For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
آج جیل خانے میں
ایک خاموش عہد کے تحت
ہم قیدیوں کو ایک گیت گانے کی اِجازت ہے
افریقہ سلامت رہے
صرف ایک گیت
کم آہںگی اور متانت کے ساتھ
جذبوں پر ضبط کے بند باندھ لو
احساسات کی لو نیچے رکھے رہو
قیدی توانا مگر استوار آوازوں میں گاتے ہیں
افریقہ تیری خیر ہو
آنکھوں کے پیچھے دِل کی گہرائیوں سے اُمڈتے نُکیلے آنسو
بے ٹھکانا پرندے کی وحشت کی طرح
کوئی نام مقام ڈھونڈتے ہیں
جن پر قیام کر سکیں
اُن کارناموں کا ذکر
جو وہ انجام دے چکے
اُن مرحلوں کا تذکرہ
جِن سے گُذر رہے ہیں
اُن مرُادوں کی فہرست
جِن کے حصول کے لئے ابھی بہت کچھ کرنا ہے
آج جیل خانے میں
ہمیں ایک گیت گانے کی اِجازت ہے
आज जेल ख़ाने में
एक ख़ामोश अहद के था
हम क़ैदियौं को एक गीत गाने कि इजाज़त है
अफ़्रीक़ा सलामत रहे
सिर्फ़ एक गीत
कम आहंगी और मतानत के साथ
जज़्बौं पर ज़ब्त के बंद बाँध लो
एहसासात कि लौ नीची रक्खो
क़ैदी तवाना मगर उस्तवार आवाज़ों में गाते हैं
अफ़्रीक़ा तेरी खै़र हो
आंखौं के पीछे, दिल कि गहराईयौं से उमड़ते नुकीले आंसू
बे-ठिकाने परिंदे कि वहशत कि तरह
कोई नाम मक़ाम ढूँढ़ते
जिन पर क़्याम कर सकें
उन कारनामौं का ज़िक्र
जो वो अंजाम दे चुके हैं
उन मरहलौं का तज़्केरा
जिन से गुज़र रहे हैं
उन मुरादौं कि फ़ेहरिस्त
जिन के हुसूल के लिए अभी बहुत कुछ करना है
आज जेल ख़ाने में
हमें एक गीत गाने कि इजाज़त है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. Poets of the Progressive Writers’ Association met with African poets, expressed solidarity with them and wrote nazm of solidarity with their struggle for independence. ahmad faraz translated/re-composed in urdu a number of nazm written by African/South African poets. This is one of several which are/will be posted on urdushahkar. ‘Today in Prison’ – Dennis Brutus
aaj jail Khaane meN
ek Khaamosh1 ahd2 ke tha
hum qaidiyauN3 ko ek geet gaane ki ijaazat4 hai 1.silent, unstated 2.determination, judgement, pronouncement 3.prisoners 4.permission
Today in the jail, there was an understanding. We, the prisoners had permission to sing one song.
afreeqa salaamat1 rahe
sirf ek geet
kam aahaNgi2 aur mataanat3 ke saath
jazbauN4 par zabt5 ke bund6 baandh lo
ehsaasat7 ki lau8 neechi rakkho 1.long live 2.melody, music 3.sobriety, calmness 4.sentiments 5.control 6.ties 7.feelings 8.flame
Long live Africa. Only one song. With little music and with calm restraint. Control your passion, lower the flame of your feelings.
qaidi tawaana1 magar ustawar2 aavazauN meN gaate haiN
afreeqa teri Khair3 ho
aaNkhauN ke peechhe, dil ki gahraayiauN4 se umaDte5 nukeele6 aaNsu 1.strong 2.resolute 3.welfare, safety 4.depths 5.rising, welling up 6.sharp
Prisoners, sing in strong and resolute voices – long live Africa, but behind the eyes, in the depths of their hearts, pin-prick tears well up.
be-Thikaana1 parinde2 ki vahshat3 ki tarah4
koii naam maqaam5 DhoonDte
jin par qiyaam6 kar sakeN 1.homeless, lost 2.bird 3.dread, fear 5.place, shelter 6.reside, rest
Fearful, like a lost bird. Searching for their identity, a place they could call home, where they might get shelter.
un kaarnaamauN1 ka zikr2
jo vo anjaam3 de chuke haiN
un marhalauN4 ka tazkirah5
jin se guzar6 rahe haiN
un muraadauN7 ki fehrist8
jin ke husool9 ke liye abhi bahut kuchh karna hai 1.accomplishments 2.mention, talk, relate 3.finish, results 4.hurdles 5.description 6.passing through 7.desires 8.list 9.fulfill
They still have a lot to do – talk about/celebrate the results that they have achieved, the hurdles/difficulties they are going through, the list of desires yet to be fulfilled.
aaj jail Khaane meN
hameN ek geet gaane ki ijaazat hai Today, in the prison, we have permission to sing one song.
Poets of the Progressive Writers’ Association met with African poets, expressed solidarity with them and wrote nazm of solidarity with their struggle for independence. ahmad faraz translated/re-composed in urdu a number of nazm written by African/South African poets. This is one of several which are/will be posted on urdushahkar. ‘Today in Prison’ – Dennis Brutus.
aaj jail Khaane meN
ek Khaamosh1 ahd2 ke tha
hum qaidiyauN3 ko ek geet gaane ki ijaazat4 hai
1.silent, unstated 2.determination, judgement, pronouncement 3.prisoners 4.permission
Today in the jail, there was an understanding. We, the prisoners had permission to sing one song.
afreeqa salaamat1 rahe
sirf ek geet
kam aahaNgi2 aur mataanat3 ke saath
jazbauN4 par zabt5 ke bund6 baandh lo
ehsaasat7 ki lau8 neechi rakkho
1.long live 2.melody, music 3.sobriety, calmness 4.sentiments 5.control 6.ties 7.feelings 8.flame
Long live Africa. Only one song. With little music and with calm restraint. Control your passion, lower the flame of your feelings.
qaidi tawaana1 magar ustawar2 aavazauN meN gaate haiN
afreeqa teri Khair3 ho
aaNkhauN ke peechhe, dil ki gahraayiauN4 se umaDte5 nukeele6 aaNsu
1.strong 2.resolute 3.welfare, safety 4.depths 5.rising, welling up 6.sharp
Prisoners, sing in strong and resolute voices – long live Africa, but behind the eyes, in the depths of their hearts, pin-prick tears well up.
be-Thikaana1 parinde2 ki vahshat3 ki tarah4
koii naam maqaam5 DhoonDte
jin par qiyaam6 kar sakeN
1.homeless, lost 2.bird 3.dread, fear 5.place, shelter 6.reside, rest
Fearful, like a lost bird. Searching for their identity, a place they could call home, where they might get shelter.
un kaarnaamauN1 ka zikr2
jo vo anjaam3 de chuke haiN
un marhalauN4 ka tazkirah5
jin se guzar6 rahe haiN
un muraadauN7 ki fehrist8
jin ke husool9 ke liye abhi bahut kuchh karna hai
1.accomplishments 2.mention, talk, relate 3.finish, results 4.hurdles 5.description 6.passing through 7.desires 8.list 9.fulfill
They still have a lot to do – talk about/celebrate the results that they have achieved, the hurdles/difficulties they are going through, the list of desires yet to be fulfilled.
aaj jail Khaane meN
hameN ek geet gaane ki ijaazat hai
Today, in the prison, we have permission to sing one song.
Key Search Words: de-colonization, freedom, black africa, solidarity
Today in Prison – Dennis Brutus
Today in prison
by tacit agreement
they will sing just one
song:
Nkosi Sikekela*;
slowly and solemnly
with suppressed
passion and pent up
feelings:
the voices strong and steady
but with tears close
and sharp
behind the eyes
and the mind ringing
wildly as a strayed
bird seeking some
names to settle on
and deeds being done
and those who will
do the much
that still needs to be
done.
*The asterisked “Nkosi Sikekela” in the poem refers to a Zulu song used as a national anthem by Africans south of Zanbezi
