Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ajay paanDe sahaab (1969-living) ICS officer, commisioner GST, jhaarkhanD. Grew up in surroundings completely devoid of urdu. Read sahir, firaq and faiz in devanagiri and fell in love with urdu. Taught himself reading and writing urdu script and started composing at age of 16-17. He writes …
seekha isi se dard ye hindostaan ka
bachpan se mujh pe qarz hai urdu zabaan ka
This Ghazal is modeled after saahir ludhianavi’s ‘daar tak nahiiN pahuNcha’, keeping in mind that saahir was a major influence in the development of ajay sahaab’s love of urdu.
1
fan¹ jo me’yaar² tak nahiiN pahuNcha
apne shahkaar³ tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.art 2.standard 3.masterpiece, zenith, peak
Art that does not reach a high standard, cannot reach its zenith. ajay sahaab is more focussed on the excellence of the art (of poetry) but saahir focusses on reaching the indigent, the downtrodden and the ignored …
fan jo naadaar tak nahiiN pahuNcha
abhii me’yaar tak nahiiN pahuNcha
2
pagRii¹ pairoN meN kaise maiN rakhtaa
haath dastaar² tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.turban 2.celebratory head gear
Placing the pagRi at someone’s feet is a sign of abject submission to them. In some parts of India the father of the bride is expected to do this to the father of the groom. Here the poet/protagonist seems to show some resistance to this abhorent practice. How could I have placed my pagRi at their feet; my hand could never reach for my proud cap.
3
koii in’aam¹ koii bhii tamGha²
sachche³ haqdaar⁴ tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.prize 2.medal of honour 3.truthful i.e., genuinely deserving 4.claimant, rightful claim
This is a reflection on the honours and recognition granted by (perhaps) the government or associations. No prize or medal has ever been awarded to the truly deserving claimant.
4
aisaa har shaKhs¹ hai masiihaa² ab
jo kabhii daar³ tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.person 2.healer 3.gallows
Perhaps there is a hint of the healing that Jesus Christ is reported to have brought upon the sick. He did go to the gallows … the cross. This symbolism is used to suggest that to become a true healer of people, the healer has to sacrifice his own needs. Said saahir ludhianavi …
vo masiihaa-nafas nahiiN jis kaa
silsila-daar tak nahiiN pahuNcha
This she’r conveys the same thought. Nowadays that person claims to be a masiiha who has never reached the gallows i.e., never sacrificed anything.
5
har Khudaa jannatoN¹ meN hai mahduud²
koii sansaar³ tak nahiiN pahuNcha     1.heavens 2.limited, restricted, confined, circumscribed 3.world
Every god has remained confined to their heaven. None has come down to earth among the people who need them most.
6
chaaragar¹ sab ke paas jaataa thaa
sirf² biimaar³ tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.healer 2.only 3.sick
The healer goes to everyone. Only, he never visits the sick.
7
dost ban kar daGhaa¹ na de jo vo
apne kirdaar² tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.decieve 2.character
The one who befriends and has not yet deceived, has not fully shown his character.
8
mujh ko alqaab¹ kyuN mileN logo
maiN to darbaar tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.titles
O people, why would I be given any titles; I have never gone to the royal palace/court. The implication is that those who flatter and faun the powerful get titles. The poet has never done that.
9
aisaa jhagRaa bataa do mujh ko jo
ghar meN diivaar¹ tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.symbolically used to mean insurmountable obstacle, impasse
Show may any domestic conflict that does not reach an irresolvable impasse.
10
kis ne bechaa nahiiN suKhan¹ apnaa
kaun baazaar tak nahiiN pahuNcha    1.poetry
ajay sahaab has in other places too expressed the thought that writing poetry for monetary gain is not real art; it is commercialism. This is a reflection on poets around him that he sees engage in commercialism. Who has not sold his verse. Who is it who has not reached the bazaar (to be sold).