For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
فطرت مفلس کی نظر میں – معین احسن جذبیؔ
۱
فطرت کے پجاری کچھ تو بتا، کیا حُسن ہے اِن گلزاروں میں
ہے کونسی رعنائی آخر، اِن پھولوں میں اِن خاروں میں
وہ خواہ سلگتے ہوں شب بھر، وہ خواہ چمکتے ہوں شب بھر
میں نے بھی تو دیکھا ہے اکژ، کیا بات نئی ہے تاروں میں
۲
اِس چاند کی ٹھنڈی کرنوں سے، مجھ کو تو سکوں ہوتا ہی نہیں
مجھ کو تو جنوں ہوتا ہی نہیں، جب پھرتا ہوں گلزاروں میں
یہ چپ چپ نرگس کی کلیاں، کیا جانے کیسی کلیاں ہیں
جو کھلتی ہیں جو ہنستی ہیں، اور پھر بھی ہیں بیماروں میں
۳
یہ لال شفق، یہ لالہ و گل، اک چنگاری بھی جن میں نہیں
شعلے بھی نہیں، گرمی بھی نہیں، ہیں تیرے آتش زاروں میں
اُس وقت کہاں تو ہوتا ہے، جب موسمِ گرما کا سورج
دوزخ کی تپش بھر دیتا ہے، دریاوں میں کہساروں میں
۴
جاڑے کی بھیانک راتوں میں، وہ سرد ہواوں کی تیزی
ہاں وہ تیزی وہ بے مہری، جو ہوتی ہے تلواروں میں
دریا کے تلاتم کا منظر، ہاں تجھ کو مبارک ہو لیکن
اک ٹوٹی پھوٹی کشتی بھی، چکراتی ہے منجدھاروں میں
۵
کوئیل کے رسیلے گیت سنے، لیکن یہ کبھی سوچا تو نے
ہیں اُلجھے ہوے نغمے کتنے، اک ساز کے ٹوٹے تاروں میں
بادل کی گرج، بجلی کی چمک، بارش میں وہ تیزی تیروں کی
میں ٹھٹھرا سمٹا سڑکوں پر، تو جام بلب میخواروں میں
۶
رکّھا ہے بھلا کیا اِن کے سوا، اِن راحتِ جاں مہ پاروں میں
اک روٹی کا ٹکڑا جو کہیں، ِمل جائے مجھے بازاروں میں
جب جیب میں پیسے بجتے ہیں، جب پیٹ میں روٹی ہوتی ہے
اُس وقت یہ ذرّہ ہیرا ہے، اُس وقت یہ شبنم موتی ہے
फ़ित्रत मुफ़लिस की नज़र में – मोईन एहसन जज़्बी
१
फ़ित्रत के पुजारी कुछ तो बता, क्या हुस्न है इन गुल्ज़ारों में
है कौन सी रानाई आख़िर, इन फूलों में, इन ख़ारों में
वो ख़्वाह सुलगते हों शब् भर, वो ख़्वाह चमक्ते हों शब भर
मैं ने भी तो देखे हैं अक्सर, क्या बात नई है तारों में
२
इस चाँद की ठंडी किरनों से, मुझ को तो सुकूं होता ही नहीं
मुझ को तो जुनूं होता ही नहीं, जब फिरता हूँ गुल्ज़ारों में
ये चुप चुप नर्गिस की कलियाँ, क्या जाने कैसी कलियाँ हैं
जो खिलती हैं, जो हंसती हैं, और फिर भी हैं बीमारों में
३
ये लाल शफ़क़, ये लाला ओ गुल, एक चिंगारी भी जिन में नहीं
शोले भी नहीं, गर्मी भी नहीं, हैं तेरे आतिश ज़ारों में
उस वक़्त कहाँ तू होता है, जब मोसम ए गरमा का सूरज
दोज़ख़ की तपिश भर देता है, दरयाओं में, कोहसारों में
४
जाढे की भयानक रातों में, वो सर्द हवाओं की तेज़ी
हाँ वो तेज़ी, वो बे महरी, जो होती है तलवारों में
दरया के तलातुम का मंज़र, हाँ तुझ को मुबारक हो लैकिन
एक टूटी फूटी किश्ती भी, चक्राती है मंज्धारों में
५
कोएल के रसीले गीत सुने, लैकिन ये कभी सोचा तू ने
हैं उलझे हुए नग़मे कितने, एक साज़ के टूटे तारों में
बादल की गरज, बिजली की चमक, बारिश में वो तेज़ी तीरों की
मैं ठिठरा सिमटा सड़कों पर, तू जाम बलब मै ख़्वारों में
६
रक्खा है भला क्या इन के सिवा, इन राहत-ए जां माह पारों में
एक रोटी का टुकड़ा जो कहीं, मिल जाए मुझे बाज़ारों में
जब जेब में पैसे बजते हैं, जब पेट में रोटी होती है
उस वक़्त ये ज़र्रा हीरा है, उस वक़्त ये शबनम मोती है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. moin ehsan jazbi (1912-2005) born in aazamgaRh and educated, taught, and lived in aligaRh. Member of the Progressive Writers’ Association. He worked as an assistant editor of ‘aajkal’ of which josh malihabadi was also the chief editor. I am not sure if they overlapped but he was close to majaz, faani, sardar jafri and sibt-e hasan. He did his MA from aligaRh and later joined the faculty teaching there until his retirement. He also completed his PhD while teaching and published several collections of poetry. Perhaps there is an invitation to poets to turn their attention to real world problems of hunger and want and away from fancy classincal poetry, in line with the call of Progressive Writers’ Association.
1
fitrat1 ke pujaari kuchh to bata, kya husn hai in gulzaroN2 meN
hai kaun si ra’nai3 aaKhir, in phooloN meN, in KharoN4 meN
vo Khwaah5 sulagte6 hoN shab bhar, vo Khwaah chamakte hoN shab bhar
maiN ne bhi to dekhe haiN aksar7, kya baat nayi hai taaroN meN 1.nature, beauty 2.garden 3.grandeur 4.thorns 5.perhaps 6.glow 7.often
jazbi questions the environmentalist, the lover of nature and invites him to think of those exposed to the elements without food or shelter. O, lover of nature tell me, what beauty is there in these gardens. What kind of glory is in flowers and thorns? Perhaps they glow and twinkle all night long, I too often see them, tell me what is new in these stars.
2
is chaand ki ThanDi kirnoN se, mujh ko to sukooN8 hota hi nahiN
mujh ko to junooN9 hota hi nahiN, jab phirta huN gulzaroN meN
ye chup chup10 nargis11 ki kaliyaN, kya jane kaisi kaliyaN haiN
jo khilti haiN, jo haNsti haiN, aur phir bhi haiN bimaroN12 meN 8.satisfaction, pleasure 9.passion 10.here and there 11.lily (flowers) 12.sick (unhappy, sad, helpless)
The cool rays of moon don’t give me any pleasure. I don’t get overjoyed when I walk through gardens. These flower buds everywhere, what kind of buds are these that bloom, but are still the sad and unhappy.
3
ye laal shafaq1, ye lala o gul2, ek chingari bhi jin meN nahiN
sholay bhi nahiN, garmi bhi nahiN, haiN tere aatish zaaroN3 meN
us vaqt kahaN tu hota hai, jab mosam e garma4 ka suraj
dozaKh ki tapish5 bhar deta hai, daryaoN6 meN, kohsaaroN7 meN 1.twilight 2.tulip and rose 3.fire garden i.e.red flower garden 4.season of heat, summer 5.heat of hell 6.rivers 7.hills
This glowing twilight, these red flowers, there is no warming spark here. No warmth in your “gardens of fire” (red flowers). Jazbi describes gardens as “gardens of fire” using the colours of fire to mean colours of flowers. There is no warmth, no comfort in these colours for the “muflis” – the pauper. Where are you when the burning summer sun brings hellish heat even to river valleys and hills.
4
jaaRe ki bhayaanak raatoN meN, vo sard8 havaaoN ki tezi
haaN vo tezi9, vo be mahri10, jo hoti hai talvaaroN meN
darya ke talaatum11 ka manzar, haaN tujh ko mubarak ho laikin
ek TooTi phooTi kishti bhi, chakraati hai manjdhaaroN12 meN 8.cold 9.sharpness 10.without kindness 11.tumult/storm 12.whirlpool
Those fearsome nights of winter, with sharp, cold winds, with the same sharpness and unkind cuts of swords. To you the pleasure of enjoying the storm from ashore. But look at that battered little boat caught in the whirlpool.
5
koel ke raseele geet sune, laikin ye kabhi socha tu ne
haiN uljhe huey naGhme1 kitne, ek saaz2 ke TooTe taaroN meN
badal ki garaj, bijli ki chamak, baarish meN vo tezi teeroN ki
maiN ThiThra3 simTa4 saRkon par, tu jaam balab5 mai KhwaaroN6 meN 1.songs 2.musical instrument 3.shivering 4.huddled 5.wine cup to the lips 6.revelers drinking wine
You hear the sweet song of the koel, but have you thought of tangled notes, broken strings and battered instruments, the thunder of clouds, flash of lightning, rain stinging like arrows. I shudder and shrink on the street, you a flask of wine to your lips in the company of fellow revelers.
6
rakkha hai bhala kya in ke siva7, in raahat-e jaaN8 mah-paaroN9 meN
ek roTi ka TukRa jo kahiiN, mil jaae mujhe baazaaroN meN
jab jeb meN paise bajte haiN, jab payT meN roTi hoti hai
us vaqt ye zarra10 heera hai, us vaqt ye shabnam11 moti hai 7.except for 8.pleasure of life 9.pleasantries (literally pieces of the moon) 10.particle (of dust) 11.dew drop
What comfort can I get from these pleasantries when I long to get a piece of bread from anywhere in the bazar. When coins jingle in the pocket, when the stomach is full only then does dust sparkle like diamonds and dew drops look like pearls.
moin ehsan jazbi (1912-2005) born in aazamgaRh and educated, taught, and lived in aligaRh. Member of the Progressive Writers’ Association. He worked as an assistant editor of ‘aajkal’ of which josh malihabadi was also the chief editor. I am not sure if they overlapped but he was close to majaz, faani, sardar jafri and sibt-e hasan. He did his MA from aligaRh and later joined the faculty teaching there until his retirement. He also completed his PhD while teaching and published several collections of poetry. Perhaps there is an invitation to poets to turn their attention to real world problems of hunger and want and away from fancy classincal poetry, in line with the call of Progressive Writers’ Association.
1
fitrat1 ke pujaari kuchh to bata, kya husn hai in gulzaroN2 meN
hai kaun si ra’nai3 aaKhir, in phooloN meN, in KharoN4 meN
vo Khwaah5 sulagte6 hoN shab bhar, vo Khwaah chamakte hoN shab bhar
maiN ne bhi to dekhe haiN aksar7, kya baat nayi hai taaroN meN
1.nature, beauty 2.garden 3.grandeur 4.thorns 5.perhaps 6.glow 7.often
jazbi questions the environmentalist, the lover of nature and invites him to think of those exposed to the elements without food or shelter. O, lover of nature tell me, what beauty is there in these gardens. What kind of glory is in flowers and thorns? Perhaps they glow and twinkle all night long, I too often see them, tell me what is new in these stars.
2
is chaand ki ThanDi kirnoN se, mujh ko to sukooN8 hota hi nahiN
mujh ko to junooN9 hota hi nahiN, jab phirta huN gulzaroN meN
ye chup chup10 nargis11 ki kaliyaN, kya jane kaisi kaliyaN haiN
jo khilti haiN, jo haNsti haiN, aur phir bhi haiN bimaroN12 meN
8.satisfaction, pleasure 9.passion 10.here and there 11.lily (flowers) 12.sick (unhappy, sad, helpless)
The cool rays of moon don’t give me any pleasure. I don’t get overjoyed when I walk through gardens. These flower buds everywhere, what kind of buds are these that bloom, but are still the sad and unhappy.
3
ye laal shafaq1, ye lala o gul2, ek chingari bhi jin meN nahiN
sholay bhi nahiN, garmi bhi nahiN, haiN tere aatish zaaroN3 meN
us vaqt kahaN tu hota hai, jab mosam e garma4 ka suraj
dozaKh ki tapish5 bhar deta hai, daryaoN6 meN, kohsaaroN7 meN
1.twilight 2.tulip and rose 3.fire garden i.e.red flower garden 4.season of heat, summer 5.heat of hell 6.rivers 7.hills
This glowing twilight, these red flowers, there is no warming spark here. No warmth in your “gardens of fire” (red flowers). Jazbi describes gardens as “gardens of fire” using the colours of fire to mean colours of flowers. There is no warmth, no comfort in these colours for the “muflis” – the pauper. Where are you when the burning summer sun brings hellish heat even to river valleys and hills.
4
jaaRe ki bhayaanak raatoN meN, vo sard8 havaaoN ki tezi
haaN vo tezi9, vo be mahri10, jo hoti hai talvaaroN meN
darya ke talaatum11 ka manzar, haaN tujh ko mubarak ho laikin
ek TooTi phooTi kishti bhi, chakraati hai manjdhaaroN12 meN
8.cold 9.sharpness 10.without kindness 11.tumult/storm 12.whirlpool
Those fearsome nights of winter, with sharp, cold winds, with the same sharpness and unkind cuts of swords. To you the pleasure of enjoying the storm from ashore. But look at that battered little boat caught in the whirlpool.
5
koel ke raseele geet sune, laikin ye kabhi socha tu ne
haiN uljhe huey naGhme1 kitne, ek saaz2 ke TooTe taaroN meN
badal ki garaj, bijli ki chamak, baarish meN vo tezi teeroN ki
maiN ThiThra3 simTa4 saRkon par, tu jaam balab5 mai KhwaaroN6 meN
1.songs 2.musical instrument 3.shivering 4.huddled 5.wine cup to the lips 6.revelers drinking wine
You hear the sweet song of the koel, but have you thought of tangled notes, broken strings and battered instruments, the thunder of clouds, flash of lightning, rain stinging like arrows. I shudder and shrink on the street, you a flask of wine to your lips in the company of fellow revelers.
6
rakkha hai bhala kya in ke siva7, in raahat-e jaaN8 mah-paaroN9 meN
ek roTi ka TukRa jo kahiiN, mil jaae mujhe baazaaroN meN
jab jeb meN paise bajte haiN, jab payT meN roTi hoti hai
us vaqt ye zarra10 heera hai, us vaqt ye shabnam11 moti hai
7.except for 8.pleasure of life 9.pleasantries (literally pieces of the moon)
10.particle (of dust) 11.dew drop
What comfort can I get from these pleasantries when I long to get a piece of bread from anywhere in the bazar. When coins jingle in the pocket, when the stomach is full only then does dust sparkle like diamonds and dew drops look like pearls.
