For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کیسی لاچاری ہے ۔ پریت پال سنگھ بیتابؔ
۱
ظاہر میں بھی کیا کیا پردہ داری ہے
دنیا داری پرکاری عیاری ہے
۲
پاؤں تلے خود داری اور سفر آگے
رک نہیں سکتے ہم کیسی لاچاری ہے
۳
ایک مسلسل دوڑ میں شامل ہم بھی ہیں
شوق نہیں یہ اک ذہنی بیماری ہے
۴
بادِ مخالف پورے زور سے بہتی جائے
اس جانب سے بھی پوری تیاری ہے
۵
ماضی میں تم جیت گئے مجھ سے بیتابؔ
مستقبل کی جنگ ابھی تک جاری ہے
कैसी लाचारी है – प्रीत पाल सिंघ बेताब
१
ज़ाहर में भी क्या क्या पर्दा-दारी है
दुनिया-दारी पुरकारी अय्यारी है
२
पाँव तले ख़ुद-दारी और सफ़र आगे
रुक नहीं सकते हम कैसी लाचारी है
३
एक मुसलसल दौड़ में शामिल हम भी हैं
शौक़ नहीं ये एक ज़हनी बीमारी है
४
बाद-ए मुख़ालिफ़ पूरे ज़ोर से बहती जाए
इस जानिब से भी पूरी तय्यारी है
५
माज़ी में तुम जीत गए मुझ से बेताब
मुस्तक़्बिल की जंग अभी तक जारी है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. priitpal singh betaab (1949-xxxx) pooNch, kashmir. MA, LLB. kashmir (state) administrative service, achieving very high level positions and retiring as Director, Food and Supplies. He started composing verse in 1970, published 9 collections of verse and received numerous awards even as he continued his ‘day time job’. This Ghazal is composed in the zamin of Ghalib’s ‘kucch to hai jis ki parda-daari hai’.
1
zaahir1 meN bhi kyaa kyaa parda-daari2 hai
duniyaa-daari3 purkaari4 ayyaari5 hai 1.apparent, surface show 2.hiding behind veil 3.wheeling dealing, materialist 4.cleverness, skill 5.deceit, cunning
There is a lot that hidden behind appearances. In the wheeling and dealing of the world there is a skill of cunning (hiding the real purpose, or real nature).
2
paauN tale Khud-daari1 aur safar2 aage
ruk nahiN sakte ham kaisi laachaari3 hai 1.self-respect, dignity 2.journey 3.helplessness
There is a long journey (of life) ahead. In order to make any progress the traveler ends up compromising their self-respect, it gets trampled underfoot. They have to go forward. They cannot stop, such is their helplessness.
3
ek musalsal1 dauR2 meN shaamil3 ham bhi haiN
shauq4 nahiN ye ek zahni5 bimaari hai 1.continuous 2.run, rat-race 3.included, participating 4.desire, love 5.psychological
There is a recognition that we are all caught up in a rat-race, much as we hate it, we are a part of it, a participant in it. There is a psychological problem in not being able to walk away.
4
baad1-e muKhaalif2 puure zor3 se bahti jaaye
is jaanib4 se bhi puuri tayyaari5 hai 1.wind, storm 2.opposed 3.strength 4.direction 5.preparation
There is a storng wind blowing against the path that the poet has to take (in his journey of life). Let it blow as hard as it wants. I am fully prepared on this side.
5
maazi1 meN tum jiit gaye mujh se betaab2
mustaqbil3 ki jaNg abhi tak jaari4 hai 1.past 2.pen-name of the poet 3.future 4.ongoing
I think that poet is talking about the struggle with himself … between duniya-daar betaab and the genuine betaab. He concedes that so far the duniya-daar betaab has won, but the future struggle is still ongoing. It remains to be seen who wins.
priitpal singh betaab (1949-xxxx) pooNch, kashmir. MA, LLB. kashmir (state) administrative service, achieving very high level positions and retiring as Director, Food and Supplies. He started composing verse in 1970, published 9 collections of verse and received numerous awards even as he continued his ‘day time job’. This Ghazal is composed in the zamin of Ghalib’s ‘kucch to hai jis ki parda-daari hai’.
1
zaahir1 meN bhi kyaa kyaa parda-daari2 hai
duniyaa-daari3 purkaari4 ayyaari5 hai
1.apparent, surface show 2.hiding behind veil 3.wheeling dealing, materialist 4.cleverness, skill 5.deceit, cunning
There is a lot that hidden behind appearances. In the wheeling and dealing of the world there is a skill of cunning (hiding the real purpose, or real nature).
2
paauN tale Khud-daari1 aur safar2 aage
ruk nahiN sakte ham kaisi laachaari3 hai
1.self-respect, dignity 2.journey 3.helplessness
There is a long journey (of life) ahead. In order to make any progress the traveler ends up compromising their self-respect, it gets trampled underfoot. They have to go forward. They cannot stop, such is their helplessness.
3
ek musalsal1 dauR2 meN shaamil3 ham bhi haiN
shauq4 nahiN ye ek zahni5 bimaari hai
1.continuous 2.run, rat-race 3.included, participating 4.desire, love 5.psychological
There is a recognition that we are all caught up in a rat-race, much as we hate it, we are a part of it, a participant in it. There is a psychological problem in not being able to walk away.
4
baad1-e muKhaalif2 puure zor3 se bahti jaaye
is jaanib4 se bhi puuri tayyaari5 hai
1.wind, storm 2.opposed 3.strength 4.direction 5.preparation
There is a storng wind blowing against the path that the poet has to take (in his journey of life). Let it blow as hard as it wants. I am fully prepared on this side.
5
maazi1 meN tum jiit gaye mujh se betaab2
mustaqbil3 ki jaNg abhi tak jaari4 hai
1.past 2.pen-name of the poet 3.future 4.ongoing
I think that poet is talking about the struggle with himself … between duniya-daar betaab and the genuine betaab. He concedes that so far the duniya-daar betaab has won, but the future struggle is still ongoing. It remains to be seen who wins.
