For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تاج محل ۔ میر محمد علی خاں میکشؔ حیدرابادی
۱
یہ اندھیری رات! یہ سہمی ہوئی پرچھائیاں
جس طرح گھونگھٹ اُلٹ دے کوئی بدصورت دلہن
آنسوؤں کی طرح یہ بکھرے ہوئے تاروں کی ڈور
بہہ رہی ہو جیسے ٹکڑے ہو کے سورج کی کِرن
۲
اِس اندھیرے میں نمایاں ہے یہ کیا اُجلی سی شئے
جیسے چُھوٹے ماہ تابی سی ادھورے خواب میں
رات کو ٹوٹی ہوئی کشتی پہ اِک مدھم چراغ
جھلملائے جا رہا ہو جس طرح سیلاب میں
۳
خشک ہونٹوں پر ہو پھیکی مسکراہٹ جس طرح
بے بسی میں جس طرح ماتھے پہ آ جائے شکن
کوئی مجبورِ مشیّت تھرتھراتے ہاتھ سے
بیوتتا بیٹھا ہو جیسے اپنے بیٹے کا کفن
۴
مرمریں پیکر میں اِس خوابِ حسیں کو ڈھال کر
کتنی نیندوں کے پریشاں خواب ہیں سوئے ہوئے
جن کی بےخوابی نے ڈھالا ہے اِسے وہ خواب گر
جیسے اب بھی پھر رہے ہیں بوجھ سا ڈھوئے ہوئے
۵
کتنے چہروں کا پسینہ، کتنے ہاتھوں کا لہو
حسن دینے کے لئے اِس کو ٹپک کر بہہ گیا
کتنی غم پروردہ آنکھوں نے گرایا خونِ دل
جب کہیں شاہِ جہاں کا ایک آنسو رہ گیا
۶
ایک ملکہ کی محبّت کو عطا کرنے دوام
کتنی صبحیں پتھروں میں حسن بن کر رچ گئیں
کتنی راتیں موت کے طعنوں سے تھرّاتی رہیں
جب کہیں اِک زندگی کی چند سانسیں بچ گئیں
۷
اِس حسیں دھوکے سے ہوتی تو ہے تسکینِ نظر
لیکن اے اہلِ نظر یہ حسن ہے غم میں اسیر
پتھروں کے قلب میں ٹوٹے ہوئے دل کو بھی دیکھ
چھین لے حدّ نظر سے اب تعین کی لکیر
۸
اب بھی ہے تحسیں طلب جبرِ بلندی کا غرور
یہ ہے جذباتی سکوں کا ایک خود بیں اہتمام
حسن یہ کتبہ ہے، جس کے بے نوا الفاظ میں
موت دہراتی ہے مُردوں کی پرستش کا پیام
۹
کتنی نامعلوم قبروں میں ہیں وہ گمنام لوگ
جن کے ہاتھوں کی تھکن کا نام ہے یہ یادگار
نذر دیتے ہیں اِسے اپنی جوانی کتنے پھول
دامنِ گلچیں میں ہے بے آبرو جن کی بہار
۱۰
بے در و دیوار کتنے گھر ہیں ارضِ تاج پر
رات کی تاریکیوں میں کتنے گھر ہیں بے چراغ
کتنے ایسے ہیں جنہیں ڈستے ہیں مہتاب و نجوم
کتنے ایسے ہیں جو خود ہیں اپنے ہی سینے کے داغ
۱۱
اِک ملکہ وہ کہ جس کی آخری خواہش کا نام
جنبشِ ابرو کا یہ فرمان یعنی تاج ہے
لیکن اپنی پہلی خواہش بھی جو کہہ سکتی نہیں
ایسی کتنی رانیوں کا جھونپڑوں میں راج ہے
۱۲
اِک محبّت وہ کہ جس کو نوجوانی بخش کر
ایک نے پایا سکوں اور سیکڑوں نے اِضطراب
اِک محبّت وہ کہ جس میں عشرتِ غم بھی نہیں
آہ مفلس کی محبّت، آہ مفلس کا شباب
۱۳
اپنی ہی تخلیق میں ہے دفن روحِ حسن کار
کتنی سانسوں کے تموّج کا ہے مدفن یہ مقام
کیا یہ بے حِس مقبرہ دیتا ہے وہ عزمِ حیات
اپنی دھڑکن میں جگاتا ہے جسے قلبِ عوام
۱۴
اس کے سنگِ در پہ ہیں ماضی کے بوسوں کے نشاں
اپنی آنکھوں میں لئے پھرتی ہے جمنا جس کے خواب
اب اِسی جمنا کی موجیں نوجواں ہو جائیں گی
پیکرِ جمہور میں جاگے گی روحِ اِنقلاب
۱۵
آخری تارا وہ ٹوٹا آسماں کی گود سے
کہر میں وہ تاج کا ہر اِک کنارا گھل گیا
وہ کرن پھوٹی وہ صبح نو نے لیں انگڑائیاں
وہ بلندی پر شفق کا لال پرچم کُھل گیا
۱۶
جُھک کے وہ سورج کی کرنوں نے دیا عزمِ خرام
ظلمتوں کو چیر کر نکلیں وہ موجیں نور کی
وہ تنے مضبوط سینے وہ اُٹھے مضبوط ہاتھ
تاج پر وہ مسکرائی زندگی مزدور کی
ताज महल – मीर मोहम्मद अली ख़ां मैकश हैदराबादी
१
ये अंधेरी रात! ये सहमी हुई पर्छाईयां
जिस तरह घूंघट उलट दे कोई बदसूरत दुल्हन
आंसुऔं की तरह ये बिख्रे हुए तारौं कि डोर
बह रही हो जैसे टुक्ड़े हो के सूरज की किरन
२
इस अंधेरे में नुमायां है ये क्या उज्ली सि शैय
जैसे छूटे माहताबी सी अघूरे ख़्वाब में
रात को टूटी हुई कश्ती पे एक मद्धम जराग़
झीलमिलाए जा रहा हो जिस तरह सैलाब में
३
ख़ुश्क होंटौं पर हो फीकी मुस्कुराहट जिस तरह
बेबसी में जिस तरह माथे पे आ जाए शिकन
कोई मज्बूर-ए मशिय्यत थरथराते हाथ से
ब्योतता बैठा हो जैसे अपने बेटे का कफ़न
४
मरमरीं पैकर में इस ख़्वाब-ए हसीं को ड़ाल कर
कितनी नींदौं के परेशां ख़्वाब हैं सोए हुए
जिन की बेख़्वाबी ने ड़ाला है इसे वो ख़्वाब-गर
जैसे अब भी फिर रहे हैं बोझ सा ड़ोए हुए
५
कितने चेहरौं का पसीना, कितने हाथौं का लहू
हुस्न देने के लिये इस को टपक कर बह गया
कितनी ग़म परवर्दा आंखौं ने गिराया ख़ून-ए दिल
जब कहीं शाह-ए जहां का एक आंसू रह गया
६
एक मलेका की मोहब्बत को अता करने दवाम
कितनी सुबहें पत्थरौं में हुस्न बन कर रच गईं
कितनी रातें मौत के ता’नौं से थर्राती रहीं
जब कहीं एक ज़िन्दगी की चंद सांसें बच गईं
७
इस हसीं धोके से होती तो है तस्कीन-ए नज़र
लैकिन अए अहल-ए नज़र ये हुस्न है ग़म में असीर
पत्थरौं के क़ल्ब मे टूटे हुए दिल को भी देख
छीन ले हद्द-ए नज़र से अब त’य्युन की लकीर
८
अब भी है तहसीं तलब जब्र-ए बलंदी का ग़ुरूर
ये है जज़्बाती सुकूं का एक ख़ुदबीं एहतमाम
हुस्न ये कत्बा है जिस के बेनवा अल्फ़ाज़ में
मौत दोहराती है मुर्दौं की परस्तिश का पयाम
९
कितनी नामालूम क़ब्रौं में हैं वो गुमनाम लोग
जिन के हाथौं की थकन का नाम है ये यादगार
नज़्र देते हैं इसे अपनी जवानी कितने फूल
दामन-ए गुलचीं में है बे-आब्रू जिन की बहार
१०
बे-दर ओ दीवार कितने घर हैं अर्ज़-ए ताज पर
रात की तारीकियौं में कितने घर हैं बे-चराग़
कितने ऐसे हैं जिन्हें डस्ते हैं महताब ओ नुजूम
कितने ऐसे हैं जो ख़ुद हैं अपने ही सीने के दाग़
११
एक मलेका वो के जिस की आख़री ख़्वाहश का नाम
जुंबिश-ए अब्रू का ये फ़र्मान या’नी ताज है
लैकिन अपनी पहली ख़्वाहश भी जो कह सकती नहीं
ऐसी कितनी रानियौं का झोंपढौं में राज है
१२
एक मोहब्बत वो के जिस को नौजवानी बख़्श कर
एक ने पाया सुकूं और सैंकड़ौं ने इज़्तराब
एक मोहब्बत वो के जिस में इश्रत-ए ग़म भी नहीं
आह मुफ़्लिस की मोहब्बत, आह मुफ़्लिस का शबाब
१३
अपनी ही तख़्लीक़ में है दफ़्न रूह-ए हुस्न-कार
कितनी सांसौं के तमव्वुज का है मद्फ़न ये मक़ाम
क्या ये बे-हिस मक़्बरा देता है वो अज़्म-ए हयात
अपनी धड़कन में जगाता है जिसे क़ल्ब-ए अवाम
१४
इस के संग-ए दर पे हैं माज़ी के बोसौं के निशां
अपनी आंखौं में लिये फिर्ती है जमना जिस के ख़्वाब
अब इसी जमना कि मौजें नौजवां हो जाएंगी
पैकर-ए जम्हूर में जागेगी रूह-ए इन्क़लाब
१५
आख़री तारा वो टूटा आस्मां की गोद से
कोहर में वो ताज का हर एक किनारा घुल गया
वो किरन फूटी वो सुबह-ए नौ ने लीं अंग्ड़ाईयां
वो बलंदी पर शफ़क़ का लाल पर्चम खुल गया
१६
झुक के वो सूरज की किर्नौं ने दिया अज़्म-ए ख़िराम
ज़ुल्मतौं को चीर कर निक्लीं वो मौजें नूर की
वो तने मज़्बूत सीने, वो उठे मज़्बूत हाथ
ताज पर वो मुस्कुराई ज़िन्दगी मज़्दूर की
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mir mohammed ali KhaaN maikash (1918-1948), a member of the nizam shaahi clan of hyderabad (the title sahabzaada-princeling was a prefix to his name), nevertheless seems to have been a committed socialist. Dropped out of the university degree program after two years and worked as editor, columnist and perhaps as a party worker. This is one of a series of nazm on the taj mahal, nearly all admiring its beauty, some remembering workers and craftsmen, some even remembering royalty. This is unique in its dark anger and studiously avoids even admiring its beauty.
1
ye andheri raat! ye sahmi1 hui parchhaaiyaaN
jis tarah2 ghooNgaT ulaT de koii badsuurat dulhan
aaNsuoN ki tarah ye bikhre hue taaroN ki Dor
bah rahi ho jaise TukRe ho ke suraj ki kiran 1.scared, fearful 2.like, as if
The poet sees the taj at night but does not see or chooses not to write about its beauty. Instead, he sees a dark night with fearful shadows. The taj appears to him like an ugly bride whose veil is lifted. The bride is beautiful in her full make-up and regalia but lifting the veil behind this display he sees the ugliness that is hidden – the ugliness of exploitation. The reflection of lights sparkling in the flowing jamna appears to him as if a ray of sunlight as been cut up into small bits floating like a string of stars, like tears.
2
is andhere meN numaayaaN1 hai ye kya ujli si shai2
jaise chhooTe maahtaabi3 si adhuure4 Khwaab meN
raat ko TooTi hui kashti pe ek mad’ham charaaGh
jhilmilaaye jaa raha ho jis tarah5 sailaab6 meN 1.visible, apparent 2.thing 3.moonlight 4.incomplete, unfulfilled 5.like, similar to 6.flood
What is this white thing that appears out of the darkness, as if moonlight (maahtaabi is also a firecracker) emanating from an incomplete dream. adhura Khwaab can be unfulfilled desires of the workers. It appears to the shaa’er like a broken/sinking ship with a dim lamp flickering in the flood. The boat can sink and the sailaab is the tumult in society i.e. display of royal grandeur is on its last legs.
3
Khushk1 hoNToN par ho phiiki2 muskuraahaT jis tarah
be-basi3 meN jis tarah maathe pe aa jaaye shikan4
koii majboor5-e mashiyyat6 thartharaate haath se
byot’ta7 baiTha ho jaise apne beTe ka kafan8 1.dry 2.bland, insincere, forced, fake 3.helplessness 4.wrinkles 5.forced 6.will, orders 7.cut to measure 8.burial shroud
The taj is a fake display of love, insincere. It is like a wrinkled brow of helpless workers. It was created by craftsment under duress with trembling hands, as if they were cutting to measure a burial shroud for their own child.
4
marmariiN paikar1 meN is Khwaab-e-hasiiN2 ko Dhaal3 kar
kitni niindoN ke pareshaaN-Khwaab4 haiN soye hue
jin ki be-Khwaabi5 ne Dhaala3 hai ise vo Khwaab-gar6
jaise ab bhi phir rahe haiN bojh sa Dhoye hue 1.form, image 2.beautiful dream 3.mould, give shape to 4.nightmare 5.sleeplessness 6.dream-maker, one who fulfills dreams
How many nightmarish lives did it take to mould this beautiful dream in this marble shape. It is as if they, whose sleepless toil gave shape to this dream are still roaming bearing a heavy burden.
5
kitne chehroN ka pasiina, kitne haathoN ka lahu1
husn2 dene ke liye is ko Tapak kar bah gaya
kitni Gham-parvarda3 aaNkhoN ne giraaya Khoon-e dil
jab kahiN shaah-e jahaaN ka ek aaNsu rah gaya 1.blood 2.beauty 3.pain-nurturing
The sweat of how many brows, the blood of how many hands, did flow to grant beauty to the taj. How many pain-nuturing eyes shed tears of blood, only then did this one tear drop of shaah jahaaN take shape.
6
ek maleka ki mohabbat ko ata1 karne davaam2
kitni sub’heN pattharoN meN husn ban kar rach gayiiN
kitni raateN maut ke taa’noN3 se tharraati rahiN
jab kahiN ek zindagi ki chand4 saaNseN bach gayiiN 1.grant 2.permanence, eternal life 3.sarcasm 4.few
Just to grant a (show of) eternal love of an empress, how many mornings had to take the form of beautiful stones i.e. how many days of lives of craftsmen were spent in creating/carving that beauty in stone. How many nights trembled at the taunts of Death, how many people lived in fear of starvation. Only then were a few moments of one life were preserved (in stone).
7
is hasiiN1 dhoke2 se hoti to hai taskiin3-e nazar4
laikin aye ahl-e-nazar5 ye husn6 hai Gham meN asiir7
pattharoN ke qalb8 meN TooTe hue dil ko bhi dekh
chiin le hadd-e-nazar9 se ab ta’ayyun10 ki lakiir11 1.beautiful 2.deception 3.pleasure 4.eyes 5.of discriminating sight 6.beauty 7.captive 8.heart 9.limit of sight 10.(contextual) assign blame/guilt 11.line
Of course, this beautiful façade of love gives comfort to the eyes but you who can see through, realize that this beauty is a captive of pain. Also see the broken hearts embedded in the centre of these carved stones. Take back from the limits of your sight the ability to assign responsibility for this pain.
8
ab bhi hai tahsiiN-talab1 jabr2-e balandi3 ka Ghuroor4
ye hai jazbaati5 sukooN6 ka ek Khud-biiN7 ehtemaam8
husn9 ye katba10 hai jis ke be-navaa11 alfaaz12 meN
maut13 dohraati14 hai murdoN15 ki parastish16 ka payaam17 1.demanding homage 2.oppression 3.superiority 4.conceit, hubris 5.emotional 6.comfort 7.self-regarding, self-centred 8.arrangement 9.beauty 10.gravestone engraving 11.voiceless 12.words 13.Death 14.repeats 15.corpses 16.devotion 17.message
Even now the hubris of superiority demands homage. This is an arrangement for selfish emotional comfort. This beauty is a gravestone which in silent words repeats/announces the message that we show devotion/respect to corpses.
9
kitni namaaloom1 qabroN2 meN haiN vo gumnaam3 log
jin ke haathoN ki thakan ka naam hai ye yaadgaar4
nazr5 dete haiN jise apni javaani kitne phool
daaman6-e gulchiiN7 meN hai be-aabru8 jin ki bahaar9 1.unknown, unmarked 2.graves 3.nameless 4.memorial 5.offering, sacrifice 6.apron, lap 7.flower-picker 8.without respect 9.bloom
How many unmarked graves hold nameless people whose tired hands gave a name/shape to this memorial. How many flowers sacrifice their youth to it, collected in the lap of the flower-picker without the dignity of the chance to bloom.
10
be-dar-o-diivaar1 kitne ghar haiN arz2-e taaj par
raat ki taariikiyoN3 meN kitne ghar haiN be-charaaGh4
kitne aise haiN jinheN Daste5 haiN mahtaab6 o nujoom7
kitne aise haiN jo Khud haiN apne hi seene8 ke daaGh9 1.without doors or walls i.e. graves 2.land 3.darkness 4.without lamps, unlit 5.sting 6.full moon 7.stars 8.bosom 9.wound
How many graves there are on the land of the taj mahal. How many homes that remain unlit in the darkness of the night, for whom even the moon and stars are like a painful sting. How many people who carry wounds in their bosom/heart.
11
ek maleka1 vo keh jis ki aaKhiri2 Khwaahish3 ka naam
jumbish4-e abruu5 ka ye farmaan6 y’aani taaj hai
laikin apni pahli Khwaahish3 bhi jo kah sakti nahiN
aisi kitni raaniyoN ka jhoNpRoN meN raaj hai 1.empress 2.last 3.wish 4.movement 5.eyebrows 6.decree
On one side is an empress whose last wish, expressed by the mere movement of her eyebrows is a decree that takes the shape of the taaj. On the other side, how many queens (wives of workers) who cannot even express their first wish, whose reign is restricted to their hovels.
12
ek mohabbat vo keh jis ko naujavaani baKhsh1 kar
ek ne paaya sukooN2 aur saiNkRoN3 ne izteraab4
ek mohabbat vo ke jis meN ishrat-e-Gham5 bhi nahiN
aah muflis6 ki mohabbat, aah muflis ka shabaab7 1.grant 2.comfort 3.millions 4.restlessness, anguish 5.comfort of pain 6.pauper 7.youth
On one side is love that can grant eternal youth to its expression and derive comfort, giving millions anguish and pain. On the other side, is love that cannot even pause to relish pain. Alas, the pauper’s love, alas, the pauper’s youth.
13
apni hi taKhliiq1 meN hai dafn2 rooh3-e husn-kaar4
kitni saaNsoN ke tamavvuj5 ka hai madfan6 ye maqaam7
kya ye be-hiss8 maqbara9 deta hai vo azm10-e hayaat11
apni dhaRkan meN jagaata hai jise qalb12-e avaam13 1.creation 2.buried 3.spirit 4.beauty creator, craftsman 5.waves, heaving breath 6.graveyard 7.place 8.unfeeling 9.tomb 10.determination, resolve 11.life 12.heart 13.public, people
The spirit of the craftsman is buried in his own creation. This place is the graveyard of so many who breathed heavily under strain. Does this unfeeling tomb announce the determination to live that throbs in the hearts of people.
14
is ke saNg-e-dar1 pe haiN maazi2 ke bosoN3 ke nishaaN4
apni aaNkhoN meN liye phirti hai jamna jis ke Khwaab
ab isi jamna ki maujeN5 naujavaaN ho jaayeNgi
paikar6-e jamhoor6 meN jaagegi rooh7-e inqelaab8 1.threshold 2.past 3.kisses, love 4.marks 5.waves 6.form, shape 6.democracy 7.spirit 8.revolution
This threshold bears the marks of past love whose unfulfilled dreams the jamna carries. Now the waves of the same jamna will rise with the youth and vigour of those dreams and spirit of revolution will awaken in the shape of democracy.
15
aaKhiri taara vo TooTa aasmaaN ki goad1 se
kohr2 meN vo taaj ka har ek kinaara3 ghul4 gaya
vo kiran phooTi vo sub’h-e nau5 ne liiN aNgRaaiyaaN
vo balandi6 par shafaq7 ka laal parcham8 khul gaya
1.lap 2.mist 3.corner 4.dissolved, disappeared 5.new 6.height 7.twilight 8.banner
There from the lap of the sky the last star streaks down. All corners of the taj disappear in the mist. There a ray of light breaks forth and a new dawn awakens. There on the heights the red banner of twilight (dawn) spreads out.
16
jhuk ke vo sooraj ki kirnoN ne diya azm-e-Khiraam1
zulmatoN2 ko chiir kar nikliiN vo maujeN3 noor4 ki
vo tane5 mazboot6 siine, vo uThe mazboot6 haath
taaj par vo muskuraaii zindagi mazdoor ki 1.determination to march forward 2.darkness 3.waves 4.light 5.squared off 6.strong
The rays of the rising sun (new dawn) give them the determination to march forward. Tearing through the darkness (injustice) waves of light (justice) break through. Strong shoulders are squared off, strong arms are raised, the life of the worker smiles at the taj.
mir mohammed ali KhaaN maikash (1918-1948), a member of the nizam shaahi clan of hyderabad (the title sahabzaada-princeling was a prefix to his name), nevertheless seems to have been a committed socialist. Dropped out of the university degree program after two years and worked as editor, columnist and perhaps as a party worker. This is one of a series of nazm on the taj mahal, nearly all admiring its beauty, some remembering workers and craftsmen, some even remembering royalty. This is unique in its dark anger and studiously avoids even admiring its beauty.
1
ye andheri raat! ye sahmi1 hui parchhaaiyaaN
jis tarah2 ghooNgaT ulaT de koii badsuurat dulhan
aaNsuoN ki tarah ye bikhre hue taaroN ki Dor
bah rahi ho jaise TukRe ho ke suraj ki kiran
1.scared, fearful 2.like, as if
The poet sees the taj at night but does not see or chooses not to write about its beauty. Instead, he sees a dark night with fearful shadows. The taj appears to him like an ugly bride whose veil is lifted. The bride is beautiful in her full make-up and regalia but lifting the veil behind this display he sees the ugliness that is hidden – the ugliness of exploitation. The reflection of lights sparkling in the flowing jamna appears to him as if a ray of sunlight as been cut up into small bits floating like a string of stars, like tears.
2
is andhere meN numaayaaN1 hai ye kya ujli si shai2
jaise chhooTe maahtaabi3 si adhuure4 Khwaab meN
raat ko TooTi hui kashti pe ek mad’ham charaaGh
jhilmilaaye jaa raha ho jis tarah5 sailaab6 meN
1.visible, apparent 2.thing 3.moonlight 4.incomplete, unfulfilled 5.like, similar to 6.flood
What is this white thing that appears out of the darkness, as if moonlight (maahtaabi is also a firecracker) emanating from an incomplete dream. adhura Khwaab can be unfulfilled desires of the workers. It appears to the shaa’er like a broken/sinking ship with a dim lamp flickering in the flood. The boat can sink and the sailaab is the tumult in society i.e. display of royal grandeur is on its last legs.
3
Khushk1 hoNToN par ho phiiki2 muskuraahaT jis tarah
be-basi3 meN jis tarah maathe pe aa jaaye shikan4
koii majboor5-e mashiyyat6 thartharaate haath se
byot’ta7 baiTha ho jaise apne beTe ka kafan8
1.dry 2.bland, insincere, forced, fake 3.helplessness 4.wrinkles 5.forced 6.will, orders 7.cut to measure 8.burial shroud
The taj is a fake display of love, insincere. It is like a wrinkled brow of helpless workers. It was created by craftsment under duress with trembling hands, as if they were cutting to measure a burial shroud for their own child.
4
marmariiN paikar1 meN is Khwaab-e-hasiiN2 ko Dhaal3 kar
kitni niindoN ke pareshaaN-Khwaab4 haiN soye hue
jin ki be-Khwaabi5 ne Dhaala3 hai ise vo Khwaab-gar6
jaise ab bhi phir rahe haiN bojh sa Dhoye hue
1.form, image 2.beautiful dream 3.mould, give shape to 4.nightmare 5.sleeplessness 6.dream-maker, one who fulfills dreams
How many nightmarish lives did it take to mould this beautiful dream in this marble shape. It is as if they, whose sleepless toil gave shape to this dream are still roaming bearing a heavy burden.
5
kitne chehroN ka pasiina, kitne haathoN ka lahu1
husn2 dene ke liye is ko Tapak kar bah gaya
kitni Gham-parvarda3 aaNkhoN ne giraaya Khoon-e dil
jab kahiN shaah-e jahaaN ka ek aaNsu rah gaya
1.blood 2.beauty 3.pain-nurturing
The sweat of how many brows, the blood of how many hands, did flow to grant beauty to the taj. How many pain-nuturing eyes shed tears of blood, only then did this one tear drop of shaah jahaaN take shape.
6
ek maleka ki mohabbat ko ata1 karne davaam2
kitni sub’heN pattharoN meN husn ban kar rach gayiiN
kitni raateN maut ke taa’noN3 se tharraati rahiN
jab kahiN ek zindagi ki chand4 saaNseN bach gayiiN
1.grant 2.permanence, eternal life 3.sarcasm 4.few
Just to grant a (show of) eternal love of an empress, how many mornings had to take the form of beautiful stones i.e. how many days of lives of craftsmen were spent in creating/carving that beauty in stone. How many nights trembled at the taunts of Death, how many people lived in fear of starvation. Only then were a few moments of one life were preserved (in stone).
7
is hasiiN1 dhoke2 se hoti to hai taskiin3-e nazar4
laikin aye ahl-e-nazar5 ye husn6 hai Gham meN asiir7
pattharoN ke qalb8 meN TooTe hue dil ko bhi dekh
chiin le hadd-e-nazar9 se ab ta’ayyun10 ki lakiir11
1.beautiful 2.deception 3.pleasure 4.eyes 5.of discriminating sight 6.beauty 7.captive 8.heart 9.limit of sight 10.(contextual) assign blame/guilt 11.line
Of course, this beautiful façade of love gives comfort to the eyes but you who can see through, realize that this beauty is a captive of pain. Also see the broken hearts embedded in the centre of these carved stones. Take back from the limits of your sight the ability to assign responsibility for this pain.
8
ab bhi hai tahsiiN-talab1 jabr2-e balandi3 ka Ghuroor4
ye hai jazbaati5 sukooN6 ka ek Khud-biiN7 ehtemaam8
husn9 ye katba10 hai jis ke be-navaa11 alfaaz12 meN
maut13 dohraati14 hai murdoN15 ki parastish16 ka payaam17
1.demanding homage 2.oppression 3.superiority 4.conceit, hubris 5.emotional 6.comfort 7.self-regarding, self-centred 8.arrangement 9.beauty 10.gravestone engraving 11.voiceless 12.words 13.Death 14.repeats 15.corpses 16.devotion 17.message
Even now the hubris of superiority demands homage. This is an arrangement for selfish emotional comfort. This beauty is a gravestone which in silent words repeats/announces the message that we show devotion/respect to corpses.
9
kitni namaaloom1 qabroN2 meN haiN vo gumnaam3 log
jin ke haathoN ki thakan ka naam hai ye yaadgaar4
nazr5 dete haiN jise apni javaani kitne phool
daaman6-e gulchiiN7 meN hai be-aabru8 jin ki bahaar9
1.unknown, unmarked 2.graves 3.nameless 4.memorial 5.offering, sacrifice 6.apron, lap 7.flower-picker 8.without respect 9.bloom
How many unmarked graves hold nameless people whose tired hands gave a name/shape to this memorial. How many flowers sacrifice their youth to it, collected in the lap of the flower-picker without the dignity of the chance to bloom.
10
be-dar-o-diivaar1 kitne ghar haiN arz2-e taaj par
raat ki taariikiyoN3 meN kitne ghar haiN be-charaaGh4
kitne aise haiN jinheN Daste5 haiN mahtaab6 o nujoom7
kitne aise haiN jo Khud haiN apne hi seene8 ke daaGh9
1.without doors or walls i.e. graves 2.land 3.darkness 4.without lamps, unlit 5.sting 6.full moon 7.stars 8.bosom 9.wound
How many graves there are on the land of the taj mahal. How many homes that remain unlit in the darkness of the night, for whom even the moon and stars are like a painful sting. How many people who carry wounds in their bosom/heart.
11
ek maleka1 vo keh jis ki aaKhiri2 Khwaahish3 ka naam
jumbish4-e abruu5 ka ye farmaan6 y’aani taaj hai
laikin apni pahli Khwaahish3 bhi jo kah sakti nahiN
aisi kitni raaniyoN ka jhoNpRoN meN raaj hai
1.empress 2.last 3.wish 4.movement 5.eyebrows 6.decree
On one side is an empress whose last wish, expressed by the mere movement of her eyebrows is a decree that takes the shape of the taaj. On the other side, how many queens (wives of workers) who cannot even express their first wish, whose reign is restricted to their hovels.
12
ek mohabbat vo keh jis ko naujavaani baKhsh1 kar
ek ne paaya sukooN2 aur saiNkRoN3 ne izteraab4
ek mohabbat vo ke jis meN ishrat-e-Gham5 bhi nahiN
aah muflis6 ki mohabbat, aah muflis ka shabaab7
1.grant 2.comfort 3.millions 4.restlessness, anguish 5.comfort of pain 6.pauper 7.youth
On one side is love that can grant eternal youth to its expression and derive comfort, giving millions anguish and pain. On the other side, is love that cannot even pause to relish pain. Alas, the pauper’s love, alas, the pauper’s youth.
13
apni hi taKhliiq1 meN hai dafn2 rooh3-e husn-kaar4
kitni saaNsoN ke tamavvuj5 ka hai madfan6 ye maqaam7
kya ye be-hiss8 maqbara9 deta hai vo azm10-e hayaat11
apni dhaRkan meN jagaata hai jise qalb12-e avaam13
1.creation 2.buried 3.spirit 4.beauty creator, craftsman 5.waves, heaving breath 6.graveyard 7.place 8.unfeeling 9.tomb 10.determination, resolve 11.life 12.heart 13.public, people
The spirit of the craftsman is buried in his own creation. This place is the graveyard of so many who breathed heavily under strain. Does this unfeeling tomb announce the determination to live that throbs in the hearts of people.
14
is ke saNg-e-dar1 pe haiN maazi2 ke bosoN3 ke nishaaN4
apni aaNkhoN meN liye phirti hai jamna jis ke Khwaab
ab isi jamna ki maujeN5 naujavaaN ho jaayeNgi
paikar6-e jamhoor6 meN jaagegi rooh7-e inqelaab8
1.threshold 2.past 3.kisses, love 4.marks 5.waves 6.form, shape 6.democracy 7.spirit 8.revolution
This threshold bears the marks of past love whose unfulfilled dreams the jamna carries. Now the waves of the same jamna will rise with the youth and vigour of those dreams and spirit of revolution will awaken in the shape of democracy.
15
aaKhiri taara vo TooTa aasmaaN ki goad1 se
kohr2 meN vo taaj ka har ek kinaara3 ghul4 gaya
vo kiran phooTi vo sub’h-e nau5 ne liiN aNgRaaiyaaN
vo balandi6 par shafaq7 ka laal parcham8 khul gaya
1.lap 2.mist 3.corner 4.dissolved, disappeared 5.new 6.height 7.twilight 8.banner
There from the lap of the sky the last star streaks down. All corners of the taj disappear in the mist. There a ray of light breaks forth and a new dawn awakens. There on the heights the red banner of twilight (dawn) spreads out.
16
jhuk ke vo sooraj ki kirnoN ne diya azm-e-Khiraam1
zulmatoN2 ko chiir kar nikliiN vo maujeN3 noor4 ki
vo tane5 mazboot6 siine, vo uThe mazboot6 haath
taaj par vo muskuraaii zindagi mazdoor ki
1.determination to march forward 2.darkness 3.waves 4.light 5.squared off 6.strong
The rays of the rising sun (new dawn) give them the determination to march forward. Tearing through the darkness (injustice) waves of light (justice) break through. Strong shoulders are squared off, strong arms are raised, the life of the worker smiles at the taj.
Thank you so much Shahed! This poem is amazing! Just love this socialist condemnation of the monument – it is really a poem to aspire to.