For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
اہلِ نظر ملے ۔ ہری چند اخترؔ
۱
رمز آشنا ملے کئی اہلِ نظر ملے
پھر بھی یہ جستجو رہی کوئی بشر ملے
۲
عادل بھی ہو رحیم بھی ہو کارساز بھی
سب کچھ تو ہو مگر ذرا ہم سے نظر ملے
۳
اِنکارِ سجدہ ہے یہاں کس رو سیاہ کو
شایانِ سجدہ بھی تو مگر کوئی در ملے
۴
یہ ہے کمالِ جہل کہ معراجِ آگہی
ہر لمحہ جستجو ہے کچھ اپنی خبر ملے
۵
عیشِ گریز پا کا تصوّر بھی مٹ گیا
غم ایسے مستقل ملے اور اس قدر ملے
अहल-ए नज़र मिले – हरि चंद अख़्तर
१
रम्ज़-आशना मिले, कई अहल-ए नज़र मिले
फिर भी ये जुस्तुजू रही कोई बशर मिले
२
आदिल भी हो रहीम भी हो कारसाज़ भी
सब कुछ तो हो मगर ज़रा हम से नज़र मिले
३
इन्कार-ए सज्दा है यहाँ किस रू-सियाह को
शायान-ए सज्दा भी तो मगर कोई दर मिले
४
ये है कमाल-ए जहल के मे’राज-ए आगही
हर लम्हा जुस्तुजू है कुछ अपनी ख़बर मिले
५
ऐश-ए गुरेज़-पा का तसव्वुर भी मिट गया
ग़म ऐसे मुस्तक़िल मिले और इस क़दर मिले
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. hari chand aKhtar (1901-1958), hoshiarpur, punjab. He moved to India after independence/partition. MA in English from Lahore. Worked as a journalist. He makes fun of orthodoxy and the power structure in a number of delightful and sarcastic ways.
1
ramz-aashna1 mile kaii ahl-e-nazar2 mile
phir bhi ye justujuu3 rahi koi bashar4 mile 1.knowing secrets, knowledgeable 2.people of discerning eye 3.search 4.human
I have met many with deep knowledge and many with a sharp, discerning eye. I am still searching that I find someone human. This is said in the same spirit as Ghalib’s …
aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahiN insaaN hona.
2
aadil1 bhi ho rahim2 bhi ho kaarsaaz3 bhi
sab kuchh to ho magar zaraa ham se nazar4 mile 1.just 2.kind 3.getting things done 4.eyes
This is addressed to political leadership. You claim to be just, kind and able to get things done. You are everything, but at least look me in the eye when you claim this.
3
inkaar1-e sajda2 hai yahaaN kis ruu-siyaah3 ko
shaayaan4-e sajda2 bhi to magar koi dar5 mile 1.refusal 2.bow down, prostrate 3.derogatory term – black-faced 4.deserving 5.door
Here the term “ruu-siyaah” is used in a self-derisive sense about himself. What wretch is it who refuses to bow down, but at least there should be a door which is deserving of such honour i.e. I refuse to bow down/respect false leadership.
4
ye hai kamaal1-e jahl2 keh me’raaj3-e aagahi4
har lamha5 justujuu6 hai kuchh apni Khabar7 mile 1.excellence, excess of 2.ignorance 3.peak 4.wisdom 5.moment 6.search 7.awareness
The poet is constantly (every moment) searching for self-awareness i.e. introspection. Some might consider such search to be an excess of ignorance – this person does not even know himself. But is that, or is it the peak of wisdom.
5
aish1-e gurez-paa2 kaa tasavvur3 bhi miT gayaa
Gham4 aise mustaqil5 mile aur is qadar6 mile 1.comfort, luxury 2.fleet footed, passing 3.concept 4.sorrow 5.permanent 6.so much
The concept of even fleeting/momentary comfort has been erased. I have had much and constant sorrow/pain/difficulty.
hari chand aKhtar (1901-1958), hoshiarpur, punjab. He moved to India after independence/partition. MA in English from Lahore. Worked as a journalist. He makes fun of orthodoxy and the power structure in a number of delightful and sarcastic ways.
1
ramz-aashna1 mile kaii ahl-e-nazar2 mile
phir bhi ye justujuu3 rahi koi bashar4 mile
1.knowing secrets, knowledgeable 2.people of discerning eye 3.search 4.human
I have met many with deep knowledge and many with a sharp, discerning eye. I am still searching that I find someone human. This is said in the same spirit as Ghalib’s …
aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahiN insaaN hona.
2
aadil1 bhi ho rahim2 bhi ho kaarsaaz3 bhi
sab kuchh to ho magar zaraa ham se nazar4 mile
1.just 2.kind 3.getting things done 4.eyes
This is addressed to political leadership. You claim to be just, kind and able to get things done. You are everything, but at least look me in the eye when you claim this.
3
inkaar1-e sajda2 hai yahaaN kis ruu-siyaah3 ko
shaayaan4-e sajda2 bhi to magar koi dar5 mile
1.refusal 2.bow down, prostrate 3.derogatory term – black-faced 4.deserving 5.door
Here the term “ruu-siyaah” is used in a self-derisive sense about himself. What wretch is it who refuses to bow down, but at least there should be a door which is deserving of such honour i.e. I refuse to bow down/respect false leadership.
4
ye hai kamaal1-e jahl2 keh me’raaj3-e aagahi4
har lamha5 justujuu6 hai kuchh apni Khabar7 mile
1.excellence, excess of 2.ignorance 3.peak 4.wisdom 5.moment 6.search 7.awareness
The poet is constantly (every moment) searching for self-awareness i.e. introspection. Some might consider such search to be an excess of ignorance – this person does not even know himself. But is that, or is it the peak of wisdom.
5
aish1-e gurez-paa2 kaa tasavvur3 bhi miT gayaa
Gham4 aise mustaqil5 mile aur is qadar6 mile
1.comfort, luxury 2.fleet footed, passing 3.concept 4.sorrow 5.permanent 6.so much
The concept of even fleeting/momentary comfort has been erased. I have had much and constant sorrow/pain/difficulty.
