For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
زندگی کی بات کرو ۔ مہر لال سونی ضیاؔ
۱
یہ بزمِ مے ہے یہاں بے خودی کی بات کرو
بنامِ لغزشِ پا، گم رہی کی بات کرو
۲
جلاؤ شمعِ تگ و دَو، مٹاؤ ظلمتِ شب
اجل کا نام نہ لو، زندگی کی بات کرو
۳
اُداس اُداس زمیں ہے، دھواں دھواں ہے فلک
کہا تھا کس نے مری بے کسی کی بات کرو
۴
پرائی آگ میں جلنا بھی کوئی جلنا ہے
لگی ہے آگ جو دل میں، اُسی کی بات کرو
۵
بہار آ تو گئی ہے خزاں بدوش سہی
بہا چکے بہت آنسو ہنسی کی بات کرو
۶
سحر کے چہرے پہ ڈالو نہ پردۂ ظلمت
ہے کیا ضرور کہ تم رات ہی کی بات کرو
۷
جو کم نظر ہے دکھائے چراغ سورج کو
ضیاؔ کے سامنے کیوں تیرگی کی بات کرو
ज़िंदगी की बात करो – महर लाल सोनी ज़िया
१
ये बज़्म-ए मय है यहाँ बे-ख़ुदी की बात करो
ब-नाम-ए लग़्ज़िश-ए पा, गुमरही की बात करो
२
जलाओ शम’अ-ए तग़-ओ-दौ, मिटाओ ज़ुल्मत-ए शब
अजल का नाम ना लो, ज़िंदगी की बात करो
३
उदास उदास ज़मीं है, धुआँ धुआँ है फ़लक
कहा था किस ने मेरी बे-कसी की बात करो
४
पराई आग में जलना भी कोई जलना है
लगी है आग जो दिल में, उसी की बात करो
५
बहार आ तो गई है ख़िज़ां ब-दोश सही
बहा चुके बहुत आँसू हंसी की बात करो
६
सहर के चेहरे पे डालो न पर्दा-ए ज़ुल्मत
है क्या ज़रूर के तुम रात ही की बात करो
७
जो कम नज़र है दिखाए चिराग़ सूरज को
ज़िया के सामने क्यूँ तेरगी की बात करो
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mahr lal soni zia (1913-1986), kapurthala, panjab. Even though he had no family tradition of urdu or shaa’eri, he fell in love with both at an early age and learnt at home from an ustaad. He got a BA and MA from Forman Christian College and served as student magazine editor. Worked at the Reserve Bank of India. He was a shaagird of seemab akbarabadi and has more than half a dozen collections to his credit. He started composing in 1930 with the first collection published in 1934. In addition to nazm, Ghazal and rubaaii, he published biographies and critiques of shu’ara. This Ghazal is linked to others with the same or very similar radeef ‘ki baat kareN’ on the Refrain Index page.
1
ye bazm1-e mai2 hai yahaaN beKhudi3 ki baat karo
ba-naam4-e laGhzish5-e paa6, gumrahi7 ki baat karo 1.gathering 2.wine 3.intoxication, forgetting self 4.in the name of 5.stumbling 6.step 7.waywardness, losing the way
This is a gathering of wine-drinking, talk of intoxication/trance here. The imagery of a gathering where wine is served symbolizes a space where one can be free from inhibitions and speak openly about deeper, perhaps more philosophical topics, hinted at by the mention of ‘intoxication’. In the name of stumbling steps; speak of losing your way. This couplet suggests discussing mistakes or missteps in life without directly naming them, encouraging reflection on moments of confusion or error that lead to a sense of being lost.
2
jalaao sham’a-e tag-o-dau1, miTaao zulmat2-e shab3
ajal4 ka naam na lo, zindagi ki baat karo 1.chase, pursuit, struggle 2.darkness 3.night 4.death
Light the candle of struggle; dispel the darkness of night. This line metaphorically urges the illumination of one’s struggles to overcome the darkness of ignorance or despair. Said maKhdoom …
ishq ke sho’le ko bhaRkaao ki kuchh raat kaTe
dil ke aNgaare ko dahkaao ki kuchh raat kaTe
and dwarka das sho’la …
shab-e-firaaq hai sham’a-e umiid le aao
koi charaaGh jalaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
3
udaas udaas zamiiN hai, dhuaaN dhuaaN hai falak1
kaha tha kis ne meri be-kasi2 ki baat karo 1.sky, heaven 2.helplessnes
The earth is melancholic, the sky is misty/foggy – suggesting a world that is gloomy and foggy, possibly reflecting a mood of desolation or contemplation. Who said to speak of my helplessness? This couplet questions the necessity or validity of discussing one’s vulnerability or helplessness, perhaps implying a reluctance to reveal such personal feelings, instead, in the tradition of progressive poets to write about the deprivation of the proletariat.
4
paraaii1 aag meN jalna bhi koi jalna hai
lagi hai aag jo dil meN, usi ki baat karo 1.that which belongs to others
What kind of burning is it to burn in someone else fire. Speak of the fire that is burning in the heart. This emphasizes the importance of addressing one’s internal struggles, one’s own aspirations and passion, suggesting that these are significant topics for consideration.
5
bahaar1 aa to gayi hai KhizaaN2 ba-dosh3 sahii
baha chuke bahut aaNsu haNsi ki baat karo 1.spring 2.autumn, dry season 3.carrying on the back/shoulder
Spring has arrived, even if carrying autumn with it. Even in times of joy or rejuvenation (spring), there may be elements of sadness or decline (autumn) around the corner. Enough tears have have been shed, speak of laughter/joy now.
6
sahar1 ke chehre pe Daalo na parda2-e zulmat3
hai kya zaroor4 ke tum raat hi ki baat karo 1.dawn 2.veil 3.darkness 4.necessary
Do not throw a veil of darkness on the face of dawn. Is it necessary to talk only of the night – suggesting that it is best to be positive and optimistic.
7
jo kam-nazar1 hai dikhaaye chiraaGh sooraj ko
zia2 ke saamne kyuN tiiragi3 ki baat karo 1.short-sighted 2.pen-name of the poet – also means light, brilliance 3.darkness
Holding a candle to the sun … an expression meaning doing something meaningless. The sun is already so bright, showing a small candle to it does not add anything. Thus, those who are shortsighted might light their candles in daylight. Why talk of darkness in front of zia – the poet or brilliance.
mahr lal soni zia (1913-1986), kapurthala, panjab. Even though he had no family tradition of urdu or shaa’eri, he fell in love with both at an early age and learnt at home from an ustaad. He got a BA and MA from Forman Christian College and served as student magazine editor. Worked at the Reserve Bank of India. He was a shaagird of seemab akbarabadi and has more than half a dozen collections to his credit. He started composing in 1930 with the first collection published in 1934. In addition to nazm, Ghazal and rubaaii, he published biographies and critiques of shu’ara. This Ghazal is linked to others with the same or very similar radeef ‘ki baat kareN’ on the Refrain Index page.
1
ye bazm1-e mai2 hai yahaaN beKhudi3 ki baat karo
ba-naam4-e laGhzish5-e paa6, gumrahi7 ki baat karo
1.gathering 2.wine 3.intoxication, forgetting self 4.in the name of 5.stumbling 6.step 7.waywardness, losing the way
This is a gathering of wine-drinking, talk of intoxication/trance here. The imagery of a gathering where wine is served symbolizes a space where one can be free from inhibitions and speak openly about deeper, perhaps more philosophical topics, hinted at by the mention of ‘intoxication’. In the name of stumbling steps; speak of losing your way. This couplet suggests discussing mistakes or missteps in life without directly naming them, encouraging reflection on moments of confusion or error that lead to a sense of being lost.
2
jalaao sham’a-e tag-o-dau1, miTaao zulmat2-e shab3
ajal4 ka naam na lo, zindagi ki baat karo
1.chase, pursuit, struggle 2.darkness 3.night 4.death
Light the candle of struggle; dispel the darkness of night. This line metaphorically urges the illumination of one’s struggles to overcome the darkness of ignorance or despair. Said maKhdoom …
ishq ke sho’le ko bhaRkaao ki kuchh raat kaTe
dil ke aNgaare ko dahkaao ki kuchh raat kaTe
and dwarka das sho’la …
shab-e-firaaq hai sham’a-e umiid le aao
koi charaaGh jalaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
3
udaas udaas zamiiN hai, dhuaaN dhuaaN hai falak1
kaha tha kis ne meri be-kasi2 ki baat karo
1.sky, heaven 2.helplessnes
The earth is melancholic, the sky is misty/foggy – suggesting a world that is gloomy and foggy, possibly reflecting a mood of desolation or contemplation. Who said to speak of my helplessness? This couplet questions the necessity or validity of discussing one’s vulnerability or helplessness, perhaps implying a reluctance to reveal such personal feelings, instead, in the tradition of progressive poets to write about the deprivation of the proletariat.
4
paraaii1 aag meN jalna bhi koi jalna hai
lagi hai aag jo dil meN, usi ki baat karo
1.that which belongs to others
What kind of burning is it to burn in someone else fire. Speak of the fire that is burning in the heart. This emphasizes the importance of addressing one’s internal struggles, one’s own aspirations and passion, suggesting that these are significant topics for consideration.
5
bahaar1 aa to gayi hai KhizaaN2 ba-dosh3 sahii
baha chuke bahut aaNsu haNsi ki baat karo
1.spring 2.autumn, dry season 3.carrying on the back/shoulder
Spring has arrived, even if carrying autumn with it. Even in times of joy or rejuvenation (spring), there may be elements of sadness or decline (autumn) around the corner. Enough tears have have been shed, speak of laughter/joy now.
6
sahar1 ke chehre pe Daalo na parda2-e zulmat3
hai kya zaroor4 ke tum raat hi ki baat karo
1.dawn 2.veil 3.darkness 4.necessary
Do not throw a veil of darkness on the face of dawn. Is it necessary to talk only of the night – suggesting that it is best to be positive and optimistic.
7
jo kam-nazar1 hai dikhaaye chiraaGh sooraj ko
zia2 ke saamne kyuN tiiragi3 ki baat karo
1.short-sighted 2.pen-name of the poet – also means light, brilliance 3.darkness
Holding a candle to the sun … an expression meaning doing something meaningless. The sun is already so bright, showing a small candle to it does not add anything. Thus, those who are shortsighted might light their candles in daylight. Why talk of darkness in front of zia – the poet or brilliance.
