aaj ki shab-himayat ali shaa’er

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.

آج کی شب ۔ حمایت علی شاعرؔ

۱

آج کی شب جیسے بھی ہو ممکن جاگتے رہنا

کوئی نہیں ہے جان کا ضامن جاگتے رہنا

۲

قزاقوں کے دشت میں جب تک قافلہ ٹھہرے

قافلے والو رات ہو یا دن جاگتے رہنا

۳

تاریکی میں لپٹی ہوئی پُر ہول خموشی

اس عالم میں کیا نہیں ممکن جاگتے رہنا

۴

آہٹ آہٹ پر جانے کیوں دل دھڑکے ہے

کوئی نہیں اطراف میں لیکن جاگتے رہنا

۵

ٹھنڈی ہواؤں کا اے دل احساں نہ اُٹھانا

کوئی یہاں ہمدرد نہ محسن جاگتے رہنا

۶

رہنما سب دوست ہیں لیکن اے ہم سفرو

دوست کا کیا ظاہر کیا باطن جاگتے رہنا

۷

تاروں کی آنکھیں بھی بوجھل بوجھل سی ہیں

کوئی نہیں اب شاعرؔ تجھ بن جاگتے رہنا

आज की शब – हिमाएत अली शा’एर

आज की शब जैसे भी हो मुमकिन जागते रहना

कोई नहीं है जान का ज़ामिन जागते रहना

2

क़ज़्ज़ाक़ों के दश्त में जब तक क़ाफ़ला ठहरे

क़ाफ़ले वालो रात हो या दिन जागते रहना

3

तारीकी में लिपटी हुई पुर-हौल ख़मोशी

इस आलम में क्या नहीं मुमकिन जागते रहना

4

आहट आहट पर जाने क्यूँ दिल धड़के है

कोई नहीं अत्राफ़ में लेकिन जागते रहना

ठंडी हवाओं का ऐ दिल एहसाँ न उठाना

कोई यहाँ हमदर्द न मोहसिन जागते रहना

रहनुमा सब दोस्त हैं लेकिन ऐ हम-सफ़रो

दोस्त का क्या ज़ाहर क्या बातिन जागते रहना

तारों की आँखें भी बोझल बोझल सी हैं

कोई नहीं अब शा’एर तुझ-बिन जागते रहना

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mir himayat ali shaa’er (1926-2019) poet, writer, lyricist, actor, radio drama artist. Contemporary of habib jalib. Both wrote with much feeling about people’s issues. I have linked this nazm to the “aaj ki raat” series, which is mostly festive but to show the dark side of night. In this case it is the night of oppression, possibly dictatorship in pakistan and shaa’er is cautioning everyone.
1
aaj ki shab jaise bhi ho mumkin1 jaagte rahna
koi nahiN hai jaan ka zaamin2 jaagte rahna  
1.possible 2.protector, guarantor
This night (of oppression) however possible, stay awake/alert/watchful. Nobody else is the guarantor of life/liberty, be watchful.

2
qazzaaqoN1 ke dasht2 meN jab tak qaafila3 Thahre
qaafile vaalo raat ho yaa din jaagte rahna  
1.robber 2.wilderness 3.travel party
As long as the travel party is camped in the forest full of robbers (country full of unjust rulers), O, fellow travelers (fellow citizens), be it night of day, stay watchful.

3
taariki1 meN lipTi hui pur-haul2 Khamoshi
is aalam3 meN kya nahiN mumkin4 jaagte rahna  
1.darkness 2.frightful 3.conditions 4.possible
There is a frightening silence along with darkness of the night. Under these conditions, anything is possible, remain watchful.

4
aahaT aahaT1 par jaane kyuN dil dhaRke hai
koi nahiN atraaf2 meN laikin jaagte rahna    
1.footfall, crackle 2.around, in the surroundings
I don’t see anyone in the surroundings but I keep hearing footfalls and the heart keeps thumping fearfully. Stay watchful.

5
ThanDi havaaoN ka aye dil ehsaaN1 na uThaana
koi yahaaN hamdard2 na mohsin3 jaagte rahna    
1.obligation 2.friend, empathizer 3.benefactor
Do not feel obliged to the cool breeze (comforting words from rulers). There are no sympathizers or benefactors here, be watchful.

6
rahnuma1 sab dost haiN laikin aye ham-safaro2
dost ka kya zaahir3 kya baatin4 jaagte rahna    
1.guide 2.fellow travelers 3.apparent 4.hidden
All friends show the way, are guides, but O, fellow travelers (fellow citizens) you can never tell what is real/hidden from what is shown/apparent. Be watchful.

7
taaroN ki aaNkheN bhi bojhal bojhal1 si haiN
koi nahiN ab shaa’er tujh-bin jaagte rahna    
1.drooping, sleepy
The eyes of the stars are drooping … it is late night/early morning and stars in the sky are fading. There is no one left, except you, shaa’er (you are all alone speaking out) be watchful.

mir himayat ali shaa’er (1926-2019) poet, writer, lyricist, actor, radio drama artist.  Contemporary of habib jalib.  Both wrote with much feeling about people’s issues.  I have linked this nazm to the “aaj ki raat” series, which is mostly festive but to show the dark side of night.  In this case it is the night of oppression, possibly dictatorship in pakistan and shaa’er is cautioning everyone.
1
aaj ki shab jaise bhi ho mumkin1 jaagte rahna
koi nahiN hai jaan ka zaamin2 jaagte rahna

1.possible 2.protector, guarantor

This night (of oppression) however possible, stay awake/alert/watchful.  Nobody else is the guarantor of life/liberty, be watchful.
2
qazzaaqoN1 ke dasht2 meN jab tak qaafila3 Thahre
qaafile vaalo raat ho yaa din jaagte rahna

1.robber 2.wilderness 3.travel party

As long as the travel party is camped in the forest full of robbers (country full of unjust rulers), O, fellow travelers (fellow citizens), be it night of day, stay watchful.
3
taariki1 meN lipTi hui pur-haul2 Khamoshi
is aalam3 meN kya nahiN mumkin4 jaagte rahna

1.darkness 2.frightful 3.conditions 4.possible

There is a frightening silence along with darkness of the night.  Under these conditions, anything is possible, remain watchful.
4
aahaT aahaT1 par jaane kyuN dil dhaRke hai
koi nahiN atraaf2 meN laikin jaagte rahna

1.footfall, crackle 2.around, in the surroundings

I don’t see anyone in the surroundings but I keep hearing footfalls and the heart keeps thumping fearfully.  Stay watchful.
5
ThanDi havaaoN ka aye dil ehsaaN1 na uThaana
koi yahaaN hamdard2 na mohsin3 jaagte rahna

1.obligation 2.friend, empathizer 3.benefactor

Do not feel obliged to the cool breeze (comforting words from rulers).  There are no sympathizers or benefactors here, be watchful.
6
rahnuma1 sab dost haiN laikin aye ham-safaro2
dost ka kya zaahir3 kya baatin4 jaagte rahna

1.guide 2.fellow travelers 3.apparent 4.hidden

All friends show the way, are guides, but O, fellow travelers (fellow citizens) you can never tell what is real/hidden from what is shown/apparent.  Be watchful.
7
taaroN ki aaNkheN bhi bojhal bojhal1 si haiN
koi nahiN ab shaa’er tujh-bin jaagte rahna

1.drooping, sleepy

The eyes of the stars are drooping … it is late night/early morning and stars in the sky are fading.  There is no one left, except you, shaa’er (you are all alone speaking out) be watchful.

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One comment:

  1. Inspirational.
    Yes, we have no choice but to stay awake
    And bear witness to the flow of blood
    here, there, everywhere

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