For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
josh malihabadi
موجد و مفکر ۔ جوش ملیح آبادی ۔ منتخب بند
٩٢
کر دیا ثابت یہ تو نے ائے دلاور آدمی
زندگی کیا موت سے لیتا ہے ٹکر آدمی
کاٹ سکتا ہے رگِ گردن سے خنجر آدمی
لشکروں کو روند سکتے ہیں بہتر آدمی
ضعف ڈھا سکتا ہے قصرِ افسر و اورنگ کو
آبگینے توڑ سکتے ہیں حصارِ سنگ کو
١٠٠
ائے حُسین ابتک تیرا نقشِ قدم تابندہ ہے
زندہ ہے، پائندہ ہے، نازندہ ہے رخشندہ ہے
روشن و پائندہ و بالندہ و بخشندہ ہے
گام زن تو جس پہ تھا وہ جادہ ابتک زندہ ہے
ضوفِگن ہے ذہن کی ہر بند پر ہر جو ڑ پر
شمع جو تابندہ ہے تیری گلی کے موڑ پر
١٠٢
ائے حسین ابنِ علی ائے شہ یزداں صِفات
نور سے تیرے جھمکتی ہے جبینِ کائنات
محو ہو جائیں اگر دُنیا سے تیرے واقعات
گنبدِ تاریخ پر چھا جائے ہیبت ناک رات
بھول سکتا ہی نہیں اِنسان قربانی تیری
حافظے کے فرخ کا جھومر ہے پیشانی تیری
۱۰۸
پھر بشر کے ذہن پر عکسِ جنوں ہے یا حسین
پھر حقیقت رہنِ اوہام و فسوں ہے یا حسین
پھر دلِ اقدارِ نازک غرقِ خوں ہے یا حسین
پھر بشر باطل کے آگے سر نگوں ہے یا حسین
آ، دِلِ انجام کو پھر گرمیِ آغاز دے
ائے بہادر، وقت کی آواز پر آواز دے
١١٥
اے مجاحد روح! پھر سینوں کو دے سوز و شرر
اے مقدّس تشنگی موّاج ہو سر سے گذر
اے امیرِ موت انوکھی زندگی بن کر اُبھر
اے مقرِّر خامشی منبر پہ آ تقریر کر
اے لہو پھر قشقہٰ پیشانیِ کردار بن
اے جراحت، میان سے بارہر نکل تلوار بن
١١٦
دیکھ پھر قصرِ جہنمّ بن چکا ہے روزگار
آنچ میں غلطیدہ ہے پھر خیمۂِ لیل و نہار
سر زمیں پر حکمراں ہیں باہزاراں اقتدار
آ تش و دود و دُخان و شعلہ و برق و شرار
زندگی ہے برسرِ آتش فِشانی یاحسین
آگ دنیا میں لگی ہے آگ، پانی یا حسین
मोजिद ओ मुफ़क्किर-जोश मलीहाबादी-मुन्तख़ब बन्द
९२
कर दिया साबित ये तू ने अए दिलावर आदमी
ज़िन्दगी क्या मौत से लेता है टक्कर आदमी
काट सकता है रग ए गर्दन से ख़ंजर आदमी
लश्करों को रौंद सकते हैं बहत्तर आदमी
ज़ो’फ़ ढा सकता है क़स्र ए अफ़सर ओ औरंग को
आबगीने तोड़ सकते हैं हिसार ए संग को
१००
अए हुसैन अबतक तेरा नक़्श ए क़दम ताबिंदा है
ज़िन्दा है, पाइन्दा है, नाज़िन्दा है, रख़शिंदा है
रौशन ओ पाइन्दा ओ बालिंदा ओ बख़शिंदा है
गाम ज़न तू जिस पे था वो जादा अबतक ज़िन्दा है
ज़ौ फ़िगन है ज़हन की हर बंद पर हर जोड़ पर
शम’अ जो ताबिंदा है तेरी गली के मोड़ पर
१०२
अए हुसैन इब्न ए अली अए शह ए यज़्दां सिफ़ात
नूर से तेरे झमकती है जबीन ए काएनात
महव हो जाएँ अगर दुनिया से तेरे वाक़े’आत
गुंबद ए तारीख़ पे छा जाये हैबत नाक रात
भूल सकता ही नहीं इन्सान क़ुरबानी तेरी
हाफ़िज़े के फ़र्ख़ का झूमर है पेशानी तेरी
१०८
फिर बशर के ज़हन पर अक्स ए जुनूं है या हुसैन
फिर हक़ीक़त रहन ए औहाम ओ फ़ुसूं है या हुसैन
फिर दिल ए इक़्दार ए नाज़ुक ग़र्क़ ए ख़ूं है या हुसैन
फिर बशर बातिल के आगे सर निगूं है या हुसैन
आ, दिल ए अंजाम को फिर गर्मी ए आग़ाज़ दे
अए बहादुर वक़्त की आवाज़ पर आवाज़ दे
११५
अए मुजाहिद रूह! फिर सीनों को दे सोज़ ए शरर
अए मुक़द्दस तश्नगी मव्वाज हो सर से गुज़र
अए अमीर ए मौत अनोखी ज़िन्दगी बन कर उभर
अए मुक़र्रिर ख़ामोशी, मिम्बर पे आ तक़रीर कर
अए लहू फिर क़श्क़ा ए पेशानी ए किरदार बन
अए जराहत, मियान से बाहर निकल तलवार बन
११६
देख फिर क़स्र ए जहन्नुम बन चुका है रोज़गार
आंच में ग़ल्तीदा है फिर ख़ैमा ए लैल ओ निहार
सरज़मीं पर हुक्मरां हैं बा हज़ारां इक़्तेदार
आतिश ओ दूद ओ दुख़ान ओ शोला ओ बर्क़ ओ शरार
ज़िन्दगी है बरसर ए आतिश फ़िशानी या हुसैन
आग दुनिया में लगी है आग, पानी या हुसैन
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. Typically, josh’s compositions throb and overflow with energy and ‘josh/passion’. He uses the story of karbala to both celebrate courage and righteousness in the facee of certain death but also to apply it to present times. It is best to read the overview here ‘https://urdushahkar.org/mojid-o-mufakkir-josh-malihabadi-00-overview/’.
92
kar diya saabit1 ye tu ne ae dilaavar2 aadmi
zindagi kya maut se leta hai Takkar aadmi
kaaT sakta hai rag-e-gardan3 se Khanjar4 aadmi
lashkaroN ko raund5 sakte haiN bahattar6 aadmi
za’uf7 Dha sakta8 hai qasr9 e afsar o auraNg10 ko
aabgiine11 toR sakte haiN hisaar12 e saNg13 ko 1.to prove 2.brave 3.jugular vein 4.dagger 5.trample, conquer 6.seventy two 7.weakness, old age 8.destroy 9.palace, castle 10.throne, king 11.crystals 12.parapet, wall 13.rock
You have proved, O brave man that man can overcome not only the difficulties of Life but also face down Death. You have proved that the jugular can cut through a dagger. You have proved that seventy two can prevail upon vast armies. Truth, even without arms can destroy castles and armies. You have proved that crystal can break walls of stone. This draws heavily from the story of karbala. husain resisted a vast army with only 72 of his followers. They were all killed but the popular perception is that truth/virtue triumphed over evil … thus jugular vein overcame the dagger (husain’s head was severed) and crystal broke stone stone ramparts.
100
aye husain abtak tera naqsh e qadam1 taabinda2 hai
zinda hai, paainda3 hai, naazinda4 hai, raKhshinda5 hai
raushan o paainda3 o baalinda6 o baKhshinda7 hai
gaam zan8 tu jis pe tha vo jaada9 abtak zinda hai
zau-figan10 hai zahn ki har band11 par har joR12 par
sham’a jo taabinda2 hai teri gali ke moR par 1.foot print i.e., example 2.bright 3.firm, strong 4.source of pride 5.brilliant 6.every increasing (in strength) 7. granting deliverance 8.walked 9.pathway 10.shining a light on 11.fold 12.connection
O husain, to this day, your footprints/(example, pathway that you showed) shine brightly. It is alive, firm, a source of pride and lustrous. Bright, firm, ever increasing in strength and granting deliverance. The path that you took, that path still beckons. Every fold and every connection in the mind is lit by the lamp that shines at the head of your path.
102
aye husain ibn e ali aye shah1 e yazdaN2 sifaat3
nuur4 se tere jhamakti5 hai jabiin6 e kaa’enaat7
mahv8 ho jaaeN agar duniya se tere vaqe’aat9
guNbad e tariKh10 pe chha jaaye haibatnaak11 raat
bhool sakta hi nahiN insaan qurbaani teri
hafize12 ke farKh13 ka jhoomar hai peshaani14 teri 1.king 2.god 3.qualities (shah e yazdaN sifat=king with godlike/divine qualities) 4.light 5.sparkles 6.forehead 7.creation 8.forget 9.legends 10.history 11.fearsome 12.memory, history 13.face 14.forehead
O husain, king among great ones with divine qualities, it is with your light that the brow of creation sparkles. If your story were to disappear from this earth a dark fearsome night will descend on the dome of history. Man cannot forget your sacrifice. Your memory is the ornament on the brow of history
108
phir bashar1 ke zahn2 par aks3 e junuN4 hai ya husain
phir haqiqat5 rahn6 e auhaam7 o fusuuN8 hai ya husain
phir dil e iqdaar e naazuk9 Gharq10 e KhuN hai ya husain
phir bashar baatil11 ke aage sar niguN12 hai ya husain
aa, dil e anjaam13 ko phir garmi14 e aaGhaaz15 de
aye bahadur vaqt ki aavaaz par aavaaz de 1.human 2.mind 3.reflection 4.madness 5.truth 6.captive 7.plural of vahm=superstitions 8.magic, deception 9.tender greatness, goodness 10.drowned 11.untruth, evil 12.bowed 13.end, fatalism 14.enthusiasm 15.beginning, starting (to change)
josh in the next stanzas addresses the problems of the present, and says that many of the same problems of corrupt power exist today. He calls upon husain to help lead. He says that “husainiyat” is in the hands of the people and that they should rise up to change the system … Once again, the human mind is clouded by madness. Once again truth is captive to superstition and deception. Once again, the delicate heart of goodness is drowned in blood. Once again, man bows down towards untruth/evil/corrupt power. Come (O husain) change our fatalism/inaction to an enthusiasm for a new beginning. O, brave one, lend your voice to support the need of the time.
115
aye mujaahid-rooh1! phir siinoN ko de soz e sharar2
aye muqaddas3 tashnagi4 mavvaaj5 ho sar se guzar
aye amir e maut6 anokhi zindagi ban kar ubhar
aye muqarrir Khamushi7, mimbar8 pe aa taqriir9 kar
aye lahu10 phir qashqa e peshaani11 e kirdaar12 ban
aye jaraahat13, miyaan14 se baahar nikal talwaar15 ban 1.spirit of struggle 2.fire/strength of spark 3.holy 4.thirst 5.bringer of mauj ( waves) 6.conqueror of death 7.eloquent silence 8.pulpit 9.speech 10.blood 11. mark on the forehead (mark of distinction) 12.character 13.bravery, courage 14.scabbard 15.sword
O spirit of resistance once again light a fire in our hearts. O holy thirst, create waves that rise above our heads and engulf us. The juxtaposition of thirst creating waves (of water) is beautiful and of course “making waves” is also creating tumult, resistance. O conquerer of death, come back again with new life – again the juxtaposition of opposites, life and death. O eloquent silence, come on the pulpit and speak. This has reference to a story out of he battle of karbala … husain delivered a Khutba/sermon/speech to the army of yazid. It is said that he was so eloquent that the front ranks of the army who could hear him were so affected that they refused to fight. Thus, josh calls upon husain’s eloquence that has been silent for long, to come back and address the people. O blood, once again mark our forehead with distinction. qashqa-e peshaani – mark of distinction on the forehead (Hindu imagery). The mark in this case is made with blood, and it is a mark of distinction on the forehead of (personified) character. O courageous one, bring your sword out of the scabbard
116
dekh phir qasr e jahannum1 ban chuka hai rozgaar2
aanch meN Ghaltida3 hai phir Khaima e lail o nihaar4
sarzamiN5 par hukmraaN haiN ba hazaraaN6 iqtedaar7
aatish8 o dood9 o duKhan10 o shola11 o barq12 o sharaar13
zindagi hai barsar14 e aatish fishani15 ya husain
aag duniya meN lagi hai aag, pani ya husain 1.house of hell 2.daily life 3.drowned in, covered by 4.place of night and day (place of living=life) 5.homeland 6.by the thousands 7.powers (of evil) 8.fire 9.steam 10.heat 11.flame 12.lightning 13.sparks 14.at the head of, at the door of, about to be 15.spreading flame, showering flame
Once again daily life has become a house of hell. Life is surrounded by burning fires. A thousand injustices rule in place of righteous law. Fire, steam, heat, flame, lightning and sparks! Life is at the point of being completely consumed by fire. The world is on fire, on fire – water! O husain. The plea for water is full of pathos and is very ironic because the defining feature of the death of husain is thirst – his access to water was cut off by the army of yazid. Josh turns it on its head so beautifully and powerfully as a climax to his marsia … asking for water of a person who was killed thirsty.
josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. Typically, josh’s compositions throb and overflow with energy and ‘josh/passion’. He uses the story of karbala to both celebrate courage and righteousness in the facee of certain death but also to apply it to present times. It is best to read the overview here ‘https://urdushahkar.org/mojid-o-mufakkir-josh-malihabadi-00-overview/’.
92
kar diya saabit1 ye tu ne ae dilaavar2 aadmi
zindagi kya maut se leta hai Takkar aadmi
kaaT sakta hai rag-e-gardan3 se Khanjar4 aadmi
lashkaroN ko raund5 sakte haiN bahattar6 aadmi
za’uf7 Dha sakta8 hai qasr9 e afsar o auraNg10 ko
aabgiine11 toR sakte haiN hisaar12 e saNg13 ko
1.to prove 2.brave 3.jugular vein 4.dagger 5.trample, conquer 6.seventy two 7.weakness, old age 8.destroy 9.palace, castle 10.throne, king 11.crystals 12.parapet, wall 13.rock
You have proved, O brave man that man can overcome not only the difficulties of Life but also face down Death. You have proved that the jugular can cut through a dagger. You have proved that seventy two can prevail upon vast armies. Truth, even without arms can destroy castles and armies. You have proved that crystal can break walls of stone. This draws heavily from the story of karbala. husain resisted a vast army with only 72 of his followers. They were all killed but the popular perception is that truth/virtue triumphed over evil … thus jugular vein overcame the dagger (husain’s head was severed) and crystal broke stone stone ramparts.
100
aye husain abtak tera naqsh e qadam1 taabinda2 hai
zinda hai, paainda3 hai, naazinda4 hai, raKhshinda5 hai
raushan o paainda3 o baalinda6 o baKhshinda7 hai
gaam zan8 tu jis pe tha vo jaada9 abtak zinda hai
zau-figan10 hai zahn ki har band11 par har joR12 par
sham’a jo taabinda2 hai teri gali ke moR par
1.foot print i.e., example 2.bright 3.firm, strong 4.source of pride 5.brilliant 6.every increasing (in strength) 7. granting deliverance 8.walked 9.pathway 10.shining a light on 11.fold 12.connection
O husain, to this day, your footprints/(example, pathway that you showed) shine brightly. It is alive, firm, a source of pride and lustrous. Bright, firm, ever increasing in strength and granting deliverance. The path that you took, that path still beckons. Every fold and every connection in the mind is lit by the lamp that shines at the head of your path.
102
aye husain ibn e ali aye shah1 e yazdaN2 sifaat3
nuur4 se tere jhamakti5 hai jabiin6 e kaa’enaat7
mahv8 ho jaaeN agar duniya se tere vaqe’aat9
guNbad e tariKh10 pe chha jaaye haibatnaak11 raat
bhool sakta hi nahiN insaan qurbaani teri
hafize12 ke farKh13 ka jhoomar hai peshaani14 teri
1.king 2.god 3.qualities (shah e yazdaN sifat=king with godlike/divine qualities) 4.light 5.sparkles 6.forehead 7.creation 8.forget 9.legends 10.history 11.fearsome 12.memory, history 13.face 14.forehead
O husain, king among great ones with divine qualities, it is with your light that the brow of creation sparkles. If your story were to disappear from this earth a dark fearsome night will descend on the dome of history. Man cannot forget your sacrifice. Your memory is the ornament on the brow of history.
108
phir bashar1 ke zahn2 par aks3 e junuN4 hai ya husain
phir haqiqat5 rahn6 e auhaam7 o fusuuN8 hai ya husain
phir dil e iqdaar e naazuk9 Gharq10 e KhuN hai ya husain
phir bashar baatil11 ke aage sar niguN12 hai ya husain
aa, dil e anjaam13 ko phir garmi14 e aaGhaaz15 de
aye bahadur vaqt ki aavaaz par aavaaz de
1.human 2.mind 3.reflection 4.madness 5.truth 6.captive 7.plural of vahm=superstitions 8.magic, deception 9.tender greatness, goodness 10.drowned 11.untruth, evil 12.bowed 13.end, fatalism 14.enthusiasm 15.beginning, starting (to change)
josh in the next stanzas addresses the problems of the present, and says that many of the same problems of corrupt power exist today. He calls upon husain to help lead. He says that “husainiyat” is in the hands of the people and that they should rise up to change the system … Once again, the human mind is clouded by madness. Once again truth is captive to superstition and deception. Once again, the delicate heart of goodness is drowned in blood. Once again, man bows down towards untruth/evil/corrupt power. Come (O husain) change our fatalism/inaction to an enthusiasm for a new beginning. O, brave one, lend your voice to support the need of the time.
115
aye mujaahid-rooh1! phir siinoN ko de soz e sharar2
aye muqaddas3 tashnagi4 mavvaaj5 ho sar se guzar
aye amir e maut6 anokhi zindagi ban kar ubhar
aye muqarrir Khamushi7, mimbar8 pe aa taqriir9 kar
aye lahu10 phir qashqa e peshaani11 e kirdaar12 ban
aye jaraahat13, miyaan14 se baahar nikal talwaar15 ban
1.spirit of struggle 2.fire/strength of spark 3.holy 4.thirst 5.bringer of mauj ( waves) 6.conqueror of death 7.eloquent silence 8.pulpit 9.speech 10.blood 11. mark on the forehead (mark of distinction) 12.character 13.bravery, courage 14.scabbard 15.sword
O spirit of resistance once again light a fire in our hearts. O holy thirst, create waves that rise above our heads and engulf us. The juxtaposition of thirst creating waves (of water) is beautiful and of course “making waves” is also creating tumult, resistance. O conquerer of death, come back again with new life – again the juxtaposition of opposites, life and death. O eloquent silence, come on the pulpit and speak. This has reference to a story out of he battle of karbala … husain delivered a Khutba/sermon/speech to the army of yazid. It is said that he was so eloquent that the front ranks of the army who could hear him were so affected that they refused to fight. Thus, josh calls upon husain’s eloquence that has been silent for long, to come back and address the people. O blood, once again mark our forehead with distinction. qashqa-e peshaani – mark of distinction on the forehead (Hindu imagery). The mark in this case is made with blood, and it is a mark of distinction on the forehead of (personified) character. O courageous one, bring your sword out of the scabbard.
116
dekh phir qasr e jahannum1 ban chuka hai rozgaar2
aanch meN Ghaltida3 hai phir Khaima e lail o nihaar4
sarzamiN5 par hukmraaN haiN ba hazaraaN6 iqtedaar7
aatish8 o dood9 o duKhan10 o shola11 o barq12 o sharaar13
zindagi hai barsar14 e aatish fishani15 ya husain
aag duniya meN lagi hai aag, pani ya husain
1.house of hell 2.daily life 3.drowned in, covered by 4.place of night and day (place of living=life) 5.homeland 6.by the thousands 7.powers (of evil) 8.fire 9.steam 10.heat 11.flame 12.lightning 13.sparks 14.at the head of, at the door of, about to be 15.spreading flame, showering flame
Once again daily life has become a house of hell. Life is surrounded by burning fires. A thousand injustices rule in place of righteous law. Fire, steam, heat, flame, lightning and sparks! Life is at the point of being completely consumed by fire. The world is on fire, on fire – water! O husain. The plea for water is full of pathos and is very ironic because the defining feature of the death of husain is thirst – his access to water was cut off by the army of yazid. Josh turns it on its head so beautifully and powerfully as a climax to his marsia … asking for water of a person who was killed thirsty.
