For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
jagjit singh
خدا کہتے ہیں ۔ سدرشن فاکرؔ
۱
سامنے ہے جو اُسے لوگ بُرا کہتے ہیں
جس کو دیکھا ہی نہیں اُس کو خدا کہتے ہیں
۲
زندگی کو بھی صلا کہتے ہیں کہنے والے
جینے والے تو گناہوں کی سزا کہتے ہیں
۳
فاصلے عمر کے کچھ اور بڑھا دیتی ہے
جانے کیوں لوگ اُسے پھر بھی دوا کہتے ہیں
۴
چند معصوم سے پتّوں کا لہو ہے فاکرؔ
جس کو محبوب کے ہاتھوں کی حِناکہتے ہیں
ख़ुदा कहते हैं – सुदर्शन फ़ाकर
१
सामने है जो उसे लोग बुरा कहते हैं
जिसको देखा ही नहीं उसको ख़ुदा कहते हैं
२
ज़िन्दगी को भी सिला कहते हैं कहने वाले
जीने वाले तो गुनाहों की सज़ा कहते हैं
३
फ़ासले उम्र के कुछ और बढ़ा देती है
जाने क्युं लोग उसे फिर भी दवा कहते हैं
४
चंद मासूम से पत्तों का लहू है फ़ाकर
जिसको महबूब के हाथों की हिना कहते हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sudarshan kaamra faakir (1934-2008), lyricist, progressive poet. He was brought up in a multireligious accepting culture in punjab. This Ghazal, in the style of Ghalib’s ‘qibla-numa kahte haiN’ is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
saamne hai jo use log bura kahte haiN
jisko dekha hi nahiN usko Khuda kahte haiN We are face to face with the human being, with the need for love of human being. Yet we malign such love and we call that which we have not seen our lord, god.
2
zindagi ko bhi sila1 kahte haiN kahne vaale
jeene vaale to gunaahuaN ki saza kahte haiN 1.recompense
“kahne vaale” – is generally used to mean those who have “to say something” rather than those who have “something to say”. Those who talk empty nonsense call life a recompense, a reward. But those who have to live life consider it a punishment. This has a suggestion that the after-life is preferable to this life. I am reminded of a statement made by Lee Kwan Yu, the then prime-minister of Singapore, who was asked what advice he gave the Pakistan government so that it could follow the example of Singapore in economic achievement. He replied, “what can one say to people who believe that life begins after death”.
3
faasle1 umr2 ke kuchh aur baRhaa deti hai
jaane kyuN log use phir bhi davaa kahte haiN 1.distances, length 2.life span
Here again the implication is that a shorter life-span is better because the after-life is preferable. Medicine increases the span of life. I don’t know why people call it a cure!
4
chand maasoom1 se pattauN ka lahu2 hai faakir
jisko mahboob3 ke haathauN ki hina4 kahte haiN 1.innocent 2.blood 3.beloved 4.mehndi, henna
It is the blood of a few innocent/harmless leaves, that which we call henna of the beloved’s palm/hand.
sudarshan kaamra faakir (1934-2008), lyricist, progressive poet. He was brought up in a multireligious accepting culture in punjab. This Ghazal, in the style of Ghalib’s ‘qibla-numa kahte haiN’ is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
saamne hai jo use log bura kahte haiN
jisko dekha hi nahiN usko Khuda kahte haiN
We are face to face with the human being, with the need for love of human being. Yet we malign such love and we call that which we have not seen our lord, god.
2
zindagi ko bhi sila1 kahte haiN kahne vaale
jeene vaale to gunaahuaN ki saza kahte haiN
1.recompense
“kahne vaale” – is generally used to mean those who have “to say something” rather than those who have “something to say”. Those who talk empty nonsense call life a recompense, a reward. But those who have to live life consider it a punishment. This has a suggestion that the after-life is preferable to this life. I am reminded of a statement made by Lee Kwan Yu, the then prime-minister of Singapore, who was asked what advice he gave the Pakistan government so that it could follow the example of Singapore in economic achievement. He replied, “what can one say to people who believe that life begins after death”.
3
faasle1 umr2 ke kuchh aur baRhaa deti hai
jaane kyuN log use phir bhi davaa kahte haiN
1.distances, length 2.life span
Here again the implication is that a shorter life-span is better because the after-life is preferable. Medicine increases the span of life. I don’t know why people call it a cure!
4
chand maasoom1 se pattauN ka lahu2 hai faakir
jisko mahboob3 ke haathauN ki hina4 kahte haiN
1.innocent 2.blood 3.beloved 4.mehndi, henna
It is the blood of a few innocent/harmless leaves, that which we call henna of the beloved’s palm/hand.
