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Recitation
ہندوستاں بنتا گیا ۔ رگھوپتی سہائے فراقؔ گورکھپوری
۱
زیر و بم سے سازِ خلقت کے جہاں بنتا گیا
یہ زمیں بنتی گئی یہ آسماں بنتا گیا
۲
داستانِ جَور بے حد خون سے لکھتا رہا
قطرہ قطرہ اشکِ غم کا بے کراں بنتا گیا
۳
عشقِ تنہا سے ہوئیں آباد کتنی منزلیں
اک مسافر کارواں در کارواں بنتا گیا
۴
میں ترے جس غم کو اپنا جانتا تھا وہ بھی تو
زیبِ عنوانِ حدیثِ دیگراں بنتا گیا
۵
بات نکلے بات سے جیسے وہ تھا تیرا بیاں
نام تیرا داستاں در داستاں بنتا گیا
۶
ہم کو ہے معلوم سب رودادِ علم و فلسفہ
ہاں ہر ایمان و یقیں وہم و گماں بنتا گیا
۷
میں کتابِ دل میں اپنا حالِ غم لکھتا رہا
ہر ورق اک بابِ تاریخِ جہاں بنتا گیا
۸
بس اسی کی ترجمانی ہے مرے اشعار میں
جو سکوتِ راز رنگیں داستاں بنتا گیا
۹
میں نے سونپا تھا تجھے اک کام ساری عمر میں
وہ بگڑتا ہی گیا اے دل کہاں بنتا گیا
۱۰
وارداتِ دل کو دل ہی میں جگہ دیتے رہے
ہر حسابِ غم حسابِ دوستاں بنتا گیا
۱۱
میری گُھٹّی میں پڑی تھی ہو کے حل اردو زباں
جو بھی میں کہتا گیا حسنِ بیاں بنتا گیا
۱۲
وقت کے ہاتھوں یہاں کیا کیا خزانے لٹ گئے
ایک تیرا غم کہ گنجِ شائیگاں بنتا گیا
۱۳
سر زمینِ ہند پر اقوامِ عالم کے فراقؔ
قافلے بستے گئے ہندوستاں بنتا گیا
हिन्दोस्ताँ बनता गया – रघुपती सहाय फ़िराक़ गोरखपूरी
१
ज़ेर-ओ-बम से साज़-ए ख़िल्क़त के जहाँ बनता गया
ये ज़मीं बनती गई ये आसमाँ बनता गया
२
दास्तान-ए जौर-ए बेहद ख़ून से लिखता रहा
क़तरा क़तरा अश्क-ए ग़म का बे-कराँ बनता गया
३
इश्क़-ए तन्हा से हुईं आबाद कितनी मंज़िलें
एक मुसाफ़िर कारवाँ-दर-कारवाँ बनता गया
४
मैं तेरे जिस ग़म को अपना जानता था वो भी तो
ज़ेब-ए उनवान-ए हदीस-ए दीगराँ बनता गया
५
बात निकले बात से जैसे वो था तेरा बयाँ
नाम तेरा दास्ताँ-दर-दास्ताँ बनता गया
६
हम को है मालूम सब रूदाद-ए इल्म-ओ-फ़ल्सफ़ा
हाँ हर ईमान-ओ-यक़ीं वहम-ओ-गुमाँ बनता गया
७
मैं किताब-ए दिल में अपना हाल-ए ग़म लिखता रहा
हर वरक़ एक बाब-ए तारीख़-ए जहाँ बनता गया
८
बस उसी की तर्जुमानी है मेरे अश’आर में
जो सुकूत-ए राज़ रंगीं दास्ताँ बनता गया
९
मैं ने सौंपा था तुझे एक काम सारी उम्र में
वो बिगढता ही गया अए दिल कहाँ बनता गया
१०
वारदात-ए दिल को दिल ही में जगह देते रहे
हर हिसाब-ए ग़म हिसाब-ए दोस्ताँ बनता गया
११
मेरी घुट्टी में पढी थी हो के हल उर्दू ज़बाँ
जो भी मैं कहता गया हुस्न-ए बयाँ बनता गया
१२
वक़्त के हाथों यहाँ क्या क्या ख़ज़ाने लुट गए
एक तेरा ग़म के गंज-ए शाईगाँ बनता गया
१३
सर-ज़मीन-ए हिंद पर अक़्वाम-ए आलम के फ़िराक़
क़ाफ़ेले बसते गए हिन्दोस्ताँ बनता गया
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raghupati sahay firaq gorakhpuri (1896-1982) pre-eminent urdu shaa’er, scholar of faarsi and sanskrit. Was nominated to Indian Civil Service but chose to participate in the freedom movement. After independence he chose an academic career, teaching English at Allahabad University.
1
zer-o-bam1 se saaz2-e Khilqat3 ke jahaaN4 banta gaya
ye zamiN banti gaii ye aasmaaN banta gaya 1.ups and downs, highs and lows 2.music 3.creation 4.world
This world came into being with the highs and lows of the music of creation. That is how this earth and sky came to be created. Other than this literal meaning, he may be referring to the sanskrit word ‘Om’ sometimes characterized as the primordial musical note.
2
daastaan1-e jaur2-e behad3 Khoon se likhta raha
qatra-qatra4 ashk5-e Gham ka be-karaaN6 banta gaya 1.story 2.cruelty 3.without limits 4.drop by drop 5.tears 6.boundless, vast
Although not explicitly stated, the writer of the daastaan/story is the poet himself. He has been subjected to unlimited cruelty and has been writing this story in blood. Drop by drop of his tears of sorrow collected into an expanse.
3
ishq-e tanha1 se huiN aabaad2 kitni manzileN3
ek musaafir4 kaarvaaN-dar-kaarvaaN5 banta gaya 1.alone, single 2.prosper, established 3.destinations, goals 4.traveler, seeker 5.travelling/seeking groups
Perhaps by ishq-e tanha the poet means the intense desire of a person all by themselves. Thus, the power of the intense desire even of one person alone, can cause goals to gain followers … manzileN aabaad hona. One seeker generates caravan upon caravan of seekers.
4
maiN ter’e jis Gham1 ko apna jaanta tha vo bhi to
zeb2-e unvaan3-e hadiis4-e diigaraaN5 banta gaya 1.sorrow, pain, love 2.embellishment, decoration 3.title, theme 4.narrative 5.others
Who is ter’e – the beloved, the homeland, the language, shaa’eri, any other passion. The poet leaves it to us to decide. He knew the intensity of love/desire for that to be his own, but others saw it too and it became the embellishment of the theme of their narratives also.
5
baat nikle baat se jaise vo tha tera bayaaN1
naam tera daastaaN2-dar-daastaaN banta gaya 1.narrative, story 2.story, legend
Here tera most likely is the poet addressing himself. It is as if your narrative generates story after story; your (the poet’s) name/fame/reputation is becoming legendary.
6
ham ko hai m’aaloom sab roodaad1-e ilm2-o-falsafa3
haaN har imaan-o-yaqiN4 vahm-o-gumaaN5 banta gaya 1.story 2.knowledge 3.philosophy 4.faith and belief 5.doubt and speculation
There are two exactly opposite interpretations possible. The simple translation – we know the story of knowledge/reason and philosophy; every faith and belief turns into doubt and speculation. The two opposite interpretations are that (a)this may be a skeptic celebrating the rise of doubt and questioning and continuous learning or (b)this may be a mad/passionate lover bemoaning the loss of faith to knowledge.
7
maiN kitaab-e dil meN apna haal1-e Gham likhta raha
har varaq2 ek baab3-e taariiKh4-e jahaaN5 banta gaya 1.condition, state, story 2.page 3.chapter, theme 4.history, story 5.world
I kept writing the story of the pain of my heart in the book of my heart (memory). Every page turned out to be the story of the history of the world meaning that his story was that of every other lover-a universal story.
8
bas usi ki tarjumaani1 hai meray ash’aar2 meN
jo sukoot3-e raaz4 raNgiiN5 daastaaN6 banta gaya 1.interpretation, explanation 2.verse, couplets 3.silence, stillness 4.mystery 5.colourful 6.story, legend
There is a ‘silent’-unobtrusive, hidden mystery pervading the universe. The poet’s verse/poetry explains/interprets this mystery and weaves it into a colourful legend.
9
maiN ne sauNpa1 tha tujhe ek kaam saari umr2 meN
vo bigaRta3 hi gaya aye dil kahaaN banta4 gaya 1.entrusted, given 2.life 3.spoiled, getting worse 4.get reparied, improve
This is addressed to the heart – tujhe – being the heart. The poet/lover had entrusted just one task to the heart during his life and even that one task kept getting worse, when did it ever improve/get repaired. The poet does not make clear what task it was that the heart was entrusted with … was it (a)to win the beloved’s heart (b)to save itself and not fall in love (c)to steel itself and not feel pain … we are left to fill in the blanks.
10
vaardaat1-e dil ko dil hi meN jagah dete rahe
har hisaab2-e Gham3 hisaab-e-dostaaN4 banta gaya 1.events, happenings 2.accounting 3.pain 4.accounts of friends (of what they owe you)
This is a play on a frequently used saying – hisaab-e dostaaN dar dil – meaning, the account of things that friends owe you, the pain that they cause you should be kept in the heart, not spoken out explicitly. I kept making a place for the affairs of the heart in the heart, the account of my pain kept becoming the story of my friends i.e., most pain was caused by friends.
11
meri ghuTTi1 meN paRi thi ho ke hal2 urdu zabaaN
jo bhi maiN kahta gaya husn3-e bayaaN4 banta gaya 1.basic nature acquired at birth 2.dissolved 3.beauty, excellence, standard 4.verse
urdu language was dissolved into my basic nature at birth. What I said, became the standard for versification i.e., composing urdu verse comes naturally to me and I compose standard setting poetry.
12
vaqt ke haathoN yahaaN kya kya Khazaane1 luT ga’e
ek tera Gham keh ganj2-e shaa’egaaN3 banta gaya 1.treasures 2.treasure 3.highest quality, best
tera Gham – your love/pain – who is the you? – the beloved, language, poetry! We are left to choose. With time all treasures got looted/deteriorated/destroyed but it was the treasure your pain/love alone which remained the best, highest quality treasure. I venture to suggest that he is talking about his love for versification.
13
sar-zamiin1-e hind par aqvaam2-e aalam3 ke firaaq4
qaafile5 bast’e6 gaye hindostaaN banta7 gaya 1.homeland 2.communities, nationalities 3.world 4.pen-name, taKhallus 5.travelling parties, caravans 6.settle 7.getting made/modified
Many nationalities of the world kept migrating and settling down in hindustand, reshaping it as they came. This acknowledges and implicitly welcomes the diversity of cultures contributing to the colours of the hindustani culture.
raghupati sahay firaq gorakhpuri (1896-1982) pre-eminent urdu shaa’er, scholar of faarsi and sanskrit. Was nominated to Indian Civil Service but chose to participate in the freedom movement. After independence he chose an academic career, teaching English at Allahabad University.
1
zer-o-bam1 se saaz2-e Khilqat3 ke jahaaN4 banta gaya
ye zamiN banti gaii ye aasmaaN banta gaya
1.ups and downs, highs and lows 2.music 3.creation 4.world
This world came into being with the highs and lows of the music of creation. That is how this earth and sky came to be created. Other than this literal meaning, he may be referring to the sanskrit word ‘Om’ sometimes characterized as the primordial musical note.
2
daastaan1-e jaur2-e behad3 Khoon se likhta raha
qatra-qatra4 ashk5-e Gham ka be-karaaN6 banta gaya
1.story 2.cruelty 3.without limits 4.drop by drop 5.tears 6.boundless, vast
Although not explicitly stated, the writer of the daastaan/story is the poet himself. He has been subjected to unlimited cruelty and has been writing this story in blood. Drop by drop of his tears of sorrow collected into an expanse.
3
ishq-e tanha1 se huiN aabaad2 kitni manzileN3
ek musaafir4 kaarvaaN-dar-kaarvaaN5 banta gaya
1.alone, single 2.prosper, established 3.destinations, goals 4.traveler, seeker 5.travelling/seeking groups
Perhaps by ishq-e tanha the poet means the intense desire of a person all by themselves. Thus, the power of the intense desire even of one person alone, can cause goals to gain followers … manzileN aabaad hona. One seeker generates caravan upon caravan of seekers.
4
maiN ter’e jis Gham1 ko apna jaanta tha vo bhi to
zeb2-e unvaan3-e hadiis4-e diigaraaN5 banta gaya
1.sorrow, pain, love 2.embellishment, decoration 3.title, theme 4.narrative 5.others
Who is ter’e – the beloved, the homeland, the language, shaa’eri, any other passion. The poet leaves it to us to decide. He knew the intensity of love/desire for that to be his own, but others saw it too and it became the embellishment of the theme of their narratives also.
5
baat nikle baat se jaise vo tha tera bayaaN1
naam tera daastaaN2-dar-daastaaN banta gaya
1.narrative, story 2.story, legend
Here tera most likely is the poet addressing himself. It is as if your narrative generates story after story; your (the poet’s) name/fame/reputation is becoming legendary.
6
ham ko hai m’aaloom sab roodaad1-e ilm2-o-falsafa3
haaN har imaan-o-yaqiN4 vahm-o-gumaaN5 banta gaya
1.story 2.knowledge 3.philosophy 4.faith and belief 5.doubt and speculation
There are two exactly opposite interpretations possible. The simple translation – we know the story of knowledge/reason and philosophy; every faith and belief turns into doubt and speculation. The two opposite interpretations are that (a)this may be a skeptic celebrating the rise of doubt and questioning and continuous learning or (b)this may be a mad/passionate lover bemoaning the loss of faith to knowledge.
7
maiN kitaab-e dil meN apna haal1-e Gham likhta raha
har varaq2 ek baab3-e taariiKh4-e jahaaN5 banta gaya
1.condition, state, story 2.page 3.chapter, theme 4.history, story 5.world
I kept writing the story of the pain of my heart in the book of my heart (memory). Every page turned out to be the story of the history of the world meaning that his story was that of every other lover-a universal story.
8
bas usi ki tarjumaani1 hai meray ash’aar2 meN
jo sukoot3-e raaz4 raNgiiN5 daastaaN6 banta gaya
1.interpretation, explanation 2.verse, couplets 3.silence, stillness 4.mystery 5.colourful 6.story, legend
There is a ‘silent’-unobtrusive, hidden mystery pervading the universe. The poet’s verse/poetry explains/interprets this mystery and weaves it into a colourful legend.
9
maiN ne sauNpa1 tha tujhe ek kaam saari umr2 meN
vo bigaRta3 hi gaya aye dil kahaaN banta4 gaya
1.entrusted, given 2.life 3.spoiled, getting worse 4.get reparied, improve
This is addressed to the heart – tujhe – being the heart. The poet/lover had entrusted just one task to the heart during his life and even that one task kept getting worse, when did it ever improve/get repaired. The poet does not make clear what task it was that the heart was entrusted with … was it (a)to win the beloved’s heart (b)to save itself and not fall in love (c)to steel itself and not feel pain … we are left to fill in the blanks.
10
vaardaat1-e dil ko dil hi meN jagah dete rahe
har hisaab2-e Gham3 hisaab-e-dostaaN4 banta gaya
1.events, happenings 2.accounting 3.pain 4.accounts of friends (of what they owe you)
This is a play on a frequently used saying – hisaab-e dostaaN dar dil – meaning, the account of things that friends owe you, the pain that they cause you should be kept in the heart, not spoken out explicitly. I kept making a place for the affairs of the heart in the heart, the account of my pain kept becoming the story of my friends i.e., most pain was caused by friends.
11
meri ghuTTi1 meN paRi thi ho ke hal2 urdu zabaaN
jo bhi maiN kahta gaya husn3-e bayaaN4 banta gaya
1.basic nature acquired at birth 2.dissolved 3.beauty, excellence, standard 4.verse
urdu language was dissolved into my basic nature at birth. What I said, became the standard for versification i.e., composing urdu verse comes naturally to me and I compose standard setting poetry.
12
vaqt ke haathoN yahaaN kya kya Khazaane1 luT ga’e
ek tera Gham keh ganj2-e shaa’egaaN3 banta gaya
1.treasures 2.treasure 3.highest quality, best
tera Gham – your love/pain – who is the you? – the beloved, language, poetry! We are left to choose. With time all treasures got looted/deteriorated/destroyed but it was the treasure your pain/love alone which remained the best, highest quality treasure. I venture to suggest that he is talking about his love for versification.
13
sar-zamiin1-e hind par aqvaam2-e aalam3 ke firaaq4
qaafile5 bast’e6 gaye hindostaaN banta7 gaya
1.homeland 2.communities, nationalities 3.world 4.pen-name, taKhallus 5.travelling parties, caravans 6.settle 7.getting made/modified
Many nationalities of the world kept migrating and settling down in hindustand, reshaping it as they came. This acknowledges and implicitly welcomes the diversity of cultures contributing to the colours of the hindustani culture.
