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Recitation
seema sahgal
ali sardar jafri
میرا سفر ۔ علی سردار جعفری
ہمچو سبزہ بارہا روئیدہ ایم ۔ رومیؔ
پھر اک دن ایسا آئے گا
آنکھوں کے دئے بجھ جائیں گے
ہاتھوں کے کنول کمھلائیں گے
اور برگِ زباں سے نطق و صدا
کی ہر تتلی اُڑ جائے گی
اک کالے سمندر کی تہ میں
کلیوں کی طرح سے کِھلتی ہوی
پھولوں کی طرح سے ہنستی ہوی
ساری شکلیں کھو جائیں گی
خون کی گردش، دل کی دھڑکن
سب رنگینیاں سو جائیں گی
اور نیلی فضا کی مخمل پر
ہنستی ہوئی یہ ہیرے کی کنی
یہ میری جنّت یہ میری زمیں
اِس کی صبحیں اِس کی شامیں
بے جانے ہوے بے سمجھے ہوے
اک مشتِ غبارِ اِنساں پر
شبنم کی طرح رو جائیں گی
ہر چیز بھلا دی جائے گی
یادوں کے حسیں بت خانے سے
ہر چیز اُٹھا دی جائے گی
پھر کوئی نہیں یہ پو چھے گا
سردار کہاں ہے محفل میں
لیکن میں یہاں پھر آوں گا
بچوں کے دہن سے بولوں گا
چڑیوں کی زباں سے گاؤں گا
جب بیج ہنسیں گے دھرتی میں
اور کونپل اپنی اُنگلی سے
مٹیّ کی تحوں کو چھیڑ ے گی
میں پتیّ پتیّ کلی کلی
اپنی آنکھیں پھر کھولوں گا
سر سبز ہتھیلی پر لیکر
شبنم کے قطرے تولوں گا
میں رنگِ حِنا آہنگِ غزل
اندازِ سخن بن جاؤنگا
رُخسارِ عروسِ نو کی طرح
ہر آنچل سے چھن جاؤنگا
جاڑوں کی ہوائیں دامن میں
جب فصلِ خِضاں کو لائیں گی
رہرو کے جواں قدموں کے تلے
سوکھے ہوے پتوں سے میرے
ہنسنے کی صدائیں آئیں گی
دھرتی کی سنہری سب ندیاں
آکاش کی نیلی سب جھیلیں
ہستی سے میری بھر جائیں گی
اور سارا زمانہ دیکھے گا
ہر قصہّ میرا افسانہ ہے
ہر عاشق ہے سردار یہاں
ہر معشوقہ سلطانہ ہے
میں ایک گریزاں لمحہ ہوں
ایّام کے افسوں خانے میں
میں ایک تڑپتا قطرہ ہوں
مصروفِ سفر جو رہتا ہے
ماضی کی صراحی کے دِل سے
مستقبل کے پیمانہ میں
میں سوتا ہوں اور جاگتا ہوں
اور جاگ کے پھر سو جاتا ہوں
صدیوں کا پرانہ کھیل ہوں میں
میں مر کے امر ہو جاتا ہوں
मेरा सफ़र – अली सरदार जाफ़री
”हम-चु सब्ज़ा बार-हा रोईदा-ईम”
(रूमी)
फिर एक दिन ऐसा आएगा
आँखों के दिए बुझ जाएंगे
हाथों के कँवल कुम्हलाएँगे
और बर्ग-ए-ज़बां से नुत्क़-ओ-सदा
की हर तितली उड़ जाएगी
एक काले समंदर की तह में
कलियौं की तरह से खिलती हुई
फूलों की तरह से हंसती हुई
सारी शक्लें खो जाएंगी
ख़ून की गर्दिश दिल की धड़कन
सब रंगीनियाँ सो जाएंगी
और नीली फ़िज़ा की मख़मल पर
हंसती हुई ये हीरे की कनी
ये मेरी जन्नत मेरी ज़मीं
इस की सुबहें इस की शामें
बे जाने हुए बे समझे हुए
एक मुश्त ए ग़ुबार-ए-इन्सां पर
शबनम की तरह रो जाएंगी
हर चीज़ भुला दी जाएगी
यादों के हसीं बुत ख़ाने से
हर चीज़ उठा दी जाएगी
फिर कोई नहीं ये पूछेगा
‘सरदार’ कहाँ है महफ़िल में
लेकिन मैं यहाँ फिर आऊंगा
बच्चों के दहन से बोलूँगा
चिड़ियों की ज़बां से गाऊंगा
जब बीज हँसेंगे धरती में
और कोंपल अपनी ऊँगली से
मिट्टि की तहों को छेड़ेगी
मैं पत्ती पत्ती कलि कलि
अपनी आँखें फिर खोलूँगा
सर सब्ज़ हथेली पर लेकर
शबनम के क़तरे तोलूँगा
मैं रंग-ए-हिना आहंग-ए-ग़ज़ल
अंदाज़-ए-सुख़न बन जाऊँगा
रुख़सार-ए-उरूस-ए-नौ की तरह
हर आँचल से छन जाऊँगा
जाड़ों की हवाएं दामन में
जब फ़स्ल-ए-ख़िज़ां को लाएंगी
रहरौ के जवां क़दमों के तले
सूखे हुए पत्तों से मेरे
हंसने की सदाएं आएंगी
धरती की सुनहरी सब नदियाँ
आकाश की नीली सब झीलें
हस्ती से मेरी भर जाएंगी
और सारा ज़माना देखेगा
हर क़िस्सा मेरा अफ़्साना है
हर आ’शिक है सरदार यहाँ
हर मा’शूक़ा सुल्ताना है
मैं एक गुरेज़ाँ लम्हा हूँ
अय्याम के अफ़सूँ ख़ाने में
मैं एक तड़पता क़तरा हूँ
मसरूफ़-ए-सफ़र जो रहता है
माज़ी की सुराही के दिल से
मुस्तक़्बिल के पैमाने में
मैं सोता हूँ और जागता हूँ
और जाग के फिर सो जाता हूँ
सदियों का पुराना खेल हूँ मैं
मैं मर के अमर हो जाता हूँ
mera safar – ali sardar jafri
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. In a uniquely beautiful, happy way Ali Sardar Jafri is taking stock of his life and looking at his death … not with sorrow, not with longing but a happy observation that he is a link in a continuing chain … that he may die, but the chain will keep going.
ham-chu sabza baar-haa roiida-eem” – (ruumii) Like greenery, we too grow again and again
phir ek din aisa aayega
aaNkhoN ke diye bujh jaayeNge
haathoN ke kaNval1 kumhlaayeNge
aur barg-e-zabaaN2 se nutq-o-sadaa3
kii har titli4 uR jaayegi1. palms like lotus flowers 2. the tongue like a flower petal 3. voice and sound 4. butterfly
The day will come when the lamps of eyes will be extinguished. These lotus hands will wither away and from that petal-like tongue the butterfly of speech will fly away. Note that the loss of speech i.e. the ability to write and recite poetry is central to loss of life.
ek kaale samandar ki tah meN
kaliyoN ki tarah se khilti hui
phuuloN ki tarah se haNsti hui
saari shakleN kho jaayeNgi
Khoon ki gardish1 dil ki dhaRkan
sab rangiiniyaaN so jaayeNgi1. movement, circulation
In the depths of a dark sea all that have bloomed like young buds, all that have smiled like flowers, all faces will be drowned and lost. Throbbing veins and beating hearts, all their dance will stop and sleep.
aur neeli fiza1 ki maKhmal2 par
haNsti hui ye heere ki kani3
ye meri jannat meri zamiN
is ki subheN is ki shaameN
be jaane hue be samajhe hue4
ek musht e Ghubaar5 e insaaN par
shabnam ki tarah ro jaaeNgi1. breeze, ambience(used for the sky) 2. velvet –soft 3. small particle 4. samjhe without knowing, without willing 5. fistful of dust
And in the soft blue sky this cheerful small lustrous particle, this earth (which is) my heaven, its mornings and its evenings, with no awareness, without a will, will shed tears of dew drops on my remains, a mere fistful of dust.
har chiiz bhulaa di jaayegi
yaadoN ke haseeN butKhaane se
har chiiz uThaa di jaayegi
phir koi nahiN ye poochhega
‘sardar’ kahaaN hai mahfil meN
lekin maiN yahaaN phir aauNga
bachchoN ke dahan1 se boluNga
chiRiyoN ki zabaN se gaauNga1. mouth
Everything will be forgotten from the beautiful temple of memories. Everything will be cleared off and nobody will ask, where is “Sardar” in this assembly. But I will come back again. I will speak again from the mouths of children. I will sing again in the song of birds.
jab beej haNseNge1 dharti meN
aur koNpal2 apni uNgli se
miTTi ki tahoN3 ko chheRegi
maiN patti patti kali kali
apni aaNkheN phir kholuNga
sar sabz4 hatheli par lekar
shabnam ke qatre toluNga1. “seeds laughing” or seeds germinating, 2. tender shoot (roots) 3. layers 4. verdant, green
And when seeds smile and emerge as new life, and tender roots with their finger, probe the layers of this dust, I will return in every leaf and every flower and open my eyes again and in my verdant green palm weigh every drop of dew.
maiN rang-e-hina1 aahang2-e-Ghazal
andaaz-e-suKhan3 ban jaauNga
ruKhsaar4-e-uruus-e-nau5 ki tarah
har aaNchal6 se chhan jaauNga7
1. mehndi, henna 2. tune, rhythm 3. style of speech (poetry) 4. cheeks 5. new bride 6. thin veil 7. filter through
I will become the colour of henna, the melody of Ghazal. I will embody the style of poetry. Like the beauty of a bride I will filter through veils.
jaaRoN ki havaaeN daaman1 meN
jab fasl-e-KhizaaN2 ko laaeNgi
rahrau3 ke javaN qadmoN ke tale
suukhe hue pattoN se mere
haNsne ki sadaaeN4 aaeNgi1. apron, valley 2. season of autumn 3. traveler 4. sounds
And when cold wintry winds blow, to usher in the season of autumn, under the eager footfalls of every traveler treading on those fallen dried leaves will be heard the sounds of my laughter.
dharti ki sunahri sab nadiyaaN
aakaash ki neeli sab jhiileN
hasti1 se meri bhar jaaeNgi
aur saara zamana dekhega
har qissa mera afsana2 hai
har a’ashiq3 hai sardar yahaN
har ma’ashuqa4 sultana hai1. existence, person 2. legend 3. lover 4. beloved
The beautiful rivers of this earth, those lovely clouds in the sky will fill their existence with mine and the whole world will see that every story is my tale, that every lover is “Sardar” and every beloved “Sultana”.
maiN ek gurezaaN1 lamhaa hooN
ayyaam ke afsooN2 Khaane meN
maiN ek taRapta qatra hooN
masroof-e-safar3 jo rahta hai
maazi4 ki suraahi5 ke dil se
mustaqbil6 ke paimaane7 meN1. fleeting 2. enchantment 3. busy in traveling – constantly moving 4. past 5. future 6. flask 6. measure – used here for vision
I am a fleeting moment that in this enchanting flow of time is like a restless drop, constantly moving from the flask of yesterday into the vision of tomorrow.
maiN sotaa hooN aur jaagta hooN
aur jaag ke phir so jaata hooN
sadiyoN ka purana khel hooN maiN
maiN mar ke amar ho jaata hooNI sleep and I wake up. I go back to sleep again. I am the pattern of centuries. I am eternal even as I die.
mera safar – ali sardar jafri
In a uniquely beautiful, happy way Ali Sardar Jafri is taking stock of his life and looking at his death … not with sorrow, not with longing but a happy observation that he is a link in a continuing chain … that he may die, but the chain will keep going.
ham-chu sabza baar-haa roiida-eem – (ruumii)
Like greenery, we too grow again and again
phir ek din aisa aayega
aaNkhoN ke diye bujh jaayeNge
haathoN ke kaNval1 kumhlaayeNge
aur barg-e-zabaaN2 se nutq-o-sadaa3
kii har titli4 uR jaayegi
1.palms like lotus flowers 2.the tongue like a flower petal 3.voice and sound 4.butterfly
The day will come when the lamps of eyes will be extinguished. These lotus hands will wither away and from that petal-like tongue the butterfly of speech will fly away. Note that the loss of speech i.e. the ability to write and recite poetry is central to loss of life.
ek kaale samandar ki tah meN
kaliyoN ki tarah se khilti hui
phuuloN ki tarah se haNsti hui
saari shakleN kho jaayeNgi
Khoon ki gardish1 dil ki dhaRkan
sab rangiiniyaaN so jaayeNgi
1.movement, circulation
In the depths of a dark sea all that have bloomed like young buds, all that have smiled like flowers, all faces will be drowned and lost.
Throbbing veins and beating hearts, all their dance will stop and sleep.
aur neeli fiza1 ki maKhmal2 par
haNsti hui ye heere ki kani3
ye meri jannat meri zamiN
is ki subheN is ki shaameN
be jaane hue be samajhe hue4
ek musht e Ghubaar5 e insaaN par
shabnam ki tarah ro jaaeNgi
1.breeze, ambience(used for the sky) 2.velvet –soft 3.small particle 4.samjhe without knowing, without willing 5.fistful of dust
And in the soft blue sky this cheerful small lustrous particle, this earth (which is) my heaven, its mornings and its evenings, with no awareness, without a will, will shed tears of dew drops on my remains, a mere fistful of dust.
har chiiz bhulaa di jaayegi
yaadoN ke haseeN butKhaane se
har chiiz uThaa di jaayegi
phir koi nahiN ye poochhega
‘sardar’ kahaaN hai mahfil meN
lekin maiN yahaaN phir aauNga
bachchoN ke dahan1 se boluNga
chiRiyoN ki zabaN se gaauNga
1.mouth
Everything will be forgotten from the beautiful temple of memories. Everything will be cleared off and nobody will ask, where is “Sardar” in this assembly. But I will come back again. I will speak again from the mouths of children. I will sing again in the song of birds.
jab beej haNseNge1 dharti meN
aur koNpal2 apni uNgli se
miTTi ki tahoN3 ko chheRegi
maiN patti patti kali kali
apni aaNkheN phir kholuNga
sar sabz4 hatheli par lekar
shabnam ke qatre toluNga
1.“seeds laughing” or seeds germinating, 2.tender shoot (roots) 3.layers 4.verdant, green
And when seeds smile and emerge as new life, and tender roots with their finger, probe the layers of this dust, I will return in every leaf and every flower and open my eyes again and in my verdant green palm weigh every drop of dew.
maiN rang-e-hina1 aahang2-e-Ghazal
andaaz-e-suKhan3 ban jaauNga
ruKhsaar4-e-uruus-e-nau5 ki tarah
har aaNchal6 se chhan jaauNga7
1.mehndi, henna 2.tune, rhythm 3.style of speech (poetry) 4.cheeks 5.new bride 6.thin veil 7.filter through
I will become the colour of henna, the melody of Ghazal. I will embody the style of poetry. Like the beauty of a bride I will filter through veils.
jaaRoN ki havaaeN daaman1 meN
jab fasl-e-KhizaaN2 ko laaeNgi
rahrau3 ke javaN qadmoN ke tale
suukhe hue pattoN se mere
haNsne ki sadaaeN4 aaeNgi
1.apron, valley 2.season of autumn 3.traveler 4.sounds
And when cold wintry winds blow, to usher in the season of autumn, under the eager footfalls of every traveler treading on those fallen dried leaves will be heard the sounds of my laughter.
dharti ki sunahri sab nadiyaaN
aakaash ki neeli sab jhiileN
hasti1 se meri bhar jaaeNgi
aur saara zamana dekhega
har qissa mera afsana2 hai
har a’ashiq3 hai sardar yahaN
har ma’ashuqa4 sultana hai
1.existence, person 2.legend 3.lover 4.beloved
The beautiful rivers of this earth, those lovely clouds in the sky will fill their existence with mine and the whole world will see that every story is my tale, that every lover is “Sardar” and every beloved “Sultana”.
maiN ek gurezaaN1 lamhaa hooN
ayyaam ke afsooN2 Khaane meN
maiN ek taRapta qatra hooN
masroof-e-safar3 jo rahta hai
maazi4 ki suraahi5 ke dil se
mustaqbil6 ke paimaane7 meN
1.fleeting 2.enchantment 3.busy in traveling – constantly moving 4.past 5.future 6.flask 7.measure – used here for vision
I am a fleeting moment that in this enchanting flow of time is like a restless drop, constantly moving from the flask of yesterday into the vision of tomorrow.
maiN sotaa hooN aur jaagta hooN
aur jaag ke phir so jaata hooN
sadiyoN ka purana khel hooN maiN
maiN mar ke amar ho jaata hooN
I sleep and I wake up. I go back to sleep again. I am the pattern of centuries. I am eternal even as I die.
