For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تاریخ مزدور کی زبانی ۔ سید محمّد شاہدؔ
برٹولٹ برخت کی نظم کا آزاد ترجمہ
۱
کس کی تخلیق ہیں یہ سات درِ شہرِ تھِبائی
تاریخ میں ہے درج بہت شہرتِ شاہی
اِن سخت چٹانوں کو کیا شاہوں نے اُٹھایا
کیا اپنے ہی تیشوں سے تھا یہ شہر بنایا
۲
برباد ہوا شہر جو بابِل کا کئی بار
وہ کون تھے معمار کیا اس کو ہر اک بار
۳
لیما کا وہ زرّین شہر جو تھا چمکتا
رہتے تھے کہاں محل جنہوں نے تھا بنایا
۴
صبح سے شام تلک چین کی دیوار بنا کر
تیشہ زن رات ڈھلے سوئے کہاں چین سے جا کر
۵
وہ روم کے شاہانہ سطون اور کمانیں
کس کی ہیں یہ تخلیق ذرا یہ بھی سُنائیں
۶
افسانوں میں بیضان کی دولت کا ہے چرچا
کیا ہر کوئی واں محلے دو محلے میں تھا رہتا
۷
جب مصر کا بھی شہرِ اِرم ڈوب رہا تھا
کہتے ہیں غلاموں کو پکارا کئے اُمرا
تھا کون سِوا اُن کے جو جان بچاتا
۸
سکندر نے ظفر ہند کی فوجوں پہ جو پائی
کیا وہ تھا اکیلا جو کرامت یہ دکھائی
۹
قیسر نے بھی الغول پہ جب فتح تھی پائی
کیا فوج میں تھے کوئی نہ حمّال و باورچی
۱۰
ورق در ورق ہیں جو ہار کے یا جیت کے قصّے
شاہوں کے فقط نام ہیں ہارے ہوں کہ جیتے
کیا اِن میں کوئی اور نہیں کٹ کے مرے تھے
کیوں اُن کے لئے شاہوں کے آنسو نہ بہے تھے
۱۱
یا جشن منایا تھا جو ہر سال فتح کا
تھا رقص بھی فانوس بھی اور ساز تھا بجتا
صرفہ جو کیا خون پسینہ تھا وہ کس کا
۱۲
ہیں اتنے رقومات دکھاؤں تو دکھا بھی نہ سکوں
ہیں اتنے سوالات کہ سوچوں تو سمجھ بھی نہ سکوں
तारीख़, मज़्दूर कि ज़बानी
बरटोल्ट ब्रेख़्ट की नज़म का आज़ाद तर्जुमा
१
किस की तख़्लीक़ हैं ये सात दर-ए शहर-ए थिबाई
तारीख़ में है दर्ज बहुत शोहरत-ए शाही
इन सख़्त चटानौं को क्या शाहौं ने उठाया
क्या अपने हि तीशौं से था ये शहर बनाया
२
बरबाद हुआ शहर जो बाबिल का कई बार
वो कौन थे मे’मार किया इस को हर एक बार
३
लीमा का वो ज़र्रीन शहर जो था चमकता
रहते थे कहां महल जिन्हों ने था बनाया
४
सुबह से शाम तलक चीन की दीवार बना कर
तीशा-ज़न रात ढले सोए कहां चैन से जा कर
५
वो रोम के शाहाना सुतून और कमानें
किस की हैं ये तख़्लीख़ ज़रा ये भी सुनाएं
६
अफ़्सानौं में बैज़ान कि दौलत का है चर्चा
क्या हर काई वां महले दो महले में था रहता
७
जब मिस्र का भी शहर-ए इरम डूब रहा था
कहते हैं ग़ुलामौं को पुकारा किये उमरा
था कौन सिवा उन के जो जान बचाता
८
सिकंदर ने ज़फ़र हिन्द कि फ़ौजौं पे जो पाई
क्या वो था अकेला जो करामत ये दिखाई
९
क़ैसर ने भी अलग़ौल पे जब फ़तह थि पाई
क्या फ़ौज में थे कोई न हम्माल ओ बावर्ची
१०
वरक़ वरक़ हैं जो हार के या जीत के क़िस्से
शाहौं के फ़क़त नाम हैं हारे हों के जीते
क्या इन में कोई और नहीं कट के मरे थे
क्यूं उन के लिये शाहौं के आंसू न बहे थे
११
या जश्न मनाया था जो हर साल फ़तह का
था रक़्स भी फ़ानूस भी और साज़ था बजता
सर्फ़ा जो किया ख़ून पसीना था वो किस का
१२
हैं इतने रुक़ूमात दिखाऊं तो दिखा भी न सकूं
हैं इतने सवालात के सोचूं तो समझ भी न सकूं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed mohammed shahed (1944-living) came to urdu late in life, but early to skepticism, inquiry and unbelief. Irreverent and rebellious, he enjoys retirement and continuous learning. Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), German theatre practitioner, playwright and poet. Marxist. He left Germany just before the beginning of the war and eventually landed up in the US where he was investigated by the UnAmerican Activities Committee. His poems were translated into English by Constantine and Kuhn. This is a re-composition based on an English translation.
1
kis ki taKhliiq1 haiN ye saat dar2-e shahr-e thibaaii3
taariiKh4 meN hai darj5 bahut shohrat6-e shaahi7
in saKht8 chaTaanoN ko kya shaahoN ne uThaaya
kya apne hi teeshoN9 se tha ye shahr banaaya 1.creation 2.doors, gates 3.Thebes 4.history 5.recorded, written 6.fame 7.royal 8.hard, heavy 9.pickaxe, chisel
Whose creation are these seven gates of Thebes. History records the fame of kings. Were kings who cut and lifted these heavy rocks. Did they create this city with their chisel and axe.
2
barbaad1 hua shahr jo baabil2 ka kaii baar
vo kaun the, me’maar3 kiya is ko har ek baar 1.destroyed 2.Babylon 3.build
The city of Babylon that was destroyed many times, who were they who reconstructed it every time.
3
liima1 ka vo zarriin2 shahr jo tha chamakta
rahte thay kahaaN mahl jinhoN ne tha banaaya 1.Lima city 2.golden
The golden city of Lima that glittered; where did they live, who built the palaces.
4
sub’h se shaam talak chiin1 ki diivaar bana kar
tiisha-zan2 raat-Dhale3 so’ey4 kahaaN cha’en5 se jaa kar 1.China 2.stone masons 3.nightfall 4.sleep 5.comfort
From till night those who toiled to build the Chinese wall; where did they go at nightfall to get some comfort in sleep.
5
vo rom1 ke shaahaana2 sutoon3 aur kamaaneN4
kis ki haiN ye taKhliiq5 zara ye bhi sunaa’eN 1.Rome 2.majestic 3.columns, pillars 4.arches 5.creation
The majestic columns and arches of Rome; do tell me whose creation are they.
6
afsaanoN1 meN baizaan2 ki daulat3 ka hai charcha4
kya har koii vaaN mahle-do-mahle5 meN tha rahta 1.legends 2.Byzantium 3.riches 4.fame 5.palaces
The legendary riches of Byzantium everyone talks about; did everyone there live in palaces.
7
jab misr1 ka bhi shahr-e-iram2 Doob3 raha tha
kahte haiN GhulaamoN ko pukaara kiye umara4
tha kaun siva5 un ki jo jaan bachaata 1.Egypt 2.City of Atlantis 3.drowning, sinking 4.rich people 5.except for
When on the coast of Egypt, the city of Atlantis was sinking, it is said that the rich called out to their slaves. Who was there except the slaves to save them.
8
sikandar1 ne zafar2 hind3 ki faujoN pe jo paaii
kya vo tha akela4 jo karaamat5 ye dikhaaii 1.Alexander 2.victory 3.India 4.alone 5.miracle
Alexander, who triumphed over armies in India, was he single-handed to perform this miracle.
9
qaisar1 ne bhi alGhaul2 pe jab fatah3 thi paaii
kya fauj meN thay koii na hammaal4 o bavarchi5 1.Caesar 2.the Gauls 3.victory 4.workers 5.cooks
When Caesar was victorious over the Gauls, did his forces not have any workers or cooks.
10
varaq-varaq1 haiN jo haar ke ya jiit ke qisse2
shaahoN ke faqat3 naam haiN haare hoN keh jiite
kya in meN koii aur nahiN kaT ke mare thay
kyuN un ke liye shaahoN ke aaNsu4 na bahe thay 1.page after page 2.stories 3.only 4.tears
Page after page, stories of war, whether lost or won are full of only names of kings. Was there not anyone who was wounded and killed. Why then did the monarchs not weep over them.
11
ya jashn1 manaaya tha jo har saal fatah2 ka
tha raqs3 bhi, faanoos4 bhi, aur saaz5 tha bajta
sarfa6 jo kiya Khoon pasiina tha vo kis ka 1.celebrations 2.victory 3.dance 4.chandelier 5.music 6.expenditure, wastage
And celebrations of victory year after year with dance and music and chandeliers shining. The expenditure, the waste, whose blood and sweat was it.
12
haiN itne ruqoomaat1 dikhaauN to dikha bhi na sakuuN
haiN itne savaalaat2 keh sochooN3 to samajh4 bhi na sakuN 1.writings 2.questions 3.think 4.understand
There is so much written that I couldn’t show it to you even if I tried. There are so many questions that I will not be able to understand even if I thought.
syed mohammed shahed (1944-living) came to urdu late in life, but early to skepticism, inquiry and unbelief. Irreverent and rebellious, he enjoys retirement and continuous learning. Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), German theatre practitioner, playwright and poet. Marxist. He left Germany just before the beginning of the war and eventually landed up in the US where he was investigated by the UnAmerican Activities Committee. His poems were translated into English by Constantine and Kuhn. This is a re-composition based on an English translation.
1
kis ki taKhliiq1 haiN ye saat dar2-e shahr-e thibaaii3
taariiKh4 meN hai darj5 bahut shohrat6-e shaahi7
in saKht8 chaTaanoN ko kya shaahoN ne uThaaya
kya apne hi teeshoN9 se tha ye shahr banaaya
1.creation 2.doors, gates 3.Thebes 4.history 5.recorded, written 6.fame 7.royal 8.hard, heavy 9.pickaxe, chisel
Whose creation are these seven gates of Thebes. History records the fame of kings. Were kings who cut and lifted these heavy rocks. Did they create this city with their chisel and axe.
2
barbaad1 hua shahr jo baabil2 ka kaii baar
vo kaun the, me’maar3 kiya is ko har ek baar
1.destroyed 2.Babylon 3.build
The city of Babylon that was destroyed many times, who were they who reconstructed it every time.
3
liima1 ka vo zarriin2 shahr jo tha chamakta
rahte thay kahaaN mahl jinhoN ne tha banaaya
1.Lima city 2.golden
The golden city of Lima that glittered; where did they live, who built the palaces.
4
sub’h se shaam talak chiin1 ki diivaar bana kar
tiisha-zan2 raat-Dhale3 so’ey4 kahaaN cha’en5 se jaa kar
1.China 2.stone masons 3.nightfall 4.sleep 5.comfort
From till night those who toiled to build the Chinese wall; where did they go at nightfall to get some comfort in sleep.
5
vo rom1 ke shaahaana2 sutoon3 aur kamaaneN4
kis ki haiN ye taKhliiq5 zara ye bhi sunaa’eN
1.Rome 2.majestic 3.columns, pillars 4.arches 5.creation
The majestic columns and arches of Rome; do tell me whose creation are they.
6
afsaanoN1 meN baizaan2 ki daulat3 ka hai charcha4
kya har koii vaaN mahle-do-mahle5 meN tha rahta
1.legends 2.Byzantium 3.riches 4.fame 5.palaces
The legendary riches of Byzantium everyone talks about; did everyone there live in palaces.
7
jab misr1 ka bhi shahr-e-iram2 Doob3 raha tha
kahte haiN GhulaamoN ko pukaara kiye umara4
tha kaun siva5 un ki jo jaan bachaata
1.Egypt 2.City of Atlantis 3.drowning, sinking 4.rich people 5.except for
When on the coast of Egypt, the city of Atlantis was sinking, it is said that the rich called out to their slaves. Who was there except the slaves to save them.
8
sikandar1 ne zafar2 hind3 ki faujoN pe jo paaii
kya vo tha akela4 jo karaamat5 ye dikhaaii
1.Alexander 2.victory 3.India 4.alone 5.miracle
Alexander, who triumphed over armies in India, was he single-handed to perform this miracle.
9
qaisar1 ne bhi alGhaul2 pe jab fatah3 thi paaii
kya fauj meN thay koii na hammaal4 o bavarchi5
1.Caesar 2.the Gauls 3.victory 4.workers 5.cooks
When Caesar was victorious over the Gauls, did his forces not have any workers or cooks.
10
varaq-varaq1 haiN jo haar ke ya jiit ke qisse2
shaahoN ke faqat3 naam haiN haare hoN keh jiite
kya in meN koii aur nahiN kaT ke mare thay
kyuN un ke liye shaahoN ke aaNsu4 na bahe thay
1.page after page 2.stories 3.only 4.tears
Page after page, stories of war, whether lost or won are full of only names of kings. Was there not anyone who was wounded and killed. Why then did the monarchs not weep over them.
11
ya jashn1 manaaya tha jo har saal fatah2 ka
tha raqs3 bhi, faanoos4 bhi, aur saaz5 tha bajta
sarfa6 jo kiya Khoon pasiina tha vo kis ka
1.celebrations 2.victory 3.dance 4.chandelier 5.music 6.expenditure, wastage
And celebrations of victory year after year with dance and music and chandeliers shining. The expenditure, the waste, whose blood and sweat was it.
12
haiN itne ruqoomaat1 dikhaauN to dikha bhi na sakuuN
haiN itne savaalaat2 keh sochooN3 to samajh4 bhi na sakuN
1.writings 2.questions 3.think 4.understand
There is so much written that I couldn’t show it to you even if I tried. There are so many questions that I will not be able to understand even if I thought.
A Worker Reads History – Bertolt Brecht
Who built the seven gates of Thebes?
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time? In which of Lima’s houses,
That city glittering with gold, lived those who built it?
In the evening when the Chinese wall was finished
Where did the masons go? Imperial Rome
Is full of arcs of triumph. Who reared them up? Over whom
Did the Caesars triumph? Byzantium lives in song.
Were all her dwellings palaces? And even in Atlantis of the legend
The night the seas rushed in,
The drowning men still bellowed for their slaves.
Young Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Was there not even a cook in his army?
Phillip of Spain wept as his fleet
was sunk and destroyed. Were there no other tears?
Frederick the Great triumphed in the Seven Years War.
Who triumphed with him?
Each page a victory
At whose expense the victory ball?
Every ten years a great man,
Who paid the piper?
So many particulars.
So many questions.
