For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ahmad faraz
دوستی کا ہاتھ – احمد فراز
گزر گۓ کئی موسم، کئی رُتیں بدلیں
اُداس تم بھی ہو یارو اُداس ہم بھی ہیں
فقط تمہیں کو نہیں رنجِ چاک دامانی
جو سچ کہیں تو دریدہ لباس ہم بھی ہیں
تمھارے بام کی شمعیں بھی تابناک نہیں
میرے فلک کے ستارے بھی زرد زرد سے ہیں
تمھارے آئینہ خانے بھی زنگ آلودہ
میرے صراحی و ساغر بھی گرد گرد سے ہیں
نہ تم کو اپنے خد و خال ہی نظر آئیں
نہ میں یہ دیکھ سکوں جام میں بھرا کیا ہے
بصارتوں پہ وہ جالے پڑے کہ دونوں کو
سمجھ میں کچھ نہیں آ تا کہ ماجرا کیا ہے
نہ سرو میں وہ غرورِ کشیدہ قامتی ہے
نہ قمریوں کی اُداسی میں کچھ کمی آ ئی
نہ کِھل سکے کسی جانب محبّتوں کے گلاب
نہ شاخِ امن لئے فاختہ کوئی آئی
تمہیں بھی ضد ہے کہ مشقِ ستم رہے جاری
ہمیں بھی ناز کہ جور و جفا کے عادی ہیں
تمہیں بھی زعم کہ مہابھارتا لڑی تم نے
ہمیں بھی فخر کہ ہم کربلا کے عادی ہیں
ستم تو یہ ہے کہ دونوں کے مرغزاروں سے
ہواۓ فتنہ و بوۓ فساد آ تی ہے
الم تو یہ ہے کہ دونوں کو وہم ہے کہ بہار
عدو کے خوں میں نہانے کے بعد آتی ہے
تو یہ مآ ل ہوا اِس درِندگی کا کہ اب
شکستہ دست ہو تم بھی، شکستہ پا میں بھی
تو دیکھتا ہوں کہ تم بھی لہو لہان ہوئے
تو دیکھتے ہو سلامت کہاں رہا میں بھی
ہمارے شہروں کی مجبور بے نوا مخلوق
دبی ہوی ہے دکھوں کے ہزار ڈھیروں میں
اب اِنکی تیرہ نصیبی چراغ چاہتی ہے
جو لوگ نصف صدی تک رہے اندھیروں میں
چراغ جن سے محبّت کی روشنی پھیلے
چراغ جن سے دلوں کے دیار روشن ہوں
چراغ جن سے ضیاء امن و آشتی کی ملے
چراغ جن سے دئیے بے شمار روشن ہوں
بہت دنوں سے ہیں ویراں رفاقتوں کے دیار
بہت اُداس ہیں دیر و حرم کی دنیا ئیں
چلو کہ پھر سے کریں پیار کا سفر آغاز
چلو کہ پھر سے ہم اک دوسرے کے ہو جائیں
تمھارے دیس میں آیا ہوں دوستو اب کے
نہ ساز و نغمہ کی محفل نہ شاعری کے لئے
اگر تمھاری انا ہی کا ہے سوال تو پھر
چلو، میں ہاتھہ بڑھاتا ہوں دوستی کے لئے
दोस्ती का हाथ – अहमद फ़राज़
गुज़र गये कई मौसम कई रुतें बदलीं
उदास तुम भी हो यारो उदास हम भी हैं
फ़क़त तुम्ही को नही रंज-ए-चाक दामानी
जो सच कहें तो दरीदा-लिबास हम भी हैं
तुम्हारे बाम की शम’ऐं भी ताबनाक नहीं
मेरे फ़लक के सितारे भी ज़र्द ज़र्द से हैं
तुम्हारे आईना-ख़ाने भी ज़ंग आलूदा
मेरे सुराही ओ साग़र भी गर्द गर्द से हैं
ना तुम को अपने ख़द ओ ख़ाल ही नज़र आ’ऐं
ना मैं ये देख सकूं जाम में भरा क्या है
बसारतौं पे वो जाले पड़े के दोनो को
समझ में कुछ नहीं आता के माजरा क्या है
ना सर्व में वो ग़ुरूर-ए कशीदा क़ामती है
ना क़ुम्रिऔं की उदासी में कुच्छ कमी आई
ना खिल सके किसी जानिब मोहब्बतौं के गुलाब
ना शाख़-ए अम्न लिए फ़ाख़्ता कोइ आई
तुम्हें भी ज़िद्द है के माश्क़-ए-सितम रहे जारी
हमें भी नाज़ के जोर ओ जफ़ा के आ’दि हैं
तुम्हें भी ज़ो’म महाभारता लड़ी तुम ने
हमें भी फ़ख़्र के हम करबला के आ’दि हैं
सितम तो हे है के दोनों के मरग़ ज़ारौं से
हवा-ए फ़ित्ना ओ बू-ए फ़साद आती है
अलम तो ये है के दोनों को वह्म है के बहार
अदू के ख़ूं में नहाने के बाद आती है
तो ये मा’ल हुआ इस दरिंदगी का के अब
शिकसता दस्त हो तुम भी, शिकसता पा मैं भी
तो देखता हुं के तुम भी लहू लुहान हुए
तो देखते हो सलामत कहां रहा मैं भी
हमारे शहरों की मजबूर बे-नवा मख़्लूक़
दबी हुई है दुखों के हज़ार ढेरों में
अब इन की तीरा-नसीबी चिराग़ चाहती है
जो लोग निस्फ़ सदी तक रहे अन्धेरौँ में
चिराग़ जिन से मोहब्बत की रौशनी फैले
चिराग़ जिन से दिलौं के दयार रौशन हों
चिराग़ जिन से ज़ीया अम्न ओ आश्ती की मिले
चिराग़ जिन से दिए बेशुमार रौशन हों
बहुत दिनौं से हैं वीरां रिफ़ाक़तों के दयार
बहुत उदास हैं दैर-ओ-हरम की दुनियाऐं
चलो, के फिर से करें प्यार का सफ़र आग़ाज़
चलो, के फिर से हम एक दूसरे के हो जा’ऐं
तुम्हारे देस में आया हुं दोस्तो अब के
ना साज़-ओ-नग़मा की महफ़िल ना शाएरी के लिए
अगर तुम्हारी अना ही का है सवाल तो फिर
चलो, मैं हाथ बढ़ाता हुं दोस्ती के लिए
dosti ka haath – ahmad faraz
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. Overall Comments: Ahmad Faraz specifically addressed this to Indian friends and recited it many times to audiences in India, to great acclaim. Also see Sardar Jafri’s response to this powerful nazm.
guzar gaye ka’ii mausam ka’ii ruteN1 badliiN
udaas tum bhi ho yaaro udaas hum bhi haiN
faqat tumhi ko nahi ranj2-e chaak daamaani3
jo sach kaheN to dareeda-libaas4 hum bhi haiN1. seasons 2. sorrow, regret 3. torn apron/hem 4. torn clothing
Many seasons have gone by (since the last war – between India and Pakistan) and we are still sorrowful/miffed at each other. It is not just you who is angry at your torn clothes. To tell the truth, we also are mad at our shreds.
tumhaare baam1 ki sham’eN2 bhi taabnaak3 nahiN
mere falak4 ke sitaare bhi zard zard5 se haiN
tumhaare aaina-Khaane6 bhi zaNg alooda7
mere suraahi o saaGhar8 bhi gard gard se haiN1. rooftop 2. lamps 3. bright 4. sky 5. pale 6. mirror-house 7. covered with rust 8. flask
The lamps on your rooftops are not bright, the stars in my sky are also pale. Mirror is used to look at oneself – self-examination, introspection. There was a time (before glass plating) when polished metal was used as mirror and became rusted. Thus says the poet – you are no longer capable of introspection nor have I touched my flask in a long time (it is dusty).
na tum ko apne Khad1 o Khaal2 hi nazar aa’eN
na maiN yeh dekh sakuN jaam3 meN bhara kya hai
basaaratauN4 pe vo jaaley5 paRey ke dono ko
samajh meN kuch nahiN aata ke maajra6 kya hai1. features/face 2. beauty spot (mole on the chin), beauty 3. cup, goblet 4. sight 5. web (as in spider web) 6. condition, status, state of affairs
Neither can you see your own beauty, not can I see what I have (in my cup). Our eyes have been covered with webs for so long that we can cannot figure out the state of affairs.
na sarv1 meiN vo Ghuroor2-e kasheeda-qaamati3 hai
na qumriauN4 ki udaasi meN kuchh kami aaii
na khil sakey kisi jaanib5 mohabbatauN ke gulaab
na shaaKh6-e amn7 liye faaKhta8 koii aaii1. cypress – metaphor for tall and slender beauty 2. pride 3. filter, squeeze out stature 4. mourning dove 5. direction 6. branch 7. peace (olive branch – symbol of peace) 8. dove (of peace)
There is no longer that pride/confidence of being able to squeeze stature out of the tall slender cypress i.e. we no longer have the ability to make the best of the situation. The mourning dove is still sorrowful in its song. Flowers of love did not blossom anywhere. The dove of peace never brought an olive branch.
tumheN bhi zidd1 hai ke mashq-e-sitam2 rahe jaari3
humeN bhi naaz4 ke jor-o-jafa5 ke a’adi6 haiN
tumheN bhi zo’am7 mahabhaarta laRi tum ne
humeN bhi faKhr8 ke hum karbala9 ke a’adi6 haiN1. obstinacy, insistence 2. practice of cruelty 3. continue 4. pride 5. force and violence 6. habituated, used to 7. pride, hubris 8. pride 9. used as a symbol of a war which is waged in spite of certainty of defeat
You insist that the practice of cruelty continue. We are proud that we are used to violence. You are proud of a long history of warlike culture (of Mahabharat). We are determined to fight against all odds.
sitam1 to yeh hai ke donoN ke marGhzaarauN2 se
hava-e fitna3 o boo4-e fasaad5 aati hai
alam6 to ye hai ke donoN ko vahm7 hai ke bahaar
udu8 ke KhuN meN nahaane ke baad aati hai1. woe, calamity 2. grasslands, meadows, gardens 3.mischief 5. conspiracy, deception 6. sorrow, tragedy 7. suspicion 8. enemy
The problem is that from both sides emanates a stench of miscief and deception. The tragedy is that both think that glory will come only at the expense of the blood of the other.
to yeh ma’al1 hua is darindgi2 ka ke ab
shikasta3 dast4 ho tum bhi, shikasta3 paa5 maiN bhi
to dekhta huN ke tum bhi lahu luhaan6 hue
to dekhte ho salaamat7 kahaaN raha maiN bhi1. result 2. bestiality 3. broken 4. hands 5. feet 6. dripping in blood 7. survive
The result of this bestiality is that now your hands are broken and my feet shattered. I see that you are dripping in blood and you see that I barely survive.
hamaare shahrauN ki majboor1 be-nawa2 maKhlooq3
dabi hui hai dukhauN kay hazaar DherauN meN
ab in ki teeera4 naseebi5 chiraaGh chaahti hai
jo log nisf-sadi6 tak rahe andherauN meN1. helpless 2. voiceless 3. creatures, people 4. dark 5. fate 6. half century
Meanwhile, the voiceless, helpless people of our countries, burdened under a pile of thousands of worries demand a light out of their dark fate, out of the darkness of the last fifty years.
chiraaGh jin se mohabbat ki raushni phaile
chiraaGh jin se dilauN ke dayaar1 raushan hoN
chiraaGh jin se zia2 amn3 o ashti4 ki miley
chiraaGh jin se diye beshumaar5 raushan hoN1. doors, homes 2. light 3. peace 4. well being 5. countless
They demand a light that will spread the light of love, open up hearts bring the light of peace and well being and spread knowledge all around.
bahut dinoN se haiN veeraN1 rafaqatauN2 ke dayaar3
bahut udaas haiN dair-o-haram4 ki duniyaeN
chalo, ke phir se kareN pyaar ka safar aaGhaz5
chalo, ke phir se hum ik doosray ke ho ja’eN1. desolate 2. friendship 3. doors, homes 4. temple and mosque 5. begin
For too long now the abode of friendship has been desolate. For too long temple and mosque have been mournful. Come let us begin on a journey of love. Come let us once again embrace each other.
tumhaare des meN aaya huN dosto ab kay
na saaz-o-naGhma1 ki mehfil2 na shaa’eri ke liye
agar tumhaari anaa3 hi ka hai savaal to phir
chalo, maiN haath baRhata huN dosti ke liye1. music and song 2. gathering 3. ego
This time, I have come to your country my friends, not for song and music, nor for shaa’eri (but to make friends). If it is a question of satisfying your ego, then I will be the first to extend my hand of friendship.
dosti ka haath – ahmad faraz
Overall Comments:
Ahmad Faraz specifically addressed this to Indian friends and recited it many times to audiences in India, to great acclaim. Also see Sardar Jafri’s response to this powerful nazm.
guzar gaye ka’ii mausam ka’ii ruteN1 badliiN
udaas tum bhi ho yaaro udaas hum bhi haiN
faqat tumhi ko nahi ranj2-e chaak daamaani3
jo sach kaheN to dareeda-libaas4 hum bhi haiN
1. seasons 2. sorrow, regret 3. torn apron/hem 4. torn clothing
Many seasons have gone by (since the last war – between India and Pakistan) and we are still sorrowful/miffed at each other. It is not just you who is angry at your torn clothes. To tell the truth, we also are mad at our shreds.
tumhaare baam1 ki sham’eN2 bhi taabnaak3 nahiN
mere falak4 ke sitaare bhi zard zard5 se haiN
tumhaare aaina-Khaane6 bhi zaNg alooda7
mere suraahi o saaGhar8 bhi gard gard se haiN
1. rooftop 2. lamps 3. bright 4. sky 5. pale 6. mirror-house 7. covered with rust 8. flask
The lamps on your rooftops are not bright, the stars in my sky are also pale. Mirror is used to look at oneself – self-examination, introspection. There was a time (before glass plating) when polished metal was used as mirror and became rusted. Thus says the poet – you are no longer capable of introspection nor have I touched my flask in a long time (it is dusty).
na tum ko apne Khad1 o Khaal2 hi nazar aa’eN
na maiN yeh dekh sakuN jaam3 meN bhara kya hai
basaaratauN4 pe vo jaaley5 paRey ke dono ko
samajh meN kuch nahiN aata ke maajra6 kya hai
1. features/face 2. beauty spot (mole on the chin), beauty 3. cup, goblet 4. sight 5. web (as in spider web) 6. condition, status, state of affairs
Neither can you see your own beauty, not can I see what I have (in my cup). Our eyes have been covered with webs for so long that we can cannot figure out the state of affairs.
na sarv1 meiN vo Ghuroor2-e kasheeda-qaamati3 hai
na qumriauN4 ki udaasi meN kuchh kami aaii
na khil sakey kisi jaanib5 mohabbatauN ke gulaab
na shaaKh6-e amn7 liye faaKhta8 koii aaii
1. cypress – metaphor for tall and slender beauty 2. pride 3. filter, squeeze out stature 4. mourning dove 5. direction 6. branch 7. peace (olive branch – symbol of peace) 8. dove (of peace)
There is no longer that pride/confidence of being able to squeeze stature out of the tall slender cypress i.e. we no longer have the ability to make the best of the situation. The mourning dove is still sorrowful in its song. Flowers of love did not blossom anywhere. The dove of peace never brought an olive branch.
tumheN bhi zidd1 hai ke mashq-e-sitam2 rahe jaari3
humeN bhi naaz4 ke jor-o-jafa5 ke a’adi6 haiN
tumheN bhi zo’am7 mahabhaarta laRi tum ne
humeN bhi faKhr8 ke hum karbala9 ke a’adi6 haiN
1. obstinacy, insistence 2. practice of cruelty 3. continue 4. pride 5. force and violence 6. habituated, used to 7. pride, hubris 8. pride 9. used as a symbol of a war which is waged in spite of certainty of defeat
You insist that the practice of cruelty continue. We are proud that we are used to violence. You are proud of a long history of warlike culture (of Mahabharat). We are determined to fight against all odds.
sitam1 to yeh hai ke donoN ke marGhzaarauN2 se
hava-e fitna3 o boo4-e fasaad5 aati hai
alam6 to ye hai ke donoN ko vahm7 hai ke bahaar
udu8 ke KhuN meN nahaane ke baad aati hai
1. woe, calamity 2. grasslands, meadows, gardens 3.mischief 5. conspiracy, deception 6. sorrow, tragedy 7. suspicion 8. enemy
The problem is that from both sides emanates a stench of miscief and deception. The tragedy is that both think that glory will come only at the expense of the blood of the other.
to yeh ma’al1 hua is darindgi2 ka ke ab
shikasta3 dast4 ho tum bhi, shikasta3 paa5 maiN bhi
to dekhta huN ke tum bhi lahu luhaan6 hue
to dekhte ho salaamat7 kahaaN raha maiN bhi
1. result 2. bestiality 3. broken 4. hands 5. feet 6. dripping in blood 7. survive
The result of this bestiality is that now your hands are broken and my feet shattered. I see that you are dripping in blood and you see that I barely survive.
hamaare shahrauN ki majboor1 be-nawa2 maKhlooq3
dabi hui hai dukhauN kay hazaar DherauN meN
ab in ki teeera4 naseebi5 chiraaGh chaahti hai
jo log nisf-sadi6 tak rahe andherauN meN
1. helpless 2. voiceless 3. creatures, people 4. dark 5. fate 6. half century
Meanwhile, the voiceless, helpless people of our countries, burdened under a pile of thousands of worries demand a light out of their dark fate, out of the darkness of the last fifty years.
chiraaGh jin se mohabbat ki raushni phaile
chiraaGh jin se dilauN ke dayaar1 raushan hoN
chiraaGh jin se zia2 amn3 o ashti4 ki miley
chiraaGh jin se diye beshumaar5 raushan hoN
1. doors, homes 2. light 3. peace 4. well being 5. countless
They demand a light that will spread the light of love, open up hearts bring the light of peace and well being and spread knowledge all around.
bahut dinoN se haiN veeraN1 rafaqatauN2 ke dayaar3
bahut udaas haiN dair-o-haram4 ki duniyaeN
chalo, ke phir se kareN pyaar ka safar aaGhaz5
chalo, ke phir se hum ik doosray ke ho ja’eN
1. desolate 2. friendship 3. doors, homes 4. temple and mosque 5. begin
For too long now the abode of friendship has been desolate. For too long temple and mosque have been mournful. Come let us begin on a journey of love. Come let us once again embrace each other.
tumhaare des meN aaya huN dosto ab kay
na saaz-o-naGhma1 ki mehfil2 na shaa’eri ke liye
agar tumhaari anaa3 hi ka hai savaal to phir
chalo, maiN haath baRhata huN dosti ke liye
1. music and song 2. gathering 3. ego
This time, I have come to your country my friends, not for song and music, nor for shaa’eri (but to make friends). If it is a question of satisfying your ego, then I will be the first to extend my hand of friendship.
Search Words: Indo-Pak Friendship, India Pakistan, Peace Now and Forever, Communal Harmony, Communal Riots, Hindu-Muslim Unity
