For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
چادر اور چار دیواری – فہمیدہ ریاض
۱
حضور میں اِس سیاہ چادر کا کیا کرونگی
یہ آپ مجھ کو کیوں بخشتے ہیں بصد عنایت
نہ سوگ میں ہوں کہ اِس کو اُوڑھوں
غم و الم خلق کو دکھاوں
نہ روگ ہوں میں کہ اِسکی تاریکیوں میں خِفتّ سے ڈوب جاوں
نہ میں گنہگار ہوں نہ مجرم
کہ اِس سیاہی کی مہر اپنی جبیں پہ ہر حال میں لگاوٰں
۲
اگر نہ گستاخ مجھ کو سمجھیں
اگر میں جاں کی امان پاوں
تو دست بستہ کروں گزارش
کہ بندہ پرور
حضور کے حجرہِ معطر میں ایک لاشہ پڑا ہوا ہے
نہ جانے کب کا گلا سڑا ہے
یہ آپ سے رحم چاہتا ہے
حضور ا تنا کرم تو کیجے
سیاہ چادر مجھے نہ دیجے
سیاہ چادر سے اپنے حجرے کی بیکفن لاش ڈھانپ دیجے
۳
کہ اِس سے پھوٹی ہے جو عفونت
وہ کوچہ کوچہ میں ہانپتی ہے
وہ سر پٹکتی ہے چوکھٹوں پر
برہنگی اپنی ڈھانپتی ہے
سنیں ذرا دل خراش چیخیں
بنا رہی ہیں عجب ہیولے
۴
جو چادروں میں بھی ہیں برہنہ
یہ کون ہیں جانتے تو ہونگے
حضور پہچانتے تو ہونگے
یہ لونڈیاں ہیں
کہ یرغمالی حلال شب بھر رہیں
دمِ صبح در بدر ہیں
یہ باندیاں ہیں
حضور کے نطفہ مبارک کی نًسبِ ورثہ سے معتبر ہیں
۵
یہ بیبیاں ہیں کے زوجگی کی خراج دینے
قطار ا ندر قطار باری کی منتظزر ہیں
یہ بچیاں ہیں
کہ جن کے سر پہ پھرا جو حضرت کا دستِ شفقت
تو کم سنی کے لہو سے ریشِ سپید رنگین ہو گیٰ ہے
حضور کے حجلہِ معطر میں زندگی خون رو رہی ہے
۶
پڑا ہوا ہے جہاں یہ لاشہ
تویل صدیوں سے قتلِ اِنسانیت کا یہ خوں چکاں تماشا
اب اِس تماشے کو ختم کیجے
حضور اب اِس کو ڈھانپ دیجے
سیاہ چادر تو بن چکی ہے میری نہیں آپکی ضرورت
۷
کہ اِس زمیں پر وجود میرا نہیں فقط اک نشانِ شہوت
حیات کی شاہراہ پر جگمگا رہی ہے میری ذہانت
زمیں کے رُخ پر جو ہے پسینہ تو جھلماتی ہے میری محنت
یہ چار دیواریاں یہ چادر، گلی سڑی لاش کو مبارک
کھلی فضاؤں میں بادباں کھول کر بڑھیگا میرا سفینہ
میں آدمِ نو کی ہمسفر ہوں
کہ جس نے جیتی میری بھروسہ بھری رفاقت
चादर और चारदीवारी – फ़हमीदा रियाज़
१
हुज़ूर, मैं इस सियाह चादर का क्या करूंगी
ये आप मुझको क्यूँ बख़्शते हैं बसद इनायत
न सोग में हूँ के इस को ओढूँ
ग़म ओ अलम ख़ल्क़ को दिखाओं
न रोग हूँ मैं के इसकी तारीकियों में ख़िफ़्फ़त से डूब जाऊं
न मैं गुनाहगार हूँ न मुजरिम
के इस सियाही की मोहर अपनी जबीं पे हर हाल में लगाऊं
२
अगर न गुस्ताख़ मुझ को समझें
अगर मैं जाँ की अमान पाऊँ
तो दस्त बस्ता करूं गुज़ारिश
के बन्दा परवर
हुज़ूर के हुजरा-ए मुअत्तर में एक लाशा पड़ा हुआ है
न जाने कब का गला सडा है
ये आप से रहम चाहता है
हुज़ूर इतना करम तो कीजे
सियाह चादर मुझे न दीजे
सियाह चादर से अपने हुजरे की बेकफ़न लाश ढांप दीजे
३
के इस से फूटी है जो उफ़ूनत
वो कूचे कूचे में हाम्प्ती है
वो सर पटकती है चौखटों पर
बरेह्नगी अपनी ढांकती है
सुनें ज़रा दिल ख़राश चीख़ें
बना रही हैं अजब हियोले
४
जो चादरों में भी हैं बरहना
ये कौन हैं? जानते तो होंगे
हुज़ूर पहचानते तो होंगे
ये लौंडियाँ हैं
के यरग़माली हलाल शब भर रहें
दम-ए सुबह दरबदर हैं
ये बांदियाँ हैं
हुज़ूर के नुत्फ़ा-ए मुबारक के नस्ब-ए विरसा से मोतबर हैं
५
ये बीबियाँ हैं के ज़ौजगी की ख़िराज देने
क़तार अन्दर क़तारबारी की मुन्तज़िर हैं
ये बच्चियां हैं
के जिन के सर पे फिरा जो हज़रत का दस्त-ए शफ़क़त
तो कम सिनी के लहू से रेश-ए सपेद रंगीन हो गई है
हुज़ूर के हुज्ला-ए मोअत्तर में ज़िन्दगी ख़ून रो गई है
६
पड़ा हुआ है जहाँ ये लाशा
तवील सदियों से क़त्ल-ए इंसानियत का ये ख़ूं चकां तमाशा
अब इस तमाशे को ख़त्म कीजे
हुज़ूर अब इसको ढांप दीजे
सियाह चादर तो बन चुकी है, मेरी नहीं आप की ज़रुरत
७
के इस ज़मीं पर वुजूद मेरा नहीं फ़क़त एक निशान-ए शहवत
हयात की शाहराह पर जगमगा रही है मेरी ज़ेहानत
ज़मीं के रुख़ पर जो है पसीना तो झिलमिलाती है मेरी मेहनत
ये चार दिवारियां ये चादर, गली सड़ी लाश को मुबारक
खुली फ़िज़ा में बादबां खोलकर बढ़ेगा मेरा सफ़ीना
मैं आदम-ए नौ की हमसफ़र हूँ
के जिस ने जीती मेरी भरोसा भरी रिफ़ाक़त
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. fahmida riaz (1946-2018) is generally known as a ‘feminist’ poet. She is that. But her repertoire is much wider. In addition to women’s rights, she has written about peace, justice, militarism and much more. For a few years she had to leave pakistan. She wrote this in response to ‘hudood laws’ passed during the time of zia-ul haq. “hudood” i.e.restrictions places restrictions on women … stating that they belonged within the four walls (of their home) or were to be covered with a chaadar. In what followed, she had to seek refuge outside pakistan. She chose to come to India, teaching at jam’a-e millia. While in india, observing the rise of hindutva, she wrote ‘naya bharat’ also posted on this site.
1
huzoor, maiN is siyaah1 chaadar ka kya karooNgi
ye aap mujhko kyun baKhshte2 haiN basad inaayat3
na sog4 meN hooN ke is ko oRhooN
Gham o alam5 Khalq6 ko dikhaaoN
na rog7 huN maiN ke iski tareekiyoN8 meN Khiffat9 se Doob jaaoN
na maiN gunahgaar hooN na mujrim10
ke is siyaahi11 ki mohr12 apni jabeeN13 pe har haal meiN lagaooN 1.dark/black 2.grant (give) 3.with a hundred kindnesses 4.mourning 5.sorrow and grief 6.world 7.disease 8.darkness 9.shame 10.criminal 11.blackness, black ink 12.stamp 13.forehead
Sir, what can I do with this black chaadar. Why do you give me this with a hundred kindnesses. I am neither grieving, that I may wear it and mourn to show my grief to the world, nor am I a leper that I may hide my shame in its darkness. Neither am I a criminal or a sinner who has to hide her shame, mark her forehead with this blackness.
2
agar na gustaaKh1 mujh ko samjheN
agar maiN jaaN ki amaan2 paauN
to dast basta3 karuN guzaarish4
keh banda parvar5
huzoor ke hujra-e moattar6 meN ek laasha7 paRa hua hai
na jaane kab ka gala saRa hai
ye aap se rahm chaahta hai
huzoor itna karam8 to keeje
siyaah chaadar mujhe na deeje
siyaah chaadar se apne hujre ki bekafan9 laash DhaaNp10 deeje 1.rude 2.protection 3.folded hands (in respect) 4.request 5.provider 6.fragrant chamber 7.corpse – metaphor for dark secrets 8.kindness 9.without a burial shroud 10.cover
If I may not be considered rude and if I may have protection of my life, I would like to request with folded hands that dear protector of this servant there is a corpse (of dark secrets) in your fragrant chamber, rotting for who knows how long, begging for your mercy. Sire, please do this kindness, don’t give me this black chaadar. Cover the dark corpse in your chamber with it.
3
keh is se phooTi hai jo ufoonat1
vo kooche kooche2 meN haampti3 hai
vo sar paTakti hai chaukhaTon4 par
barehnagi5 apni DhaaNkti hai
suneN zara dil Kharaash6 cheeKheN
bana rahi haiN ajab hiyole7 1.stench 2.every street, all over town 3.heavy breathing i.e.you can smell it 4.door, threshold 5.nakedness 6.heart rending 7.skeletons, as skeletons in a closet
The stench emanating from this corpse is spreading all over town. It beats its head in vain on every threshold trying to hide its nakedness. Hear its heart rending screams. It is creating strange skeletons/apparitions.Stories of oppressive practices of people in power, especially oppression of women, are spreading all over town (stench emanating from the corpse), screaming, at every threshold – these stories are creating apparitions (fear).
4
jo chaadaroN meN bhi haiN barahna1
ye kaun haiN? jaante to hoNge
huzoor pehchaante to hoNge
ye laundiyaaN2 haiN
ke yarGhamaali3 halaal4 shab bhar5 raheN
dam e subh6 darbadar7 haiN
ye baandiyaaN8 haiN
huzoor ke nutfa-e mubarak9 ke nisb-e virsa10 se mo’tabar11 haiN 1.naked 2.(derogatory) young girls 3.hostage 4.sanctioned 5.all night long 6.at dawn 7.cast out of the door, on the street 8.slave girls 9.blessed sperm 10.association with inheritance 11.respected
Naked under the chaadar, who are they? You surely must know. You surely must recognize them. These are slave girls, hostage and permissible for use all night long and thrown out on the street at dawn. These are slaves who are
respectable as long as they are associated with the heritage of your blessed semen. Satirical description of the hypocrisy of the powerful, exploitation/use of women on the one hand and mandating chaadar on the other. This is not meant to describe the personal conduct of Zia ul Haq, but of the whole power structure. While the language is of sexual exploitation, it is a metaphor for the full range of exploitation and discrimination.
5
ye bibiyaN1 haiN ke zaujagi2 ki Khiraj3 dene
qataar4 andar qataarbari5 ki muntazir6 haiN
ye bachiyaaN7 haiN
ke jin ke sar pe phira jo hazrat ka dast-e shafqat8
to kam-sini9 ke lahu10 se resh-e saped11 rangeen ho gayee hai
huzoor ke hujla12-e mo’attar13 meN zindagi Khoon ro gayee14 hai 1.wives/mistresses 2.wife-hood, duties of being a wife 3.tribute 4.line, queue 5.standing in line 6.waiting 7.girls/daughters 8.hand of benevolence 9.young age (virgin) 10.(virgin) blood 11.(white) grey (pubic) hair 12.chamber 13.fragrant 14.crying tears of blood
These are mistresses to pay the tribute of ‘wifehood’, standing in line, waiting to stand in line. These are young girls on whose head your benevolent hand has showered blessings. The blood of their virginity has coloured your grey hair red. Life itself has cried tears of blood in your highness’ fragrant chamber.
6
paRaa hua hai jahaN ye lasha
taveel sadiyoN1 se qatl e insaaniyat2 ka ye KhuN chukaaN3 tamaasha4
ab is tamaashe ko Khatm keeje
huzoor ab isko Dhaamp deeje
siyaah chaadar to ban chuki hai, meri nahiN aap ki zaroorat 1.long centuries 2.the murder of humanity 3.dripping blood 4.exhibition
This corpse lies hidden for centuries dripping with the blood of humanity. End this show now. Sire, cover this corpse up. The chaadar is ready, you need it, I don’t. ‘You need it, not me’ is a powerful metaphor for political diversion from real issues, using the chaadar to hide real issues.
7
keh is zamiN par vujood1 mera nahiN faqat2 ek nishaan-e shahvat3
hayaat4 ki shaahraah5 par jagmaga6 rahi hai meri zehaanat7
zamiN ke ruKh8 par jo hai pasina to jhilmilaati9 hai meri mehnat
ye chaar divaariyaN ye chadar, gali saRi laash ko mubarak
khuli fiza10 meN baadbaaN11 kholkaar baRhega mera safina12
maiN aadam e nau13 ki hamsafar14 huN
ke jis ne jeeti meri bharosa bhari15 rifaaqat16 1.existence 2.only 3.symbol of lust 4.life 5.highway 6.shines 7.wisdom, intelligence 8.face, brow 9.sparkles 10.open air 11.sail 12.sailboat 13.new man 14.fellow traveler, companion 15.trusting 16.friendship
My person on this earth is not a mere symbol of your lust. On the highway of life, my wisdom shines bright. The sparkling drops of sweat on the brow of Earth are but a reflection of my labour. The confines of four walls, this chadar, keep for your decaying corpse. My boat will go forth with flapping sails in open air. I am the companion of New Man, who earns my trusting friendship.
fahmida riaz (1946-2018) is generally known as a ‘feminist’ poet. She is that. But her repertoire is much wider. In addition to women’s rights, she has written about peace, justice, militarism and much more. For a few years she had to leave pakistan. She wrote this in response to ‘hudood laws’ passed during the time of zia-ul haq. “hudood” i.e.restrictions places restrictions on women … stating that they belonged within the four walls (of their home) or were to be covered with a chaadar. In what followed, she had to seek refuge outside pakistan. She chose to come to India, teaching at jam’a-e millia. While in india, observing the rise of hindutva, she wrote ‘naya bharat’ also posted on this site.
1
huzoor, maiN is siyaah1 chaadar ka kya karooNgi
ye aap mujhko kyun baKhshte2 haiN basad inaayat3
na sog4 meN hooN ke is ko oRhooN
Gham o alam5 Khalq6 ko dikhaaoN
na rog7 huN maiN ke iski tareekiyoN8 meN Khiffat9 se Doob jaaoN
na maiN gunahgaar hooN na mujrim10
ke is siyaahi11 ki mohr12 apni jabeeN13 pe har haal meiN lagaooN
1.dark/black 2.grant (give) 3.with a hundred kindnesses 4.mourning 5.sorrow and grief 6.world 7.disease 8.darkness 9.shame 10.criminal 11.blackness, black ink 12.stamp 13.forehead
Sir, what can I do with this black chaadar. Why do you give me this with a hundred kindnesses. I am neither grieving, that I may wear it and mourn to show my grief to the world, nor am I a leper that I may hide my shame in its darkness. Neither am I a criminal or a sinner who has to hide her shame, mark her forehead with this blackness.
2
agar na gustaaKh1 mujh ko samjheN
agar maiN jaaN ki amaan2 paauN
to dast basta3 karuN guzaarish4
keh banda parvar5
huzoor ke hujra e moattar6 meN ek laasha7 paRa hua hai
na jaane kab ka gala saRa hai
ye aap se rahm chahta hai
huzoor itna karam8 to keeje
siyaah chaadar mujhe na deeje
siyaah chaadar se apne hujre ki bekafan9 laash DhaaNp10 deeje
1.rude 2.protection 3.folded hands (in respect) 4.request 5.provider 6.fragrant chamber 7.corpse – metaphor for dark secrets 8.kindness 9.without a burial shroud 10.cover
If I may not be considered rude and if I may have protection of my life, I would like to request with folded hands that dear protector of this servant there is a corpse (of dark secrets) in your fragrant chamber, rotting for who knows how long, begging for your mercy. Sire, please do this kindness, don’t give me this black chaadar. Cover the dark corpse in your chamber with it.
3
keh is se phooTi hai jo ufoonat1
vo kooche kooche2 meN haampti3 hai
vo sar paTakti hai chaukhaTon4 par
barehnagi5 apni DhaaNkti hai
suneN zara dil Kharaash6 cheeKheN
bana rahi haiN ajab hiyole7
1.stench 2.every street, all over town 3.heavy breathing i.e.you can smell it 4.door, threshold 5.nakedness 6.heart rending 7.skeletons, as skeletons in a closet
The stench emanating from this corpse is spreading all over town. It beats its head in vain on every threshold trying to hide its nakedness. Hear its heart rending screams. It is creating strange skeletons/apparitions.Stories of oppressive practices of people in power, especially oppression of women, are spreading all over town (stench emanating from the corpse), screaming, at every threshold – these stories are creating apparitions (fear).
4
jo chaadaroN meN bhi haiN barahna1
ye kaun haiN? jaante to hoNge
huzoor pehchaante to hoNge
ye laundiyaaN2 haiN
ke yarGhamaali3 halaal4 shab bhar5 raheN
dam e subh6 darbadar7 haiN
ye baandiyaaN8 haiN
huzoor ke nutfa-e mubarak9 ke nisb-e virsa10 se mo’tabar11 haiN
1.naked 2.(derogatory) young girls 3.hostage 4.sanctioned 5.all night long 6.at dawn 7.cast out of the door, on the street 8.slave girls 9.blessed sperm 10.association with inheritance 11.respected
Naked under the chaadar, who are they? You surely must know. You surely must recognize them. These are slave girls, hostage and permissible for use all night long and thrown out on the street at dawn. These are slaves who are
respectable as long as they are associated with the heritage of your blessed semen. Satirical description of the hypocrisy of the powerful, exploitation/use of women on the one hand and mandating chaadar on the other. This is not meant to describe the personal conduct of Zia ul Haq, but of the whole power structure. While the language is of sexual exploitation, it is a metaphor for the full range of exploitation and discrimination.
5
ye bibiyaN1 haiN ke zaujagi2 ki Khiraj3 dene
qataar4 andar qataarbari5 ki muntazir6 haiN
ye bachiyaaN7 haiN
ke jin ke sar pe phira jo hazrat ka dast-e shafqat8
to kam-sini9 ke lahu10 se resh-e saped11 rangeen ho gayee hai
huzoor ke hujla12-e mo’attar13 meN zindagi Khoon ro gayee14 hai
1.wives/mistresses 2.wife-hood, duties of being a wife 3.tribute 4.line, queue 5.standing in line 6.waiting 7.girls/daughters 8.hand of benevolence 9.young age (virgin) 10.(virgin) blood 11.(white) grey (pubic) hair 12.chamber 13.fragrant 14.crying tears of blood
These are mistresses to pay the tribute of ‘wifehood’, standing in line, waiting to stand in line. These are young girls on whose head your benevolent hand has showered blessings. The blood of their virginity has coloured your grey hair red. Life itself has cried tears of blood in your highness’ fragrant chamber.
6
paRaa hua hai jahaN ye lasha
taveel sadiyoN1 se qatl e insaaniyat2 ka ye KhuN chukaaN3 tamaasha4
ab is tamaashe ko Khatm keeje
huzoor ab isko Dhaamp deeje
siyaah chaadar to ban chuki hai, meri nahiN aap ki zaroorat
1.long centuries 2.the murder of humanity 3.dripping blood 4.exhibition
This corpse lies hidden for centuries dripping with the blood of humanity. End this show now. Sire, cover this corpse up. The chaadar is ready, you need it, I don’t. ‘You need it, not me’ is a powerful metaphor for political diversion from real issues, using the chaadar to hide real issues.
7
keh is zamiN par vujood1 mera nahiN faqat2 ek nishaan-e shahvat3
hayaat4 ki shaahraah5 par jagmaga6 rahi hai meri zehaanat7
zamiN ke ruKh8 par jo hai pasina to jhilmilaati9 hai meri mehnat
ye chaar divaariyaN ye chadar, gali saRi laash ko mubarak
khuli fiza10 meN baadbaaN11 kholkaar baRhega mera safina12
maiN aadam e nau13 ki hamsafar14 huN
ke jis ne jeeti meri bharosa bhari15 rifaaqat16
1.existence 2.only 3.symbol of lust 4.life 5.highway 6.shines 7.wisdom, intelligence 8.face, brow 9.sparkles 10.open air 11.sail 12.sailboat 13.new man 14.fellow traveler, companion 15.trusting 16.friendship
My person on this earth is not a mere symbol of your lust. On the highway of life, my wisdom shines bright. The sparkling drops of sweat on the brow of Earth are but a reflection of my labour. The confines of four walls, this chadar, keep for your decaying corpse. My boat will go forth with flapping sails in open air. I am the companion of New Man, who earns my trusting friendship.
