For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
یومِ آزادی ۔ سید عاشق حسین سیمابؔ اکبرآبادی
۱
جدھر دیکھو اُدھر وِردِ زباں ہے یومِ آزادی
طرب افزائے ہر پیر و جواں ہے یومِ آزادی
مگر کب فی الحقیقت ضو فشاں ہے یومِ آزادی
نِرا دھوکا ہے لفظی اَرمُغاں ہے یومِ آزادی
فقط اک وہم ہے اور اک گماں ہے یومِ آزادی
کہاں ہے یومِ آزادی
۲
تمنّا یومِ آزادی اگر ہے ملک و مِلّت کی
تو کوشش سے بڑھاؤ اَکملیّت اپنی قوت کی
فقط باتیں نہیں ہیں آج ضامن اس ضرورت کی
ضرورت ہے کہ شمعیں ہوں فروزاں عزم و ہمت کی
غلامی کے اندھیرے میں نہاں ہے یومِ آزادی
کہاں ہے یومِ آزادی
۳
ابھی اک عمر ہے درکار گھر آباد ہونے کو
ابھی تو ہے اسیروں پر بہت بیداد ہونے کو
کوئی کتنا ہی فرضی شاد ہو لے شاد ہونے کو
مگر اب بھی زمانہ چاہیے آزاد ہونے کو
یہ مانا قسمت ہندوستاں ہے یومِ آزادی
کہاں ہے یومِ آزادی
۴
کہاں چھوڑی ابھی خوئے جبیں سائی غلامی نے
کہاں سمجھی ابھی اپنی گراں پائی غلامی نے
ابھی تو کی ہے آوازوں کی شِنوائی غلامی نے
ابھی تو نیند میں لی ہے اک انگڑائی غلامی نے
غلط سمجھے کہ صبح گلستاں ہے یومِ آزادی
کہاں ہے یومِ آزادی
۵
سرابِ نُور کو کیوں شمع سمجھے چشمِ پروانہ
نمودِ صبح کاذب پر نظارہ کیوں ہو دیوانہ
ابھی تمہید ہے اور وہ بھی یکرنگی سے بیگانہ
مکمل ہوتے ہوتے ہوگا آزادی کا افسانہ
ابھی تو اِک خیالی داستاں ہے یومِ آزادی
کہاں ہے یوم آزادی
यौम-ए आज़ादी – सय्यद आशेक़ हुसैन सीमाब अक्बराबादी
१
जिधर देखो उधर विर्द-ए जबां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
तरब अफ़्ज़ा-ए हर पीर ओ जवां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
मगर कब फ़ि’ल-हक़ीक़त ज़ौ-फ़शां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
निरा धोका है लफ़्ज़ी अर्मुग़ां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
फ़क़त एक वहम है और एक गुमां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
कहां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
२
तमन्ना यौम-ए आज़ादी अगर है मुल्क ओ मिल्लत की
तो कोशिश से बढ़ाओ अक्मलिय्यत अपनी क़ुव्वत की
फ़क़त बातें नहीं हैं आज ज़ामिन इस ज़रूरत की
ज़रूरत है के शम‘एं हों फ़रोज़ां अज़्म ओ हिम्मत की
ग़ुलामी के अंधेरे में नेहां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
कहां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
३
अभी एक उम्र है दरकार घर आबाद होने को
अभी तो है असीरों पर बहुत बेदाद होने को
कोई कितना ही फ़र्ज़ी शाद होले शाद होने को
मगर अब भी ज़माना चाहिए आज़ाद होने को
ये माना क़िस्मत-ए हिन्दोस्तां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
कहां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
४
कहां छोढी अभी ख़ू-ए जबीं-साई ग़ुलामी ने
कहां समझी अभी अपनी गरां-पाई ग़ुलामी ने
अभी तो की है आवाज़ों की शिन्वाई ग़ुलामी ने
अभी तो नींद में ली है एक अंगढाई ग़ुलामी ने
ग़लत समझे के सुब’ह-ए गुलिस्तां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
कहां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
५
सराब-ए नूर को क्यों शम‘अ समझे चश्म-ए परवाना
नुमूद-ए सुब’ह-ए काज़िब पर नज़ारा क्यों हो दीवाना
अभी तम्हीद है और वो भी यकरंगी से बेगाना
मुकम्मल होते होते होगा आज़ादी का अफ़्साना
अभी तो एक ख़्याली दास्तां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
कहां है यौम-ए आज़ादी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed aashiq husain seemab akbarabadi (1880-1951) was a scholar of farsi and arabi in addition to urdu. A progressive poet of secular outlook who wrote nazm of socialist themes as well odes to krishn and buddh. He also did a poetic urdu translation of the whole qur’aan. His secular credentials are impeccable. He along with his contemporary hasrat mohani, participated in the freedom struggle and composed a collection of devotional poems to krishn, which was published as a book called ‘krishn geet’. This nazm is dated 1930. Either it is very prescient of partition or it is a protest against settling for ‘home rule’ instead of demanding full independence. It is linked to ‘Independence-Partition’ on the Theme Index page.
1
jidhar dekho udhar vird1-e zabaaN hai yaum2-e aazaadi
tarab-afzaa3-e har piir4 o javaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
magar kab fi-al-haqeeqat5 zau-fashaaN6 hai yaum-e aazaadi
niraa7 dhoka hai lafzi8 armuGhaaN9 hai yaum-e aazaadi
faqat10 ek vahm11 hai aur ek gumaaN12 hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi 1.chant 2.day of 3.joy increasing 4.old 5.in reality 6.light spreading 7.pure, absolute 8.of words, insincere 9.gift 10.only, merely 11.suspicion 12.illusion
Wherever you look, you hear the chant of independence day. Old and young are happy. But in reality, is freedom shining? It is pure deception, a gift in name only. It is not real, only an illusion. Where is freedom.
2
tamannaa1 yaum2-e aazaadi agar3 hai mulk-o-millat4 ki
to koshish5 se baRhaao akmaliyyat6 apni quvvat7 ki
faqat8 baateN nahiN haiN aaj zaamin9 is zaroorat10 ki
zaroorat hai keh sham‘eN hoN farozaaN11 azm12 o himmat13 ki
Ghulaami ke andhere meN nehaaN14 hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi 1.desire, wish 2.day of 3.if 4.homeland and community 5.effort 6.completion, perfection 7.power 8.only 9.guarantor 10.need 11.lit up 12.resolve 13.courage 14.hidden
If your desire is freedom of the homeland, then with your effort, increase your power. Only words cannot guarantee to fill this need. What is needed is that we light up lamps of resolve and courage. Freedom is still hidden in the darkness of slavery. This is no freedom.
3
abhi ek umr1 hai darkaar2 ghar aabaad3 hone ko
abhi to hai asiiroN4 par bahut bedaad5 hone ko
koi kitna hi farzi6 shaad7 ho le shaad hone ko
magar8 ab bhi zamaana9 chaahiye aazaad hone ko
ye maana qismat-e hindostaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi 1.lifetime 2.required 3.prosper, flourish 4.prisoners 5.oppression 6.not real, display only 7.happy 8.but 9.long time, ages
We still need a lifetime for this homeland to flourish. There is still a lot of oppression in store for the captives/slaves/colonized. But even now ages are needed to gain real freedom. I agree that it is the destiny of hindostaan to be free, but where is the day of freedom.
4
kahaaN chhoRi abhi Khuu1-e jabiiN-saaii2 Ghulaami ne
kahaaN samjhi abhi apni giraaN-paaii3 Ghulaami ne
abhi to kii hai aavaazoN ki shinvaaii4 Ghulaami ne
abhi to neend meN li hai ek aNgRaai5 Ghulaami ne
Ghalat6 samjhe keh sub’h-e gulsitaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi 1.nature, habit 2.rubbing forehead at someone’s feet, prostrating 3.heaviness of feet, difficulty in moving forward 4.making heard 5.stretching/yawning
Has slavery given up its habit of prostrating to power. Has it understood why it is unable to march forward. We have only just now obtained a hearing for our voice/demand. We are mistaken if we think that this dawn in the homeland is the day of freedom. Where is freedom?
5
saraab1-e noor2 ko kyuN sham‘a samjhe chashm3-e parvaana4
numood5-e sub’h-e-kaazib6 par nazaara7 kyuN ho diivaana
abhi tamhiid8 hai aur voh bhi yakraNgi9 se begaana10
mukammal11 hote hote hoga aazaadi ka afsaana12
abhi to ek Khayaali13 daastaaN14 hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi 1.mirage, illusion 2.light 3.eyes 4.moth 5.emergence, rising 6.false dawn 7.vision, sight 8.introduction, preface, prediction 9.same colour/nature, communal harmony 10.unfamiliar 11.complete 12.imaginary, fiction 14.story, legend
The moth circles the flame attracted by light. But what we are seeing is ‘saraab-e noor’, the illusion of light. Thus, why should the moth/lover of freedom be fooled by the illusion of light/freedom. sub’h-e-kaazib-false dawn is the faint light before actual sunrise. It should not be mistaken for sunrise. Thus, why should we go mad (unnecessarily happy) at seeing the emergence of a false dawn. This only a prediction, and that too, devoid of harmony among ourselves. The story of freedom will be completely written gradually. So far, it is only a fictional legend. Where is freedom.
syed aashiq husain seemab akbarabadi (1880-1951) was a scholar of farsi and arabi in addition to urdu. A progressive poet of secular outlook who wrote nazm of socialist themes as well odes to krishn and buddh. He also did a poetic urdu translation of the whole qur’aan. His secular credentials are impeccable. He along with his contemporary hasrat mohani, participated in the freedom struggle and composed a collection of devotional poems to krishn, which was published as a book called ‘krishn geet’. This nazm is dated 1930. Either it is very prescient of partition or it is a protest against settling for ‘home rule’ instead of demanding full independence. It is linked to ‘Independence-Partition’ on the Theme Index page.
1
jidhar dekho udhar vird1-e zabaaN hai yaum2-e aazaadi
tarab-afzaa3-e har piir4 o javaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
magar kab fi-al-haqeeqat5 zau-fashaaN6 hai yaum-e aazaadi
niraa7 dhoka hai lafzi8 armuGhaaN9 hai yaum-e aazaadi
faqat10 ek vahm11 hai aur ek gumaaN12 hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
1.chant 2.day of 3.joy increasing 4.old 5.in reality 6.light spreading 7.pure, absolute 8.of words, insincere 9.gift 10.only, merely 11.suspicion 12.illusion
Wherever you look, you hear the chant of independence day. Old and young are happy. But in reality, is freedom shining? It is pure deception, a gift in name only. It is not real, only an illusion. Where is freedom.
2
tamannaa1 yaum2-e aazaadi agar3 hai mulk-o-millat4 ki
to koshish5 se baRhaao akmaliyyat6 apni quvvat7 ki
faqat8 baateN nahiN haiN aaj zaamin9 is zaroorat10 ki
zaroorat hai keh sham‘eN hoN farozaaN11 azm12 o himmat13 ki
Ghulaami ke andhere meN nehaaN14 hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
1.desire, wish 2.day of 3.if 4.homeland and community 5.effort 6.completion, perfection 7.power 8.only 9.guarantor 10.need 11.lit up 12.resolve 13.courage 14.hidden
If your desire is freedom of the homeland, then with your effort, increase your power. Only words cannot guarantee to fill this need. What is needed is that we light up lamps of resolve and courage. Freedom is still hidden in the darkness of slavery. This is no freedom.
3
abhi ek umr1 hai darkaar2 ghar aabaad3 hone ko
abhi to hai asiiroN4 par bahut bedaad5 hone ko
koi kitna hi farzi6 shaad7 ho le shaad hone ko
magar8 ab bhi zamaana9 chaahiye aazaad hone ko
ye maana qismat-e hindostaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
1.lifetime 2.required 3.prosper, flourish 4.prisoners 5.oppression 6.not real, display only 7.happy 8.but 9.long time, ages
We still need a lifetime for this homeland to flourish. There is still a lot of oppression in store for the captives/slaves/colonized. But even now ages are needed to gain real freedom. I agree that it is the destiny of hindostaan to be free, but where is the day of freedom.
4
kahaaN chhoRi abhi Khuu1-e jabiiN-saaii2 Ghulaami ne
kahaaN samjhi abhi apni giraaN-paaii3 Ghulaami ne
abhi to kii hai aavaazoN ki shinvaaii4 Ghulaami ne
abhi to neend meN li hai ek aNgRaai5 Ghulaami ne
Ghalat6 samjhe keh sub’h-e gulsitaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
1.nature, habit 2.rubbing forehead at someone’s feet, prostrating 3.heaviness of feet, difficulty in moving forward 4.making heard 5.stretching/yawning
Has slavery given up its habit of prostrating to power. Has it understood why it is unable to march forward. We have only just now obtained a hearing for our voice/demand. We are mistaken if we think that this dawn in the homeland is the day of freedom. Where is freedom?
5
saraab1-e noor2 ko kyuN sham‘a samjhe chashm3-e parvaana4
numood5-e sub’h-e-kaazib6 par nazaara7 kyuN ho diivaana
abhi tamhiid8 hai aur voh bhi yakraNgi9 se begaana10
mukammal11 hote hote hoga aazaadi ka afsaana12
abhi to ek Khayaali13 daastaaN14 hai yaum-e aazaadi
kahaaN hai yaum-e aazaadi
1.mirage, illusion 2.light 3.eyes 4.moth 5.emergence, rising 6.false dawn 7.vision, sight 8.introduction, preface, prediction 9.same colour/nature, communal harmony 10.unfamiliar 11.complete 12.imaginary, fiction 14.story, legend
The moth circles the flame attracted by light. But what we are seeing is ‘saraab-e noor’, the illusion of light. Thus, why should the moth/lover of freedom be fooled by the illusion of light/freedom. sub’h-e-kaazib-false dawn is the faint light before actual sunrise. It should not be mistaken for sunrise. Thus, why should we go mad (unnecessarily happy) at seeing the emergence of a false dawn. This only a prediction, and that too, devoid of harmony among ourselves. The story of freedom will be completely written gradually. So far, it is only a fictional legend. Where is freedom.
