For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
fahmida riaz
فرہنگِ نو – فہمیدہ ریاض
۱
بناتے ہیں ہم ایک فرہنگِ نو
جس میں ہر لفظ کے سامنے دَرج ہیں
وہ معانی جوہم کو نہیں ہیں پسند
جُرعہٴ تلخ کی مثل پی جائیں گے
اَصل کی اَصل جو بس ہماری نہیں
۲
سنگ سے پھوٹتا آبِ حیواں ہے یہ
جوہمارے اِشارے پہ جاری نہیں
ہم فسردہ چراغ، اِک خزاں دیدہ باغ
۳
زخم خوردہ اناؤں کے مارے ہوئے
اپنی توصیف حد سے گزارے ہوئے
اپنے ہر زخم کو ہر گھڑی چاٹتے
دبلیاں زہر کی چار سُوُ بانٹتے
۴
دوسروں کے لئے صرف نفرت لئے
خُشک ہونٹوں پہ حرفِ حقارت لئے
جو خلا ہے جہاں اُس کو بھرتے نہیں
چار آنکھیں حقیقت سے کرتے نہیں
۵
کامراں ہوسکے ہیں نہ کل اور نہ آج
مرض پیارا ہو گر کیا کریں گے علاج
کیوں گریزاں رہے، ہم سے روٹھی رہے
آنے والے زمانوں کی صد رنگ ضو
کیوں بنا لیں نہ ہم ایک فرہنگ نو
۶
اس اندھیرے کنویں سے نکل آئیں گر
چند قدموں کا ہے اِک کٹھن راستہ
بے کراں وسعتیں ڈھونڈتی ہیں ہمیں
روشنی ہے جہاں، پو پھٹے کاسماں
سانس تازہ ہواؤں میں لیں گے وہاں
۷
ایک شاداب وادی ہے چاروں طرف
آ رہے ہیں ہر اِک سمت سے کارواں
اپنے چہرے سے دھو دیں گے گردِ ملال
وقت کا کھیل ہیں سب عروج و زوال
وقت کے آیئنے میں جو تصویر ہے
اِس میں شامل ہیں ہم خوش وضع باکمال
۸
دوستانہ نگاہیں اٹھائیں گے ہم
دلرُبا خال و خد دیکھ پائیں گے ہم
اِس گُلِستاں کے ہر ایک مہمان کے
روبرو ہوں گے ہم اصل اِمکان کے
جس کے آگے برابر ہیں میں اور تو
جس کی نظروں میں یکساں ہیں ہم اور وہ
بناتے ہیں ہم ایک فرہنگِ نو
फ़रहंग ए नौ – फ़हमीदा रियाज़
१
बनाते हैं हम एक फ़रहंग ए नौ
जिस में हर लफ़्ज़ के सामने दर्ज हैं
वो मानी जो हम को नहीं हैं पसंद
जुर्रा ए तल्ख़ की मिस्ल पी जाएंगे
अस्ल की अस्ल जो बस हमारी नहीं
२
संग से फूटता आब ए हैवां है ये
जो हमारे इशारे पे जारी नहीं
हम फ़सुर्दा चिराग़, एक ख़िज़ाँ दीदा बाग़
३
ज़ख़्म ख़ुर्दा अनाओं के मारे हुए
अपनी तौसीफ़ हद से गुज़ारे हुए
अपने हर ज़ख़्म को हर घडी चाटते
दुब्लियाँ ज़हर की चार सू बाँटते
४
दूसरों के लिए सिर्फ़ नफ़रत लिए
ख़ुश्क होंटों पे हर्फ़ ए हिक़ारत लिए
जो ख़ला है जहाँ उसको भरते नहीं
चार आँखें हक़ीक़त से करते नहीं
५
कामरां हो सके हैं न कल और न आज
मर्ज़ प्यारा हो गर क्या करेंगे इलाज
क्यूँ गुरेज़ाँ रहे, हम से रूठी रहे
आने वाले ज़मानों की सद रंग ज़ौ
क्यूँ बना लें न हम एक फ़रहंग ए नौ
६
इस अँधेरे कुँए से निकल आएं गर
चंद क़दमों का है एक कठिन रास्ता
बे करां वुसअतें ढूँढती हैं हमें
रौशनी है जहाँ पौ फटे का समा
सांस ताज़ा हवाओं में लेंगे वहां
७
एक शादाब वादी है चारों तरफ़
आ रहे हैं हर एक सिम्त से कारवाँ
अपने चेहरे से धो देंगे गर्द ए मलाल
वक़्त का खेल हैं सब उरूज ओ ज़वाल
वक़्त के आईने में जो तस्वीर है
इस में शामिल हैं हम ख़ुश वज़ा बाकमाल
८
दोस्ताना निगाहें उठाएंगे हम
दिलरुबा ख़ाल ओ ख़द देख पाएंगे हम
इस गुलिस्तां के हर एक मेहमान के
रू ब रू हम अस्ल इमकान के
जिस के आगे बराबर हैं मैं और तू
जिस की नज़रों में एक्सां हैं हम और वो
बनाते हैं हम एक फ़रहंग ए नौ
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. fahmida riaz is generally known as a ‘feminist’ poet. She is that. But her repertoire is much wider. farhaNg-e nau is an invitation to come to face with inadequacies and prejudices. She makes very powerful use of the double meaning of ‘farhaNg’ – meaning dictionary/encyclopedia and wisdom/culture. She recited this poem at the formal release of an Urdu Encyclopedia of which she was the Editor in Chief. She is inviting her audience to face the truth.
1
banaate haiN ham ek farhaNg1 e nau2
jis meN har lafz ke saamne darj3 haiN
vo maani jo ham ko nahiN haiN pasand
jurra4 e talKh5 ki misl6 pii jaayeNge
asl7 ki asl jo bas hamaari nahiN 1.dictionary/encyclopedia also civilization/culture 2.new 3.entered, written 4.sip, gulp 5.hard, difficult, bitter 6.like, for example 7.reality
We (have written) release a new encyclopedia in which, before every word is written its meaning/reality which may not please us. We have to swallow it like a bitter pill – the truth that is not just ours but is universal.
2
saNg8 se phooTta aab e haivaaN9 hai ye
jo hamaare ishaare pe jaari10 nahiN
ham fasurda11 chiraaGh, ek KhizaaN deeda12 baaGh 8.stone 9.water of life 10.flows 11.extinguished 12.autumn like, leafless
This encyclopedia is like the water of life, squeezed out of a rock. It doesn’t obey our instructions. We are but an extinguished lamp, a leafless garden.
3
zaKhm Khurda1 anaaoN2 ke mare hue
apni tauseef3 had se guzaare4 hue
apne har zaKhm ko har ghaRi chaaTte
dubliaN5 zahr ki chaar soo6 baanTte 1.wounded, covered with wounds 2.ego 3.praise 4.increase, take beyond bounds 5.small portions 6.four directions i.e. everywhere
We, who are bitten by hurt egos, having praised ourselves excessively, we lick our wounds constantly, keeping them fresh. Constantly distribute/spread poison all around.
4
doosroN ke liye sirf nifrat7 liye
Khushk hoNToN8 pe harf e hiqaarat9 liye
jo Khalaa10 haiN jahaN usko bharte nahiN
chaar aankheN11 haqeeqat12 se karte nahiN 7.hatred 8.dry lips – hard feelings 9.words of contempt 10.empty space, inadequacy, defect 12.truth, reality
With hatred for others, with words of contempt on our lips. We don’t fill the gaps (in our knowledge). We don’t squarely face reality.
5
kaamraN1 ho sake haiN na kal aur na aaj
marz2 pyaara ho gar kya kareNge ilaaj
kyuN gurezaaN3 rahe, hum se rooThi rahe
aane vaale zamaanoN ki sad-rang zau4
kyuN bana leN na ham ek farhaNg e nau5 1.victorious, successful 2.illness 3.run away, stay away 4.light of a hundred colours 5.new dictionary, new culture
We have not been successful in the past, will not be today. We so like the disease that we don’t want to cure it. Why should it stay away from us, why unhappy with us, this colorful ray of light of a bright future. Let us write a new tradition, fashion a new culture.
6
is andhere kueN se nikal aayeN gar
chand qadmoN ka hai ek kaThin raasta
be-karaaN1 vus’ateN2 DhoonDthi haiN hameN
raushni hai jahaN pau phate3 ka samaa4
saaNs taaza havaaoN meN leNge vahaaN 1.limitless 2.expanse 3.breaking dawn 4.scene, ambience
IF we fashion a new culture and come out of this dark well, only a few difficult steps ahead and limitless vast expanse awaits us. fahmida riaz makes a call to wash off this bad culture and make a new beginning and if this is done, we can step out … where there is light like newly breaking dawn, where we can breathe fresh air.
7
ek shaadaab1 vaadi2 hai chaaroN taraf
aa rahe haiN har ek simt3 se kaarvaaN
apne chehre se dho denge gard e malaal4
vaqt ka khel haiN sab urooj o zavaal5
vaqt ke aaeene6 meN jo tasveer hai
is meN shaamil7 haiN hum Khush vaza8 baakamaal9 1.verdant, green 2.valley 3.direction 4.sorrow 5.rise and fall, ascent and decline (of civilizations) 6.mirror of time, page of history 7.included 8.beautiful shape 9.talented
A vast verdant valley will open up all around, receiving caravans with new ideas from all directions. We will wash off this sorrow and start over. The rise and fall of civilizations is a part of history (time). The picture in the mirror of time includes us, beautiful and skilled, getting ahead, improving
8
dostaana nigaaheN uThaeNge hum
dilruba1 Khaal o Khad2 dekh paaeNge hum
is gulistaN3 ke har ek mehmaan4 ke
roo ba roo5 hoNge hum asl imkaan6 ke
jis ke aage baraabar haiN maiN aur tu
jis ki nazroN meN eksaaN7 haiN hum aur vo
banaate haiN hum ek farhaNg e nau 1.heart pleasing 2.face and features 3.garden, this world 4.guest 5.face to face 6.real possibilities 7.like each other, equal
We will raise friendly glances and see grace and beauty in everyone. In all the guests of this garden. As we come face to face with reality, where you and I, are all equal, where us and them are treated the same. Let us make this new culture, create this new wisdom.
fahmida riaz is generally known as a ‘feminist’ poet. She is that. But her repertoire is much wider. farhaNg-e nau is an invitation to come to face with inadequacies and prejudices. She makes very powerful use of the double meaning of ‘farhaNg’ – meaning dictionary/encyclopedia and wisdom/culture. She recited this poem at the formal release of an Urdu Encyclopedia of which she was the Editor in Chief. She is inviting her audience to face the truth.
1
banaate haiN ham ek farhaNg1 e nau2
jis meN har lafz ke saamne darj3 haiN
vo maani jo ham ko nahiN haiN pasand
jurra4 e talKh5 ki misl6 pii jaayeNge
asl7 ki asl jo bas hamaari nahiN
1.dictionary/encyclopedia also civilization/culture 2.new 3.entered, written 4.sip, gulp 5.hard, difficult, bitter 6.like, for example 7.reality
We (have written) release a new encyclopedia in which, before every word is written its meaning/reality which may not please us. We have to swallow it like a bitter pill – the truth that is not just ours but is universal.
2
saNg8 se phooTta aab e haivaaN9 hai ye
jo hamaare ishaare pe jaari10 nahiN
ham fasurda11 chiraaGh, ek KhizaaN deeda12 baaGh
8.stone 9.water of life 10.flows 11.extinguished 12.autumn like, leafless
This encyclopedia is like the water of life, squeezed out of a rock. It doesn’t obey our instructions. We are but an extinguished lamp, a leafless garden.
3
zaKhm Khurda1 anaaoN2 ke mare hue
apni tauseef3 had se guzaare4 hue
apne har zaKhm ko har ghaRi chaaTte
dubliaN5 zahr ki chaar soo6 baanTte
1.wounded, covered with wounds 2.ego 3.praise 4.increase, take beyond bounds 5.small portions 6.four directions i.e. everywhere
We, who are bitten by hurt egos, having praised ourselves excessively, we lick our wounds constantly, keeping them fresh. Constantly distribute/spread poison all around.
4
doosroN ke liye sirf nifrat7 liye
Khushk hoNToN8 pe harf e hiqaarat9 liye
jo Khalaa10 haiN jahaN usko bharte nahiN
chaar aankheN11 haqeeqat12 se karte nahiN
7.hatred 8.dry lips – hard feelings 9.words of contempt 10.empty space, inadequacy, defect 12.truth, reality
With hatred for others, with words of contempt on our lips. We don’t fill the gaps (in our knowledge). We don’t squarely face reality.
5
kaamraN1 ho sake haiN na kal aur na aaj
marz2 pyaara ho gar kya kareNge ilaaj
kyuN gurezaaN3 rahe, hum se rooThi rahe
aane vaale zamaanoN ki sad-rang zau4
kyuN bana leN na ham ek farhaNg e nau5
1.victorious, successful 2.illness 3.run away, stay away 4.light of a hundred colours 5.new dictionary, new culture
We have not been successful in the past, will not be today. We so like the disease that we don’t want to cure it. Why should it stay away from us, why unhappy with us, this colorful ray of light of a bright future. Let us write a new tradition, fashion a new culture.
6
is andhere kueN se nikal aayeN gar
chand qadmoN ka hai ek kaThin raasta
be-karaaN1 vus’ateN2 DhoonDthi haiN hameN
raushni hai jahaN pau phate3 ka samaa4
saaNs taaza havaaoN meN leNge vahaaN
1.limitless 2.expanse 3.breaking dawn 4.scene, ambience
IF we fashion a new culture and come out of this dark well, only a few difficult steps ahead and limitless vast expanse awaits us. fahmida riaz makes a call to wash off this bad culture and make a new beginning and if this is done, we can step out … where there is light like newly breaking dawn, where we can breathe fresh air. 7
ek shaadaab1 vaadi2 hai chaaroN taraf
aa rahe haiN har ek simt3 se kaarvaaN
apne chehre se dho denge gard e malaal4
vaqt ka khel haiN sab urooj o zavaal5
vaqt ke aaeene6 meN jo tasveer hai
is meN shaamil7 haiN hum Khush vaza8 baakamaal9
1.verdant, green 2.valley 3.direction 4.sorrow 5.rise and fall, ascent and decline (of civilizations) 6.mirror of time, page of history 7.included 8.beautiful shape 9.talented
A vast verdant valley will open up all around, receiving caravans with new ideas from all directions. We will wash off this sorrow and start over. The rise and fall of civilizations is a part of history (time). The picture in the mirror of time includes us, beautiful and skilled, getting ahead, improving
8
dostaana nigaaheN uThaeNge hum
dilruba1 Khaal o Khad2 dekh paaeNge hum
is gulistaN3 ke har ek mehmaan4 ke
roo ba roo5 hoNge hum asl imkaan6 ke
jis ke aage baraabar haiN maiN aur tu
jis ki nazroN meN eksaaN7 haiN hum aur vo
banaate haiN hum ek farhaNg e nau
1.heart pleasing 2.face and features 3.garden, this world 4.guest 5.face to face 6.real possibilities 7.like each other, equal
We will raise friendly glances and see grace and beauty in everyone. In all the guests of this garden. As we come face to face with reality, where you and I, are all equal, where us and them are treated the same. Let us make this new culture, create this new wisdom.
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