the sun, burning, shining 19.searching/reaching for heaven and earth
What else do we have, except the eagerness, courage, and determination to make our lives better; to give a new meaning to the universe and existence; carrying the blood of our wounded goals in the cup of desire; the longing to keep dreaming even when our dreams fail; keep shining and reaching for heaven and earth even when the fire of vision is extinguished.
2
hamaare paas aur kya hai
Khud se aur apne Khwaab dekhne ke hausle1 se umr-bhar2 nibaahne3 ka valvala4
1.courage, determination 2.life-long 3.keeping promise/commitments 4.fervour, ardour
What else do we have except a life-long desire to keep our courage/commitment to dream our own dreams.
3
hameN diya hi kya hai zindagi ne
zaKhm1 khaane, marne, aur mar ke zinda rahne ke siva2
1.wound 2.except for
In spite of this, what have we received/learnt from life except getting wounded, dying (defeated) and living lifelessly/meaninglessly like corpses.
4
magar ye ham bhi jaante haiN
zaKhm1 ka shumaar2 aur baar-baar3 maut ka hisaab4 hi nahiN hai zindagi
jo ek baar kul-ki-kul5 likhi hui mili hai vo kitaab hi nahiN hai zindagi
jo lamha-lamha6 TooTta7 hai jism-o-jaaN8 pe vo azaab9 hi nahiN hai zindagi
fizaa10-e be-karaaN11 o bahr12-e be-kinaar13 bhi, ek habaab14 hi nahiN hai zindagi
1.wounds 2.counting 3.again and again 4.reckoning 5.complete and perfect 6.every minute 7.used here to mean ‘afflicts’ 8.body and soul 9.torment, curse 10.atmosphere 11.limitless 12.ocean 13.without shores, boundless 14.bubble
But we also know that life is not just counting misfortunes and constantly reckoning with death i.e., constantly giving up and being fatalist akin to dying; it is not just a complete and all encompassing book that was written and received a long time ago; it is not just a curse that descends every moment on body and soul. It is also a limitless sky of possibilities, a vast and boundless ocean, not just a bubble.
5
hameN mila hi kya hai aagahi1 se
jahl2 ka faroGh3, be-basiirati4 ka auj5 dekh dekh kar sulagte6 rahne ke siva7
1.knowledge 2.ignorance 3.brilliance, fame, honour 4.blindness 5.climax 6.burning, getting irritated 7.except for
What have we ever gained/learnt from knowledge (in spite of the powerful concepts and opportunities that the shaa’er has described in stanzas 1-4) except for burning as we helplessly watch the increasing honour (power) of ignorance (blind belief in the received word) and the climax/elevation of blindness (lack of vision/knowledge).
6
magar ye ham bhi jaante haiN
raushni1-e tab’a2 un jahunnamoN3 ka qahr4 aur balaa5 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
faroGh6-e jahl7 ahl-e-dahr8 ke liye saza9 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
ye be-basiirati10 ka auj11, raushni1 ka muddu’aa12 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
sulagte13 rahna, kuchh na kahna, aagahi14 ka muntahaa15 nahiN, kuchh aur hai
1.light 2.innate character 3.hell 4.curse 5.calamity 6.light, fame, respect, dignity 7.ignorance 9.punishment 10.blindness, lack of vision 11.climax 12.claim (from idde’aa) 13.burning, annoyed 14.knowledge 15.completion
But we also know this, that the light of innate character (to seek meaning, daring to question) is not a curse and calamity of hell, but something else; that the respect for ignorance is not a (hellish) punishment/condemnation for the people of the world, but something else. The climax of lack of vision (not daring to see beyond the horizon) cannot be a claim of knowledge, but something else. Burning/getting irritated, not being open to discussion, is not the culmination of knowledge, but something else.
7
ham aagahi1 o zindagi ke ramz2 Khoob jaante haiN naaqidaan3-e justaju4
mohaqiqaan5-e murda-juu6
mudarrisaan7-e kohna-Khuu8
1.knowledge 2.secrets, hidden meaning 3.critic 4.search, effort 5.one who examines/searches/seels 6.dead waters 7.teacher 8.ancient/obsolete habits/customs
O critics of the search for meaning (critics of questioning, promoters of blind belief), O examiners/seekers in dead-end flows (still waters instead of a flowing river of knowledge), O teachers of obsolete customs, we are well aware of the secrets of knowledge and life (stop trying to deceive us).
8
tumhaare paas aur kya hai
eqtedaar1 ki havas2
baland3 kursiyoN ki tishna4 aarzu5
raTe raTaaye kuchh sabaq6
kitaab, doosre jo tum ko likh ke de gaye haiN us ke kuchh varaq7
vo zindagi jo raa’egaaN8, fuzool9 aish10 ki talab11
faroGh12-e jahl13 ne jo tum ko dii hai be-basiirati14 ke haath se vo ek sanad15
1.office, power 2.greed 3.high, respected 4.thirsty, insatiable 5.desire 6.lessons, platitudes 7.pages 8.wasted 9.trivial 10.comforts 11.demand 12.glory, fame 13.ignorance 14.blindness 15.certificate
What else do you have except for the greed for power, an insatiable thirst for high office, a few lessons/platitudes memorized by rote, a few pages of the book that someone wrote and gave you, an ineffective and wasted life, the demand for luxurious comfort (in refusing to search for meaning). What else do you have except for the certificate that the honour accorded to ignorance which has robbed you of vision has accorded you.
9
tumhaare paas aur kya hai
muste’aar1 falsafe
jo meeThi goliyoN ki tarah ghul2 sakeN
na muNh ka zaa’eqa3 Kharaab ho, na talKh4 ho zabaaN
1.borrowed 2.dissolve, melt 3.taste 4.bitter
What else do you have except for a few borrowed philosophies/platitudes which melt in the mouth like sweet candy so that you may never spoil your tastebuds nor taste the bitterness of truth on your tongue. Said Ghalib … ‘dil ke Khush rakhne to Ghalib ye Khayaal achchha hai’.
10
tumheN diya hi kya hai zindagi ne
duur kaarzaar1-e vaqt se bhaTakte rahne, qabreN2 gin’ne ke siva
aur doosroN ke zaKhm3 ki haNsi uRaate rahne ke siva4
1.worshop, field of action 2.graves 3.wounds, defects 4.except for
What else have you received/learnt from life except for purposeless wandering far away from the field of action of the times, counting graves (obsolete thoughts); and making fun of the wounds/defects of others.
11
tumheN koii Khabar1 nahiN
keh zaKhm2 ka shumaar3 aur baar-baar4 maut ka hisaab5 bhi hai zindagi
naye sire6 se jis ko likhna hai, vo ek kitaab bhi hai zindagi
naye mu’aani ki talaash7 meN jo lamha-lamha8 TooTta9 hai vo azaab10 bhi hai zindagi
jo TooT TooT11 kar bhi baar-baar4 sar uTha sake vo ek habaab12 bhi hai zindagi
1.awareness, knowledge 2.wounds 3.enumeration 4.again and again 5.reckoning with 6.new beginning 7.search 8.every moment 9.used here to mean – afflicts 10.curse, calamity 11.broken, burst 12.bubble
(Compare this with stanza 4) You have no awareness/knowledge that enumerating your own wounds/defects/defeats (in the search for meaning) and constantly reckoning with death is also life. You do not know that making a new beginning of the book or meaning of life is also living. You do not know that the calamities that descend on us every moment in the search for meaning is also life. Breaking up and bursting like a bubble on the surface of waves, and rising up again, is also life i.e., life is also a struggle in the search for meaning.
12
tumheN mila hi kya hai aagahi1 se
khokhli2 shikasta3 siipiyoN, chamakte shooKh4 saNgrezoN5 ke siva6
1.knowledge 2.hollow 3.broken 4.playful 5.pebbles 6.except for
What did you get/learn from (the ocean of) knowledge except for a few hollow, broken shells and a few shiny pebbles to play with.
13
tumheN koii Khabar1 nahiN
keh raushni2-e tab’a3 apni aag ke jahannumoN4 ka qahar5 hai
faroGh6-e jahl7 imtehaan8-e dahr9 hai
havas10 ka eqtedaar11, eqtedaar ki havas ka zahr12 hai
Khud apne dil ki baat kahne ki umaNg13 KhooN ki ek lahr14 hai
1.awareness, knowledge 2.light 3.inner nature 4.hell 5.curse 6.respectability 7.ignorance 8.test 9.world, humanity 10.greed 11.power, status 12.poison 13.passion, ecstacy 14.stream, wave
(Compare this with stanza 6) You are not even aware that the fire of our innate light (curiosity, desire to learn) is like the fire of hell (it keeps burning with the desire to keep searching for meaning). Ignorance (lack of knowledge) is a test of humanity; that the greed for power is like a poison for us that makes us greedy for more power. You are not even aware that the passion to express ourselves is like blood throbbing in our veins. (Editorial comment – ‘test of humanity’ – a ‘test’ does not have to be externally imposed. The implication here is that lack of knowledge tests us and we keep searching for meaning – mu’aani ki talaash).
14
hamaare paas kuchh nahiN
tumhaare paas sab sahi
magar tumhaara sab ka sab, na aaj ko badal sakaa, na kal ke kaam aayega
We may not have anything; you my have everything, but your everything has not been able to change anything today, nor will it be useful tomorrow.
15
hamaare paas jo bhi hai
vo aaj ki hai aagahi1
ham apni Khud kitaab haiN, ham apne Khud kitaab-KhwaaN2
ham aaj likh sakeN agar
to aaj hi ki aagahi1, banegi kal ki zindagi
1.knowledge 2.book reader
Whatever little we have is an awareness of what is going on today. If we are able to write our own book (of meaning), then today’s knowledge will guide tomorrow life.
