For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
اُردو اور شاعر ۔ وجیندر سنگھ پروازؔ
۱
ہم کو معلوم ہے مہتاب کی دھڑکن دھڑکن
تھپکیاں دے کے ہواؤں کو سلایا ہم نے
ایک کمزور کی اس درجہ وکالت کی ہے
جگنوؤں کو بھی ستاروں سے لڑایا ہم نے
۲
ہم نے ہر دور سے انساں کے حقائق مانگے
اور امید کے دامن میں ستارے ٹانکے
ہم پہ اُردو نہ اگر ہوتی تو پھر کیا ہوتا
ایک اسی فن کے عوض لاکھ نظارے ٹانکے
۳
ہم سے فنکاروں کا مت صبر و تحمّل پوچھو
رنج و غم کو بھی تو قسمت کا کرم کہتے ہیں
جامِ سم جس نے بڑھایا ہے لبوں کی جانب
ایسے دشمن کو بھی دشمن نہیں ہم کہتے ہیں
۴
ایک فنکار تو فنکار ہے کوئی بھی سہی
بھید پھولوں میں نہ کر پائی کبھی بھی شبنم
دو ستارے ہیں برابر کے یہاں فیضؔ و فراقؔ
کون کہتا ہے کہ اقبالؔ سے چکبستؔ ہیں کم
۵
مُوند کر آنکھ یوں آغوشِ بھنور میں سوئے
تتلیاں جیسے کسی پھول کو بستر کر لیں
جس کے سائے میں ہر ایک شخص کو آرام ملے
آؤ مل جل کے اُسی فن کو مقدّر کر لیں
۶
ہم کو اُردو نے سکھایا ہے کہ تب کچھ مانگو
خالی کشکول بھرو اپنے لہو سے پہلے
گر کبھی جاننا چاہا ہے نمازوں کا صلہ
کِھل اُٹھے پھول ہر ایک دل میں وضو سے پہلے
۷
ہم سے دیکھا نہ گیا بجھتے چراغوں کا دھواں
ہم نہیں چاہتے دنیا میں کہیں تک بھی زوال
ہم نے طوفانوں کو آواز لگا کر روکا
اہل اُردو کی کوئی ڈھونڈ کے لائے تو مثال
۸
شام سے تا بہ سحر لوح و قلم کے ہو کر
ہم نے اُردو کی حفاظت میں گزاری ہستی
ایک تہذیب ہے تہذیبِ مکمّل اُردو
اس کے سائے میں بہر حال سنواری ہستی
۹
کوئی بھی بزم ہو بستی ہو نگر ہو پروازؔ
ہم جہاں رہتے ہیں شاعر کی طرح رہتے ہیں
کارواں ہند کی قسمت کا ہے سوئے منزل
ہم سے ہندو ابھی اُردو میں غزل کہتے ہیں
۱۰
بزم در بزم ہوئے شعر و سخن کے چرچے
کوچے کوچے میں مہکتے ہیں اسی فن کے گلاب
سادہ لوحی کے سبب صَرف ہوئے محنت کے
ہم سے مانگا نہ گیا اپنے پسینے کا حساب
۱۱
جب بھی ظلمات کی چادر میں وطن لپٹا ہے
تب اُجالے بھی ہمارے ہی قلم کرتے ہیں
اپنی توفیق ہی ایسی ہے کہ اکثر ہم لوگ
ہر ستم سہہ کے بھی گفتارِ کرم کرتے ہیں
उर्दू और शा’एर – विजेंद्र सिंह परवाज़
१
हम को मालूम है महताब की धढकन धढकन
थपकियां दे के हवाओं को सुलाया हमने
एक कमज़ोर की इस दर्जा वकालत की है
जुगनुऔं को भी सितारौं से लढाया हमने
२
हमने हर दौर से इंसां के हक़ाएक़ मांगे
और उम्मीद के दामन में सितारे टांके
हम पर उर्दू ना अगर होती तो फिर क्या होता
एक इसी फ़न के एवज़ लाख नज़ारे टांके
३
हम से फ़नकारौं का मत सब्र ओ त’हम्मुल पूछो
रंज ओ ग़म को भी तो क़िस्मत का करम कहते हैं
जाम-ए सम जिसने बढ़ाया है लबौं की जानिब
ऐसे दुश्मन को भी दुश्मन नहीं हम कहते हैं
४
एक फ़नकार तो फ़नकार है कोई भी सही
भेद फूलौं में ना कर पाए कभी भी शबनम
दो सितारे हैं बराबर के यहां फ़ैज़ ओ फ़िराक़
कौन कहता है के एक़्बाल से चक्बस्त हैं कम
५
मूंद कर आंख यूं आग़ोश-ए भंवर में सोए
तितलियां जैसे किसी फूल को बिस्तर कर लें
जिस के साए में हर एक शख़्स को आराम मिले
आओ मिलजुल के उसी फ़न को मुक़द्दर कर लें
६
हमको उर्दू ने सिखाया है के तब कुछ मांगो
ख़ाली कशकोल भरो अपने लहू से पहले
गर कभी जान’ना चाहा है नमाज़ौं का सिला
खिल उठे फूल हर एक दिल में वुज़ू से पहले
७
हमसे देखा ना गया बुझते चराग़ौं का धुआं
हम नहीं चाहते दुनिया में कहीं तक भी ज़वाल
हमने तूफ़ानौं को आवाज़ लगाकर रोका
अहल-ए उर्दू की कोई ढूंढ के लाए तो मिसाल
८
शाम से ता-ब-सहर लौह-ओ-क़लम के हो कर
हमने उर्दू की हिफ़ाज़त में गुज़ारी हस्ती
एक तहज़ीब है तहज़ीब-ए मुकम्मल उर्दू
इसके साए में ब-हर-हाल संवारी हस्ती
९
कोई भी बज़्म हो, नगर हो, परवाज़
हम जहां रहते हैं शा’एर की तरह रहते हैं
कारवां हिंद की क़िस्मत का है सू-ए मंजिल
हम से हिंदू अभी उर्दू में ग़ज़ल कहते हैं
१०
बज़्म-दर-बज़्म हुए शे’र ओ सुख़न के चर्चे
कूचे-कूचे में महकते हैं इसी फ़न के गुलाब
सादा-लौही के सबब सर्फ़ हुए मेहनत के
हम से माँगा न गया अपने पसीने का हिसाब
११
जब भी ज़ुल्मात की चादर में वतन लप्टा है
तब उजाले भी हमारे ही क़लम करते हैं
अपनी तौफ़ीक़ ही ऐसी है के अक्सर हम लोग
हर सितम सह के भी गुफ़्तार-ए करम करते हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. vijendra siNgh parvaaz (1943-living), fareedabad and meeraTh. MA (English Literature). Lecturer, KV Inter College meeraTh. I could not figure out what his family background was and how he came to urdu. A great lover of urdu and a staunch secularist. He has several collections of nazm to his credit and collection of odes to islamic religious figures. This is a collection of qat’aat in praise of the urdu shaa’er.
1
ham ko maloom hai mahtaab1 ki dhaRkan dhaRkan
thapkiyaaN de kay havaaoN ko sulaaya ham nay
ek kamzor2 ki is darja3 vakaalat4 kii hai
jugnuoN ko bhi sitaaroN se laRaaya ham nay 1.brilliant moon 2.weak, powerless 3.to such an extent 4.advocacy
This is in praise of poets. They know the beauty and gentleness of life like the brilliance and softness of moonlight. They also know how to calm down fierce winds … pat them on the back and get them to sleep. They advocate the cause of the powerless to such an extent that glowworms are willing to take on the stars.
2
ham ne har daur1 say insaaN kay haqaa’eq2 maaNgay
aur ummeed3 kay daaman4 meN sitaare TaaNkay
ham par urdu na agar hoti to phir kya hota
ek isi fun5 kay evaz6 laakh nazaare7 TaaNkay 1.times, age 2.rights 3.hope 4.hem of the garment 5.art 6.reward, in exchange 7.visions
In every age, we have demanded the rights of deprived humanity. We have embroidered stars into the hem of the robe of hope. What would have happened, if we had not known urdu. In exchange of this one art, we have been able to stitch a thousand visions (of hope and justice).
3
ham se funkaaroN1 ka mat sabr2 o tahammul3 poochho
raNj-o-gham4 ko bhi qismat ka karam5 kahtay haiN
jaam6-e sam7 jis ne baRhaaya hai laboN8 ki jaanib9
aisay dushman ko bhi dushman nahiN ham kahtay haiN 1.artists 2.patience 3.forbearance 4.pain and sorrow 5.kindness, gift 6.cup 7.poison 8.lips 9.towards
Do not question/doubt the patience and forbearance of artists like us. We have considered even pain and sorrow to be gifts of fate. Even those who have presented a cup of poison to us (allusion to Socrates), we have not called an enemy.
4
ek funkaar1 to funkaar hai koii bhi sahii
bhed2 phooloN meN na kar paa’e kabhi bhi shabnam3
do sitaaray4 haiN baraabar kay yahaaN faiz5 o firaaq6
kaun kahta hai keh iqbaal7 say chakbast8 haiN kam 1.artist 2.difference, discrimination 3.dew 4.stars 5.faiz ahmed faiz 6.raghupati sahay firaaq gorakhpuri 7.mohammed iqbal 8.panDit brij narain chakbast
An artist is after all an artist, whoever it may be. How can dew drops discriminate between flowers. There are two stars that are equally bright – faiz and firaaq. Who can say that chakbast is not as good as iqbal. Editorial note … Knowing that I have worked so much on urdushahkar, people often ask me who the best poet is … I cannot answer.
5
mooNd1 kar aaNkh yuN aaGhosh2-e bhaNvar3 meN so’ay
titliyaaN jaisay kisi phool ko bistar4 kar leN
jis kay saa’e5 meN har ek shaKhs6 ko aaraam milay
aao mil-jul kay usii fun7 ko muqaddar8 kar leN 1.shut 2.lap, embrace 3.whirlpool 4.bed 5.shade, protection 6.person 7.art 8.fate, future
We (poets) have shut our eyes in peace and embraced stormy whirlpools like a butterfly making a bed in a flower. Come into the shade that offers protection/solace to everyone and together make this art (of urdu verse) our future.
6
ham ko urdu nay sikhaaya1 hai keh tab kuchh maaNgo
Khaali kashkol2 bharo apnay lahu3 say pahlay
gar kabhi jaan’na4 chaaha hai namaazoN ka sila5
khil uThe phool har ek dil meN vuzoo6 say pahlay 1.taught 2.begging bowl 3.blood 4.want to know 5.reward 6.ritual washing/ablution
urdu has taught us that before you ask for anything, you have to fill your begging bowl with your own blood i.e., undergo pain and suffering before you ask. If you want to know what the reward for namaaz/prayer is, let every flower bloom before you even cleanse yourself for namaaz i.e., urdu teaches us that the happiness and well being of humans is more important than prayer.
7
ham say dekha na gaya bujhtay charaaGhoN1 ka dhuaaN
ham nahiN chaahtay duniya meN kahiiN tak bhi zavaal2
ham nay toofaanoN3 ko aavaaz laga kar roka
ahl-e-urdu4 ki koi DhoonD kay laa’e to misaal5 1.lamps 2.downfall, suffering 3.storms 4.people of urdu, urdu poets 5.example
This alludes to the strong tradition in urdu poetry to speak up for those who are suffering and have been suppressed. We (urdu poets) could not stand by and see smoke rising from lamps that have been extinguished. We don’t want anyone to suffer. We have stopped storms with our voice/cry/words/verse. Show me another example similar to what urdu poets have done.
8
shaam1 say taa-ba-sahr2 lauh3 o qalam4 kay ho kar
ham nay urdu ki hifaazat5 meN guzaari6 hasti7
ek tahziib8 hai tahziib-e mukammal9 urdu
is kay saa’e10 meN ba-har-haal11 saNvaari12 hasti 1.evening 2.until dawn 3.paper 4.pen 5.protect 6.spent 7.life 8.culture 9.complete, perfect 10.shade, protection 11.under all conditions 12.embellished
All night long, from evening until dawn, we have dedicated ourselves to paper and pen, spending our life in the protection of urdu. It is not just a language, urdu is an expansive culture. Even under adversities, we have embellished our lives in the shade of urdu.
9
koii bhi bazm1 ho, nagar2 ho parvaaz3
ham jahaaN rahtay haiN shaa’er ki tarah rahtay haiN
kaarvaaN hind ki qismat ka hai soo4-e manzil5
ham se hindu abhi urdu meN Ghazal kahtay haiN 1.gathering 2.town, region 3.pen-name of the poet 4.towards 5.destination
Be it any gathering in any region of the country, O parvaaz, wherever we live, we live like poets (in defiance and protest against oppression). The caravan of hindostan is headed towards its goal, because even now some hindus like us compose/recite Ghazal in urdu.
10
bazm-dar-bazm1 huay sh’er2 o suKhan3 kay charchay4
koochay-koochay5 meN mahaktay6 haiN isi fun7 ke gulaab
saada-lauhi8 ke sabab9 sarf10 huay mehnat kay
hum se maaNga nah gaya apne pasiinay ka hisaab11 1.every gathering 2.couplets 3.verse, recitation 4.fame, appreciation 5.every street 6.redolent 7.skill, talent 8.simple mindedness 9.because of 10.spent, used 11.reckoning, compensation
In every gathering there is appreciation of our verse and recitation. Every street is redolent with the roses of this skill (of poetry). Because of our simple-mindedness we used up all our hard work. We could not bring ourselves to demand compensation for the sweat of our labour.
11
jab bhi zulmaat1 ki chaadar meN vatan lapTa hai
tab ujaalay2 bhi hamaaray hi qalam3 kartay haiN
apni taufiiq4 hi aisi hai keh aksar5 ham log
har sitam6 sah7 kay bhi guftaar8-e karam9 kartay haiN 1.darkness 2.light 3.pen 4.nature, ability 5.often 6.cruelty, oppression 7.bear, tolerate 8.talk 9.kindness
Whenever the homeland has been envolvoped in a sheet of darkness, it is our pen that has created light. It is in our nature that we often, bear/undergo oppression and still talk gently.
vijendra siNgh parvaaz (1943-living), fareedabad and meeraTh. MA (English Literature). Lecturer, KV Inter College meeraTh. I could not figure out what his family background was and how he came to urdu. A great lover of urdu and a staunch secularist. He has several collections of nazm to his credit and collection of odes to islamic religious figures. This is a collection of qat’aat in praise of the urdu shaa’er.
1
ham ko maloom hai mahtaab1 ki dhaRkan dhaRkan
thapkiyaaN de kay havaaoN ko sulaaya ham nay
ek kamzor2 ki is darja3 vakaalat4 kii hai
jugnuoN ko bhi sitaaroN se laRaaya ham nay
1.brilliant moon 2.weak, powerless 3.to such an extent 4.advocacy
This is in praise of poets. They know the beauty and gentleness of life like the brilliance and softness of moonlight. They also know how to calm down fierce winds … pat them on the back and get them to sleep. They advocate the cause of the powerless to such an extent that glowworms are willing to take on the stars.
2
ham ne har daur1 say insaaN kay haqaa’eq2 maaNgay
aur ummeed3 kay daaman4 meN sitaare TaaNkay
ham par urdu na agar hoti to phir kya hota
ek isi fun5 kay evaz6 laakh nazaare7 TaaNkay
1.times, age 2.rights 3.hope 4.hem of the garment 5.art 6.reward, in exchange 7.visions
In every age, we have demanded the rights of deprived humanity. We have embroidered stars into the hem of the robe of hope. What would have happened, if we had not known urdu. In exchange of this one art, we have been able to stitch a thousand visions (of hope and justice).
3
ham se funkaaroN1 ka mat sabr2 o tahammul3 poochho
raNj-o-gham4 ko bhi qismat ka karam5 kahtay haiN
jaam6-e sam7 jis ne baRhaaya hai laboN8 ki jaanib9
aisay dushman ko bhi dushman nahiN ham kahtay haiN
1.artists 2.patience 3.forbearance 4.pain and sorrow 5.kindness, gift 6.cup 7.poison 8.lips 9.towards
Do not question/doubt the patience and forbearance of artists like us. We have considered even pain and sorrow to be gifts of fate. Even those who have presented a cup of poison to us (allusion to Socrates), we have not called an enemy.
4
ek funkaar1 to funkaar hai koii bhi sahii
bhed2 phooloN meN na kar paa’e kabhi bhi shabnam3
do sitaaray4 haiN baraabar kay yahaaN faiz5 o firaaq6
kaun kahta hai keh iqbaal7 say chakbast8 haiN kam
1.artist 2.difference, discrimination 3.dew 4.stars 5.faiz ahmed faiz 6.raghupati sahay firaaq gorakhpuri 7.mohammed iqbal 8.panDit brij narain chakbast
An artist is after all an artist, whoever it may be. How can dew drops discriminate between flowers. There are two stars that are equally bright – faiz and firaaq. Who can say that chakbast is not as good as iqbal. Editorial note … Knowing that I have worked so much on urdushahkar, people often ask me who the best poet is … I cannot answer.
5
mooNd1 kar aaNkh yuN aaGhosh2-e bhaNvar3 meN so’ay
titliyaaN jaisay kisi phool ko bistar4 kar leN
jis kay saa’e5 meN har ek shaKhs6 ko aaraam milay
aao mil-jul kay usii fun7 ko muqaddar8 kar leN
1.shut 2.lap, embrace 3.whirlpool 4.bed 5.shade, protection 6.person 7.art 8.fate, future
We (poets) have shut our eyes in peace and embraced stormy whirlpools like a butterfly making a bed in a flower. Come into the shade that offers protection/solace to everyone and together make this art (of urdu verse) our future.
6
ham ko urdu nay sikhaaya1 hai keh tab kuchh maaNgo
Khaali kashkol2 bharo apnay lahu3 say pahlay
gar kabhi jaan’na4 chaaha hai namaazoN ka sila5
khil uThe phool har ek dil meN vuzoo6 say pahlay
1.taught 2.begging bowl 3.blood 4.want to know 5.reward 6.ritual washing/ablution
urdu has taught us that before you ask for anything, you have to fill your begging bowl with your own blood i.e., undergo pain and suffering before you ask. If you want to know what the reward for namaaz/prayer is, let every flower bloom before you even cleanse yourself for namaaz i.e., urdu teaches us that the happiness and well being of humans is more important than prayer.
7
ham say dekha na gaya bujhtay charaaGhoN1 ka dhuaaN
ham nahiN chaahtay duniya meN kahiiN tak bhi zavaal2
ham nay toofaanoN3 ko aavaaz laga kar roka
ahl-e-urdu4 ki koi DhoonD kay laa’e to misaal5
1.lamps 2.downfall, suffering 3.storms 4.people of urdu, urdu poets 5.example
This alludes to the strong tradition in urdu poetry to speak up for those who are suffering and have been suppressed. We (urdu poets) could not stand by and see smoke rising from lamps that have been extinguished. We don’t want anyone to suffer. We have stopped storms with our voice/cry/words/verse. Show me another example similar to what urdu poets have done.
8
shaam1 say taa-ba-sahr2 lauh3 o qalam4 kay ho kar
ham nay urdu ki hifaazat5 meN guzaari6 hasti7
ek tahziib8 hai tahziib-e mukammal9 urdu
is kay saa’e10 meN ba-har-haal11 saNvaari12 hasti
1.evening 2.until dawn 3.paper 4.pen 5.protect 6.spent 7.life 8.culture 9.complete, perfect 10.shade, protection 11.under all conditions 12.embellished
All night long, from evening until dawn, we have dedicated ourselves to paper and pen, spending our life in the protection of urdu. It is not just a language, urdu is an expansive culture. Even under adversities, we have embellished our lives in the shade of urdu.
9
koii bhi bazm1 ho, nagar2 ho parvaaz3
ham jahaaN rahtay haiN shaa’er ki tarah rahtay haiN
kaarvaaN hind ki qismat ka hai soo4-e manzil5
ham se hindu abhi urdu meN Ghazal kahtay haiN
1.gathering 2.town, region 3.pen-name of the poet 4.towards 5.destination
Be it any gathering in any region of the country, O parvaaz, wherever we live, we live like poets (in defiance and protest against oppression). The caravan of hindostan is headed towards its goal, because even now some hindus like us compose/recite Ghazal in urdu.
10
bazm-dar-bazm1 huay sh’er2 o suKhan3 kay charchay4
koochay-koochay5 meN mahaktay6 haiN isi fun7 ke gulaab
saada-lauhi8 ke sabab9 sarf10 huay mehnat kay
hum se maaNga nah gaya apne pasiinay ka hisaab11
1.every gathering 2.couplets 3.verse, recitation 4.fame, appreciation 5.every street 6.redolent 7.skill, talent 8.simple mindedness 9.because of 10.spent, used 11.reckoning, compensation
In every gathering there is appreciation of our verse and recitation. Every street is redolent with the roses of this skill (of poetry). Because of our simple-mindedness we used up all our hard work. We could not bring ourselves to demand compensation for the sweat of our labour.
11
jab bhi zulmaat1 ki chaadar meN vatan lapTa hai
tab ujaalay2 bhi hamaaray hi qalam3 kartay haiN
apni taufiiq4 hi aisi hai keh aksar5 ham log
har sitam6 sah7 kay bhi guftaar8-e karam9 kartay haiN
1.darkness 2.light 3.pen 4.nature, ability 5.often 6.cruelty, oppression 7.bear, tolerate 8.talk 9.kindness
Whenever the homeland has been envolvoped in a sheet of darkness, it is our pen that has created light. It is in our nature that we often, bear/undergo oppression and still talk gently.
