For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
اے سرمایہ دار ۔ سیماب اکبرآبادی
اے مئے پندار سے مخمور، اے سرمایہ دار
اے کہ ہے دولت پرستی تیرا بے مایہ شمار
اے کہ دولت ہی تیرے دُنیا ہے اور دولت ہی دین
اے کہ تو دولت کو ہے سمجھا ہوا پروردگار
زعم میں سرمایہ داری کے یہ وحشت یہ جنوں
قصّۂ مزدور سُننا بھی ہے تجھ کو ناگوار
تو کہ سرمائے کی مستی میں ہے سرخوش صبح شام
تجھ کو کیا معلوم رفتارِ مدارِ روزگار
خود نچوڑی تو نے دولت خون سے مزدور کے
اور پھر غمخواریٔ مزدور بھی ہے تجھ پہ بار
حقّ محنت اُس کا دینے میں تجھے سو عذر ہیں
ہیں عرق جس کی جبیں کا تیرے دُرّ شاہوار
اپنی عشرت گاہ میں تو محوِ خوابِ عیش ہے
اور مزدور اِک شکستہ جھونپڑی میں بیقرار
اُس کی بربادی پہ تیرا دِل کبھی سوزاں نہیں
وہم ہے تجھ کو کہ تو اِنساں ہے وہ اِنساں نہیں
جانتا ہوں یہ غلط تقسیم ہے تقدیر کی
خواجگی تجھ کو عطا کی اور اُسے بیچارگی
قسمتِ عالم پہ ہے قبضہ مگر اللہ کا
وہ اگر چاہے بدل ڈالے تیری تقدیر بھی
خاک اُڑا دے وہ گھڑی بھر میں خزانوں کی ترے
زر فشاں مزدور کا ہو جائے دامانِ تہی
نعمتِ مقسوم کا ممنون ہونا چاہئے
صاحبِ دولت کو ہے تحدیثِ دولت لازمی
تیرے سرمائے میں قسمت ہے غریبوں کی شریک
ورنہ کیوں تجھ کو ضرورت سے سوا دولت ملی
وہ بھی اِک اِنسان ہے دُنیا میں تیری ہی طرح
بے کس و نادار ہے لیکن ہے پھر بھی آدمی
خون پانی کر کے وہ بھرتا ہے تیری تھیلیاں
منحصر محنت پر اُس کی کامیابی ہے تری
عارضی دولت کے غرّے پر نہ یوں مغرور ہو
سوچ، کیا ہو حال تیرا تو اگر مزدور ہو
اپنے ہم جنسوں سے اے منعم نہ وحشت چاہئے
جن کا تو مخدوم ہے اُنکی بھی خدمت چاہئے
وہ معاون ہیں ترے، ہمدرد ہیں ہمرازہیں
حسبِ موقع تجھ کو اُن کی بھی اعانت چاہئے
حقِّ خدمت اُن کا دینا چاہئے دِل کھول کر
جو وفا تجھ سے کریں، اُن سے مروّت چاہئے
دیکھ آنکھیں اُن کی ہیں لبریز خونِ گرم سے
اِن مقدّس آنسوؤں کی کچھ تو عزّت چاہئے
دیکھ محنت سے ہے جسمِ ناتواں اِنکا فگار
یہ ہیں تیرے دست و پا، اِنکی حفاظت چاہئے
دیکھ اِن کے دِل ہیں تیرے ظلم سے ٹوٹے ہوئے
فکرِ دِل جوئی بہ اندازِ محبّت چاہئے
دیکھ و اِک روشنی پھیلی اُفق سے ہوشیار
اب تو غافل، امتیازِ نور و ظلمت چاہئے
نالۂ مظلوم بہرِ اِنتقام آنے کو ہے
اِشتراکیت کا اِک طوفانِ عام آنے کو ہے
अए सरमायादार – सीमाब अकबराबादी
अए मै-ए पिन्दार से मख़्मूर, अए सरमायादार
अए के दौलत-परस्ती तेरा बे-माया शुमार
अए के दौलत ही तेरी दुनिया है और दौलत ही दीं
अए के तू दौलत को समझा हुआ परवरदिगार
ज़ोम में सरमायादारी के ये वहशत, ये जुनूं
क़िस्सा-ए मज़दूर सुनना भी है तुझ को नागवार
तू के सरमाये कि मस्ती में है सरख़ुश सुबह ओ शाम
तुझ को क्या मालूम रफ़्तार-ए मदार-ए रोज़गार
ख़ुद निचोड़ी तू ने दौलत ख़ून से मज़दूर के
और फिर ग़मख़्वारी-ए मज़दूर भी है तुझ पे बार
हक़्क़-ए मेहनत उस के देने में तुझे सौ उज़्र हैं
हैं अरक़ जिस कि जबीं का तेरे दुर्र-ए शाहवार
अपनी इशरत-गाह में तू महव-ए ख़्वाब-ए ऐश है
और मज़दूर एक शिकस्ता झोंपड़ी में बेक़रार
उस कि बरबादी पे तेरे दिल कभी सोज़ां नहीं
वहम है तुझ को के तू इन्सां नहीं
जानता हूं ये ग़लत तक़्सीम है तक़्दीर कि
ख़्वाजगी तुझ को अत कि और उसे बेचारगी
क़िस्मत-ए आलम पे है क़ब्ज़ा मगर अल्लाह का
वो अगर चाहे बदल डाले तेरी तक़्दीर भी
ख़ाक उड़ा दे वो घड़ी भर में ख़ज़ानौं कि तेरे
ज़र फ़शां मज़दूर का हो जाए दामान-ए तेही
ने’मत-ए मक़्सूम का मम्नून होना चाहिए
साहिब-ए दौलत को है तःदीस-ए दौलत लाज़िमी
तेरे सरमाए में है दौलत ग़रीबौं कि शरीक
वर्ना क्यूं तुझ को ज़रूरत से सिवा दौलत मिली
वो भी एक इन्सान है दुनिया में तेरी ही तरह
बेकस ओ नादार है, लैकिन है फिर भी आदमी
ख़ून पानी कर के वो भरता है तेरी थैलियाँ
मुनहसिर मेहनत पर उस कि कामियाबी है तेरी
आ’रेज़ी दौलत के ग़ुर्रे पर न यूँ मग़्रूर हो
सोच, क्या हो हाल तेरा तू अगर मज़्दूर हो
अपने हम-जिन्सौं से अए मून’अम न वहशत चाहिए
जिन का तू मख़्दूम है उन कि भी ख़िदमत चाहिए
वो मा’वन हैं तेरे हमदर्द हैं हमराज़ हैं
हस्ब-ए मौक़ा तुझ को उन कि भी ए’आनत चाहिए
हक़्क़-ए ख़िद्मत उन का देना चाहिए दिल खोल कर
जो वफ़ा तुझ से करें, उन से मुरव्वत चाहिए
देख आँखें उन कि हैं लब्रेज़ ख़ून-ए गर्म से
इन मुक़द्दस आन्सुऔं कि कुछ तो इज़्ज़त चाहिए
देख मेहनत से है जिस्म-ए नातवाँ इनका फ़िगार
ये हैं तेरे दस्त-ओ-पा, इनकी हिफ़ाज़त चाहिए
देख इन के दिल हैं तेरे ज़ुल्म से टूटे हुए
फ़िक्र-ए दिल-जूई बा अंदाज़-ए मोहब्बत चाहिए
देख वो एक रौशनी फैली उफ़क़ से होशियार
अब तो ग़ाफ़िल, इम्तियाज़-ए नूर ओ ज़ुल्मत चाहिए
नाला-ए मज़्लूम बहर-ए इंतेक़ाम आने को है
इश्तेराकियत का एक तूफ़ान-ए आम आने को है
aye sarmaayadaar – seemab akbarabadi
Click on any passage for word meanings and discussion.
aye mai-e-pindaar1 se maKhmoor2, aye sarmaayadaar3
aye ke hai daulat-parasti4 tera be-maaya5 shumaar6
aye ke daulat hi teri duniya hai aur daulat hi deeN7
aye ke tu daulat ko hai samjha hua parvardigaar8 1.wine of pride/hubris/power 2.drunk 3.capitalist 4.wealth/capital worshipping 5.immeasurable 6.count 7.faith 8.sustainer, god
O, capitalist, drunk in the wine of power. You who count worshipping wealth as an immeasurable good. Wealth/capital is everything for you here and in the hereafter. You, who consider capital to be your god.
zo’m1 meN sarmaaya-daari2 ke ye vahshat3, ye junooN4
qissa-e-mazdoor5 sun-na bhi hai tujh ko nagavaar6
tu ke sarmaaye ki masti7 meN hai sarKhush8 subah o shaam
tujh ko kya m’aaloom raftaar9-e madaar10-e rozgaar11 1.hubris, extreme pride 2.capitalism 3.ferocity 4.passion 5.story of the worker 6.unacceptable, unpleasant 7.intoxication 8.very happy 9.movement 10.basis 11.livelihood
Such ferocity and passion in the hubris of capitalism that you find it unpleasant even to hear the story of the worker. You are very happy, day and night, in the intoxication of capital. You do not even know the ways/fundamentals of making a livelihood.
Khud nichoRi1 tu ne daulat Khoon se mazdoor ke
aur phir GhamKhwaari2-e mazdoor bhi hai tujh pe baar3
haqq-e-mehnat4 us ka dene meN tujhe sau uzr5 haiN
haiN araq6 jis ki jabiN7 ka tere durr-e-shaahvaar8 1.squeezed 2.sympathy 3.burden 4.rights of labour 5.excuses 6.juice 7.brow 8.pearls fit for kings/crowns
You yourself squeezed wealth out of the blood of labour and you have a hundred excuses not to give the worker his due. Sympathy with the worker is a burden on you. It is the drops of sweat of his brow that are the pearls in your crown.
apni ishrat-gaah1 meN tu mahv2-e Khwaab-e aish3 hai
aur mazdoor ek shikasta4 jhoNpRi meN be-qaraar5 1.house of pleasure 2.lost 3.luxury 4.broken 5.restless
You are lost in dreams of luxury in your house of pleasure and the worker is restless in his dilapidated hut.
us ki barbaadi1 pe tera dil kabhi sozaaN2 nahiN
vahm3 hai tujh ko ke tu insaaN hai vo insaaN nahiN 1.destruction/sorry condition 2.sorrowful 3.suspicion/thought
Your heart does not mourn his sorry condition. You think that you are human and he is not.
jaanta huN ye Ghalat taqsim1 hai taqdeer2 ki
Khwaajagi3 tujh ko ata4 ki aur use bechaaragi5
qismat-e aalam6 pe hai qabza7 magar allah ka
vo agar chaahe badal Daale teri taqdeer2 bhi 1.distribution 2.fate 3.lordship 4.granted 5.helplessness 6.world 7.control
I know/think that it is wrongful/unjust distribution of fate that you should get a position of power and he be helpless. But (remember) that god has control of the fate of this world. If he wills he can change your luck any time.
Khaak1 uRa de vo ghaRi2 bhar meN KhazaanauN3 ki tere
zar-fashaaN4 mazdoor ka ho jaaye daamaan-e-tehi5
ne’mat6-e maqsoom7 ka mamnoon8 hona chaahiye
saahib-e-daulat9 ko hai tahdees-e-daulat10 laazimi11 1.dust 2.in a minute 3.treasures 4.filled/high with gold 5.tight/narrow/empty apron 6.blessing 7.that which has been distributed 8.obliged, thankful 9.owner of wealth 10.explain/justify (acquisition of) wealth 11.necessary
He (god) can reduce your treasure into dust in one minute, if he wants. He can pile the empty apron of the worker high with gold. You should be thankful for the blessing you have received. It is necessary for the owner of wealth to justify it.
tere sarmaaye1 meN hai daulat GharibauN ki shareek2
varna3 kyuN tujh ko zarurat4 se siva5 daulat mili
vo bhi ek insaan hai duniya meN teri hi tarah
be-kas6 o nadaar7 hai, laikin hai phir bhi aadmi 1.capital 2.included, mixed 3.if not 4.necessity/justified 5.beyond 6.helpless 7.powerless
The wealth of the poor is included in your capital. If not, how could you have received wealth beyond justification. They are also human like you. They may be helpless and powerless but they are also human.
Khoon paani kar ke vo bharta hai teri thailiyaaN
munhasir1 mehnat2 par us ki kaamiyaabi3 hai teri 1.dependent, based on 2.labour, work 3.success
The workers’ blood is spilled to fill your sacks (of wealth). Your success is based on their work.
aa’rizi1 daulat ke Ghurre2 par na yuN maGhroor3 ho
soch, kya ho haal tera tu agar4 mazdoor ho 1.temporary 2.pride 3.proud 4.if
Do not be proud/vain about this temporary wealth. Think, what would have happened to you, if you had been a labourer.
apne hum-jinsauN1 se aye mun’am2 na vahshat3 chaahiye
jin ka tu maKhdoom4 hai un ki bhi Khidmat5 chaahiye
vo m’aavan6 haiN tere, hamdard haiN, hamraaz haiN
hasb-e-mauqa7 tujh ko un ki bhi e’aanat8 chaahiye 1.same species, kindred 2.rewarded 3.ferocity, anger 4.served 5.service 6.helpers 7.according to occasion 8.help/reward
You, who have been rewarded, should not be angry at your kind. You have been served by them, they need service too. They are your helpers, sympathisers and confidants. According to occasion, they need to be rewarded too.
haqq-e-Khidmat1 un ka dena chaahiye dil khol kar
jo vafa2 tujh se kareN, un se muravvat3 chaahiye
dekh aaNkheN un ki haiN labrez4 Khoon-e garm se
in muqaddas5 aaNsuauN ki kuchh to izzat6 chaahiye 1.rights of work 2.faith 3.kindness (justice) 4.brimming, overflowing 5.holy 6.respect
You should open your heart and give them their rights. They have been faithful to you, you need to do justice to them. Look, their eyes are brimming with (tears of) blood. You need to have some respect for these holy/rightful/justifiable tears.
dekh mehnat se hai jism1-e natavaaN2 inka figaar3
ye haiN tere dast-o-paa4, inki hifaazat5 chaahiye
dekh in ke dil haiN tere zulm6 se TooTe hue
fikr7-e dil-juuii8 ba-andaaz9-e mohabbat chaahiye 1.bodies 2.weak 3.broken, injured 4.hands and feet 5.protection 6.cruelty 7.concern/regard for 8.respecting feelings 9.proportionate
Look their frail bodies are hurting with hard work. They are your hands and feet, you need to protect them. Look, their hearts are broken because of your cruelty. You need to show concern for their feelings in proportion to their love.
dekh vo ek raushni1 phaili ufaq2 se hoshiyaar3
ab to Ghaafil4, imtiyaaz5-e noor6 o zulmat7 chaahiye 1.light 2.horizon 3.careful, be warned 4.forgetful, neglectful 5.distinction, differentiation 6.light (justice) 7.darkness (injustice)
Look, be careful, light (dawn/socialist revolution) has broken out over the horizon. O, you forgetful, you need to learn the difference between justice and injustice.
naala1-e mazloom2 bahr3-e inteqaam4 aane ko hai
ishteraakiyat5 ka ek toofaan-e a’am6 aane ko hai 1.anguished cry 2.downtrodden 3.for the sake of 4.revenge 5.socialism 6.general, all encompassing
The anguished cry of the downtrodden is rising. An all encompassing storm of socialism is approaching.
aye sarmaayadaar – seemab akbarabadi
aye mai-e-pindaar1 se maKhmoor2, aye sarmaayadaar3
aye ke hai daulat-parasti4 tera be-maaya5 shumaar6
aye ke daulat hi teri duniya hai aur daulat hi deeN7
aye ke tu daulat ko hai samjha hua parvardigaar8
1.wine of pride/hubris/power 2.drunk 3.capitalist 4.wealth/capital worshipping 5.immeasurable 6.count 7.faith 8.sustainer, god
O, capitalist, drunk in the wine of power. You who count worshipping wealth as an immeasurable good. Wealth/capital is everything for you here and in the hereafter. You, who consider capital to be your god.
zo’m1 meN sarmaaya-daari2 ke ye vahshat3, ye junooN4
qissa-e-mazdoor5 sun-na bhi hai tujh ko nagavaar6
tu ke sarmaaye ki masti7 meN hai sarKhush8 subah o shaam
tujh ko kya m’aaloom raftaar9-e madaar10-e rozgaar11
1.hubris, extreme pride 2.capitalism 3.ferocity 4.passion 5.story of the worker 6.unacceptable, unpleasant 7.intoxication 8.very happy 9.movement 10.basis 11.livelihood
Such ferocity and passion in the hubris of capitalism that you find it unpleasant even to hear the story of the worker. You are very happy, day and night, in the intoxication of capital. You do not even know the ways/fundamentals of making a livelihood.
Khud nichoRi1 tu ne daulat Khoon se mazdoor ke
aur phir GhamKhwaari2-e mazdoor bhi hai tujh pe baar3
haqq-e-mehnat4 us ka dene meN tujhe sau uzr5 haiN
haiN araq6 jis ki jabiN7 ka tere durr-e-shaahvaar8
1.squeezed 2.sympathy 3.burden 4.rights of labour 5.excuses 6.juice 7.brow 8.pearls fit for kings/crowns
You yourself squeezed wealth out of the blood of labour and you have a hundred excuses not to give the worker his due. Sympathy with the worker is a burden on you. It is the drops of sweat of his brow that are the pearls in your crown.
apni ishrat-gaah1 meN tu mahv2-e Khwaab-e aish3 hai
aur mazdoor ek shikasta4 jhoNpRi meN be-qaraar5
1.house of pleasure 2.lost 3.luxury 4.broken 5.restless
You are lost in dreams of luxury in your house of pleasure and the worker is restless in his dilapidated hut.
us ki barbaadi1 pe tera dil kabhi sozaaN2 nahiN
vahm3 hai tujh ko ke tu insaaN hai vo insaaN nahiN
1.destruction/sorry condition 2.sorrowful 3.suspicion/thought
Your heart does not mourn his sorry condition. You think that you are human and he is not.
jaanta huN ye Ghalat taqsim1 hai taqdeer2 ki
Khwaajagi3 tujh ko ata4 ki aur use bechaaragi5
qismat-e aalam6 pe hai qabza7 magar allah ka
vo agar chaahe badal Daale teri taqdeer2 bhi
1.distribution 2.fate 3.lordship 4.granted 5.helplessness 6.world 7.control
I know/think that it is wrongful/unjust distribution of fate that you should get a position of power and he be helpless. But (remember) that god has control of the fate of this world. If he wills he can change your luck any time.
Khaak1 uRa de vo ghaRi2 bhar meN KhazaanauN3 ki tere
zar-fashaaN4 mazdoor ka ho jaaye daamaan-e-tehi5
ne’mat6-e maqsoom7 ka mamnoon8 hona chaahiye
saahib-e-daulat9 ko hai tahdees-e-daulat10 laazimi11
1.dust 2.in a minute 3.treasures 4.filled/high with gold 5.tight/narrow/empty apron 6.blessing 7.that which has been distributed 8.obliged, thankful 9.owner of wealth 10.explain/justify (acquisition of) wealth 11.necessary
He (god) can reduce your treasure into dust in one minute, if he wants. He can pile the empty apron of the worker high with gold. You should be thankful for the blessing you have received. It is necessary for the owner of wealth to justify it.
tere sarmaaye1 meN hai daulat GharibauN ki shareek2
varna3 kyuN tujh ko zarurat4 se siva5 daulat mili
vo bhi ek insaan hai duniya meN teri hi tarah
be-kas6 o nadaar7 hai, laikin hai phir bhi aadmi
1.capital 2.included, mixed 3.if not 4.necessity/justified 5.beyond 6.helpless 7.powerless
The wealth of the poor is included in your capital. If not, how could you have received wealth beyond justification. They are also human like you. They may be helpless and powerless but they are also human.
Khoon paani kar ke vo bharta hai teri thailiyaaN
munhasir1 mehnat2 par us ki kaamiyaabi3 hai teri
1.dependent, based on 2.labour, work 3.success
The workers’ blood is spilled to fill your sacks (of wealth). Your success is based on their work.
aa’rizi1 daulat ke Ghurre2 par na yuN maGhroor3 ho
soch, kya ho haal tera tu agar4 mazdoor ho
1.temporary 2.pride 3.proud 4.if
Do not be proud/vain about this temporary wealth. Think, what would have happened to you, if you had been a labourer.
apne hum-jinsauN1 se aye mun’am2 na vahshat3 chaahiye
jin ka tu maKhdoom4 hai un ki bhi Khidmat5 chaahiye
vo m’aavan6 haiN tere, hamdard haiN, hamraaz haiN
hasb-e-mauqa7 tujh ko un ki bhi e’aanat8 chaahiye
1.same species, kindred 2.rewarded 3.ferocity, anger 4.served 5.service 6.helpers 7.according to occasion 8.help/reward
You, who have been rewarded, should not be angry at your kind. You have been served by them, they need service too. They are your helpers, sympathisers and confidants. According to occasion, they need to be rewarded too.
haqq-e-Khidmat1 un ka dena chaahiye dil khol kar
jo vafa2 tujh se kareN, un se muravvat3 chaahiye
dekh aaNkheN un ki haiN labrez4 Khoon-e garm se
in muqaddas5 aaNsuauN ki kuchh to izzat6 chaahiye
1.rights of work 2.faith 3.kindness (justice) 4.brimming, overflowing 5.holy 6.respect
You should open your heart and give them their rights. They have been faithful to you, you need to do justice to them. Look, their eyes are brimming with (tears of) blood. You need to have some respect for these holy/rightful/justifiable tears.
dekh mehnat se hai jism1-e natavaaN2 inka figaar3
ye haiN tere dast-o-paa4, inki hifaazat5 chaahiye
dekh in ke dil haiN tere zulm6 se TooTe hue
fikr7-e dil-juuii8 ba-andaaz9-e mohabbat chaahiye
1.bodies 2.weak 3.broken, injured 4.hands and feet 5.protection 6.cruelty 7.concern/regard for 8.respecting feelings 9.proportionate
Look their frail bodies are hurting with hard work. They are your hands and feet, you need to protect them. Look, their hearts are broken because of your cruelty. You need to show concern for their feelings in proportion to their love.
dekh vo ek raushni1 phaili ufaq2 se hoshiyaar3
ab to Ghaafil4, imtiyaaz5-e noor6 o zulmat7 chaahiye
1.light 2.horizon 3.careful, be warned 4.forgetful, neglectful 5.distinction, differentiation 6.light (justice) 7.darkness (injustice)
Look, be careful, light (dawn/socialist revolution) has broken out over the horizon. O, you forgetful, you need to learn the difference between justice and injustice.
naala1-e mazloom2 bahr3-e inteqaam4 aane ko hai
ishteraakiyat5 ka ek toofaan-e a’am6 aane ko hai
1.anguished cry 2.downtrodden 3.for the sake of 4.revenge 5.socialism 6.general, all encompassing
The anguished cry of the downtrodden is rising. An all encompassing storm of socialism is approaching.
Key Search Words: socialism, social justice, progressive
