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Recitation
jagjit singh
کاغذ کی کشتی ۔ سدرشن فاکر
یہ دولت بھی لے لو، یہ شہرت بھی لے لو
بھلے چھین لو مجھ سے میری جوانی
مگر مجھ کو لوٹا دو بچپن کا ساون
وہ کاغذ کی کشتی وہ بارش کا پانی
محلّہ کی سب سے نِشانی پرانی
وہ بڑھیا جسے بچے کہتے تھے نانی
وہ نانی کی باتوں میں پریوں کا ڈیرا
وہ چہرے کی جھریوں میں صدیوں کا پھیرا
بھلائے نہیں بھول سکتا وہ کوئی
وہ چھوٹی سی راتیں وہ لمبی کہانی
کڑی دھوپ میں وہ گھر سے نکلنا
وہ چڑیا وہ بلبل وہ تتلی پکڑنا
وہ گڑیا کی شادی میں لڑنا جھگڑنا
وہ جھولے سے گرنا، وہ گر کے سنبھلنا
وہ پیتل کے چھلوں کے پیارے سے تحفے
وہ ٹوٹی ہوئی چوڑیوں کی نشانی
کبھی ریت کی اونچے ٹیلوں پہ جانا
گھروندے بنانا، بنا کے مٹانا
وہ معصوم چاہت کی تصویر اپنی
وہ خوابوں کھلونوں کی جاگیر اپنی
نہ دُنیا کا غم تھا نہ رشتوں کا بندھن
بڑی خوبصورت تھی وہ زندگانی
काग़ज़ की कश्ती – सुदर्शन फ़ाख़र
ये दौलत भी ले लो, ये शोहरत भी ले लो
भले छीन लो मुझ से मेरी जवानी
मगर मुझको लौटा दो बचपन का सावन
वो काग़ज़ की कश्ती वो बारिश का पानी
मुहल्ले की सब से पुरानी निशानी
वो बुढ़िया जिसे बच्चे कहते थे नानी
वो नानी की बातों में परियों का डेरा
वो चेहरे की झुर्रियों में सदियों का फेरा
भुलाए नहीं भूल सकता है कोई
वो छोटी सी रातें वो लंबी कहानी
कड़ी धूप में अपने घर से निकलना
वो चिड़िया, वो बुलबुल, वो तितली पकड़ना
वो गुड़िया की शादी में लड़ना झगड़ना
वो झूलों से गिरना वो गिरके संभलना
वो पीतल के छल्लों के प्यारे से तोहफ़े
वो टूटी हुई चूड़ियों की निशानी
कभी रेत के ऊंचे टीलों पे जाना
घरोंदे बनाना बनाकर मिटाना
वो मासूम चाहत की तस्वीर अपनी
वो ख़्वाबों खिलोनों की जागीर अपनी
ना दुनिया का ग़म था ना रिश्तों के बंधन
बड़ी ख़ूबसूरत थी वो ज़िंदगानी
kaaGhaz ki kashti – sudarshan faaKhir
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. sudarshan kaamra faaKhir (1934-2008) lyricist and progressive poet. Here he expresses beautiful nostalgia for uncomplicated childhood days of simple pleasures.
ye daulat1 bhi le lo, ye shohrat2 bhi le lo
bhale3 chheen lo mujh se meri javaani4
magar mujhko lauTa do bachpan ka saavan
vo kaaGhaz ki kashti vo baarish ka paani1.wealth 2.fame 3.if it is to be 4.youth, life
Take away my wealth, my fame and if you must take away even my youth/strength. But return to me those rainy days of childhood, that paper boat and that flowing water.
muhalle1 ki sab se purani nishaani2
vo buRhiya jise bachche kehte the naani
vo naani ki baaton meN pariyauN ka Dera3
vo chehre ki jhuriyauN4 meN sadiyauN5 ka phera6
bhulaye nahiN bhool sakta hai koi
vo chhoTi si raateN vo lambi kahani1.neighbourhood 2.symbol, marker 3.place 4.wrinkles 5.centuries 6.passage
The old granny of the neighbourhood who gathered children around her during summer nights and told them fairy tales. In her tales there was always a place/role for fairies and her face had wrinkles/lines marking the passage of centuries. Even if they try, no one can forget those long stories and nights that seemed too short for them.
kaRi dhoop1 meN apne ghar se nikalna
vo chiRiya, vo bulbul, vo titli pakaRna
vo guRiya ki shaadi meN laRna-jhagaRna
vo jhoolauN se girna vo girke sambhalna
vo peetal2 ke chhallauN3 ke pyaare se tohfe
vo TooTi hui chooRiyauN ki nishaani4 1.strong (mid-day) sun 2.brass 3.rings 4.markers, remembrances
I remember stealing out of the house even in the fierce afternoon sun to play around and trap birds, bulbul and catch butterflies. I remember childhood games like doll weddings, swings, falling off swings and getting up to swing again. I remember brass rings which we gifted to each other pretending that it was gold. We traded broken bangles as remembrances.
kabhi ret1 ke ooNche TeelauN2 pe jaana
gharonde3 banaana banaa kar miTaana4
vo masoom5 chaahat6 ki tasveer7 apni
vo KhwabauN khilonauN ki jaagir8 apni
na duniya ka Gham tha na rishtauN9 ke bandhan
baRi Khoobsurat thi vo zindgani1.sand 2.mounds 3.sand castles 4.obliterate 5.innocent 6.love 7.image, memory 8.domain 9.relations, here meaning consciousness of community/religion
Sometimes, climbing on mounds of sand, making and destroying castles. I remember/recall memories of our innocent love, our domain of dreams and toys totally devoid of any restrictions of community/religion. That was a beautiful life.
kaaGhaz ki kashti – sudarshan faaKhir
sudarshan kaamra faaKhir (1934-2008) lyricist and progressive poet. Here he expresses beautiful nostalgia for uncomplicated childhood days of simple pleasures.
ye daulat1 bhi le lo, ye shohrat2 bhi le lo
bhale3 chheen lo mujh se meri javaani4
magar mujhko lauTa do bachpan ka saavan
vo kaaGhaz ki kashti vo baarish ka paani
1.wealth 2.fame 3.if it is to be 4.youth, life
Take away my wealth, my fame and if you must take away even my youth/strength. But return to me those rainy days of childhood, that paper boat and that flowing water.
muhalle1 ki sab se purani nishaani2
vo buRhiya jise bachche kehte the naani
vo naani ki baaton meN pariyauN ka Dera3
vo chehre ki jhuriyauN4 meN sadiyauN5 ka phera6
bhulaye nahiN bhool sakta hai koi
vo chhoTi si raateN vo lambi kahani
1.neighbourhood 2.symbol, marker 3.place 4.wrinkles 5.centuries 6.passage
The old granny of the neighbourhood who gathered children around her during summer nights and told them fairy tales. In her tales there was always a place/role for fairies and her face had wrinkles/lines marking the passage of centuries. Even if they try, no one can forget those long stories and nights that seemed too short for them.
kaRi dhoop1 meN apne ghar se nikalna
vo chiRiya, vo bulbul, vo titli pakaRna
vo guRiya ki shaadi meN laRna-jhagaRna
vo jhoolauN se girna vo girke sambhalna
vo peetal2 ke chhallauN3 ke pyaare se tohfe
vo TooTi hui chooRiyauN ki nishaani4
1.strong (mid-day) sun 2.brass 3.rings 4.markers, remembrances
I remember stealing out of the house even in the fierce afternoon sun to play around and trap birds, bulbul and catch butterflies. I remember childhood games like doll weddings, swings, falling off swings and getting up to swing again. I remember brass rings which we gifted to each other pretending that it was gold. We traded broken bangles as remembrances.
kabhi ret1 ke ooNche TeelauN2 pe jaana
gharonde3 banaana banaa kar miTaana4
vo masoom5 chaahat6 ki tasveer7 apni
vo KhwabauN khilonauN ki jaagir8 apni
na duniya ka Gham tha na rishtauN9 ke bandhan
baRi Khoobsurat thi vo zindgani
1.sand 2.mounds 3.sand castles 4.obliterate 5.innocent 6.love 7.image, memory 8.domain 9.relations, here meaning consciousness of community/religion
Sometimes, climbing on mounds of sand, making and destroying castles. I remember/recall memories of our innocent love, our domain of dreams and toys totally devoid of any restrictions of community/religion. That was a beautiful life.
