For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
وہ بات نہ لکھنے پاؤں ۔ راجیش ریڈّی
۱
دن کو دن رات کو میں رات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
اُن کی کوشش ہے کہ حالات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۲
ہندو کو ہندو مسلمان کو لکھوں مسلم
کبھی ان دونوں کو اک ساتھ نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۳
بس قلم بند کئے جاؤں میں اُن کی ہر بات
دل سے جو اٹھتی ہے وہ بات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۴
سوچ تو لیتا ہوں کیا لکھنا ہے پر لکھتے سمے
کانپتے کیوں ہیں مرے ہاتھ نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۵
جیت پر اُن کی لگا دوں میں قصیدوں کی جھڑی
مات کو اُن کی مگر مات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۶
شُکر ہی شُکر لکھے جاؤں میں اُن کے حق میں
کبھی اُن سے میں شکایات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۷
اپنے ہونٹوں پہ نہ لا پاؤں میں اپنے نالے
اپنی ہی آنکھوں کی برسات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۸
جن سوالوں سے تبسم میں خلل پڑتا ہو
کبھی وہ تلخ سوالات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۹
خود کو ماضی میں رکھوں حال میں رہتے ہوئے بھی
نئے وقتوں کے خیالات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
۱۰
اُن کی کوشش ہے کلیجہ ہو مرا پتھر کا
اُن کی کوشش ہے میں جذبات نہ لکھنے پاؤں
वो बात न लिखने पाऊँ – राजेश रेड्डी
१
दिन को दिन रात को मैं रात न लिखने पाऊँ
उन की कोशिश है के हालात न लिखने पाऊँ
२
हिन्दू को हिन्दू मुसलमान को लिक्खूँ मुस्लिम
कभी इन दोनों को एक साथ न लिखने पाऊँ
३
बस क़लम-बंद किए जाऊँ मैं उन की हर बात
दिल से जो उठती है वो बात न लिखने पाऊँ
४
सोच तो लेता हूँ क्या लिखना है पर लिखते समय
काँपते क्यूँ हैं मेरे हाथ न लिखने पाऊँ
५
जीत पर उन की लगा दूँ मैं क़सीदों की झढी
मात को उन की मगर मात न लिखने पाऊँ
६
शुक्र ही शुक्र लिखे जाऊँ मैं उन के हक़ में
कभी उन से मैं शिकायात न लिखने पाऊँ
७
अपने होंटों पे न ला पाऊँ मैं अपने नाले
अपनी ही आँखों की बरसात न लिखने पाऊँ
८
जिन सवालों से तबस्सुम में ख़लल पढता हो
कभी वो तल्ख़ सवालात न लिखने पाऊँ
९
ख़ुद को माज़ी में रखूँ हाल में रहते हुए भी
नए वक़्तों के ख़यालात न लिखने पाऊँ
१०
उन की कोशिश है कलेजा हो मेरा पत्थर का
उन की कोशिश है मैं जज़्बात न लिखने पाऊँ
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. rajesh reDDii (1952-living), was born in nagpur and lives in mumbai. All I could get from radio interview recording is that he fell in love with urdu and particularly Ghazal during his college days. He worked for All India Radio and retired from there. He has published three collections of his verse.
1
din ko din raat ko maiN raat na likhne paa’uN
un ki koshish1 hai keh haalaat2 na likhne paa’uN 1.effort, used here to mean goal/intent 2.conditions
The day is bright, and the night dark, that I not be able to write. It is their goal that true conditions, I not be able to write. Said habib jalib …
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
patthar ko gohar, deevar ko dar, kargas ko huma, kya likhna
2
hindu ko hindu musalmaan ko likkhuN muslim
kabhi in donoN ko ek saath na likhne paa’uN I should write that hindu is hindu, and musalmaan muslim, but that they are one, I should not be able to write.
3
bas qalam-band1 kiye jaa’uN maiN un ki har baat
dil se jo uThti hai vo baat na likhne paa’uN 1.capture in writing, write
That I write only what they say, but that which rises from the depths of my heart, I should not be able to write.
4
soch to leta huN kya likhna hai par likhte samay1
kaaNpte2 kyuN haiN meray haath na likhne paa’uN 1.at the time of 2.tremble (in fear)
I think about what to write, but at the time of writing, why do my hands tremble, I should not be able to write.
5
jiit par un ki laga duN maiN qasiidoN1 ki jhaRi2
maat3 ko un ki magar maat na likhne paa’uN 1.ode, praise 2.continuous rain, shower 3.defeat, setback, failure
On every success, I should celebrate with a shower of odes of praise on them, but of their failures, I should not be able to write.
6
shukr1 hi shukr likhe jaa’uN maiN un ke haq2 meN
kabhi un se maiN shikaayaat3 na likhne paa’uN 1.thanks, gratitude 2.as a right, as a credit 3.complaint
Only gratitude offered as a right, but no complaints should I be able to write.
7
apne hoNToN pe na la paa’uN maiN apne naale1
apni hi aaNkhoN ki barsaat na likhne paa’uN 1.wailing
That I not be able to bring my wails to my lips, that I not able to write about my rain of tears.
8
jin savaaloN1 se tabassum2 meN Khalal3 paRta ho
kabhi vo talKh4 savaalaat5 na likhne paa’uN 1.questions 2.smile 3.defect, spoil 4.bitter 5.questions, demands
Those that pose a problem for the appearance of a smile, about those bitter questions/demands I should never be able to write.
9
Khud ko maazi1 meN rakhuN haal2 meN rahte hue bhi
naye vaqtoN3 ke Khayaalaat4 na likhne paa’uN 1.past 2.present 3.times, age 4.thought
That I keep my thoughts in the past, even though I live in the present; that about thoughts of the new/modern age, I should not be able to write.
10
un ki koshish1 hai kaleja ho mera patthar2 ka
un ki koshish hai maiN jazbaat3 na likhne paa’uN 1.effort, intent, goal 2.kaleja pathar hona-become insensitive to pain 3.feelings, emotions
It is their goal that I become insensitive and hard hearted. Their intent is that I not write about (people’s) feelings and emotions.
rajesh reDDii (1952-living), was born in nagpur and lives in mumbai. All I could get from radio interview recording is that he fell in love with urdu and particularly Ghazal during his college days. He worked for All India Radio and retired from there. He has published three collections of his verse.
1
din ko din raat ko maiN raat na likhne paa’uN
un ki koshish1 hai keh haalaat2 na likhne paa’uN
1.effort, used here to mean goal/intent 2.conditions
The day is bright, and the night dark, that I not be able to write. It is their goal that true conditions, I not be able to write. Said habib jalib …
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
patthar ko gohar, deevar ko dar, kargas ko huma, kya likhna
2
hindu ko hindu musalmaan ko likkhuN muslim
kabhi in donoN ko ek saath na likhne paa’uN
I should write that hindu is hindu, and musalmaan muslim, but that they are one, I should not be able to write.
3
bas qalam-band1 kiye jaa’uN maiN un ki har baat
dil se jo uThti hai vo baat na likhne paa’uN
1.capture in writing, write
That I write only what they say, but that which rises from the depths of my heart, I should not be able to write.
4
soch to leta huN kya likhna hai par likhte samay1
kaaNpte2 kyuN haiN meray haath na likhne paa’uN
1.at the time of 2.tremble (in fear)
I think about what to write, but at the time of writing, why do my hands tremble, I should not be able to write.
5
jiit par un ki laga duN maiN qasiidoN1 ki jhaRi2
maat3 ko un ki magar maat na likhne paa’uN
1.ode, praise 2.continuous rain, shower 3.defeat, setback, failure
On every success, I should celebrate with a shower of odes of praise on them, but of their failures, I should not be able to write.
6
shukr1 hi shukr likhe jaa’uN maiN un ke haq2 meN
kabhi un se maiN shikaayaat3 na likhne paa’uN
1.thanks, gratitude 2.as a right, as a credit 3.complaint
Only gratitude offered as a right, but no complaints should I be able to write.
7
apne hoNToN pe na la paa’uN maiN apne naale1
apni hi aaNkhoN ki barsaat na likhne paa’uN
1.wailing
That I not be able to bring my wails to my lips, that I not able to write about my rain of tears.
8
jin savaaloN1 se tabassum2 meN Khalal3 paRta ho
kabhi vo talKh4 savaalaat5 na likhne paa’uN
1.questions 2.smile 3.defect, spoil 4.bitter 5.questions, demands
Those that pose a problem for the appearance of a smile, about those bitter questions/demands I should never be able to write.
9
Khud ko maazi1 meN rakhuN haal2 meN rahte hue bhi
naye vaqtoN3 ke Khayaalaat4 na likhne paa’uN
1.past 2.present 3.times, age 4.thought
That I keep my thoughts in the past, even though I live in the present; that about thoughts of the new/modern age, I should not be able to write.
10
un ki koshish1 hai kaleja ho mera patthar2 ka
un ki koshish hai maiN jazbaat3 na likhne paa’uN
1.effort, intent, goal 2.kaleja pathar hona-become insensitive to pain 3.feelings, emotions
It is their goal that I become insensitive and hard hearted. Their intent is that I not write about (people’s) feelings and emotions.
