For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
دو طرفہ – سید محمد شاہد
۱
اِدھر ہے فکر، علم و ہنر سے رہ ملائے ہوے
اُدھر یقین، د ین و دھرم سے گٹھ جڑائے ہوے
۲
اِدھر ہے دعوتِ تحقیق سر جھکاے ہوے
اُدھر ہے جہل، تیغ و تبر اُٹھاے ہوے
۳
اِدھر ہے پشت پناہی سوال جائز ہیں
اُدھر نجات کی دھمکی، زبان کاٹے ہوے
۴
اِدھر شباب ہے دادِ ہنر کی آس لئے
اُدھر فتوۂ جور و جبر گلا دبائے ہوے
۵
اِدھر ہر اک سبیل ہر اِمکان پر ہےغور و فکر
اُدھر، ایمان علم کے ٹھیکے کا حق جتائے ہوے
۶
اِدھر گمان، نئی سوچ، نئی کھوج ہے ہر دم
اُدھر سکون، خود فریبی کا چھل چلائے ہوے
۷
اِدھر کھلی ہے فضا، راستہ کٹھن ہی سہی
اُدھر نہ جائیو شاہدؔ، ہیں سربند رہ بناے ہوے
दो तरफ़ा – सय्यद मोहम्मद शाहेद
१
इधर है फ़िक्र, इल्म ओ हुनर से रह मिलाए हुए
उधर यक़ीन, दीन ओ धरम से गठ जुढाए हुए
२
इधर है दावत ए तहक़ीक़ सर झुकाए हुए
उधर है जहल, तेग़ ओ तबर उठाए हुए
३
इधर है पुश्त पनाही सवाल जाएज़ हैं
उधर नजात की धमकी ज़बान काटे हुए
४
इधर शबाब है दाद-ए हुनर कि आस लिए
उधर है फ़तवा-ए जौर ओ जबर गला दबाए हुए
५
इधर हर एक सबील, हर इमकान पर है ग़ौर ओ फ़िकर
उधर इमान, इल्म के ठेके का हक़ जताए हुए
६
इधर गुमान, नई सोच, नई खोज है हर दम
उधर सुकून, ख़ुद फ़रेबि का छल चलाए हुए
७
इधर खुली है फ़िज़ा, रास्ता कठिन ही सही
उधर न जाइओ शाहेद, हैं सरबंद रह बनाये हुए
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed mohammed shahed (1944-living) came to urdu late in life, but early to skepticism, inquiry and unbelief. Irreverent and rebellious, he enjoys retirement and continuous learning. This is his tirade against closed mindedness of faith and blind belief comparing it to the openness to inquiry and learning afforded by rationality.
1
idhar hai fikr1, ilm o hunar2 se rah milaaye3 hue
udhar yaqin4, deen o dharam se gaTh juRaye5 hue 1.thought, reason 2.knowledge and talent 3.keeping on the same path 4.certainty 5.tie a knot, make an agreement (usually secret), conspiracy
On this side reason, with knowledge and talent on the same path and on that side certainty, faith and religion joined in conspiracy.
2
idhar hai da’vat-e tahqiiq6 sar jhukaae hue
udhar jahal7, teGh o tabar8 uThaae hue 6.invitation to inquiry 7.ignorance 8.sword and axe
On this side, an invitation to inquiry, with all humility. On that side, ignorance, with sword and axe at the ready.
3
idhar hai pusht panaahi1 savaal jaa’ez2 haiN
udhar najaat3 ki dhamki4 zabaan kaaTe hue 1.carry the back, support, encouragement 2.allowed 3.deliverance (as in heaven/hell, or re-birth) 4.threat
On this side, support and nurture, questions are encouraged. On that side the threat of deliverance cuts the tongue off.
4
idhar shabaab5 hai daad6-e hunar7 ki aas8 liye
udhar hai fatva9-e jaur o jabar10 gala dabaaye hue 5.youth 6.praise, appreciation 7.talent 8.hope 9.religious edict 10.cruelty and force
On this side, youth, hopeful that talent be appreciated. On that side, a stranglehold with cruel and forceful edicts, (forbidding the arts).
5
idhar har ek sabiil1, har imkaan2 par hai Ghaur-o-fikar3
udhar eemaan4, ilm5 ke Theke6 ka haq7 jataaye8 hue 1.way, methodology 2.possibility 3.examining and reasoning 4.faith 5.knowledge, wisdom 6.monopoly 7.rights 8.assert
On this side, every proposal, every possibility carefully reasoned. On that side, faith, claiming monopoly rights to wisdom.
6
idhar gumaan9, nayi soch, nayi khoj hai har dam10
udhar sukoon11, Khud farebi12 ka chhal13 chalaaye hue 9.questions, doubt 10.every moment 11.contentment 12.self-deception 13.trick
On this side, questions, new thinking, new search every moment. On that side, contentment playing the trick of self-deception.
7
idhar khuli hai fiza1, raasta kaThin2 hi sahi
udhar na jaaiyo shahed, haiN sarband3 rah banaaye hue 1.air, openness, freedom 2.difficult 3.dead end
On this side, fresh air (liberty), the road may well be difficult. Don’t go there shahed, they have made a dead end street.
syed mohammed shahed (1944-living) came to urdu late in life, but early to skepticism, inquiry and unbelief. Irreverent and rebellious, he enjoys retirement and continuous learning. This is his tirade against closed mindedness of faith and blind belief comparing it to the openness to inquiry and learning afforded by rationality.
1
idhar hai fikr1, ilm o hunar2 se rah milaaye3 hue
udhar yaqin4, deen o dharam se gaTh juRaye5 hue
1.thought, reason 2.knowledge and talent 3.keeping on the same path 4.certainty 5.tie a knot, make an agreement (usually secret), conspiracy
On this side reason, with knowledge and talent on the same path and on that side certainty, faith and religion joined in conspiracy.
2
idhar hai da’vat-e tahqiiq6 sar jhukaae hue
udhar jahal7, teGh o tabar8 uThaae hue
6.invitation to inquiry 7.ignorance 8.sword and axe
On this side, an invitation to inquiry, with all humility. On that side, ignorance, with sword and axe at the ready.
3
idhar hai pusht panaahi1 savaal jaa’ez2 haiN
udhar najaat3 ki dhamki4 zabaan kaaTe hue
1.carry the back, support, encouragement 2.allowed 3.deliverance (as in heaven/hell, or re-birth) 4.threat
On this side, support and nurture, questions are encouraged. On that side the threat of deliverance cuts the tongue off.
4
idhar shabaab5 hai daad6-e hunar7 ki aas8 liye
udhar hai fatva9-e jaur o jabar10 gala dabaaye hue
5.youth 6.praise, appreciation 7.talent 8.hope 9.religious edict 10.cruelty and force
On this side, youth, hopeful that talent be appreciated. On that side, a stranglehold with cruel and forceful edicts, (forbidding the arts).
5
idhar har ek sabiil1, har imkaan2 par hai Ghaur-o-fikar3
udhar eemaan4, ilm5 ke Theke6 ka haq7 jataaye8 hue
1.way, methodology 2.possibility 3.examining and reasoning 4.faith 5.knowledge, wisdom 6.monopoly 7.rights 8.assert
On this side, every proposal, every possibility carefully reasoned. On that side, faith, claiming monopoly rights to wisdom.
6
idhar gumaan9, nayi soch, nayi khoj hai har dam10
udhar sukoon11, Khud farebi12 ka chhal13 chalaaye hue
9.questions, doubt 10.every moment 11.contentment 12.self-deception 13.trick
On this side, questions, new thinking, new search every moment. On that side, contentment playing the trick of self-deception.
7
idhar khuli hai fiza1, raasta kaThin2 hi sahi
udhar na jaaiyo shahed, haiN sarband3 rah banaaye hue
1.air, openness, freedom 2.difficult 3.dead end
On this side, fresh air (liberty), the road may well be difficult. Don’t go there shahed, they have made a dead end street.
