For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
پرچھائیاں ۔ جب جوان ہوں بچّے تو قتل ہو جائیں – ساحرؔ لدھیانوی
۱
ہمارا پیار حوادث کی تاب لا نہ سکا
مگر اِنہیں تو مرادوں کی رات مِل جائے
ہمیں تو کشمکشِ مرگِ بے اماں ہی ملی
اِنہیں تو جھومتی گاتی حیات مِل جائے
۲
بہت دنوں سے ہے یہ مشغلہ سیاست کا
کہ جب جوان ہوں بچے تو قتل ہو جائیں
بہت دنوں سے ہے یہ خبط حکمرانوں کو
کہ دور دور کی کھیتی میں قحط بو جائیں
۳
بہت دنوں سے جوانی کے خواب ویراں ہیں
بہت دنوں سے محبت پناہ ڈھونڈتی ہے
بہت دنوں سے ستم دیدہ شاہراہوں میں
نگارِ زیست کی عصمت پناہ ڈھونڈتی ہے
۴
چلو کہ آج سبھی پائیمال روحوں سے
کہیں کہ اپنے ہر اک زخم کو زباں کر لیں
ہمارا راز ہمارا نہیں سبھی کا ہے
چلو کہ سارے زمانے کو رازداں کر لیں
۵
چلو کہ چل کے سیاسی مقامروں سے کہیں
کہ ہم کو جنگ و جدل کے چلن سے نفرت ہے
جسے لہو کے سوا کوئی رنگ راس نہ آئے
ہمیں حیات کے اِس پیرہن سے نفرت ہے
۶
کہو کے اب کوئی قاتل اگر اِدھر آیا
تو ہر قدم پہ زمیں تنگ ہوتی جائیگی
ہر ایک موجِ ہوا رُخ بدل کے جھپٹیگی
ہر ایک شاخ رگِ سنگ ہوتی جائیگی
۷
اُ ٹھو کہ آج ہر اک جنگ جو سے یہ کہ دیں
کہ ہم کو کام کی خاطر کُلوں کی حاجت ہے
ہمیں کسی کی زمیں چھیننے کا شوق نہیں
ہمیں تو اپنی زمیں پر ہلوں کی حاجت ہے
۸
کہو کہ اب کوئی تاجر اِدھر کا رُخ نہ کرے
اب اِس جگہ کوئی کنواری نہ بیچی جائیگی
یہ کھیت جاگ پڑے، اُٹھ کھڑی ہوئیں فصلیں
اب اِس جگہ کوئی کیاری نہ بیچی جائیگی
۹
یہ سرزمین ہے گوتم کی اور نانک کی
اِس ارضِ پاک پہ وحشی نہ چل سکینگے کبھی
ہمارا خون امانت ہے نسلِ نو کے لئے
ہمارے خون پہ لشکر نہ پل سکینگے کبھی
۱۰
کہو کہ آج بھی ہم سب اگر خموش رہے
تو اِس دمکتے ہوے خاکداں کی خیر نہیں
جنوں میں ڈھالی ہوئی ایٹمی بلاوٗں سے
زمیں کی خیر نہیں آسماں کی خیر نہیں
۱۱
گزشتہ جنگ میں گھر ہی جلے مگر اِس بار
عجب نہیں کہ یہ تنہائیاں بھی جل جائیں
گزشتہ جنگ میں پیکر جلے مگر اِس بار
عجب نہیں کہ یہ پرچھائیاں بھی جل جائیں
۱۲
تصوّرات کی پرچھائیاں اُبھرتی ہیں
पर्छाईयां – जब जवान हों बच्चे तो क़त्ल हो जाएँ – साहर लुधियानवी
१
हमारा प्यार हवादिस की ताब ला न सका
मगर इन्हें तो मुरादों की रात मिल जाए
हमें तो कशमकश-ए मर्ग ए बे अमां ही मिली
इन्हें तो झूमती गाती हयात मिल जाए
२
बहुत दिनों से है ये मशग़ला सियासत का
के जब जवान हों बच्चे तो क़त्ल हो जाएँ
बहुत दिनों से है ये ख़ब्त हुक्मरानों को
के दूर दूर की खेती में क़हत बो जाएँ
३
बहुत दिनों से जवानी के ख़्वाब वीरां हैं
बहुत दिनों से मोहब्बत पनाह ढूँढती है
बहुत दिनों से सितम दीदा शाहराहों में
निगार-ए ज़ीस्त की इस्मत पनाह ढूँढती है
४
चलो के आज सभी पाएमाल रूहों से
कहें के अपने हर एक ज़ख़्म को ज़बां कर लें
हमारा राज़ हमारा नहीं, सभी का है
चलो के सारे ज़माने को राज़दां कर लें
५
चलो के चल के सियासी मक़ामरों से कहें
के हम को जंग ओ जदल के चलन से नफ़्रत है
जिसे लहू के सिवा कोई रंग रास न आए
हमें हयात के इस पैरहन से नफ़्रत है
६
कहो के अब कोई क़ातिल अगर इधर आया
तो हर क़दम पे ज़मीं तंग होती जाएगी
हर एक मौज ए हवा रुख़ बदल के झपटेगी
हर एक शाख़ रग ए संग होती जाएगी
७
उठो के आज हर एक जंग जू से ये कह दें
के हम को काम की ख़ातर कुलों की हाजेत है
हमें किसी की ज़मीं छीनने का शौख़ नहीं
हमें तो अपनी ज़मीं पर हलों की हाजेत है
८
कहो के अब कोई ताजिर इधर का रुख़ न करे
अब इस जगह कोई कुंवारी न बेची जाएगी
ये खेत जाग पड़े, उठ खड़ी हुईं फ़सलें
अब इस जगह कोई क्यारी न बेची जाएगी
९
ये सर ज़मीन है गौतम की और नानक की
इस अर्ज़ ए पाक पे वहशी न चल सकेंगे कभी
हमारा ख़ून अमानत है नस्ल ए नौ के लिए
हमारे ख़ून पे लश्कर न पल सकेंगे कभी
१०
कहो के आज भी हम सब अगर ख़मोश रहे
तो इस दमकते हुए ख़ाकदाँ की ख़ैर नहीं
जुनूं की ढाली हुई एटमी बालाओं से
ज़मीं की ख़ैर नहीं, आसमां की ख़ैर नहीं
११
गुज़िश्ता जंग में घर ही जले मगर इस बार
अजब नहीं के ये तन्हाईयाँ भी जल जाएँ
गुज़िश्ता जंग में पैकर जले मगर इस बार
अजब नहीं के ये परछाईयां भी जल जाएँ
१२
तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. The sixth and final part of his long nazm, parchhaaiyaaN, the poet universalizes his own pain and makes a poignant and fervent appeal for peace and for its preservation for future generations.
1
hamaara pyaar havaadis1 ki taab2 la na saka
magar inheN to muraadoN3 ki raat mil jaaye
hameN to kashmakash4-e marg5-e be amaaN6 hi mili
inheN to jhoomti gaati hayaat7 mil jaaye 1.calamities 2.weight, burden 3.desire 4.struggle 5.death 6.without refuge 7.life
The poet/lover expresses a beautiful wish for the next generation. Our love could not bear the burden of calamities, but may they have their desire fulfilled. We only got the struggle of unrelenting death, but may they find happiness in their love.
2
bahut dinoN se hai ye mashGhala8 siyaasat ka
ke jab javaan hoN bachche to qatl9 ho jayeN
bahut dinoN se hai ye Khabt10 hukmraanoN11 ko
ke dur dur ki kheti men qahat12 bo jaayeN 8.pastime 9.get killed (in war) 10.obsession 11.rulers 12.famine
For too long now it has been the pastime of politics that when the young come of age, they be killed. For too long now it has been the obsession of rulers that they sow famine in faraway lands.
3
bahut dinoN se javaani ke Khwaab veeraaN13 haiN
bahut dinoN se mohabbat panaah14 DhoonDti hai
bahut dinoN se sitam deeda15 shaahrahoN16 meN
nigaar-e zeest17 ki ismat18 panaah DhoonDti hai 13.desolate, unfulfilled 14.shelter, help 15.cruel 16.highways 17.beauty of life 18.respect, self-respect
For too long now the aspirations of youth have been barren. For too long now love has sought refuge in vain. For too long on the cruel highways of life, life’s beauty and respect have sought refuge in vain.
4
chalo ke aaj sabhi payemal19 ruhoN20 se
kaheN ke apne har ek zaKhm21 ko zabaN22 kar leN
hamara raaz hamara nahiN, sabhi ka hai
chalo ke sare zamane ko razdaaN23 kar leN 19.trampled 20.souls 21.wound 22.tongue 23.confidant
What a beautiful universalization of the processes of exploitation and oppression. A “zakhm” is metaphorically an opening, a mouth, place a tongue in it (recall the powerful metaphor that Faiz used … “har ek halqa e zanjeer meN zabaaN maiN ne” – in this case each link of the chain that binds him is a mouth and he has placed a tongue in each of those to speak out against oppression). Here the the poet/lover is calling upon all the injured/wronged souls to speak out because their oppression is not isolated, it is universal, let us not keep this a secret, let us make everyone our confidant. Come that we may gather all trampled souls and urge them to give tongue to all their wounds. Our grief is not just ours, we share it with everyone. Come let us make the whole world our confidant.
5
chalo ke chal ke siyasi maqaamaroN24 se kaheN
ke ham ko jang o jadal25 ke chalan se nifrat26 hai
jise lahu ke siva27 koi rang raas28 na aaye
hameN hayaat29 ke is pairahan30 se nifrat hai 24.political gamblers 25.war and conflict 26.hatred 27.except for blood 28.match, bring good luck 29.life 30.dress
Come, let us tell these gamblers in politics that we hate the way of war. These clothes that want nothing but the color of blood, we do not like these clothes for living.
6
kaho ke ab koi qaatil31 agar idhar aaya
tho har qadam32 pe zamiN tang33 hoti jaaegi
har ek mauj-e hava34 ruKh35 badal ke jhapTegi
har ek shaaKh36 rag-e sang37 hoti jaayegi 31.killer 32.step 33.tight, narrow 34.gust of wind 35.direction 36.bough, branch (of tree) 37.vein of stone
Say that if any killer comes this way again then at every step the path will narrow, every gust of wind will turn against him and no bough will yield its fruit to him.
7
uTho ke aaj har ek jang ju38 se ye kah deN
ke ham ko kam ki Khaatir39 kuloN40 ki haajet41 hai
hameN kisi ki zamiN chheenne ka shauKh nahiN
hameN tho apni zamiN par haaloN42 ki haajet hai 38.war monger 39.for the sake of 40.families, children 41.necessity 42.ploughs
Arise, that we me tell every warmonger that we need families for sustenance. We don’t desire anyone else’s land, we need ploughshares to work our own land.
8
kaho ke ab koi taajir43 idhar ka ruKh44 na kare
ab is jagah koi kuNvaari45 na bechi jayegi
ye khet jaag paRe, uTh khaRi huiN fasleN46
ab is jagah koi kyaari47 na bechi jaayegi 43.trader 44.direction 45.damsel, virgin 46.harvest 47.field (of grains).
Say that no trader should turn this way again. There will no more young damsels for sale here. These fields have woken up, the harvest stands tall. There is no farmland for sale here.
9
ye sar zamin48 hai Gautam ki aur Nanak ki
is arz e pak49 pe vahshi50 na chal sakeNge kabhi
hamara Khoon amaanat51 hai nasl e nau52 ke liye
hamare Khoon pe lashkar53 na pal sakeNge kabhi 48.homeland 49.holy land 50.wild (uncivilized) people 51.guarantee 52.new generation 53.army
How beautifully and subtly sahir bypasses the Hindu Muslim divide by referring only to Gautam and Nanak. This is the homeland of Gautam and Nanak. No cruelty can take hold in this land of virtue. He wants his own blood/suffering to guarantee that it will not happen again, that the new generation will thrive, we will not allow a (foreign) army to thrive on our blood.Our blood is guarantee for the coming generation
Our blood will not be used to build armies.
10
kaho ke aaj bhi ham sab agar Khamosh rahe
tho is damakte54 hue KhakdaaN55 ki Khair56 nahiN
junuN57 ki Dhaali58 hui aytami59 balaaoN60 se
zamiN ki Khair nahiN, aasmaaN ki Khair nahiN 54.brilliant, glorious 55.bowl of dust, earth 56.well being, safety 57.passion, madness 58.cast 59.atomic 60.pestilence
Speak out, for if we remain quiet even now, then there is no hope for this glorious earth. From this atomic pestilence cast in mad passion there is no hope for this earth, or for the sky. Recall Faiz’s call to stand up and speak, now is the time!!!!!
11
guzishta61 jang meN ghar hi jale magar is baar
ajab nahiN62 ke ye tanhaaiyaN63 bhi jal jaayeN
guzishta jang men paikar64 jale magar is baar
ajab nahiN ke ye parchhaaiyaN65 bhi jal jaayeN 61.past 62.it is not strange, it will not be surprising 63.loneliness, privacy, familiarity, security 64.face, portait (that which can be seen) 65.shadows, images, memories
In the last war, material things burnt down but next time there is no surprise that even solitude may be destroyed. In the last war, people were killed but next time there is no surprise that even memories are burnt.
12
tasavvuraat ki parchhaayiaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like faint shadows.
sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. The sixth and final part of his long nazm, parchhaaiyaaN, the poet universalizes his own pain and makes a poignant and fervent appeal for peace and for its preservation for future generations.
1
hamaara pyaar havaadis1 ki taab2 la na saka
magar inheN to muraadoN3 ki raat mil jaaye
hameN to kashmakash4-e marg5-e be amaaN6 hi mili
inheN to jhoomti gaati hayaat7 mil jaaye
1.calamities 2.weight, burden 3.desire 4.struggle 5.death 6.without refuge 7.life
The poet/lover expresses a beautiful wish for the next generation. Our love could not bear the burden of calamities, but may they have their desire fulfilled. We only got the struggle of unrelenting death, but may they find happiness in their love.
2
bahut dinoN se hai ye mashGhala8 siyaasat ka
ke jab javaan hoN bachche to qatl9 ho jayeN
bahut dinoN se hai ye Khabt10 hukmraanoN11 ko
ke dur dur ki kheti men qahat12 bo jaayeN
8.pastime 9.get killed (in war) 10.obsession 11.rulers 12.famine
For too long now it has been the pastime of politics that when the young come of age, they be killed. For too long now it has been the obsession of rulers that they sow famine in faraway lands.
3
bahut dinoN se javaani ke Khwaab veeraaN13 haiN
bahut dinoN se mohabbat panaah14 DhoonDti hai
bahut dinoN se sitam deeda15 shaahrahoN16 meN
nigaar-e zeest17 ki ismat18 panaah DhoonDti hai
13.desolate, unfulfilled 14.shelter, help 15.cruel 16.highways 17.beauty of life 18.respect, self-respect
For too long now the aspirations of youth have been barren. For too long now love has sought refuge in vain. For too long on the cruel highways of life, life’s beauty and respect have sought refuge in vain.
4
chalo ke aaj sabhi payemal19 ruhoN20 se
kaheN ke apne har ek zaKhm21 ko zabaN22 kar leN
hamara raaz hamara nahiN, sabhi ka hai
chalo ke sare zamane ko razdaaN23 kar leN
19.trampled 20.souls 21.wound 22.tongue 23.confidant
What a beautiful universalization of the processes of exploitation and oppression. A “zakhm” is metaphorically an opening, a mouth, place a tongue in it (recall the powerful metaphor that Faiz used … “har ek halqa e zanjeer meN zabaaN maiN ne” – in this case each link of the chain that binds him is a mouth and he has placed a tongue in each of those to speak out against oppression). Here the the poet/lover is calling upon all the injured/wronged souls to speak out because their oppression is not isolated, it is universal, let us not keep this a secret, let us make everyone our confidant. Come that we may gather all trampled souls and urge them to give tongue to all their wounds. Our grief is not just ours, we share it with everyone. Come let us make the whole world our confidant.
5
chalo ke chal ke siyasi maqaamaroN24 se kaheN
ke ham ko jang o jadal25 ke chalan se nifrat26 hai
jise lahu ke siva27 koi rang raas28 na aaye
hameN hayaat29 ke is pairahan30 se nifrat hai
24.political gamblers 25.war and conflict 26.hatred 27.except for blood 28.match, bring good luck 29.life 30.dress
Come, let us tell these gamblers in politics that we hate the way of war. These clothes that want nothing but the color of blood, we do not like these clothes for living.
6
kaho ke ab koi qaatil31 agar idhar aaya
tho har qadam32 pe zamiN tang33 hoti jaaegi
har ek mauj-e hava34 ruKh35 badal ke jhapTegi
har ek shaaKh36 rag-e sang37 hoti jaayegi
31.killer 32.step 33.tight, narrow 34.gust of wind 35.direction 36.bough, branch (of tree) 37.vein of stone
Say that if any killer comes this way again then at every step the path will narrow, every gust of wind will turn against him and no bough will yield its fruit to him.
7
uTho ke aaj har ek jang ju38 se ye kah deN
ke ham ko kam ki Khaatir39 kuloN40 ki haajet41 hai
hameN kisi ki zamiN chheenne ka shauKh nahiN
hameN tho apni zamiN par haaloN42 ki haajet hai
38.war monger 39.for the sake of 40.families, children 41.necessity 42.ploughs
Arise, that we me tell every warmonger that we need families for sustenance. We don’t desire anyone else’s land, we need ploughshares to work our own land.
8
kaho ke ab koi taajir43 idhar ka ruKh44 na kare
ab is jagah koi kuNvaari45 na bechi jayegi
ye khet jaag paRe, uTh khaRi huiN fasleN46
ab is jagah koi kyaari47 na bechi jaayegi
43.trader 44.direction 45.damsel, virgin 46.harvest 47.field (of grains).
Say that no trader should turn this way again. There will no more young damsels for sale here. These fields have woken up, the harvest stands tall. There is no farmland for sale here.
9
ye sar zamin48 hai Gautam ki aur Nanak ki
is arz e pak49 pe vahshi50 na chal sakeNge kabhi
hamara Khoon amaanat51 hai nasl e nau52 ke liye
hamare Khoon pe lashkar53 na pal sakeNge kabhi
48.homeland 49.holy land 50.wild (uncivilized) people 51.guarantee 52.new generation 53.army
How beautifully and subtly sahir bypasses the Hindu Muslim divide by referring only to Gautam and Nanak. This is the homeland of Gautam and Nanak. No cruelty can take hold in this land of virtue. He wants his own blood/suffering to guarantee that it will not happen again, that the new generation will thrive, we will not allow a (foreign) army to thrive on our blood.Our blood is guarantee for the coming generation
Our blood will not be used to build armies.
10
kaho ke aaj bhi ham sab agar Khamosh rahe
tho is damakte54 hue KhakdaaN55 ki Khair56 nahiN
junuN57 ki Dhaali58 hui aytami59 balaaoN60 se
zamiN ki Khair nahiN, aasmaaN ki Khair nahiN
54.brilliant, glorious 55.bowl of dust, earth 56.well being, safety 57.passion, madness 58.cast 59.atomic 60.pestilence
Speak out, for if we remain quiet even now, then there is no hope for this glorious earth. From this atomic pestilence cast in mad passion there is no hope for this earth, or for the sky. Recall Faiz’s call to stand up and speak, now is the time!!!!!
11
guzishta61 jang meN ghar hi jale magar is baar
ajab nahiN62 ke ye tanhaaiyaN63 bhi jal jaayeN
guzishta jang men paikar64 jale magar is baar
ajab nahiN ke ye parchhaaiyaN65 bhi jal jaayeN
61.past 62.it is not strange, it will not be surprising 63.loneliness, privacy, familiarity, security 64.face, portait (that which can be seen) 65.shadows, images, memories
In the last war, material things burnt down but next time there is no surprise that even solitude may be destroyed. In the last war, people were killed but next time there is no surprise that even memories are burnt.
12
tasavvuraat ki parchhaayiaaN ubharti haiN
Memories emerge like faint shadows.
