For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
یاد ہے اب بھی ۔ مخدوم محی الدین
۱
یہیں کی تھی محبت کے سبق کی اِبتدا میں نے
یہیں کی جرأتِ اظہارِ حرفِ مدّعا میں نے
یہیں دیکھے تھے عشوے، ناز و اندازِ حیا میں نے
یہیں پہلے سنی تھی دِل دھڑکنے کی صدا میں نے
یہیں کھیتوں میں پانی کے کنارے، یاد ہے اب بھی
۲
دلوں میں اِژدہامِ آرزو، لب بند رہتے تھے
نظر سے گفتگو ہوتی تھی دم اُلفت کا بھرتے تھے
نہ ماتھے پر شکن ہوتی نہ جب تیور بدلتے تھے
خدا بھی مسکرا دیتا تھا جب ہم پیار کرتے تھے
یہیں کھیتوں میں پانی کے کنارے، یاد ہے اب بھی
۳
وہ کیا آتا کہ گویا دور میں جامِ شراب آتا
وہ کیا آتا رنگیلی راگنی رنگیں رباب آتا
مجھے رنگینیوں میں رنگنے رنگیں سحاب آتا
لبوں کی مَے پلانے جھومتا مستِ شباب آتا
یہیں کھیتوں میں پانی کے کنارے، یاد ہے اب بھی
۴
حیا کے بوجھ سے جب ہر قدم پر لغزشیں ہوتیں
فضا میں منتشر رنگیں بدن کی لرزشیں ہوتیں
ربابِ دِل کے تاروں میں مسلسل جُنبِشیں ہوتیں
خفائے راز کی پُر لطف باہم کو ششیں ہوتیں
یہیں کھیتوں میں پانی کے کنارے، یاد ہے اب بھی
۵
بہے جاتے تھے بیٹھے عشق کے زرّیں سفینے میں
تمناّوں کا طوفاں کروٹیں لیتا تھا سینے میں
جوچھو لیتا میں اُس کو وہ نہا جاتا پسینے میں
مئے دو آتشہ کے سے مزے آتے تھے جینے میں
یہیں کھیتوں میں پانی کے کنارے، یاد ہے اب بھی
۶
بلائے فکرِ فردا ہم سے کوسوں دور رہتی تھی
سرورِ سرمدی سے زندگی معمور ہوتی تھی
ہماری خلوتِ معصوم رشکِ طور ہوتی تھی
ملک جھولا جھلاتے تھے غزل خواں حور ہوتی تھی
یہیں کھیتوں میں پانی کے کنارے، یاد ہے اب بھی
۷
نہ اب وہ کھیت باقی ہیں نہ وہ آبِ رواں باقی
مگر اُس عیشِ رفتہ کا ہے اک دھندلا نشاں باقی
याद है अब भी – मख़दूम मोहिउद्दीन
१
यहीं की थी मोहब्बत के सबक़ की इब्तेदा मैं ने
यहीं की जुरा’अत-ए इज़हार-ए हर्फ़-ए मुद्दुआ मैं ने
यहीं देखे थे इश्वे, नाज़ ओ अंदाज़-ए हया मैं ने
यहीं पहले सुनी थी दिल धड़कने की सदा मैं ने
यहीं खेतों में पानी के किनारे याद है अब भी
२
दिलों में अज़दहाम-ए आरज़ू लब बंद रहते थे
नज़र से गुफ़्तगू होती थी दम उल्फ़त का भरते थे
न माथे पर शिकन होती, न जब तैवर बदलते थे
ख़ुदा भी मुस्कुरा देता था जब हम प्यार करते थे
यहीं खेतों में पानी के किनारे याद है अब भी
३
वो क्या आता के गोया दौर में जाम-ए शराब आता
वो क्या आता रंगीली रागिनी रंगीं रबाब आता
मुझे रंगीनियों में रंगने रंगीं सहाब आता
लबों की मए पिलाने झूमता मस्त-ए शबाब आता
यहीं खेतों में पानी के किनारे याद है अब भी
४
हया के बोझ से जब हर क़दम पर लग़ज़िशें होतीं
फ़िज़ा में मुन्तशिर रंगीं बदन की लर्ज़िशें होतीं
रबाब-ए दिल के तारों में मुसलसिल जुम्बिशें होतीं
ख़िफ़ा-ए राज़ की पुर लुत्फ़ बाहम कोशिशें होतीं
यहीं खेतों में पानी के किनारे याद है अब भी
५
बहे जाते थे बैठे इश्क़ के ज़र्रीं सफ़ीने में
तमन्नाओं का तूफ़ां करवटें लेता था सीने में
जो छू लेता मैं उसको वो नहा जाता पसीने में
मए दो आतिशा’ के से मज़े आते थे जीने में
यहीं खेतों में पानी के किनारे याद है अब भी
६
बला-ए फ़िक्र-ए फ़र्दा हम से कोसों दूर रहती थी
सुरूर-ए सरमदी से ज़िन्दगी मा’मूर होती थी
हमारी ख़िलवत-ए मा’सूम रश्क-ए तूर होती थी
मलक झूला झुलाते थे ग़ज़ल ख़्वां हूर होती थी
यहीं खेतों में पानी के किनारे याद है अब भी
७
न अब वो खेत बाक़ी हैं न वो आब-ए रवां बाक़ी
मगर उस ऐश-ए रफ़्ता का है एक धुंदला निशाँ बाक़ी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. maKhdoom mohiuddin (1908-1969), hyderabad. In addition to being a poet and teacher he was a labour leader, member and prominent office holder in the Communist Party of India, a leader of the Progressive Writers’ Association. He went underground for a few years and later was arrested and served a jail term. He and faiz ahmed faiz were close friends. See “faiz-maKhdoom parallels” for similarities.
1
yahiN ki thi mohabbat ke sabaq1 ki ibteda2 maiN ne
yahiN ki jur’at3-e izhaar4-e harf-e muddua5 maiN ne
yahiN dekhe the ishwe6, naaz o andaaz7-e haya8 maiN ne
yahiN pahle suni thi dil dhaRakne ki sada maiN ne
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi 1.lesson 2.beginning 3.daring 4.express 5.word of desire (love) 6.playfulness, coquetry 7.style 8.bashfulness
toor – Mt.Sinai is where Moses is supposed to have gone asking to see god; where he is reported to have seen a manifestation of god. By giving the title ‘toor’ to this poem of youthful romance, is maKhdoom saying that ‘love’ is his ‘god’; that he sees god in love? yahiN=here … probably meaning ‘toor’ where Moses saw god, and maKhdoom experienced love. ‘yahiN’ also has the implication of ‘here alone and nowhere else’. Equating Moses’ experience of the manifestation of god with his own experience of love, maKhdoom is equating his concept of love to god. It was here that I had my first lesson of love. It was here that I dared express the first words of love. It was here that I first saw the many styles of playful teasing. It was here that I first heard the wild beating of hearts. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
2
diloN meN azdahaam9-e aarzu10 lab11 bund rahte the
nazar se guftagu12 hoti thi dam13 ulfat14 ka bharte the
na maathe15 par shikan16 hoti, na jab taivar17 badalte the
Khuda bhi muskura deta tha jab hum pyaar karte the
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi 1.multitude, crowding 10.longing, desire 11.lips 12.conversation 13.breath, life, fortitude 14.love 15.brow 16.wrinkles 17.changing posture, restlessness
Hearts overflowing with emotions, no words were spoken. Our eyes said everything, made love even stronger. ‘dam bharna’ is to give strength to … thus ‘dam ulfat ka bharte the’ means ‘we made love stronger’. Not a care in the world, no pain or sorrow. ‘maathe par shikan’ i.e. ‘wrinkled brow’ and ‘taivar badalna’ meaning ‘changing posture – restless or annoyed’ – both of these expressions signify sorrow and/or conflict. During the days of young love, both were absent. Even god smiled when he saw our love. It was here in these fields, by that river, I remember like yesterday.
3
vo kya aata keh goya18 daur meN19 jaam-e sharaab20 aata
vo kya aata raNgiili raagini, raNgiN rabaab21 aata
mujhe raNgiiniyoN meN raNgneN raNgiiN sahaab22 aata
laboN ki ma’e23 pilaane jhoomta mast24-e shabaab25 aata
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi 18.as if 19.in the assembly 20.cup of wine 21.lute 22.cloud, shower of divine blessing 23.wine 24.intoxicated 25.youth
She arrived as if the whole assembly turned into a celebration of wine. She came like a colourful string of melodies, like a radiant rabaab. She came like the blessed cloud bursting forth to drench me in vibrant colours. She came to give me the wine of her youthful lips. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
4
haya26 ke bojh se jab har qadam par laGhzisheN27 hotiiN
fiza28 meN muntashir29 raNgiN badan ki larzisheN30 hotiiN
rabaab-e dil31 ke taaroN meN musalsil32 jumbinsheN33 hotiiN
Khifa34-e raaz35 ki pur lutf36 baaham37 koshisheN hotiiN
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi 26.shyness 27.stumbling 28.ambience 29.scattered, spread 30.quivering 31.heart’s lute 32.constantly 33.vibration 34.hiding 35.secret 36.pleasant 37.again and again
Burdened by bashfulness, we stumbled at every step as if everything around us was shaking too, trembling like our bodies. The heartstrings of love constantly vibrant. Sweet pleasantries as both try to veil our love. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
5
bahe jaate the baiThe ishq38 ke zarriN39 safiine40 meN
tamannaaoN41 ka tufaaN42 karvaTeN43 leta tha seene meN
jo chhoo leta maiN usko vo naha jaata pasiine meN
ma’e do aatisha’44 ke maze aate the jeene meN
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi 38.love 39.golden 40.boat 41.longings, desires 42.storm 43.being restless 44.double strong
We floated in the golden boat of love, a storm of desires brewing in our hearts. My slightest touch and she was drenched in sweat. It was a pleasant life like the intoxication of strong wine. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
6
balaa45-e fikr-e farda46 hum se kosoN47 duur rahti thi
suroor48-e sarmadi49 se zindagi ma’amoor50 hoti thi
hamaari Khilvat51-e ma’asoom52 rashk-e tuur53 hoti thi
malak54 jhoola jhulaate the Ghazal KhwaaN hoor hoti thi
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi 45.curse 46.worry of the future 47.miles 48.happiness 49.eternal 50.full of 51.privacy, intimacy 52.innocent 53.envy of toor (heavens) 54.angels
The curse of the fear of future stayed miles away. Life was filled to the brim with eternal happiness. The sincerity of our intimacy was the envy of gods. Moses is supposed to have seen a manifestation of god on mount tuur. This is likened to a “Khilvat” – a private, intimate association with god. Compared to this the lovers have a “Khilvat-e ma’asoom” and it is so pure that it is the envy of tuur, even the intimacy of Moses doesn’t compare it. Angels cradled and rocked us, fairies sang sweet Ghazals. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
7
na ab vo khet baaqi haiN na vo aab-e ravaaN55 baaqi
magar us aish-e rafta56 ka hai ek dhundla57 nishaN58 baaqi 55.flowing water 56.pleasure/happiness of the past 57.faint 58.sign, memory
The fields are gone, the flowing waters no more. Only a faint memory of that bygone pleasure remains.
maKhdoom mohiuddin (1908-1969), hyderabad. In addition to being a poet and teacher he was a labour leader, member and prominent office holder in the Communist Party of India, a leader of the Progressive Writers’ Association. He went underground for a few years and later was arrested and served a jail term. He and faiz ahmed faiz were close friends. See “faiz-maKhdoom parallels” for similarities.
1
yahiN ki thi mohabbat ke sabaq1 ki ibteda2 maiN ne
yahiN ki jur’at3-e izhaar4-e harf-e muddua5 maiN ne
yahiN dekhe the ishwe6, naaz o andaaz7-e haya8 maiN ne
yahiN pahle suni thi dil dhaRakne ki sada maiN ne
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi
1.lesson 2.beginning 3.daring 4.express 5.word of desire (love) 6.playfulness, coquetry 7.style 8.bashfulness
toor – Mt.Sinai is where Moses is supposed to have gone asking to see god; where he is reported to have seen a manifestation of god. By giving the title ‘toor’ to this poem of youthful romance, is maKhdoom saying that ‘love’ is his ‘god’; that he sees god in love? yahiN=here … probably meaning ‘toor’ where Moses saw god, and maKhdoom experienced love. ‘yahiN’ also has the implication of ‘here alone and nowhere else’. Equating Moses’ experience of the manifestation of god with his own experience of love, maKhdoom is equating his concept of love to god. It was here that I had my first lesson of love. It was here that I dared express the first words of love. It was here that I first saw the many styles of playful teasing. It was here that I first heard the wild beating of hearts. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
2
diloN meN azdahaam9-e aarzu10 lab11 bund rahte the
nazar se guftagu12 hoti thi dam13 ulfat14 ka bharte the
na maathe15 par shikan16 hoti, na jab taivar17 badalte the
Khuda bhi muskura deta tha jab hum pyaar karte the
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi
9.multitude, crowding 10.longing, desire 11.lips 12.conversation 13.breath, life, fortitude 14.love 15.brow 16.wrinkles 17.changing posture, restlessness
Hearts overflowing with emotions, no words were spoken. Our eyes said everything, made love even stronger. ‘dam bharna’ is to give strength to … thus ‘dam ulfat ka bharte the’ means ‘we made love stronger’. Not a care in the world, no pain or sorrow. ‘maathe par shikan’ i.e. ‘wrinkled brow’ and ‘taivar badalna’ meaning ‘changing posture – restless or annoyed’ – both of these expressions signify sorrow and/or conflict. During the days of young love, both were absent. Even god smiled when he saw our love. It was here in these fields, by that river, I remember like yesterday.
3
vo kya aata keh goya18 daur meN19 jaam-e sharaab20 aata
vo kya aata raNgiili raagini, raNgiN rabaab21 aata
mujhe raNgiiniyoN meN raNgneN raNgiiN sahaab22 aata
laboN ki ma’e23 pilaane jhoomta mast24-e shabaab25 aata
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi
18.as if 19.in the assembly 20.cup of wine 21.lute 22.cloud, shower of divine blessing 23.wine 24.intoxicated 25.youth
She arrived as if the whole assembly turned into a celebration of wine. She came like a colourful string of melodies, like a radiant rabaab. She came like the blessed cloud bursting forth to drench me in vibrant colours. She came to give me the wine of her youthful lips. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
4
haya26 ke bojh se jab har qadam par laGhzisheN27 hotiiN
fiza28 meN muntashir29 raNgiN badan ki larzisheN30 hotiiN
rabaab-e dil31 ke taaroN meN musalsil32 jumbinsheN33 hotiiN
Khifa34-e raaz35 ki pur lutf36 baaham37 koshisheN hotiiN
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi
26.shyness 27.stumbling 28.ambience 29.scattered, spread 30.quivering 31.heart’s lute 32.constantly 33.vibration 34.hiding 35.secret 36.pleasant 37.again and again
Burdened by bashfulness, we stumbled at every step as if everything around us was shaking too, trembling like our bodies. The heartstrings of love constantly vibrant. Sweet pleasantries as both try to veil our love. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
5
bahe jaate the baiThe ishq38 ke zarriN39 safiine40 meN
tamannaaoN41 ka tufaaN42 karvaTeN43 leta tha seene meN
jo chhoo leta maiN usko vo naha jaata pasiine meN
ma’e do aatisha’44 ke maze aate the jeene meN
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi
38.love 39.golden 40.boat 41.longings, desires 42.storm 43.being restless 44.double strong
We floated in the golden boat of love, a storm of desires brewing in our hearts. My slightest touch and she was drenched in sweat. It was a pleasant life like the intoxication of strong wine. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
6
balaa45-e fikr-e farda46 hum se kosoN47 duur rahti thi
suroor48-e sarmadi49 se zindagi ma’amoor50 hoti thi
hamaari Khilvat51-e ma’asoom52 rashk-e tuur53 hoti thi
malak54 jhoola jhulaate the Ghazal KhwaaN hoor hoti thi
yahiN khetoN meN paani ke kinaare yaad hai ab bhi
45.curse 46.worry of the future 47.miles 48.happiness 49.eternal 50.full of 51.privacy, intimacy 52.innocent 53.envy of toor (heavens) 54.angels
The curse of the fear of future stayed miles away. Life was filled to the brim with eternal happiness. The sincerity of our intimacy was the envy of gods. Moses is supposed to have seen a manifestation of god on mount tuur. This is likened to a “Khilvat” – a private, intimate association with god. Compared to this the lovers have a “Khilvat-e ma’asoom” and it is so pure that it is the envy of tuur, even the intimacy of Moses doesn’t compare it. Angels cradled and rocked us, fairies sang sweet Ghazals. It was here in these fields, by that lake, I remember like yesterday.
7
na ab vo khet baaqi haiN na vo aab-e ravaaN55 baaqi
magar us aish-e rafta56 ka hai ek dhundla57 nishaN58 baaqi
55.flowing water 56.pleasure/happiness of the past 57.faint 58.sign, memory
The fields are gone, the flowing waters no more. Only a faint memory of that bygone pleasure remains.
